Oshala

Worshipping any deity other than Oshala is considered heretical and is strictly forbidden. Oshala perceives himself as the only true god, and any deviation from this belief is a severe taboo.

Given Oshala's pronounced masculinity and disdain for females, women taking on leadership roles within the faith or community is considered a taboo.

Questioning the teachings or decisions of the clergy, who are considered the mouthpieces of Oshala, is not allowed. Such actions are seen as questioning Oshala himself.

All followers are obligated to participate in the aggressive recruitment strategies laid out by the faith, aiming to convert as many people as possible to the worship of Oshala.

Once a community has been infiltrated, followers are obligated to strive for political power to further the faith's agenda, including making Oshala the state religion.

Men are expected to assert their authority over women and children, in line with Oshala's teachings on the natural order of gender roles.

Clergy wear robes adorned with the holy symbol of Oshala, a rhombus with smaller rhombuses at the three bottom corners and a star at the center.

High-ranking clergy carry a staff with a metal head shaped like a rhombus, symbolizing their divine authority.

Clergy also wear a set of three interjoined rings on their right hand, symbolizing unity under Oshala.

Used in various rituals, these daggers are often ornate and may be inscribed with verses from Oshala's scriptures.

Females serving as slaves or servants in the temple may be branded with Oshala's symbol, marking them as property of the temple.

Men who have participated in conquests for the faith may wear special armor during ceremonies, often adorned with symbols or verses glorifying Oshala.

Quhamman, originally an agnostic, was indifferent to the existence of gods despite having witnessed their presence. However, his village's invasion by Pollaran believers hardened his heart against all religious followers. His life took a turn when he discovered a glowing book, golden tablets inscribed with an ancient script he could miraculously read. The text introduced him to Oshala, the one true god, and debunked all other gods as impostors. Enlightened by this holy text, Quhamman offered his first prayer to Oshala, becoming his inaugural prophet.

Quhamman's deep exploration of the holy text led to his interpretation, which he encapsulated in "The Book of Quhamman", a revered scripture to this day.

Centuries after Quhamman, Ar'mee was born into the religion of Oshala. Dissatisfied with the teachings in The Book of Quhamman, Ar'mee became a cleric, gaining access to the original golden plates. After a lifetime of study, he released his interpretation of the holy text, which was less benevolent than Quhamman's and revealed Oshala's stance on females, war, politics, and indoctrination.

His book, "The Revision for Oshala" or commonly known as "Ar'mee's Book", quickly attracted a fanatical following, leading to the rapid spread of the faith across the world.

Regarded as the last prophet of Oshala, Nasa emerged hundreds of years after Ar'mee. As a child, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to outdo even the highest-ranking clerics in matters of faith, leading many to believe that he was blessed with special insight from Oshala. Nasa preached that Oshala had equipped his followers with enough resources to make the world submit to his religion, promising universal peace thereafter. Nasa declared himself the final prophet from Oshala, with his word being the ultimate authority on all aspects of life, including food practices, sacraments, property rights, and interactions with non-believers. Nasa's teachings were meticulously recorded by scribes throughout his life, forming a canon for followers. Before his death, Nasa reviewed these writings, distinguishing between those considered scripture and those that were his own words. His book, known as "Ḵẖatama" or "finished" in the common language, is considered the final authority in any disagreements among the three books.

Originally, the Manis represented the primary worshippers of Oshala, advocating a peaceful and egalitarian belief system. However, the release of Ar'mee's book and its subsequent dominance led to the Manis becoming a minority. Today, they form the vanguard when the faith expands into a new area, promoting peace and goodwill to alleviate local fears.

The Armenites are a more militant sect, advocating force as the primary means of spreading the faith. They believe in punishing non-believers and uphold extreme views on male superiority. They often have multiple wives, including slave wives from conquered regions, and raise their children to follow in their footsteps. Wives who fail to produce male offspring are often sold to other men as slave wives.

The Nasallians represent the majority sect in regions conquered by Oshala's followers. Although less aggressive than the Armenites, they enforce strict societal rules and harsh punishments. They suppress other faiths to showcase Oshala's superiority and treat women as property, albeit allowing them to work in roles subordinate to men. Those who promote the faith enjoy more liberties, while those who resist face severe public punishments, ranging from lashes to beheadings.

This sacred scripture, along with the original gold plate texts, is housed in the temple founded by Quhamman. Only the highest-ranking clergy are allowed to handle and read the book directly, while others must refer to a copy. The original text, written in a local dialect, is considered the only holy version, with common translations not recognized as sacred.

This holy text, stored alongside The Book of Quhamman, is also restricted to the highest-ranking clergy. Copies are distributed to various sect temples for the Armenites. The original text, written in an ancient language, is deemed holy, while all other translations are not.

These four stones, connected by a rope, serve as a prayer object, symbolizing the four pillars of the faith. The original set, believed to be crafted by Oshala himself, is stored with the scriptures. Replicas are found in every temple, and smaller versions are carried by believers.

Celebrated on the first full moon of the year, Sustar commemorates the first revelation. The day is marked by scripture readings, songs of praise by men, and the acceptance of new converts through an initiation ceremony.

This week-long holy event begins with two days of fasting and culminates in a festival. It commemorates the first defense of the temple, during which the faithful had to endure days without food.

Observed on the last moon of the year, Āzādī is a day when any slave who accepts Oshala, can recite the initiates' prayer, and commits to dedicating themselves to the faith, is released from bondage. Over time, the list of requirements has expanded, with Nasa's text defining the exact prerequisites.

After conquering a region, the young and unmarried female survivors are auctioned off to the warriors and clerics who helped subdue the region. The women are then bound to the men who purchased them, and sometimes branded.

This ceremony is conducted when a transgression of the faith's laws occurs. After a trial by the clergy, if the accused is found guilty, they undergo the Sazā ceremony for cleansing. Punishments range from lashings to amputations, often influenced by the victim's status and the wealth of the family.

When a husband wishes to sever ties with his wife, he requests the Tōṛanā ceremony. The cleric unbinds them, freeing the man from his responsibility towards her. A fee is charged, half of which is given to the woman, who becomes a freed woman. However, as they cannot own property or conduct commerce, they use this money as a dowry to secure their next husband. If unsuccessful, they resort to prostitution and begging.

Daily prayer, conducted twice a day

Weekly singing sessions with brothers

Daily scripture reading for purity

Submission, where all non-believers must submit to Oshala, all women to men, and all children to their fathers.

This heresy believes that Oshala's divine essence is present in all beings, regardless of gender. They argue that the faith's male-centric teachings are a misinterpretation and that Oshala's true message is one of universal equality. This directly contradicts Oshala's teachings on the inferiority of females.

This group argues that Oshala is not the only true god but one among many. They believe that a pantheon exists, and Oshala is merely the leader. This is a direct violation of the taboo against worshipping other deities and questions Oshala's claim to be the sole true god.

This heresy believes that Oshala's domain of "order" should be emphasized over "war." They advocate for peaceful coexistence and dialogue with followers of other faiths, which contradicts the faith's aggressive proselytization and conversion efforts.

Founder: Zephyrus the Enlightened
Zephyrus claims to have received a vision from Oshala, revealing that the star at the center of the rhombus symbolizes a hidden, fifth pillar of the faith: Asceticism. Followers of this cult practice extreme forms of self-denial and isolation, believing that this will bring them closer to Oshala's divine essence.

Founder: Seraphina the Defiant
Seraphina, a woman who claims to have been visited by Oshala in a dream, argues that Oshala's disdain for females is a test. She believes that women who prove their worth through acts of valor and wisdom can earn Oshala's favor. This cult consists mainly of women who have taken up arms to prove their worth, directly contradicting the faith's teachings on gender roles.

Founder: Magnus the Wealthy
Magnus, a wealthy merchant, claims that Oshala favors those who accumulate wealth and power, as these are signs of divine favor. Members of this cult focus on amassing wealth and influence, often through unethical means, believing that this is a form of worship that pleases Oshala.