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{{Clear| | {{Clear| | ||
{{DeityInfobox | {{DeityInfobox | ||
|name = | |name = Mhakan | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|titles = | |titles = | ||
* | * Demander of Sacrifices | ||
|type = Pantheonic deity | |type = Pantheonic deity | ||
|pantheon = [[Abanir pantheon]] | |||
|adjectives = Malavischan | |adjectives = Malavischan | ||
|alignment = Lawful evil | |alignment = Lawful evil | ||
|areas_of_concern = | |areas_of_concern = Retribution, punishment, schemes, order, hunger | ||
|worshipers = Tyrants, | |worshipers = Tyrants, those driven single-mindedly by their ambitions | ||
|cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | |cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | ||
| off | off | off | | off | off | off | ||
| on | off | off | | on | off | off | ||
| on | | | on | on | off | ||
}} | }} | ||
|domains = Ambition, Duty, | |domains = Ambition, Duty, Protection, Secrecy, Tyranny | ||
|divine_font = Harm | |divine_font = Harm | ||
|divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | |divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | ||
|divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | |divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | ||
|favored_weapon = Spiked chain | |favored_weapon = Spiked chain | ||
|symbol = | |symbol = Fox | ||
|sacred_animal = | |sacred_animal = Fox | ||
|sacred_colors = Red | |sacred_colors = Red | ||
}} | }} | ||
Despite the strictness of his commands, however, Mhakan is not seen as tyrannical or evil purely for its own sake. Rather, he and those that worship him are willing to take harsh actions in pursuit of greater goals, as to them the consequences of their means are of considerably less concern than achieving their objectives. Theologically, Mhakan is the ultimate defender against evil spirits, as long as one is willing to make the necessary sacrifices he orders. In the mortal realm, the god is often followed by those ambitions and aims drive them single-mindedly forward. | '''Mhakan''' {{Pronunciation|ma-HAH-khan}} the Demander of Sacrifices is a god of retribution, punishment, schemes, order, and hunger. He commands that everything exist in its proper place and that all of his orders are followed to the letter, with severe consequences if not. The god is the strict ruler who enforces compliance through violence and threats. | ||
Despite the strictness of his commands, however, Mhakan is not seen as tyrannical or evil purely for its own sake. Rather, he and those that worship him are willing to take harsh actions in pursuit of greater goals, as to them the consequences of their means are of considerably less concern than achieving their objectives. Theologically, Mhakan is the ultimate defender against evil spirits, as long as one is willing to make the necessary sacrifices he orders. In the mortal realm, the god is often followed by those whose ambitions and aims drive them single-mindedly forward. | |||
Mhakan is often depicted as a fox. | Mhakan is often depicted as a fox. | ||
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=== Edicts and anathema === | === Edicts and anathema === | ||
{{DeityReference | {{DeityReference | ||
|edicts = | |edicts = Offer sacrifices to Mhakan, pursue your goals single-mindedly towards their fruition, defeat evil spirits, take revenge on those who have wronged you | ||
|anathema = | |anathema = Halt your ambitions due to the objections of others, allow your foes to escape | ||
}} | }} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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{{Clear| | {{Clear| | ||
{{DeityInfobox | {{DeityInfobox | ||
|name = | |name = Mothallah | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|titles = | |titles = | ||
* The Black Swan | * The Black Swan | ||
|type = Pantheonic deity | |type = Pantheonic deity | ||
|pantheon = [[Aserdian pantheon]] | |||
|adjectives = Malavischan | |adjectives = Malavischan | ||
|alignment = Lawful evil | |alignment = Lawful evil | ||
|areas_of_concern = | |areas_of_concern = Beauty, vanity, contracts, false bargains | ||
|worshipers = Tyrants, merchants, bureaucrats, lawyers | |worshipers = Tyrants, merchants, bureaucrats, lawyers | ||
|cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | |cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | ||
| off | off | off | | off | off | off | ||
| | | off | off | off | ||
| on | | | on | on | off | ||
}} | }} | ||
|domains = Ambition, Duty, Fire, Glyph, Secrecy, Tyranny | |domains = Ambition, Duty, Fire, Glyph, Secrecy, Tyranny | ||
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|divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | |divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | ||
|favored_weapon = Spiked chain | |favored_weapon = Spiked chain | ||
|symbol = | |symbol = Black swan | ||
|sacred_animal = Black swan | |sacred_animal = Black swan | ||
|sacred_colors = Red and black | |sacred_colors = Red and black | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Mothallah''' {{Pronunciation|moth-AH-lah}} is a god of beauty, vanity, contracts, and false bargains. He attracts those seeking wealth, good looks, and immortality by offering such boons, but always with hidden repercussions. Mothallah is a seductive force that drives the vain towards evil, stoking their narcissism until they commit crimes against their communities, families, and friends in search of fleeting mortal treasures. His portfolio includes immortality for similar reasons, as he is thought to tempt the aging with immortality by offering the "gift" of eternal life with one hand while hiding the consequences in the other. | '''Mothallah''' {{Pronunciation|moth-AH-lah}} is a god of beauty, vanity, contracts, and false bargains. He attracts those seeking wealth, good looks, and immortality by offering such boons, but always with hidden repercussions. Mothallah is a seductive force that drives the vain towards evil, stoking their narcissism until they commit crimes against their communities, families, and friends in search of fleeting mortal treasures. His portfolio includes immortality for similar reasons, as he is thought to tempt the aging with immortality by offering the "gift" of eternal life with one hand while hiding the consequences in the other. | ||
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Temples and shrines to Mothallah are usually located in out of the way places, in secluded locales where his faithful can worship without drawing attention to their practices from those that fear the consequences. | Temples and shrines to Mothallah are usually located in out of the way places, in secluded locales where his faithful can worship without drawing attention to their practices from those that fear the consequences. | ||
In the Aserdian pantheon Mothallah is always pictured in a mundane manner, simply as a well-dressed figure displaying obvious personal wealth. Other parts of his portrayal are shared across pantheons, however. For example, Mothallah is frequently imagined with his left hand raised to his chest, palm facing out, holding a scroll containing a contract in the other. | |||
=== Edicts and anathema === | === Edicts and anathema === | ||
{{DeityReference | {{DeityReference | ||
|edicts = | |edicts = Seek methods of extending your life, put great care into your appearance, enter into agreements that subtly benefit yourself | ||
|anathema = | |anathema = Tolerate slovenly behavior, give away your wealth or possessions, accept your mortality | ||
}} | }} | ||
}} | }} | ||
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|image = | |image = | ||
|titles = | |titles = | ||
* Author of Contracts | * Author of Contracts | ||
|type = Pantheonic deity | |type = Pantheonic deity | ||
|pantheon = [[Chaskan pantheon]] | |||
|adjectives = Malavischan | |adjectives = Malavischan | ||
|alignment = Lawful evil | |alignment = Lawful evil | ||
|areas_of_concern = Tyranny, law, vanity, contracts | |areas_of_concern = Tyranny, law, vanity, contracts, summoning | ||
|worshipers = Tyrants, merchants, bureaucrats, lawyers | |worshipers = Tyrants, merchants, bureaucrats, lawyers | ||
|cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | |cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | ||
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| on | off | off | | on | off | off | ||
}} | }} | ||
|domains = | |domains = Duty, Fire, Glyph, Secrecy, Tyranny | ||
|divine_font = Harm | |divine_font = Harm | ||
|divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | |divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | ||
|divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | |divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | ||
|favored_weapon = Spiked chain | |favored_weapon = Spiked chain | ||
|symbol = | |symbol = Spiked crown | ||
|sacred_animal = Black swan | |sacred_animal = Black swan | ||
|sacred_colors = Red and black | |sacred_colors = Red and black | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Malavisch''' {{Pronunciation|MAH-lah-vish}} is the god of tyranny, law, vanity, contracts, and summoning. Malavisch is that patron of those who use the law to their advantage, especially when they are also the same people that write the laws. He is the tyrant that can always find a legal justification for his actions and the merchant that hides exploitative clauses in their impenetrable contracts. | |||
The god embodies the rule of law. Codes, contracts, and the subjugation of the weaker under the stronger are of central importance to his faith. He teaches that all have a place in the natural order of things, and that the best action any can take is to find and remain in that place, in order to not invite further chaos into the world. Even as Malavisch's faithful understand they must pay deference to their superiors, they often continue to subtly attempt to undermine those above them, following the example of their god. After all, if one can be weakened or overthrown then surely they never deserved their position to begin with - insubordination is only an infraction if it fails. | |||
Most of Malavisch's followers are those who already possess some degree of power. Despots, bureaucrats, and merchants are among his most fervent worshipers, as are others whose lives are tightly intertwined with legal codes. Neither Malavisch nor his faithful are trusted by most, even among those who worship the god. It is well-understood that even if they abide by terms to which they agreed, they will doubtless find ways to warp any contract to their advantage, if it wasn’t already written to be entirely in their favor in some subtle manner. | |||
To Malavisch and his clergy, appearances are everything; one should always dress in accordance with their status in the world. To keep appearances is to keep control, and a failure to do so is to offer a hint that one might not be worthy of their place in the hierarchy of the world. | To Malavisch and his clergy, appearances are everything; one should always dress in accordance with their status in the world. To keep appearances is to keep control, and a failure to do so is to offer a hint that one might not be worthy of their place in the hierarchy of the world. | ||
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The faithful of Malavisch are organized into an extremely rigid, hierarchical church. There is only one mortal church to Malavisch on Kishar, something not shared by any other faith - even the equally lawful and orderly religion of [[Harinna]] has schisms and multiple church structures. This centralization only occurred after the formation of [[Koritan]] in {{Year|6414}}, as the new state claimed the divine favor of Malavisch. | The faithful of Malavisch are organized into an extremely rigid, hierarchical church. There is only one mortal church to Malavisch on Kishar, something not shared by any other faith - even the equally lawful and orderly religion of [[Harinna]] has schisms and multiple church structures. This centralization only occurred after the formation of [[Koritan]] in {{Year|6414}}, as the new state claimed the divine favor of Malavisch. | ||
Malavisch | Malavisch was always a deceitful deity, but he did not originally hold his current status amongst the divines. As the first creation was coming into form, Malavisch cleverly negotiated a contract with the god whose domains he now possesses, now known only as the [[Lost]] as his name has been forgotten by history. Malavisch would become the servant of the Lost, agreeing to act as his arbiter and deputy to oversee the newly-created inhabitants of the universe in exchange for inheriting the Lost's domains upon his death. Of course, the Lost agreed - he was divine, and he believed he could not die in any way that mattered. But Malavisch knew otherwise. He had seen [[Lotan]] lurking in the primordial waves, and he knew an attack was inevitable. When Lotan finally struck at [[Socharin]], his anger too great to possibly contain, the Lost and Malavisch joined the other gods in driving Lotan back to the deepest waters. Malavisch and his superior fought back to back, protecting each other and striking as one. At least, until Malavisch vanished, knowing his contract did not require him to defend the Lost. Left alone, the Lost could not endure Lotan's attacks. He was consumed, struck from existence, his domains going to Malavisch as the contract was fulfilled. | ||
Malavisch is | At least, that is the story as told by the church of Malavisch. Others disagree, often vehemently - the notion of other gods having already been permanently killed by Lotan is heretical to most. Regardless, Malavisch has undisputed primacy of his domains now, his power great and his influence pervasive. | ||
Malavisch is often depicted as a humanoid figure with four ram's heads - one looking forward, one behind, and one each to the right and left. In some simpler representations, he is pictured as a humanoid man with two spiral goat horns. Malavisch is always portrayed as having a calm demeanor and wearing fine clothes, often with his left hand raised to his chest, palm facing out, holding a scroll containing a contract in the other. | Malavisch is often depicted as a humanoid figure with four ram's heads - one looking forward, one behind, and one each to the right and left. In some simpler representations, he is pictured as a humanoid man with two spiral goat horns. Malavisch is always portrayed as having a calm demeanor and wearing fine clothes, often with his left hand raised to his chest, palm facing out, holding a scroll containing a contract in the other. | ||
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{{Clear| | {{Clear| | ||
{{DeityInfobox | {{DeityInfobox | ||
|name = | |name = Melanthus | ||
|image = | |image = | ||
|titles = | |titles = | ||
* | * Bane of the Weak | ||
|type = Pantheonic deity | |type = Pantheonic deity | ||
|pantheon = [[Hellean pantheon]] | |||
|adjectives = Malavischan | |adjectives = Malavischan | ||
|alignment = Lawful evil | |alignment = Lawful evil | ||
|areas_of_concern = | |areas_of_concern = Punishment, strength, war, schemes, greed | ||
|worshipers = Tyrants, | |worshipers = Tyrants, soldiers, mercenaries, merchants | ||
|cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | |cleric_alignments = {{Alignment grid | ||
| off | off | off | | off | off | off | ||
| on | | | on | on | off | ||
| on | | | on | on | off | ||
}} | }} | ||
|domains = Ambition, Duty, | |domains = Ambition, Duty, Might, Secrecy, Tyranny | ||
|divine_font = Harm | |divine_font = Harm | ||
|divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | |divine_skill = Deception or Diplomacy | ||
|divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | |divine_ability = Intelligence or Strength | ||
|favored_weapon = | |favored_weapon = Polearm | ||
|symbol = | |symbol = Spear piercing a helmet | ||
|sacred_animal = | |sacred_animal = Boar | ||
|sacred_colors = Red and black | |sacred_colors = Red and black | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Melanthus''' {{Pronunciation|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. | '''Melanthus''' {{Pronunciation|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. | ||
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=== Edicts and anathema === | === Edicts and anathema === | ||
{{DeityReference | {{DeityReference | ||
|edicts = | |edicts = Seek strength, punish insubordination, enrich yourself | ||
|anathema = | |anathema = Give away your wealth or possessions, perform labor or take risks that could be delegated to others, accept rule by someone weaker | ||
}} | }} | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 23:01, 18 August 2024
Malavisch (pronounced MAH-lah-vish) a pantheonic deity commonly associated with tyranny, law, vanity, and contracts.
Abanir pantheon
Mhakan (pronounced ma-HAH-khan) the Demander of Sacrifices is a god of retribution, punishment, schemes, order, and hunger. He commands that everything exist in its proper place and that all of his orders are followed to the letter, with severe consequences if not. The god is the strict ruler who enforces compliance through violence and threats.
Despite the strictness of his commands, however, Mhakan is not seen as tyrannical or evil purely for its own sake. Rather, he and those that worship him are willing to take harsh actions in pursuit of greater goals, as to them the consequences of their means are of considerably less concern than achieving their objectives. Theologically, Mhakan is the ultimate defender against evil spirits, as long as one is willing to make the necessary sacrifices he orders. In the mortal realm, the god is often followed by those whose ambitions and aims drive them single-mindedly forward.
Mhakan is often depicted as a fox.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Offer sacrifices to Mhakan, pursue your goals single-mindedly towards their fruition, defeat evil spirits, take revenge on those who have wronged you
- Anathema
- Halt your ambitions due to the objections of others, allow your foes to escape
Aserdian pantheon
Mothallah (pronounced moth-AH-lah) is a god of beauty, vanity, contracts, and false bargains. He attracts those seeking wealth, good looks, and immortality by offering such boons, but always with hidden repercussions. Mothallah is a seductive force that drives the vain towards evil, stoking their narcissism until they commit crimes against their communities, families, and friends in search of fleeting mortal treasures. His portfolio includes immortality for similar reasons, as he is thought to tempt the aging with immortality by offering the "gift" of eternal life with one hand while hiding the consequences in the other.
Mothallah is perhaps the only god of the Aserdian pantheon that is thought to be cosmologically dangerous. Through offering immortality to mortals, his designs would interrupt the cycles of death and rebirth that drive the world, causing untold yet doubtless catastrophic consequences. Making peace with one's mortality is seen as a way to drive Mothallah away from the material world, allowing it to continue to grow and shift without remaining stagnant.
Temples and shrines to Mothallah are usually located in out of the way places, in secluded locales where his faithful can worship without drawing attention to their practices from those that fear the consequences.
In the Aserdian pantheon Mothallah is always pictured in a mundane manner, simply as a well-dressed figure displaying obvious personal wealth. Other parts of his portrayal are shared across pantheons, however. For example, Mothallah is frequently imagined with his left hand raised to his chest, palm facing out, holding a scroll containing a contract in the other.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Seek methods of extending your life, put great care into your appearance, enter into agreements that subtly benefit yourself
- Anathema
- Tolerate slovenly behavior, give away your wealth or possessions, accept your mortality
Chaskan pantheon
Malavisch (pronounced MAH-lah-vish) is the god of tyranny, law, vanity, contracts, and summoning. Malavisch is that patron of those who use the law to their advantage, especially when they are also the same people that write the laws. He is the tyrant that can always find a legal justification for his actions and the merchant that hides exploitative clauses in their impenetrable contracts.
The god embodies the rule of law. Codes, contracts, and the subjugation of the weaker under the stronger are of central importance to his faith. He teaches that all have a place in the natural order of things, and that the best action any can take is to find and remain in that place, in order to not invite further chaos into the world. Even as Malavisch's faithful understand they must pay deference to their superiors, they often continue to subtly attempt to undermine those above them, following the example of their god. After all, if one can be weakened or overthrown then surely they never deserved their position to begin with - insubordination is only an infraction if it fails.
Most of Malavisch's followers are those who already possess some degree of power. Despots, bureaucrats, and merchants are among his most fervent worshipers, as are others whose lives are tightly intertwined with legal codes. Neither Malavisch nor his faithful are trusted by most, even among those who worship the god. It is well-understood that even if they abide by terms to which they agreed, they will doubtless find ways to warp any contract to their advantage, if it wasn’t already written to be entirely in their favor in some subtle manner.
To Malavisch and his clergy, appearances are everything; one should always dress in accordance with their status in the world. To keep appearances is to keep control, and a failure to do so is to offer a hint that one might not be worthy of their place in the hierarchy of the world.
The faithful of Malavisch are organized into an extremely rigid, hierarchical church. There is only one mortal church to Malavisch on Kishar, something not shared by any other faith - even the equally lawful and orderly religion of Harinna has schisms and multiple church structures. This centralization only occurred after the formation of Koritan in Y9414*, as the new state claimed the divine favor of Malavisch.
Malavisch was always a deceitful deity, but he did not originally hold his current status amongst the divines. As the first creation was coming into form, Malavisch cleverly negotiated a contract with the god whose domains he now possesses, now known only as the Lost as his name has been forgotten by history. Malavisch would become the servant of the Lost, agreeing to act as his arbiter and deputy to oversee the newly-created inhabitants of the universe in exchange for inheriting the Lost's domains upon his death. Of course, the Lost agreed - he was divine, and he believed he could not die in any way that mattered. But Malavisch knew otherwise. He had seen Lotan lurking in the primordial waves, and he knew an attack was inevitable. When Lotan finally struck at Socharin, his anger too great to possibly contain, the Lost and Malavisch joined the other gods in driving Lotan back to the deepest waters. Malavisch and his superior fought back to back, protecting each other and striking as one. At least, until Malavisch vanished, knowing his contract did not require him to defend the Lost. Left alone, the Lost could not endure Lotan's attacks. He was consumed, struck from existence, his domains going to Malavisch as the contract was fulfilled.
At least, that is the story as told by the church of Malavisch. Others disagree, often vehemently - the notion of other gods having already been permanently killed by Lotan is heretical to most. Regardless, Malavisch has undisputed primacy of his domains now, his power great and his influence pervasive.
Malavisch is often depicted as a humanoid figure with four ram's heads - one looking forward, one behind, and one each to the right and left. In some simpler representations, he is pictured as a humanoid man with two spiral goat horns. Malavisch is always portrayed as having a calm demeanor and wearing fine clothes, often with his left hand raised to his chest, palm facing out, holding a scroll containing a contract in the other.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Use the law to your advantage, follow the letter of the law, maintain an appearance befitting your status, rule your lessers, punish insubordination, show subservience to your superiors
- Anathema
- Disregard or break a contract, have a slovenly or unkempt appearance, perform labor or take risks that could be delegated to others, exchange knowledge or a possession for nothing in return
Hellean pantheon
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.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Seek strength, punish insubordination, enrich yourself
- Anathema
- Give away your wealth or possessions, perform labor or take risks that could be delegated to others, accept rule by someone weaker