Miaopiaoism
Miaopiaoism is the most common religion during the history of Flying Cats. Its a polytheistic religion based on the founding poem by Altam, who unified different divinities already presents in the religions of the six root cultures of the Miaopiaotiao archipelago. Based on different interpretations of Altam writings and the importance assigned to each divinity, many variants and schools emerged in different cultures and times; each of those with very different philosophical principles and sometimes additional or altered divinities.
History
Miaopiaoism was founded on year 0 AA, by Altam, an erudite priest of the Maccin culture, when he lived an encounter with the two divinities that will be called Nador and Semor. He then tells a poem in which he describes the structure of the world in three planes: Akrotope, Mesotope and Bathotope; the main divinities inhabiting them are introduced with a precept giving their characteristics. It also tells the Prophecy of the Super, which gives light on magic (previously shunned by all cultures) and tells that the people will be able to give power of Super to a Flying Cat having saved all, powers granted by all those who can tame Dragons; preparing him to protect the Flying Cats for all the future. In the following years he spreads his story and educate his children using this new religion. The ten childs of Altam, expanded his word to the other cultures. They establish alliances, thus starting a period of peace Miaopiaoism is adopted by most within some years. Magic develops, the childs of Altam become the most powerful mages. The following generation is even more able, therefore the 26 grandchilds of Altam are set to tame the Dragons, as was told in the prophecy. The 26 also refine the structure of the religion, by adding Tefen and other divinities; classing all them in 11 pantheons, they also establish the story of the generation of the divinities and the world. They develop a writing system and transcribe Altam's poem, their additions and the Rules of Magic. These rules are built around the prophecy and mostly institutionalize a role of "Archimage",who are the only to have the right to tame Dragons and thus are the ones that can make a Super. The title of Archimage is inherited by a designed apprentice on death or if the Archimage chooses so. The title is represented by an intarsiated stone tablet, the Colm. The first Archimages were obviously the 26 grandchilds of Altam.
Other divinities regarded as canon by most are modified or added in the following 500 years, the last being Mien divinity of metals. At that point the growing population and divergence between cultures didn't permit a rapid spread of modifications, different schools began to appear in each culture. However they were always coordinated by a Archimage council on Miaopiaotiao every 20 years.
Texts
The most important text for miaopiaoist lore is Altam's poem, it's the founding basis of the religion.
Altam's poem(translated)
While i slept this night, a burst
waked me up,
a volcano?
maybe not!
Over the sky I looked first
at Semor.
a light, a guide
right it flew
It fought another, but cursed
was Nador
dark, hot, near eyed
free it flew
Tetrammoria linked them
magic fell,
at me it tells
what comes forth.
The world of three it was sum
one over
one in between
one under
When one worthy chosen cat,
may stand out,
mages stronger
than dragons
if all choose him. He makes that
without doubt,
peace be longer
never gone.
The text first describes the encounter with Semor and Nador, giving their characteristics. It introduces the Tetrammoria the link between divinities and reality. It then states that the beings tell something to Altam with magic, through the Tetrammoria. It first describes the world as divided in three planes, then tells the Prophecy of the Super. There it is stated that when someone worthy enough to stand out above everyone else, is chosen by all the mages capable of taming the Dragons. He can be granted powers, that will allow him to assure eternal peace.
The Precepts of the Gods is the only other text attributed to Altam (written posthumously), in which are listed the precepts for the main divinities of Miaopiaoism. The text Making of the world, attributed to the 26, structures the religion with pantheons and tells each divinity story. It introduces some new divinities and their precepts (mainly Tefen). The Rules of Magic, also written by the 26, isn't a religious text, but only clarifies the magical institutions with basis of the Prophecy of the Super; by granting a title to those who can tame Dragons and their descendants.
The Lasts Precepts from an unknown author dating back to 523AA, is the last commonly canon text, most commonly treated as the last chapter to the Making of the world. It gives the precepts for some new divinities, and tells some additional legends.
Concepts
Miaopiaoism, separates the Reality from the World of Gods. The Divinities don't usually interfere with reality, when they do it said they touch reality, as it's the case for Altam encounter.
World of Gods
The world of gods is divided in three planes here called. The Akrotope is home to the astral divinities. The Mesotope is home to the terrestrial divinities. The Bathotope is home to the deep divinities.
The legend of Generation, tells that the Tetrammoria (the unions of the skies) and Olidar (the roots of the universe) existed intertwined before time. When they separated the Akrotope was the space touched by the Tetrammoria and the Bathotope the space touched by Olidar. The space touched by both was the Mesotope.
In the Akrotope Nador appeared alone, followed by Semor who was created by the light of the Tetrammoria. The two gods started battling, while at the same time in the Bathotope, two roots of Olidar crossed for the first time. This lead to a burst of energy making Lumiai. From one of the exploded roots Sonte was born, from the other Alikria.
Semor was distracted by the explosion, Nador hit him with a ray of heat, thus breaking and melting a part of him. Thousands of drops scattered, and together made Mildar (the stars). Mildar then looked down and saw Lumiai, creating Tefen. Ucci was born from a broken root of Olidar that was heated by Lumiai, who was slowly waking up. When the cold of Alikria met the light of Semor, it made Altilla, the wind. When the waters of Sonte where heated in the Mesotope by Nador, Mere (the water) appeared.
Finally a root of Olidar touched a ray of the Tetrammoria, the path was followed by Mildar and Lumiai, who in the center gave birth to Smumilla. In the evergrowing branches Reality surfaced.
Reality
Reality is seen as independent from the gods (in most schools), because it is protected by the branches of Smumilla. But they can control its aspects with the help of the rays of the Tetrammoria, the roots of Olidar and the branches of Smumilla. They can "pull" the world their way. When a divinity actually touches Reality, it alters it in an immutable and way. Most catastrophes are linked to such events, often even implicating multiple divinities.
