The North PacificBoard

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A Rabbit Folk depiction of Zerphex, god of the Mundane.

While the gods of Ilevisha have always existed throughout time and space, the world itself is a very recent creation. Though the gods have always been close with one another, they eventually grew bored and lonely, no longer satisfied with each other's company. Thus, they agreed agree to create the world as a solution to their perceived problems. Each god and goddess was given a specific task in order to achieve this.

The Elemental Gods were given the task of physically shaping and creating the world.
-Zensari first created the land itself, creating and shaping the various continents and landforms that make up the world.
-Cimussa created numerous bodies of water, such as the oceans, lakes, rivers and streams.
-Ryxathys created the air all creatures breathe and the clouds and skies.
-Diollon created the sun and moon, and all the volcanoes that dot the landscape.

Once the world was created, it was then up to the Esoteric Gods to populate it with life.
-Naether created the various creatures and races that would inhabit the world.
-Moetodor created magical systems that all races could learn how to use.
-Zerphex created the tools of civilization, teaching the various races how to live and how to form societies.
-Nemeran created the afterlife, so that those who reached the end of their lifespans could be justly rewarded or punished for their earthly actions.

Of course, such a gargantuan task was bound to have some issues, as Naether was soon to discover. The Ilvishian gods are formless beings, able to take on any appearance, size and shape that they desire. As such, Naether was unsure what form the various races of the world should take. Her solution was simple: she would create a multitude of different races that would then populate the world. Whichever races honored the gods would be rewarded, and those that turned away from them would then be punished. And so she went to task, creating the elves, humans, dwarves and demi-humans of the world.

Over time, these races would form their own civilizations and societies, mostly abandoning the Ilveshian gods and forming their own false mythologies. Only the Rabbit Folk would continue to follow and worship them, and they would become the "chosen people" of the gods. With the issue solved, the gods then moved to destroy the other races, as they were no longer needed.

However, before they could do so, they were stopped in their tracks by Nemeran, god of Darkness. Nemeran had grown to love ALL the various races, and he could not stand to see such creations destroyed even if they no longer followed the ways of Ilevisha. He believed that all the races deserved a chance at life, and that to destroy them now would be both unfair and unjust. He closed the entrances to the afterlife in protest, and created his own race of semi-immortal beings known as "Demons". He then used them to wage war against the other gods, kicking off the War of the Godly Alliance. The consequences of this war would prove to be disastrous.

Unable to die but still able to suffer, the various races of the world soon began to war amongst each other for land and resources. Nemeran and his demons battled the other gods and their Rabbit Folk followers, with neither side able to gain ground against the other. Eventually, both sides realized that they could not break the stalemate, and negotiated a settlement. They Godly Alliance agreed that they would allow all races to have a fair chance of survival, and that they would not interfere in their daily affairs. In return, Nemeran agreed to reopen the gates to the afterlife and to banish his demon forces to that realm, where they would instead punish the unworthy. And so it was done, with all things being returned back to normal.

Today, their still exists an uneasy truce between Nemeran and the rest of the Ilevishian gods and goddesses. While none have directly violated the treaty set forth from their war, they are still locked in a battle of supremacy, each side vying for total control of all creatures. Even worse, some of the Demons created by Nemeran no longer obey him, and are said to have their own designs for the future of the world itself...

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An Ilevishian Priestess

All Rabbit Folk who follow Ilevisha believe that they are the chosen people of the gods, for it was them alone who obeyed the gods even when the various other races refused to follow them. Ilevishians believe that they are inherently superior to all other races due to their status. However, they are also taught to spread the message of Ilevisha and to convert those who are unbelievers, so that they may learn to love and accept the Ilveshian gods as the true creators of the world.

All races, whether or not they are Ilevishian, are judged for their earthly actions. Those who were kind and just are granted eternal paradise amongst the gods, while those who were cruel and evil will be punished for all of eternity. Nemeran, being the god of Darkness and thus death, has complete authority to judge as he sees fit. It is believed that those who do not follow Ilevisha can still go to paradise if they were truly good people, although the paradise they go to is NOT the same as those who are true believers. Accordingly to Ilevishian tradition, these places are divided as follows:

-Ziasterial is the realm of the gods, and the ultimate goal for all Ilveshians. Those who have lived righteous and virtuous lives are able to live here for all eternity, in a state of total happiness and ultimate bliss.
-Cliowearah is where those who were neither good or evil go. The souls who resided here are neither tortured nor totally content, as their indecisiveness showed while they still had breath.
-Fofirus is the land of the dammed, where those who were unjust and evil are sent too upon their passing. Here, they are tortured for all eternity by the Demons of Nemeran for their earthly crimes.
-Pliqiriel is where virtuous non-believers reside upon their death. While it is by no means a bad place, and is far better a place to reside than Fofirus and Cliowearah, it is not the highest realm of happiness one can ascend to after their death.

All Ilveshians are taught to love and respect the environment and all of its natural resources, as it is believed that the gods created these things so that those alive might use them to live a happy and healthy life. Ilveshians are encouraged to live modestly and to use their resources responsibly, as war, famine and death follows when they do not. This was especially apparent in the War of the Godly Alliance: such a story is a popular cautionary tale in regards to resource management.

Life and death also play into this idea of respecting the environment. It is the natural course to all things, and if too many creatures are alive at the same time, then the quality of life drastically declines, as again illustrated in the War of the Godly Alliance. Even Nemeran, in all his compassion, agrees that no one besides the gods should have eternal life. This is why Necromancy is strictly forbidden in Ilevisha, and is punishable by death no matter the circumstance.

Some Ilevishians are known to receive visions from the gods and communicate with them via their dreams: these followers become priests and priestesses and are tasked with leading the faithful and keeping them on the right path. Anyone can theoretically become a priest or priestess regardless of age and gender, but in reality such a thing can take years if not decades of meditation, study, and schooling to achieve. The Tiliadran, or simply the Book of Ilevisha, contains thousands of passages from the original Ilevishian prophets, those who walked side by side with the gods and saw their miracles firsthand. It requires extensive analysis and study from anyone who would try to preach its teachings. Those who find themselves up to task are eventually permitted to join and run their own Forest Temples, with the goal of one day joining the Vraeggearim, or Ilevishian High Council.

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A close up of a Golden Crown.

While Ilevishians identify themselves with a number of different religious symbols, the most important one by far remains the Flower Crown. Quite simply, the Flower Crown is a crown of intertwined grasses, flowers, cereals and plants that anyone is able to create and wear. Alternatively, Flower Crowns can be used as table, door or wall decorations if desired. The symbolism behind each Flower Crown is twofold. Firstly, each Flower Crown represents the authority given to the Rabbit Folk (and all mortal races by extension) to use the environment as they see fit. Secondly, each Flower Crown is also a sort of promise. Just as a just king takes care of his people, so too must the mortal races take care of their environment so that all may live and prosper in the name of the gods.

Traditionally, each Flower Crown was supposed to be made from organic materials, but this led to many of them falling apart over time or being difficult to create during Winter. Some clergy then began to create "Flower Crowns" out of inorganic material such as metal, leading to the creation of the first Golden Crowns. Such items are highly prized among the Ilevishian clergy, and are usually reserved for only high ranking members. Of course, these crowns tend to come with a large amount of controversy, as it is difficult to reconcile the Ilevishian tenet of "living modestly" when you wear a crown of solid gold upon your head. Nonetheless, these relics are still quite sought after, and for obvious reasons. Organic crowns are far more common and accessible to the vast majority of Ilevishians.

The kings of Wireennas, conversely, also tend to see these Golden Crowns in a rather dim light. After all, a crown is a tangible symbol of one's authority to rule, and to have the Ilevishian church parade about with their own version of such a symbol can lead to confusion over who truly has the right to rule. Should the King ever find himself in disagreement with the church, he may start to see such relics more prominently displayed by its members, as a subtle reminder over how much power they actually wield...

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A Wireennian Earth Mage.

Thanks to Moetodor, magic is something that can be accessed by all the living races. When a Wizard or other magic user casts his or her magic, he or she is actually utilizing a tiny fraction of the god's power to achieve their end goal. The Ilevishian gods and goddesses grant some of their followers the ability to use such magic, although such gifts should only be used for the betterment of the world and to spread the name of Ilevisha. Of course, how such magic is actually used is entirely up to those who casts it: the Ilevishian gods and goddesses do believe in free will, as evidenced by their initial seeding of the world and creation of the various races. They did not force the heathen races to follow their teachings, though they were admittedly only saved from destruction by Nemeran's influence. Yet, the gods continue to distance themselves from earthly affairs, and never do they intervene directly.

However, this is to say nothing of the Demons, who gleefully intervene in the disputes and machinations of mortals. They happily grant them dark powers to do with as they please, though this does not align with the views and will of Nemeran. These so called "Dark Wizards" spread fear and destruction wherever they go. They commit numerous crimes and atrocities in the name of their ultimate, foul goal: immortality. Luckily, such a pursuit has yet to be attained, and these evil beings inevitably find themselves punished for their actions.

Anytime Dark Magic is casted by a so called Dark Wizard, it is the various Demons of Nemeran providing them with such powers, and NOT Nemeran himself. This has caused much confusion amongst the faithful, and many incorrectly believe him to be a sort of "evil" god, though this is far from the truth. Unfortunately, while Nemeran is certainly powerful, he is not omniscient, and he cannot police the actions of his demons all the time. While it might be wise for him to destroy his demons, they are indispensable to the running of Fofirus, and should the other gods break their promise of non-interference, they would immediately be used to purse war against them.

Ilevishians do believe that the world will come to an end eventually, as the Demons of Nemeran will eventually rise up against him. It is said that the demons will evict Nemeran from his stewardship of the afterlife and free all the souls who were damned for their mortal sins and transgressions. They will then unleash untold horrors upon the land, plunging the world into eternal strife. The gods will agree to resolve their differences and once again walk among their followers, setting forth to do battle one final time against the forces of evil. They will select eight champions, one for each god and goddess, to be their vessels, and they will fight against the rogue demons and their armies. In the end they will finally prevail, though the physical world will be destroyed, and all upstanding peoples will join them in eternal glory and paradise!

Until that time comes, the Ilevishian faithful continues to be ever vigilant, ready to fight against the forces of evil once the need should arise...

-Murder: As Nemeran is the ultimate steward of life and death, only he can judge whether a mortal is fit to live or die. As such, murder is seen as a serious transgression when committed, though there are a few exceptions for instances of self defense, warfare and capital punishment. Abortion, unless it is to save the life of the mother, and rabbit sacrifice are also considered murder for this purpose.

-Alcohol/Narcotics: The Book of Ilevisha says nothing against smoking, drinking and using drugs. In fact, Ilevishian priests and priestesses often utilize narcotics during their rituals and ceremonies to better communicate with the gods, such as with when they ingest "mad honey". That being said, Ilevishians also believe in staying healthy and treating the body well, so misuse or abuse of such substances is is frowned upon and often condemned.

-Same Sex/Interspecies Marriage: Both same sex and interspecies marriage is permitted within Ilevisha, with some stipulations. Firstly, both partners must either be adherents of Ilevisha or convert to Ilevisha upon marrying one another. Secondly, both partners must be in quote good "physical, moral and spiritual standing" in order to be wed. A priest or priestess may refuse to acknowledge or bless such a union if one or both participants do not meet such criteria.

-Necromancy: Necromancy is ALWAYS an immoral and an abhorrent act in the eyes of Ilevishians. To bring the dead back to life is among the ultimate evils: only Nemeran has the power to take and process life, and only he may decide what eternal fate will await those who have died. To remove them from their stations is unacceptable, and should to many creatures be brought back from the dead, it will only be the living who suffer for it.

-Resource Conservation: Ilevishians are taught to use their resources and environment responsibly. They should not waste, use, or destroy resources irresponsibly: they must put thought and care into how they shape the world the gods created for them.

-Animal/Monster Ownership: All the creatures of the world were created for its inhabitants to use as they see fit. This means both slaughtering for their products and taming for use. Of course, those who unjustly injure or kill such creatures are liable to be judged for their actions, and any animal or monster products must be used responsibly and not wasted as in line with all Ilveshian teachings.

-Proselytizing: Ilveshians are taught that they have a duty to convert other races to the Ilveshian faith. While it is acknowledged that heathens can be good and go to Pliqiriel should they led virtuous lives, it is still important to bring them back to the original teachings of the Ilveshian gods so that they may go to Ziasterial once they die.

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Keeping clean is an important part of Ilevisha, as evidenced by this village Washing Machine.

-Slavery: According to Ilvesha, slavery can be permitted in certain circumstances, such as punishment for serious crimes or as a form of debt payment. One of the biggest controversies regarding slavery revolves around if Ilveshians can own other Ilveshians. During the time of the warring Rabbit Clans, it was an acceptable practice, while today, it is illegal for an Ilveshian to own another Ilveshian, though heathens and criminals are excluded from this category.

-Crime and Punishment: In accordance to the teachings of Zerphex, anyone accused of a crime must have their guilt proved before they can be punished. Furthermore, any punishment given must be in proportion to their crime, thought corporal and capital punishment are permitted.

-Corpse Disposal: Both burial and cremation are acceptable ways of disposing of corpses. In areas where Necromancy is high, cremation is actually preferred, and Diollon’s name is often invoked. Of course, any and all corpse disposal should be done safely, in a way that does not damage the environment.

-Warfare: While disputes should be resolved peacefully when possible, war is permissible in the Ilveshian faith. Wars of Proselytization, preventative wars, wars of self defense and wars over proper resource management are all allowable in certain circumstances. When engaging in warfare, all Ilveshian troops should look to minimize environmental damage when possible. Failing that, there must be a genuine intent to repair any damage inflicted once hostilities have ceased. Of course, when it comes to the treatment of heathen soldiers and civilians, brutality is often expected, overlooked and even condoned by the masses.

-Disease: Disease occurs from having unsanitary living conditions or by the work of evil demons. As such, Ilveshians have a duty to stay healthy by bathing themselves, exercising outdoors and ensuring that their living conditions are neat and clean. The sick and injured should be healed with either light magic or healing potions when possible. Devices such as washing machines and open air baths help Ilveshians to stay healthy, and should be utilized frequently.