murugan_DESC;The cult of Kartikeya is a Local Indian religion of Martial soul. Kartikeya, also known as Murugan, is the Hindu god of war and victory, and the son of Shiva the Destroyer. Kartikeya's cult venerates him as Commander of the Gods, existing alongside but superior to the other gods of the Hindu pantheon. The faith is very militaristic, and promotes the formation and training of local militias for towns to ready themselves for any and all combat.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
murugan_reformed_DESC;The Arumugani Faith is a Mainstream Indian religion of Martial Soul. This newly-reformed faith places even more emphasis on Kartikeya's role as Commander, elevating him to the position of supreme god. The other Hindu gods are now thought of more as saints than true gods, and all follow the orders of Kartikeya.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
saura_DESC;The cult of Surya is an Heretical Indian faith of Traditional soul. Surya is the god of the sun in Hinduism, and seen as one of the aspects of Brahman. Surya's cult venerates him as the sun and Light personified, and challenges the idea that any other god can contest his claim to supremacy. It has long been practiced by the Indo-Aryans of southern India.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
saura_reformed_DESC;The cult of Surya Brahman is a Mainstream Indian faith of Statist Soul. The cult of Surya is now codified by a central text, strengthened with a hierarchical temple and the backing of the state. More importantly, it has become more prone to interactions with outsiders, and as such desires to spread the faith even further. Surya was worshipped in the Smartist Hindu tradition as an aspect of Brahman, but is now considered the only aspect of Brahman, and is therefore analogous with the Ultimate Reality of the universe. Surya Brahman, though his domain is lofty, is not uncaring - in fact, the High Priest of the faith sanctifies worthy kings as being Surya Brahman made flesh.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
anansi_DESC;The worship of Anansi is a Local West African Shamanic religion of Martial soul. Anansi is the spider god of stories in Akan mythology, and his cult is focused on worshipping him above other gods. The task of organizing worship and sacrifices to Anansi falls to the shamans, who communicate with the god to secure blessings and for the strength to defend their communities.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bantu_pagan_reformed_DESC;The worship of Mungu is a Reformed Mainstream Bantu Shamanic religion of Statist soul. Simply meaning "God", the reformation of Bantu faith has seen many gods and spirits demoted to angelic or saintly beings, or done away with entirely, replaced by one high god named Mungu. The shamans, previously restricted to serving their tribe or village, are now ordered into a temple headed by a Priest-King. The Priest-King is seen as Mungu's representative and earthly form, and has total control of the faith and its doctrine.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
batembuzi_DESC;The worship of the Batembuzi kings is an Heretical Shamanic cult of Statist soul. Popular in the African Great Lakes region, this faith tells tales of a dynasty long past who sought to establish an Empire of Light. These kings and their descendants, the Batembuzi dynasty, are worshipped as gods in the hope that the people's belief can give them the strength needed to bring the faith to all ends of the world.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_bahusrutiya_DESC;The Bahushrutiya ( "Well Learned" ) are an Heretical branch of Buddhism with a Scholarly soul, under strong Indian influences. This school of Buddhism appeared relatively early, and distinguished itself by separating the teachings of Gautama Buddha into those which are mundane and those which are supernatural. Among the Bahushrutiya, following the supernatural teachings of Gautama Buddha is the only way to free oneself from suffering. The faith is therefore intensely scholarly, with ardent practitioners always striving to live life as Gautama Buddha.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_mahayana_DESC;The Mahayana ( "Great Vehicle" ) are an Heretical branch of Buddhism with a Messianic soul. Mahayana differs from mainstream branches of Buddhism in that it teaches that enlightenment can be reached in a single lifetime and by anyone, rather than only by ascetics. It also espouses the idea of becoming a Bodhisattva and selflessly delaying Nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment. Some sects also fervently espouse the coming of Maitreya, a bodhisattva who will attain complete enlightenment in the future and educate all on the pure, true law of Buddhism.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_pratyeka_DESC;The worship of the Pratyekabuddhas ( "Lone Buddhas" ) is a Local Buddhist sect of Statist soul. In mainstream Buddhism, pratekyabuddhas are those who achieve enlightenment all on their own, without any guides or use of scripture. In the Pratekyan sect this still rings true, but in the shadow of Alexander the idea has come to be used as a means for some Buddhist kings to legitimize their rule and dominion over large parts of India.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_sthaviravada_DESC;The Sthaviravada ( "Sect of the Elders") are the Mainstream Buddhist branch, of a Clerical soul. This branch of Buddhism purports itself to be the oldest, and that its doctrine most closely matches that of Gautama Buddha. It is mainly focused around the organization of its priests and the rules they must follow in order to remain pure and achieve nirvana.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_vajrayana_DESC;The Vajrayana ( "Adamantine Vehicle" ) are a Local Buddhist sect of Messianic soul, characterized by strong Gnostic influences. Vajrayana is a very esoteric branch of Buddhism, with a focus on tantric rituals and traditions as the most reliable and fastest method to enlightenment. There is evidence that this sect of Buddhism was influenced by Manichaeism, due to the faiths' common features of light and ritualistic knowledge.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_zen_DESC;The Way of Chan ( "Mediation") is a Local branch of Buddhism of Statist soul, under strong Chinese influences. This branch of Buddhism is characterized by a focus on meditation and introspection as the path to nirvana. Also included are the use of koan, stories and questions from Buddhist scripture that are used to test a student's progress.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x
bud_zen_reformed_DESC;The Linji Sect is a Reformed Mainstream Buddhist religion of Clerical Soul with Chinese influences. Named after the Chinese monk Linji Yixuan, this reformed branch of Buddhism is even more focused on the role of the bhikkhu within the practice. Also new to the faith is the role of High Priest, a bhikkhu who has final authority on matters of scriptural analysis and religious ritual.;;;;;;;;;;;;;x