These believes precede the coming of TheProphet and the teachings of Chal. Once TheMilar adopted the teachings of Chal the old beliefs faded away and few now follow or remember them. The old beliefs are outlined below.

The Mi’lar (TheMilar) believed that the world was created by Fifi’ra, the Firebird. Fifi’ra, was the greatest of the animals and he lived in the Sun. He created the world for his daughter, the moons to enjoy. The other spirit animals begged Fifi’ra to be allowed to live on the world he created. All that the Firebird asked was that the Animals respect and take care of the world. After a time they began to be jealous of the territory given to each other and through their jealousy began to destroy the world. The Firebird became very angry at the animals and banished them from the earth and was set to destroy it. Just as he did his daughters (the moons) interceded and pleaded with him to spare the world. When he asked them why they replied that they had found some lost creatures that did not have a home. When the moons showed their father the Mi’lar he took pity on them, because they were such small, helpless creatures. The Firebird spared the world and allowed the Mi’lar to live there. The animals begged the Firebird to be able to return to the restored paradise. Eventually the Fifi’ra allowed them to look down over the world, provided that they nourish and guide the Mi’lar that lived on the world. Each of the Animals promised to do two things. The first was to send a part of their energy down to the world and so created creatures in their own image to populate the world. Secondly they agreed to act as guides and companions to the Mi’lar. All of the Animals were involved in creating the creatures of the world. However, not all animals were responsible guides to the humans and so Fifi’ra chose twenty of the most committed guides. He gave the guides a home in the sky above the world. The Mi’lar believed that these Animal spirits are represented by the 17 constellation they see in the sky, as well as the three stationary stars. The animals that comprise the seventeen constellations are:

The three stationary stars represent

The Mi’lar believed that each person was assigned one of these animal spirits as a personal guide and power. During rites of mediation and purification in adolescence each Mi’lar would receive a vision, in which the animal spirit would come to the youth. From then on the youth would look to the animal for guidance and power. It was believed that each individual would receive varying degrees of power from the Spirit guide. Upon death, if the animal spirit judged you worthy, it would take the soul to live with the moon daughters.

The Mi’lar had a priest class, who were believed to be guided by the moon daughters. Priests interpreted the dreams and the signs that the animal guides left their followers. They were also the ones who initiated and supervised the Mi’lar rites and ceremonies. The Shaman’s advice regarding the will of the animals and Fifi’ra was sought constantly, for example when to move the flocks, when to raid and what name should be given to a child. As a sign of their power the shamans often had several animal companions. They were said to be able to heal the sick and protect the tribe from evil powers. The priests were the ones who developed a written language, and studied the stars. Unlike the Mi’lar who were nomadic they lived in small communities scattered through the lands, often on high points in the area. The rest of the Mi’lar gave them the supplies needed to sustain themselves.

See also: Chal and CharacterChosen