Saints, also referred to as shards in certain contexts, are mortals worshiped in some pantheons as representatives of their deity. Through their actions and accomplishments in life, some non-divine figures have managed to attain a particular closeness to their deity. In doing so, some become worshiped in their own right as pinnacles of their faith.
Description
Worshiping saints grants divine favor just as if one prayed and gave offerings to a divinity. The saints are not, however, gods themselves. Rather, they become so tightly intertwined with their god that by venerating the saint one can simultaneously worship the deity. Saints are usually prayed to by those particularly attracted to a certain aspect of a god personified by the saint.
Nearly all saints only occupy their role after their death, but this is not necessarily always the case - the Ishtaran living saints are a notable exception to this rule. Certain extraplanar creatures, such as powerful demons and the like, are also venerated in ways that are strikingly reminiscent of mortal saints are exalted. These creatures are usually referred to as shards of a deity instead of as saints, however. For example, a particularly meddlesome demon might gather followers who view it as embodying an aspect of the destructive god Lotan, functionally worshiping the god through the demon like one would a saint.
There is no universal process for sainthood. In regions of the world with hierarchical church structures, some faiths maintain official saints, given their status by the head of the clergy. Most, however, are essentially folk saints, popular enough with the people that they are considered as such regardless of whether or not they have been sanctioned by any church.
Every saint and shard has a patron, the deity that is believed to grant divine boons to followers of the saint.
Pantheons
Saints are an important aspect of the Chaskan and Hellean pantheons. They are also worshiped, albeit far less frequently, in the Khapeshan pantheon. Saints once featured centrally in Talgazan faith, but in that pantheon they have become far less emphasized over time, lost in favor of the worship of ghosts and ancestor spirits.
List of saints
As the worship of each saint rises and falls, this list is inherently incomplete. Many are also worshiped only in small villages or towns, largely unknown and unrecognized by the broader faith.
| Name | Areas of Concern | Pantheon | Patron |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atra-Hasis | Flood mitigation, conservation, disaster recovery | Chaskan pantheon | Aduntarri |
| Enmerkar | Translation, publishing | Chaskan pantheon | Nisaba |
| Huzrotho | Immortality at any cost | Chaskan pantheon | Nyxras |
| Koroibos | Fair sportsmanship, athletics, bravery, bravado | Chaskan pantheon, Hellean pantheon | Mithrai, Lycia |
| Mete | Lenses, telescopes, black holes | Chaskan pantheon | Ubellur |
| Muballit | Retribution, justice, punishment | Chaskan pantheon | Harinna |
| Urnum | Giants, preservation of wild places, dangerous creatures of the forests | Chaskan pantheon | Usumu |
| Xisuthros | The Depths, guards, barriers | Chaskan pantheon | Aduntarri |