Trelagism
| Trelagism | |
|---|---|
| World of Origin | Scadrial |
| Universe | Cosmere |
“There had been a people known as the Nelazan. They had worshiped the stars, had called them the Thousand Eyes of their god, Trell, watching them.”
—Sazed recalls the followers of Trelagism during the Final Ascension[1]
Trelagism was a religion on Scadrial that worshiped the god Trell. It was primarily practiced by the Nelazan people before the Ascension of the Lord Ruler and the establishment of the Final Empire.[2]
Beliefs
Trelagism was a dualist religion named after the god Trell. Trell's opposite was Nalt, and the two were believed to be brothers. Trelagists believed that night was beautiful and daylight was profane. During the night, Trelagists were able to see the "Thousand Eyes of Trell" (the stars) watching over them. Jealous of the worship given to his brother, Nalt would shine his single eye (the sun) on the land during the day, blocking Trelagists from seeing Trell's eyes. Despite Nalt's attempts to outshine his brother, the Trelagists believed that Trell continued to watch over them during the day.[2]
Their beliefs concerning the afterlife are described by Sazed as "almost whimsical," and their doctrine in general was left intentionally ambiguous on many issues in order to allow followers to "discover truth for themselves." Adherents were encouraged to pray to Trell, and believed that their god would respond to petitions.[3]
History
Classical Scadrial
Before the Final Empire eradicated Trelagism, it was practiced primarily by a people known as the Nelazan. The Nelazan people lived in northern Scadrial, likely in close proximity to the planet's Arctic Circle. Sazed notes that their winters had few hours of daylight, and their summers had few hours of darkness.[2] These extreme day-night cycles evidently factored into their religious beliefs. Little is known about the Nelazan themselves. Sazed considers them to be a "determined" people, as evidenced by their accomplishment of counting and mapping every planet and major star in the night sky,[2][1] and they apparently placed great value on the study of mathematics and astronomy--a trait which attracted Sazed to the religion personally.[3] Sazed doesn't, consider them to be very advanced, however.[2]
The Final Empire
The original adherents of Trelagism were eliminated by the Lord Ruler, however some Terris Keepers were able to recover their star charts and record their beliefs,[1] and some Keepers even chose to practice the religion themselves.[4] Trelagism was the fifth religion that Sazed offered to Vin not long after she joined Kelsier's crew, hoping she would appreciate their mutual preference for the night.[2] Sazed later considered the religion for himself, but was discouraged by the lack of clarity that it offered.[3] After his Ascension, Sazed used the Trelagist star charts to return Scadrial to it's original orbit.[1]
Post-Catacendre
Trelagism may have diverged from its original beliefs after the Catacendre. Miles Dagouter, Edwarn Ladrian, and others are self-proclaimed followers of Trellism,[5][6] which they believe traces its roots to the religion of Trelagism as described in the Words of Founding.[5] The true relationship between Trelagism and Trellism is unclear.[7]
Cosmere
There is no substantial link between Trelagism and the dualist religion of the Purelakers concerning Nu Ralik and Vun Makak.[8] It is unclear whether the god Nalt has any connection to the planet Nalthis.[9]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d The Hero of Ages chapter 82#
- ↑ a b c d e f The Final Empire chapter 9#
- ↑ a b c The Hero of Ages chapter 46#
- ↑ #SandersonChat Twitter Q&A with Audible.com
— Arcanum - 2016-02-04# - ↑ a b The Alloy of Law chapter 11#
- ↑ The Bands of Mourning chapter 29#
- ↑ Holiday signing
— Arcanum - 2015-12-12# - ↑ Calamity San Antonio signing
— Arcanum - 2016-02-26# - ↑ Calamity Chicago signing
— Arcanum - 2016-02-22#