Cziela
Cziela [tʂɻɪˈelɐ] is the name given to the religion practiced by the Meó. It is either derived from the ancient Herlucc religion, or from a common ancestor of the two. Either way, the Herlucc religion and philosophies have a major presence within the religion and culture of the Meó.
Five Constituents (Achyau)
A core belief of the Chziela religion is that everything in the universe is composed of one of five states of matter or "constituents", those five states being Wood, Metal, Air, Water, and Fire. Each of these elements has a 'representative' that are each considered sacred within the religion.
Categories | Amako | Akya | Akhe | Amiru | Aahko |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representative | Mako | The Wheel | Haki | Miru River | Ahko Tree |
Form of life or Existence | Terrestrial | Manmade Animate Things | Aerial | Aquatic | Sapient, Fire itself |
Realm | Natural Grounds | Manmade Grounds | Sky | Aquatic environments | Stars |
Element | Wood | Metal | Air | Water | Fire |
(Note that Áhko's element is not wood as the Ahko Tree is not in fact a true tree, and is much more like a grass, and does not produce wood, it is fire as the tree is highly flammable and can explode on occasion.)
Fire also includes lightning, electricity, magic, and magnets.
Wood and metal are misnomers - wood describes any type of solid from which life can flourish, and metal is sterile earth/rocks/metal. They are both of earth, with the main distinction being that wood is fertile but not sterile, and metal is sterile and infertile.
Cziela beliefs stipulate that everything has a balance of all five constituents within them, even if one is only present at an infinitely small concentration.