Blutmu and Cadhinorian religion

[Brel]

We read in the page on Cadhinorian paganism that

Not surprisingly, the beliefs that emerged were an amalgamation of priestly and popular religion. Both aiďit (gods) and fantit were incorporated into the new religion, and ordinary worshippers seem to have called on both. As a partial reconciliation of the two traditions, the fantit were usually now described as serving or descending from one or another god, or were treated as minor gods themselves.

But it is said in the "A Munkhâshi Life" that

The Munkhâshi term for the process of assimilating a group was blutmu— grinding or milling. It was an appropriate term: the conquered group’s culture and institutions were dismantled piece by piece: armies, lords, cities, religions, families; nothing remained that could serve as a focus for opposition or rebellion. Then they were reconstituted according to the Demoshi model, attached to existing trêms, instructed in the worship of the Six Gods.

Now, what we're told about the class leveling in Cadhinorian society aligns with the practice of blutmu, but how did any significant amount of the religion survive it after 700 years? Munkhâsh does not seem to have tolerated any religious freedom. Areas that have been taken over by Islam in the last few hundred years tend to remain Muslim (with the notable exception of Spain), and the Muslims allowed far more religious tolerance than the Munkhâshi. How did this not have a deeper effect on Cadhinorian religion and culture, aside from demonization of the Six Gods? Is it because some Cadhinorian-speaking areas remained outside of the occupied realm?

[zompist]

The latter. The Munkhâshi occupied all the Caďinorian states bar Cayenas and Aránicer— but only for a decade or so; the Svetla valley was freed by 458. These areas had the highest population density; more importantly, they were the basis for the reconquest. They spread their militarized form of Caďinorian polytheism with them, and they had no tolerance for open worship of the Six Gods. So they had their own counter-blutmu going on, complete with (re)colonization of liberated areas.

(Some retention of Munkhâshi practices is likely, if it went under the Caďinorian radar— especially in the east of Eretald, which was always rather marginal.)

[Brel]

I see. That makes more sense. But in that case, the class leveling shouldn't have had such a big effect on the religion, if social classes were retained in the unoccupied areas. You can't have both!

[Mornche Geddick]

The actual leveling had little to do with blutmu and much more to do with the resistance. Many Cadhinoreans still practiced their old religion in secret in the occupied areas, risking martyrdom if they were caught.

The occupation levelled the class distinctions of Caďinorian society: every able-bodied man had to serve as a warrior; and the nobility in the occupied areas was almost destroyed anyway. Caďinorians of all types were thrown together, and forgot their differences in the face of the enemy.

In Berak's barony there is a caste distinction between peasants and warriors. Now that was gone. Many nobles even in the unoccupied lands would have lost their lives in the wars. There would be plenty of opportunity for ambitious men to rise. A young man might start out as a peasant, then win fame as a warrior and be promoted to captain, and eventually end up as a lord. This story, very visible and repeated thousands of times, would put paid to any nonsense about nobles being more godlike than other people.

It's possible that if there had been no outside threat and no invasion, Cadhinorean society might have become more stratified, rigid and unequal, like Axunai.

[Mornche Geddick]

Also, the very ferocity of the blutmu persecution would have been counterproductive, resulting in a backlash, and a disgust for rigid caste systems, just as it did for slavery.

[Brel]

These areas had the highest population density; more importantly, they were the basis for the reconquest. They spread their militarized form of Caďinorian polytheism with them, and they had no tolerance for open worship of the Six Gods. So they had their own counter-blutmu going on, complete with (re)colonization of liberated areas.

(Some retention of Munkhâshi practices is likely, if it went under the Caďinorian radar— especially in the east of Eretald, which was always rather marginal.)

Interesting. So might we assume it was like the Spanish reconquista, and accompanied by a lot of persecution (inquisitions, expulsions, etc.)? Were people punished heavily for collaboration (or perceived collaboration) with the Munkhâshi when an area was liberated?