Tiele

Tiele is the official religion of Angria. The main big boy goddess of this religion is Tiel, for whom the religion is named. Obviously.

Values
Tiele is a faith that values straightforwardness, honesty, courage, and strength above all. Tiel demands that all follow the laws of their Khatun, as she is the representative of Tiel among men. Theft, trickery, and lies are particularly frowned upon and even despised. This is not to say that followers of Tiel are averse to savagery though, and are known to treat traitors and law-breakers quite harshly.

Traditions
Sky burials are the most common form of funeral for the people of this faith when they die. When a person's body is consumed by the birds, especially those large birds of prey found in the heartlands of Angria, it is returned to Tiel, with whom their spirit dwells with in the sky. People who are not seen fit for this honor are typically buried beneath the ground, most often without any sort of marking.

Because of the holiness of birds of prey, it is exceedingly insulting to kill one. And even worse to eat one. Birds who live on the ground, songbirds, etc are not considered divine in this respect though.

Story Time
When humans first ventured into the plains, the eagle who ruled the skies above it took an interest in them, set the wind at their backs as they traveled, and guided them to where they could find game to hunt. These people thanked her generosity and protection with what offerings they could afford to spare, and to the most faithful in these early days she revealed her name: Tiel.

These people splintered into many groups over time, and warred against each other over various disputes. All the while, others invaded the plains and picked off these tribes one by one. Her people were flighty, aimless, and weak on their own. So she desired to unite all people beneath a just and powerful ruler, and seduced a man to give birth to this ruler. Her child, Kayra, grew up to become a fierce champion of the people, larger and stronger than her peers, and merciless in battle. All along the plains, she brought many nomadic tribes together beneath her rule, and following the will of her divine mother, lead them to many victories against the invaders. No man, woman, or beast could best her in battle. The blood of Tiel refused to be spilled, swords and spears could not pierce her.

Kayra's father had other children as well, born of a mortal woman. One of them was a son, Erlik, who became jealous of Kayra. Kayra led the people for many years, won back territory, settled disputes between tribes, and even took the fight to the homelands of her enemies, seizing their homes and razing their cities. In time, she became the Khatun of the Steppe, bore many children, and built a permanent home for the people at Baykal, which would later become the capital. It seemed that her ambition was insatiable, and no amount of land she could conquer would satisfy her.

Erlik plotted with Kayra's fallen enemies though, telling them that if the good queen is killed, her people will surely scatter again, and the outsiders will be able to return to the homelands that were stolen from them.

"Kayra's pride will blind her." He promised the fallen kings, "Offer to meet with her, to surrender yourselves to her in exchange for peace, and she will listen. If I poison her food at the table where you meet, you may overtake her with the advantage of numbers."

Mergen, of the lands to the East of Angria, doubted Erlik's loyalty. "How do we know you will poison your own sister, and not allow her to take our remaining lands from us at the table?"

Erlik responded, "I will give you my firstborn until it is done. If don't do as I say, you may slay her."

And so the deal was made.

The fallen kings arranged to meet with Kayra, and they broke bread together under a ceasefire. As Erlik promised, the poison took its toll within the hour, and the kings struck her together with their guards as planned. The Devil's Gum Erlik had poisoned her food with allowed her to be harmed with weapons like a mortal woman, though she and her own guards managed to fell a few of the attackers before succumbing to her injuries. The surviving kings realized too late though, that they had been poisoned as well.

"I will have your daughter slain!" Mergen cried, sending his remaining guard to carry out his will even as he retches on the ground at Erlik's feet.

But Erlik made no attempt to stop it, seeking out the Khatun's children instead, to make certain that she would have no surviving heirs.

Tiel sent three spirits to save the children, but only one could be reached in time, the youngest daughter.

She was taken into the wilderness and hidden away by the three spirits, who took the forms of animals and taught her how to be strong. The Wolf taught her how to track her enemies and how to fight fiercely. The Fox taught her how to outsmart her enemies and how to spot a lie. And the Stag taught her how to be aware of her surroundings, to meditate, and to think deeply about problems before responding to them.

When she was old enough, she emerged from hiding and went to the capital, demanding that Erlik come out and face her. He refused, and sent his guards to execute her. She dispatched them, and shouted her demands again. Erlik sent his champions next, refusing to come out himself. They all lay at her feet, and she ordered a third time for him to meet her in a duel. He came to the window and gazed down at her from the spire, saying that if she was truly a child of the Great Eagle, she would come to him. The child, being of third level or higher, activated her radiant soul feature and flew up there to kill him. Then she became the Khatun the end.