A new suggestion for Zoroastrianism

[Canute VII]

So this is my draft of a religious mechanic for Zoroastrianism...

Zoroastrianism is a dualistic religion centred on a cosmology of struggle between good and evil. The ideal of Zoroastrians is to follow the threefold path of Ahura Mazda: Humata, Huxta, Huvarshta (Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds). Good and evil are represented by

• Ormuzd or Ahura Mazda: supreme creator deity, "Lord of Wisdom", Spenta Mainyu, the creative spirit/mentality
• Ahriman: Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit/mentality

According to myth, these were created by Zurvan ("time"). Some say Zurvan did this alone, some say Zurvan did it together with Chwasch- Chwarrik ("fair destiny"), with the persian word "chwarma" being linked to indian "Karma", hence constituting another dualism of masculine and femine.

Faravahar

The faith is known to have two directions:

1. Mazdaism, before islamization dominant in eastern Persia and focused on the struggle between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman
2. Zurvanism, before islamization dominant in western Persia and focused on Zurvan ("time"), the legendary creator of Ahura Mazda and Ahriman, the twin spirits

Spoiler: The legend of the Twin Spirits

Zurvanism – a historical branch of Zoroastrianism that sought to theologically resolve a dilemma found in a mention of antithetical "twin spirits" in Yasna 30.3 – developed a notion that Ahura Mazda (MP: Ohrmuzd) and Angra Mainyu (MP: Ahriman) were twin brothers, with the former being the epitome of good and the latter being the epitome of evil. This mythology of twin brotherhood is only explicitly attested in the post-Sassanid Syriac and Armenian polemic such as that of Eznik of Kolb. According to these sources the genesis saw Zurvan as an androgynous deity, existing alone but desiring offspring who would create "heaven and hell and everything in between." Zurvan then sacrificed for a thousand years. Towards the end of this period, Zurvan began to doubt the efficacy of sacrifice and in the moment of this doubt Ohrmuzd and Ahriman were conceived: Ohrmuzd for the sacrifice and Ahriman for the doubt. Upon realizing that twins were to be born, Zurvan resolved to grant the first-born sovereignty over creation. Ohrmuzd perceived Zurvan's decision, which he then communicated to his brother. Ahriman then preempted Ohrmuzd by ripping open the womb to emerge first. Reminded of the resolution to grant Ahriman sovereignty, Zurvan conceded, but limited kingship to a period of 9000 years, after which Ohrmuzd would rule for all eternity.

I propose to represent this by a mechanic lend from the reformed faith. Here "fervor" is renamed to "Chwarma", which is increased by
+1 base for being zoroastrian
+1 for being at peace
-1 for being at war
+1 for each step of positive stability
-1 to +1 for prestige
up to +1 for high clergy influence
up to +3 for having temples, weighted by development in provinces with temples (to represent the zoroastrian "fire temples")

The three aspects are:

• Ormuzd: -5% development cost, +2.5% discipline, +10% religious unity, costs 5 chwarma
• Ahriman: +5% shock damage dealt, +5% fire damage dealt, +1% missionary strength, costs 10 chwarma
• Zurvan: +0.5 yearly prestige, -10% stability cost, -0.1 devastation, costs 3 chwarma

Hence, Ahriman would be only chosen in times of dire need, as it costs so much to maintain. The normal choice would be Ormuzd and/or Zurvan, depending on point generation.

Events could include sightings or dreams of the legendary Simurgh bird (fire bird, maybe also related to Ormuzd) and Manticore (maybe related to Ahriman).

• Simurgh: winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant or a whale. It appears as a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion. The simurgh is inherently benevolent and unambiguously female.
• Manticore: it has the head of a human, the body of a lion and a tail of venomous spines similar to porcupine quills, while other depictions have it with the tail of a scorpion. There are some accounts that the spines can be shot like arrows, thus making the manticore a lethal predator. It devours its prey whole, using its triple rows of teeth, leaves no traces of its victims (including bones) behind.

PS: the religion being dualistic resembles the mississippian religion for which I did a separate suggestion (link). If this will ever be included, being both dualistic, these two religions could form a new religious group "Dualistic Denominations".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahriman
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurvanismus
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranische_Mythologie
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faravahar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simurgh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manticore

 

[amirhosein izadi]

I agree
In the Zoroastrian religion, there are important events in the life of a religious person
First, sedreh pushi, which takes place between the ages of seven and fifteen and in which the child reaches puberty.
Second, Piokany, Zoroastrian marriage ceremony
Apart from these celebrations, which are "personal" and for one person, great celebrations are held in this religion, the most important of which are
First, Nowruz, which is a celebration of the change of year, is like Christmas
Second, Shab-e Yalda or Shab-e Chelleh (Yaldā Night).
Third. Jashn-e Sadeh
Fourth. Chaharshanbe Suri Last Wednesday of Nowruz, when they jump from the fire and men hit the pot and take sweets from people like Halloween

 

[Canute VII]

I think, Jashn-e Sadeh and Chaharshanbe Suri could be made into events. Here's my proposal:


Event "Jashn-e Sadeh"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadeh

"50 days before the arrival of Nowruz, the new year, our people celebrates Jashn-e Sadeh, the arrival of fire on earth. The festivities would normally go on for three days. In old times, hundreds of birds were released while the fireworks were lighting the sky. There were fireworks, dancing and music with lavish feasts of roasted lamb, beef, chicken and other delicacies distributed among the people. The fire was kept burning all night. The day after, women would go to the fire in the morning, each taking a small portion of the fire back to their homes to make new glowing fire from the "blessed fire" and spread the blessing of the Sadeh fire to every household in the neighborhood."

1. We shall have festivities worth the occassion: +10 prestige, +20 Chwarma, -50 ducats
2. Modesty is a virtue: -5 prestige

Event "Chaharshanbe Suri"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaharshanbe_Suri

"We spend the last five days of the year in honor of the spirits of the dead, who come for reunion. The seven holy immortals (Aməša Spənta) are honored and bidden farewell at the dawn of the New Year.
Before the start of the festival, people gather brushwood in an open, free exterior space. At sunset, after making one or more bonfires, they jump over the flames, singing sorxi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to, literally meaning "[let] your redness [be] mine, my paleness yours"."

1. Let us gather more wood and light the fires: -20 admin power, +20 Chwarma
2. What a spectacle!: -20 diplo power, +20 Chwarma
3. Of course, me too, I will jump over the flames: -20 mil power, +20 Chwarma