Prayers for the Faithful

Birth of a New Religion

The opening of the gates of the Abyss, the Grand Fall, brought about extreme environmental change. The natural aspects of plants and animals in the land mutated into different forms over time. Some life forms experienced negative changes, while others had good effects that proved useful in terms of transportation, food, etc. for the people that survived.

The religion of the past proved outdated in this changed world. Hence, a new totem religion rose from the ashes and combined elements of the old religion while harnessing the newly found attributes of these altered life forms. The Incar, symbolizes the order of the world as it is today. Borrowing from the religious beliefs of the past, the Incar instituted transmuted versions of the twelve gods of the old religion in an effort to make their religion current.

Among the life forms newly created by contact with the Abyss, twelve creatures were given human form and deified. The twelve creatures coincide with the twelve-day cycle of the two moons; when Miseria veers close to Ricchez. One of the main doctrines of this religion is based on a higher sense of justice (i.e. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth). This doctrine is inculcated in the core of the Incar so as not to forget the religion of the past.

 

Main Gods Governing the Incar

[Wings of the Sun - Hellion (Male): Piuma]

Hellion is known as the God of the Sun. His form is based on a Griphon, also known as an Aquila, one of many creatures transformed by the opening of the Abyss. Griphons are used for air mobility because of their eagle-like size and speed. It uses its feathers as weapons. Their use has grown widespread due to the relative ease in taming these creatures. They are called Kings of the Sky due to their strong air superiority in battle and their ability to understand human language. This is why the God of the Sun is fashioned around this magnificent beast. The sacrificial offering for this god is also a Griphon's feather, the Piuma of Griphon. Piuma was the original name of Hellion prior to the Grand Fall.

 

[Land of Fertility - Siz (Female): Miere]

Siz is the Goddess of Land, was associated with Mazoram, one of the plants transformed by contact with the Abyss. Mazoram plants have many various uses. The first discovery of this flower plant was by a traveler that was attacked by creatures corrupted by the Abyss. He sought protection where Mazoram flowers blossomed. Somehow these flowers deterred them from attacking. Mazoram became known as the Flower of Bless due to its ability to drive away defiled life forms. These plants also have external medicinal properties in treating scars and can also be used in the form of tea and food spices. The offering for this goddess is the honey extracted from this flower, Miere. This was the origin of the goddess' name.

 

[Watcher of the Sea - Rondow (Male): Ollio]

Rondow is known as the God of the Sea. He is associated with Tiamety, a whale-like creature transformed by contact with the Foreign Realm, the Abyss. This huge beast has a body twice or thrice the size of normal whales and is generally aggressive in nature. Along with Maelstroms (undersea storms), they are one of the dangers that fishermen encounter in the far reaches of the sea. People say that Maelstroms are conjurations from the magical powers of Tiamety. However, sightings of Tiamety are very rare. These whales seek sustenance by devouring Kraken, large squids that often appear to prey on ships. Since the Timatey prey on the Kraken, this greatly reduces their numbers making the seas safer for sailors. This is the reason why Tiamety is also known as the Guardian of the Sea. People pay homage to this god by offering extracted oil from other whales called Ollio. This was where the god's name originated from prior to the Grand Fall.

 

[Beauty of Moonlight - Qune (Female): Fiore]

Qune is the Goddess of the Moon and Beauty. She is associated with Oenosera, one of the plants transformed by the Abyss. It resembles any common flower but it has a white glow under moonlight. When Oenosera petals are blown out into the sky, the scene shimmers under the moonlight. Due to this flower's nocturnal beauty, it is sometimes used by lovers to express their undying love to each other. Oenosera flowers are useful as medicinal herbs and as an excellent fever alleviator. Offerings to this goddess is the Oenosera flower itself. The term for flower, Fiore, is Qune's title in the past before the fall of Trieste.

 

[Hilt of the Blade - Zuto (Male): Menta]

Zuto is known as the God who Protects Knighted Warriors. His form is based on a Unicorn, one of the many creatures altered by contact with the Abyss. With dazzling white fur and a silver horn this creature behaves erratically and is difficult to catch and tame. However, once tamed, Unicorns have a strong loyalty to their masters. Its horn is extremely tough and strong and often used as material for the best daggers. These daggers are also called Bianca (meaning white). Some unicorns of age have the ability to use magic. Those who pay homage to this god offer Mintro Menta (mint), an herb that Unicorns like. Hence why, Menta is Zuto's name in the past.

 

[Silk Weave of Poison - Nunvice (Female): Firleto]

Nunvice is the Goddess of Poison and Silk. She takes the form of a Manakne. Manakne are huge spiders as large as humans and resemble a composite creature of a spider and a warthog. With eight legs and two hook-like arms, this poison spewing creature attacks with vicious arm slashes and blocks movement by sprinkling binding silk from its mouth. Its body is covered with an impenetrable hard shell. Manakne are creatures welcomed in many fields. Its eyes are used for jewelry as they vary in color and luster aside from being tough and non-decaying. Its poison is also useful as medicine. When it is refined, is used as a weapon and tinged on the edge of blades. Manakne store silk inside their bellies and this is used to tailor very luxurious clothes. Offerings to this particular goddess come in the form of spools of silk, Firleto, which is the origin of the goddesses' name in the past.

 

[Hermit of the Woods - Banzer (Male): Koda]

Banzer is known as the God of Wood, Wisdom and Tricks. He is patterned after Tyton, an owl that was also altered by the Abyss. Unlike other owls, Tyton's facial appearance looks like a stumpy triangular mask. Tytons possess a number of magical abilities, some of which are also known by humans. The most useful magic ability of this animal is a messenger signal that only requires a short amount of time to cast. This messenger signal can inform nearby comrades of the owl's location during emergency situations. The usual offering for this god is a lizard's tail, Tyton's favorite delicacy. The name Koda (tail) originated from this before the Grand Fall.

 

[Beauty of Frost - Parca (Female): Animna]

Parca is the Goddess of Coldness and Revenge. She is likened to a Frost Rich, one of the many creatures altered by coming into contact with the Abyss. Human only by shape, a Frost Rich is similar to a vampire in terms of its beautiful facial appearance. Its body from the neck down consists of a complex weave of bones. Frost Riches conceal their skeletal bodies with animal leather. However, despite their efforts of body concealment, the bone structures beneath reveal themselves whenever they use their arms. Fortunately, these abominations do not roam any areas without ice. There was a story that a research party of around twenty people encountered a Frost Riche, and only two survived. Deification of this monster came from the premise that it could not be defeated. The creature is as infamous and feared like a devil. Those who dare pay homage to Parca normally offer animal blood. Animna, meaning blood, was Parca's former name prior to the Grand Fall.

 

[Moving Mountain - Mablray (Male): Gemma]

Mablray is the God of Mountains, Rocks, Manufacturing and Production. He is conceived based on a Mountain Golem that spawned from the corruption of the earth when the lower planes were opened. With a size twice that of humans, the bodies of Mountain Golems consist of rocks, moss and tangled tree roots. These titans have intelligence unlike other golem-like creatures due to their ability to speak to humans. Mountain Golems often sit still and relish surprising humans by speaking to whoever enters their domain. They are very gentle creatures that often become a hunting target for wanderers. This is due to the high probability that their bodies contain diamonds and other jewels inside. Those who have dared to hunt a Mountain Golem to date have perished. Paying homage to Mablray is done by offering a variety of precious stones. This god's past title of Gemma (jewelry), originates from this.

 

[Razor Tooth of the Wind - Tera (Female): Canino]

Tera is known today as the Goddess of Wind and Animals. This goddess' form is based on a Fenril, a dog-like creature that mutated when it came into contact with the Abyss. This unique beast is twice as big as a normal wolf and very agile. Fenrils have the ability to disguise themselves by standing in an upright position. This ability is called Laikansrope. Its speed is said to be as fast as an incidental image blur, making it difficult for even the most skilled warriors to see one. A Fenril's speed is what makes most people fear them. It is also said that Fenrils have the ability to understand human speech. These wolves are not aggressive since it does not attack people entering their territory. The usual offering to Tera is Canino, a canine tooth of a normal wolf, which is the origin of Tera's name in the old religion.

 

[Voice of Thunder - Arch (Male): Deca]

Arch is revered as the God of Thunder. The god is based on the form of a Teraphin, a turtle-like creature that has also been altered during the time of the Grand Fall. This huge turtle has two heads and has the ability to call fierce thunderstorms by crying into the sky. One can only completely vanquish a Teraphin by severing both its heads. Failure to do so only gives a Teraphin a chance to regenerate any of its severed heads back. However, these large creatures are not dangerous. They are recognized as divine animals that overwhelm the evils in the world. Offerings to Arch come in the form of a carapace of a normal turtle, called Deca, which is the origin of the Arch name prior to the Grand Fall.

 

[Demon of Misfortune - Sepaphi (Male): Niete]

Sepaphi is feared as the God of Misfortune and Death. He is the only Incar god that is not patterned against any creature. It is an anthropomorphic Miseria, the Moon of Misfortune, which symbolizes the 12th day when Miseria covers Ricchez. He is regarded like Kalizio himself, who paved the way for Karon's invasion. He is often illustrated as an evil spiritual guide, wearing a black robe with a skeleton helmet and a staff. However, some of Kalizio's records portray Sepaphi as a handsome individual whose image was distorted when Karon broke free from its prison. There is no offering given to this god due to the fear of misfortune falling into one's life. The original name prior to the Grand Fall was Niete, meaning nothing. The etymology of this god's name projects a strong satirical image as Seraphi means misery and Niette means nothing. The two names are interpreted sarcastically as Sephahi having ‘no bad intentions' when it comes to his actions and behavior. This alludes to Kalizio's conviction that this god is regarded like Kalizio himself since his actions and behavior were similar.