Gelalhát

From Almeopedia

Gelalhát is a major religion on Erelae, prevalent in Dhekhnam. Little is known about its theology, except that in some variants it is a polythieistic religion in which gods are portrayed as supernatural ktuvoks. It has a reputation for cruelty as well as strict hierarchical structure and is despised as demon worship by Caďinorian pagans, Eleďi and Jippirasutum.

Author: Stilgar

In ancient times, during the days of the empire of Munkhâsh, the religion was polytheistic, and Gelalh was simply their chief god. However, after Munkhâsh was destroyed and the Eynleyni lands parceled out between Caďinas and the Jippirasti -- first the Kurundasti Tej, then the Carhinnoi -- the religion went underground due to banning by the victorious powers. After a moribund period, the Eynleyni had an apparent reformation and started worshipping a deity they called Andor, "the Mighty". The Caďinorians accepted their protestations that it was a new religion rather than the recycling of the religion of Munkhâsh that it truly was and when Dhekhnam was established after the Caďinorians and Carhinnoi lost control of the Eynleyni lands during the Gelyet invasion it was officially reestablished as modern Gelalhát. Under Jippirasti influence, the religion became henotheistic rather than polytheistic, with the other Munkhâshi gods deemphasized in favor of a more fervent worship of Gelalh alone.

Today, Gelalhát is the official religion of not only Dhekhnam, but also its client states -- Mútkün and Azgami in Eretald (where only an elite minority practice it), and Sejnihal and Gêsh on the Lenani plateau. In Dhekhnam, other religions are practiced, including the (often considered heretical) Kahon form of Jippirasti among the Carhinnoi, and Caďinorian paganism, and Eleďat in Sarnáe. Whereas Kahon Jippirasti is legal, due to its emphasis on loyalty to Dhekhnam, the other two religions (along with Staji Jippirasti, practiced by a few people in southeastern Dhekhnam) are heavily proscribed. In general, the more loyalty a religion shows to Dhekhnam as a state, the fewer restrictions it has on it.

Author: BGMan