Do slugcat colonies have any beliefs or myths?
yes! what specific belief varies globally but yes they do
lots of stuff about this under cut. You have been warned. seriously there is a *lot*
the most widespread *before* slugcats began interacting with iterators much more frequently and having iterators more involved in their lives was the worship of iterators as gods/godlike beings!
many slugcats living near iterators/in a retaining wall used to believe iterators to be gods of rain (this is why the word for iterator in most scug languages comes from the words for storm, rain, god, etc.) and would worship them because of this. visiting an iterator and getting the Mark was a privilege few slugcats had and those who succeeded in their pilgrimage were considered holy and “touched by a god” and were looked up to for advice and wisdom
slugcats don’t believe this anymore, but having the Mark is still seen as an important gift and earns respect quickly, and iterators are still widely respected as important beings of power and knowledge
also addition: some colonies saw iterators as malevolent beings, and avoided them at all costs. this was a much less common belief, but the effects of this belief still impact regions that used to believe this (they tend to view slugcats who interact with iterators negatively and dislike iterators in general)
other beliefs even further back existed too, such as animism for example
even super far back into slugcat history, knowledge of the cycle was widespread. some details may have changed over time (and more knowledge gained about it), but the core of it, the Great Cycle, has ALWAYS had an influence on slugcat society as a whole.
also, slugcats didn’t only worship iterators in the past. Echoes, Weavers, even the Benefactors were worshipped and venerated. to this day, some slugcats still worship them, it’s just not as widely spread as it once was
modern slugcats beliefs can vary wildly depending on region (aside from the global belief of the Great Cycle and respect of the cycle of life and death), with one region having mostly deist colonies, another monotheistic, another polytheistic, another atheistic, etc.
(globally though deism or theism are the most common beliefs)
death and rebirth is very important in slugcat society and whenever a slugcat dies, they are given a very elaborate burial and a ceremony that is both a time of mourning and celebration for the death and rebirth of the deceased. they’re buried with no coffin and their corpse is seen as returning to the Earth (and thus the cycle to be reborn once again) and it’s seen as a great disrespect to not take proper care of a deceased slugcat’s body
ascended slugcat ancestors are venerated and remembered by their colony (most colonies have at least a few ancestors who have ascended) and often prayed to for guidance and protection, wherever they may be.
most slugcats don’t know for sure what lies beyond ascension, with some believing an afterlife with their god(s), an afterlife with ascended family and friends, blissful nothingness, etc. but no one truly knows.
ancient writings by the Benefactors and karma are also influential on slugcat beliefs to this day. most slugcats place the most importance on the fifth karma, Survival, rather than Crossing Oneself Out. the cycle of life and death is a gift to them.
i want to add more but this post is already very long so… just know there is more stuff they believe that i didn’t add here
maybe i'll make another post soon about the effects of ascension being only available in a few far apart places (the Void Sea is not exactly easy to reach). perhaps.
