Däeism

Däeism is a philosophy that developed on the continent of Däe. Its founder was the Ydelhiad Elf Däe, whose name was lent to his philosophy and the continent, as well as the country of Däe Ydelhiad.

Däeism was developed around 300 BT. Amongst Elves, it is the most popular religion, and is the world's third largest religion after Tulkonism and Savatism.

History
Däe was an Elf who was born in Ynoforan Country around 350 BT. During his early life, Gardenian Orcs landed on the south of the Garden Continent and pushed some Ynoforan tribes to the west, including Däe's tribe. These tribes began settling in what would become the Däe River Valley, forming the Ydelhiad ethnic group. As an adult, Däe participated in several battles with Orcs, but eventually realized that the violence was purposeless. He went to the Northern Däe Mountains where he founded the first Däeist Monastery, which still operates today despite being nearly destroyed during the 40-Year War.

During Däe's lifetime, his philosophy spread all around his namesake continent, and after his death, his philosophy as well as numerous landmarks across the continent where named after him.

Beliefs
Däeism emphasizes impermanence, compassion, balance, and discipline; these are called the Four Attributes, and are the central tenets of the religion. There are various schools of Däeism, which differ in some practices and traditions, and adapt to other religions to varying degrees. These include the Northern and Southern Monastic Schools, Zern (which is popular amongst Ynoforan Elves), U'ma (which became popular with Humans that were influenced by Elf culture, particularly southern groups of Iloisa), and A'Thäe, a form which combines A'Thanist cosmology with Däeist philosophy and practice. A central aspect of Däeist practice is meditation.

The most important figures besides Däe himself are the Twelve Daesa. Each of them were early followers of Däe, including his successor L'Nore, who embody the Four Attributes and other elements of Däeist practice. The Daesa continue to reincarnate as the Amla, whose reincarnation lines extend all the way to the original Twelve. Not all Däeist schools recognize the Amla as the True Daesa, which has led to several schisms and succession conflicts within the religion. By 3090 AT, the current Amla were almost universally recognized by all schools.

The Däeist afterlife is known as Sunarma; the term does not refer to an afterlife realm, per se, but more so to the uncertainty of life after death. In some schools, Sunarma is a return to the fabric of the universe, and eventually leads to reincarnation. People such as the Daesa, and in some traditions, the Tulkon, are brought back to earth through reincarnation.

The Tulkon is sometimes seen as someone who has achieved enlightenment before birth and thus has various supernatural powers, but holds no power within the main schools of the religion; however, some schools believe the Tulkon is a non-Daesa Amla and simply arose from the Earth's need for a champion. Numerous Tulkons were Däeists, and hold more important places in the religion than non-Däeist Tulkons.