The people who have lived in what is today called Acaria have had hundreds of belief systems come their way over the past couple thousand years. Today, however, most Acarians practice two faiths: Akronism (Akronedh) and the paganistic Jerinism (Dzherinedh). While one cannot describe the faith of another, one can make some generalizations and comments on each religion and its effects on the culture.
A full 50% of Acarians claim this faith, and that's after having been on the continent three hundred years. It attracted many of the poor and middle-class, and found many converts in the affluent as well.
Founded almost 3000 years ago, Akronism has come to dominate the Acarians. Akro was born to a peasant family, and lived his first years raising sheep. On his twelfth birthday, as he was going with his family to the temple of Ytara, he experienced a vision. A deity previously unknown to the people of the Great Valley (now known as the Réalteo River Basin, on the east of the continent) showed himself to the child, and caused him to approach. All others present, with the notable exception of his mother, ran away at the sight of such a magnificent deity. The deity revealed himself as Kharán, the boy’s father. Akro’s mother, Ritae, bowed down to the deity and her son, whom Kharán revealed was his representative on earth. Kharán filled up the young Akro with his spirit, and led him into the wilderness. Only his mother witnessed these events. When the boy returned a year later, he had aged several, and was full of knowledge and wisdom. He began teaching his peoples what he knew, and to follow him, as he knew what was best for them. They tried to make him their king, but he refused, believing the politics would undermine his teachings. Instead, he lived a pauper’s life, roving from town to town, accepting shelter and food from whoever was willing to grant it. He was also generous with whatever he did possess, at times magically creating the things that were necessary at the time. As the years passed, he made many enemies, as his teachings were very focused on the spiritual, and were leaving behind the physical, upon which the nation of the Valley depended. He also completely disrupted the status quo, inflaming all those who were to be left behind. Not five years after his return, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered, and beheaded on the Palace Green in Trente, in full view of all who accepted his teachings. Instead of disheartening them, however, it reinforced their beliefs, and they proselytized throughout the continent, converting many. While many did not accept Akro’s philosophies and teachings, he influenced the culture of the entire continent.
Today, Akronism is still the most popular religion on the continent. Its historical/religious text, The Chronology, is here.
