Kuvo

Kuvo is an religion native to Silua in Tyran, that has been practiced in that region since ancient times. It is a mult--faceted faith centered on a dualistic and bitheistic cosmology wherein its two goddesses are complimentary, not opposed. It also possesses elements of polytheism and animism. There is no founder ascribed to Kuvo, as it is believed that the faith developed from numerous local belief systems in Silua and other parts of Northern Eracura. Kuvo exalts two goddesses: Sual, goddess of the sun and Eilistraee, goddess of the moon.

The various local Northern Eracuran faiths that coalesced to form Kuvo were practiced at least as early as the Northern Eracuran Chalcolithic that lasted roughly from 3300 to 1650 BC. By around 250 BC, many features of modern Kuvo had developed and most local practices were essentially variants of a larger Kuvo complex of shared beliefs that had spread across many areas of Northen Eracura. After the creation of the Siluan Queendom in 946 AD, the various local variations of Kuvo were rapidly unified into a single and cohesive set of beliefs and doctrines. Most modern practioners of Kuvo reside within Silua with other small populations scattered across Norhtern Eracura.

There is no single important text or set of scriptures associated with Kuvo. This in large part due to many aspects of the faith being passed down orally for thousands of years. Only after the establishment of the Siluan Queendom, and then only in 1289, were the beliefs and doctrines of Kuvo collected, standardized, and written down in the Siluan language. Within the recorded beliefs there are made places for various spirits of nature and other divine and semi-divine entities. The various divine and semi-divine entities are thought to have derived from various Pre-Kuvo deities. The two goddesses of Kuvo are worshipped together, but are treated as two seperate and distinct beings. The many other spirits, divine, and semi-divine entities are also given veneration.

Dualism is a very important aspect of Kuvo. The world is split between the sun and the moon, woman and man, good and evil, law and chaos, and numerous dichotomous relationships. The idea of a "grey" area between two parts of these dichotomous relationships is entirely anethema to orthodox Kuvo beliefs. Another aspect of the dualistic nature of Kuvo is the belief that there is no single all-present evil being or force. The idea of good and evil in Kuvo is highly personalized in that individuals possess both a good and evil force within themselves.

Terminology

The origin of the name Kuvo unknown to scholars, andthere are many theories concerning its origin. Theories include a Pre-Nord-Balto origin for the name, borrowing from Erac-Celto mariners, and even a Southern Sidurian origin. All evidence to support these various theories though, has been called a "reach at best" and "pure fantasy" by many archaeologists, linguists, and historans. The most accepted theory concerning the origin of the name Kuvo is that it originated from a long dead and yet unkown language native to the Siluan region. A final theory of note, is that Kuvo has a shared linguistic heritage with the Saldian language. This has been exremely difficult to prove however as legal barriers and the highly secretive nature of the Saldian language prevent any attempts at research.

Principal Beliefs

The Goddesses

A depiction of the Sual exemplifying her warrior aspect.

A depiction of Eilistraee clearly showing her unusual appearance.