Kathuni Dragon Mythology (concept)
The mythologization of the Dragon in Kathuni lore and religion is incredibly intricate and often outright esoteric to most outside observers who have attempted to learn the culture. While most likely inspired by the actual historical creature, the Kathuni deification of the beast puts them far above in importance to even the similarly dragon-focused Aversarians. While some scholars have theorized the mundane explanation may have been a dragon (or dragons) either devastating or ruling over an ancient pre-Empire Kathun-Kai, the actual veracity of this is impossible to be known due to missing sections of Kathun-Kai's otherwise extremely well documented historical record.
Some four hundred years before the formation of Aversaria, an exceptionally powerful Magi named Yao Ren Cai would overthrow the Theocratic Monastic-Princely Orders that dominated the east and crown herself first Empress of Kathun-Kai and take the predecessorial name 'Tiayang' ('Sun' or 'Heaven' in Kathuni) before allegedly ruling for two hundred years and crafting 'Fourteen Heavenly Ways of Life' by which to achieve perfection spiritually, physically, and mentally. Upon her death in her capital of Lóen Chaéon, either because of propagandizing by Yao Ren Cai, mythologization of her legacy or truth in Kathuni belief, she would be declared to have joined with the gods and merged with them to become the 'First Dragon' (Kathuni belief specifies that while mundane dragons may have existed prior, she became a far greater version).
While this belief is only primarily held by the aristocracy, the commoners of Kathun-Kai instead more regularly believing she actually became the sky and earth, it has nonetheless greatly shaped Kathun-Kai's culture moving forward and especially that of its nobility. Yao Ren Cai's son, Emperor Yao Lingxu-Yao Ren Cai, would declare himself the reincarnation of the First Dragon to secure his right to rule and would be followed in this by every Emperor after him. The ruling religion of the east (often referred to in the west as the 'Fourteen Heavenly Methods') that formed during and after Yao Ren Cai would further push the belief in dragon by encouraging worship of the First Dragon and all of its reincarnations as the 'spiritual center' of Kathun-Kai and as a method to maintain support of the monarchy. While the belief in the monarchy's reincarnation remains mixed, the worship of dragons (and Yao Ren Cai) would nonetheless dominate Kathun-Kai for the rest of its history.