Wafas Loche

**Wafas Loche** (from Proto-Naguna *wapas lalche* "under the sun") is the main religious belief among Allik. It is a polytheistic religion worshipping the sun as the highest deity, followed by pantheon of lesser gods.

## Beliefs

### Creation of Allik

Allik believe that in a heavenly palace on top of a tall mountain, the deities wanted to create lifeforms that could assist them in worshipping the sun (*Loche*). None of their creations seemed to be able to do so, and many were thrown out. However, three species climbed back up - a bird, a mountain goat and an Allik. They all claimed: "We are the capable species!" The deities discussed for a while, and came back with a trial - they led the three creatures to a mountain lake, told them to look into it and tell them what they saw. The bird took a look first, and responded: "I see a bird!". Then, the goat went to the lake, and said: "I can clearly see a goat in the lake!". Finally, the Allik looked down onto the surface of the lake, and then turned to the gods and said: "I see myself in the lake!" The gods, who knew that the Allik were the right creation to worship the sun, made plans to populate the world with them. They began fighting over who may rule over the Allik. Three deities remained victorious - the god of the night, the goddess of the earth and the goddess of the underworld. They divided the Allik among them and took them into their respective realms.

### The Punishments

One time, one of the night god's Allik, because the light was very dim that night, tried to get away with having intercourse with his sister, which was a forbidden act. However, the night god noticed the sinful Allik, and in a rage punished all of her servants by turning them into bats. In the underworld, the Allik began murdering each other over futile things, which was forbidden. An enraged goddess of the underworld punished them by turning them into lizards, and ordered the mountains to spit fire. The Allik living with the goddess of the Earth out of greed and gluttony started catching and eating birds, which was forbidden, for they were one of the sentient species. The Earth goddess, being the mildest, did not turn them into lesser creatures, but instead made them mortal.

### The Acquisition of Fire

In the beginning of the world, the almighty sun disc gifted flames of different colors to the divine beings. The night god received a white ([depends on the color of our moon!]) flame, so he could light the world while the sun was away. The goddess of the underworld, because her realm was very dark, received two flames - a red one and a blue one - so the underworld could be lit up just as bright as the overworld. One day, a keen Allik, because his kin was suffering from the cold winter, descended into the underworld to steal the red fire. When he succeeded, the goddess of the underworld got very mad and threatened to curse the village with terrible disease. The Allik responded: "Mighty mistress of the depths! Have mercy - take a look at my family, they are freezing from the cold." The goddess of the underworld saw the suffering, and decided to make a deal with the Allik. They were allowed to keep the fire, "but in return, your deceased will have to join us in the depths - and be wary, for their descent will be arduous!"

## Prayer to the Sun

The Prayer to the Sun is an ancient prayer commonly recited during processions. It is written in Proto-Naguna, the literary language of Heif Lla Mbow.

**Lalche sang tʼanade he** | **washulit h'im we sam we**

**Shew chʼammashishikʼetikh** | **kaljus sang ja shat ichde**

**Matʼatsikhkhul ja tsʼipeshe |** **huzil dilde i maja.**

"Oh sun, mighty you are, a chieftain of the sky and light.

Don't let us suffer, (oh) king in a tall house

while you lead us out of the dark night."

## Trivia

The Prayer to the Sun is based on a Sunscythian text created by Whiven#7804 in August 2022. It fit Allik culture so well that I had to translate it!