Zarkanxiz (Pacifica)
| Zarkanxiz | |
|---|---|
.png) The old symbol of the Zarkanxiz Inquisition, which eventually was applied to represent the religion as a whole. | |
| Scripture | Zarkanium |
| Theology | Polytheism, Embodied theist |
| Governance | The Circle |
| Allxervar | Alexandra Viren |
| Zarnarch | None |
| Region | Vrigny |
| Language | Vrignyan |
| Headquarters | Vraks |
| Founder | Zarkan, according to ancient Legend and the Zarkanium |
| Origin | ~3400 BCE Iregril (Vraks) |
| Members | 450,000 |
The Zarkanxiz (from old Vrignyan, meaning: "Zarkan's guide") is an ancient pagan religion which was the majority religion in Vrigny back from the establishment of the country up to the start of the XIX century. The Zarkanxiz religion was then prosecuted since the Republican victory in the Vrignyan Revolution, and it was outlawed as well as all other religions by the Purple Article in the Vrignyan Constitution for over 200 years until a constitutional change in the Fourth Republic in 2024 substituted the Purple Article by the New Laicism Article. The Zarkanxiz faith is a polytheist religion, although with a clear preference and importance of the "main deity": Zarkan. The other deities are deemed his subordinates. Every follower is able to become a patron of a specific subordinate, but only members of The Circle, which are the absolute top of the Zarkanxiz high clergy, may become true patrons of Zarkan.
An important tenet of the Zarkanxiz religion is reincarnation. Zarkanxiz followers believe that whenever the human being passes away, they immediately go to Zarkan's dimension: the Coldbring, in which they are personally judged by him. Zarkan may then let them have another life, in other words, another chance at becoming a member of The Circle. When someone is close to death or they desire so, they can be sacrificed, which theoretically makes Zarkan much more willing to let said human being have another chance at life, and it also increases the person's chance to become part of The Circle due to their honorable sacrifice.
The Zarkanxiz religion is thought to have originated around 3000 years ago. The legend says that the leader of a group of adventurers, Zarkan, as well as his closest allies were blessed trascendence by a Blood Dragon which descended down from Mount Kollet, and were granted the powers of giving immortality to those who deserve it in the world. Such occurrence was written down by warrior-prophet Lagor, who was chosen by Zarkan himself to be the chosen one to begin the spread and conquest of Zarkanxiz values, which were written down in a sort of book named the Zarkanium.
History
The Rise of Zarkanxiz:
The Zarkanxiz religion started in the city of Iregril (modern day Vraks), the city where warrior-prophet Lagor originates from, around 3000 years ago. Arelien, the King of the city-state during the initial rise of the religion began the prosecution of Zarkanxiz's earliest followers to eradicate the religion, as it was considered a heathen religion compared to pre-Zarkanxiz Iregrilo-Benetian religions, based on several "river deities". This religious purge was brutal, as the Iregrilian army was one of the most powerful and developed out of all the Vengrilian city-states, if not the most powerful out of them all. Many of the Zarkanxiz faithful fled out of Iregril's walls to settle outside of the city in what's referenced in the Zarkanium as the Blood Exodus. Zarkanxiz followers were relentless with ample determination, as many even fought against talented Iregrilian spearmen, mostly always being defeated in the end.
Warrior-prophet Lagor then organized a large group of followers and soldiers (~15k total) and led the March of the Fifteen against King Arelien. Lagor's charisma and lowborn status made the spread of the Zarkanxiz faith in Iregril almost inevitable, as most of the people of Iregril were eventually converted or convinced to follow Lagor's lead. Eventually, King Arelien was captured by Zarkanxiz warriors, and the remainder of his loyalist forces surrendered to the Zarkanxiz. With Arelien now no longer being the king of Iregril, the now-Zarkanxiz city lacked a clear ruler. The Zarkanxiz clergy formed during the March and battle of Iregril and it was composed mostly by literate scribes and warriors.
The first ever Raksier was then organized: King Arelien, some of his family members which did not convert and several of his loyal spearmen were then sacrificed to Zarkan and the other deities by beheading with a large axe. King Arelien was even executed by Lagor himself to prove his first citory to Zarkan. In the finalization of the ceremony, Lagor was crowned the first ever Zarnarch of the Zarnarchy of Iregril in a ritual which bound Zarkan's control to his body. After the complete Zarkanxiz domination of Iregril and coronation, the construction of a large pagan-like temple commenced in the center of Iregril: the Lekhaner (Blood Temple).