Difference between revisions of "Aspanism"

From OtanWiki
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   | books            =  
 
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   | leaders          = The [[Ninth Lotus]]
 
   | leaders          = The [[Ninth Lotus]]
   | deities          = [[Aspan]], [[Suu]]
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   | deities          = [[Aspan]], [[Suu]], [[Jur]]
 
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[[Aspanism]] is the dominant religion in the Caliphate of [[Ontustik]].  It is based on the primordial creator [[Aspan]], who is the personification of the sky. Aspanist purists can be monotheists and will believe in no other god than [[Aspan]], dismissing the various legends and myths as fancies of the imagination. For the majority of believers, however, [[Aspanism]] has a complex heirarchical pantheon which begins with [[Aspan]] and ends with the holy priestesses who praise his name on [[Otan]].
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[[Aspanism]] is the heartbeat of the [[Ontustik||Caliphate of Ontustik]], centered on the foundational union of the three Great Personifications: [[Aspan]] (the Sky), [[Suu]] (the Waters), and [[Jur]] (the Ground). While [[Aspan]] is the supreme creator and the personification of the infinite blue above, the faith is far from a cold, distant monotheism. The average citizen of Ontustik lives their life in the colorful, dramatic shadow of the "Intercessors"; deities born from the primordial trio specifically to walk, love, and work alongside humanity.
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The people and the all-female clergy, known as the [[Flowers of Aspan]], find their true connection to the divine through [[Tun]] and [[Kun]]. These divinities do not serve as the abstract concepts of creation; they are rather the celestial mirrors of the human experience. Tun, goddess of the night and love, presides over the mysteries of the heart and the intimacy of the dark. Her counterpart, [[Kun]], is the vibrant god of the sun, day, and industry, the patron of every laborer, merchant, and builder under the sun.
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The creators gave life to the intercessors to permit humans access to the divine. These more relatable gods can better understand us on a human level, making the divine feel like a shared partner in the struggle and joy of existence. This relationship is physically anchored by the massive ziggurats that dominate the horizon of every [[Ontustik]] settlement. These towering structures are the social and spiritual hubs of the community.
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Managing these structures and the people who worship there are the [[Flowers of Aspan]]. They lead rituals that celebrate the "higher-type" sensuality and industry that define civilization. Under the guidance of the [[Ninth Lotu]]s, the clergy teaches that the drive to build, to groom oneself, and to create beauty is a sacred reflection of the gods' own nature. In the Caliphate, to be civilized is to be godly, and to be human is to be in constant conversation with the sky and the sun.
  
 
==The Tenets of Aspanism==
 
==The Tenets of Aspanism==
Most of the tenets of [[Aspanism]] are either constructs of the temples that give him worship or they come from the [[Legend of Batir]]. In this legend [[Batir]] is a legendary king, who has various dealings with the gods. In the true mythic style, the dealings rarely turn out well for [[Batir]], though he does his best through cunning, intuition and sometimes luck.
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The tenets of Aspanism function as a practical blueprint for a prosperous existence, guiding the faithful through every facet of the human experience. These instructions, meticulously curated and disseminated by the [[Flowers of Aspan]], are not merely abstract spiritual goals but actionable commandments for a flourishing society.
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The [[Living Papyri]], jokingly called the "Tiri Papiri" by clergy insiders, cover the breadth of civil life. They prescribe methods for cultivating the arid lands of Ontustik, governing the ethics of commerce and lending, and outlining the social obligations of friendship and family. Much of this wisdom is anchored in the [[Sezim Taldik]], derived from the many parables within the [[Legend of Batir]]. Through the hero-king's triumphs and frequent, messy failures, the Aspanist clergy illustrates that a "better life" is built on the pursuit of beauty, the maintenance of order, and the mastery of the physical world under the living and loving sky.
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==Aspanist Clergy==
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The clergy of [[Aspanism]], known collectively as the [[Flowers of Aspan]], represent a seamless union of spiritual authority and civic governance. In the [[Ontustik|Caliphate of Ontustik]], there is no distinction between church and state; the Flowers are both the keepers of the divine blueprint and the administrators of the law. This sacred hierarchy is anchored in the capital city of [[Anar]], where the [[Ninth Lotus|Ninth Lotus of Aspan]] reigns as the nation’s supreme divine leader.
  
What are the things we learn from [[Batir]]?  Firstly that death is inevitable. In his quests he learns that while immortality is something that the very luckiest of humans might attain, that it is too unlikely to be hoped for and therefore one should live life and accept that it has an end.  
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From her seat of power, the Ninth Lotus of Aspan commands the faith and the country, ensuring that the civilization-building principles of Aspanism are upheld across every province. Throughout the settlements of Ontustik, she appoints specific floral designations, creating a lineage of living icons. Each settlement is thus governed by a single high-ranking priestess whose title is tied to her location and her place in an unbroken succession.
  
[[Batir]] goes on to teach us that dealing with the gods is best done from afar. Individuals who deal directly with the gods rarely die of old age. The goods in the [[Aspanism|Aspanist]] pantheon can be very precocious and have little sympathy for mortals who die when they cross the gods or don't get an instruction quite right.  The heroes of [[Aspanism]] provide us with fewer examples of what to do than what NOT to do.
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The Fourteenth Rose of Karakat, for example, serves as the absolute authority in her region; upon her passing, her successor is consecrated as the Fifteenth Rose. These women are far more than mere bureaucrats; they are the physical intercessors for their people, embodying the beauty, industry, and order that Aspanism demands of all humans. Under their guidance, the massive ziggurats of the Caliphate function as the literal and metaphorical centers of the world, where the Flowers cultivate both the land and the souls of the faithful.
  
Lastly, and somewhat unusually, [[Batir]] teaches us that sexual congress is necessary for the advancement of civilization.  He learns that for want of sex... the sensual human variety of sex, individuals will walk upright, keep their hair clean and trim, clean up their surroundings and so forth.  He concludes that the desire for this higher type of sex is the basis of all civilization and is necessary to maintain civilization.  This latter point is promoted thoroughly by the clergy of [[Aspanism]].
 
  
 
===[[Sezim Taldik|The Sezim Taldik]]===
 
===[[Sezim Taldik|The Sezim Taldik]]===

Revision as of 02:10, 7 February 2026

Aspanism
Aspanism.png
Symbol of Aspan
Type Polytheistic
Races Human
Organized Yes
Founded 1 IM
Leaders The Ninth Lotus
Deities Aspan, Suu, Jur

Aspanism is the heartbeat of the |Caliphate of Ontustik, centered on the foundational union of the three Great Personifications: Aspan (the Sky), Suu (the Waters), and Jur (the Ground). While Aspan is the supreme creator and the personification of the infinite blue above, the faith is far from a cold, distant monotheism. The average citizen of Ontustik lives their life in the colorful, dramatic shadow of the "Intercessors"; deities born from the primordial trio specifically to walk, love, and work alongside humanity.

The people and the all-female clergy, known as the Flowers of Aspan, find their true connection to the divine through Tun and Kun. These divinities do not serve as the abstract concepts of creation; they are rather the celestial mirrors of the human experience. Tun, goddess of the night and love, presides over the mysteries of the heart and the intimacy of the dark. Her counterpart, Kun, is the vibrant god of the sun, day, and industry, the patron of every laborer, merchant, and builder under the sun.

The creators gave life to the intercessors to permit humans access to the divine. These more relatable gods can better understand us on a human level, making the divine feel like a shared partner in the struggle and joy of existence. This relationship is physically anchored by the massive ziggurats that dominate the horizon of every Ontustik settlement. These towering structures are the social and spiritual hubs of the community.

Managing these structures and the people who worship there are the Flowers of Aspan. They lead rituals that celebrate the "higher-type" sensuality and industry that define civilization. Under the guidance of the Ninth Lotus, the clergy teaches that the drive to build, to groom oneself, and to create beauty is a sacred reflection of the gods' own nature. In the Caliphate, to be civilized is to be godly, and to be human is to be in constant conversation with the sky and the sun.

The Tenets of Aspanism

The tenets of Aspanism function as a practical blueprint for a prosperous existence, guiding the faithful through every facet of the human experience. These instructions, meticulously curated and disseminated by the Flowers of Aspan, are not merely abstract spiritual goals but actionable commandments for a flourishing society.

The Living Papyri, jokingly called the "Tiri Papiri" by clergy insiders, cover the breadth of civil life. They prescribe methods for cultivating the arid lands of Ontustik, governing the ethics of commerce and lending, and outlining the social obligations of friendship and family. Much of this wisdom is anchored in the Sezim Taldik, derived from the many parables within the Legend of Batir. Through the hero-king's triumphs and frequent, messy failures, the Aspanist clergy illustrates that a "better life" is built on the pursuit of beauty, the maintenance of order, and the mastery of the physical world under the living and loving sky.

Aspanist Clergy

The clergy of Aspanism, known collectively as the Flowers of Aspan, represent a seamless union of spiritual authority and civic governance. In the Caliphate of Ontustik, there is no distinction between church and state; the Flowers are both the keepers of the divine blueprint and the administrators of the law. This sacred hierarchy is anchored in the capital city of Anar, where the Ninth Lotus of Aspan reigns as the nation’s supreme divine leader.

From her seat of power, the Ninth Lotus of Aspan commands the faith and the country, ensuring that the civilization-building principles of Aspanism are upheld across every province. Throughout the settlements of Ontustik, she appoints specific floral designations, creating a lineage of living icons. Each settlement is thus governed by a single high-ranking priestess whose title is tied to her location and her place in an unbroken succession.

The Fourteenth Rose of Karakat, for example, serves as the absolute authority in her region; upon her passing, her successor is consecrated as the Fifteenth Rose. These women are far more than mere bureaucrats; they are the physical intercessors for their people, embodying the beauty, industry, and order that Aspanism demands of all humans. Under their guidance, the massive ziggurats of the Caliphate function as the literal and metaphorical centers of the world, where the Flowers cultivate both the land and the souls of the faithful.


The Sezim Taldik

In the modern temple there is no book so revered as the Sezim Taldik, which contains a thousand stories, including the celebrated Legend of Batir.

The Memes of Aspan

A collection of 64 memes said to be the blueprints of the universe.

The Will to Power

All is possible under the sky.

The Aspanist Pantheon

There is only one recognized god, which is Aspan.

The Creator

Aspan.

The role of the creator is filled solely by:

The Intercessors

There is no intercession. What happens under the sky, happens.

  • Tun: Goddess of the night, love
  • Kun: God of the day, industry
  • Sogis: The god of war.

The Messengers

Birds, weather, thunder and lighting add up to portents and omens.

The Destroyer

The Aspanist Clergy

Women... lots of women.

The Flowers of Aspan

Skilled women.

The Temple of Aspan

The Temple of Aspan is A temple can be found in every settlement in Ontustik.

Religious Observances

Popular Folklore