On the Nature of the Realms

On the Nature of the Realms is a compilation of Sortisist oral traditions dated to 342 BCE. Although it is not considered definitive, it is the closest treatise the religion has to a. The work is credited to Nesur Zana y Gibosa, a 4th century BCE Ventoran religious figure who spent much of his life compiling the various oral traditions into a more unified framework. He traveled extensively throughout western Alutra gathering and sharing his wisdom, which earned him the moniker of El Boetio (lit. "The Helper"). On the Nature of the Realms is also recognized for its literary value.

Historical context
Zana lived at a time when literacy was atypical and the Sortisist religion was largely a number of similar yet distinct folk practices handed down through oral traditions. In his travels, Zana took notes on the various beliefs and rituals. He began to discern certain similarities which led him to combine those that were close in concept and refine the differences into a larger set of thoughts. In his discussions with local leaders, both religious and civil, he shared his thoughts and findings which led to increasing similarities of practice in a wider geographic region.

The work itself, although dated to 342 BCE, likely took at least a decade to compile. While Zana is credited with the work, he is known to have tutored a number of followers who likely helped in writing the manuscripts. In any case, the comprehensiveness of the work, for its time, was quite significant, undoubtedly also benefiting from Zana's reputation as El Boetio. As Sortisism expanded northward along the Lávar River and eastward through the Kanakan Steppe, the treatise was carried with it. This led to more formalization, including increasing ritualization, of the religion. Some scholars ascribe Zana's travels and his writings, especially On the Nature of the Realms, as a basis for Sortisism's later centralization and future hierarchical structure.