Bound in Death

Redve Terkald Jaget

Zakorna is a Kingdom dedicated to both the Spirits and the Goddess Caarin, uniquely the Kingdom lives in a seemingly peaceful coexistence despite the two vastly different ideologies. Many are Spriten, many are Skall, and many cannot decide which to follow for fear of persecution by the other or follow bits of both. However religious differences have seldom been the reason for major civil unrest within the Kingdom, the two ideologies simply agree to disagree and each moves on, such is the way of Zakornan culture.
Skallin philosophy states that Spirits do not deserve reverence and that they are inferior to Caarin and other divine beings. Yet despite being a Skallin Kingdom many openly worship Thala the great Spirit of the ocean. You would assume that this divide in ideology would create civil wars that could destroy the kingdom, but it hasn't. There is an unspoken understanding between the two groups that is bound by one simple tradition that both groups share. The rites of death.
Though the funeral itself is different between the two with Skallin holding the funeral within a church or other holy place, Spriten hold it by the ocean close to Thala. One will pray for the departed to be granted entry to the heavenly city and home of Caarin. The other will pray for the ocean to accept the departed and that the departed are granted new life. There are differences between the two as you can see, but the one thing that unites the two is the location of this afterlife the destination for the departed, the heavenly city or Thala 's ocean. Both believe that the horizon is the said location.
There is enough people that believe as the locations of the afterlife or the plane of the higher beings is the same place. Then the two religions may not be as different as people may think, this additional belief can strengthen the weak bond between the two.
During the funeral, rites are given to aid the departed in their venture towards the horizon. These final rites given are often shared between both religions, and is more a part of Zakorna culture rather than any one faith.

There is a place where ocean, earth, mortal, divine, and spirit are truly united as one. We shall meet there soon enough, but for now follow the path laid out and walk unto it unafraid.
Here where the earth meets the sky, and the ocean fades into the heavens, we shall be reunited not as friend nor foe, but family. Pain will no longer harm you, nor will fear corrupt your soul, instead the waves shall calm you, the clouds enfold you, and peace shall be your only thought.

This small and simple prayer unites the two ideologies together and while it does not completely connect the two it reduces hostilities and prejudice just enough that coexistence can occur. The Zakornans are thankful for this similarity as it allowed peace and unity, while tenuous, it still holds and only extremists of either side break the peace.

Related Articles:

• The Kingdom of Zakorna
• Spirits
• Caarin, Goddess of Civilisation
• Spriten
• Skallin
• Thala -Greater Spirit of the Ocean