The Khapeshan pantheon (pronounced kah-PESH-an) is one of the major regional pantheons on Kishar. Most followers of the pantheon live in the nation of Khapesh, with some followers elsewhere along the southern and eastern coasts of the Chaska Sea and along the northern stretches of the Kilche Sea. Its theology emphasizes the close parallels between the mortal and divine realms, and followers of the pantheon believe they have a religious imperative to shape the world to better reflect their gods.
Overview
To those that follow the gods of the Khapeshan pantheon, the divine and mortal realms closely mirror each other. Chaos or stability in one causes the same state in the other. Followers of the gods, therefore, attempt to alter mortal society to better fit the nature of their chosen deity or deities. For example, as a goddess of order Harakhte is believed to grow stronger when there is stability amongst mortals and the rule of law is respected, while she grows weaker when her tenets are neglected in favor of the forces of chaos.
Religious structure is of utmost importance in the Khapeshan pantheon. Temples are almost all organized into churches, with religious leaders appointed into their roles based on rigid structures and ancient practices. Long-standing religious traditions are thought to come directly from the gods, and therefore adherence to these traditions is critical to adherents of the pantheon. The Khapeshan pantheon is quite conservative as a rule, and has changed little even as the world around it has shifted greatly in the last centuries and millennia.
The creation story of the Khapeshan pantheon shares many similarities with that of the Chaskan pantheon, telling of great divine struggles as the universe was brought into being. As the ruler of the gods, Sokar is also the ultimate creator of the world. Sokar directed the other deities in shaping the form of the universe, turning the primordial water, sand, and mud into something much greater than the sum of its parts. As the gods worked under their leader's direction, the serpent Apep formed itself from the waters and lunged at Sokar, enraged at the structure that was being drawn out of the once infinite chaos. After a great battle both Sokar and Apep were mortally wounded, yet as gods neither could truly die. They drew their last breathes and expired, only to rise again, Sokar the next morning and Apep the next evening. Unable to continue the fight himself, Sokar stepped back to advise the gods, giving his sister Harakhte the responsibility of keeping the Lord of Chaos at bay - she dutifully continues this task to the present day.
Deities
| Name | Alignment | Areas of Concern | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harakhte | LG | The sun, rulership, law, duty, hunting | Harakhte (pronounced hah-ROCK-tee) is a goddess of the sun, rulership, law, duty, and hunting. As the personification of the sun, she is seen as the giver of life and the overseer of the world. Rulers in areas following the Khapeshan pantheon often style themselves as the devoted servants of Harakhte, mortal agents of her will, even if they worship another god as well.
Harakhte embodies the traits of a wise steward and a fair but firm ruler. She represents the stabilizing influence of the law, but only when applied equally and fairly - to Harakhte, tyranny is as inimical as chaos. Just as the sun's rays enlighten and nourish the world, clearing away the darkness of chaos, she teaches that rulers should teach and foster the growth of those under their authority. Her clergy instruct that one must follow and enforce the law for the good of all of society, as long as one's leaders hold to the same principles. All good rulers should lead by example, setting a path for their people through their own deeds. Harakhte's clergy is based out of her grand temple in Abydos, a city in lower Khapesh. The temple, located on a small island in the middle of the Aur River, dates back to the earliest days of Khapesh when the city was the kingdom's first capital. Today clerics and champions of Harakhte still regularly make pilgrimages to the temple to pay their respects to the goddess and receive guidance from the high priesthood. After the first battle between Sokar and Apep, Harakhte has taken on the responsibility of defending the world from the god of chaos. Every night Harakhte and Apep fight, as the goddess and her divine allies continue their never-ending war to keep the Lord of Chaos at bay. Every sunrise symbolizes the temporary defeat of Apep at Harakhte's hands, proof of the the goddess' strength and worthiness of her role. Harakhte is usually depicted as a woman with the head of a falcon. She is often dressed in the garb of a ruler and typically holds a scepter in her hand. In some images, she wears the traditional crown of Khapeshan monarchs. |
| Sokar | LG | Death, rebirth, change, renewal, plants, agriculture, hope | Sokar (pronounced SOW-car) |
| Tawaret | NG | Families, children, protection, dreams, hospitality | Tawaret (pronounced TAH-wah-ret) |
| Meshkenet | NG | Curiosity, art, music, invention, gardens | Meshkenet (pronounced MESH-keh-net) |
| Qadesh | CG | Travel, storytelling, fresh water, storms, oases | Qadesh (pronounced kah-DESH) |
| Shentayet | LN | Writing, history, education, research, scribes | Shentayet (pronounced shen-TAH-yet) |
| Khenmu | LN | Cities, trade, wealth, architecture, craftsmanship | Khenmu (pronounced KEN-moo) |
| Shai | N | Judgement, souls, the dead, the moon, burial rites | Shai (pronounced SHY) |
| Maahes | N | Conflict, weapons, tactics, healing, alcohol | Maahes (pronounced MAH-hess) |
| Iabet | N | Nature, weather, air, water, clouds, the sky | Iabet (pronounced EYE-ah-bet) |
| Isfet | CN | Decay, ruins, aging, disease, antagonism to the gods | Isfet (pronounced IS-fet) |
| Amathaunta | CN | Trickery, self-interest, spite, outcasts | Amathaunta (pronounced a-mah-THAWN-tah) |
| Sutekh | NE | Power, ambition, rivalry, deserts, sandstorms, unification for a shared goal | Sutekh (pronounced SOO-tek) |
| Nakith | NE | Hedonism, catharsis, hunger, revenge | Nakith (pronounced nah-KITH) |
| Apep | CE | Destruction, chaos, anger, night | Apep (pronounced ah-PEP) |
Area of worship
The vast majority of the Khapeshan pantheon's followers live in the Kingdom of Khapesh. Khapeshan influence stretches far, however, and many adherents of these gods can also be found elsewhere along the southern and eastern coasts of the Chaska Sea. In the northern Kilche, the now largely abandoned nation of Akhom was inhabited by followers of the Khapeshan pantheon, and many who left their destroyed lands for Rudamun continue to worship the same deities. The pantheon has a notable presence even in the southern Kilche as far afield as Laniobriga and Oscan.
Connections to other pantheons
The Khapesh, Chaskan, and to a degree Hellean pantheons all share many notable similarities. Their creation stories are all quite similar, for one, as are the general roles that they ascribe to each god. Scholars of religious matters generally believe all pantheonic deities to be the results of differing cultures seeing the same gods in their own ways, frequently pointing to these three pantheons in particular as proof. Certainly their modern followers often do not see great differences. A priest of a Khapeshan deity and one of a Chaskan deity often find much common ground, sharing many teachings, holy texts, and practices. Even religious structures and leadership often overlap. For example, though the Khapeshan church of Harakhte is nominally independent, it has close relationships with the centralized church of Harinna in Mesollonia.