Protacism: The Ancient Religion of the Western Isles

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Classification: Religion

Scripture: Athasmylan

Theology: Protacist Theology

Administration: The Human Council

Particular Sects: 4 (Secular, Conservative, Folk/Unorthodox, Oelasthiriasi)

Region: Worldwide

Language: None

Headquarters: Dociara City

Origin: 1,100 B.C.E. in Roendavar

Members: N/A

Protacism, also known as Roendavarian mythology, Protacistos, Roendavarian paganism, and Athalymism, is a collection of various religious and cultural movements that are based off of the ancient Roendavarian religion from around 798 B.C.E. and has since spread throughout The Western Isles. Though it is an umbrella term for various religions, Protacism is regarded as a singular religion composed of different sects (thesaliae).

Protacism is broad in its religious ideas, ranging from the belief in supernatural entities such as gods, elves, dwarves, and the like, to secular practices and traditions, to religious ceremonies, and others. However, all of them believe in the same core belief in the concept of “one in everything” (ilethelia) and the constant struggle between good and evil (avarineveron). The belief in the concept of deities, such as gods, is prevalent in most Protacist sects. This is why Protacism can also be described as a polytheistic religion, however, not all sects are of the same thought.

Today, it is one of the largest religions in The Western Isles with (insert number) of adherents comprising about (insert number)% of the regional population. There are around (insert number) of sects that span across (insert number) of countries. In Roendavar, where the religion has orginated, it comprises around 32% of the population and is split among three sects. The largest Protacist temple in The Western Isles, the Va’Aaraganiath, or shortened as the Aaraganiath, is located in Dociara City and belongs to the Conservative Protacism Sect (Valaxinenos).

Va'Aaraganiath in Dociara City

The history of Protacism can be traced back to around 1,900 B.C.E. during the Early Bronze Age in Roendavar, also known as the Thiriosi Period. The Elesthis Pillar, the earliest evidence of Protacism, is a ten-foot pillar inscribed with the story of Facun, the fire god, and how he was imprisoned in Maciesti. However, the most concrete evidence of Protacism being a religion was during the advent of the Kingdom of Avathon. During this time, the religion was a collection of mythologies by the ancient Davari people to contextualize and understand the world around them. Writings by several Avathoni scholars depict the early form of Protacism which included ritualistic sacrifice, musical prayers, and a concrete pantheon of gods, which they called the Arveim.

Protacism formally became a religion in 778 B.C,E, after it was formalized and recognized in the Davari city-state of Ariethos. Most of its mythologies were compiled into a single book called the Athasmylan and it became the foundation of the religion. It was also during this time that the Va’Aaraganiath was constructed on the tallest hill in Ariethos. During the travels of the three Kings, the Oriferostiae, stories of mythical beings known as the Immortalinae began to take root in Davari culture and were ascribed to places around the world. Around 650 B.C.E., the scholar Thenus Vi’Lascia argued that Protacism was not a religious contract but rather a cultural belief that was fluid. He published the Protacist Arguments and this would dictate how Protacism would evolve throughout history. It was during this time that the religion was split between the Conservative (Valaxinenos) and the Folk/Unorthdox (Cricenexinos). Both sects would remain up until this day.

The Protacist Persecutions

During the conquests of Aragonus the Great, Protacism spread throughout the Western Isles, particularly in Argus, Gael, the Southern Sea, and Raedlon. This also resulted in the splitting of Protacism into numerous other sects that blended and adopted local and pre-existing beliefs. In Corinthusi Vendriothos (Athara Magarat), the religion evolved into Oelasthiriasi after adopting separate beliefs from Davari Protacism. Protacism reached its zenith around the 2nd century as numerous Protacist temples could be found throughout the Western Isles and the proclamation of the Listhelin Decree, establishing Roendavar as the center of Protacism throughout the region.

During the medieval ages, Protacism began a sharp decline after the rapid spread of monotheist religions such as Christianity and Islam. Protacists were labeled as pagans and were subjected to persecutions and forced conversions and exiles. A series of crusades against the Protacist religion were conducted in -to be continued-. Around the 11th century, Protacism’s influence dwindled into small communities outside Roendavar and Athara Magarat, which remained centers of Protacism after halting the crusades.

Around the 15th-16th century, Protacism was revived into relevance as it was perceived as a secular and progressive religion, enticing numerous people, especially scholars and revolutionaries, to convert to the religion. However, persecutions against the religion continued and adherents were forced to worship Protacism in secret while pretending to be part of another, more accepted religion. This resulted in people who were Christians, Muslims, etc. during the day but participated in Protacism at night. This resulted in a further evolution of Protacism into a secular and cultural practice rather than an organized religion. This also resulted in a further splintering of the religion, creating numerous sects throughout the Western Isles.

During the Great Gael War, Roendavar descended into chaos as Arkhail Micheno committed mass murders and purges throughout the country, forcing around 2 million Roendavarians to flee to various nations in the Western Isles. Most of these Roendavarians belonged to the newly-formed sect of Secular Protacism (Lathrimonos) that followed a far progressive and secular religion than any other Protacist sect. This made it the largest Protacist sect to date.

The 1900s saw the second revival of Protacism as environmentalism, pacifism, libertarianism, and leftist ideologies such as communism and socialism began to spread throughout the Western Isles. It represented everything that these ideologies fought for and, thus, sparked a cultural and religious movement that attracted these groups to convert.

Protacism is diverse in its beliefs as well as in its practices. This diversity and fluidity is the very reason why Protacism has managed to evolve and stay relevant throughout the ages. However, certain ideas and beliefs remained the same throughout time and across different sects. Below are the core beliefs of Protacism that form the foundation of Protacist belief regardless of their sect.

• Ilethelia - Protacists believe that there is a part of everyone and everything in all. There is a part of you in everything, from the biotic such as animals and plants, abiotic such as non-living and artificial objects, as well as the abstract such as culture, religion, and identity. It is the belief that while all are different, all are one and the same in various ways. This belief is what allowed Protacism to grow beyond its home country as it welcomed everyone and every belief, changing accordingly and becoming fluid. This is also what allowed Protacism to become progressive, putting equality in practice.

• Avarineveron - Duality, or the concept of light and dark, is central in Protacist belief. The constant struggle between the two is what dictates Protacist beliefs and actions. Light corresponds to revelation and seeing. When the light dominates, men discover new lands, discover better ways of living , people see into the universe and understand, doctors may practice their arts better, and many other things like this. Darkness corresponds to ignorance, tragedy, diplomatic and military failure, and confusion. These two are constantly in flux in a long protracted battle, therefore, Protacists must uphold light for as long as they can lest darkness win.

• Aenthescin - It is the core belief that everyone has the right to be free and to decide according to their own accord without retribution, punishment, or ostracization. Protacists believe that when someone does harm or does bad, it is because they are not free of decision. For example, one kills because one is not free of jealousy or rage. Therefore, regardless of their actions, one must be taken care of and be liberated as someone free and happy is less likely to do harm rather than someone who is forced.

• Stenthelon - Because everything is equal and is free, everyone seeks to become perfect to do good. All Protacists strive to become good in order to become perfect.

• Maraielos - The concept of fluidity and progress is enshrined in Protacist values. Protacists believe that to contemplate and to progress is to become perfect and it is what brings everything to the greater good. This can be seen in how Protacism is very open to scientific progress as they believe that it is our duty that further everything to perfection and science is a representation of that.

• Immaliselia - When something disappears, it does not fully disappear, rather, it becomes a part of everything and still exists. Everything and everyone is made up of both past, present, and future. Therefore, even if certain aspects of Protacism shall cease, it is still part of it and everything. This is why most of Protacists follow their religion despite their secular beliefs. Protacism is not a requirement or a religious contract, rather, a part of everyone, adhering or not.

• Celascinron - Curiosity or to question and gather knowledge is an inherent part of Protacism. As progress and change is part of Protacism, Protacists believe that the way to further this is through knowledge and wisdom by studying and questioning reality.

The Conversions of February

Secular Protacism, or Lathrimonos, is a Protacist sect. It is the largest Protacist sect in Roendavar and is the second-largest in the world after Oelasthiriasi. It comprises around 15% percent of the Roendavarian population and around (insert number)% of the overall Protacist population.

It originated in Dociara City during the Protacist Reformation Era between 1880-1910. On February 18, 1883, the Roendavarian philosopher Ilestrius Nascien Villendron published the Alisthis Pamphlet that criticized the Conservatives, the ruling sect of the time. He questioned the need for a religious hierarchy, the belief of the gods and the Immortalinae, and the religious nature of their rituals and proceedings, which according to Ilestrius, strayed far from the original ideals of Protacism. During this time, around 71% of the population adhered to Conservative Protacism and many were discontent with religion in general due to diminishing belief in deities. As a form of protest, Ilestrius proclaimed a new Protacist sect on February 20, 1883, called Lathrimonos, now known as Secular Protacism. Thousands of Roendavarians, mainly from the working class and the poor, flocked to his support and converted to Secular Protacism.

During the rule of Arkhail Micheno, he legitimized his rule by forcing the Ithoraugoros of Dociara, Elena Sthenisca Toresmon, to proclaim him as the successor of Yralia, a title reserved for monarchs. However, around this time, only 30% of the population was Conservative Protacists. 41% of the Roendavarian population were Secular Protacists. Because of this, under the Lathrimonos Purge, Secular Protacists were arrested and executed. Around 100,000 Secular Protacists fled the country while around 40,000 died. The first Roendavarian monarch to convert to Secular Protacism was King Cornelius Decebal Avaresti after his return from Ainslie and it would become the religion of subsequent Roendavarian monarchs.

Beliefs

Secular Protacism strongly opposes the concrete existence of the Arveim and the Immortalinae. Instead, they believe that the Arveim and the Immortalinae are representations of the spirit of nature rather than definite beings. Thus, they do not engage in active worship of the Arveim and the Immortalinae, rather, they treat them as cultural and social concepts. They believe that Protacist stories are not historical and to be taken as fact but should serve as lessons and abstract guides for people.

They also oppose the concept of the religious hierarchy, thus, they do not recognize the augoros as legitimate rulers of Protacism. The reason for such is that the concept of Protacism was equality and fluidity in belief, therefore, they believe that religious hierarchy forces Protacists to adhere to a singular belief and opinion by a ruling class rather than follow their own interpretations.

Secular Protacists do not practice in any Protacist rituals such as sacrifices and prayers. They believe that engaging in the practice to appease the divine is not necessary for, first, they do not exist, and second, ritualistic practice and prayers do not dictate the goodness or perfection of a person. They believe that the way to attain perfection is to be good and to seek knowledge, which are the core tenets of Protacism.

An Augoros Leads The Ariethosi In Prayer (538 B.C.E.)

Conservative Protacism is the second-largest Protacist sect in Roendavar with around 9% of the population and is the third-largest in the world.

Conservative Protacism was born in 798 B.C.E. after Protacism was formalized by the Davari city-state of Ariethos. During the conquests of Aragonus the Great, Conservative Protacism spread throughout the Western Isles and became a dominant religion in most areas of Corinthusi hegemony. It was during this time that the ten elarion were established throughout the Western Isles. The collapse of the Empire of Corinthus and the rise of monotheist religions severely impacted the Valxinenos population and were subject to persecutions and religious crusades throughout the medieval period.

During the 15th-16th century, Conservative Protacism began to rise in popularity, albeit, in secret. It was only on May 21, 1731, when the Temple of Va’Aaraganiath was once again formalized and religious practices became major events. In 1883, Conservative Protacism was split as Secular Protacism began to take root in Protacist communities throughout the Western Isles. Most began to convert to Secular Protacism and the remaining Conservative Protacists were forced to live in small, tight-knit communities usually near the Elarion. Today, it continues to stagnate as most of its adherents are usually from the same communities.

Beliefs

The Ritual of Entaria

Conservative Protacism believes in the existence of the Arveim and the Immortalinae. However, they believe in the concept of Lescinalion, where the gods and the Immortalinae live in the same universe as us but in a different perfect plane of reality which they call Erinia. As such, our actions here on our plane of reality affect them indirectly. They believe that whatever our actions here have a direct effect on Erinia and such is also reciprocated that whatever happens in Erinia is also felt on Mediva (Earth). Natural disasters are Erinia’s reactions from our actions here on Mediva.

Conservative Protacism follows a hierarchical system of religious organization. The head of a temple is called an augoros and is responsible for religious and social ceremonies such as weddings. The augoros of an Elarion is called the Elaugoros and is believed to be the messenger of the respective god/gods of their Elarion. The ten Elarion belong to the Human Council located in the Va’Aaraganiath in Dociara and they elect a leader amongst them, the Ithoraugoros, to be the representative of the humans to Athropolia, the realm of the Arveim.

Conservative Protacism follows a more traditional form of worship. Basic religious practices in Conservative Protacism include sacrifice, festivals, ritualistic song and dance, and natural divinity. While Conservative Protacism practices sacrifice, they have long abandoned the old practice of human and animal sacrifice, instead offering food and drink to the Arveim and the Immortalinae through burning them at an altar. Natural Divinity, on the other hand, is the belief that the Arveim and the Immortalinae manifest through natural objects and features. Thus, they believe that there are certain places and certain objects that are holy. For example, they believe that Mount Athalymos is where Athropolia is located and a form of pilgrimage called Orifestiria is made every decade. They do not believe that artificial objects cannot be holy as it was made by man.

The Lone Frecunosti

Folk/Unorthodox Protacism is the oldest sect of Protacism dating back to the early 1,100 B.C.E. and is one of the most controversial and elusive religions in the world. While its exact numbers of adherents are hard to quantify, it is believed that they comprise around (insert number)% of the Protacist population in The Western Isles.

Folk/Unorthodox Protacism is a loose term for the various Protacist cults that exist throughout the world. The very first of these cults, the Valcriosi, were followers of the God of Chaos, Valcrios, and were the first to include human and animal sacrifice in their worship. In 356 B.C.E., these Protacist cults split from Conservative Protacism after being branded as heretics and were expelled from the Davari city-states. The Valcriosi revolt and subsequent persecution would force them to operate underground. They began to form secret societies and communities and were involved in several historical events.

In 1952, Ithoraugoros Clesirion Thenilia recognized the legitimacy of Folk/Unorthodox Protacism and proclaimed them a legitimate practice of Protacism amidst protests regarding rumors of continued human and animal sacrifice. Today, they remain underground and continue to attract numerous converts around the world for its wild and untamed practice.

The Dance of the Luvelion

Known Protacist Cults:

• Loraxinos - Followers of the Nature God Loras. Their headquarters are believed to be in Tillanora City in Roendavar. While staunch environmentalists and front runners for environmental conservation, they are accused of funding and participating in eco-terrorism.

• Valcriosi - The oldest Protacist Cult. The Valcriosi are followers of the Chaos God Valcrios and they stay true to their purpose, wreaking havoc and destruction throughout the Western Isles. They are identified as an active terrorist group in most countries.

• Frecunosti - Followers of the Fire God Frecun. It is believed that their headquarters remain in the labyrinth of Arsnicsais in the ruined island of Maciesti. Numerous reports of mysterious figures in Maciesti Island are theorized to be the Frecunosti. They are also identified as an active terrorist group.

• Luvelion- Followers of the Goddess of Love, Luviae. They are a cult of women that live in secluded communities far away from human civilization. While peaceful, they are known for their wild dances that they perform every night.

Beliefs

Human Sacrifice by the Loraxinos

Folk/Unorthodox Protacism is the primal and oldest form of Protacism, solidifying in their belief even before the formalization of the religion itself in 778 B.C.E. As such, most of their practices seem vastly different from any other sect of Protacism, and even within the sect itself, there are numerous differences in practice between cults.

The most striking belief and practice of Folk/Unorthodox Protacism is its practice of human and animal sacrifice. In Protacism, an imbalance between the forces of light and darkness creates chaos, and that is what brings ruin to both good and evil. Folk/Unorthodox Protacists believe that by offering life, which is the most important force of good, and death, the most important force of evil, they can balance the universe and eliminate chaos. During times of great disaster and strife, numerous Protacist cults offer human and animal sacrifices in order to ward off the chaos that was the root of all malice. During the festival of Valcrios, numerous Protacist cults offer human sacrifice in mass ritualistic murder and torture.

Folk/Unorthodox Protacism also follows the same festivals that other sects in Protacism do, albeit, in a more primal form. An example of this is the cult of Luviae called the Luvastixa. The Luvastixa is known to orchestrate orgies and wild sexual practices beneath the catacombs of Dociara during the festival of the goddess. The cult of the god of festivities, Alistio, often engages in wild, untamed parties that cause public disturbance during the Festival of Alistio. During the festival of the Fire God Frecun, his followers, the Frecunosti, offer sacrifices to the god by burning people at the stake, often in vast numbers. While Protacist cults claim to have toned down or abandoned some of the practices altogether, it is common knowledge that they still partake and participate in these practices in secret.

Folk/Unorthodox Protacists believe in the existence of the Arveim and the Immortalinae but view them as untamed forces of nature that exist in the same plane of reality as us. While other sects view the Arveim and the Immortalinae as divine, Folk/Unorthodox Protacism sees them as violent and vengeful, often interfering in human lives whenever they feel like. Thus, they believe that these forces must be appeased at all times.

The Temple of Ateia at Athara magarat

Oelasthiriasi is the largest sect of Protacism in the Western Isles as around (insert number)% of the Protacist population belong to the sect. It was established in Athara Magarat in 176 C.E. after the Vendriothos Schism.

The conquest of Aragonus the Great and the subsequent subjugation of Vendriothos, modern-day Athara magarat, saw Protacism take root in Argus. The very first Protacist temple in Vendriothos, the Ategon, was the home of the Goddess of Animals and Beasts, the goddess Ateia. However, due to indirect rule by Corinthus and the loose conversion policies, Protacism in Vendriothos began to change and adopt local beliefs. This would eventually lead to the Vendriothos Schism in 176 B.C.E. when the Elaugoros of Ateia, Lenia Alifiras, proclaimed Oelasthiriasi to be a separate sect of Protacism. This would lead to violence and riots in Corinthusi Vendriothos that would only end in the Unaris Decree that recognized the independence of Oelasthiriasi as a separate sect.

During the Khas-Kirat Empire, Oelasthiriasi spread throughout the Western Isles and eventually surpassed Conservative and Secular Protacism in its number of adherents. Because of this, then Ithoraugoros Vencentis Alius Thermonis, united the temple of Ateia and Oelasthiriasi as one temple on July 18, 1923, which granted Oelasthiriasi a seat in the Human Council. This was known as the Ateia Decree.

Beliefs

Oelasthiriasi means “people of the same idea” in Roendavarian, reflecting its history of similarities and differences with Protacism. While Oelasthiriasi functions as a separate religion, it is regarded as a sect of Protacism due to their similar beliefs, rather, with different interpretations.

Adherents of Oelasthiriasi believe in the concept of Vargas, spirit animals that are tasked as guardians or protectors of people, places, and even countries. This belief stemmed from (1) local beliefs in Athara Magarat before the Corinthusi invasion, (2) the designation of the goddess of animals and beasts, Ateia, as the region’s goddess, thus, reinforcing the belief that animals hold power, and (3) the tradition of attaching mythological and religious beliefs in a place which evolved into the belief that certain lands are independent.

Oelasthiriasi believe in the existence of the gods but not the Immortalinae. Oelasthiriasi functions as a polytheistic religion that involves the direct worship of the divine rather than the other sects of Protacism which shun direct worship. The Oelasthiriasiae do not believe in the Immortalinae as the role of the Immortalinae were transferred to the Vargas, making them obsolete.

Oelasthiriasi believe that the gods can exist in both natural and artificial objects, which go against the Protacist belief that only natural objects can hold souls. This is why the Oelasthiriasi has shrines, statues, figurines, and paintings that serve religious functions. They also believe and follow the practice of Kumari, or preteen girls believed to be personifications of higher Vargas. This stemmed from their reverence of the preteen goddess Ateia.

While Oelasthiriasi follow the same pantheon as other Protacist sects, they are known in different names and are worshipped differently. The Oelasthiriasi are henotheistic, meaning that some groups prefer to worship and favor certain gods over one another. The difference in their practice and the practice of the Folk/Unorthodox Protacists is that they still identify as a single religion.

In the beginning, before time and space, was nothing. From the deep emptiness, formed a being of pure darkness, the God Neverici. He spread fast, enveloping the entire expanse of nothing and manifested into the universe. As soon as it filled everything, it parted, and out came the light goddess, Alvici. Darkness and Light swirled together in the universe, never overtaking one another. Together, they created reality and time, the two most important and vital factors of the universe. From this, born Davaren, the God of the Universe and Reality, and Ranaria, the Goddess of Time. After years of coexisting, Neverici and Alvici started fighting, creating massive disturbance in the universe. And so, to stop their discord, Davaren separated the two, light cannot exist without darkness, and darkness cannot manifest when there is light. Davaren and Ranaria were now the only gods in the universe, and in time, they grew lonely. In an effort to create life, the two gods poured their powers and created the first of the New Gods, the Arveim: Forma, Maravi, Frecun, Helirios, and Yralia. The Five Arveim, with the help of the two Great Gods, devised a plan to create life and spirit to the universe. They would create a world that will be populated with beings and living things that would both honor and live alongside them.

Forma created water from her divine essence, sometimes gentle but when angered brings forth destruction. From the water, Maravi molded mud and rock, becoming one with the earth itself. Frecun, with all his rage and anger, formed fire, an agent of chaos and rebirth. With his intelligence, Helirios absorbed the powers of the stars and became one himself, the Sun, which would give warmth and meaning. With the elements of life complete, Yralia created all forms of life, from elves to dwarves to giants, but not yet humans. As such, they became controllers of the things they represent. Forma became the goddess of water, Maravi the goddess of the earth, Frecun the god of fire, Helirios the Sun God, and Yralia the God of Life. Davaren became the God of Reality and Space, to which he can bend the universe to his will, and Ranaria became the Goddess of Time, she who controls the cycles.

They named the planet they created as Mediva, a term which would eventually become the Roendavarian word for Earth "Mediva". Each Arveim had a race of life forms that worshipped them and eventually gained their powers. The goddess Forma had the Merfolk, a race of humanoid water species that lived in the seas and constructed a vast kingdom. Maravi was worshipped by the Dwarves whose short and stocky bodies had the power to mold the earth and reap its resources, forging weapons and technologies. Meanwhile, the Dragons were under the rule of Frecun with their fiery breaths and destructive nature. Out of Helirios came the Helinir, beings of pure energy that shifted forms and contained massive amounts of power. However, the two most powerful races were the Elves, holding allegiance to no go yet had close ties with the primal nature god Loras, and the Vampir, or Vampires as they are known today, who are the descendants of Yralia. These original races were called the Immortalinae, the Immortals. There were also minor races that were scattered around the world, with no god to lead them but their own.

Vladiros, the God of Death. Vladiros could reap the souls of the immortals and claim what is due. Upon seeing this, Yralia confronted the god of Death with the intention of destroying him so that all life on Medivae may live without death. Instead of fighting, Vladiros fell in love with Yralia and the life god returned the feeling as well. Together, life and death was unstoppable and gave balance to the world. The two bore four children: Luviae the Goddess of Love, Althoros the God of Balance, Reneia the first Woman, and Romulare the first Man.

When the other Arveim saw this, they too made gods of their own. Because of this, the population of the gods exploded, from five original Arveim to over a thousand. The original Arveim named themselves Arveimonaiae, the divines, and together with the other Arveim, built their palace on top of a beautiful mountain, Mount Athalymos. They named the palace Athropolia. The land around Mount Moldoveanu was blessed by Yralia himself and was populated by his followers, the Vampir. The land was named Roendavauria.

The first humans, Reneia and Romulare, did not inherit the power of the gods and, thus, they were mortal. What they lacked in immortality, they made up in ingenuity. Reneia and Romulare wandered the lands of Argaie, looking for a place to stay. They were turned down by the other races of the land. With no home to live, they pleaded to the gods for help. Elai, the God of Wind, heard their request and carried them to the land of Roendavauria where they were welcomed by the Vampir. Elai was rewarded by splitting his being into four so that he ruled over all the winds. The beings of Earth, or Mediva, lived peacefully after. This began the Era of the Immortalinae. Much of the stories in Protacism originated around this time when mythical beings still roamed and coexisted with man.

After a few centuries, humans have spread throughout the world but their home remains in Roendavauria. At Athropolia, the Arveim themselves grew restless, bickering and fighting with each other. From this tense time, bore a new God, Valcrios the God of Chaos. Valcrios split reality apart, creating a new world: The Revoi. The Revoi was populated by dark manifestations of chaos and fear called Titares, nothing but destruction and malice in their very forms. Seeking to destroy all that is pure, Valkrios, along with the Titares, invaded Mediva.

Valcrios sealed the home of the two Great Gods, Davaren and Ranaria, so that they could not participate in the war. Earth erupted into war with its inhabitants fighting the Titares, causing heavy casualties and destruction. Valkrios slowly pulled the worlds closer together with the goal of destroying the universe itself from the sheer force of the collision. At first, the Arveim disagreed on helping the beings of Mediva, fearing that their deaths would mean the end of the Universe. Without the help of the Arveim, the war was a sure defeat, until the King of the Elves, Selithior, hatched a plan. Each race will create a stone infused with the power of their race. The stones were called the World Gems, and together, they could rival the powers of even that of the Gods. Using the immense power of the World Gems, the beings on Mediva gained the upper ground, slowly winning the war against the Titares. The Arveim descended upon Mediva upon seeing the victory and joined in the war. With the Arveim and the Mediva Alliance, they managed to defeat the Titares and march to the palace of Valkrios. There, they defeated him by dragging him to Earth then shattering his form, scattering his remains across the universe, which would take him millions of years to reform. The great battle would be known as the Alkriathosei, the stand between the beings of the universe against Chaos.

Peace once again returned to Earth but at a cost, the population of the Immortalinae dwindled. Regaining their population would take thousands of years as they were immortal, reproduction was not easy. Meanwhile, humans grew dominant. The humans grew greedy as they encroached on the territory of the Immortalinae. The Immortalinae feared another war and so they replicated what Valkrios did. Using the World Gems, they split Mediva into two realities, one with humans called Earth and one with them called Erinia. These two worlds were superimposed into each other, constantly influencing one another. Because of this, the humans were left alone on Earth and eventually moved into the past Immortalinae territories. The Arveim also chose to stay silent, only helping humans in times of great need.

And thus, the Era of Man has begun. Humans have dominated Earth and the Immortalinae have lived on Erinia. The Arveim continue to live on top of Mount Moldoveanu in their grand palaces of Athropolia. The two primordial Gods, Davaren and Ranaria, fused together with the Universe, forever keeping reality together. Some say there is a way to reconcile both worlds but that has yet to be found.

The Gods of Protacism

The Feast of Yralia

In January, the biggest celebration in Protacism is the feast of Yralia, which is commenced from January 10-15. Citizens all around the Western Isles flock to the slopes and steep cliffs of the Draculenea Mountains to celebrate the day when Yralia, the God of Life, blessed the world. The most important day in the Feast, January 14, symbolizes when Yralia descended to the top of Mount Athalymos, the tallest mountain in Roendavar, and opened the gates of Athropolia to the people. The event is known as the Erosithegon. Thus, during the eve of January 14, people make their way near the summit, where dancing, singing, parties, and drinking, are all done under the watch of the summit of the mountain, lit by torches and lights from the festival below. Stories tell that one day, the gates of Athropolia will open once again during the night of Erosithegon and the Arveim shall bless the lands of the Western Isles once again. Those who cannot attend the feast on Mount Athalymos usually organize local festivities that include merry-making, dancing, singing, and feasts. Roses decorate most houses during this time as it is the symbol of Yralia and most people wear roses during this time, either on crowns or pinned to their clothes.

The Feast of Frecun

The remaining Areveim get their respective feasts as well. Maravi, the Earth Goddess, has her feast celebrated on March 3. The Festival of Maravi consists of eating only soil foods such as potatoes and carrots to symbolize her hardship in separating land from water. People are also encouraged to sprinkle sand or soil around them, usually done with the sound of drums. The Festival of Forma is done every May 14, with celebrations done on boats. People are encouraged to submerge themselves in a natural body of water. The largest of these celebrations are done in Constantiara City where people remain in the sea for several hours and float candles.

Frecun's festival is done on the slopes of Mount Maciesti, a dormant volcano, and is believed to be the Fire God's prison, and is celebrated on July 17. Those who attend the Festival of Frecun on Mount Maciesti are usually greeted by men wearing red robes, which are followers of the Fire God. The entire island is lit with torches and wild chanting can be heard throughout the night to beckon him out of his prison. Those who cannot attend the festival usually celebrate the feast by chanting inside their homes lit by candles. The Sunset of Helirios is a feast done during the month of September between the days of 17-23 because it is the month when the days start to get shorter.

Vladiros, the God of Death, is the main figure in Protacism's second-largest festival, the Eve of Mourns. It is celebrated during the 24th evening of November and is done to commemorate the souls of the dead. All people are forbidden to go outside during the day and all outdoor activities are not allowed. When the sun sets and the moon rises, the Eve of Mourns begins as citizens light candles inside their houses, chanting incantations and rituals without stopping. Chosen people called the resciaxali are dressed in black and are the only ones permitted to go outside. They dance and shout incantations throughout the land, banging on people's doors and windows. No one is also permitted to scream. This goes on until the sunrise of the morning of the 25th of November when the Eve of Mourns ends.

Credits to Ktismandrasi and Athara magarat for their contributions.