Kejomujism

Kejomújism is the state religion of the Prasian people, and is one of the longest existing organized faiths in the world of Ramul Ta. It is a monolatristic religion - believing in the existence of many other gods, but with consistent worship of only Kejomúj - the patron god of the Lora. Chief to the beliefs of Kejomújism is the idea that the Prasian are the chosen people of Kejomúj.   Kejomújism mythology is intertwined tightly with ancient Prasian history.

The Kejomújtism faith is insular in nature and has resisted thousands of years of attempts to convert them to other religions. Due to its nature, orthodox Kejomújism has not spread significantly outside of the Prasian Empire and Lora race despite the Prasian Empire’s dominance in ancient times. However, heterodox branches of Kejomújism have flourished and have significant minority following across the world.

Beliefs

Cosmology & Creation

In the beginning of the world, there was nothing but the divinity of a being known as Bepotují - Maker of All. The maker always has been, and always will be. They are the truth, the law of the cosmos, and how things are born and extinguished. The maker gave birth to the world, which was beautiful and full of soaring mountains and endless seas. In this beautiful world, the first intelligent beings were born from once lifeless rocks. They were six in number, and they were born with ageless, forever youthful adult bodies.

They opened their eyes to a lively world with many plants and animals, and sought to reforge the world for their own comfort. Each of them were brilliant and invented something vital to humanoid life. Their names were:

• Nent - who was male, tall and strong. He discovered that seeds grow into plants, and so he planted them and plowed the land, and discovered agriculture, so that the rest of the six may eat.
• Füny - who was female, tall and strong. She discovered that fire could be used to cook food and burn weeds, so she kept Nent’s lands fertile and made nutritious food for the rest.
• Miétud - who was male, of moderate height and strong. He discovered that secret of architecture, and constructed housings that let others take shelter from the element.
• Tényu - who was female, of moderate height and gentle. She discovered the secret of animal husbandry, and raised animals and tamed the drakes and horses, so that they might travel far and wide.
• Rékűndtá - who was female, of moderate height and gentle. She discovered the secret of writing, and wrote down the history of the six so none may forget afterward.
• Kejomúj - who was male, of short height and gentle. He discovered the secret of metalworking, and worked the first bronze tools. With which the six cleared the forest, took down wild beasts, and built elaborate figurines.

The six’s brilliance was such that they constructed a massive monument to the world, which was imbued with divinity. With the finishing of the monument, the six ascended into divine status, gaining great powers over the world that they have constructed. Each of them missed the worldliness of mortal life, and so they each created a race of intelligent people in their name. Nent created the Macen, who would become a hardworking race of farmers to tame the world. Rékűndtá created the Silnaris, who were born with natural inclination to the intellect, so that they may chronicle the history of the world. Füny created the Aquatic races, so that she may not only tame fire, but also tame the water of the world. Miétud thought the world too dull and not grandiose, so he wandered the world, creating a new race wherever he pleased. Kejomúj retired to the mountains to create metalcraft, and made the Lora, so that they could follow in his stead and fill the world with elaborate crafts. Tényu really liked animals, so she created the beastkins, who incorporated the best of animal and humanoid as she saw it. When she wanted something a bit more humanoid to keep her company, she created the Kemonomimis.

The races were meant to live in harmony, like their patron gods, but soon the Macen and Silnari bickered over land, and fought eachother, and thus Nent and Rékűndtá went to war against eachother. Then the beastkins ran wild, and drove away the kemonomimi from their land, and invaded the land of others, extinguishing many of Miétud’s races in their rampage. Füny’s Aquatics stopped living in the land, and swam away from Ramul Ta at the carnage, and Kejomúj’s Lora were driven from the lowland as the three races fought, and only a few were left in the mountains.

One day, Kejomúj appeared before an assembly of five hundred Lora hiding in a mountain valley, and said,”Do you not wish to learn the secrets of war? To fight back against the creation of the other gods?”

And so the wisest of the Lora, Mújérd, walked forth in front of their god, and prostrated before him,”Oh, we would do so much to learn the secrets of war, so that our people could be saved.”

“Then I will teach you the secret of working bronze into weapons, and I shall teach you the art of warfare. In my name, you will propagate and multiply your kind, and build monuments to me with the greatest of metalcrafts.”

And so Kejomúj taught them the secret of metalworking, so that the Loras will make more than trinkets and turn them into weapons and armor. Five hundred Lora marched down with Mújérd and drove away the beings at the bottom of their mountains. Then they fought the other Loras who submitted and learnt the secret of metalworking from Mújérd, and together they crowned him the Wisest of the Lora, the King of the Lora. Then under his wise rule, the Lora pushed out from the valleys they were hiding in, they conquered the being. And the descendent of Mújérd ruled the empire, and called themselves the Mújérdi

And so the Lora’s dominance lasted one thousand years, and they built many monuments in the mountain and in the cities of the tall people they’ve subjugated. But the last rulers neglected praying and building monuments to Kejomúj, thinking that the Lora will hold the secret of metalworking forever and rule forever. And so they lost the favor of their god.

Soon, the other people learnt the craft of bronze making, and they made their own bronze weapons and armor, and the first Prasian Empire was ended, and Kejomúj’s temples were desecrated. The Lora was driven back to the mountain again, and a wise man prayed day to day to Kejomúj, until Kejomúj appeared before him.

The old man asked,”Our people are driven from the plains and die by the day. The others have learnt the art of metalworking, and our mines are empty and dry. Will you please help us, O Esteemed One?”

“Your people have turned on me and refused to make sacrifices and monuments. Why shall I help you?” Kejomúj said. The old man talked about his devotion, and how he always made crafts in the likeness of Kejomúj, and that his family may not live through the end of the Prasian Empire. And so Kejomúj was moved, and relented, “Then I shall teach you another secret. But this secret will not save you - it may not save your sons and daughters. But you shall spread it far and wide so that your descendents can live in peace.”

And so Kejomúj taught the old man the secret of ironworking, and the old man summoned his sons and daughters who survived, and taught them the secret. And the old man’s name was Pátám, and his descendents became kings and queens. They were called the Pátámi, and their Empire lasted about another thousand years.

Then for the Pátámi, disaster came, in spite of their devotion, as they maintained the monuments and made great sacrifices until the very end. The Silnarian and the Macen grew in numbers, and no amount of iron working could defeat the numbers of the races pitted against them. And so the Lora were driven back into the mountains for the third time, and the Pátámi Dynasty was destroyed.

Many a wise man chose to ask Kejomúj for vision, but it appeared that there was no answer. The Prasian thought their god had turned their back on them, and for two hundred years there was great apostasy and loss of faith, and heralding the end of the world.

But one day, a miner called Nimekí discovered a strange portal in the mountains. Inside was a long winding tunnel, and he felt a strange compulsion to go forward. Inside he found a shrine to Kejomúj, and then he spit upon it, saying that their god had abandoned them. And then Kejomúj appeared before them,”You fool! How dare you spit on my statue, saying I have abandoned your race to its death? Open your eyes and see what I have created!” And so Kejomúj slapped Nimekí in the face, and opened his eyes, and before him was a strange land of wonder with fungus glowing from above like sun, a land full of majestic, strange creatures, and land that the Lora could farm without worrying about the harshness of winter or lowlanders coming to rob their crops.

And so Nimekí prostrated himself before Kejomúj, and begged for forgiveness, and kissed his deity’s foot. And Kejomúj said,” When I created your race, I gave you eyes that can see in darkness, so you may extract the bounty of the earth. I gave you strong and stout arms, so you may forge in my likeness. And I made you short, for it will make you fit better in tunnels and hide from the depredations of the taller races. Why would I ever turn my back on a race in which I poured my heart and soul into?” And so Nimekí was moved to tears by his god’s message.

And then Kejomúj raised his hand, and told the miner to raise himself.

“Your race have forgotten I have created them to craft, in their vanity they erected monuments to show off their wealth, not to praise me or to practice their craftsmanship. In their vanity they drained the wealth of their citizens, and made their life miserable to pave their city with gold. In their vanity they burned and sacrificed animals, even as their own citizens starved. Do you think I desire this? You shall build monuments no longer, and shall live my spirits and to create crafts and make merriness. For I am a god and I desire only the success of my creation, not vanity over the other.”

And so Nimekí received the message of his god, and Kejomúj disappeared from before him. And he spread the new message of their merciful god, but no one would believe his message. Nimekí then led them to the caves, and found himself seeing much more clearly than his compatriots - he was truly blessed. So he guided them, and had them settle the underrealm of Kejomúj. As the realm of Kejomúj, Nimekí named it Kejomújia. He became the first king of the Kejomújia, and his followers became the first settlers.

A hundred year later, Nimekí’s grandson would conquer the surface, and subjugate the Lora who did not follow the new words of Kejomúj. They moved their new capital to the city of Esvoduko, which was between the surface and the Kejomújia, symbolizing the unity between the two branches of Lora.

Afterlife

The Lora believes that each god has created a realm of afterlife for their respective favorite race. They also believe that non-intelligent animals and plants do not have a place in any afterlife. They believe that Kejomúj punishes evil loras with up to a thousand years of labor in his eternal mines, and those who have achieved good in their life with up to a thousand years in his feast hall, fed by the labor of the sinners. The food and drinks are made out of metal, and delicious and purifying. There is no need for sleep, but wonderful dreams and mushrooms can be had. In the realm of Kejomúj, everyone is ageless and those with spouses will spend their time together until it is time for their reincarnation, while those without spouses may freely associate with each other until their time is up. And then they are all sent back to be reincarnated as Lora again. In age where the Lora race is in decline, there are not enough Lora for them to be reborn as, and so they must pray that they have accumulated enough good to stay in Kejomúj’s realm, or Kejomúj’s realm will overflow, and those who has done no evil nor enough goods will be sent off to the other race’s realms, to work as miners and craftsman.

Other Beliefs

• Birth: Birth is seen as an occasion for celebration, as Kejomúj has told his people to be merry, and thus after birth a great celebration is often held with food provided for others.
• Death: Death is seen as a sad event, yet Kejomúj has told his people to be merry, and so funerals tend to be a loud celebration of the person’s life - after they are buried.
• Cremation over Inhumation: As followers of Kejomúj eventually reincarnate and are reborn as a Lora, there is no impulsive need for inhumation, and instead cremation is preferred - for the dead must make way for the soon to be reborn. Ashes are almost always scattered and never venerated - even for the highest of rulers. Kejomújist consider graveyards a waste of the living’s space - which are not plentiful in the mountains anyhow. Since the virtuous dead enjoy the afterlife, all the space in the world shall be reserved for the living.
• Couple Burial: As couples that have done good will be sent together to Kejomúj’s realm, Kejomújist bury couples who has passed away together so that when the spouse arrive after the other, Kejomúj will know to send them to their spouse so they can reunite for pleasure in afterlife.
• Merriness: Kejomújist has a quasi hedonistic attitude to life, and sees no problem in partaking in many of life’s pleasures, as it is their god’s commandment to be merry. Drinking in moderation is fine, and so is seeking merriness. Work is extolled, but only as a means to achieve happiness.
• Marriage, Polygamy and Polyandry: The Kejomújist think Kejomúj will become very confused with polygamy and polyandry as he seeks to time the reincarnation deceased couples together - so that they will not be prematurely separated in the afterlife. And so marriage to multiple people is prohibited. Divorce is acceptable and common, especially if there are no children and the marriage is unhappy.
• Extramarital Relation: Kejomújist believes that extramarital relations without the acknowledgement of the spouses are selfish and seek pleasure at the cost of others, and so are harshly against it. However, consensual one with acknowledgement of the spouses are seen as acceptable and merry - and to an extent, even encouraged. Kejomújist societies are considered relatively liberal in terms of their sexuality. They see no issue with Premarital relations.
• Sacred Daggers: Lora are given a pair of knife or dagger, one made out of bronze and one made out of iron or steel (Both iron or steel if not attainable, and both out of bronze if the Lora is rich), and carry them around wherever possible. They are usually 30 - 40cm long and of ceremonial purpose, but the iron dagger is often expected to be used all the time and replaced. Bronze daggers are usually only drawn in times of violence and in defense. The daggers themselves are not so sacred they cannot be used - the sacred act is to carry one. The daggers are called Himó for the iron one and Polje for the bronze one. If they are of the same material, then one of them assumes the symbolic purpose of the iron or bronze dagger.

Organization

Kejomújism was once a very centralized religion during its first and second age incarnation - though its first age incarnation might be semi-mythological, as the texts of Kejomújism were mostly born during the First Prasian Empire. Most people reported to the high priest in the capital of Prasia, and rites were distributed from a top down basis.

However, modern day Kejomújism - also known as Third Age Kejomújism by some history corresponding with the chapter of Prasian history, has a relatively decentralized structure. Cities are still seen as a center of worship, hosting great temples to Kejomúj. Third Age Kejomújist temples tend to be large venues that can be used for celebration, with a small complex in the middle meant for consecration, blessings and truly sacred matter.

In rural areas where traveling to the city for festivals may not be practical, large empty grounds are often made with a small altar to Kejomúj for religious ritual. Those places often take on the dual purpose of being a seasonal marketplace. And thus multiple marketplace, once village market towns etc. are often named or related to the name Kejomújin - Place of Kejomuj throughout Loran settlements.

Festivals

There are three largely religious festivals in the Kejomújist canon. They celebrate three major mythological events in Loran history - The Act of Creation, The Act of Bronzemaking, and the Act of Ironmaking.

Föbbirók (Creation Celebration)

Fobbirok takes place during the 15th to 18th of September, and is a celebration of the creation of the world and the Lora, which started with Autumn with the plants maturing, so that the first Lora may find food. The date for celebration used to be moving with the autumn equinox in Loran history, but has changed to become fixed in the most recent centuries. This is the most heavily celebrated occasion, and many couple matching are also made during this time.

Kipűirok (Bronze Celebration)

Kipuirok takes place during the 4th of April to 5th of April, and is a celebration of the teaching of the secret of bronze making. While craftsmen might demonstrate bronze craft, the relative scarcity of bronze has made that not so practical. Instead, bronze-cut pastries and grain are often made for this special occasion and eaten to celebrate this occasion. Traditionally, a Lora who became an adult the last year is given their bronze dagger during Kipuirok.

Kudirok (Iron Celebration)

Kudirok takes place during the 10 - 15th of November, and is a celebration of the teaching of the secrets of iron making. Animals are slaughtered and eaten during this festival, and drinks are made in merry. In most rural areas, the smiths are usually honored, given a feast by the village and paraded around on a special litter if the weather permits (Which usually doesn’t happen).

In large cities, there is often an accompanying competition of craftsmanship with the winner given an adorned steel crown, and then paraded as the King or Queen of the Craft and lavished with honors and gold.

Branches

Kiznetism

Kiznetism comes from the Prasian word for underground, and is a relatively new branch of Kejomújism that split off around 300 PS. The sect believes that it is that Kejomújia - the underground, is built in the image of heaven and it is the destiny of Loras to move there and live there, and disavow the above ground which is no longer suitable for Lora. They construct temples and places of pilgrimage in places of great natural beauty in the underground, and perform worship of Kejomúj there.

The sect in its original and fundamentalist form - that of avoiding the aboveground, are practically non-existent, but there are a lot of practices of Kiznetism in moderation, in the form of creating temples and praising the very underground itself. A more divergent sect, Mekigyuj Kiznetism - says that not only the underground were created for the Lora, and that they should move into it - but that Kejomúj plans to annihilate the world above, by having the sinners create an artificial sun who will crash into the earth and scorch it, adding an apocalyptic undertone to their preaching.

Zism

Zism - originating from one of the words for “You all” in Prasian language, is a relatively new sect of Kejomujism formed around 956 PS. The sect believes that Kejomujism has extended his protection and blessings to all races - and brings all who follow them into their sects. The sect has spread in Prasian-influenced macen and even silnari areas, as some adherents find the Zist afterlife idea to be rather appealing. Zist also believes that the other gods have opened up their afterlife, but teachings on the afterlife provided by the five other gods are scarce and inconsistent.