Hellean pantheon

The Hellean pantheon (pronounced ha-LAY-an) is one of the major regional pantheons on Kishar. Most followers of the pantheon live on the Hellean peninsula on the northwestern coast of the Chaska Sea. Gods in the Hellean pantheon have strengths and failings just like any mortal, and are sometimes thought to take physical forms to walk the world with their followers. Despite its rather unique theology, thousands of years of close contact with the Chaskan pantheon has caused many who worship the Hellean pantheon to both meld their gods with their Chaskan forms and outright adopt Chaskan deities wholesale alongside the existing gods. Besides the more typical divinities, an ever-changing array of hero-gods is also an important part of the pantheon.

Overview

To those that follow the Hellean pantheon, gods are much alike any mortal, with their own strengths, weaknesses, and failings. Gods are not faultless, perfect entities, but rather fundamentally people, albeit with power and influence that could not possibly be matched. They are as fickle as anyone, prone to sudden passions, angers, and every other emotion experienced by those in the mortal realm. Worship often centers around attempting to placate and please these gods, in the hopes they will bestow their favor in some tangible way as well as to avoid inviting divine retribution. Many even believe the gods sometimes walk the mortal world themselves, disguised in order to either aid or test their followers.

In the creation story of the Hellean pantheon, Ananke was not only the first god but also the first of anything, who created herself from the nothingness of the void. Ananke then brought forth the world, then time as well. After an eon she gave birth to Typhon to help aid her in giving purpose to the world, but Typhon looked upon his mother's creation and had other ideas. Displeased with the primitive forms of mortals that had been brought forth, he sought to destroy them, to be replaced with creatures who would worship only him. To protect her works Ananke birthed six more gods, collectively called the Hexad, Hemera first and Psais last. Ananke set her new children to fight their uncontrollable sibling, promising them vast domains if they succeeded. Led by Hemera, the gods pursued Typhon as he rampaged through the world. After a great fight Typhon was defeated, yet the gods knew that he could only be contained, never killed, and so they imprisoned him under a great mountain that in his weakened form he could not lift. Returning to Ananke, they took their new roles in the cosmos, the same as they posses today.

The Hellean pantheon considers there to be three tiers of divinities. Ananke, as the creator, sits above all others, though she is quite remote as she rarely has interest in interacting with the world directly. Below her are the seven siblings, each of whom has broad domains and interests in the mortal realm. Last are the minor divinities, who can take many forms. Hero-gods, for example, fall into this category, as do powerful nature spirits and syncretized gods from other pantheons.

The traditional gods and theology of the Hellean pantheon are quite distinct from those of the Chaskan pantheon, worshiped in most of the areas surrounding Hellea. Still, millennia of close cultural ties have caused the two faiths to converge. Chaskan gods are often adopted by followers of the Hellean pantheon and worshiped alongside their existing deities - this is especially common for Chaskan gods for which there is no direct analogue in Hellean religion. This type of syncretism is very familiar to followers of the Hellean pantheon as they already regularly adopt new divine figures in the form of the hero-gods. Deities from elsewhere are seen in much the same way as the hero-gods, lesser divinities who can be worshiped as more narrowly-focused gods under the deities of the Hellean pantheon.

As a general rule, Hellean gods do not have structured mortal churches. Temples are broadly independent to pursue their own interpretations and worship of the gods without being beholden to mortal religious rule from afar. Some regional churches do exist, most notably in Kyamita, but these are the exception to the rule. Any codified means of worship would fundamentally undermine the pantheon's core belief that veneration is a very direct matter that involves personally entreating the divines for guidance or aid.

Temples are not the only sacred sites to the Hellean gods, as many locations across Hellea are thought to have close connections to the divines, often as a result of stories of their past direct involvement in the mortal world. The priests and priestesses that perform ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices to the gods are not the only important figures in Hellean religious life, as oracles are often sought for guidance as well. While they might not have the ear of any god in particular, these oracles are thought to have close connections with the divines in general, and are therefore privy to information and wisdom that might otherwise be out of reach.

Deities

Name	Areas of Concern	Description
Hemera	The sun, seasons, agriculture, protection, duty, rulership	Hemera (pronounced heh-MER-ah) is a goddess of the sun, seasons, agriculture, protection, duty, and rulership. As the firstborn of the Hexad, Hemera also represents dawn and the beginning of things. The goddess is the patron of many, including farmers, soldiers, and rulers. She favors all who dutifully perform their roles in life, everyone from those that make decisions from their thrones to those who toil to keep their communities fed. Hemera often walks the world to test her followers, crafting situations to test the wisdom and dedication of those who profess her faith. In the stories of the Hellean pantheon, Hemera is responsible for keeping Typhon trapped under his mountain prison. Over the course of every year he regains his strength, his rage causing the mountain to quake and erupt, until his efforts reach such a point that the Hexad cannot ignore him any longer. Each year Hemera dutifully returns to the mountain, stepping away from walking the mortal world in order to shore up the prison and weaken Typhon to once more delay his escape. In doing so her attentions shift, causing her other domains to weaken slightly. Her sun dulls and loses its heat, and life in the mortal world changes as the seasons turn. It may take months of distraction by Typhon, but Hemera always returns to her other concerns, walking the world as the winter warms to spring. Though the other gods often stray from their duties when Hemera is away, upon her arrival back they quickly resume their tasks, both inspired and cowed by the presence of their leader. Hemera is usually depicted as a stately woman dressed in fine clothes, with long curled hair under her radiant crown. She often carries a torch with her to light her way, even in daytime. On occasion she rides a chariot pulled by two horses whose manes and tails are made of light.
Khalkeus	Family, community, civilization, art, invention	Khalkeus (pronounced CALL-key-us) is a god of family, community, civilization, art, and invention. The Copper-Smith is the patron of crafters, builders, and artists of all types, especially those who use their mastery of their trade to grow their societies. Many cities in Hellea claim to have been founded by Khalkeus long ago in places where he set up his forge and anvil. The god visits the workshops and studios of his followers in the guise of a fellow tradesperson, an interested buyer, or a prospective apprentice, offering hints at new inspirations and techniques to those who impress him. Skill at one's craft is important to Khalkeus, but he cares even more about the application of such efforts. There is no purpose to toil if performed only for one's self-interest, only if done in service to one's family, city, or nation. Khalkeus is important amongst the Hexad as the glue that binds them together, as he reminds them that despite all their differences they remain family. It is said that soon after Typhon's defeat Khalkeus gifted each of his siblings a throne crafted out of the materials that best suited them. To this day the others of the Hexad view Khalekus as something of a mediator, able to resolve their inevitable differences as amiably as is possible. Khalkeus is usually depicted as a muscular man wearing a sooty apron over his plain clothes. His beard, normally rather long, is tied up to prevent it from being set alight as he works. The god walks with a cane to account for the limp he gained in the Hexad's fight with Typhon.
Triteia	The sea, trade, travel, rivers, hospitality	Triteia (pronounced try-TAY-ah) is a goddess of the sea, trade, travel, rivers, and hospitality. She is the patron of those that journey throughout the world, whether that be to see the sights, engage in commerce with communities near and far, or for any other reason. Triteia often walks amongst mortals disguised as a traveler in distress. Those that prove their faith through providing her with aid are favored by Triteia, while those that ignore or mistreat her inevitably face woes of their own. The goddess is usually even-tempered, but nothing sparks her ire faster than those who act selfishly or withhold hospitality from strangers. High waves and rough seas are said to be a reflection of Triteia's outrage, and many sailors are especially zealous about showing accommodation and generosity towards others lest the goddess' displeasure cause them direct harm. Many merchants can be found amongst her faithful as well, as can healers and adventurers. Temples to Triteria are found across Hellea but are especially common in communities along rivers and coasts. Travelers often make her temples their first stops when arriving in an unfamiliar place, as they know the priests there will always provide them lodging and helpful information about local events. Triteia is usually depicted as a younger woman with salt-sprayed hair. Sometimes she visits the world astride her seashell chariot pulled by hippocampi.
Psais	The dead, souls, learning, history	Psais (pronounced SIGH-ahs) is a god of the dead, souls, learning, and history. The last of the Hexad to be born, Psais is closely tied to dusk and to endings. Stately and imposing, Psais is a god who performs their role amongst the divines with utmost solemnity. They are the Ferryman, the overseer of all psychopomps as they transport the souls of the dead to the afterlife. In regions following the Hellean pantheon, coins are often buried with the deceased, or placed in their mouth or over their eyes, to serve as payment for the psychopomps and, in turn, Psais. In fact, many coins minted in these regions bear the god's likeness. Psais is connected not only to those concerned with the dead but also to those who record the stories that would otherwise be taken to the grave. They are the patron of historians, chroniclers, and others who preserve their own experiences and those of others through writing. Psais themselves often converses with the souls they ferry after death, adding their insights and experiences to the vastness of what the god already knows. Though most worship of the god takes takes the form of pensive prayer and rituals performed at their temples, schools often have small shrines to Psais in order for both the students and teachers to learn from the god directly. Psais is usually depicted as a solemn figure dressed in the hooded clothes of a mourner. Their ferry is a simple craft, little more than a flat raft that the god pushes along with a long pole upon which a lantern is affixed.
Ananke	Creation, nature, time, motherhood	Ananke (pronounced ah-NAN-key) is a goddess of creation, nature, time, and motherhood. As the first of the Hellean deities, and the one who created the world from nothingness, Ananke occupies a special place in the pantheon. Compared to her children, Ananke is an impassive deity who rarely becomes involved in the events of mortal life, preferring instead to leave such duties to the other gods. She is quick to come to the protection of the natural world, however, and any unnecessary harm to nature is seen as harm to the goddess herself. Many devotees of Ananke are druids or others concerned with the natural world and its processes. Nearly all followers of the Hellean pantheon pay at least occasional homage to Ananke, worshipers of Typhon excepted. The goddess does not walk amongst mortals as the other gods do, though many believe she has little reason to do so as she is the world itself. Ananke is a pensive and ponderous deity, traits that her priesthood impart to her followers. All actions should come only after careful deliberation, Ananke teaches, though she herself sometimes acts rashly in defense of nature. Unlike with other deities in the pantheon, temples to Ananke are usually located away from cities and other populated areas, found instead in the more wild and remote parts of Hellea. These temples and shrines are often not immediately recognizable as such, as they are frequently built to appear like natural extensions of the landscape. Rituals, sacrifices, and invocations to the goddess tend to be direct and without pomp or pageantry, as such needless formality is said to tire her. In the rare times she deigns to communicate with mortals, Ananke prefers to send omens that are inscrutable and vague. Ananke is rarely depicted in a humanoid form. In the uncommon artistic works that do attempt to picture the goddess in such a manner, she is shown as an elderly woman whose eyes are always closed.
Lycia	The sky, storms, luck, hunting, the moon	Lycia (pronounced lie-SEE-ah) is a goddess of the sky, storms, luck, hunting, and the moon. Impulsive and rash, she is the patron of bandits, outlaws, thieves, and pirates. Lycia is something of a trickster goddess who frequently plays pranks on both her follow gods and on mortals. She is particularly fond of causing extended periods of good or bad luck for particular mortals, allowing them to become complacent before abruptly and dramatically reversing their fortunes. Strangely, those that venerate Lycia avoid drawing attention to themselves through their worship, often performing elaborate rites to disguise their identities even as they pray, as none wish to become the goddess' plaything. While she may bestow her blessing in the form of auspicious luckiness to her most devoted, as soon as they begin to bore her they will inevitably be discarded and met with as much ill fortune in turn. There are relatively few temples to Lycia. Her followers are rather less organized than is typical for the faithful of Hellean deities, preferring direct individual worship of the goddess over reliance on priests to conduct rites and rituals at temples. Lycia is usually depicted as a woman wearing a simple, practical chiton with a quiver full of arrows slung over her back. In her hands she typically carries a bow.
Melanthus	Punishment, strength, war, schemes, greed	Melanthus (pronounced mel-ANN-thus) is a god of punishment, strength, war, schemes, and greed. He often has a highly competitive or even outright antagonistic stance towards the others of the Hexad as he seeks to further enrich and empower himself. Though the god is widely viewed as evil and selfish, not all of his followers fit into such categorization. Rather, Melanthus is often worshiped and supplicated in hopes he will grant strength and endurance, even by those who do not necessarily align with the interests of the god. Such behavior is always a risky endeavor, however, as it is a very fine line to walk. Passing veneration causes great ire to Melanthus, leading him to bestow a commensurate punishment, while excessive devotion can be likewise dangerous, as the god is known to callously use his followers for his own goals, regardless of any harm that may come to them. Melanthus is especially popular amongst mercenaries, though many pray to the god in times of crisis. Placation of Melanthus is seen as very important by followers of the Hellean pantheon, by those who do not worship the god even more than by those who do. He is said to visit the mortal world in search of those who do not pay him the proper deference with regular sacrifices, punishing those whose reverence and respect he finds insufficient. Melanthus is usually depicted as a heavily armored man, almost always wearing his distinctive helmet and carrying either a polearm or a dagger.
Typhon	Volcanoes, caves, darkness, anger, rivalry	Typhon (pronounced TIE-fon) is a god of volcanoes, caves, darkness, anger, and rivalry. The first of Ananke's children, Typhon was defeated by the other gods and imprisoned under a great mountain after he attempted to destroy the earliest mortals in order to create new followers who would worship only him. Driven by his rage, Typhon seeks to usurp the Hexad, deposing them from their thrones and taking their domains for himself. His anger has only grown after his imprisonment, and regular visits by Hemera are required to keep the god contained. Ananke sometimes attempts to talk to her first child and reconcile with him, but Typhon has no interest in such futile conversation. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are said to be caused by Typhon in his restless rage as he struggles against his prison. He is the god of darkness and the underground, places out of sight and the creatures that live there. Though trapped in his cage and thus unable to walk the world, Typhon still makes his mark in the mortal realm through the chaos caused by his upheavals of the earth. Worship of Typhon is taboo within the Hellean pantheon, as most acknowledge the god's existence without offering him any prayer or sacrifices. His followers often find themselves shunned within Hellean societies, if not outright ostracized, and few temples to the god exist in the cities of Hellea. Those that do worship Typhon often do so secretly, or at least privately, without letting others know of the extent of their beliefs. Typhon is usually depicted as a serpentine giant, considerably larger in size than any of the other gods save for Ananke. In some pictures he has the lower half of a snake, with no legs, while in others his serpentine appearance is limited to scaly skin, fangs, and eyes with slit pupils.

Area of worship

The Hellean pantheon is worshiped mostly by those that live on the Hellean peninsula and the surrounding islands, including within the nations of the Halakran League, Eretrebus, Iaramnae, Ephardia, the Machaian League, Kyamita, Alyma, and the Ersas city-states. Past the Sentinel Peaks to the north, the inhabitants of Asteria, largely descended from settlers out of Hellea, also worship the pantheon. The gods of the pantheon also have followings in the western-most parts of Viridia and in some parts of the Western Coast.

Connections to other pantheons

Deities of other pantheons, particularly those of Chaskan or Khapeshan origin, are often worshiped alongside traditional Hellean gods. Though this long-standing syncretic practice continues, in parts of Hellea aspects of the Hellean pantheon have been losing ground to Chaskan influence, especially along the southern and eastern coasts. Some have begun to move their gods in the opposite direction, in fact, shifting Hellean divinities into the theology and framework of the Chaskan pantheon.

Saints and shards

See also: Saint

Name	Alignment	Areas of Concern	Patron
Koroibos	LG	Fair sportsmanship, athletics, bravery, bravado	Lycia