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Deities of Temmerandilcompiled and editted by Aldar CaineSome notes on reading the descriptions: 1) Alignments: Note that there are 3 deities of Good, 3 of Evil and 5 of Neutral. This was the only way for me to balance this properly, and also make sense of what is logical in terms of assigning alignments to each deity, considering what each one stands for. Furthermore note that although the alignments I have assigned *is* the essential inclination of the deity, the mortals who revere or recognize them (in one guise or another) does *not* necessarily have the same alignment, or are made automatically good, neutral or evil because of their reverence. 2) Portfolio:The portfolio of each deity lists some of the main ideas or concepts that fall under the deity's authority. A concept cannot be repeated in the portfolio of another deity - they are unique to each portfolio. 3) Understanding the structure of the symbols:4) Other Names: The names listed here are only for those countries where the deity has another name than the 'true' name. 5) Main Followers:The Main Followers section refers to some *specific* groups, orders or organizations that follow the deity, which deserves special mention. THE GOOD DEITIES KALA (pronounced: KAH-lah) Alignment: Lawful Good Titles: The Sun-maiden, Lady of Light and Reason, Sunshard, the Radiant Portfolio: Good, Light, Dawn, Day, Reason, Learning, Knowledge, Preservation of lore Symbol: A circle (blue), containing a circle (green). Imposed upon this is a golden sun with twelve stylized rays. Colors: Yellow and white Other Names: In Draconia, she is known as the Lady of Light. In the Forgotten Valley, she is known as the Sun Maiden. In Magnamund, she is known as Sahdia the Bright Sun. In Micarthia, she is known as Kaleh the Golden Fair. In Tyrengard, she is known as Kandias, the Guiding Light. In Ystradd, she is known as the Lady of Reason and Learning. Main Followers: The Druids of Lyndret, the Priesthood of Micarthia, the Sword of Kala in Micarthia, loremasters, sages, scholars. Description: Kala is one of the most frequently revered of the good deities, for the simple reason that she is seen as the protection of the Light against evil (in large and small ways). She is regarded as kind, loving and wise, and someone who knows what would be best for her followers, possessing foresight and strength, tempered by the wisdom of knowledge. Services to her is held at dawn, to welcome her light into the world, at midday, to praise the height of her strength, and at dusk, to ask for her protection during the night. Kala has a formalized following of clerics and temples that have some form of representation in medium to larger settlements. Kala is the implacable enemy of Torath, and despises Lómion. She is also in a measure of confrontation with Tauranik. Her closest allies are most likely Tilana (since Kala also cherishes creativity), and Nathos, whose attitudes towards order, preservation and protection coincides with her own. MEIRA (pronounced: MAY-rah) Alignment: Neutral Good Titles: Evergreen, Earthmother, the Nurturer, the World-spirit. Portfolio: Agriculture, Summer, Nature, Plants, Animals, Gardeners, Farmers, Harvests, Earth, Families, Birth, Vitality, Life. Symbol: A square (blue), containing a circle (green). Imposed upon this is a stylized oak-leaf. Colors: Orange and emerald-green Other Names: In the Forgotten Valley, she is known as Mallena, the Huntress. In Magnamund, she is known as Mindil the Bountiful. In the Runding, she is known as Neshandra Ravenlocks. On Ta'ashim, she is known as Balyri the Eternal Green. In Ystradd, she is known as Lyshara the Heart-Eternal. Main Followers: Hunters, Rangers, farmers, healers. Description: Meira is seen as being close and involved with the common people in almost every aspect of their daily lives, large or small. She is regarded as a nurturing, but sometimes-stern parent who laughs and cries with her children. People have very great belief in her involvement in their success of their farming (be it crops or animals), in the birth and health of their children and in the state of the natural world around them. There are simple monks or clerics devoted to Meira in almost every village or hamlet, who travel around the homesteads bestowing blessings, speaking and helping the people. There are few formal services, but semi-religious festivals held in Meira's devotion always mark the midsummer and harvest-times. Meira passionately hates Tauranik, since his tenets propagate destruction of life and nature, and for the same reason also detests Torath. She is closest to Aeros and Mesalea, however, since they also have dominion of aspects of the natural world. TILANA (pronounced: tee-LAH-nah) Alignment: Chaotic Good Titles: Melody-Fair, Heart's Love, True-Crafter. Portfolio: Beauty, Song, Dance, Artistry, Engineering, Crafts, Sciences, Creativity, Inspiration, Skill, Love, Passion, Bards. Symbol: An inverted triangle (blue), containing a circle (green). Imposed upon this is a harp or lyre. Colors: Silver and light-blue Other Names: On the Bird Islands, she is known as Tilian Bright Feathers. In the Forgotten Valley, she is known as Tilana of the Fair Forests. On Grans Island, she is known as T'shillia of the Bright Boughs. Main Followers: Artists and craftsmen of all kinds, engineers and architects. Description: Tilana is regarded as the whimsical, flighty, amazingly beautiful, sometimes capricious muse that inspires and uplifts the minds, hearts and spirits or all people involved with some creative work. She is also seen as the deity that lights the spark of love and adoration in people, and almost no marriage takes place without Tilana being asked for her eternal blessings. She delights in seeing new things created, especially if it is beautiful to look at, to listen to, or to feel, and is believed to find great sport in seeing people make fools of themselves in the name of love, and weep with people if such loves are lost. She has no formal clerics or priests and only the large cities tend to have the large theatres, buildings or galleries that could be seen as her "temples". She is revered by deed, song and written word, wherever and whenever it is done, and not by devotions or prayers. Tilana has complete intolerance towards Torath and Tauranik in equal measure, since what they stand for is such a complete opposite to her own tenets, and in fact would see the things closest to her heart completely unmade. He loves Kala most of all, and thinks of her as a sister and kindred spirit. THE EVIL DEITIES LóMION (pronounced: LOW-mee-on) Alignment: Lawful Evil Titles: Darkmoon, Shadowlight, Spellweaver Portfolio: Night, Darkness, the Moonlight, Shadows, Magic, Death, Ambition, Domination, the seizing and use of power. Symbol: A circle (blue), containing a diamond (green). Imposed upon this is a glowing green crescent moon. Colors: Black and green Other Names: In Rendor, she is known as Feriaun the Pervading Presence. In Westmarch, she is known as Diamen Fire-eyes. In Ystradd, she is known as Unthari of the Blue Flame. Main Followers: The Dark Paladins, Necromancers, the Incubi (clerics) of Westmarch, some factions of Moriquendi (Dark Elves). Description: Sinister and mysterious, Lómion is regarded as a powerful mistress of many hidden talents who does not hesitate to richly bless those that serve her truly. She urges her faithful to gather strength to themselves in whatever way possible, hiding it from others, and then using their power to further their ambitions for claiming even more power, dominating others who are weak or do not have the insight to follow the same path. She is closely involved with her followers, and rewards their devotion, but has little patience with those who are deemed unworthy. Lómion's clerics tend to be strong, uncompromising people possessing considerable personal ability and knowledge, and who are pious in their devotion. They are organized into efficient Orders or groups who recognize special holy days and hold their services at night (often sun-down), at hidden locations, away from prying eyes. Lómion holds all the other deities in contempt as being short-sighted and weak. She sees Tauranik as a mindless pawn, easily manipulated to do her bidding, and views Torath as a wasteful imbecile. She hates Kala above all others, since her knowledge is in violation to her mystery, and she despises Nathos for his protectiveness (which she perceives as being pointless in any event). Strangely, she holds Tilana is some regard, as a misguided child, or younger sibling, who only needs to be taught the true way. TAURANIK (pronounced: taw-RAN-ik) Alignment: Neutral Evil Titles: Red Death, the Steel Song, Iron-Wrath Portfolio: Strife, War, Combat, Strength, Metal-work (particularly weapons and armor), Destruction (through conflict), Victory, Warriors, Hunters Symbol: A square (blue), containing a diamond (green). Imposed upon this is a crossed sword and axe. Colors: Red and burgundy Other Names: In Aerogea he is Tauran the Forgemaster. On the Amazon Isles, he is known as a goddess, Thalia the Green Spear. In Krarth, he is known as Tenn, and together with Torath, known as Tesh, they are the Night-brothers. In Scosglen, he is known as Rhanduul, the Crimson Savage. In Telavor, he is known as Torick the Battlemaster. In Westmarch, he is known as Kantos the Iron Lord. Main Followers: Dwarves (especially armor and weapon-smiths), the Gladiators of Scosglen, the Krarthian Chain-lords, warriors and mercenaries in general. Description: Tauranik is seen as a stupendous warrior of titanic strength and skill, delighting in the hot savagery of open battle, the ring of steel on steel and the euphoria of victory. He is believed to appreciate, reward and respect physical prowess, skill at arms and the beauty of fine weaponry and armor. He smiles on warriors and hunters who use their cunning for employing sound strategy, planning good ambushes and wits to overcome their opponents. He does not care which side is right or wrong, however, as long as the outcome is strife, and he will reward the strong and the bold. There are few true "battle-clerics" who act as his priests, but such people are not unknown. There are no temples, and no formal services, since Tauranik is called upon whenever the battle-lines are drawn, and any field of combat is his temple. Tauranik is consumed with his own desires and passions, and does not particularly dislike any other, except perhaps Nathos, whose peacekeeping and lawgiving he finds an irritating frustration. He looks upon Torath as being a tad too shady and underhanded, lacking the courage for open battle, and when he does commit, doing so in completely reckless abandon. He considers Lómion as being wise and clever, but is sometimes uncertain of her motives. To Tauranik, Meira and Tilana are sanctimonious and sentimental, and pays them no mind. TORATH (pronounced: TAW-wrath) Alignment: Chaotic Evil Titles: The Nightstalker, the Hidden Hand, Dark Dread Portfolio: Evil, Illusion, Mystery, Deception, Concealment, Stealth, Murder, Lies, Intrigue, Thieves, Assassins Symbol: An inverted triangle (blue), containing a diamond (green). Imposed upon this are two stylized red drops of blood. Colors: Black and purple Other Names: On the Buccaneer Islands, he is known as the Black Brigand. In Krarth, he is known as Tesh, and together with Tauranik, known as Tenn, they are the Night-brothers. In the Ogrelands, he is known as Arghul Beastclaws or Magnur Fearfang. Main Followers: The Black Lotus, the Krarthian Chain-lords, some factions of Moriquendi (Dark Elves), Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, Ogres. Description: If any deity is seen as being the heart of darkness and the root of evil, it is Torath, the lord of lies, deceit and murder. He is cruel, perverse and bloody-minded, and wants the destruction of all that is good and orderly, no matter the method or the cost. There exists little co-operation and no trust amongst Torath's servants, who all believe they are individually special to their deity and will be elevated above the others by taking their wickedness to the outer extremes. Torath will grant some follower of his special blessings one moment, and then leave them to their fate from one incident to another, depending on what he believes would best serve him at that moment - devotion, loyalty or past service are no guarantees. Torath has no clerics and no temples, and his followers are far too self-absorbed to spend any thought to recognize special times for devotion of any sort. Torath passionately hates Kala, and detests Meira. He delights in using some of the emotions conjured by Tilana and twist them towards jealousy, ambition, covetousness, lust and hatred. Aside from that, he does not especially like any other deity, although he secretly fears Lómion and tries to undermine her whenever he believes there is no danger of being discovered. THE NEUTRAL DEITIES NATHOS (pronounced: NAH-th-ohs) Alignment: Lawful Neutral Titles: The Gatekeeper, the Watchman, the Holder of the Scales Portfolio: Law, Justice, Fairness, Guardians, Protectors, Duty, Loyalty, Obedience, Vigilance, Structure, Government. Symbol: A circle (blue), containing a triangle (green). Imposed upon this is a shield atop a battlehammer. Colors: Black and white Other Names: On the island of Avalon, he is known as Nathain the Farsighted. On Telavor, he is known as Nathan the Just. In Tyrengard, he is known as Velshor the Evenhanded. Main Followers: Some knightly Orders, Judges, Governments, law-men. Description: Nathos is a stern deity, sometimes perceived as being absolute, humorless and completely without compromise. He is the embodiment of law and order, and does not concede in matters of justice. Of greatest importance to him are concepts of honor, trust, loyalty, perseverance and duty. He is regarded as an ever-vigilant defender and guardian, whose iron will is likely the single point that balances out all the other deities and their work - and the solid foundation upon which reality itself is built. Nathos is revered by a number of clerics who also serve as Judges, and his temples/courts are generally found in the large cities. There are no special holy days observed, ostensibly because 'Justice never sleeps' and therefore do not have any time for 'frivolities'. Nathos is an ally of Kala, whose insight and wisdom he respects and whose knowledge he knows will always assist him in finding the truth. Even so, he finds her leaning too far towards pursuing good, and losing sight of absolute justice. Nathos feels that he must stand as a bulwark against the wild chaos of Torath, and often speaks against the aggression of Tauranik. MESALEA (pronounced: mee-SAH-lee-ah) Alignment: True Neutral Titles: The Azure Vast, Water-witch, the Saphire Sheen, the Storm-queen Portfolio: Oceans, Water, Currents, Waves, Storms Symbol: A square (blue), containing a triangle (green). Imposed upon this is a conch-shell. Colors: Royal blue and sea-green Other Names: On the Bucanneer Islands, she is known as the Ocean's Will. In the Realm of the Corsairs, she is known as Umdalon Waterborne. On the Storm Isles, she is known as Mesalea Storm-brow. Main Followers: The Corsairs, fishermen, pirates. Description: Mesalea is the sea-goddess, calm and gentle the one moment, and then violent, and stormy the next, but regardless of mood, she is undeniable in her vast power. To her, all people and creatures within or upon the waves are equal - none greater or lesser than any other, and their inclinations of good or evil are unimportant to her. She is pleased to hear the devotions of seafarers, and generally blesses their voyages, but being mistress of such a vast realm sometimes loses track of the many teeming creatures, leaving them to their fate - most often to the care of Mitaneus, who looks after them as they find their way forward. Some particularly devout ship-captains make a formality of calling on Mesalea's favor, and give offerings to her, but in general there are no clerics, but there are numerous shrines (great and small) to her along the coastlines of the continents, and there are few harbors of any significance which does not have a rather large monument (of whatever shape) in her honor. Mesalea feels herself separated from the other deities, unconcerned and untouchable by their schemes and intrigues. She does feel an affinity with Meira, however, and are on friendly terms with her. Mesalea is jealous of her domain, especially of the influence that Aeros has upon the winds and weather and upon the fates, but she is not vindictive, and thus patiently tolerates him most of the time. MITANEUS (pronounced: my-TAN-ee-us) Alignment: True Neutral Titles: The Traveler, the Guide, the Companion, the Ferryman Portfolio: Navigation, Wanderers, Questers, Exploration, Stars, Travel, Roads, Endurance, Perseverance, Transition of life to death. Symbol: A square (blue), containing a triangle (green). Imposed upon this is are four, four-sided yellow stars, arranged according the main directions - north, east, south, west. Colors: Green and red Other Names: In Entsteig, he is known as Mithrandel the Stallion-lord. In the Runding, he is known as Hallador, Lord of the Hearth. Main Followers: The Entsteig Horsemasters, the Runding Clans, pilgrims, caravan-traders, navigators, guides and rangers. Description: Mitaneus is the eternal traveler, and companion on the road. He is the pathfinder and navigator, and the shelter against the elements of those upon the road. He does not discriminate between travelers (be they good or ill), as their travel, their goal and the finding of the way is what is most important to him. But this is not merely limited to the physical travels of people over land or sea, but also for those who make the final journey from life to death. It is believed that Mitaneus is the Ferryman who guides souls to the realms of the dead, seeing them safely conveyed onwards to whatever fate has in store for them. Therefore, he is not the Lord of the Dead, but he is revered and respected as the one who might see all souls passed on to the mysterious future. There are many shrines to the Traveling-god along the main roads crisscrossing the various realms, and many way-stations are looked after by Rangers who revere him. Devotions are quiet and private and never with much fanfare, but Mitaneus appreciates them all regardless. In more formal terms, there are some cults or groups who believe it their duty to take care of the bodies of the dead in Mitaneus' name, and there are such 'Halls of the Dead' are many towns and cities, where the darkly-robed monks live quiet, grim lives in the deity's service. Mitaneus feels an affinity towards Aeros, who he regards as also being a traveler of sorts, wandering where he wills, free. He only mildly tolerates Lómion and Torath, whose nature of mystery or outright deceit (in the case of Torath), sometimes conceals the path and the destination. He smiles upon Meira as the one who leads the people along the journey of life, even as he would later on lead them on the journey to death, all part of a natural cycle. AEROS (pronounced: EH-rhos) Alignment: True Neutral Titles: Winds-wanderer, the Lucklord, Fortune's Face Portfolio: Air, Winds, Luck, Fortune (good or ill), Trade, Money. Symbol: A square (blue), containing a triangle (green). Imposed upon this is a wheel with nine spokes. Colors: Blue and yellow Other Names: In Aranoch, he is known as the Master of the Shifting Sands. Main Followers: Merchant-guilds, desert-dwellers, traders, businessmen. Description: Aeros is often perceived as a rogue, playful and flighty and completely unpredictable about who and what will next receive his favor, or his ire. But for all that, he is believed to be as close and as personally interwoven with mortals as the air they breath, touching upon everything they wish, plan and do. Aeros seems to delight in people's good fortune (of any sort) as much as he seems to take some perverse pleasure in seeing them deal with mishaps. He does not care whether or not they truly deserve it, and some people believe he looks upon mortals as playthings and loves to observe their reactions to being on the receiving end of luck (good and ill). Nevertheless, Aeros seems to have a special liking of people who use their wits and cunning in business-dealings, as well as those who refuse to submit to failure, even when ill fortune dealt harshly with them. Aeros has no priests or clerics, per se, but there are quite a number of shrines to him practically everywhere - even in small hamlets or villages, and there is not a single marketplace where such a shrine does not feature prominently. Offerings placed at such shrines are never touched by anyone, even those of evil intent, for to do so is believed to invite the most profound ill fortune imaginable, not only for yourself, but also for all future generations for the next hundred years. As a result, shrines to Aeros are often laden with many items and coin. Once a year, devout servants of Nathos comes to gather the offering, however, and ensure that it is distributed amongst the poor to the last coin. Aeros believes himself to be the epitome of freedom - unbound and free, and he thinks of Nathos as being too stoic and staid by far. He looks upon the other deities as missing the point of it all, being so involved in their personal perspectives. THE GRANDFATHER Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Titles: Fire-father, the Phoenix, Lord of Dragons, the Timekeeper Portfolio: Elemental Fire, Destruction and Renewal, Sacrifice, Time. Symbol: An inverted triangle (blue), containing a triangle (green). Imposed upon this is a stylized flame. Colors: Red and yellow Other Names: Also known as the Spirit of Fire. Main Followers: None. Description: Perhaps the most enigmatic of the deities, the Grandfather is sometimes regarded as a slumbering ember, buried amidst the ashes of the his sacrifice, which preserved the life of all things upon the world in the face of total annihilation. But rather than being dead, he yet lingers, patiently, waiting for a time when he would be reborn - perhaps at the time that the world yet again requires saving. Perhaps it is because of this that the Fire-father is seen as the keeper of Time, since his slumber and reawakening are the measures against which all things in the mortal world are timed against. And glowing silently as he is, he sees all things unfold, and knows what destiny lies in wait, perhaps contemplating what will be once the time of his revival comes. People revere the Grandfather for these things - he is the hope for the future, and he is remembered in devotions by folk who implore him to remember them and their dreams when the future becomes today. Each of the larger cities have a small tower built somewhere on the outskirts, where a single man or woman dwells alone, apparently the representative of the Timekeeper, and on occasion they leave their abode to give a message, in secret, to some person or another. There is no predicting when it would happen, or who would receive the message, and those people never reveal what it was. Its impact is sometimes a large one and sometimes very little, but people suspect that it is part of some large scheme in which all people have a part to play. The mysterious wise men and women are said to be in communication with their lord, Chronos, an ageless man, favorite of the Grandfather, who had been the last one to see the dragons of the past, and who now lived in some secret tower, where no one can find him. Even the other deities do not know much of the Grandfather, and most of the time, do not think too much of him, silent as he is. They always have the impression that all their works are being done under his ever-watchful eyes, and that he alone is privy to some unknown measure of time that even they cannot see, counting the passing days towards something they do not understand, and cannot foretell. |
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Cal'Oniath, Druidic Abbey
Amidst the forests of Nova Q'lynnesti, Cal'Oniath is an important trading post for the northern duchies and the home of several members of the Druidic Order. It was here that the Prophet, Onaeus Lampetides, once lived and held seminars.