Deity Misc Stuff

Aten - The Elven Supreme Deity / Patriarch God. Viewed as Father and God to the Elven Race, and ultimate authority for good in the universe. Associated with light, the Sun, and purifying fire. Outside of Alfaric (Elven, specifically of the Ahdsurian Isles) tradition, Aten is the central authority in the monolatric Mukhamist religion of Sida. In Sanctimonia, Aten is recognized as the God of the Alfaric Concord, but Tyr is viewed more highly as the God of a Concord with humanity. In non-Concordic Religions, various local sun gods take the place of Aten. Elven authorities maintain that these are other beings, real or imagined, and not Aten, citing scripture which states that "all who know light as their king will know his true name". Occitan, as they will do, accepts the presence of Aten but denies his influence over the sun. Also a popular deity in Brython, and various sun cults taking after Elven or Sidan traditions. According to Alfaric Tradition, the Sun is really the Ophanim (Great Watcher, Vigil of Aten) Bashur Et'Sol, serving vigil over the world and acting as the herald for Aten's coming. Aten's realm is said to be a realm of pure, blinding light, scorching to mortal eyes, and guarded by Malakhim, Beings of Light beyond mortal comprehension.

Kielm - Elven God of Life. A nearly universal deity, nearly every society has some conception of a life-giving nature deity. Unlike Aten, most scholars believe that all of these figures relate in some way to Kielm. Kielm is often considered a missing deity; attempts at mystical communion have all failed and numerous extra-planar expeditions have yielded no realm which matches Kielm's. He is a powerful but oft-forgotten figure. Alfaric traditions recognize him but do not in any way worship him. Even his mythical sacrifice is only viewed as penance for his mistake of creating creatures outside of Aten's complete sovereignty, and viewed as having, at best, preserved an impure and corrupt world for Aten's destroying and purifying fire to remake in the end days. Some scholars have begun to theorize that Kielm is either a deceased or purely mythological power, who's worship was supplanted by the more powerful Concordic Religion. They say that early scholarship linking local Gods to Kielm was an example of rampant elven-centrism. More traditional scholarship links him to the All-Father figure of the Gaerds, the Irmunsil of Early Occitan, the Wandrun of Early Talibar, and the Vaettir of Estivon.

Selas - Female Deity of Mystery, she is often associated with the moon. Throughout the ages, Selas has been characteristically obscure to mortals. She has rarely manifested herself to mortality or made her will known. She is heavily associated with the moon, which is said to be Selas' realm, wandering across the night sky. The exact nature of the moon and it's phases are unknown to scholars, though many traditions associate it with the phases of female life and maternity. The New Moon, however, is often associated with death, and her sister, Shar. Her servants are believed to be the lights which shoot across the night sky, also mistakenly called Shooting Stars. She is also associated with motherhood, and the mystery of childbirth, as well as omens and portents. She is also known for her part in the legends of Atros, which explains the curse inflicted upon all Therianthropes. Various small cults to her can be found all over the world, preferring solitude. The one in Sanctimonia is known to produce skilled Therianthrope hunters. She is also associated with the White Lycans of Legend.
(Note that Selas is an area needing expansion and elaboration. Feel free to suggest your own)

Shar - Matron of Moonless Nights and Darkness, Shar is a powerful and influential deity. She is a marked enemy of mortal races and is said to covet the power Aten and his Sons hold on Aeria. She is believed, in Alfaric traditions, to act as a complete antithesis to Aten's righteous rule, embodying corruption, concealment, deception, assassination, and bereavement. She is often associated with loss; of life, sanity, health, integrity, and so on. She is also heavily associated with disease, and is said to have been responsible for multiple devastating plagues throughout history. Her realm is vast, consisting of an expanse of space known as the Void. The makeup of the Void is intentionally withheld from mortals, though it has been commonly described as a barren expanse, with dark, rumbling clouds moving under sunless skies, occupied by wraiths, living shadows, and insidious spirits. Scholars believe that the Void is constructed from the ruins of the Primal Realm of Darkness. Shar is believed to have been Queen of the Primal Plane, and, bereft of a proper dominion, covets Aeria. The events of the Black Tower make clear her intentions; remake Aeria into her throne, a new realm of darkness, a new dominion. In at least one encounter with mortal kind (specifically, the Elven Priesthood), when accused of great evil, she mocked their hope that Aten would come and remake the world, "For do we not wish the same?" She is credited with the creation of vampires. She is commonly associated with Lloth, though the Daefar violently reject these claims. In ancient Naga mythology, she is identified with the Crawling Path, a Naga concept whereby one creates a new world by destroying, eating, engulfing, the old. Most cultures revile her as an enemy of the people and the antithesis to their cultural ideals and morals. The Occitanians recognize her as a malevolent deity, associated with death, necromancy, magic (of all forms) and dark spirits. The Gaerds are unique in Talibar for granting much respect to Shar. In Gaerdic Mythology, Shar and her Daughters are worshiped as one, and revered as the eldest deity. She is associated in their eyes with treachery, deceit, roguery, and darkness. Shar is worshipped across the world, in numerous, fanatic shadow cults who often pursue the violent overthrow of governments.

Akash - Ancient and reclusive deity of knowledge. Also known as WorldScribe, Akash is a mysterious and insular deity who has rarely made himself known to mortal races. Akash is an anomaly among the Firstborn, being associated with neither the Primal Plane of Light or Darkness. Akash's origin is a mystery to scholars, and there are very little myths referencing his existence. What little is known has been collected from his mysterious cult located in the deep Sidan desert, beyond the Dragonkin's mountains. They say that Akash has been charged (by who, they will not say) with the record of the universe, to record every detail and event that occurs as the universe plays itself out. They say that Akash manifests as an orb of infinite eyes, with each made of more and more eyes. His realm is said to be a vast and unknowable archive, concerning every topic and every event in history. Akash's mystery and reclusiveness has made him a popular topic of study among young mages and scholars, often acting as a seductive means to restricted knowledge.]

(Posting to avoid post limit + accidently losing what I've written)

Tyr - The Elven Deity of Law, Justice, and Righteous Action. One of the trinity of Alfaric Gods (Aten, Tyr, Illmatyr), Tyr is perhaps even more popular with humanity than he is with Elvenkind. In the original Elven mythology he is Malakhtyr (Meaning, Righteous Deed) favored son of Aten, Lord of the Angelic Host, and Holder of the Laws of the Concord. He is associated with the Justiciers, infamous Elven Lawkeepers, who are given their authority by Malakhtyr to do what is necessary to keep the Alfar under the Law of the Concord. The worship of Malakhtyr was spread to early humanity via Elven colonists, where he quickly gained popularity as 'Tyr', pushing out, absorbing, or being absorbed by indigenous religions. In the Heartlandic Tradition, Tyr is linked to the divine right of Kings, originating from the Legend of Romas Talibar, whom Tyr is said to have given the edict to unite the land under his rule in Tyr's name. This concept has continued to be extremely influential in the Heartlands, forming the basis of many ruler's claim to rule. The Maylarns especially, as rulers of the Talibarian Empire, relied on the divine authority given by the supposed Prophet of Tyr. The death and apparent illegitimacy of the Prophet was a heavy blow to the Empire, destroying 500 years of unquestioned 'divine' rule. In modern day Sanctimonia, this concept has been adapted into a sort of covenant. In the words of the Clergy, Tyr has made a covenant with those of the land of Talibar, to guide and authenticate the rulers of the land, and to provide for their eventual salvation. Tyr is perhaps one of the most mythologized deities in history, with endless stories of his victories in the God War, his visitations to mortals, and holy relics left behind by the wars. Tyr is the state deity of Sanctimonia, and is worshiped by the Talibarian remnant as well, although through the false Prophet. In both human and Elven traditions, his realm is Celestia, a beautiful and heavenly land marked by high, snow capped mountains. His servants are the Malakhim, known as Angels in the human tradition, the numerous lesser warriors of light.

Illmatyr - Elven deity of submission, supplication, and martydom. Perhaps the least popular of the Alfaric Trinity beyond Ahdsur, Illmatyr (Righteous Spirit) embodies the Elven virtues of obedience, supplication, sacrifice, especially in relation to their God Aten. In Alfaric culture, Illmatyr is associated with the Mid-Wives, who are masters of healing and of the rituals of childbirth. Theirs is the responsibility to guide and bind the souls of past Alfar into the unborn children of Alfar women. In the Alfaric tradition, Illmatyr is said to appear as a grand Phoenix, and his servants themselves are Phoenixes. Outside of Ahdsur, Illmatyr has a number of small sects who devote themselves to the poor, sick, and injured. Related to this is also the Martyr, a special worshiper of Illmatyr who has willingly decided to take the pain and trauma of others onto themselves. Illmatyr himself is said to be suffering endless flame, submerged in eternal torment, by the hands of his father, Aten, to ward off the destruction of the world.

Voar - Nearly universal God of Hunting, Predators, Feral Animals, Ferocity, and Bloodlust. One of the few deities not introduced by Elven colonists, the Elves have little mythology regarding Voar. Credited with the creation of Therianthropes, Voar was extremely popular in pre-contact Talibar, including Occitan and the Gaerds, as a sort of 'Lord of the Forests' figure. In these early human traditions, Voar is the embodiment of the voracious predator, endlessly hunting and consuming. He represents the abandonment of civility and civilization, and worship of a being's primal urges. In these traditions, especially that of the Gaerds, he is also recognized as master of the nature of life; birth through death. In most of the ancient tales, he manifests as a sort of trickster spirit, to test heroes on their journey. He is variably described as appearing as a giant wolf, a spectral fox, and any number of animals. In modern times, he is often worshiped by hunters or paid homage to by superstitious villagers. Voar has a growing cult among the Kazuth of Haria, who, bereft of their original nomadic culture yet free of the repressive Occitanians, have begun to worship their animal natures. Of special note is an influential cult inside the Harian army, who venerates Pantherathropes (name up to change), or Tiger-Like Therianthropes. He is also known to have a reclusive and exceedingly dangerous cult in Estivon, among the Wild Elves. While attempts to commune with him have been successful, he is not known to possess an extra-planar realm. In local traditions, he is often identified as a wayward and destructive son of Kielm, Kelund, and so on. Often described as inhabiting the forests and jungles of the world.

Dyaus - Ancient Talibarian, Gaerdic, and Occitanian God of the Oceans. Like Voar, Dyaus was not introduced by Elven colonists, and enjoyed a great deal of popularity among ancient humanity. Dyaus is described as a raging, swirling spirit which rules the waves and wind. He represents wild, destructive, and capricious nature, consuming and destroying. Though strongly associated with the oceans, he is also the God of earthquakes, eruptions, wild fires, and so on. In ancient human myth, he resides in the deepest part of the ocean and is heavily associated with the legend of the Sea Witches, the Sirens, Deep Dwellers, and so on, who are said to sing storms into being. He is also associated with the Wandrun, more commonly called 'elementals', creatures of ancient Talibarian myth who are manifestations of primal, natural elements. In the tradition, Dyaus is said to stir these spirits to destructive ends. Today, there are very few cults devoted to Dyaus, and little evidence of direct manifestations. Dyaus is, however, commonly offered to on Approbation Day, a popular superstitious holiday in Sanctimonia and Occitan. Like Voar, he is not known to have an extra-planar realm, and is commonly linked to Life-Deity figures in human myth.

Nijal and Verumai - The Twin daughters of Shar. Nijal and Verumai are unique in that they always form a pair wherever they are spoken of. The earliest veneration of the two can be found in ancient Naga mythology, where they, like their mother, are associated with the Crawling Path. In their Mythology, Verumai, being associated with corruption, is the ailment of the world as it exists now. Like a stagnant pool of water, or a plant needing to be culled, or a forest that would benefit from burning. Verumai represents the rotting, dying present world. Nijal represents the cure, or the character of the one who IS the cure. Nijal is the Pariah, and the worship and veneration of Pariahs. Nijal is said to represent the rejection, by the world, of the Crawling Path, in favor of the corruption represented by Verumai. The concept of the Pariah is an extremely strong one in Naga mythology, and is said to be a venerable position, following the Crawling Path and stirring the world from it's rot. The figures associated with the Pariah most strongly are Shar, Sylornath, and Tempus. The Twins were also spoken of in ancient human mythology, associated with disease (Verumai) and poison (Nijal). Linked to the sisters were the feared Klogumma, 'Clever Men', said to cast curses and spread plague for a price. In modern times, this cult survives as what scholars call "The Cult of the Twisted Sisters". Widespread in smaller, isolated, and rural locations, the Klogumma act as medicine men, healers, oracles, and curse-dealers. While the Clergy has spent a great deal of time trying to root these cults out, often they are so involved in the basic structure of the village that many villagers, though professing faith in Tyr (or Aten, or The Prophet) do not realize they commit what is considered heresy and consort with dark Gods. The symbol for both deities is a skeletal fetus containing conjoined twins. This imagery is littered throughout their myths. They themselves were said to be stillborn, joined together for eternity. Their cults are often reviled by the cults of Sune and Selas, as a mockery of the process of birth.

Velecar - Once The Elven Deity of Patience, Vigilance, and Hibernation, Now The God of Dark Vigilance, Stillness, Coalescence, and Lord of the Soul Prison. Velecar as he once was, but is no longer, was a fair and respected deity of the Elven Pantheon. Existing initially as an entity of peace and protection, he would lose himself in the time leading up to the Celestial War. Velecar and his sister Nazu, the descendants of Selas, would attempt to study the chaotic forces existing outside of the Crystal Sphere at their own peril; they both would succumb to the forces that they attempted to observe, and broken they both would be. Velecar would no longer be revered, but feared, in becoming a deity whose shift from benevolence would become great malevolence. Velecar would survive his encounter with the primal chaos forces more so than his sister, and with a powerful drive now to embrace the great order he felt himself absorbed into; the primordial state of being, raw power, the existence of all things in one state, one flow, bringing forth the perfect All. Velecar would now see life as it stood, and find it cacophonic, tedious, wasteful, and blighted; Velecar would turn his realm, which was once a place of meditation and rest, into a loathsome prison to which even gods found atrocious. Velecar would become Lord of the Soul Prison, snaring souls devout to him, those he found value in, and those he found dangerous, as best as he could, trapping them and their power for all eternity. He himself would keep in a meditative state to attempt to bring himself closer to existing with the primal force which he has sworn himself, becoming little more than a large essence within the crystal sphere; this would have an interesting effect, as in his meditation he began to read the flow of energy as it reverberated about the crystal sphere, and came into contact with him; the happening of events, and their repercussions upon the crystal sphere would give Velecar one of his most terrible abilities: Velecar possesses the ability to discern the information and data of any and all things that have happened, and happen now within the crystal sphere. This creates the Velecar known in today's world. He is a vilified deity, whose followers are persecuted almost universally across Aeria; he carries himself as an information Broker, enticing those whom would swear themselves to Akash by his greater approachability, despite the terrible fate that usually awaits his followers in the Soul Prison. He brings those with an obsession with order, and those touched by lunacy and the chaos who see glory in his deeds. At times, he attracts the broken and downtrodden to a sense of peace for serving his order and his soul prison. His tower consists of a sphere in the one place closest to his persona on Aeria; in the furthest depths of an abyssal trench in the far north of Aeria, beyond all current maps, his tower sits in the depths. In this reach, no light can permeate the bottom, the water is still, there is no sound, there is no warmth; there is no life. In this void, there is only one thing, a single black sphere, so dark, that it is the only thing that stands out amidst the backdrop of the nothing. This sphere serves as the anchor for the Soul Trapping power annointed to his greatest followers, and a gateway to his Soul Prison. The followers of Grim Velecar, what few there may be, are rumored to exist in secret covens spread across Aeria in remote, lifeless places, or adrift on great glacier cathedrals in the far north. It is rumored amongst his followers that deep beneath the sea, further than even Dyaus's realm does tread, Velecar Rules the Abyssal Reaches of the Sea as Lord of the Elder Depths, and there his greatest priests, born of his own hand from power from the Soul Prison and mortal substance wait for his command. Such may be supported by a scrawl of graffiti found written upon the back wall of an Occitanian monastary one morning.

"WHEN THE TWISTED ENDS DO FRAY,
WHEN ALL LIFE COMES TO VENGEANCE THIRSTY.
GODS DEMAND GODS BLOOD TO PAY,
VELECAR COMES WITH HIS LOATHSOME CLERGY!"

The isolated monastary would disappear in a terrible sinkhole accident not a week later.

((Don't lose this one Pat!!! XP))

Good... Goooood.... Excelllllent...