Beliefs and Mythology
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Oqan has a pantheist polytheistic belief system, able to syncretize with many local beliefs. There are no individual pantheons recognized uniformly besides Ohte and Ya'en, most other references are vague allusions to the existence of many powerful deities, however their reality is considered irrelevant to central teachings; pantheons are mostly viewed as mere functions of the world, rather than supreme rulers or beings. Things can be asked of spiritual beings in the form of worship or gifts(or archaically in sacrifice), but they are considered as much a part of the world as humans but live separately and uncaring, or they simply perform their purpose, with minimal focus in the ongoings of man. In Oqantel, these spiritual beings or deities are often referred to as ‘Protectors’(Qulkwechi), great people who have ascended with their deeds into spiritual form and become the
protectors of Yaotenmel’s omnipresent will.
In mythology, Yaotenmel was a supreme deity that ruled over all of Teohme(the universe); she sacrificed herself by ripping out her Heart of Obsidian Shard and slashing her pregnant belly open. Her innards would flow out touched by the fiery obsidian, the shard itself would bloom in the fire from her belly and ignite an infinite light.
Yaotenmel’s dead body would become the world, and her internal fire and blood would become all the living things. The sun is seen as the Heart of the Yaotenmel, the moon is the Spirit of Yaotenmel and Mundus itself is seen as her body. In her death, she bloomed with life, as Yaotenmel sacrificed herself in death in order to proceed life. From different parts of her innards would form different animals, but most importantly
the people would hail from her Heart, the sun.
From her belly also rose twins, a god and goddess, brother and sister, known as Ohte(boy) and Ya’en(girl). Ohte was a massive Fire Condor, which protected the sun and Ya’en was a large quiet Serpent that protected the moon. Both acting as opposites and becoming fierce rivals in their polarity. The two are constantly clashing, forming night and day in an infinite dance. However the sun must be protected, as it is outmatched by the natural chaos of Yeotenmel and Ya’en. Oqantelorganizes large periods of time as ‘Passages’, and believes that each Passage ends and begins with the self-sacrifice(suicide) of a Great Hero in order to become Yaotenmel and govern chaos to aid Ohte in his protection of the sun, alongside the Protectors.
This mythological legend is central to Oqantel, as it encompasses a few core philosophical beliefs, such as the maternal undertones found throughout it. Yaotenmel, meaning
Birther of Obsidian and Fire, is observed as the mother of the world and the becoming omnipresent force which governs it. Since a mother is seen as a giver and protector, Yaotenmel is often portrayed as a woman, She encompasses duty in sacrifice and the essential reality of death in order for life continuation. As well as the belief that one
returns to Yaotenmel in death, as she became the world and one becomes part of the world in decay.
The two polar deities of Ohte and Ya’en serve the function of balancing the world, as well as constantly running it. Both encompass various aspects of life on Yaotenmel(Mundus), Ohte generally feeds life and stops Ya’en from swallowing the sun. While Ya’en feeds chaos of the world, therefore she controls aspects such as severe weather and catastrophe. Yaotenmel, is naturally chaotic as with life fed by Ohte, but the manifestation of Ya’en controls extraordinary disasters which are not viewed as natural. Eventually, it is expected for Ya’en to overtake Ohte and swallow the Heart of Yaotenmel. Then, she will die and sacrifice herself, beginning a new Cycle.