Kayumerah

A lacquer case containing the index finger bones of a 19th century prince.

Kayumerah, also known as the Red Wood Religion or Chimeraism, is a Terangauni religion and Ramatric tradition which is based on the identification and preservation of divine artifacts. The earliest recognized objects in this tradition are coated in a red lacquer also used in woodworking in Terangauni handicrafts, a similarity from which it derives its modern name. Kayumerah includes many traditions, most of which recognize the validity of one another's collections, this mutual recognition is expressed principally through the exchange of prestigious artifacts so that, over time, the most respected and dominant temples amass a more and more homogenous collection even as new artifacts are created and old ones lost.

The doctrine of Kayumerah is based on its cosmology, the totality of collected divine artifacts is said to contain a glimpse of the universe as it really is, including its spiritual components. As a result, religious scholars in this tradition often promote new concepts and morals rather than focusing on an established canon. The primary scripture, the Tulisan Kayumerah, is concerned almost exclusively with the identification of divinity and the craft of preservation rather than a moral interpretation of the world or conclusive understanding of the spiritual realm. Some commonly accepted elements of cosmology are that ancient humans had contact with semi-intelligent chimeras which they struggled with and ultimately defeated, that a similar spiritual struggle is ongoing in the modern world, and that the traditions associated with the remnants of those primordial conflicts are essential to victory in the current spiritual struggle.

There are three dominant schools of thought which tend to enjoy mutual recognition internally, but more tenuous and cautious relations with other groups. The insular school, which is limited mostly to Terangau, consists of some of the oldest and most orthodox temples. Insularists tend to view the world-wide movement as divorced from the holier, more potent land in which the religion originates although they do still occasionally participate in exchange with outside temples. Continental Kayumerah is more progressive and generalized and includes most of the temples outside of Terangau as well as a large number on the island itself; they tend to view the artifacts themselves as largely metaphorical rather than literal talismans. Finally, the imperial school is concerned with the consecration of the remains of the imperial family, their ancestors, and predecessor dynasties. The imperial school has relatively little impact on the overall scholarly disputes within the the religion, instead acting as an adequate intercessor for religious affairs in politics and vice versa.

Distinct from the formal clergy and ordained laity is a lay tradition of the Pentiduran, or the "Sleepers" who practice asceticism and grapple with real or imagined chimera on their own terms. Pentiduran are not typically considered to be scholars or wise men, but spiritual warriors, and are seldom welcomed into established temples. They are often sought out by individuals facing some kind of deep struggle who need help defeating their own malfeasant spirits. They are largely disorganized with individual Pentiduran passing their personal practices down to their own disciples and there is no system of mutual recognition in place. It is common for Pentiduran who come into contact with one another to physically fight one another to determine who is purer.

Doctrine

Cosmology

Kayumerah practitioners believe that humans are a recently emerged species and spiritual beings which have invaded and conquered the Earth through their exceptionally powerful abilities and collective efforts. The previous creatures that inhabited the Earth were, or are still, present across the globe and had an initially predatory relationship with humans. Humans eventually learned to destroy their enemies, but their ghosts (or offspring) still exist at some level and continue to attack human souls. The hostile environment created by these creatures, their strength and weaknesses, can all be extrapolated from fragmentary evidence of their existence, preserved by the priesthood, and through accounts of legendary humans who defeated evil spirits. Some of the remains of these creatures can be used for the defense of human souls (ie a scale can protect, a claw scratch) on a supernatural level, which is why they are identified and hoarded by religious establishments.

In the Kayumerah tradition, the possibility of an original creator deity is not viewed with particular interest since any previous spiritual powers must have been defeated by the Merah Samar, the bestial powers with which humans currently contend. Various sects have suggested that there is no single original deity, that it is dead, or that it eventually became the beasts.

Merah Samar

Merah Samar is a phrase meaning "pale red" or "red obscurity" and is used to describe the latent negative spiritual influence of humanity's predecessors as rulers of the earth. They are considered the principle antagonists of humanity seeking revenge in any way possible. Many events--such as plagues, famines, or even household mishaps--are attributed to Merah Samar. Because the bestial powers are still active on Earth, they continue to leave physical evidence of their presence which is sought out and preserved by the priesthood, although these face much more skepticism than the remains of the original physical forms of the creatures. Many temples create and correspond over bestiaries, grimoires, and other catalogues of creatures, although there is no universal list or system for analysis.