Zodjism

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Symbol of Credentist faith.

Credintism, also known as Vampiric Faith, is the collective polytheistic religion & mythology of many Qirsyllvian vampires. Followers are called Credintists.

The faith's origins are shrouded in mystery, but it had its roots planted in ancient Eurodysia some six millenniums ago before it spread across the world over the ensuing centuries, supplanting faiths followed by most other vampires of other cultures and ethnicities of the time.

This religion is governed as a whole in Zatyzrik, Ardeal, but is practiced world-wide by vampires of every ethnicity. Yet, there are still many groups of vampires who follow other major and minor faiths. In the past several centuries – about a thousand years or so – vampires of other cultures and ethnicities have been turning to religions more prevalent in their home regions, to the point that Credintism is mostly a minority in those regions. Yet, Credintism remains strong among vampires in Eurodysia, Aquilonis, and the Eurodyne colonies in Nekcroz and Ingdjiva.

While Credintist vampires don't normally see eye-to-eye with most religions, most notably Synkratic Septifidelity, this is their primary form of worship. Furthermore, it's the anti-vampire stance of the Synkratic Church that pushes many vampires away from Septifidelity and into Credintism, even with the emergence of the vampiric Curatism Septifidelity.

The faith is led by the Zodje (a vampiric religious title equivalent to the Pope of the Synkratic Church), which has many temples to the Vampiric Gods around Ardeal, and territories of the former Amurgine Empire. There are also many more smaller temples around Qirsyllviar frequented by local vampires.

The scriptures are written in a religious text known as the Cartea Zeilor. Written in the Cartea Zeilor are physical descriptions of the gods and other figures, as well as the proper ways to worship them.

Pantheon

Zatyzia, Goddess of Creation

Zatyzia, also known to vampires as the "All-Mother," is the vampiric goddess who created the world and the vampire race.

She also birthed a number of the gods without a partner. The first generation Gods & Goddesses, those she gave birth to, are referred to as the Galo, and their spouses are referred to as the Jikzi. Her grandchildren, the second generation, are referred to as the Vyris.

Zatyzia is held in such high renown that she's the namesake of the capital of Ardeal, Zatyzrik.

Main Pantheon

The Gods & Goddesses in the main pantheon:

Galo
First-generation deities born from Zatyzia.
Deity	Representation, Historicity & Other Notes
Arfort	God of Anger, Rage, & War. One of three patron deities of Warriors. Husband of Novari and father of Gellar, Japricus & Julinar.
Avidar	God of Earth & Mountains. Husband of Wayhar, and father of Pardrak & Sordro.
Bruvalia	Goddess of Peace, Tranquility, Hope, & Balance. Wife of Larcod and mother of Logran.
Cravior	God of Warmth, Fire, & Volcanoes Husband of Ordanfi and father of Grislow, Holro, Iza, & Taizova.
Elizar	God of Prophecy, Foresight, & Destiny. Patron deity of seers. Husband of Zolba.
Erohoris	God of Death and ruler of Iad. He is one of two judges of the dead, along with his wife, Ua, and is the patron deity of Necromancers. He is also a funerary deity often paired with Ua.
Harhilda	Goddess of Theater & Performing Arts. Patron deity of actors and performers. Wife of Krilcraw and mother of Juvzi & Qualis.
Helfier	God of the Sky, Astronomy, & Celestial Objects. Husband of Balho.
Keltaria	Goddess of Wisdom, Reason, Knowledge, Academics, Arithmetic, Mathematics, Physics, Science, & General Learning. One of three Patron deities of scholars. Wife of Rafiscus and mother of Drofune, Giuvaer, Ivari & Joril. The main Temple of Keltaria in the capital hosts Ardeal Royal Academy, a primary, secondary, and higher educational institution open to all social classes. Smaller schools typically have a shrine or alter dedicated to her somewhere on the grounds.
Kilara	Goddess of Cooking, Feasts, Banquets, Parties, & Festivities. Wife of Xayndre and mother of Galitra, Nir & Profune. As the Goddess of Parties & Festivities, followers of the pantheon believe that Kilara blesses all festivals, even those held in honor of other gods. It is for this reason that she is considered the party-planner of the gods. As the goddess of Cooking, Feasts & banquets, she is also the patron deity of chefs.
Morsica	Goddess of Fertility, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Milk, Nursing, Child-rearing, & Children. Patron deity of pregnant women and mothers. Wife of Uvuda and mother of Coleifa, Viia & Yophri. Credintists believe that when it is time for an expectant mother to go into labor, Morsica rubs the mother's belly to begin labor; and when it is time for the baby to be born, Morsica reaches into the mother via her birth canal and gently guides the baby out. This belief gave rise to the idiom "Morsica rubbed [my/your] belly" as an indicator that the expectant mother was in labor. It also gave rise to the practice of not pushing at any point during labor and allowing the baby to come out on its own.
Nardra	Goddess of Chaos, Anarchy, Discord, Hatred, Fury, Despair, Fear, Destruction, Disasters, Famine, Bloodshed, Misfortune, & Poverty. Wife of the demon Farlkrac and mother of Tox & Varu. Sometimes depicted as a demon instead of a goddess, Nardra retains her place in the main pantheon of historical and theological reasons.
Nosfyritus	God of Night, Darkness & Shadows. King of the Vampiric Gods, patron deity of Zatyzrik. Husband of Seyra and father of Darkh, Marava, Odaro & Raladin.
Zilga	Goddess of Healing, Medicine, & Herbalism. Patron deity of healers. Wife of Kaldehar and mother of Framhoff. The main temple of Zilga in the capital hosts Aurit Hospital, largest and most prestigious hospital in Ardeal.
Jikzi
Spouses of the Galo; deities unrelated to Zatyzia.
Deity	Representation, Historicity & Other Notes
Balho	Goddess of the Moons. Wife of Helfier. Vampiric mythology describes her as the mother of the twin moons.
Farlkrac	A demon. (see table below) Husband of Nardra and father of Tox & Varu.
Kaldehar	God of Good Health, Baths & Cleanliness. Husband of Zilga and father of Framhoff. Bath houses of all sizes generally have a statue of Kaldehar in the main hall.
Krilcraw	God of Inspiration, The Arts, Painting, & Drawing. Patron deity of artists. Husband of Harhilds and father of Juvzi & Qualis.
Larcod	God of Truth, Justice, Law, & Order. Patron deity of judges, lawmakers etc. Husband of Burvalia and father of Logran. In Ardealian courtrooms, statues in his image normally tower above the judges panel. According to the Cartea Zeilor, Larcod decreed that a panel of no less than five judges would oversee trials and hearings of any severity. Thus is the basis of the Ardealian Criminal Justice System.
Novari	Goddess of Swordsmanship, Archery, & Equestrianism. One of three patron deities of warriors. Wife of Arfort and mother of Gellar, Japricus & Julinar.
Ordanfi	Goddess of Clouds & Wind. Wife of Cravior and mother of Grislow, Holro, Iza & Taizova.
Rafiscus	God of Blacksmithing, Craftsmenship, & Sculpting. Patron deity of craftsmen. Husband of Keltaria and father of Drofrune, Giuvaer, Ivari & Joril Father of the demigod Erudor, who forged Crepuscul.
Seyra	Goddess of the Hearth. Queen of the Vampiric Gods, and wife of Nosfyritus. Patron deity of homemakers and homeowners. Wife of Nosfyritus and mother of Darkh, Marava, Odaro & Raladin.
Ua	Goddess of the afterlife & presider of Rai. She is one of two judges of the dead, long with her husband Erohoris. She is also a funerary deity often paired with Erohoris.
Uvuda	God of Dreams & Sleep Husband of Morsica and father of Coleifa, Viia & Yophri.
Wayhar	Goddess of Magic. Patron deity of magicians. Wife of Avidar and mother of Pardrak & Sordro.
Xayndre	God of Architecture & Construction. Patron deity of builders. Husband of Kilara and father of Galitra, Nir & Porfune.
Zolba	Goddess of Space & Time. Wife of Elizar. Often depicted in a black robe and a golden hourglass in her hand.
Vyris
The second-generation deties.
Deity	Representation, Historicity & Other Notes
Coleifa	Goddess of Love. Eldest daughter of Morsica & Uvuda and elder sister of Yophri & Viia.
Darkh	God of Money, Trade, & Commerce. Patron deity of merchants. Second child and eldest son of Nosfyritus & Seyra, younger brother of Marava and elder brother of Raladin & Odaro. The main Temple of Darkh in the capital hosts both the royal treasury and the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Ardeal, the primary bank of the kingdom. It's not as large as the larger banks of Eurodysia, but it's the most trusted bank in the kingdom.
Drofrune	God of Metal, Precious Metals, & Metallurgy. Patron deity of metalworkers, and one of two patron deities of jewelers and jewelry makers. Second child and eldest son of Keltaria & Rafiscus, younger brother of Joril and elder brother of Ivari & Giuvaer.
Framhoff	God of Luck, Good Fortune, & Prosperity. Only son and child of Zilga & Kaldehar.
Galitra	Goddess of Joy & Happiness. Youngest child and daughter of Kilara & Xayndre and younger sister of Nir & Porfune.
Gellar	God of Courage, Strength, Honor, & Chivalry. Patron deity of knights. Middle son of Arfort & Novari, younger brother of Japricus and elder brother of Julinar.
Giuvaer	God of Gems, Minerals, Crystals, & Mineralogy. One of two patron deities of jewelers and jewelry makers. Youngest child and second son of Keltaria & Rafiscus and younger brother of Joril, Drofune & Ivari.
Grislow	Goddess of Summer & Drought and the Sun & Light. Second daughter of Cravior & Ordanfi, younger sister of Iza and elder sister of Holro & Taizova. Before the evolution of the first zyroites, Grislow was held in very low regard, viewed by most as a demon, as sunlight was lethal to the vampires of the time. With the rise of the zyroites, she was moved to the main pantheon.
Holro	Goddess of Farming, Agriculture, Rain, Autumn, & Good Harvest. Patron deity of farmers. Third daughter of Cravior & Ordanfi, younger sister of Iza & Grislow, and elder sister of Taizova.
Ivari	Goddess of Languages, Writing, & Poetry. One of three Patron deities of scholars. Third child and second daughter of Keltaria & Rafiscus, younger sister of Joril and Drofune and elder sister of Giuvaer.
Iza	Goddess of Animals, Spring, Nature, Flowers, Trees, & Vegetation. Eldest daughter of Cravior & Ordanfi and elder sister of Grislow, Holro, & Taizova. Often depicted as a nude woman covered in moss, ivy and flowers.
Japricus	God of Hunting & Beast Taming. Patron deity of hunters. Eldest son of Arfort & Novari, elder brother of Gellar & Julinar.
Julinar	God of Battle Strategy & Victory. One of three patron deities of warriors. Youngest son of Arfort & Novari and younger brother of Gellar & Japricus.
Juvzi	Goddess of Music. Patron deity of musicians. Younger child of Harhilda and Krilcraw and younger sister of Qualis.
Joril	Goddess of Books & Keeper of Knowledge. One of three Patron deities of scholars. Eldest child and daughter of Keltaria & Rafiscus, and elder sister of Drofune, Ivari & Giuvaer.
Logran	God of Deals, Contracts, & Treaties. Only son and child of Bruvalia & Larcod. In Ardeal, stamp in his image is customarily used to finalize written contracts after it is signed and sealed by the parties involved.
Marava	Goddess of Marriage & Fidelity. Eldest child and only daughter of Nosfyritus & Seyra and elder sister of Darkh, Raladin & Ordaro. Vampiric marriages are often performed in her temples/shrines.
Nir	God of Wine & Winemaking. Patron deity of winemakers. Eldest child and only son of Kilara & Xayndre and elder brother of Porfune & Galitra.
Odaro	God of Thresholds, Gates, & Doorways. Youngest child and third son of Nosfyritus & Seyra and younger brother of Marava, Darkh & Raladin.
Pardrak	God of Storms, Hail, Tornadoes, Thunder, & Lightning. Eldest son of Avidar & Wayhar and elder brother of Sordro.
Porfune	Goddess of Mischief & Trickery. Second child and eldest daughter of Kilara & Xayndre, younger sister of Nir and elder sister of Galitra.
Qualis	God of Games & Sports. Patron deity of athletes. Elder child of Harhilda & Krilcraw and elder brother of Juvzi.
Raladin	God of Travels & Boundaries. Third child and second son of Nosfyritus & Seyra, younger brother of Marava & Darkh and elder brother of Odaro.
Sordro	God of Water, Guardian of the Seas, Lakes, & Rivers. Also the God of Fishing and patron deity of fishermen. Younger son of Avidar & Wayhar and younger brother of Pardrak. He's not very-well worshiped in Ardeal, given that said country is landlocked with no access to the sea, but a temple to him is maintained on the shores of Lake Albastru, the largest and deepest lake in Ardeal.
Taizova	Goddess of Winter and Ice & Snow. Youngest daughter of Cravior & Ordanfi and younger sister of Iza, Grislow & Holro.
Tox	God of Sickness & Plague. Elder son of Nardra and Farlkrac and elder brother of Varu.
Varu	God of Grudges & Revenge. Younger son of Nardra & Farlkrac and younger brother of Tox.
Viia	Goddess of Lust, Sex, & Ecstasy. Patron deity of prostitutes. Youngest daughter of Morsica & Uvuda and younger sister of Coleifa & Yophri.
Yophri	Goddess of Beauty, Virginity, & Chastity. Also called the "Goddess of Innocence" by some, but it's mostly a misnomer. Second daughter of Morsica & Uvuda, younger sister of Coleifa and elder sister of Viia.

Vampiric Demons

Credintism recognizes several vampiric demons, some of which are related to deities from the main pantheon

Demon	Representation, Historicity & Other Notes	Relations to deities of the Pantheon
Algrask	Demon known for chilling blood of his victims into ice.
Farlkrac	A bloodthirsty demon who allegedly drains innocents of all blood and sucks out their souls.	Husband of Nardra
Hraz
Zeojirac	Demon that torments people's souls and drives them mad.

Other Vampiric Figures

Figure	Representation, Historicity & Other Notes
Muroni
Waklarc	Waklarc, also known as The Shadow, is a figure from old vampiric legend and folklore. Popular folklore says that he seeps into the shadows of vampires, influencing their actions, making no distinction between good or evil. Vampiric theologists have debated for centuries whether to classify him as a god or a demon. Vampire parents often use Waklarc as a bogeyman to make their children behave by altering the story to make them think he devoured the souls disobedient children via their shadows.
Yarlyor	Yarlyor, also known as The Great Bat, is a figure from old vampiric legend and folklore. Depicted as a gigantic greater noctule bat, as big as a grown man, popular legend tells that he flies across the night skies searching for wayward souls. The grim reaper of Credintism, neither good nor evil, he guides the souls of deceased vampires to be judged by Ua & Erohoris, who will either grant them salvation in Rai or cast them them to damnation in Iad.

Notes & Trivia

• Credintism comes from the Romanian word "credinţă"; which means religion, faith, etc.
• Rai & Iad are the Romanian words for heaven and hell respectively.