Faith After Catastrophe
Often referred to as simply “Khazanti” or “The Book”, this religion comes from the first written collection of Tessam’s current gods. It notes down the nine gods that have later become viewed as the main pantheon of the world. The forms of worship vary from place to place, as do the attributes ascribed to each god.
Regardless of location, it is known that the most powerful gods are the three Moon Deities, though they have little contact with mortals. The weakest gods are the Deities of Magic, though they tend to meddle the most in mortal affairs. The Planetary Deities seem interested in mortal affairs, but take little action.
Deities
Lunar Gods
Standing at the top of the Khazantin pantheon are the Lunar deities. They are regarded as the most powerful of all the gods, and are the ones looked to for guidance in daily life. They are also frequently included in stories and legends in their avatar forms rather than as a Deific presence.
The name of the group comes from how the moons are described as their physical residences in The Book.
Caior
- Preservation, law, order, protection, leadership
- Lives on Ita
The most powerful of the gods, people pray to Caior for protection or preservation. He is the god of law and order and his followers are often found in positions of leadership. Maintaining the order of the world, he is also seen as a sort of leader of the gods, though the actual inner workings of the pantheon are unknown.
There are no known events where Caior has manifested an avatar. There is no consensus on why this is. Some theorize that it could be an extension of his role of preservation, making him take a more passive role in the world. Others claim that his powers are focused elsewhere, keeping the universe orderly and peaceful.
He is often depicted as a solitary black and gold dragonborn on a throne, or with other regal signifiers. As the Khazanti pantheon places him as a leader of the gods, the book itself is often seen as a symbol of him. Often, the book is used together with chains, symbolizing his role as a force of preservation.
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Eletha
- Change, murder, chaos, conflict, rebellion, violence
- Imprisoned in Tuaru
The antithesis of Caior, Eletha is the bringer of change and chaos. He is often worshipped by the downtrodden and desperate and seen as a patron to rebellions and conflict.
Throughout history, Eletha has manifested as an avatar once. During the early days after The Cataclysm, he reportedly took on the form of a massive winged shadow. Wielding massive blades of pure ice, he rampaged across Tessam, leaving a wake of death and destruction behind him. This left him forever associated with murder and destruction. It is rumoured that secretive sects of his worshippers have taken this last part to heart.
This shadowed form has become how he is depicted, works of art often including shadowy tendrils influencing depictions of conflict or violence. More formally, the blades of ice are used for simpler iconography.
It is also said that after his murderous rampage, Golgaroth and Caior banded together to imprison him in Tuaru.
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Golgaroth
- Justice, vengeance, forgiveness, balance, strength, choice
- Lives on Nuila
Rounding out the moon pantheon is the god of justice and balance. Golgaroth is often seen as an intermediary between Caior and Eletha. She is sometimes prayed to for guidance with hard choices, and just as often prayed to for the strength to follow through with a decision.
It is believed that she has manifested avatars on Tessam several times. On some occasions, it has been said that she even appeared in two places at once in order to give guidance to both sides to a conflict. She never gives anything other than advice, and her forms can be varied. However, if she does give guidance, she will ensure whatever decision it leads to is followed through on.
Her imagery is strongly associated with the sun, as it is often used for navigation and guidance, always being in the same place. It also represents the unbiased fire of the scorching light, sparing neither the wicked nor the righteous.
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Planetary Gods
The planetary gods are generally regarded as less powerful than the moon gods. They are also seen less as people and more sentient forces of nature or primal instincts. For each of these forces, people worship different aspects depending on the situation. Most people have their own ways of referring to these gods with varying degrees of familiarity and gender.
Charity
- Charity, gifts, sacrifice, forgiveness
- Associated with Anahera
The aspect of gifts, forgiveness and sacrifice is often worshipped by people seeking to atone for previous misdeeds. They beseech this god for redemption and for purifying their desires. Others might pray for the charity of others, hoping they will get guidance to share their wealth with those less fortunate.
There are also some who pray to Charity for aid in dangerous situations. Praying that nature will have mercy, or a rampaging beast will leave them be. Or it could be a prayer for a disease to be mild and spare their household where others have died.
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Prosperity
- Prosperity, greed, ambition
- Associated with Oighan
In opposition to Charity, Prosperity is all about gaining something for yourself. People pray for personal gain and success in their endeavours. Sometimes they also come seeking misfortune upon others as a way to bring gain to them.
Other times, people will pray for fortune on behalf of someone close to them, even for entire communities or countries. The common denominator is that the boon one seeks will be of personal gain in some way.
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Modesty
- Modesty, self-control, temperance, balance
- Associated with Charrys
The aspect for those who seek to focus on growth and restraint instead of hungering for money or power, Modesty is often seen as a god of communities.
Prayers of the desperate can often be ambivalent as to whether they go out to Modesty or Golgaroth, with both gods having domains that touch on balance and moderation. However, prayers to modesty tend to be more about calming the opposite side of a conflict than for guidance on how to end it.
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Gods of Magic
The weakest of the deities, these gods each hold a thread from the weave of magic. In reality, there is a fourth thread as well, but there is no god of divine magic. Instead, it is seen as being under the domain of all the gods equally, and it is the most abundant out in the world of Tessam as well. But despite being weak, these gods meddle more in mortal affairs than nay other. Spellcasters of their respective threads are often used as messengers or servants as they further their own goals of weaving divine magic into their domain alone.
Qiala
- Arcane magic
The patron of wizards and other more studied spellcasters, Qiala is very demanding of her followers. Many are sent around the world on wild chases of magical secrets, while others are driven to madness through endless visions of possible experiments they can try.
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Faiach
- Primal magic
Druids and others connected to nature’s magic tend to be noticed by Faiach. They instill their followers with a drive for the hunt. This can lead to a search for forgotten knowledge or a hunt for evil forces.
They tend to interact with their followers indirectly through animals and weather rather than by manifesting an avatar. Sometimes these messengers are granted the ability to speak, while other times the recipient is left to interpret the vague signs given.
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Kôr
- Occult magic
Bards and other occult mages are taken under the wing of Kôr. She is known to love stories and her servants are sent far and wide to collect them for her while also spreading the word of their god.
Many travellers speak of her avatar joining them around the campfire to tell or listen to stories. Sometimes even without accompanying a follower.
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