February 2024
Recommended reference material: Comprehensive Timeline (revised), DIMENSIONS: Tartarus (includes general breakdown of each race),
The Tartarun races were created in early Era 4 after the Seven Heathen Mages were banished to Artificial Planar Void TR-5 (later known as Tartarus). Until the first century of Era 6, the dimension and its peoples were ruled by the Seven, their guilds and inner circles, and their successors. In Era 6, while [ x ] and Darekaeii were waging the first interdimensional war, the people of Tartarus rebelled against their overlords and overthrew them. Before and after the Era 6 rebellions, there were two separate types of worship happening in Tartarus.
While the Seven (or their successors/affiliate) were still in power, the people of Tartarus worshiped them like gods. They had no choice, and no reason to believe differently. The Seven were their creators, the ones who gave them social outlines on how to behave, and instilled in them their own twisted morals. These are the major religious groups of that age:
the Cult of Herrei — located in the middle regions of Tartarus, the Cult of Herrei (COH) worshiped the ideas and assumed-deity of Corva Herrei. Corva was captured and banished to APV TR-5 because her pride blinded him to her weaknesses. One of her own followers in the rebellion in [ x ] ratted her out, sick of her egotistical ideas about deifying herself after overthrowing the Pantheon. Her pride was later marked by her creations, the Herrenic people, as arrogant and careless. But while she ruled, her loyalists and followers perpetuated the idea that her word and judgement was always correct, and that if you believed in and worshiped her the way she wanted, you would always see victory.
the Order of Mirrali — originally confined to the lower middle-south region of Tartarus, the Order of Mirrali (OM) was a tight-knit order of false prophets who operated in the name of Dorian Mirrala. Dorian was a former prophet of Ialu who was stripped of his second sight upon capture and banishment to APV TR-5. Xe went mad when he was cut off from his goddess (stars know what would have happened had someone killed her in the rebellions in [ x ]), but he managed to convince his followers his psychotic hallucinations and epileptic episodes contained visions of the future. His Order carried out his will based on a series of manuscripts, which Ialu herself later burned when she helped free the Miila people, who renamed themselves Ialuans in her honor.
the Temple of Wrath — in the northeastern corner of Tartarus, cut off from the magic-rich Creation Point on the southwestern coast, the Temple of Wrath was led by and devoted to Zarian Laxa. Zarian was the brains behind the Guild rebellions in [ x ], and was the most militant of the Seven. He was a former devotee of Lio's who later rebuked her, saying she was too lenient and too soft. he created the Temple of Wrath and led the Laaxan people to be warriors and war mongers who never backed down from a fight, no matter the cost, no matter the size. It took until well into Era 8 for his creations, who renamed themselves the Tritarans after the words for "three" and "shapeshifter," to unpack the harsh, legalistic, emotionless rhetoric he instilled in their culture.
The TOW was also popular with the creations of Lor Amas, the Amads (later the Archdaimens). Laxa and Amas were, in fact, very close even after their capture and banishment. This closeness is what later enabled the Tritarans and Archdaimens to enter into the first truce of the old Tartarun race wars (late Era 6/early Era 7).
the Laxan Anarchist Guild — located a little further west than the TOW, the Laxan Anarchist Guild (LAG) sought to use all of Zarian Laxa's most radical ideas against their fellow Tartaruns. They worshiped his most extreme side, his craziest ideas and rituals, and deified his cruelty. They were anti-government, amoral, and warlike (more so than their TOW counterparts). Their views made them outcasts before the Seven's regimes were ever toppled, and while they were regarded as off-the-deep end extremists, their perspective was often a refreshing one to have at peace talks...
the LAG was disbanded alongside most of the other religious groups dedicated to the Seven after the rebellions of Era 6. However, their core ideologies surrounding government, freedom, and stringent human rights persisted (although how anyone following after Zarian Laxa became instilled with those ideas is still somewhat of a mystery).
the Temple of Tahni — located in the southeastern region of Tartarus, the Temple of Tahni's (TOT) sole purpose was to glorify its leadership: Julius Tahni and his offspring. The TOT was arguably the most laid-back of the Seven's religious cults. Many of its members were into things like meditation and casual anarchy (not like the warmongers in the Temple of Wrath, ugh). However, Julius Tahni was primarily focused on material wealth, both in [ x ] and after his capture. As such, his followers were often considered affluent, resource-hogging snobs. They were, however, militarily powerful affluent, resource-hogging snobs. They maintained the borders that kept the Laaxan and Amad peoples from accessing the Creation Point region, after all. But they paid no mind to the struggles of their fellow Tahni outside the Temple membership, and they despised many of the other races.
Julius Tahni was a royal snob, through and through, but he was also one of the few people Zarian Laxa respected. Tahni was something of a tactial genius, he just liked to make other people carry out his plans as opposed to leading them himself (he preferred dreaming up new monetary systems and taxing people who weren't members of his cult).
the Order of Ceritse — falsely named after the goddess of family and love (Cerise), the Order of Ceritse (OC) controlled most of the western coast of Tartarus until it was obliterated in Era 6. The Order was led and created by Jor Raya, the creator of the Rayani people (later the Ceretsi). Raya's whole thing was "conquering through lust," meaning he used his body and whoever he had blackmail on to get into political places of power in [ x ]. He was a spy, and strategist, and a murderer who slept his way to the top. His goal in fighting the gods in Era 4 was to obliterate their ideals of healthy relationships, and in Tartarus, he did just that. The Rayani people were created with three subcategories: the Miiredians, the Irosians, and the Regalians, and were bred and taught to hate members of the other two groups. The Order prided itself on teaching power before moral good, desire before justice, and cruelty before forgiveness. Like with the TOW, the renamed Ceretsi race took many, many generations to unwind the cruel ideology Raya had trapped them in.
the Hektan Magoni — located in the Creation Point region in southern Tartarus, the guild created by Grecian Hekta was two fold: a cult devoted to his praise and a protectorate group. The Hektan Magoni (HKM) were perhaps the least vengeful of the Seven's relgious cults, a trait shared by their maker. Grecian Hekta joined the rebellions against the Pantheon in [ x ] because he saw flaws in the god of Magic, Hekata (for which Grecian's family was named). He spoke out against the Hekatan Mage Guild in [ x ], laying out its flaws for all to see. While he did condone his fellow leaders' violent methods and teach them more efficient, brutal ways to cast magic, he was ultimately the least spiteful of them. He only wanted reform. However, when he was given a chance to enact his ideology with his creations, the Jicas, he failed. His twisted, anti-academic teaching style and backwards, corrupted morals drove his own mage guild into the ground.
There were other smaller religious cults during the reign of the Seven and their successors, but the above are the most common.
As mentioned several times in that list, it took generations for each group of Tartaruns to deconstruct their creators' cruel and often careless instillation of twisted morals. The Tritarans spent until well into Era 8 trying to unravel their history and stop fighting each other. They made progress of course, including an alliance with the slowly disassembling Amad Empire (now led by the winners of the war, the renamed Archdaimens) and with the creations of Jor Raya, especially the enslaved Regalian sect of Rayani.
The Rayani had a hard time moving past their creators' will too. To reference the race history section in "DIMENSIONS: Tartarus," Jor Raya was the most hated of the Seven Heathen Mages—and for good reason. The caste system he created, separating biological Miiredians, Irosians, and Regalians and pitting them against each other, took eons to deconstruct. Slavery in the western half of Tartarus was also popularized and kickstarted by Raya, with no opposition from the creations of Grecian Hekta and insufficient opposition from the Herrenics. Members of the predominantly enslaved Regalian sect were often the leaders of revolts and rebellions in the west, sometimes aided by high-ranking Miiredians who saw the flaws in the system that benefited them. But it was hard going, and freedom for all on the west coast was hard won.
Overcoming the generations of miseducation and conditioning was an exhausting, centuries-long endeavor. The Tartarus did see success, especially with the help of the gods in Era 6 and 7 onward, and through their alliance with Darekaeii (the two worlds seemed to bond over having once been torn apart by internal disputes). By Era mid-Era 9, they had begun to resemble a true functioning society, which was for the better after Darekaeii's destruction at the end of the Era. But becoming the next dimensional military superpower (second only to the New Empire of Aetheria) was not the only improvement to Tartarun society.
DEITY WORSHIP POST-SHM
After the overthrow of the Seven Heathen Mages and their successors, the real gods found their way to Tartarus. It was during late Era 6 and early Era 7 that the peoples of Tartarus learned they had been worshiping members of the Pantheon already. They had different names—Lio was call "Terasi," Cerise was called "Ceritse" (sair-it-sah), Eiro was called "Moraai"—but they were essentially the same gods with the same symbols and purposes.
The differences were in what the Seven taught the Tartaruns about each god. Terasi was warlike, often cruel in her purveying of justice. Ceritse didn't see the downside to enslaving lesser Rayani, the Regalians (often called concubi), nor did she oppose the reckless, horrible abuses of power and the abolishment of genuine love and care. Moraai only cared about creating technology and weapons to better fuel the machine of war, not about people or new ideas.
When the gods finally decided to pay attention to Tartarus, they were appalled at the ways the Seven had mangled their images. It made them consider that maybe, in some way, the [ x ] rebels of Era 4 has seen them in this way. Maybe not all of it was crafted the subjugate the Tartarun races. Regardless, they did their best to correct the misguided ideologies instilled by the Seven. The outcome produced new iterations of the same gods, and brought a spotlight onto the native gods of Tartarus:
Lio-teras — a more war-like iteration of Lio, formed from the goddess's true ideals and the war-focused history of the Tritarans and Terasi. Called "Lio the terrible." Cold, calculating, and sometimes harsh, but just and fair. She is heathily feared and highly respected, much more so than the original incarnation of Terasi was. This is the form Lio takes when in Tartarus.
Her whole worship regimen can be summed up by "HONOR. ARMOR = RITUAL PROTECTION AND HONOR. SWORDS." Her symbol is a bleeding rose, and she is often considered the patron goddess of modern Tritaran cultural practices, Alcairon justice and foresight, and central-Tartarun honor codes.
Eiro-Morah — a more contemplative version of Eiro, formed from the image of the false god Moraai and Eiro's true self. When confronted with the Seven's idea of them, Eiro thought very seriously about their treatment of mortals throughout the eons. They turned inward. Eiro-Morah reflects that turn. This iteration of Eiro is the heart of the forge, the purveyor of new ideas—both theirs and others'—but they are often silent. They are one of the gods you most want to pray to if you are ever in need of decision-making help or seeking new knowledge. This is the form Eiro takes when visiting Tartarus
Armor + the forge are holy, reverence and respect for the tools and products (and your teammates) must be practiced. Honor, and quiet introspective to review your own personal honor, are tenets of worship.
Eiro-Koras — the more violent equivalent of Eiro-Morah. The Amasian Anarchist Party, which was one of many groups that formed out of the Laxan Anarchist Guild, believed that Eiro's personality split when they were confronted with the Seven's image of Moraai. Eiro-Koras was the more angry version of Tartarun Eiro, and the Amasian Anarchists claimed them as their god of social and technological advancement. Whether this iteration of Eiro is false or not has never been confirmed (which is an answer in an of itself, to some).
This version of Eiro is more of a "camp forge" god, or a god of the hearth at war. A god people can come to for guidance and knowledge, yes, but will that guidance be tainted by the god's anger? Will their knowledge be the kind you seek? This Eiro has very questionable morals and ideologies, mostly only known to the Amasians.
Cirissin (Cerise) — Cerise was perhaps the most appalled by how the Tartaruns were raised to see her false counterpart, Ceritse. She crafted a new image of herself: Cirissin, and began tearing down the monstrous ideals of Jor Raya with vehemence. She became the patron god of the Regalian revolutionaries, and later formed the Cirissin Order of Healing, later called the Cirissin (or Cerisan) Healing House and Reform, a social justice order of healers, doctors, politicians, and advocates based originally in Mercisha.
Nearly every person on the western coast of Tartarus dedicates an offering to her at least once a year. She is considered the protector of the less fortunate and oppressed, the mother of modern-day healing orders in Tartarus, and the "mother" of the west.
The Rayani renamed themselves the Ceretsi after her.
Other pre-existing Pantheon gods involved in Tartarus' advancement and betterment after Era 6 include:
Ialu — helped raise the Miila from their subjugation and blindness and created the Ialuan Empire. Blessed the first Dreamwalkers, built temples and sanctuaries for all who were displaced in the Great Rebellion, and sought to correct her own oversight by ignoring what the Seven were doing to their creations)
Meyaa — followed Ialu to APV TR-5 and began to hedge up the shores of the mishapen planar world. Carved cliffs and permanent warning structures to keep wandering souls from being swept into Tartarus's treacherous ziois (voidsea).
Also formed sanctuary temples, including those for ziojics resurrected during the war or caught in the crossfire while Voidwalking.
Network of temples + sanctuaries called the Meyaan Temple Order (MTO).
Viabolt — was actually "faded" by the time the gods reached tartarus. However, they knew how much he would have loved these people—natural fire mages? Forge masters? Weapons designers? HELLFIRE (the purest form of Boltarian magic that can be weilded by mortals)? Eiro, Ialu, and Waulfend dedicated a lot of their time to teaching the Tartaruns about Viabolt and how much he would have adored them all. As a result, shrines and small memorial temples began popping up. In Era 10, Viabolt is one of the few gods almost everyone in Tartarus pays tribute to.
He'tara (Heathera) — found her second home in Tartarus and dedicated herself to centuries of work cataloging all the plants and inner natural workings of the dimension.
Waulfend — aided He'tara in her first big research endeavor (cataloging Tartarus) and set up natural sanctuaries for drakons, endangered creatures the Laaxans and Amads had hunted close to extinction, and began cleansing bodies of water and setting up neutralizers to make the acid rain drinkable. (Took over his faded sister Kiridia's job.)
Virri — once introduced, Virri found herself quickly joining her child Cerise (Cirissin) on the front of protection of mortal life in the west and helping Waulfend and He'tara across the dimension. She is considered the Tartarun World Mother, the patron of expecting and new parents, and the protector of soldiers entering battle.
Morsanna — was also quickly accepted by the Tartaruns because she was proof that there was something out there after death, and her express and deliberate care of the dead quickly endeared her to all those who fought in the Great Rebellion and saw their friends, family, and cohorts die. Temples to her can be found in every city, and are a place to dedicate and consecrate the dead. Most morticians are Morsannan priests in Tartarus as a result, and her symbol is borne on every cremation device or pyre.
Maikoa — found an easy foothold in the north-Tartarun tendency towards mischief. Thanks to the Darekaeiin Shades, the various Maikoan cults dedicated to mischief, balance, and espionage spread into Tartarus. Many of their temples can be found near Meyaa's.
Jade Masirii — immediately became the Tartarun patron of mining, wealth, and revolution. She is quite proud of this, and was happy to teach the Bronzebloods (formerly the Tahni) and all Tartaruns how to better manage wealth and social equity.
Kireesi — Joined his patron-mother, Cerise/Cirissin, in obliterating Jor Raya's social order and became the patron god of the Ceretsi (formerly the Rayani). Is a sex and fertility god first and foremost, though, and sets about instilling the ideal of proper consent into all Tartaruns. He is highly respected in Mercishan/Ceretsi culture, modern Tritaran tradition, and in all BDSM circuits across the dimension as a result. He also joined his patron-mother and Virri as being a protector of child birth and bodily autonomy.
Several new gods were also revealed in Eras 7 and 8 as having originated from Tartarus:
Luka'a Jacinthe — a child/blessed demigod of the god(des) Jacinthe. Tartarun patron god of therapy (of all kinds), potionmakers, transgender people, and healthy transitions. Credited with creating the first iteration of Tartarun transition magic in the form of a potion. Has multiple origin stories and may or may not be the transformed souls of several esteemed queer doctors and healers formed into one deity; came to be in tandem with transition magic.
Every trans person in Tartarus will end up at a temple of Luka'a Jacinthe (or "L.J.") either on purpose of by accident. All people are welcome, whether they are trans or cis, and personal discovery will occur for most when visiting, but the primary purpose of each temple is to assess needs an facilitate social and medical transitions. (There will be a separate post on this.)
Nova-Helas — in the absence of Viabolt and to counteract the mental absence of Eiro-Morah, a new forge goddess emerges. Nova-Helas was a student of Eiro-Morah's that exceeded their will and ideals and became the sacred patron of the Forgis Helas (the High Forges, located in north-central Tartarus). She is always present in the High Forges, but is only seen by those who truly need her or aren't looking for her in the first place. She is also a hearth god.
Nova gets along with Eiro-Morah, her patron-creator, but not with Eiro-Koras, the vengeful hearth god of the Amasians. This is personified in the conflict between Moreah, Talki, and Amasia throughout the ages.
Torrin-Kader — was martyred in the rebellion against the regime of Lor Amas and Zarian Laxa, and was resurrected later in the rebellion as a ziojic god to avenge his obliterate culture group and homeland. Responsible for toppling the last of the Amad and Laaxan loyalists. Became the north-Tartarun god of revenge an later solace. Lives in the premier Meyaan Temple on the northernmost border of modern (E-10) Enzia and Talki.
**Keresai — Miiredian demigod child of Kireesi or Cerise (depending on the myth) who used her looks and charmspeak ability to influence dictators and write freedom into law in Era 6. Was credited with helping topple the Rayan regime. Minor god, rarely ever seen in corporeal form.
**Terakah — demigod Irosian warrior sold into a strategic marriage. Manipulated his partner into freeing slaves and eventually stole the throne. Was martyred soon after, and lingers as a spirit god, similar to Keresai.
Modern Era 10 god worship looks significantly different than worship under the Seven Heathen Mages.
Whereas the Seven and their successors forced their creations to worship them and only them (with exceptions sometimes being their own bastardized idols), no one is forced to worship any god in a certain way unless the dedicate themselves to an order or temple. Even then, they are not forced, they are taught, and room for questioning and experimentation is allowed (even encouraged, as the modern Pantheon tries to make up for their authoritarian-ish rule of the past). In Era 10, the gods are more active than they used to be. Sometimes, a question will be answered by the god its directed to in person, or with a very obviously deified response.
Additionally, many Tartaruns engaged in the worship of more than one god! To give an example, Queen Aviera Lance is one of many Lio-teras devotees, but she is also a worshiper of Morsanna, Nova-helas, Torrin-kader, and He'tara (and is actually considered a fellow of the He'tara research order, and the goddess's friend). Fin Heran also pays tribute to a litany of deities, including Maikoa, Lio-teras, and Eiro-Morah. Pantheistic worship is a fundamental aspect of modern Tartarun life, and takes place in the home, in temples (both large and small in cities of all sizes and locations), and at sanctuaries and shrines. Soldiers will add temple- and order-specific liraas'ii to their armor for protection ("liraas'y" is a Talkian word for "protection litany." The term was adopted by many other militaries and paramilitary groups in Tartarus). Overall, the relationship between mortal and god in Tartarus has significantly improved since the abolishment of the the Seven Heathen Mages' ideologies and their false idols.
Read more on the mistreatment of the Tartarun peoples by their creators in "DIMENSIONS: Tartarus."
This article is subject to periodic revision by the creator, R. A. Menace. Updates will be logged at the beginning of the article when they occur.
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