Wandism

Wandism is an Oriental religion, named after its founder Maraq saar-Wandi followed nearly exclusively by Qaemedi people. Its followers are concentrated in a single state, though they also exist in various other Qaemedi states as well, being seen as a subversive element and a danger to society. In contrast with the traditional Qaemedi religion - which is polytheistic, highly syncretic, matriarchial, and puts a heavy emphasis on the veneration of ancestors and the performing of rituals, while being sexually permissive and rather undogmatic, with its followers being known for being individualistic and having rather loose sexual morals -, Wandism is tritheistic and highly dogmatic, patriarchal, puts a heavy emphasis on sexual morality (prescribing the death penalty for any kind of adultery, extra- or pre-marital sex; forcing women to cover up and wear veils). Wandism also frowns upon old class systems, instead calling for a 'revolution' against the old, decadent elites.

Wandism being a tritheistic religion, recognizes only three deities: the Heavenly Father who created the universe and rules over the heavens, the Great Leader - also called "Wise Owl" - (who is simultaneously the head of the faith, and an earthly avatar of the Heavenly Father, to be worshipped and obeyed), and the Betraying Bride. Out of these, only the first two are venerated, as the Betraying Bride is seen as an evil deity: the queen of shadows who rules the world in spite of her lack of omnipotence, refuses to accept her responsibilities and seeks only privileges, having abandoned her people as well as her promise to be the Great Leader's wife. It is believed, that all of the world is corrupted by the influence of the Betraying Bride, and thus, the only way to gain salvation is through complete subservience to the Great Leader, who is responsible for guiding the Wandists to the light in the ways the Heavenly Father intends: when a Great Leader dies, those who do not mourn and cry hard enough are damned flesh. Wandism also stigmatizes the existence of sexes other than truly male or female, calling for frequent purges of those who are of "irregular" flesh.

The Wise Owl or Great Leader isn't exempt from the extreme strict moral standards of Wandism either: those Wandist leaders who stay true to the principles of the religion are cremated after death, while those who don't are burned alive - such was the fate of the religion's founder Maraq saar-Wandi himself, after he was caught seeking sexual activities with married women. Though, in order to justify this while maintaining belief in the infallibility of the Wise Owl, Wandists also believe that when a Great Leader is judged and executed for violating the principles of Wandism, their body has been taken over by a demon or the Betraying Bride, thus making the killing a form of mercy-kill, liberating the Wise Owl's immortal soul.