It is Nicodas, 22nd of the Month of Life, in the year 96
Pantheon of the Great Houses, Part 1
On this page are the following Gods...
Null. - The Fool
I. - The Magician
II. - The High Priestess
III. - The Empress
IV. - The Emperor
V. - The Heirophant
VI. - The Lovers
VII. - The Seventh
VIII. - Strength
IX. - The Hermit
X. - The Wheel of Fortune
"Let me tell you a story, of beings magical and great. Of those that look over us each day..."
- The Beginning of the Grand Tale
N - I
N. The Fool
God of: Youth, Optimism, Storytelling
Representation
The Fool is most often represented as a youthful young woman with a vibrant expression. She is usually in motion, depicted in paintings and in statues as a girl walking with her head high, eyes up to the clouds, marching toward the very end of a cliff. She never reaches the end of the cliff; with every step, it continues, for as long as she does not look down.
Cult
In simple terms, there is no Cult of the Fool. There have been attempts to form churches, but there is something intangible about the Goddess that refutes organisation innately. But interestingly, children across the Elven realm have had spiritual experiences with this deity.
Many Elven children claim to have seen a young woman in the woods followed by animals. Or they claim to have been visited by creatures, normal to the eye, but willing to listen and even speak. Children spout fairy-tale advice from these apparent entities, but are often dismissed as liars. Some rare occasions have been recorded where Elves claim that their lives were saved by more serious advice given by these whimsical manifestations, and that they felt that The Fool strove to protect them directly.
Dreams about Her are the most frequent occurrence. Easily attributed to exposure to stories and images about the Fool, but perhaps it is something more occult than that. In any case, though Elves may swear by their lives that these experiences happened, none say that they have continued into adulthood.
Null - The Fool
Tenets
Imagination is Sacred -
Encouraging imagination in children, through storytelling, drawing, and other forms of creation is very important and has become fundamental to the way Elves raise their offspring.
Always Look Up -
Optimism is fundamental to Her and to childhood. Children are oftentimes told always to look up; as in, be hopeful, watch the sky, and follow your dreams.
Wisdom in the Wilds -
Animals have insight that humans do not; The Fool is a connection to the animals and to the spirit world beyond. Looking for signs, simple or complicated, in animals can be fortuitous.
Worship
Worship of The Fool is quite minimal. In many ways, the Fool is more like a character in a fairytale than a fully formed God. She is N., both part of the Pantheon and not. An Outsider in the list, but also the very beginning of the ‘story’ of the Gods.
There is not an organised church, but she has her place in the holy books and in decorations throughout cities. Sometimes, Elven children keep little shrines to her - usually simple compilations of toys, their utmost favourites, and its also became a tangential tradition to keep wishes written on small pieces of parchment in these nooks.
It’s said that She writes stories, or daydreams them up in Her head as She walks. Just like children, She trots and ambles and dances onwards without much care for the real future or fate, and that is what keeps Her from falling off the cliff. In many renditions, animals follow her along - foxes for cleverness, black cats for magic, spiders for story-weaving and lizards for passion. Carvings of these animals are common gifts for growing children.
Some regard Her as a way to keep the magic of childhood alive, and encourage children to cling to Her optimism for as long as they can. Inevitably, Elves mature out of this mindset and at some point, The Fool fades into their past as other Gods suit their lives and their needs better.
There is a theory amongst religious scholars that The Fool is, in essence, a Creator Goddess. That the powers residing in the rest of the vast Pantheon ultimately come from Her - rather than being bestowed from a Divine Mother, or as Gifts from Her hand, they are simply imagined in Her head like stories. One-by-one joining the deity, granted their own number and place, with fantasy dark and joyful alike. The Fool is made of pure, optimistic energy, and all else follows Her.
Unlike other Gods, it seems that She does not answer prayers or rituals, nor take offerings. However, this may be because most recorded attempts were performed by adults..
Creating a follower
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It is extremely unlikely for an adult Elf to have any prevalent dedication to this God, but;
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They may have had an experience with Her as a child
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They may feel a connection to storytelling or writing since they were young
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They may trust animals and look for signs in animal behaviours
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Twisting the lore, clinging to such an immature part of the Faith could result in a brattish, avoidant character that refuses to address reality!
I. The Magician
God of: Cunning, Determination, Power, Resourcefulness
Representation
One of the few gods among the civilised Elves that is commonly admired, worshipped and invoked. He is often depicted in one of two ways.
His first form was an unarmoured, clean-shaven older Elf with a brilliant blue robe speckled with stars reaching out to touch the sky. - This depiction is associated with him as he was before his battle with Abysum and symbolises his cunning and resourcefulness.
His second form is slightly more armoured, four-eyed masked Elf wrapped in deep shades of blue, grey or black and fashioned with adornments of a noble. His poses in this form often have a hand reaching out to the person or crowd gazing upon him. - This depiction is associated with The Four-Eyed King, a term he became known for after defeating Abysum. It symbolises determination, power and ability to fulfil one's potential.
I. The Magician
Cult
There is no formal organised sect or church of the Four-Eyed King. He never left one when he departed from his mortal coil and his successors were not interested in direct rule. Because of this, his great kingdom in the south was split among the cities until they were united under the Emperor and Empress.
To date, The Four-Eyed King still maintains a degree of control over the Elven cities through a powerful clandestine organisation known as The Arashi. Formed when he was still walking among mortals, the Arashi are Elves sought out for their intelligence, resourcefulness and ability who undergo strict training and tutelage to forge them into companions worthy of the Four-Eyed King that fight against threats to the Elves from within and without.
They were rumoured to have been wiped out by House Soletera, and it is a rumour that they use to hide themselves as they continue their work of preventing another Sixth House-like occurrence and the horrors they unleashed. The Arashi have been a protective and guiding hand over Elven civilisation since The Four-Eyed King's ascension; they have played a key role in limiting one house ruling over the others for fear of a Soletera repeat.
Tenets
The tenets of worship of the Four-Eyed King can be summed up in common phrases used by his worshippers and are attributed to aspects of his representation.
Will Made Manifest -
This phrase is often said in positive regard to someone achieving a goal or task that was considered difficult. It is within this saying that a core concept is revealed. - Success is a matter of willingness to achieve.
Turned Again -
This phrase is generally used negatively and it denotes someone with a fickle mind. Someone who lacks the strength of ambition to stay their course.
Without Mantle -
This means to do something without responsibility. It can be positive in that someone takes charge of a situation with a positive outcome, without it being their responsibility. Or it can mean someone who acts brazenly and without regard to the situation.
Feast for Abysum -
Generally, this is used as an insult towards those of low intelligence or mentally deranged. Essentially it is referring to the person as being nothing more useful than food for a demon.
Worship
The Four-Eyed King, The One Without Limit, The Grand Aetherician; is said to be the most powerful Elf to ever exist and rumoured to be the first mortal to ascend into the realm of the gods by his power. He is credited with defending Elvenkind from the demon Abysum.
The story of his victory often follows the trend that he braved the demon on his own, that he was greatly out-matched in terms of sheer strength. But, crucially, he was not a trifle opponent. Through his own cunning and resourcefulness, he managed to seize the demon but not without great injury to himself, trapping it and imprisoning its essense within him.
The Four-Eyed King is often prayed to for inspiration, to help guide those in need to find a way to improve their situation. He is not often found in places of worship, rather a large statue of his likeness forms the centre-piece of many town squares and city markets. Prayer is offered in public towards the statues usually in the form of silent contemplation or meditation. Worshippers are known to go many hours beneath such a statue seeking answers or bolts of inspiration.
Since the dissolution of his Kingdom on the southern half of the continent, centuries before the rise of the Emperor and Empress, his worship has faded over time along with his significance as more gods have become recognised within the Elven Pantheon. However, he is still honoured as the first among them and still holds a position in almost every civilised Elf settlement to be prayed to.
Since the arrival of Humanity and the invasion by the Kingdom of Asturias, the worship of The Four-Eyed King has seen a regrowth in popularity as the humans, those from Asturias in particular, have been likened to Abysum. A great evil to overcome.
I. The Four-Eyed King
Creating a follower
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The followers of the Four-Eyed King praise intelligence, ingenuity, innovation and the ability to think and out-think others. Most of all they believe in the greatness of results. The morality of such is a lesser concern.
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Consider their strive for power, be it influence, economic or military. Power is the avenue through which all their pursuits can be fulfilled, their ambition is the limit.
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Not all paths require you to be the leader, attach yourself to someone who has the means and method to obtain what you need. Aid them in their endeavour, provide sound advice and council.
"The Eyes are watching."
- An esoteric saying, refering to the Arashi as an organisation
II - III - IV - V
II. The High Priestess
God of: Secrets, Souls, Intuition
Representation
There are many statues and artworks dedicated to The High Priestess, and overwhelmingly She is represented as a ghostly, elegant Elf. The striking feature, as all the Gods must have one, is Her lack of eyes. Her face is otherwise typical, but where Her eyes would be there is simply smooth, marblesque skin. Her clothes are typically shown to be robes, drapery, other light fabrics that flow harmoniously from her delicate visage.
Cult
The High Priestess has one of the largest organised churches within the realm. Most of the servants of the church are female, but it is not intentionally exclusive to men. Usually these women enter at a young age, often after trauma or the loss of their parents, and stay within the faith until death.
Their uniform is quite distinct in its mimicry of the Goddess. They wear comfortable, flowing robes, often layered with ghostly thin fabric and lace that flutters in the wind and can be seen through in the light. This same fabric is then used as a blind fold for the Priestesses. It is thin enough for them to get around day-to-day, though oftentimes they are accompanied and aided by a temple-guard. Romance is frowned upon within the cult but not uncommon between the guard and the clergy in secret.
The main duty of the Priestesses is to provide spiritual insight and healing to those who need it. This may come in the form of sermons or one-on-one counselling. Typically they are known as Whispering Sisters, but those higher in rank may achieve the title of High Keeper, referring to the keeping of secrets. Those of such prestige usually exclusively provide their service to the rich, and can hold much power through connections and have a big effect through the advice they give out.
These practitioners are expected to be socially savvy, but more importantly soft, kind, and relaxing. They are, in theory, blind to ugliness, poverty, disfigurement and even ill aspects of character. The appeal of the blindfold is that it prevents them from savouring identifiable features of those who they speak to. In essence, it preserves secrecy. Lawmen have long since given up on appealing to the church for information on cases of crime, because even when receiving murder confessions they will not relent that which is given in divine confidence.
II. The High Priestess
Tenets
An Unburdened Soul is a Safe Soul -
Confession and counselling is the only way to heal and rest peacefully. This is core to the faith.
Cast No Judgement -
It is better to understand and aid someone, than to judge them in haste. When someone has done something evil, it is better to nurture them to be good than to scorn them eternally.
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You Do Not Need to See, to Know -
Sight is often a hindrance, and can be fooled. Intuition and understanding is a separate skill, one that is more genuine and important.
Worship
The High Priestess is, in a fundamental sense, core to all spirituality. As such She plays a big part in Elven society, both behind the scenes and in the forefront. There are many statues and shrines dedicated to her through the realm, and a very accessible part of Her worship is ritual confession. This is done through the act of writing a confession or secret upon a piece of thin parchment, and then folding it into meticulous shapes and papercraft. These folds, perhaps as flowers or animals or simple symbols, are then rested at the feet of Her shrines.
It’s not uncommon for people to do this throughout their lives, though obviously is more likely to be performed by the devout or troubled. As a Goddess, She certainly appeals to those who suffer from woes and anxieties, as Her purpose is to provide comfort and expression to those in need. She nurtures the Souls of Elvenkind.
To this Goddess, secrets themselves are holy, or in particular its the venting and relieving of the burden of secrets. This does not mean that they should be shouted out freely, but rather carefully and gently cradled, whispered to someone who can help and nurture away the pain. The ultimate belief is that to die without secrets is to be held, forever, in Her arms and at peace.
Creating a follower
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These Elves are likely to be very understanding and pacifistic
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They may apply the tenets to everything they do
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An Elf without focus for the High Priestess may still turn to Her and use some of these traits when going through a very troubled time
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Twisting the lore, someone could deliberately harbour and misuse the secrets of others in Her name!
III. The Empress
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IV. The Emperor
Goddess of: Nurturing, Harmony of Power, Nature of Life
God of: Protective Ruler, Hierarchy, Stability, Dependable
Representation
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They are always depicted together, and rarely out of their full majestic regalia. Their statues are not often found outside the residences of rulers or halls of power to remind those in authority of their purpose. The two sides of righteous rule.
The Empress encompasses the side of a nurturing ruler, who acts in harmony with the power structures that be and uses the art of diplomacy, influence and espionage to protect the realm. She also can navigate the nature of life without descending into chaos.
The Emperor encompasses the side of a steadfast protective ruler. Who acts rationally and employs practical rule to provide structure and stability to the realm, one who can be depended upon.
Cult
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The Cult of Dominion is a network of secretive groups throughout the various Elven Cities who work towards uniting the continents once more. Though this seems to be operating outside the wishes of their divinities, they believe that their patron gods did have an heir and the best way to reunite the Elves would be to see their descendants ascend to the throne. - The major problem currently is agreeing upon an heir, or even legitimately finding one.
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Members of this Cult can be in various positions of power or authority - And many would lose these positions if their affiliation with the Cult was discovered.
III. & IV. Empress and Emperor
Tenets
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The underpinning tenet of the Empress and Emperor is the good of the realm.
The Empress uses her method of nurturing the future, of the soft powers of diplomacy and influence to maintain stability.
The Emperor uses stronger methods, protecting the Elves from their own vices, against the worst parts of themselves and their society. And crucially, protecting them from enemies outside.
Although these are simple, they often come into conflict in a manner only leaders have full appreciation for.
Worship
Worship of the two is mostly restricted to rulers of any kind. Be it the Great Houses, Generals, Industrialists or Team Leaders. - And unlike worship of many others of the pantheon, to worship them correctly is to encapsulate their aspects and put them into practice.
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The Empress and Emperor are the most famous couple in Elf society. Few do not know what supposedly transpired all those years ago and how the current Houses came to be. The story of how they met is somewhat clouded by local preference, although it is mostly agreed they met between the Northern and Southern continents, it was a celebration they were attending and they immediately gravitated towards one another. - This has led to a tradition of marriages of Northerners and Southerners being seen as a symbolic worship of the imperial divines and to bring good fortune to the union.
The couple eventually took on the mantle of Empress and Emperor, joint in co-rulership over the dominion of Elves. Through diplomacy, trade, might or otherwise they partnered with, allied or subjugated the entire known world. Something which many
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The True Dominion, as it is often referred to, did not last forever. Despite stories of the vigour of the Empress and Emperor. They never officially had an heir. This caused increasing unease as they approached the end of their mortal lives. - To ensure the continued stability, peace and prosperity of all Elf-kind. They bestowed the right to rule upon their greatest advisors, and the families after them. Ushering in the age of The Great Houses with their passing.
Almost all depictions of the Empress and Emperor are from Elf society, few can be found outside it. And those that can bear similarities with ancient stories told by the Komenali.
Creating a follower
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Followers of the Empress and Emperor are generally not different from other Elves. They each take upon the burden of responsibility for other Elves and aim to live true to the simple tenets of the divines.
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The Cult of Dominium, however, believe that the current system is failing and needs a new leader to revitalise the Elven population. That new leader is the heir. A blood descendant of The Empress and Emperor.
V. The Heirophant
God of: Teaching, Symbols, Knowledge
Representation
The Hierophant is both man and tree; with the wisdom of an ancient oak, the reach of the tallest hyperion, and the broad-minded roots of an aspen. He is usually represented as an elderly man emergent from a trunk, whose hair extends into the highest branches and lower boughs become rickety, thin-fingered hands. The trunk and body are rendered to feel like a flowing robe. Oftentimes, books and parchments accompany Him in depictions, and His simplified symbol is that of crossed keys.
Cult
As one might imagine, the Cult of the Hierophant is one of the scholars, hard-proven in their specialities, with exceptional intellect. Unlike the other organised churches of the Elven Pantheon, this one does not take in young acolytes in the traditional sense. Rather, it is composed of esteemed mentors and professors who are, typically, over forty years of age. Particularly grand and influential colleges eventually ‘become’ places of worship for this God, being blessed by the cult and rising to that status, but that does not require their locations to change. They do not need to build altars and statues and take up sermons, because research halls, books and lectures innately fulfil this role.
The cult is led by a Counsel of Elders, and it is very elite and closed-off. They have the ear of the Elven Houses and are frequently visited for advice, and their knowledge is considered God-given. They are a fundamentally political group but this is no secret - after all, if you are chosen to be a priest of the God of Knowledge itself, surely others should be expected to listen to you!
They have power and design over other official cults within the pantheon as well. Religious structure and institutions appear to be a chief point of interest, and despite their own system being unusual, they have directed many of the other faiths to be as organised as they are. For instance, the Celestial Cities and their three divine Patrons were partially organised by the Cult of the Hierophant. Some question why they extend this influence whilst keeping their own approach so different.
Few practices are known or striking about the cult. Overall, it appears that learning and educating are the chief purposes and that every council member has their own speciality upon which they advise the Elven world. However, one particular manner of prayer is more widely known. It is said that within the faith, the professors and priests sacrifice secrets and questionable knowledge of others to the God, writing these valuable notes into books and burying them amongst the roots of great trees. It too is said that when someone tries to dig these books back up… They cannot be found.
V. The Heirophant
Tenets
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Listen and Speak -
A fundamental belief of the faith is that everyone has something to teach, and something to learn. This includes even the most downtrodden, unfortunate Elf. The notion that even a high-born can learn from the low or the strange is very important and used, often, as a lesson to ‘ground’ lofty rich folk.
Knowledge Is Out There -
Everything is already there to be learned, and all must be pursued. It is waiting to be discovered by the Elven kind.
Information is Blessed -
Within this faith, information and knowledge being conveyed is the same as a prayer. Teaching can be a sermon. Debate can be a ritual. In this sense, everything worth learning is holy. Those of the faith will therefore discuss these things with care and propriety.
Worship
The Hierophant has a chief place in the Pantheon, as His sphere extends from the youngest children to the oldest adults. From the poorest to the richest, for all Elves must learn and teach. The crossed keys of the Hierophant represent the ‘unlocking’ of knowledge, tying in to an Elven belief that everything is already known but not yet shared with mortal kind. Thus, when something new is found or discovered, it has been ‘unlocked’ as if taken from bindings or found within a cave of secrets. Keys are common gifts for scholars and graduates, and the image of them is carved into the doorway of all schoolhouses.
The Hierophant is a natural Patron and icon for most scholastic endeavours and is often a fundamental part of any great college’s heraldry. People appeal to him before exams, during experiments and great investigations, and even for more humble types of wisdom. He lacks a realm-wide holiday or festival but still has commonplace traditions.
A tradition that reaches from the heights of society to the lows, is the ritual practice of hanging old keys from tree branches. This is a form of prayer to The Hierophant and is done when someone desperately needs guidance or feels they lack knowledge that would serve an overwhelming problem. This act is a silent plea but is not always done tragically. It is particularly common for Elves to do this when they come of age for the broader, more optimistic purpose of asking for guidance as they traverse life. These trees can be found at random; someday someone decides to put a key on that birch in the park, and a decade later it has been burdened with hundreds of them.
Creating a follower
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A follower of The Hierophant is likely to be a scholar or an ambitious learner of another kind
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They are likely to forgo other parts of their life in the name of pursuing knowledge
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They may consider teaching and learning to be the most important things in the world, and be willing to listen to outsiders and bizarre entities because of it.
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Twisting the lore could result in someone who uses Knowledge for control and group manipulation!
"What would -they- think?"
- A common phrase used to criticise by invoking the Empress and Emperor
VI - VII
VI. The Lovers
Gods of: Love, Deep Bonds, Sensuality and Pleasure
Representation
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The Lovers are unique in that they are, always, represented as a duo. A man and a woman, ever touching, ever loving, and without individual names nor distinct identities. They may be differently depicted in a few simple ways; either matching in colours or contrasting, in wedding garments or simple clothes, but they rarely are manifested with unique personalities beyond their devotion for each other. Their symbol is that of the Lotus flower, and traditionally they stand embraced by a giant blossom.
VI. The Lovers
Cult
The Lovers have an organised and well-developed church within Elven society. Most cities will have at least one temple dedicated entirely to them, and they will feature in the smaller combined chapels of villages and towns.
The devotees who are part of this church are typically known as Divine Matchmakers, as well as more typical titles like Priest and Priestess. This is because of a core responsibility of the church of The Lovers; setting people up with their ideal, life-long partner. This is a service most often provided to the rich, meaning it can become quite a political game, but during the Lotus Festival every summer it’s performed broadly for anyone in attendance, by all of the Matchmakers who gather there for the celebrations.
Because of this, cultists of The Lovers are expected to be firmly educated in the arts of beauty, seduction, social manipulation and deduction. The most experienced Divine Matchmakers can tear near every detail from someone within a few moments of knowing them; they are severely adept in social situations, more than capable of dominating a scene, yet often choose to direct the light upon those they’re trying to find suitors for.
Some sects of the cult will also range into matters of love potions and rituals. These are usually performed for the wealthy and desperate, those who are willing to go to extreme measures to conjure love into their lives or force it upon others. Some Matchmakers scorn this, whilst others make their living off of it. Money matters much to the church of love.
Unsurprisingly, the cult is also responsible for many marriages in the realm. A ceremony in the image of The Lovers will typically involve an exchange of flowers, and delicate jewellery usually adorned with a Lotus symbol in some form. Most common for lower class men is iron cloak pins, and for their wives a ring band or necklace. Amongst the rich, circlets have become exceedingly popular for both genders. After these exchanges are made, it is tradition for Elves to pour eachother Lotus infused wine, as in from the cup into the mouth of their new spouse, to seal their oath to each other. For the upper circles, these Lotus wines are infused with alchemical brewing to create a clean high of emotions, described often as bundled joy or sensations of ecstasy.
Tenets
Ideology of the Twin Flame -
Firm believers are dedicated to the idea that everyone has a ‘Twin Flame’, or a soulmate. Many will spend their entire lives looking for the perfect person to be with, unwilling to pass up on the opportunity to find a kindred spirit made just for them by these Gods.
Everyone Needs Love -
Isolation and independence is a far cry from these Gods’ portfolio. It is crucially important to spend time with loved ones and shower them with gifts and forthright attention. For many this is forgotten for long stretched, but at least Lotus Day always comes around to remind them.
Love is Ambitious -
The romantic ways and the idyllic representations of The Lovers preaches the idea that no one should settle for less than the best. This is a driving force for many of the churches rituals and services… Funny that most of the Matchmakers end up unmarried for life!
Worship
The Lovers are fundamentally embroiled in Elven culture. Their influence and worship extends to everything from courtship, romantic gifts, getting married, familial bonds and then all the way to simple, fundamental lust. Because of this, many flirtatious or romantic traditions are directly tied to the casual worship of this duo.
Flowers play a fundamental part in decorating their shrines. Public gardens are often dedicated to them, and floral arrangements are a very typical romantic gift. Lotus flowers, being their symbol, are interpreted as the most passionate of blooms and as symbols of true love. Roses are used more for expressions of lust, sunflowers most often given for more youthful crushes, and foreign and exotic plants are seen as extravagant displays of affection.
During the Lotus Festival, which occurs at the highest point of summer, botanists, herbalists and traders alike gather in the city to cover it in floral wares. This day represents a time for a celebration of love, a day to give gifts, to express feelings, and for the youth it is a fine excuse to party and letch. Even small towns will host faires for it, and its considered a blessed time to marry or try for a child.
Creating a follower
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A Follower of The Lovers may just be anyone in Elven Society experiencing courtship or love. They will play a role in any romantic ceremony.
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A Cultist of The Lovers is likely to be an advisor, matchmaker, or perhaps even take up a relationship counsellor role.
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They may see love as a solution to everything.
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Twist the lore, create an utterly cynical Priest or Priestess who only does what they do for political gain and riches!
VII. The Seventh
God of: Awe, Beauty, Combat, Dueling, Glory, Individuality, Triumph, War, Vanity
Representation
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The Seventh is not widely seen in the world, though when he is found in statues or paintings, he is often a large fully armoured man carrying a mighty blade that can stand at ¾ of his height. The sword resting upon his shoulder as his fist is raised into the air, or his sword is instead.
Some of his more obscure and old idols show him as a primal force, particularly a Jaguar standing over the corpse of defeated prey or other enemies. Teeth entirely bored though a mighty roar.
Others depict him arriving at a palace or place of his worship, pulled by jaguars in a magnificent chariot he attends to event triumphantly in his full glory.
VII. Triumph
Tenets
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Sense of Self -
The Sense of Self is an understanding of one's own character, strengths, and weaknesses and building admirable virtues from their individuality. It is important to those who follow The Seventh to express themselves as an individual, and not as someone tied to a specific group. - Despite the irony -
The expression of this individuality comes from ‘The Visage’, the style and mannerisms of the individual and what they inspire in others who would gaze upon them. It is therefore important for these people to maintain their public image, whether it be good or bad.
The Visage -
The Visage is something that is typically hand-crafted by the individual to represent themselves. Either a true reflection of who they are, or what they wish to inspire in others. What started as distinctly decorated armour has developed into entire combinations involving armour, colours, style, form, mannerisms and personality.
However this is all maintained while their armour or outfit is donned, and when they are out of it who they truly are is kept private and secretive. This can however bring about an internal conflict amongst followers that is known as the ‘Two-Selfs’, something that is considered a bad characteristic and dishonest.
Legend -
Once The Visage has been completed or is in such a state to distinguish the person. The Legend is the next step in the evolution of a follower. Here it becomes important for the individual to build upon the legend and myth surrounding their visage and the sense of self. Triumph leads to fame and infamy, and the legend develops from there.
Halls of Triumph -
The Halls of Triumph are The Seventh’s version of the afterlife. It is here where all Legends go after they die, and it is here that they rejoice in festivities, dine on all their desires and engage in endless contests against others of tales and myth.
Cult
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The Seventh Cult, Cult of the Seventh or The Cult of Triumph, is more a school than the other cults. Although cults generally teach in some form, The Seventh prizes individuality and distinguishes followers from the crowd around them. The cults are usually made up of mentors and pupils, with greater chapters having a mentor council where it becomes an evident need.
Out of respect for their mentor, is it customary for the pupil to adorn a part of the ‘Sense of Self’ of their mentor. Either through a piece of armour, an opening pose, or a style of salute.
Worship
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Whether it be through a street brawl, an honourable duel or even on the field of battle. No matter the cause of the conflict, the struggle to contend with your opponents and the eventual feeling of elation when victory is claimed. All know of The Seventh, of Chariot and Triumph. He is a relatively enigmatic deity, often his presence is known only through feeling and so few Elves would even dare to claim that they have had vision from him or even seen him. Yet, most would undoubtedly know that he is there without question.
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Worship of The Seventh is practised more amongst those who ‘have’ than those who do not. The rich, the upper echelons and the powerful all eventually incorporate reverence to Triumph in some form in their home or their actions and mannerisms.
The most common forms of worship are through the noble challenges of combat. Most often these are simple martial contests between two distinct individuals seeking glory and fame to test their might and determine who among them will bask in triumph. These bouts do not often end in death, but the resolve to defeat an opponent has driven many combatants to grave injury to push themselves beyond their limits. The greater the opponent, the greater the fame and legend built from their defeat.
Strategy and tactics used to defeat an opponent in single combat, or to defeat a group of combatants became seen as an art form associated with The Seventh in itself. Warfare as a whole was incorporated and those who orchestrated the clash of armies achieved a similar celebrity status as their martial counterparts. The greater the success in the most unlikely of situations the more famous and respected the individual became.
The elements of art and beauty that became associated with The Seventh find their origins traditionally in their armour designs, known as ‘The Visage’, but now also paintings of great battles or duels between legendary individuals capturing their moment of triumph, or admiration of the physical form and style displayed by the combatants during their contests. Followers of Triumph have been known to weep at such magnificent, wondrous, and serene fighting styles.
Among the Great Houses
Few Elves of the lower strata of society have the investment available to even breach into what is considered to be an expensive deity to worship. The arms, armour, art and years needed to train put The Seventh out of reach of most. - Despite this, the true practitioners of The Seventh are nevertheless awe-inspiring and amazing to behold. Their appearance alone has been known to spark wondrous admiration as they turn armour into works of art.
Triumph found most of his followers among the nobility, often these followers are used instead of a large peasant levy to do battle. Wars among the Great Houses' Elf cultures are significantly less bloodied than their human counterparts as each individual is considerably worth more and warfare is a noble art.
This art has led to many of these Cultists preferring duels over rank-and-file battles, and grand tournaments to settle disputes rather than galvanised masses to crash into one another. Despite their preferences, they have been brought into the wars against Humanity and act as beacons of inspiration and have a morale-boosting effect on Elven soldiers brought into the wars against the invaders.
Creating a follower
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Create a Visage, a suit of armour or clothing incorporating different colours and armour elements to become the personification of the person within. Whether this is meant to inspire hope, strike dread into the hearts of lessers or conjure admiration each suit is meant to be distinct enough to be picked out in a crowd.
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Forge a legend and mythos for your Visage, for it is only through how you will be remembered that your true individual footprint on history is remembered and shines through the indistinguishable mass of others.
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Style yourself as a fierce swordmaster able to cut down dozens, a genius-level strategic mind who could fell an empire. A Blade master who has mastered all forms of bladed combat.
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Challenge others to contests to build upon your own fame and legend. The more you triumph in contests the more undeniable it becomes that The Seventh would welcome you in the Halls of Triumph.
"The Wheel turns."
- Some wagon woman.
VIII - IX - X
VIII. Strength
God of: Strength, Energy, Action, Courage, Magnanimity
Representation
The Eighth is often represented as a muscular or athletic man of considerable determination prying open the mouth of a cougar. Despite the danger to himself to handle a beast such as that, he persisted in the great act of courage.
He is never depicted as having opened the mouth of the beast, or that the beast has something within its maw that he is trying to retrieve. Rather, the act in itself is symbolic of the courage that The Eighth represents.
Cult
The Cult of Strength, or Cult of the Eighth, often exists as public speakers or sermon givers to encourage their kin to try and try again. Explaining the virtues of action, of taking courage and being boundless in energy. The greatest among them are said to be able to give such rousing speeches that can cure tiredness for an entire week.
VIII. Strength
Tenets
Action -
One of the core tenets of worshipping The Eighth is to take action. Without action there is stagnation, and stagnation is the lack of energy. So, it holds that there must be constant action and energy to push Elves further and to greater heights.
Courage -
Courage and bravery are synonymous with Strength himself, it is this tenet that most would call to The Eighth for. Courage is considered the most virtuous attribute of the Cult of the Eighth.
Generosity -
To the Cultists, generosity is not so strict in its meaning to mean donations of materials to another. Generosity to the Eighth is the willingness to share the wisdom to achieve and persist against the hardships both internal and external.
Worship
Strength, sometimes known as The Eighth, is a widely worshipped deity of the Elven Pantheon, covering the aspects of inner courage, action and endless energy. It is not uncommon for the Eighth to be summoned internally for the mental fortitude to persist through hardships and turmoil.
These hardships can cover summoning the strength in the morning to roll out of bed, to muster the energy to continue to sow or plow the fields. The Eighth is not restricted to the commoners either, the upper class of Elven society find ample reason to call forth the inner strength.
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Worship of The Eighth is mostly personal and called upon in times of need. No matter how insignificant or important the task is, that is when Strength is summoned. Over-reliance on The Eighth is often considered bad luck, though this can be offset through acts of generosity for the fellow Elf.
Creating a follower
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The Eighth Cultists have one of the best reputations among the cults of the God Cards. They are generally considered quite generous, and full of energy and optimism. Their general charisma is said to be infectious as they make an art out of inspiring their kin to be greater.
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Eighth Cultists have become more common in the past century than they were previously. Coming to play important roles within the reformed Elven military to inspire and energise their fellow elves to fight with great vigour.
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Followers of The Eighth are notable for their ability to seem entirely fearless, boundless in their courage and limitless in their energy to pursue their goals and persist through hardships. This is the ideal of what they try to be, though many will go through their trials and tribulations to achieve this level of dedication.
IX. The Hermit
God of: Meditation, Curiosity, Spiritual Mastery
Representation
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The Hermit is usually represented as a slender and humbly, comfortably dressed Elven woman. Often times, old symbols will be found around Her, be them of other Gods or with general spiritual meaning. In many ways Her depictions may strike a foreign viewer as underwhelming; She strikes no great poses, wields no terrifying weapons. Most often, She is in a position of rest and meditation.
Cult
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The organised religious groups of The Hermit vary in a few different ways. Some are arguably fickle; they provide places of rest and relaxation, but become more of a social space for the elites, a home away from home, a stylish locale for a season. Generally these are used in an attempt for the rich to appear more in tune with the Gods, and perhaps more wise than they really are.
However, more earnest cults do exist. There is a vast cave network coming off an extremely peaceful lake in the central lands, where carvings of The Hermit have been whittled into the very rock, and the walls themselves have been imbued with aether that flows as pale blue light like ore-veins; brought to life in chiselled symbols that make it possible to see even in the furthest depths of the system. It is not the only place like it, but is certainly the most significant. Aetheric users have been known to attend these peaceful, dedicated places, to take up periods of humble and focussed lives. All energy is spent on self-command and awareness, allowing the follower to truly harness all that their soul is capable of.
In these stricter places, the monks of The Hermit are more than willing to guide people into this quieter lifestyle. Some take vows of silence, or limit how much they can speak in the day. Often times their wardrobes become limited to comfortable, shapeless garments and they don’t own many belongings at all.
Occasionally, one of these hyper-devouts may depart from their monastery to advise and counsel in the upper echelons of Elf society - generally taking a moderate and philosophical stance. In some cases these monks have waned from their simple lives, but most remain dedicated to humility even when working for men who live in towers of gold.
IX. The Hermit
Tenets
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Peace is Silence, Silence is Peace -
Followers of the Hermit strongly believe in the power of internal thought and staying quiet. They believe that by focussing on the inner words of the mind, Elves will find that they have less and less to say, and that every word will matter much more on the wind. They also believe the noise of everyday life is a pollutant to the mind.
Command of the Self -
Self-control is of utmost importance. Practising patience, honesty, strong will and most importantly, self-understanding, are the most important steps in becoming a dedicated devout.
Have Only What You Need -
Much like an aversion to noise, it is considered that other ‘busy’ things are a negative and a weight on the soul. Owning too many belongings, wearing clothes of many different textiles and hoarding money are all considered behaviours that make connecting with the self harder than it needs to be.
Worship
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Worship of the Hermit is quite a private thing, revolving around silence and inward thought. It is said that She blesses the patient with wisdom, by giving them eye-opening thoughts and considerations when they take the time to align with the quiet of the world.
Innately peaceful places are where you will find shrines and the occasional monastery to The Hermit. These are most commonly in caves or on verdant mountains. Running water provides a certain tranquillity and simple flowing fixtures have become common in these places. Often times, they provide a place for people of varied prestige to find refuse and, perhaps most importantly, sanctuary.
There isn’t much ritual or ceremony to the prayer practices for The Hermit at all - most often, all that is required is to sit calmly, close one’s eyes and focus. For some this is harder than others, and not everyone is able to master the self to such an extreme as to truly create inner quiet. It is in those moments that devouts suppose that The Hermit provides the brightest sparks of insight.
It is considered that any self-improvement is, in a manner of speaking, worship of the Hermit. Particularly if self-taught. Because of this, many people will think of Her or emulate the behaviour of Her followers during crucial moments with their work, trade, or during significant milestones in their lives.
Creating a follower
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A follower of The Hermit is likely a disciplined, calm person.
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They are dedicated to self-improvement and skill. This can be martial, civilian or otherwise.
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They may hope to guide others to a life of awareness and tranquillity.
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Twist the lore, making a shallow money-maker with immense spiritual-snobbery!
X. The Wheel
God of: The Flows of Existence, Luck, Fate
Representation
The Wheel of Fortune, often shortened to The Wheel, is a Goddess typically represented as a seamstress. She sits at her spinning wheel and from it, spins the threads of fate. She is often middle-aged or youthful, partially to help Her seem immortal as with many Gods. Sometimes Her imagery is reduced to much more simple wheels, such as a cartwheel, and a humanoid form is often entirely forgone. There is no particular material that her statues and depictions are made out of, so it is likely to vary depending on city, town or village wealth.
Cult
Like some of the other Gods within the Elven Pantheon, The Wheel of Fortune lacks an organised cult and is more sporadically and personally worshipped. For most people She is a lesser part of the Faith, situational, turned to when needed rather than lived-by. But of course, not all; every deity has its devotees.
Cultists of the Wheel often consider themselves agents of fate; guiding things along, making sure that Her weave spins smoothly. Some may argue that this is entirely unnecessary, for who are mortals to help a God, but others see it as their duty and as a form of worship. They may do this by acting as counsel for others, or by turning to fortune-telling in various methods. Fate Cards are a difficult but favoured method of doing so; which involves each God manifested as one of twenty-two Major cards, added to a deck of fifty-six Minor cards. There’s four suits to these, and dozens of meanings, making it a difficult art to master! Some followers may live their day-to-day lives by checking in with these Cards or other fate-telling methods compulsively. More rural followers may turn to throwing bones or rune-stones, or just to flipping coins, to get signs from their Goddess.
A negative result of this is that some Cultists become so reliant on Her guidance, that they cannot make any decisions themselves. This obsessive behaviour has resulted in an association between her and madness. ‘Your wheels have fallen off your cart’, being a phrase that references this in common but low-class Elven parlance.
However, some cultists go far in the opposite way, and develop a strong apathy to life. This is because they believe they have no power over anything, and that their threads are entirely out of their control. They are simply along for the ride, and can do nought but experience what The Wheel intends to offer them.
X. The Wheel of Fortune
Tenets
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There is Always Good To Come -
Though easily flipped, this optimistic idea is a fundamental part of most broad faith in The Wheel.
You Cannot Change Fate -
Also often taken optimistically, though not always, this core point is a mentality that the biggest events in life are pre-determined, and because of that there is little need to simper and worry over them.
Fortune Favours the Bold -
There is an idea that by acting boldly and living an adventurous life, that you are seizing the opportunities that The Wheel has spun for you; those who pursue this paths are considered to be favourites of the Goddess, for She provides them with their thrilling escapades… But also with their disasters, should they misstep.
Worship
The Wheel of Fortune is intrinsic to many areas of Elven life, and therefore oftentimes referenced casually. Ups and downs, ebbs and flows. Many find solace in the steady, calm inevitability of change - something that only She provides, where other Gods such as The Tower present change as something rapid and harsh. The turning of the wheel also optimistically implies that even if things are going badly now, they shall go well later; a humble comfort for many people.
Wheels have become synonymous with luck, but so too have garments. Many Elves will have a lucky dress or coat, and symbols of the Wheel are very common in tailoring shops. It is even said that the occasional aetheric item, with magic sewn into its very seams, has been created at the hands of this Goddess. In most cases however, this turns out to be inflated folly - but that does not stop Elven Houses from actively pursuing these myths and sending adventurers out into the world to find things!
Often in rebellion or opposition to the notions of this Goddess, some Elves may refer to ‘breaking the wheel’ to change their fate; usually followed by acting out of the ordinary and spontaneously choosing a new path in life, believing they have subverted the effects of The Wheel’s threads. Whether or not Her divine weave can actually be escaped however.. Is a debate for the philosophers.
Creating a follower
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Followers of the Wheel are oftentimes optimistic, but place heavy stress upon the future rather than the now.
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A devoted character may be adventurous, over-confident, and enjoy games of luck
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They could be a seamstress, who claims to make lucky garments
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You could focus on the other side of the coin; become anxious and fearful of every turn, often times checking on signs and omens for comfort!
Author: Oakbug & Hokan
Page Created by: Hokan