The Tengu pantheon is one of the major ancestral pantheons on Kishar. Followed primarily by tengu and others living on Meklaw, the pantheon's highly syncretic theology means that it functionally includes almost all gods its faithful have encountered at some point in time. These beliefs are idiosyncratic to say the least, yet adherents of this pantheon manage to possess them all simultaneously.
Overview
Tengu beliefs are highly syncretic. To adherents of this pantheon, maybe all gods exist, or maybe only some do, or maybe none do. The best way to ensure prosperity for one's self and one's community, then, is to simply worship all of them. Followers of the Tengu pantheon wholeheartedly adopt new faiths they encounter, incorporating them into the tapestry of their existing beliefs. A single deity in the Tengu pantheon may have half a dozen names and just as many different depictions. The Great Storyteller is usually thought of as something approaching the concept of a supreme deity, but not in a controlling way. Rather, she is the lens through which the chaos of divinity can be interpreted, a way to make sense of the dozens, perhaps hundreds of conflicting stories that adherents of the Tengu pantheon believe concurrently.
The Tengu pantheon has no single creation myth. Most followers of this pantheon tell creation stories somewhat similar to those of the Chaskan and Khapeshan pantheons, though often varying widely in the details.
Deities
| Name | Areas of Concern | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Great Storyteller | Travel, whimsy, storytelling, fresh water, storms, trinkets, collections | The Great Storyteller has countless names, collected by the deity from amongst all of those used by her disparate followers. As such, the goddess is rarely referred to by name, and her epithet is almost always used instead. She is a goddess of many things, though primarily a deity of travel, stories, and whimsy.
In addition to her other roles, the Great Storyteller encourages her followers to collect trinkets and other baubles, as they help in remembering the many places one has been. Her aspect as a storm deity is far more emphasized in the Tengu pantheons than with other variations of the goddess. Her religion is fluid, something that is made obvious by her followers' ever-changing rites, rituals, and prayers, varying greatly over distance and time. Her clerics can be found across the world, often in regions very far from their place of birth. They are endlessly keen in conversing with all, but rarely seek to proselytize, far more interested in sharing what they have heard and picking up the latest tales than in spreading their faith. The Great Storyteller is given a distinctly anthropomorphized form. Tengu usually see her as much like themselves, frequently depicting the goddess in the appearance and garb of a mundane traveler, laden with the evidence of places she has been. |
Area of worship
Most worshipers of the Tengu pantheon can be found on the tengu island homeland of Meklaw, though the pantheon has many adherents elsewhere in the world. Any place in which the tengu have established a presence, this set of beliefs can be found.
Connections to other pantheons
There are innumerable connections that can be drawn between the Tengu pantheons and others. Much of its mythology is directly inspired by the pantheons found around the Chaska Sea, with other strong influence from the Aserdian and Elven pantheons as well.