City of the Gods - Starybogow

by Rospond, Brandon; Kostka, Jan; Werner, CL

  -Old Gods. These deities of legend are worshiped by the Slavic people and, for the most part, wish to see humanity thrive. These beings come in many shapes, sizes, forms, and varying allegiances. Even though there are deities of great power and reputation, such as Perun and Triglav, many minor creatures fall under this category as well, such as the leshiye, the vampyrs, the topielec, etc. The Slavic people worship the Old Gods with statues and totems, and occasionally there are those cults who perform in the dark rites of sacrifices. The gods do not solely represent power, but some represent the elements and everyday aspects of life such as good harvest and household environment. After having escaped the Void, they live in a variety of areas; some underground in labyrinthine caves and tunnels and many in sacred forest groves.

  -Romani. Mystic free people that roam the land, swearing no allegiance to any group. They do not really care what happens in the war between the Eldar and the Old Gods, but for whatever reason they try to keep the war ongoing; what stake they have in it is a mystery. The allegiance of many cannot be assured because it changes as each side pulls more victories in the ongoing war.

  -Servitors. These nightmarish creatures make up the main force of the Eldar Gods that walk the land. As if born from the very depths of the ocean floor, these creatures have the body shape of ordinary men, but they have gained attributes of sea-dwelling creatures such as the carapace of crabs, their garbs decorated with dried-up starfish and cracked shells, their hair resembling seaweed, and the tell-tale look of tentacles granted by the Eldar Gods. Having lost so much of their humanity, they cannot speak the tongue of regular people, but instead their words come out gargled, as if every word was drowned out by water. They travel primarily by water, but when they walk the land, they do in the dark of night, trying to abduct children and convert adults with a trance-like madness.

  -The Slavic People. The majority of people that reside in Central and Eastern Europe in the 1500’s; along with the Prus, Lithuanians, Margyars, and Tartars. The Slavs are divided in Czechs, Poles, Ukrainians, Belrus, and Russians, but they all share a common heritage. They struggle to exist in a land where Christianity threatens to overwhelm and destroy those that do not believe. They worship the many different Old Gods, comparable to that of the Greek gods, while Starybogow is similar to that of the Pantheon. In Poland-Lithuania they are led by Alexander Jagellonian; in the countryside they live primarily in swamps and woodlands where they protect the remnants of their statues and idols.

  -Teutonic Knights. The strong-arm of the Church, the Teutonic Knights were founded in the Holy Land along with the Holy Orders. After the bloody massacre of the Knights Templar, they became the preeminent military order of the Church. They cleave across the land with their bloodstained weapons, murdering all that do not serve in the name of God. Once seen as knights of Christianity and having model faith, the Slavic people know the truth; most within the order are minions of the Eldar Gods, which explains their unadulterated, relentless violence. Whether the Church is aware of this connection or they believe it to be superstition created by the heathens, they still support the knights and send them to carry out their will where they need it.

  Appendix II: Bestiary

  Kikikora

  by Ivan Bilibin, 1934

  -blud. An ethereal spirit who does not walk on ground but instead seems to levitate or fly. It can completely pass through a human body, and in doing so it causes the target to become extremely disorientated; this can result in complete loss of senses, vomiting, and unconsciousness. It is unknown why the blud spirits are able to do this, but they seem to have some control over their ability, as they tend to work with Slavic people.

  -bukavac. While most of the spirits of the Old Gods are small or human-like in appearance, this beast towers above the rest. While not many have been known to exist, these blind beasts hunt by scent and are usually kept in check with a paste made by Slavic priests. Only the most skilled tribesmen can train them, and even at that, several have been known to lose their lives from beast-related accidents. Bukavacs prowl around with six legs, ending in sickle-like claws; a horror only matched by the curled horns around their milky-white blinded eyes, or their thick knob-like tail. They are notoriously resilient and it would take a number of the most skilled Teutonic Knights to slay a mature bukavac.

  -domovoi / kikimora. Male and female house spirits, respectively. These spirits act as servants or friends to the houses that they inhabit. Much like with any spirit, they have their own personalities and thus each and every one is unique and different. However, as different as they might act, they are always characterized by their short and hairy appearances.

  -drekavac. During a time when Christianity is the prevailing religion, one must wonder what happens to those that do not get baptized. Those bodies become the minions of one of the darker Old Gods and get converted into the spirits known as drekavacs. Usually, a drekevac stays hidden in darkness until it can group up with others of its kind, and then one takes over as the leader of the group, directing the others almost like puppets. Depending on how long the body has decayed before being taken over as a drekavac can have varying results on the appearance. Fresher drekavac have most of their flesh intact and can take on a hideous yet translucent look; yet those that have been decaying for a while can end up being naught more but bones. When they find a target to strike upon, they usually shout to be baptized. There are various ways to dispose of a drekavac, but one of the surest is by holy light, namely from a cross.

  -karzełek. The creation of the labyrinth of extensive underground tunnels can be attributed to the race known as the karzełeks. These beings are probably the most similar to that of the human race, as they appear to be simply shorter and often times hairier. Why they remain underground seems to be a mystery to the rest of the spiritual world, but regardless they are more skilled builders and tinkerers than any human – and there are rumors they are such master brewers that one sip of their ale would send a human into a coma.

  -leshy. One of the most benevolent minions of the Old Gods, these forest-dwelling creatures’ main goals are to preserve humanity and the woods of the world. It is hard to tell the difference between a leshy and an ordinary tree when one is standing still. When they are in their natural form, their bodies look completely made out of wood and their limbs like branches. However, as guardians of the mortal realm, they have been given the power to transform their appearance into that of humans when they desire in order to blend in to the world around them – mostly though when they do this, it is in the guise of monks. Being the primary minions of Old Gods such as the like of Perun, they are friend to all those of the Slavic faith; however, that is not always the case to others. They watch vigilantly as those of the new world pass through their forests, ever ready to strike them down should they attempt to sow seeds of destruction.

  -polevik. Polevik are often times called simply ‘strawmen’, because they take the guise of scarecrows in fields. They are usually not aggressive, but unintentionally scare mortals when they are caught moving about. Their main purpose is generally to be another way for the Old Gods to know what goes on outside of the world of Starybogow, as polevik send messages back to the city through crows.

  -rusalka / topielec. When a person dies within any body of water, their body is claimed by one of the darker Old Gods. The minion that then rises again from the dead is what is known as a topielec or a rusalka, depending on their gender – male and female respectively. While these creatures might seem similar to the Servitors, they are starkly different. The creatures wear the clothing they once did when living, their eyes are bulging black orbs devoid of life, and while they cannot speak, they shamble on without the conscious thought or will they once had. The main difference between the two genders is that rusalkas usually retain some coherency when they become spirits and tend to lead groups of topielecs. Topielecs will generally attack anything that they come across, but under the guide of a rusalka they can be a bit more controlled. Because of this,
sometimes their dark master can transform rusalkas to resemble mermaids.

  -sirin. Stalwart guardians of treasure, dangerously luring men to their deaths at sea, or even as simple as mischievous fiends, these female spirits harbor a number of different agendas. Their bottom half is completely avian; they are completely feathered with wings to match. From the upper half of the breasts up, the form is completely human; the feathers give way to voluptuous, flowing hair. Sirins are one of many different kinds of spirits that can change their appearance. They are constantly transforming their human halfs to epitomize what is considered beauty. Their femininity is not to be undermined – they have the ability to enrapture men in a song that seizes their senses. Many sailors have been known to crash into land or others have been known to slit their throats beyond all control, upon hearing such songs.

  -skrzak. Since the earthquakes that have released the gods from the Void, many underground labyrinthine mazes have come to exist. One of the many inhabitants of these tunnels are the skrzaks. Living primarily in dark, high ceiling enclosures, these creatures attack trespassers without mercy. If their target was able to avoid the razor sharp fangs and claws, the maniacal laugh that these imps emit would instead drive a man mad. Their pursuit is relentless and their cackling consistent. These small creatures tend to have human-like appearances, even though their flesh is purplish-black, and they rarely walk but instead fly on the large wings on their backs.

  -vampyr. Legend would say that the vampyrs are creatures that only come out at night – but that is but a myth. Vampyrs stalk at night primarily because it is easier for them to hunt their prey. There are many different kinds of vampyrs, but the majority of them are thin, spindly creatures with gaunt features, pale skin, and long hair. While there are those that let their appearances whither to horrible monstrosities, there are also vampyrs that are more refined and treasure and maintain their good looks. Some myths that have trickled down through time have proven accurate, such as the bloodsucking monstrosities able to change form, but even that is slightly incorrect. Myth would have people believe that the vampyrs can only change to a bat, but they can transform into any dark creature they have a mystic pact with, such as even a hound.

  -vucari. Once mortal people, vucari have been afflicted with a curse, whether cast upon them or inherited through their bloodline, that forces them to transform into a beast. There have been myths that this is upon the first full moonlight, but there are actually any number of reasons why a vucari’s transformation is triggered. The creature that the individual becomes is more wolf than human; the only remaining feature being the ability to stand on two legs if they wish. The degree of humanity loss depends on how advanced the vucari’s transformation is. Some transform for only short amounts of time with no control or recognition of human functions; some can change at will and retain full sense of who they once were but perhaps lose the ability to talk; others have fully given in to their bestial side and remain in vucari form permanently but still speak and function as humans would.

  -wodnik. A male water spirit said to appear as a naked old man with a frog-like face, with his body covered in algae and muck, usually covered in black fish scales. He has webbed paws instead of hands, a fish’s tail, and eyes that burn like red-hot coals. He usually rides along his river on a half-sunk log, making loud splashes. Consequently, he is often dubbed “grandfather” or “forefather” by the local people. Local drownings are said to be the work of the wodnik. When angered, they breaks dams, washes down water mills, and drowns people and animals. (Consequently, fishermen, millers, and also bee-keepers make sacrifices to appease him.). He would drag down people to his underwater dwelling to serve him as slaves.

  Appendix III:

  Dramatis Personae

  Alexander Jagellion, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania,

  Contemporarry engraving, 1521

  -Alexander I Jagellonian. King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, he resides in the latter territory. He does not directly support the Old Gods because he cannot of his position, but he does indirectly through the Slavic people. His army is stronger than the Teutonic Knights and thus after beating them in war, they leave him alone for the most part even though they are enemies.

  -Baba Yaga. A witch who has some minor control over the darker spirits but also respects the rule of Perun. When she involves herself in the works of humans, it is usually to sow chaos. Sometimes, she even lets them think they have slain her so that she may slip away for some time. She travels in a house that gets up to move on bird-like legs each night.

  -Grandmaster Frederick von Sachsen. The Grandmaster of the Teutonic Knights. He works directly with the Servitors and is one of the most influenced humans by the Eldar Gods. Slowly, his whole beard has been replaced by tentacles, and to conceal it he wears a fake one. Even though he works with the Christians, his main goal is to use the Teutonic Knights to bring the Eldar Gods back to their true power.

  -Mytiaz. One of Perun’s close advisors. He changes colors based on his mood; optimistic yellow-white to sullen red-purple, and a myriad of colors in between.

  -Perun. In the Old God hierarchy, certain gods have more power and thus hold command over other gods. The highest and most powerful one is Perun – the god of lightning. He has always seen humanity as being necessary to exist alongside them, and thus fights against the Eldar Gods to preserve them. Even though the war of the gods has gone on for many years, it came to a point where Perun saw the only way to end it was to seal the Eldar Gods away; but in doing so, he ended up sealing the Old Gods away as well. Now, free again from the prison he placed himself in, he looks to reclaim his place in a world that has changed.

  -Polunocnica. Also known as Lady Midnight. She is one of the darker spirits of the Old Gods who roams the night, mischievously terrorizing children.

  -Pscipolnitsa. Also known as Lady Midday. She is one of the darker spirits of the Old Gods who roams fields during the day and mischievously causes heat stroke to farmers.

  -Tłun. One of Perun’s closes advisors. His prowess in battle is only matched by his flair for style; he usually wears elegant clothes and keeps his bushy blond beard and mustache well styled. Now that he is free of the Void, an aura of power has returned around his body and his axe glows with strength.

  -Triglav. For every casualty of war, for every man slain on the field of battle, for every victory won by the forces of the Slavic people, Triglav grows stronger. Known commonly as the God of War, Triglav has not one head, but three; the left is a ram, the middle a lion, and the right a dragon. Having fought hard against the forces of the Eldar Gods, he objected profusely when Perun decided to seal them in the Void. However, freedom is not what he expected, as when he awoke it was in a mortal form with only one head, his memories gone.

  Appendix IV:

  Concepts

  Rusalka

  by Ivan Bilibin, 1934

  -Amber. Common along the Baltic Coast, this gem has been found to fight the effects of the Eldar Gods and even stunt some of the powers of the darker Old Gods. Because of this, Alexander Jagellonian has made sure to hoard the material so that his agents are always protected.

  -Enthralled by the Eldars. Even though the Eldar Gods want to replace humanity, they are not foolish as to the potential that they hold. They send their Servitors out to try and enthrall new warriors to their ranks, and those that do not join perish by the blade. Amongst their enthralled are the Teutonic Knights, and in particular, Grandmaster Frederick. Signs of enthrallment include almonding of the eyes, elongated hands and head, and tentacles.

  -Fools. Fools, jesters, funny men – whatever they are to be called, they are the key to channeling the powers of the Old Gods and innately powerful beings. Regular mortals cannot hear the whispers of power from the gods, but the fools, whose minds are clear from all other things, are keen to listen to what the gods ask of them. Because of this, they can channel magic that normal human beings cannot.

  -Silver. While amber might stop
some dark powers of the gods, silver can completely destroy a force of spiritual nature. It does not have much effect on the benevolent spirits, and there are those that completely are immune to the silver’s destructive powers, but it is the more common and effective way to combat the spirits.

  -The Void. A realm between the living and the dead where no time passes. There is nothing to see and nothing to do in the Void. It is simply the absence of existence where life is imprisoned so that it might not take place in the world of the living. The Void cannot be exited from within, but requires a great amount of magical power from without to free the trapped souls.

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