Metariism

Metariism (Proto-Peshalic: Metarkita) is a quasi-religious system of philosophical and ethical beliefs based on teachings attributed to Metar. Nomadic Peshal shepherds are said to have encountered Metar in the early 21st precentury, at the Place of First Meeting, now demarcated by the Temple of the Spirit in Peshalim. It is the state religion of the Metari Theocracy, and its practice and learning is mandated in its territories.

Adherents of the traditional Orthodox Metariist faith are known as Metari. Orthodox Metariism is almost universally present as a belief system in the South Cadian subcontinent. A relatively smaller branch of Metariism, Metariba, practices the teachings of Metar in a less religious manner, believing that the principles of Metar are merely guidelines to assist in day-to-day aspects of one's life. Practitioners of Metariba, primarily members of the Mokyu people, are looked down upon as heretics by Orthodox Metari.

Worship
Metari faithful are required to attend at least three Teaching Lectures per week. Teaching Lectures are provided at all kital throughout the land, by kitalen and volunteer Scholars of the Thought. Kital are universally present in South Cadia.

Governance
Religious practices are guided by the Theologic Council in Peshalim. The seven most influential kitalen from each Metari tribe make up the council, with the kitalen of the Temple of the Spirit being the High Theologian. The Council issues religious decrees, and is the final authority on all religious matters of the faithful. The larger, more diverse Kitalen Council is a group of about two hundred kitalen from various kital throughout South Cadia.

History
Metariism is traced back to the first appearance of Metar to nomadic Pesha shepherds around 2100p. Early worship was conducted at a circle of boulders around which several people settled in wooden huts. The Theologic Council was founded in 2060p of the foremost leaders of teaching Metariism and leading the people in worship. The first council had eight members, rather than the seven of today, as the Mokyu lost their representation with their exile. Around 2062p, construction on the first kital, the Temple of the Spirit began. It was completed in 2050p, with a large celebration involving faithful from far and wide.

The Theologic Council were quickly overwhelmed with the duties of leading a people in worship across the continent, so in 2048p, the Kitalen Council, a group of two hundred kitalen from across the tribes, convened for the first time, to reach consensus about practices of worship and other religious decorum, with the guidance of the High Council, leaving the Theologians for more impacting decisions. In 1930p, Peshal Qarhoe Kosi unified the tribes into the Metari Theocracy, creating a sense of unity among the people, sharing a common religion and leadership.

At the turn of the 18th precentury, however, division was starting to threaten the unity built upon for centuries. An influential kitalen of the Mokyu tribe, Mokue Yitt'ur Fwazhe, began teaching that Metar was not a god that should be worshipped, but rather a great kitalen whose teaching should merely guide one's life choices. People throughout the southern tribes were shocked at such an idea, whereas northern Mokyu Metari accepted the idea as unalienable fact. Support for Yitt'ur's teachings, commonly called Metariba by tribesmen, rose to such a level where he was sent to the Theologic Council as Theologian of the Mokyu tribe in 2048p. It was at this point, that the Theologic Council decreed to exile the Mokyu people to the far Midcadian plains, and branded them Riba, our outcasts, forever to be isolated from the unity of the Theocracy for their heretic values.