Religion (Drul) is ever-present in Drulon life. All living things in the swamp are considered holy and many blessings are said when even the smallest of creatures is harmed unintentionally. Because of this reverence everything you take, you must use. Waste is unacceptable in the swamps.
The Drulons welcome any open-minded foreigners into the great swamp to hear the teachings of Choath. However, blasphemy and heretical teachings brought into the land are dealt with very swiftly and harshly.
The Ancient Temple of Choath is the residence of Suva and is considered the holiest of places. There is a wide assortment of wildlife that keeps their homes within and around the temple. All wildlife residing on palace grounds are considered most holy to Choath and harming any of them results in instant death to the offender.
The priesthoods of the Drul religion are selected during the Tests of Knowledge although they do not necessarily pass though the parents to child. A child who is determined to be holy is taken from the parents and raised at a temple. Tovari is the Drulon word for holy man. The Suva-Tovari is the Prelate and highest authority of both the church and the government. Suva title is handed down from father to son. One can challenge Suva, but only if backed with a majority Mar-Tovari vote. Mar-Tovari are the high priests of the land and are selected by Suva. They are considered to be his minions and speak with his mouth when he is not present. Mar-Tovari are sent on diplomatic missions in Suva’s stead when other matters arise. In addition to these there is an accepted dark side to the religion. The Sompa or black priests exist to punish sinners and cast curses on people. They are respected and feared in all walks of Drulon life and are seen as serving a very needed role. They are usually experts in the more obscure plant life of the swamp and have been known to brew elixirs that can turn men into the walking dead or worse. The champion-knights of the church are called "Detak". Detaks are responsible for defending the religion as well as fighting in trials by combat as ordered by a Mar-Tovari or the Suva-Tovari. Only the strongest of the Detak can rise to Sun-Guard rank.
Drulons believe that each soul has one great purpose or goal that it must achieve to ascend into the light of Choath. Until they reach that goal they are returned to the pool of life by Loewyth to be reborn unto the world again and again. When the soul arrives at the point in time where it must achieve that goal it may either succeed or fail. Success grants the soul the right to become one with Choath's light and life force. Failing results in being taken to Chaniga by Serath to be punished for eternity.
Waerrn Temple
Waerrn is the ancient stronghold of the Drulon people. The temple that the city was built around was discovered intact over a thousand years ago. The origins of the temple remain a mystery, but the purpose does not. The temple is a holly shrine to the creator, Choath. The temple is organized into three sections, courtyard, hall of the gods, and the catacombs. The courtyard is simply an elevated meadow. Grass, trees, bushes, even animals live freely in this area. Many Tovari and citizens come to this place to sit and contemplate Choath, relax after a day’s work, have social gatherings, etc. It is a public park of sorts. The Hall of Gods is an enormous pyramidal shaped structure built of white rock. This structure can be seen from miles away, and dominates the horizon for most of Rietroum. The Hall of Gods is actually two levels. The lower level contains statues (that tower at thirty feet tall) of the nine gods and goddesses created by Choath. Choath is not directly represented in the hall of gods, but all deities wear a necklace with the symbol of Choath the Creator. In front of each statue is an offering shrine. It is customary to make pilgrimage and pay sacrifices to the gods once a year to avoid their wrath. Faendra, Serath, Dwerag, Loewyth, Ocaekoth, Aaedia, Adrokoth, Nania, and Reiwyn are all represented. The statues form a circle, and at the center, inlaid into the floor, is a copper seal five feet radius with the symbol of Choath. The second story of the Hall of Gods was found empty, and is used as the official Suva’s chambers. The third section of the temple was not discovered until during the siege of Waerrn by Salarian forces. It consists of a maze of long winding branching corridors that dig uncertainly deep into the mountainside. The original Crafters of the temple stored corpses here. It is thought that the corpses are those of royalty or persons of great influence due to the quality care taken to preserve, and the items that accompany them. After these catacombs were discovered, Suva understood the importance of preserving these sacred burial chambers and the treasures stored within, so in the midst of the siege declared them off limits under penalty of death. The tombs were sealed.
Creation Myth
From the eternal light a being came forth. A being of purest light and wonder. As the being came into existence in the heavens, the heavens shuddered in its name, Choath. It was more radiant than all the stars in the heavens and was the supreme ruler over all things. In its infinite wisdom Choath grabbed a piece of its own divine light and fashioned it into a sphere. Then Choath placed this sphere upon the heavens and named it Adellion (or Star of Choath). Divine breath cooled the world of the eternal fires raging across its surface. Thus the world was created so.
Next Choath reached into its divine aura and from there, placed upon the world of Adellion, in a great swamp, the children. These nine children were thus named and given powers as follows:
Reiwyn, Master and Lord of the Forests. It shall be her task to spread upon the world of Adellion all manners of trees. So that the world would be able to retain the breath of life Choath was to bestow upon it.
Nania, Mistress of Water. Her task would be to carry water to all of the lands of Adellion. For the water will thus be consumed by the life upon the world and sustain it.
Adrokoth, Lord of Harvests. He shall be the ever-bountiful harvest across the lands of Adellion. In his wake, all shall get the food they need to survive and live on.
Aaedia, Mother of Life and Birth. Her task was to bring forth the creation of life to all of Adellion. In her wake, the world will experience the joys of creation for all eternity.
Ocaekoth, Lord of Evil. His task will be to bring chaos and plant the seeds of evil upon Adellion. Everywhere the seeds of evil are planted life would be evil in its wake.
Loewyth, Lord of Death. Since each life that Aaedia creates only lives for a certain amount of time, it shall be his task to collect those that have died and return them to the pool of life. They say that he is often seen in the wake of Serath, Lord of Suffering and Pain.
Dwerag, Lord of Mountains. He shall remind all life upon the world of the power of Choath. He shall do this by raising mountains to the very heavens themselves across the lands of Adellion or sinking them to the very depths of Chaniga (history notes here Chaniga is referenced as a "hell" of sorts. Those who must feel the pain of suffering of Serath go to this place.
Serath, Lord of Pain and Suffering. Her task shall be to show the world of Adellion pain and suffering. Adellion shall remember from this that there is more to life than pain and suffering. Those having done evil upon others may be taken to Chaniga and there their immortal souls will remain, never to see the pool of life once more.
Faendra, Goddess of the Sand. Her task shall be the very soil upon all life on Adellion shall walk. She brings to Adellion the very soil, which will help it, flourish.
Choath smiled upon the children. It spoke to them briefly telling them what it wished them to do. When Choath was done, the world of Adellion came into fruition. Choath smiled once more upon the world of Adellion, its fondest creation. It had indeed done well. Then taking a large breath, Choath once more breathed across the lands of Adellion. Thus the breath of life existed everywhere. "May the children of Choath live forever" was whispered upon the wind as the glittering image of Choath faded. All that remained in his departure was the lights in the heavens, the children of Choath, a great swamp and the world known as Adellion. These swamps would be the only place in which Choath touched. Hence it shall be forever known as "Rietroum, or Holy Lands"
Loewyth's Tale
In the beginning Choath created the gods to watch over and maintain his creation. Faendra controlled the sands of the desert, made the dunes, the storms, cast out the water and embraced the sun. Serath brought pain and suffering to the people, for without pain there is no pleasure. Dwerag rose up the great mountains and set these as barriers and places of awe for the people. Ocaekoth tempted the minds of the people to do acts of evil upon each other, for without evil, there is no good. Aaedia, holly mother brings new life into the world to witness the power and wonder of Choath. Adrokoth brings harvest and food to the people to sustain life. Nania, goddess of water watches over and controls the mighty oceans. Reiwyn raises great trees of the forest to inspire awe and keep the land fertile. Loewyth takes souls out of the realm of living and judges them.
And so it was. Choath was pleased. The gods were pleased. Loewyth was not pleased. Loewyth thought his place in creation as a burden. Choath took Loewyth aside and spoke to him of the need for death. Choath cast before his eyes the value of temporary life. Loewyth was not convinced. He set down his holly dagger and went to seek pleasure elsewhere. And so it was, life eternal upon Adellion. The people were joyful, no longer did they need their weapons or their armor for they could not die. They no longer knew fear. Serath and her pain were still with them, but as they quickly found out, pain is temporary. The men and women grew old. 30 lifetimes have they lived when Choath gazed his eye upon the creation and its people. Choath came to Aaedia and questioned for Loewyth. Aaedia knew not, and she continued her duties. 40 lifetimes have the people lived and Choath again looked his eye upon the creation. Choath was unpleased, great winds ravaged the world, earthquakes, blizzards, Loewyth did not return.
Choath, in despair went searching for Loewyth. In this time the people’s population had grown greater than the land could maintain. There was not enough food, not enough air, and not enough space. Serath was pleased, never before had she been so needed, or so powerful. And the population rose still. Choath found Loewyth basking at the edge of the pool of life. Choath displayed for him the state of creation. Loewyth was unbothered. "You created this Adellion, I did not ask to be a part of it." Loewyth responded. Then he turned his back to Choath and continued basking in the pool. Choath felt great anger and despair. Choath brought this situation to the eight other gods of Adellion. Serath, the most powerful dismissed Choath’s plead as it was in her best interests. Ocaekoth forged chains to bind Loewyth to this world. Dwerag made great mountains to cast over the imprisoned god. Choath was not pleased.
Again Choath spoke to Loewyth, "Your brothers and sisters, they plan to bind you to the world where you are so needed."
Loewyth replied, "They will not bind me, for I am one with them, binding me will bind themselves" The sadness in Choath grew great. Choath came before the gods of creation. All knew what must be done. Choath stopped time as the gods went to Loewyth. "You will not bind me with those chains, brothers and sisters, for we are all one within Choath, and binding me will bind yourselves." The gods knew this to be true, but they also knew their duty to creation. With much force the chains were set. The gods were bound. Loewyth wore the shackles at neck, wrist, waist, and ankle. The other gods were bound by Choath’s holly medallion around the neck. Death returned to Adellion, Serath’s power weakened, and the people went back into balance with creation. Choath saw Loewyth in suffering, but also saw creation whole again. The ideal creation was broken, and so it is.
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