Anuri

A shamanistic tribal belief-system found exclusively in Saniori, it holds no special reverence for The Eleven or other non-worldly spirits. Instead it worships a nature figure called Orina and local Ancients to curry favor in their immediate needs.

The closest thing to a deity in Anuri, Orina has many parallels with Psychi and other nature-figures. Seen as the all-powerful spirit of the world and master of all it contains, she is the highest authority in Anuri. Most apocalyptic tendencies in Anuri spring from the belief that Orina remakes the entire world when she is not sufficiently pleased with mortals' loyalty towards her.

Though villages and city-states usually worships local spirits, if a spirit is found to be against Orina it is called a Reithan. Though cults of Reithan-worshipers do exist in mainstream Anuri communities, most consider them something to be avoided as sources of tragedy (or at least bad luck). They are not thought to be “evil” in the Agothonian sense, however, and certainly not worthy of actively crusading against. Communities might turn to a Reithan if they were particularly oblivious to the consequences or too desperate to care.

Anuri believe that when angered Orina destroys the entire world, rebuilding a new one to her liking upon the ashes of the old one. The Rupture, a cataclysm that befell Saniori centuries ago is considered to be the latest in a long line of re-births. Most Anuri sects believe that the arrival of Dythos and other foreigners in Sanioric lands is a sign that another Rupture is eminent. They seek to warn all outsiders of the impending doom if they do not begin “Ground Watching,” with some radical sects even promoting violence against non-believers.

The Anuri call the worship of The Eleven or other celestials “Sky Watching.” They see the practice of philosophy, theology, or existential thought as counter to the simple command of Orina to worship and be content with her gifts. It also has the connotation of paying too much attention to the future and not enough attention to the present situation. The opposite is “Ground Watching” which includes respect for tradition, proper care of nature, absolute reverence to Orina and the avoidance of planning ahead.