Lusoa is a polytheistic religion widespread in the west of Meda. A major factor of its beliefs is the sea itself, which is regarded as the origin of the gods. Although there is a main pantheon with the most famous gods, there are many more. It would be impossible to list them all; there are mixtures, hybridisations and local deities that only a few people know. Gods vary in popularity depending on the region and culture. The gender of a deity can also vary depending on the region.

Name

Lusoa is a combination of ‘lusu’ (to walk/swim) and ‘apa’ (family/brotherhood).

Traditions

The gods are worshipped by building temples, worshipping them, making sacrifices to them, performing glories in their name and performing rituals on special days (e.g. full moon). Lusoa distinguishes between profane and sacred or impure and pure. Life is regarded as a sacred gift, which is why suicide is taboo. Eating octopus and squid is also forbidden due to their blue blood.

Travelling to all religious temples is a particularly prestigious deed. It is required to travel to the old temple every eight years and leave tributes. If this is not possible, everyone should still have been there at least once. Priests can get a colourful tattoo there, a common symbol of Lusoa. Priests of the temples first take an oath to remain in the water for eternity and not to go on land. They spend the rest of their lives in the temple. Depending on the temple, there is usually a ‘high priest’ who is honoured as a special teacher and sage. Temples are built for worship, but they are often very large. They take a long time to build, which is why proper temples are usually far apart and only a few exist in total. The gods are collected in tablets and translated into other languages. They usually also have different aspects due to the differences in language, which are thus emphasised. Outspoken unbelievers usually have a lower social status, but those who believe differently are not discriminated against.

There is a special priest-warrior class who do not stay underwater forever, but give their lives and fighting power to the gods. Their true identity is unknown and they take on a religious warrior name.

Blood plays an important role in the religion. It is considered special because of its unusual blue colour. In rituals or celebrations, it is customary to drip some of one's own blood into a bowl, which is then sacrificed to the gods. It contains a little of the energy that was spread throughout the world and created the fish people.

Inscriptions are a norm in Lusoa. Objects of worship are inscribed with the name of the deity. These can be phrases such as ‘for the deity ...’ or ‘... has built for ...’. Complete dishes are prepared as sacrificial offerings and usually their own blood is also given. ‘Offering life force out of one's own will’. The starry sky is used for divination and omens. It is believed that the dead send coded messages in the night sky.

Denomations

There are two denominations within the religion. One is conservative and only regards everything oceanic as sacred. They do not eat meat from the land as it is considered dirty. The second denomination sanctifies the ocean and the land at the same time, as it also came into being with the creation of the earth. They are allowed to eat meat. The Old Temple is fundamentally made up of conservative ranks, but is nevertheless open to progressive believers. This has to do with its location in the south.

Gods

The gods have different "nagus" and therefore animals that represent them. A nagu is similar to an ‘avatar’: normally, gods look quite humanoid, but in the real world they present themselves with animals. They represent certain areas of the sea. Gods are usually one of three genders, but they can also incorporate all of them in themselves.

Which gods are worshipped depends entirely on the region. Although the worship of the most important gods is widespread, some deities are only popular in certain areas. Some larger sub-groups within the believing cultures also have a ‘national god’. For example, there is a main pantheon with widespread deities and other minor deities that are only found locally.

Gods have red skin in their humanoid form. There is a connection with the many aquatic plants, most of which are red. Some of them are depicted with multiple eyes or arms. However, some of them also lack limbs.

Afterlife

The night sky is seen as an eternal ocean. The dead and the gods live there. The prominent stars are the figures of the gods, with the large moon representing the most important deity. The small moon is regarded as the home of the gods. This is also where the new souls are created and sent to the planet. After one dies, the soul rises from the body to the eternal ocean.

The gods of the three-star constellation are said to be responsible for the stars. They are messages that can be sent and decoded by the dead from the afterlife to this world. Colalö, Monao and Növipzi are said to pass on these messages, making them look like stars.

Burial traditions

People are buried collectively in a modified burial cave. Everyone can choose a patron deity at the adult ceremony. After death, the dead body is prepared with substances to make it last longer. It is then placed in decorated watertight coffins bearing symbols of the chosen deity. The whole body is covered with palm leaves until the opening ceremony. Religious symbols are painted on the almost naked body with the blood of the corpse. After the coffin has been prepared, it is quietly carried to the cave with the family and priests. A few words are also spoken in the burial cave as the soul enters the endless ocean. Peace must reign in the tombs so that the dead can live peacefully in the eternal ocean. The deceased receive burial offerings as ‘gifts for the gods’ or ‘useful for the afterlife’.

Monarchs and other nobles usually have their own burial caves for themselves and their families. When important priests and monarchs die, there are large funeral ceremonies. The coffins of these people are then also much more decorated and beautifully adorned.

Healers of the dead often wrap themselves in white robes adorned with plants such as seaweed and algae. They wear large masks with grimaces that resemble the psychopomps of Albuno.

Structure

There is no religious leader, but there are respected priests. They live in the Old Temple, where monuments and ancient knowledge are stored. There are also several temples dedicated to a specific deities.

Cults

Cults of gods have developed in some regions. They specialise in a particular deity and act according to their will. The gods worshipped may be well-known or a very obscure and local deity. Over time, stronger, private cults have formed around the various deities, where members can only enter through an initiation ritual. These cults exist alongside the ethnic-cultural practice and contain their own rituals and myths surrounding the respective gods. Some of these cults are officially recognised, such as the Albuno cult near the Abyss. The best-known cults are those of Albuno, Lüvem and Nemum.

Creation myth

In the beginning, there was only chaos in the form of a raging sea. Because of its chaotic nature and loneliness, the gods came into being. With their help, they calmed the sea and created the order of life. A lot of energy was released in the process.

This released energy then randomly created souls. They were taken in by the gods as their children and were given a form by them. The gods were then the parents who taught their children knowledge and behaviour.

The end of the world is marked by the freezing of the seas, as this stops the natural order of life forever.

Symbolism

Lusoa uses many waves and round, rotating shapes. The monuments of wisdom from the Old Temple can be compared to the Bible and other religious texts. They have also been partially written down. The story of creation and important teachings of the gods are chiselled on them. Blue is a religious colour of religion, derived from the blood of the fish people.