Religion in Oksandanderi

Religion in Oksandanderi is manyfold and there is no single state religion or church which makes even the claim of dominance or universalism. Despite this, the coexistence of religions isn't always peacefuly and has been used as pretense for war too.

Cosmology
The most important part to understand how religion in Oksandanderi works, at least in parts, is to understand the worldview of the Oksandanderians. The first big commonality is that there is no believe in an otherworld. The world is believed to be horizontal and it is believed to be flat. The term Moyele "wide world" has been used to describe the entire world from their perspective. The term yele simply means "world", while the compound element mo- means "wide" and "flat". Thus their world is ultimately imagined to be a large horizontal expanse. That there is no believe in an otherworld means that there is no believe in an underworld or an upper heavenly world either. The world is at it is. But not everything is understandable or even comprehensible for humans. The term Kas described the natural order, and more specifically that of the human realm. There is a believe in distinct zones within the world called Ke "sanctious place" which separate the world into realms of different natural laws. Humans live within their realm, where human laws apply. If they venture beyond, which they can do, they enter the places of other beings which do not live by their laws. Humans are obliged to give reverence to remain safe and to survive. Despite there not being a belief in an otherworld there is a believe in supernatural beings. Or rather these supernatural beings are never imagined to be transcendent, but to dwell in places outside of Kas. As such there are places called Kakhe, Sukhe, Tekhe or Vikhe, which separate the Moyele into different zones of natural law. The Kakhe in this case might be the most important one, since humans can use these places, but have to revere them. These are places useful to humans, but still outside of their general law, which applies to villages and towns and the dealings between humans. Kakhe are places where humans and the natural world meet. As such humans have to be most careful here. In regards to other such places, the last statement might even apply moreso, albeit humans have no desire to intrude into the Sukhe anyway, as these "eternal places" are ruled by inhuman forces.

Folk Religion
Folk religion is often classified as the religion of the Kahekhtát, those who follow the Kas "customary law". These people live in rural communities and their religion is characterised by the lack of professional religious figures. Professional priests and monks who chose a certain path are unknown. The religious practicioners and experts of the Kahekta are a great many different "priests" in the wider sense. There are the female Marn and the male Marnor priests and the Kalpuk oracles. There are also Kost-Priests, but their functions varies greatly. The Kost are responsible for revering the Kakhe of each individual community and also their bural rites. The Marn in particular are responsible for curing illnesses, while the Kalpuk are said to be able to predict weather patterns and such. There is a great beliefe in forces outside of the human world. As for the life of the Kahekhtát communities, they live in rural communities in the Highlands often. There is boundary between the human and non-human world is much smaller. Forests and mountains are dangerous and their inhabitants have to be properly revered to avoid danger. There are the Atte, beings who reside within the forests and guard valuable places, like springs and hunting grounds. The Atte decide on the fortune of those seeking to enter such places. Then there is the Padayl, a mysterious figure who resides in the mountains. It is a trickster, who makes promises of great riches to travellers, just to lure them into traps and laugh about their misery. Some people are cunning enough to see through their tricks and to know the proper rituals to appease the Padayl. If they manage to, they are offered valuable knowledge.

State Religion
Theocratic states don't quite exist in Oksandanderi, that or every state is somewhat theocratic. Cities have official priests called Kosthat (Sg. Kost), which fulfill a similar role as the Kost priests of the Kahekhtát, but within a different environment. The Kost of the cities are state officials, who do work in temples and perform religious duties. They do not preach, but they are the caretakers of the Kakhe nonetheless. They supervise the construction of irrigation and public buildings. They observe public rituals and mitigate religious affairs. As such they don't enforce a particular faith, nor do they act within the framework of a single religion, but their role as Kost priest alone, which exists within the boundaries of Oksandanderian religion as a whole.

Yardunism
Yardunism is the faith which worships Yardun, the victory. Is has been celebrated as a militant faith during the 4th and 5th centuries in particular.

Kamalči
The most profilic belief system of Oksandanderi is called Kamalči "those of good deeds" or Kamalgaster "lore of good deeds". The central premise is very simply. Humans ought to do good. Good is defined by humans and this is where principles of ritualism, thankfulness and reciprocity come in. In essence you do something good and this is sanctioned by another human for being good. The other person is happy in some way. As such it is an expression of Kas, the laws of human relations, too. To practice Kamalgaster is to adhere the Kas.

Pekhe
The Pekhe are the divine clowns, halfway between priests and entertainers. Halfway between saints and devils. They perform rituals to entertain crowds. They dance and place drums. Shout poetry and jokes alike. Their costume are colourful and bizarre. In the context of the Kamalči they are actualy often placed next to the Murgal as their moral counterpart. As they practice futile nonsense to create sense out of meaninglessness. As such they enforce meaning and their errativ behavior, serving the entertainment of others, fights against the moral void represented by the Murgal.