Taken from Global Theological Repercussions of the Muvian Adolescence from the works of Hybrax & Toogee
The Cloud Striders are considered to be something of a puzzlement to modern theological scholars.
This is because of two distinct cultural backgrounds to Cloud Strider mythos and legend. In one, the Cloud Striders were a tradition of younger gods birthed in Nyaminate who rose from a dissatisfaction with the original gods of that land. This tradition was believed to have spread far and wide, influencing such groups as the aboriginal tribes of Bandaiyan, the strange mountain-people of Meru, and many other countries to the east of the Garden Continent. These gods were rather nebulous creatures, and could appear as anything from a man, an animal, a mountain or a Yowie. While they could be bargained or haggled into performing services for their followers, their real value was often as instructive examples of how to be and how not to be.
This theology can be best shown in Meru's legend of its first emperor who, it is said, was attached to the sky above the small country by a great length of rope tied about his waist. This rope was said to be tied to the Cloud Striders' legs, and as they walked about the sky, Meru's king would move with them. As the king reached the end of his reign, rather than dying like a common man, the Cloud Striders instead pulled the king back into the sky via the rope. This tale is still replicated by the nobility of Meru who keep a length of rope about their waist at all times. To cut this rope is to give up all claims to lordship in the country.
But the other background for the Cloud Striders puts this tale into a rather… peculiar context. It is believed by scholars investigating the history of Mu, and its influence on neighboring countries through its colonization program, that the Cloud Strider theology may in fact be a tale meant to control adolescent rebellion through the creation of a sub-culture well within the hands of the technocratic government.
Mu, historically, is well known and perhaps unfairly condemned for its atheistic and secular culture. What's less understood is how a culture which was in frequent contact with societies which ascribed spiritual and metaphysical weight to every incident managed to sustain itself for so long without also falling victim to such craven worship and thoughtless dogma. Cloud Strider theology may have been that means; adolescents looking to rebel against their forebears were led away from overturning their own society by organizing in a mock-up of a religion written for a Muvian audience.
Muvian social scientists, as well as comedic actors, writers and directors, were often employed to construct and fabricate a theology which was so ridiculous and far-fetched on examination that only the thickest and most dim-witted of rebellious sorts would continue to hold true belief in it. However, it also appealed to those youths who sought to upset their families by opposing the common, mainstream values of their culture.
It was believed that once examined, the target audience would note the striking similarities between this "fool's faith" and other organized faith and abandon both. Or, if willing to manipulate other believers, they would be brought in as apprentices and journeymen to the constructors of the 'faith' to perpetuate the belief in later generations. In this way, even the more hypocritical members of each Muvian generation could benefit the mainstream culture as a whole.
It is believed by scholars that this version of Cloud Strider faith managed to continue until shortly after the loss of Atlantis. With the rise of the Muvian armageddon cults putting forward an actual rebellious faith, belief in a farcical religion controlled by the powers-that-be waned and eventually died out in Mu itself.
The origin of the 'serious' theology of the Cloud Striders is believed to be the result of Muvian colonies who, outside of contact with Mu, simply didn't see the joke in it any longer.
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From the works of Anatjari Toogee.
