Introduction

The common feature of all Lísic religions is the belief in one or more gods, the so called Higher Ones. They are eleven gods, each of which is the patron and the bearer of power over a certain natural or other phenomenon. In polytheistic branches, especially in the southern regions, it is common for a person to devote their life to one of the Higher Ones whose philosophy speaks to them the most – for example, people who strongly believe fate and predestination possess a close connection with Rasza, the god of fate. The Higher Ones are worshiped in most often wooden shrines with a circular floor plan, from the center of which protrudes a narrow, tall tower with a bell, which only the wind can ring. The interior is richly decorated and contains twelve altars, one for each of the gods and one for all the gods and other higher powers. This arrangement is the same regardless of the number of gods worshiped in the shrine's surroundings; the only exception is Leikism whose worshipers build churches and chapels inspired by the opulent Alteian architecture. Polytheistic altars on their own can also be found outside shrines, especially in smaller villages and along roads, most notably at crossroads. In households, a table serving as a home altar is usually set aside for small offerings and prayers.

In addition to the Higher Ones, many branches also worship a number of demigods, patrons of various phenomena that fall under the power of one of the Higher Ones. Most of them are popular characters from stories, both for children before bedtime and for adult audiences spending the long winter nights in warm inns. The vast majority of demigods were born as mortals, but through their actions they managed to gain the interest of the Higher Ones, who lent them some of their power and named them a demigod. For example, Ahleia, consecrated by Szeyra, is the demigoddess of love; Hajewa (or Hjøa), consecrated by Líwt, is the demigoddess of mothers and maternity; or Lord of Crossroads, sanctified by Rasza, is the demigod of crossroads, pilgrims and the lost (among other things, he holds a hand of protection over altars). Demigods are not an "official" part of the religion, therefore their names and stories can vary greatly from region to region; yet for many they are an important part of the faith, especially if their power is somehow important to them (for example, mothers of dead children often pray to Hajewa for various reasons – to protect their child in death or to return the child to them).

Lísic religions, with the exception of Leikism, have no spiritual leaders – everyone is their own master of their faith and adheres only to the unwritten rules passed down orally. Disputes arise only with the interpretations of the Higher Ones that in some way contradict the holy book, containing mere two stories – the story of Creation and the story of the First War (in fact, the stories do not even indicate the exact number of the Higher Ones). Therefore, no one leads a purely spiritual life; the closest to this are the priests who take care of shrines, organize holidays and festivities and bless newlyweds and newly crowned Riventher rulers.

List of the Higher Ones

LEIKI – the supreme god, representing existence itself and keeping the cosmos going, among other things the creator and holy protector of Kélas; together with his lover Líwt oversees the human lives they created together (either agender or bigender in some interpretations)

RASZA – god of fate, magic and wind; Leiki created him from raw magic and left him to rule over them; considered Szeyra's brother

SZEYRA – goddess of truth and earth, later also of freedom, justice, hunt and war; Leiki created her from cosmic matter, and with her help raised the foundations of Kélas; considered Rasza's sister; Alas's lover

ALAS – goddess of water created by Szeyra to flood the planet with rivers and oceans; Leiki's first lover, Szeyra's current lover

SWONUR – Leiki created light, and with its accumulation the Sun came into being, and with it Swonur who controls it; twin of Hvarnatt, blood sibling of Neiss (a goddess in some interpretations, a god in others, no definite gender or intersex in most of them)

HVARNATT – the light also gave rise to the darkness, from which arose Hvarnatt, the god of the night and the moons; they are nicknamed "God of Two Faces" (Jónelvasenðr) in reference to their appearance; twin of Swonur, blood sibling of Snovnir (similar situation to Swonur, they have no gender or are intersex in most interpretations)

NEISS – goddess of love, summer and the southern lands; twin of Snovnir, daughter of Alas and Leiki, blood sister of Swonur

SNOVNIR – god of winter and the northern lands; twin of Neiss, son of Alas and Leiki, blood brother of Hvarnatt

LÍWT – god of life created by Leiki; twin of Motran; together with his lover Leiki he oversees the human lives they created together

MOTRAN – goddess of the dead created to maintain the balance of life; twin of Líwt and blood sister of Hrafnur; she reigns in the underworld which consists of two layers – the Realm of the Dead (including the Hall of the Brave – those who died in battle and martyrs) and the Eternal Flames (where evil souls and sinners go and burn in flames forever and ever); she is considered a fallen goddess since according to the holy book, she was the one who gave free will to people and thus started the First War; in her exile she created Hrafnur who travels between worlds in the form of a raven to represent death on Kélas and to lead dead souls to the underworld; she is often depicted with a scythe

HRAFNUR – the god of death and its personification born from a raven with the help of Motran, who became his blood sister; depicted with two sickles with which he severs the threads binding mortals to life

Branches

Faith of Eleven Gods

The religion of the vast majority of the Northern Union, worshiping all eleven Higher Ones, thus maintaining the same form for over a millennium.

Faith of Seven Gods

The religion widespread in Parlene, Towakia and partially in Syrhaian Damsétia (i.e. in the west Parlene-Wastian Federation). Its followers worship seven gods: Leiki, Rasza, Szeyra, Neiss, Snovnir, Líwt and Motran. Swonur and Hvarnatt are considered part of Neiss and Snovnir, respectively, as their powers overlap – day with summer and night with winter. Alas is a part of Szeyra. Hrafnur is considered a demigod.

Faith of Five gods

The religion of Trosetia, west Amari steppes and a large part of Syrhaian Damsétia. Five gods are worshiped: Leiki, Rasza, Szeyra, Líwt and Motran. Here, Líwt rules with the power of Neiss and Swonur, while Motran rules with the power of Snovnir and Hvarnatt. The position of Alas and Hrafnur is the same as in the Faith of Seven Gods.

Faith of Three Gods

The religion of the eastern Amari steppes and Astaria (a large part of the non-Lísic Middleland Alliance). Three gods are worshiped: Leiki, Rasza and Szeyra. All other gods are seen as demigods.

Faith of One God (Leikism)

The religion of the Lísic part of Middleland Alliance and the de facto state religion of the Southern Empire, although it is the majority faith only in Lyniros, Sentia and parts of Yisénia. Its followers (Leikins) worship only one god, Leiki, and they do not recognize any of the other Higher Ones, not even the demigods. The head of Leikism is the ruler of the Southern Empire – currently Rivalis Angara III. Hikaria. Leikins are renowned for their belief that Leiki is the one true god, and so it's no wonder that the Southern Empire has spent hundreds of years trying to spread the religion of its rulers to all corners of the kingdom, with knights trained in both combat and faith serving them in this cause. The most famous, strongest and most lethal of all are the knights of the Order of the Most Holy Leiki (abbreviated as just The Order) whose job is to maintain order in the Empire and occasionally spread the Leikin faith.

Motranism

The most peculiar branch of the Lísic religions is Motranism, accepting only one goddess, Motran, who gained her worshipers by giving free will to the people created by Leiki and Líwt. Although this act has sparked many wars, Motranians view the other Higher Ones as traitors who considered humans as nothing more than soulless shells, while Motran is a savior and liberator to them. It is a belief widespread in the west of Kélas, namely in Varia, Weslin, Yeseika, parts of Yisénia and rarely even in Sentia – all mostly non-Lísic lands. In the past, Motranians and worshipers of the Higher Ones waged wars with each other and relations between them were properly strained, though over time the feuds calmed down, especially as the Faith of Eleven Gods began to splitting into all the different polytheistic branches that we know today.