Chronicles of
the World:
Religion and Spirits

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Visual Development of Spirits and Religion

Overview: There is no real unifying religion within most of the world anymore - or, where there is, it is only within small groups. In other parts of the world, people have given up on the idea of Aida, the Great Divine Goddess of the Eastern Quadrant, in lieu of more progressive ideas and the power that lay in mankind. These people have also given up on the Spirits, saying they never existed now that mortals themselves can control the Elements. In smaller communities, people still believe in the loving Goddess and the world-creating Spirits, especially in Seldra, where the believers have sent off their own kind to call the Spirits to confront the Senshuu (that is, Ronou and Mune).

People used to give offerings of food to the Spirits of Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire, whom they assumed (or were influenced to think spiritually) were in their presence since SOMETHING must control the Elements. In more barbaric times, people would even make bigger sacrifices. Everyone hoped to appease the Spirits enough so that one day they shall appear to them and bless them with some sort of Elemental or divine gift, or at least to stop ignoring them. The practice is done rarely today, though, because the people have mostly given up on the Spirits, thinking they have been abandoned by them, or that they tried the wrong approach, or that maybe they did not exist in the first place.

AIDA

One of five sister Goddesses of the Universe, of the Eastern Quadrant. The Quadrants are divided like so from the Universe's center:

\ N /
\ /
W. E
/ \
/ S \

...although the people of Seldra don't know this yet. (They aren't huge on astrology or anything beyond their atmosphere.)
Aida is said to be made of pure love and concern. She is also said to be arduous and severe, an unwavering divine spirit. Unfortunately, most find her to be aloof, desiring her literal presence and ignoring signs from the spirit.

ELDA

The Fifth Goddess, of Darkness, outcast from her sisters before time for treachery. She looms in darkness, lying in wait for openings in her sisters' creations to destroy them. She exploits weaknesses, poisons minds, and corrupts hearts.

The Spirits

Ethereal beings with no one form, they manifest rarely (if ever) and seem to spend a lot of time sleeping. Maybe creating the world tuckered them out.

Sefir, the Spirit of Wind. His power gave life to soulless bodies during the Creation. His rune represents his two wings. His color represents warmth.

Gordo, the Spirit of Earth. His power crafted the world and created Humans and creatures during the Creation. His rune represents his inner power. His color represents stability.

Laki, the Spirit of Water. Her power filled the empty earth with gentle water during the creation. Her rune represents her finned ears. Her color represents wisdom.

Pyre, the Spirit of Fire. His power gave the world light and warmth during the creation. His rune represents his two wings. His color represents cunning.

Spirit Gems

The ones who can find any of the four Spirit Gems can receive "blessing" from the Spirits more directly; however, the journey to obtain those hidden jewels is hard, so until now no one has bothered to try but one person. The Zephyr Ring holds the Spirit of Wind; the Swastone holds the Spirit of Earth; the Agua Pearl holds the Spirit of Water; and the Rah's Jewel holds the Spirit of Fire. For the most part, the Spirits do not want to be bothered, which is another reason why it is so hard to find them.

The Zephyr Ring (or "Fla Ring") is a golden ring with a tiny Diamond embeded into it. It was forged by Sefir himself.
The Swastone is composed of clear black Obsidian. It noticably grows in pillars out of the last plateau of the Great Plains.
The Agua Pearl (Or "La Pearl") is an almost unnaturally beautiful pearl that shines several colors. Its core is a speck of Topaz instead of sand. It's said that a clam has claimed it.
Rah's Jewel is a multi-ended piece of Sardonyx. It has fallen into a cavern deep within the Volcanic Mines.

These gems never lose their power and are very valuable. It is said that the power of the original Spirit Gems alone rubbed off on other mundane gems, spreading their magical properties over the years.

The splitting of the original Spirit Gems at the second millennium allowed everyone to be able to use Magi-Mani.

Elements and Magi-Mani

Magi-Mani, the practice of "magic" (or, more correctly, "elemental manipulation"), plays an integral role in the world. For a millennium, it has affected the way everything in the world exists. People gain more and more control over the elements to help their everyday lives, but their natures compel them to achieve more, whether it be for good or evil.

The four Elements make up everything in the world. Subset classes of them are used in very specific tribes of Magi.

Fire (Rah)

The Element of Fire was said to give light and warmth to the world. Fire is used to light paths, but it also can be the most destructive Element. (Subsets: Magma)

Water (La)

The Element of Water sustains life itself. It is integrated into healing practices for that reason. (Subsets: Ice)

Earth (Swa)

Earth composes the land and the plants. It is said that physical bodies were molded from the earth itself at the beginning of the world. The Earth can also be used to enrich other life. (Subsets: Metal, Sand, Plant)

Wind (Fla)

Wind has been said to have given life during the creation of Aret. No one is quite sure how that works. (Subsets: None)

These are referred to the Square, collectively. There are also Secondary Elements that are not involved with as much (especially in Seldra). These would be METAL (Woli), WOOD (Shia), POISON (Poi), SHADE (Unber), and LIGHT (Syber), otherwise known as the Pentagon. See Also: the Circle (representative of Aida's Eternal Love) and the Triangle: SPACE (Tuhiu), TIME (Tainu), and CHAOS (Senshuu), forces that govern all.

There are several different ways of handling Elements.

By hand: The most challenging but most powerful way. Learning to control the Elements with one's body can be very taxing and dangerous. At its worse, it can dry out your blood or cause you to rupture. At its best, you become in-tune with nature, bending it to your will.

By runes: Runes drawn in a very particular way in the dirt can use the earth's power to summon up every element, since parts of each element are within it. It's the most likely to fail way, but good when you're in a pinch or unable to summon Elements yourself.

By magical implements: Magi, especially Human Magi, also use magical implements such as rods, wands, or any enchanted utensil to utilize the elements. Enchantment can be as simple as embedding an Elementalized gem within (necessary for any Element except Earth, as metal and wood-created utensils already have Earth properties - but added power never hurt) or casting a spell over it, but either way lots of power is needed in order for it to take, and gems and items won't hold their power forever (except those gems that came directly from the Spirits). This is the weakest form of Elemental control, though it becomes handier if the Mage can control Elements with his or her body to some degree.

Magi

Short for magicians (not to be confused with the kind who performs prestidigitation, a different thing altogether), they specialize in all methods of Magi-Mani. It is a very challenging thing to accomplish, but when done well, a Mage can become a destructive force - especially if one, by chance, gains the guidance of a Spirit. Training to be a Mage used to begin when a person turned 12 and end when they reached the age of 23, but today they start at much younger ages (as young as 5) and thus end sooner as well. Training consists of meditation, physical training against the Elements, and the honing of Elemental summoning skills by concentration.

A group of four Magi who specialize in each element is called a Square. A Mage who has mastered all four Elements is called a Magus (and thus, one who has mastered two Elements is a semi-Magus, and one who has mastered 3 is a tri-Magus). A powerful Mage that knows any number of elements is called Sorcerer or a Witch.

Moon Signs A study by various Magi over the course of many years and generations found that people born under certain phases of the moon may experience different effects on their ability to perform Magi-Mani, especially Water Magi. The fuller the moon, the greater the effect; the moon generally works in favor of Water and against Fire.

No Moon (New Moon) - Most advantage to Fire; disadvantage to Water and Wind
Waxing Crescent - Little advantage to Water
Ruby Moon (First Quarter) - Strong Water advantage
Waxing Gibbous - Very strong advantage to Water and Earth
Sapphire Moon (Full) - Fullest advantage to Water, Wind, and Earth; strongest disadvantage to Fire
Waning Gibbous - Very strong advantage to Water and Earth
Emerald Moon (Third Quarter) - Strong Water advantage
Waning Crescent - Little advantage to Water

After the year 2000, certain animals (now called Cho Ikii) were given Elemental powers by way of the shattering of the original Elemental Gems due to the Second Senshuu. Humans and other races gained the capacity to manipulate the Elements, but they cannot be united with them normally.

It is said that when the four Elements come together, electric chaos can be generated, and life can be destroyed. Though the Spirits say that only Gods can create or destroy, the mingling of the Elements may be the cause of great change... and the 1000-year buildup of Elements without their direct control may cause demise.

Elemental Resistance

Since Magi and Cho Ikii can use Elemental power against each other, one must note the advantages and disadvantages Elements may have. (In handy list form!)

FIRE
Strength: Earth, Ice
Weakness: Water, Wind, Sand

WATER
Strength: Fire (Earth as Ice)
Weakness: Earth (Fire as Ice)

WIND
Strength: Fire
Weakness: Earth

EARTH
Strength: Water, Wind (Fire when Sand)
Weakness: Fire, Ice

Chronicles ofthe World: Religion and Spirits