Just for kicks, I decided to write about the Kailorenite religion. "Kailoren," just for a quick ref, is the name of the country of my life's work novel. (Literally- this piece has been rolling around in my head since I was 11- back then I called it "My Name is Evil" and Anwyn was the main character instead of Malevera. Anyways.)

So, even if you know nothing about my story or the characters, the religion is a pretty intense thing to hear about as it's basically a saga in itself.

Okay, let's start with the basics:

Ayenism is more of a relgion than a cult, but I've called it a cult because of its strict rules. Kailoren is a strictly theocratical world, and anyone who denies the divine right of the seven gods, aka athiests, are called "Ohwani," which is a slang that could pretty effectively translate to both "light-less" and "stupid." Neither of which is flattering and declaring oneself ohwani is punishable by death.

There are, as you now know, seven gods under Ayenism:

Ayeya: The Queen of the Gods, giver of light, knowledge, courage, truth, justice, victory, and peace. Ayeya was created from the friction between the voids of want and despair, and then in turn either crafted or birthed the other gods from the voids and her own light. Ayeya is supreme ruler of the universe, and all things except the voids bow to her. She only visits mankind once every 15,000 years, according to legend, and this is because she spends the rest of her time running everything and keepind want and desire at bay. During her last visit, 900 years ago, it is said she bore a human son named Omaan, who would later become Omaan the Conquerer, the first Aytatha King. 900 years later, the descendants of Omaan, including Anwyn and Miklave, still rule Kailoren.

Kaedrin: The consort and son of Ayeya, God of the hunt, the forest, merchants, tradesmen, artisans, and laborers. He is the god of produce and fertility. During marriage, devotees "make an oath in Kaedrin's name" to be fruitful and successful. While Kaedrin and Ayeya never had an children together, (although they had many appart) they are seen as the "idyllic couple" and are popular characters in theater and art.

Eowed: Sister and lover of Ayeya; Goddess of the ocean, sailors, fishermen, rain and rivers, wife of Rathianra, mother of Ua and Swon. She is prayed to in times of drought and also for hope and luck, as the ocean is a big source of income for many Kailorenites.

Secktah: God of war and son of Ayeya, god of dragons and with Eowed sired all mythical creatures, giver of strength. To declare war on someone, a burnt dragon scale is sent to their castle in honor of the war god.

Vores: Goddess of the unknown, death, the future, the afterlife, the giver of prophecy, and guardian of mankind. She is what happened when Ayeya pulled the darkness out of Eowed with her sword of wind. Vores created the world, and the rest of the Gods brought it to life.

Hessimmee: Goddess of the hearth and family. Ayeya created her to act as the governess of the universe. She is the one devotees pray to during childbirth, for health and motherly protection. While Ayeya IS Queen of the Gods, and did give birth to them all, she's not the "mother" of the Gods. Her job is protector and leader. Hessimmee is the mother goddess. The ill often make pilgrimages to her temples in hopes of recieving her favor and healing.

Rathianra: God of art, music, poetry and romantic love. DO NOT MISTAKE HIM FOR APPOLLO. While Rathianra is the god of lust, he is also the god of true love, so unlike flirty Apollo, there is a seriousness to him. Rathianra is a deep thinker, and spends much time under Ayeya's council before creating love between two. Husband of Eowed, albiet not willingly, Rathianra remains with her out of dutiful love to Ayeya. He has two children, Ua and Swon, by Eowed, and several human children, the most famous of which being Anwyn, upon whom he bestows godlike power after his death.

Ua and Swon: The two deformed children of Rathianra and Eowed, Ua and Swon are not technically gods, and more or less act as servants to the gods. They like to meddle with humans, and as they lack the power, wit and skill of the seven gods they are allowed to frequent themselves with the mortals, with whom they have many mortal children. (Ua and Swon cannot produce demigods, only humans, as they are not technically gods themselves.) These two are often depicted as jokers in art and popular culture, but are technically the keepers of merryment and alcohol, respectively.


The Ayenist Creation Theory:

In the beginning there were the two Voids 'Want' and 'Despair.' They clashed frequently, and during one such collision the friction between the two sparked light and wind. This light became Ayeya. Ayeya harnessed the wind into a sword and fought back the voids, cutting off chunks. One such chunk became Eowed, the ocean. The ocean was instantly caught up by light, and together they produced three sons, fertility, art, and violence.

These three became known as Kaedrin, Rathianra, and Secktah, respectively. Smitten by the god of produce and fertility, Ayeya took Kaedrin for herself and paired her sister/lover Eowed with Rathianra. Eowed had Rathianra's two children, Ua and Swon, before separating herself from him completely and retreating to the depths of the sea, where she remains today as a temperamental hermit, coming out only at Ayeya's request. She was also breifly linked to Secktah, with whom she bore all the mythical creatures, including sandcraiggs and dragons.

Rathianra is kind of the Aphrodite of this religion. Very level-headed despite appearences, Rathianra was given the task of creating love to weld the world together and keep order as well as create pleasure. Ayeya uses him as the glue that keeps her creations in order, and Rathianra obeys out of his burning desire to win her affection. He usually falls short, however, due to his penchant for mischief and taste for human women. It is not known how many children he has, as he often chooses to let them remain human, rather than bestowing them with the opportunity to become demigods in the next life. Kaedrin has no known children, but is very industrious and takes pleasure in his work with mankind as well as his wife's company. He is a very kind, fatherly god.

The last two Gods, Vores and Hessimmee, came to be in a very round-a-bout way. vores was created in the beginning, shortly after Eowed. During a fight with the Void of Despair, Eowed fell ill from the darkness. In a desperate attempt to save her, Ayeya cut the darkness from her with her sword of wind and the severed chunk became Vores, goddess of darkness and the shadow-world. Vores is not cruel, just a loner. She is the guardian of the dead in Nuch'nebreyhan, the shadowy-forest afterlife, and is the controller of time and the future. She is the one responsible for make Malevera a prophetess in the first book. Vores does not speak, and her face is blacked out by shadows, but she always listens, and knows everything. She is Ayeya's right-hand lady.

Hessimmee is another one cut from a void, but this time from the Void of Want. Ayeya molded her with her own hands as a kind of 'governess' of the newly created world. Hessimmee is the simple, uncomplaining, celibate mother-goddess and watcher of children and women in labor. She protects families and acts as Ayeya's eyes and ears in the human world. She is also the caretaker of the sick, the elderly, and the dying, the latter of which she hands over to Vores upon their death. She is the one you turn to for mercy and compassion.


Soooo- that's about all I've got for now, hope you could follow it, lol. ^_^