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I saw temples dedicated to the worship of dragons. I heard their voice, almost human, but reverberating with a thousand echoes. |  | |
| - The Wonders of Zerrikania | |||
The cult of Divine Dragons is the only officially recognized state religion in Zerrikania. It comprises of a "pantheon" of various ancient wyrms as well as veneration of real, living specimens hosted in temples.
History[]
The religion's foundation is the myth of Zerrikanterment, a legendary golden dragon who had enough of humans and nonhumans running rampant across the world. After designating a population of a canyon to the south of the Fiery Mountains as his chosen people, he reportedly burned forests around the canyon to separate them from the outside world with steppes, deserts and hamadas. In return of his favour, the people of the canyon oasis were responsible for hosting and protecting the dragon race, members of which obtained safe shelter in Zerrikanterment's realm. The protection eventually turned into worship, and spread from a local oasis cult into a dominant religion in the region, following the seizure and centralization of power by the Queens of Zerrikania, whose queendom currently stretches from the Fiery Mountains to the Korath desert.
At one point in the first half of 13th century, a Faithel holy order was established to protect dragons and spread the faith outside Zerrikanian borders.[1]
Beliefs[]
Dragons are believed to be sole creators of the entire world[1] and embodiments of its natural forces. In addition to their draconid form, Divine Dragons may take a form of an animal, person, of weather phenomenon.[2]
Cult[]
The cult is centered around dragon temples, where both alive and dead dragons are hosted.[2][3] The temples are managed by priestesses. In addition to attending a dragons' needs, the clergy explored the holy knowledge, were fluent in writing, and administered divine power, that is magic gifted to them by their scaled lords.[1]
Notable worshipped entities[]
- Baal-Zebuth
- Raróg
- Zerrikanterment