Cardinalism

Cardinalism is the native religion of the Huitca people of the Huitca Federation. The Huitca people believe that the four main Deities each balance out the others as guardians of the cardinal directions, and if one is angered, they may abandon their duties as guardian of the Great Balance, throwing the world into disarray. The Great Balance is the balance of the four cardinal directions, a delicate and fragile system that could collapse if one of the gods become angry. The Huitca people worship and appease their gods by performing sacrifices and other rituals in their names on special occasions in order to keep them satisfied.

## The Gods

### Tlahatepa

Deity of the West, Deity of Peace, Deity of Fertility, Deity of Day.

Gender: Male

Ritual: Breeding of two sheep at the top of the Grand Temple, on the 20th of every month.

The patron god of the city of Tlahatl and the embodiment of tranquility, this god is represented in physical form by a humanoid lizard-like creature. Tlahatepa was one of the main guiding forces who helped the Huitca people find their island home. Due to his role as the patron god of Tlahatl, Tlahatepa is celebrated on the nation's most important holiday, Independence Day. Tlahatepa so far the only Deity to have made a physical appearance to the Huitca people. Tlahatepa has made 3 confirmed and documented appearances in the human world. Once on October 16th, Tlahatepa made an appearance in the center of Tlahatl, turning the top of Knossos fountain into solid gold. On November 18th, Tlahatepa made his second appearance at the coronation of Calipha-Empress Dalatra as the Empress of Yimmu-Audal. There, Tlahatepa blessed her with gifts on behalf of the Huitca people. On November 20th, just two days later, Tlahatepa made a physical appearance at Tlahatl's first Independence Day celebration, endorsing the breeding of sheep as his preferred method of praise. Notably, on the same day, Tlahatepa, as interpreted by Tlatoani Infinick of Tlahatl, caused the floating sheep of Tlahatl to levitate in the air using his power, signaling his desire for a change in the planned ritual.

### Meclahua

Deity of the East, Deity of War, Deity of Destruction, Deity of Night

Gender: Female

Ritual: Human sacrifice before going to battle.

The Goddess Meclahua is the embodiment of conflict, and her wraith can often be seen raging through Eastern Rathnir. Scholars theorize that Meclahua is a brutal guardian in her realm, causing all the destruction that has come to characterize the east. Meclahua spoken of in legend to take the physical form of a large humanoid acamtemicti (murderer crab), a native apex predator of the island Cuiciloa. A confirmed appearance of Meclahua in the physical world has never been documented, although her wrath was felt in the west in the destruction of Bardonia and the sacking of Sanctuary during The Great Golden War. This was likely because the Huitca warriors failed to honor Meclahua with a human sacrifice before entering battle, due to the fact that they didn't actually think that a battle could happen.

### Cualitzin

Deity of the North, Deity of the Overworld, Deity of Life, Deity of Order

Gender: Female

Ritual: Sacrifice of a cuahuacapra (goat-cow) on the 3rd of each month.

The Goddess Cualitzin is the embodiment of discipline. Valued as a highly important Deity in Huitca culture, she is worshipped almost just as much as the patron God of the Huitca himself, Tlahatepa. Cualitzin according to legend was paramount in guiding the Huitca people to their island home, and therefore earned a special spot among the Huitca people. Despite being the second most important Deity to the Huitca, she is also the most mysterious of them all. Virtually nothing is known about her, besides her role in the Great Balance. Cualitzin's physical form is completely unknown, although its speculated to be a humanoid goat (goats are theorized to exist but have never been found in the wild). Due to her role in the Huitca finding their island, the Huitca celebrate her with a sacrifice on their Founding Day.

### Xoalcoatl

Deity of the South, Deity of the Underworld, Deity of Death and Reincarnation, Deity of Chaos

Gender: Male

Ritual: Sacrifice of a pig before a long journey via the underworld

The God Xoalcoatl is the embodiment of death as a natural part of life. Huitca do not view death as an evil, but instead a natural part of the cycle of life that should be accepted. Xoalcoatl's physical form is disputed. Newer religious thought believes it resembles human skeletal remains, due to the tendency of such beings appearing riding xoalcotle (Xoalcoatl's steed), while others still maintain that Xoalcoatl's physical form resembles humanoid decaying pig. Xoalcoatl first came into the lives of the Huitca when a mysterious portal pre-existing the Huitca was found on the island, surrounded by ruins. This portal lead to Xoalcoatl's underworld realm, and there the Huitca found that they could travel to far away locations much faster. In order to thank Xoalcoatl for this transportation ability, the Huitca people sacrifice a pig before every long journey through Xoalcoatl's realm. As theorized by the new generation of scholars, the Xoalcotle are believed to be directly connected to Xoalcoatl, and are believed to be provided as both a gift and a challenge by the Deity. In order to take the beasts for themselves, the Huitca have to fight undead skeletons that ride them. When a soul is sent to the afterlife, Xoalcoatl is said to carve the soul's name onto a slate tablet which is then kept in the catacombs of his vast castle so it can be protected for eternity.

## Divine Elements

### Gold

Cardinalists believe that gold is the material from which the Gods and Goddesses were formed, and as such, use it for religious purposes. In the past cardinalists saw its use as currency abhorrent and disrespectful, as it devalues its spiritual worth. However, the current generation is very much ok with using it as a currency, but still likes to use it for garb, décor, and religious ceremonies.

### Lapis

Lapis's strange powers are believed by Cardinalists to stem from the crystals being physical conduits for the power of the Great Balance. They are often used by Cardinalist priests to channel the power of the gods into tools and armor. Lapis, however, can also be used in lapis incense, which look similar to blue candles. But unlike simple candles, lapis incense can be burned during prayer, ritual, sacrifice, etc. For a stronger magical and spiritual connection with the Cardinal gods.

## Religious Texts

### The Founding Myth of Tlahatl

Tlahatl was founded near the beginning of the Rathnir's life.

According to myth, the legendary founder of the city was originally a poor nomad wandering the plains of Rathnir. Taken in by the ancient peoples of Neos Knossos, the founder and his people, the Huitca, were given food and clothing and lived among them for many years. Meanwhile in the distance, the God of the East Meclahua raged across the land, as Empires battled for scraps of dust. Seeing the distress of the people in the East, the God of the West Tlahatepa and the Goddess of the North Cualitzin contacted the founder in his dreams, asking them to find a land safe for the Huitca people. The founder searched for years, scouting locations here and there, looking for a sign of the Deities' wishes. Finally the founder spotted what they were looking for. On an island in the ocean, the founder looked up. Him and his people watched as the sunset's rays pierced the setting sky, forming a cross-like mirage on the island's gentle waters and soft sand. At the mirage's center was a sunflower facing west, an impossibility which can only be a sign of Tlahatepa. The golden rays illuminated the world, this was the place to found the great city.

The Huitca people adopted Tlahatepa, the God of the West, Peace, Fertility and the Day as their city's patron God, and named their new city in the God's honor. Later, they discovered an already-existing portal to the God of the South Xoalcoatl's Underworld realm, through that portal, they found easy access to the other peoples of Rathnir. The Huitca people have since been slowly building their city as time passes.

### Further Religious Texts

Huitcan scholars Juan Coyo (Spacebeing\_J) and Infinick are currently in the process of translating ancient texts into our modern language. The first of these texts to be translated is Nextla'e'hualli Tlahatepa. Further religious texts will be posted in the future.