Yesterday was the God-day of Gorthotur, the Storm Lord.
Did you pause a moment to take in the clouds, passing wisps over the moon?
Did you turn towards the wind, for once, just to let it bite into you?
Did you feel snow upon your bare skin?
Did you climb a mountain, and reach up, up, to grasp the sky?
Did you dance in the rain of the tears of the Gods?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Set your timepieces, get set...
The calendar is geared to start up in 2011! It's already prepped to run through 2025.
If you spot any errors in the calendar, please let me know :-).
If you spot any errors in the calendar, please let me know :-).
Living Fiction
I'm excited to begin considering the Godsweeks and the God-days within my annual routine. In a time when religion is filled with such baggage, when it can be hard to see the wisdom of teachings through the haze of frustration with the pettiness of dogma, maybe a fantasy system of belief, a *story* of religion, has as much or more to offer us as the alternatives.
At least with these Gods, we don't have to waste our time arguing about whether or not they're real. Instead, we can contemplate what they mean.
At least with these Gods, we don't have to waste our time arguing about whether or not they're real. Instead, we can contemplate what they mean.
On the Reckoning of Years
(Again, from Brennan's "Legend of Yore").
"Years are named for each of the gods, and follow a 24-year cycle. This cycle begins with Gorthotur and follows the progression of gods in the same order as for weeks. The current year by this reckoning is the year of Melatria. Most people measure years by this system.
Scholars and priests have a numerical year count as well. This count as reckoned by Temeter histories starts at Year One with the religious creation of hte world. The current year in the Temeter reckoning is 5332."
This was published in 1995, which would mean that as we enter the Gregorian year 2011, we are entering the Temeterian year 5349, which is the 6th year of th which is the Year of Librisia, the Seeker. in 2012, we will be entering the Temeterian year 5350, which will be the Year of Badocaia, the Lady of the Waters.
"Years are named for each of the gods, and follow a 24-year cycle. This cycle begins with Gorthotur and follows the progression of gods in the same order as for weeks. The current year by this reckoning is the year of Melatria. Most people measure years by this system.
Scholars and priests have a numerical year count as well. This count as reckoned by Temeter histories starts at Year One with the religious creation of hte world. The current year in the Temeter reckoning is 5332."
This was published in 1995, which would mean that as we enter the Gregorian year 2011, we are entering the Temeterian year 5349, which is the 6th year of th which is the Year of Librisia, the Seeker. in 2012, we will be entering the Temeterian year 5350, which will be the Year of Badocaia, the Lady of the Waters.
Time in The Known World
(Provided quotes are from Brennan Taylor's 1995 publication of The Legend of Yore game).
"Time in the Known World is similar to time in ours; days have twenty-four hours, hours have 60 minutes, and minutes are 60 seconds long. Where the reckoning of time differs is in the year. Years in the Known World have no months, only devotional weeks and seasons. The four seasons are the same, but there are 24 devotional "weeks" rather than 52. Each "week" is named after a god or goddess, and all are fourteen days in length. There are 336 days in the year.
Dates are stated like this: 4th day of Sibel, 7th day of Urdarolk, God-day of Librisia, etc. God-days are the last day in a god's week. New Year is on the winter solstice, when the days pass from growing shorter to longer. The following is a calendar of the year. The solstices and equinoxes all fall on the god-day of their respective weeks."
This is wonderful, but obviously a year with 336 days doesn't exactly match up with our own world. In addition, trying to match the devotional weeks to the solstices and equinoxes in a way that easily transitions from year to year and still keeps time with seasons and dates sounds less than ideal to me.
Given that I'd like to actually use and track this calendar, and I'm not interested in huge translation efforts, I adapted as follows:
Every (Gregorian) month holds within it two devotional weeks. The first Godsweek is the 1-14, and the second is the 15-28.
From the 29th to the end of the month are the the Dark-days, which are celebrated in remembrance of the time before the Gods.
The Calendar of the Gods begins on January 1, in alignment with the Gregorian calendar.
The first Godsweek (read: 14 days) of the year is devoted to Gorthotor, the Storm Lord. The next Godsweek belongs to The Thains, the All-Seeing. From Jan 29th until the end of January are Dark-days. Then the first 14 days of February are the Godsweek of Talaria, the Sword-Maiden, and so forth. The full list of the Godsweeks and the Seasons is as follows:
Spring
Martala (Feb 15-28)
Adrian (Mar 1-14)
Libresia (Mar 15-28)
Badocaia (Apr 1-14)
Lithian (Apr 15-28)
Nitura (May 1-14)
Summer
Aralion (May 15-28)
Nilindros (Jun 1-14)
Tallisia (Jun 15-28)
Melataria (Jul 1-14)
Phortolio (Jul 15-28)
Mirro (Aug 1-14)
Autumn
Sibel (Aug 15-28)
Gratlud (Sep 1-14)
Yigra (Sep 15-28)
Urdarolk (Oct 1-14)
Groulp (Oct 15-28)
Sairma (Nov 1-14)
Winter
Drakt (Nov 15-28)
Renja (Dec 1-14)
Agotara (Dec 15-28)
Gorthotur (Jan 1-14: The New Year Begins!)
The Thains (Jan 15-28)
Telaria (Feb 1-14)
"Time in the Known World is similar to time in ours; days have twenty-four hours, hours have 60 minutes, and minutes are 60 seconds long. Where the reckoning of time differs is in the year. Years in the Known World have no months, only devotional weeks and seasons. The four seasons are the same, but there are 24 devotional "weeks" rather than 52. Each "week" is named after a god or goddess, and all are fourteen days in length. There are 336 days in the year.
Dates are stated like this: 4th day of Sibel, 7th day of Urdarolk, God-day of Librisia, etc. God-days are the last day in a god's week. New Year is on the winter solstice, when the days pass from growing shorter to longer. The following is a calendar of the year. The solstices and equinoxes all fall on the god-day of their respective weeks."
This is wonderful, but obviously a year with 336 days doesn't exactly match up with our own world. In addition, trying to match the devotional weeks to the solstices and equinoxes in a way that easily transitions from year to year and still keeps time with seasons and dates sounds less than ideal to me.
Given that I'd like to actually use and track this calendar, and I'm not interested in huge translation efforts, I adapted as follows:
Every (Gregorian) month holds within it two devotional weeks. The first Godsweek is the 1-14, and the second is the 15-28.
From the 29th to the end of the month are the the Dark-days, which are celebrated in remembrance of the time before the Gods.
The Calendar of the Gods begins on January 1, in alignment with the Gregorian calendar.
The first Godsweek (read: 14 days) of the year is devoted to Gorthotor, the Storm Lord. The next Godsweek belongs to The Thains, the All-Seeing. From Jan 29th until the end of January are Dark-days. Then the first 14 days of February are the Godsweek of Talaria, the Sword-Maiden, and so forth. The full list of the Godsweeks and the Seasons is as follows:
Spring
Martala (Feb 15-28)
Adrian (Mar 1-14)
Libresia (Mar 15-28)
Badocaia (Apr 1-14)
Lithian (Apr 15-28)
Nitura (May 1-14)
Summer
Aralion (May 15-28)
Nilindros (Jun 1-14)
Tallisia (Jun 15-28)
Melataria (Jul 1-14)
Phortolio (Jul 15-28)
Mirro (Aug 1-14)
Autumn
Sibel (Aug 15-28)
Gratlud (Sep 1-14)
Yigra (Sep 15-28)
Urdarolk (Oct 1-14)
Groulp (Oct 15-28)
Sairma (Nov 1-14)
Winter
Drakt (Nov 15-28)
Renja (Dec 1-14)
Agotara (Dec 15-28)
Gorthotur (Jan 1-14: The New Year Begins!)
The Thains (Jan 15-28)
Telaria (Feb 1-14)
Gods in the Known World
Brennan discusses the Gods of the Known World in a blog entry here. He also discusses the Gods in his 1995 publication. The information he presents is synthesized below.
All gods have a title, by which they are known in all the tongues of the known world. Whatever the language of his worshippers, The Merchant Prince is The Merchant Prince, and is known by all peoples regardless of nation, though in the goblin tongue of Craghash he may be called Ethqel Paq (lit. Silver Baron), while in the Ulmnic tongue of the highlanders he is known as Nocarro dei Vascello Volant (Helmsman of the Winged Vessel). Priests of the known world share a tongue, regardless of nationality, called Temeter. Each God's title and Temeterian name is below, as well as some summary information. Remember, "The Gods are dangerous, fickle beings, so one must always respect them." (The Legend of Yore, pp 168)
The Merchant Prince (Adrian).
All trades favor him.
Adrian is the god of humans, trade, and wealth. His symbol is a coin. His colors are gold and silver, which signify money. True followers of Adrian wear gold robes with silver trim.
Dark Woman (Agotara)
The sun has never touched her.
Agotara is the goddess of trolls, darkness, and the moon. Her realm also includes women's power, since the menstrual cycle is tied to the cycle of the moon. The night and caves are her realm, just as they are the realm of her children, the trolls. Her symbol is the moon, usually a crescent, but moon disks symbolizing the full moon are common as well. Her colors are black and silver. All members of the temple of Agotara must perform a ritual at moonrise every night. True followers of this goddess wear black robes with silver trim.
Tyrant King (Aralion)
He bought his throne with blood.
Aralion is king of the gods and god of the sun and the day. He is father of many of the other gods, and is the patron of all fathers and sons. Aralion is paid universal homage. His symbol is either a crown or a sun. His colors are gold and white, both signifying the sun's brilliant light. Aralion's true followers wear gold robes with white trim. They must perform a ritual at sunrise and sunset.
Lady of the Waters (Badocaia)
Sink down, into her mysteries.
The sea goddess Badocaia is the the goddess of all the waters. Her symbol is the rippling waves, or a single wave. Her colors are dark blue and sea-green, symbolizing the waters of lake and sea. True followers of the goddess wear dark blue robes with sea-green trim.
The Twilight King (Drakt)
All things come to him in the end, even the gods.
Drakt is the god of death. He serves as the protector and guardian of the dead. His dim realm houses the souls of the departed. His color is dark grey, the color of his realm. Drakt despises magic meddling in his realm, and so his true followers may never use any magic or unnatural means to extend their life, and must attempt to destroy necromancers wherever they may be found. True followers of Drakt wear uniformly grey robes, and must perform the death rituals for any who ask.
Storm Lord (Gorthotur)
His feet touch upon the clouds, his cloak is wind.
Gorthotur is the god of the air, birds, and goblins. Gorthotur's realm covers the weather as well as flying creatures. A rainbow is considered a blessing from Gorthotur. His symbol is either the wind or a lightning bolt. His colors are light blue, symbolizing the sky, and white, representing clouds. A priest of Gorthotur must conduct a special ritual every time there is a storm. True followers of this god wear light blue robes with white trim.
The Lord of Feasts (Gratlud)
Eat, drink, and be merry.
Gratlud is the god of giants, strength, horses, and bulls. He is also the patron of fine drink and food, a god of plenty. His symbol can be either a horse, a bullock, or grapes. His colors are burgundy, symbolizing wine, and silver, symbolizing prosperity. True followers of Gratlud indulge in great feasts where they consume large amounts of food and drink. They wear burgundy robes with silver trim.
The Mad Son (Groulp)
His dance spirals closer and closer to the fire.
This is the god of chaos, destruction, and anarchy, but also of change. Destruction is necessary if change is to be made. His realm is that of madness and losso f self-control. His symbol is the shattering tower. His colors are grey ,symbolizing death, black representing darkness, and white, representing light. True followers of Groulp sow discord and chaos wherever they travel. They wear grey robes with black and white trim.
The Seeker (Librisia)
The journey is more important than the destination.
Librisia is hte goddess of knowledge, learning, and exploration. She is the patron of pilgrims and travelers. Scholars, students, and other lovers of learning worship her. All travelers offer her sacrifices. Many temples of Librisia were destroyed when the Witch-Kings fell, but some can be found in large cities near places of learning. Her symbol is an open book. Her colors are brown, symbolizing the earth of the road, and dark ylelow, symbolizing the parchment pages of a book. True followers of Librisia must seek after knwoledge their entire lives. They wear brown robes with parchment yellow trim.
The Magician (Lithian)
You know him through your art.
Lithian is the god of magic and the arts. His realm includes all magic and creativity. He is also the god of beauty and the bow. His symbol is the lyre. His colors are black, symbolizing the mysteries of magic, and white, representing the light of hte arts. Temples of Lithian always have some kind of free show going on. True followers of Lithian wear either black robes with white trim or white robes with black trim.
Queen of Beauty (Martala)
She draws us all to her bosom.
Martala is the queen of the gods, and the goddess of love, healing, and compassion. She is the patron goddess of all mothers and daughters. She is also the wife of Aralion and mother of many of the gods. Her symbol is the dove or a heart. Her colors are red, symbolizing the blood of life, and white, symbolizing light. A priestess of Martala may never willingly physically injure another person and may never refuse aid to another person in need. Her true followers must always have a lover, but they may marry as long as they remain sexually active.
The Burning One (Melatria)
She is ever hungry.
Melatria is the goddess of flame, dragons, and serpents. As the goddess of fire and heat, she holds sway over deserts. Her symbols are the snake and the single flame. Her colors are red and orange, symbolizing fire. Her true followers must never harm any serpent or dragon. They wear red robes with orange trim.
Silent Dancer (Mirro)
Watch closely, you might learn something.
Mirro is the harlequin, a god of agility and the dance, mystery, and the god of sleep and dreams. He often appears as a tall, thin person dressed as a harlequin. He is the messenger god, for the gods often send visions in dreams. His symbol is the dancing shoe. His colors are yellow and black, those of the harlequin. True followers of Mirro must never speak; they may only communicate through gesture. They must also be skilled at dancing and dream interpretation. They wear yellow and black robes with black trim.
The Stern Maiden (Nilindros)
Justice knows no mercy.
Nilindros is the goddess of truth, justice, law, and revenge. She is worshipped by judges, lovers of truth, and those who seek revenge. Her symbol is a set of balanced scales. Her color is white, symbolizing a clean parchment that anything can be written on. A priestess of Nilindros must never tell a lie nor suffer an injustice to go unanswered. They are noted for their impartiality and honesty. They often settle disputes. They wear white robes.
The Wild Woman (Nitura)
She will not be tamed.
Nitura is the goddess of nature, the hunt, and the elves. Safety in the wilderness and luck in the hunt will be bestowed upon those who follow her. She is also the goddess of the wilds, and is patron of the dangerous parts of the wilderness in this aspect. Some wild hermits are really her true followers. Her symbol is the pine branch or bow. Her color is green, symbolizing the growth of the wilderness. True followers must wear green robes and live off the land at all times. They offer a ceremony over all the animals they kill. Her wild true followers wear only thorny branches.
The Lord of Masks (Phortolio)
Honeyed words are stronger than sharpened steel.
Phortolio is the god of ministers, advisors, bureaucrats, servants, and daemons. He is also the god of corruption, bribery, and duplicity. This god's realm includes all servants, public or otherwise, including daemons, as well as all lies, liars, and bribes. He is worshipped by all levels of advisers, servants, scam artists and hucksters, and any others who wish to lie. His symbol is the mask. Phortolio's colors are black, symbolizing the darkness of deception, red, symbolizing blood shed for a master, and gold, signifying wealth. Phortolio's true followers are required to never reveal their true identity. True followers wear black and red robes with gold trim.
King of the Beggars (Renja)
The greatest nobility is found in the depths of debasement.
Renja is the goddess of beggars, idiots and simpletons, prisoners, despair, lost causes, pain, disease, and hopelessness. All mendicants, the sick ,and other persons in hopeless circumstances are the subjects of this goddess. All those with no one to protect them may appeal to Renja. Her symbol is the open hand. Renja's colors are grey and brown, symbolizing poverty and dirt. All true followers of Renja must beg for a living. They wear grey robes with brown trim.
Lady of Sorrows (Sairma)
Grief is more terrible than death.
Sairma is the goddess of hte undead, uneasy ghosts, grief, and lost loves. Her mortal lover died and journeyed to the Land of the Dead, and Sairma was so grief-stricken that she went into the Land of the Dead and brought him back. She is worshipped by necromancers, but also by anyone grieving for someone who has died. Her true followers are professional mourners, and gain most of their alms from the bereaved. Her symbol is a weeping eye. Her colors are brown, symbolizing the earth in which and the dead are laid to rest, and black, symbolizing the grief of the survivors. Her true followers wear black robes with brown trim.
Mother of Life (Sibel)
In her, all seeds bear fruit.
Sibel is the goddess of fertility, childbirth, the harvest, and the hearth and home. She is also the goddess of gift-giving. Because of the agrarian economic base of the known world, she is an extremely important goddess. It is customary to give gifts if one is a guest or a host. To not do so offends Sibel. Sibel is the goddess of hospitality. If one accepts hospitality from a host, the guest and host may not harm one another without offending Sibel. Her symbol is a stalk of wheat. Her colors are golden brown, symbolizing a rich crop, and deep red, symbolizing both the fire of the hearth and life-blood of the earth. Sibel's true followers must always carry grain with them. They must also be trained midwives. They wear golden brown robes with a deep red trim.
Maiden of Shadows (Tallisia)
Her arms drip with blood.
Tallisia is the goddess of thieves and assassins, the blood goddess, and the goddess of anger, hate, violence, and murder. She is also the patron of civil disobedience and anyone who breaks the law for noble causes. Her symbol is a bloody fist. Her colors are black, symbolizing shrouding darkness, and red, symbolizing blood shed by violence. Tallisia's true followers wear black robes with red trim.
Sword Maiden (Telaria)
Her footsteps are strewn with corpses.
Telaria is the goddess of battle, steel, war, and warriors. She is the patron goddess of blacksmiths and industry as well. Her temples are often associated with her twin, Melatria. Her symbol is the sword. Her colors are silvery grey, symbolizingsteel, and red, signifying the blood spilled in war. Her true followers may not decline a challenge to battle. They wear steel grey robes with a red trim.
The All-Seeing (The Thains)
They know the beginnings, the middles, and the ends.
The Thains are the three-in-one, the fates. This deity is made up of three aspects; boy, a youth, and an old man, or a maiden, a matron ,and a crone. They know the fate of the world, but cannot tell it. All three have their moths sewn shut. They are worshipped by all, even the other gods. Their true followers are consulted as oracles. Their symbol is an open eye. They have no colors. True followers of the Thains may never speak to outsiders unless delivering a prophecy. Some of the more fanatical will even sew their mouths shut in mimicry of their god. They are not required to wear robes.
The Sleeping Stone (Urdarolk)
Do not awaken him.
Urdarolk is the god of the earth, gems, precious metal, and dwarves. His symbol is the gemstone, and his colors are grey and brown, symbolizing stone and earth. He is also the god of volcanoes, and repressed dreams and memories. All true followers of Urdarolk must go barefoot. They wear grey robes with brown trim.
The Laughing God (Yigra)
Everything is a jest to him.
Yigra is the stunted god, god of luck, and god of wits and jest. He usually manifests as a stunted, twisted person, often dressed in bells and motley. He is notorious for his interference in mortal affairs, but his motives for such interference are always obscure. His symbol is the jester's cap. His colors are yellow and purple, the traditional jester's colors in the known world. True followers of Yigra must always make jokes, no matter how dire or tragic the situation. They wear yellow and purple robes, or jester's motley in the same color.
All gods have a title, by which they are known in all the tongues of the known world. Whatever the language of his worshippers, The Merchant Prince is The Merchant Prince, and is known by all peoples regardless of nation, though in the goblin tongue of Craghash he may be called Ethqel Paq (lit. Silver Baron), while in the Ulmnic tongue of the highlanders he is known as Nocarro dei Vascello Volant (Helmsman of the Winged Vessel). Priests of the known world share a tongue, regardless of nationality, called Temeter. Each God's title and Temeterian name is below, as well as some summary information. Remember, "The Gods are dangerous, fickle beings, so one must always respect them." (The Legend of Yore, pp 168)
The Merchant Prince (Adrian).
All trades favor him.
Adrian is the god of humans, trade, and wealth. His symbol is a coin. His colors are gold and silver, which signify money. True followers of Adrian wear gold robes with silver trim.
Dark Woman (Agotara)
The sun has never touched her.
Agotara is the goddess of trolls, darkness, and the moon. Her realm also includes women's power, since the menstrual cycle is tied to the cycle of the moon. The night and caves are her realm, just as they are the realm of her children, the trolls. Her symbol is the moon, usually a crescent, but moon disks symbolizing the full moon are common as well. Her colors are black and silver. All members of the temple of Agotara must perform a ritual at moonrise every night. True followers of this goddess wear black robes with silver trim.
Tyrant King (Aralion)
He bought his throne with blood.
Aralion is king of the gods and god of the sun and the day. He is father of many of the other gods, and is the patron of all fathers and sons. Aralion is paid universal homage. His symbol is either a crown or a sun. His colors are gold and white, both signifying the sun's brilliant light. Aralion's true followers wear gold robes with white trim. They must perform a ritual at sunrise and sunset.
Lady of the Waters (Badocaia)
Sink down, into her mysteries.
The sea goddess Badocaia is the the goddess of all the waters. Her symbol is the rippling waves, or a single wave. Her colors are dark blue and sea-green, symbolizing the waters of lake and sea. True followers of the goddess wear dark blue robes with sea-green trim.
The Twilight King (Drakt)
All things come to him in the end, even the gods.
Drakt is the god of death. He serves as the protector and guardian of the dead. His dim realm houses the souls of the departed. His color is dark grey, the color of his realm. Drakt despises magic meddling in his realm, and so his true followers may never use any magic or unnatural means to extend their life, and must attempt to destroy necromancers wherever they may be found. True followers of Drakt wear uniformly grey robes, and must perform the death rituals for any who ask.
Storm Lord (Gorthotur)
His feet touch upon the clouds, his cloak is wind.
Gorthotur is the god of the air, birds, and goblins. Gorthotur's realm covers the weather as well as flying creatures. A rainbow is considered a blessing from Gorthotur. His symbol is either the wind or a lightning bolt. His colors are light blue, symbolizing the sky, and white, representing clouds. A priest of Gorthotur must conduct a special ritual every time there is a storm. True followers of this god wear light blue robes with white trim.
The Lord of Feasts (Gratlud)
Eat, drink, and be merry.
Gratlud is the god of giants, strength, horses, and bulls. He is also the patron of fine drink and food, a god of plenty. His symbol can be either a horse, a bullock, or grapes. His colors are burgundy, symbolizing wine, and silver, symbolizing prosperity. True followers of Gratlud indulge in great feasts where they consume large amounts of food and drink. They wear burgundy robes with silver trim.
The Mad Son (Groulp)
His dance spirals closer and closer to the fire.
This is the god of chaos, destruction, and anarchy, but also of change. Destruction is necessary if change is to be made. His realm is that of madness and losso f self-control. His symbol is the shattering tower. His colors are grey ,symbolizing death, black representing darkness, and white, representing light. True followers of Groulp sow discord and chaos wherever they travel. They wear grey robes with black and white trim.
The Seeker (Librisia)
The journey is more important than the destination.
Librisia is hte goddess of knowledge, learning, and exploration. She is the patron of pilgrims and travelers. Scholars, students, and other lovers of learning worship her. All travelers offer her sacrifices. Many temples of Librisia were destroyed when the Witch-Kings fell, but some can be found in large cities near places of learning. Her symbol is an open book. Her colors are brown, symbolizing the earth of the road, and dark ylelow, symbolizing the parchment pages of a book. True followers of Librisia must seek after knwoledge their entire lives. They wear brown robes with parchment yellow trim.
The Magician (Lithian)
You know him through your art.
Lithian is the god of magic and the arts. His realm includes all magic and creativity. He is also the god of beauty and the bow. His symbol is the lyre. His colors are black, symbolizing the mysteries of magic, and white, representing the light of hte arts. Temples of Lithian always have some kind of free show going on. True followers of Lithian wear either black robes with white trim or white robes with black trim.
Queen of Beauty (Martala)
She draws us all to her bosom.
Martala is the queen of the gods, and the goddess of love, healing, and compassion. She is the patron goddess of all mothers and daughters. She is also the wife of Aralion and mother of many of the gods. Her symbol is the dove or a heart. Her colors are red, symbolizing the blood of life, and white, symbolizing light. A priestess of Martala may never willingly physically injure another person and may never refuse aid to another person in need. Her true followers must always have a lover, but they may marry as long as they remain sexually active.
The Burning One (Melatria)
She is ever hungry.
Melatria is the goddess of flame, dragons, and serpents. As the goddess of fire and heat, she holds sway over deserts. Her symbols are the snake and the single flame. Her colors are red and orange, symbolizing fire. Her true followers must never harm any serpent or dragon. They wear red robes with orange trim.
Silent Dancer (Mirro)
Watch closely, you might learn something.
Mirro is the harlequin, a god of agility and the dance, mystery, and the god of sleep and dreams. He often appears as a tall, thin person dressed as a harlequin. He is the messenger god, for the gods often send visions in dreams. His symbol is the dancing shoe. His colors are yellow and black, those of the harlequin. True followers of Mirro must never speak; they may only communicate through gesture. They must also be skilled at dancing and dream interpretation. They wear yellow and black robes with black trim.
The Stern Maiden (Nilindros)
Justice knows no mercy.
Nilindros is the goddess of truth, justice, law, and revenge. She is worshipped by judges, lovers of truth, and those who seek revenge. Her symbol is a set of balanced scales. Her color is white, symbolizing a clean parchment that anything can be written on. A priestess of Nilindros must never tell a lie nor suffer an injustice to go unanswered. They are noted for their impartiality and honesty. They often settle disputes. They wear white robes.
The Wild Woman (Nitura)
She will not be tamed.
Nitura is the goddess of nature, the hunt, and the elves. Safety in the wilderness and luck in the hunt will be bestowed upon those who follow her. She is also the goddess of the wilds, and is patron of the dangerous parts of the wilderness in this aspect. Some wild hermits are really her true followers. Her symbol is the pine branch or bow. Her color is green, symbolizing the growth of the wilderness. True followers must wear green robes and live off the land at all times. They offer a ceremony over all the animals they kill. Her wild true followers wear only thorny branches.
The Lord of Masks (Phortolio)
Honeyed words are stronger than sharpened steel.
Phortolio is the god of ministers, advisors, bureaucrats, servants, and daemons. He is also the god of corruption, bribery, and duplicity. This god's realm includes all servants, public or otherwise, including daemons, as well as all lies, liars, and bribes. He is worshipped by all levels of advisers, servants, scam artists and hucksters, and any others who wish to lie. His symbol is the mask. Phortolio's colors are black, symbolizing the darkness of deception, red, symbolizing blood shed for a master, and gold, signifying wealth. Phortolio's true followers are required to never reveal their true identity. True followers wear black and red robes with gold trim.
King of the Beggars (Renja)
The greatest nobility is found in the depths of debasement.
Renja is the goddess of beggars, idiots and simpletons, prisoners, despair, lost causes, pain, disease, and hopelessness. All mendicants, the sick ,and other persons in hopeless circumstances are the subjects of this goddess. All those with no one to protect them may appeal to Renja. Her symbol is the open hand. Renja's colors are grey and brown, symbolizing poverty and dirt. All true followers of Renja must beg for a living. They wear grey robes with brown trim.
Lady of Sorrows (Sairma)
Grief is more terrible than death.
Sairma is the goddess of hte undead, uneasy ghosts, grief, and lost loves. Her mortal lover died and journeyed to the Land of the Dead, and Sairma was so grief-stricken that she went into the Land of the Dead and brought him back. She is worshipped by necromancers, but also by anyone grieving for someone who has died. Her true followers are professional mourners, and gain most of their alms from the bereaved. Her symbol is a weeping eye. Her colors are brown, symbolizing the earth in which and the dead are laid to rest, and black, symbolizing the grief of the survivors. Her true followers wear black robes with brown trim.
Mother of Life (Sibel)
In her, all seeds bear fruit.
Sibel is the goddess of fertility, childbirth, the harvest, and the hearth and home. She is also the goddess of gift-giving. Because of the agrarian economic base of the known world, she is an extremely important goddess. It is customary to give gifts if one is a guest or a host. To not do so offends Sibel. Sibel is the goddess of hospitality. If one accepts hospitality from a host, the guest and host may not harm one another without offending Sibel. Her symbol is a stalk of wheat. Her colors are golden brown, symbolizing a rich crop, and deep red, symbolizing both the fire of the hearth and life-blood of the earth. Sibel's true followers must always carry grain with them. They must also be trained midwives. They wear golden brown robes with a deep red trim.
Maiden of Shadows (Tallisia)
Her arms drip with blood.
Tallisia is the goddess of thieves and assassins, the blood goddess, and the goddess of anger, hate, violence, and murder. She is also the patron of civil disobedience and anyone who breaks the law for noble causes. Her symbol is a bloody fist. Her colors are black, symbolizing shrouding darkness, and red, symbolizing blood shed by violence. Tallisia's true followers wear black robes with red trim.
Sword Maiden (Telaria)
Her footsteps are strewn with corpses.
Telaria is the goddess of battle, steel, war, and warriors. She is the patron goddess of blacksmiths and industry as well. Her temples are often associated with her twin, Melatria. Her symbol is the sword. Her colors are silvery grey, symbolizingsteel, and red, signifying the blood spilled in war. Her true followers may not decline a challenge to battle. They wear steel grey robes with a red trim.
The All-Seeing (The Thains)
They know the beginnings, the middles, and the ends.
The Thains are the three-in-one, the fates. This deity is made up of three aspects; boy, a youth, and an old man, or a maiden, a matron ,and a crone. They know the fate of the world, but cannot tell it. All three have their moths sewn shut. They are worshipped by all, even the other gods. Their true followers are consulted as oracles. Their symbol is an open eye. They have no colors. True followers of the Thains may never speak to outsiders unless delivering a prophecy. Some of the more fanatical will even sew their mouths shut in mimicry of their god. They are not required to wear robes.
The Sleeping Stone (Urdarolk)
Do not awaken him.
Urdarolk is the god of the earth, gems, precious metal, and dwarves. His symbol is the gemstone, and his colors are grey and brown, symbolizing stone and earth. He is also the god of volcanoes, and repressed dreams and memories. All true followers of Urdarolk must go barefoot. They wear grey robes with brown trim.
The Laughing God (Yigra)
Everything is a jest to him.
Yigra is the stunted god, god of luck, and god of wits and jest. He usually manifests as a stunted, twisted person, often dressed in bells and motley. He is notorious for his interference in mortal affairs, but his motives for such interference are always obscure. His symbol is the jester's cap. His colors are yellow and purple, the traditional jester's colors in the known world. True followers of Yigra must always make jokes, no matter how dire or tragic the situation. They wear yellow and purple robes, or jester's motley in the same color.
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