Rise (War Witch Book 1)
Page 64
Tempess' symbol is the arrow, representing her swift and direct manner in dealing with enemies. She barely has a priesthood among the surface-dwelling races, but the very few who do adhere to her wear a blue sash with red trim or tassels. Her symbol is almost never worn by any, though.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Tempess is The Manifold Attack. This deadly Gift grants the Blessed the ability to attack as if they had more than two arms. Those who have witnessed use of the Gift claim the Blessed moved with blinding speed, striking their foe in a blur of motion, overwhelming them in seconds. Blessed of Ramor and Tempess can often be found working together.
Her Divine Mark is The Octopus.
Aranix
The Whale God of purification and clean water.
Born after the arrival of the Demon Gods, Aranix purifies where they’ve been, making what was unclean, clean once more. Mighty, steadfast, stoic and persistent, he moves with a steady determination, letting nothing stop him from attaining his goals. He has sworn to never rest until the very last taint of Demon Corruption has been purged from the world. Though he’s a young God, he has quickly become the backbone of the High World, protecting it relentlessly and supporting the others with his unflagging might.
His symbol is the gourd, from which his purified water may be sipped. He has many priests among the surface dwellers, and they wear a blue sash with white trim or tassels. Very few wear his symbol as an adornment, though, seeing such as a waste of time in light of the rapid spread of corruption.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Aranix is Purge Corruption. Perhaps the single most powerful Divine Gift there is, this allows Blessed to do what they were created to do. By using this Gift, the Blessed literally removes Demon Corruption from the Middle World, eradicating it from people, places and things and destroying it.
His Divine Mark is The Whale.
The Night Gods
THE NIGHT GODS watch over and protect the Middle World by night, in the shadows and dark places, keeping them free of Corruption. In the High World, they rule over the lands of Night and Death and are forces of renewal, rebirth, death, and protective darkness.
The mark of the Night Gods can always be found on the palm of the left hand of those whom they Bless. This is done so that their agents may act in secrecy, as is the way of the Night Gods.
Terakus
The Crocodile Goddess of Death.
She is unchanging and unrelenting in her duties, clearing away the old and unfit to make way for the new. While many live in fear of her and the other Night Gods, there’s no need. Terakus isn’t unfeeling, merely efficient. She cares greatly for the comfort of those she tends to, and while an easy death isn’t always possible, she seeks to make their passage to the lands of the dead as far from frightful as she can. Needless to say, the corrupted she claims do not receive such kind treatment.
She is most commonly depicted as a woman with the head and scales of a crocodile, wearing a black robe. Some depictions show her as a green-haired woman with the scales of a crocodile, garbed in black, and standing in a long boat.
Her symbol is a crescent, standing for both the scythe and the crescent moon, both symbols of old age and passage into the twilight. Her priests wear a sash of black to symbolize these things as well, and almost always wear her symbol as an earring.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Terakus is Soul Walk. This Gift grants its wielder the uncanny ability to leave their body and become an incorporeal being. Though it’s a strange Gift from the Death Goddess, it makes for excellent spies among the Blessed.
Her Divine Mark is the Crocodile Tail.
Zastra
The Black Jaguar Goddess who rules over the afterlife.
After being judged by Garrius, souls of the dead are sent to Zastra, who makes the final determination as to where they go for eternity: Paradise, Forsaken, Ravage, or reincarnation. She stands guard over the doors of the three afterlife realms and it is she alone who keeps the balance between life and death, and holds separate the lands of the living and the realms of the dead.
Zastra is most often depicted as a woman with a black jaguar’s head, seated on an ebony throne, with three doors arrayed behind her. Other depictions show her as a beautiful were-jaguar woman clad in white, hands resting on two pillars, one white, the other black.
Her symbol is the triple pillar, two on the bottom and one atop them. It represents the three worlds she holds domain over. Her priests usually wear a black sash with red trim or tassels, and even more commonly, her symbol as some form of adornment, usually a pendant.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Zastra is See the True Soul. This potent Gift grants the Blessed the ability to see into a person’s soul. It reveals to them the true nature of the person they face, their past deeds, and any Corruption they may find there. It is especially potent for seeing past the illusions of such Demons as Succubi, Incubi and Doppelgangers, revealing these monsters for what they truly are.
Her Divine Mark is Leaping Jaguar.
Morobon
The Lion-headed berserker God. Father of Ogres.
The destroyer of evil, chief Lieutenant of Ramor, and slayer of Demon Seed. Morobon is the master of ruthless combat, the arts of fighting Ramor is too honorable to employ. His entire existence has been turned to nothing less than the absolute destruction of the Demon Gods and their minions. He is ruthless, unforgiving, and unstoppable. With his own, he is hard, but affectionate, knowing that true strength is tempered by love.
After the betrayal of Ker Zet, Morobon was adamant in his belief she and her brood would be a problem, a fact that came to pass quickly. In his foresight, he brought to life the Ogres, giving them the essence of badgers and wolverines, crafting them to be the ultimate weapon against the Demon Seed. A race born and bred for war against evil. They are, in every way, his children.
Morobon is most often depicted as a lion-headed man in gold armor, wielding a double headed battle-axe. Other depictions show him being more like a were-lion, but still in the golden armor and carrying the battle-axe. At least one depiction shows him seated on a throne carved from the bones of the Demon Seed he has slain.
His symbol is the double headed battle-axe, his favored weapon. Like Ramor, he rarely has priests, but those who do adhere to his strict codes often wear a black sash with orange trim or tassels. It is more common for them to wear his symbol carved into their armor or the handle of their weapons.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Morobon is Rage. When this gift is used, the Blessed becomes a nigh unstoppable killing machine. Filled with Divine Rage, they know no pain, become stronger, and seem impervious to any form of mystical attack. The powers of the Demon Seed fail to affect a Blessed in Rage, making Morobon's more feared on the battlefield than even Ramor's own.
His Divine Mark is The Lion Head.
Neglis
The Bat Goddess of night, shadows, and protection over those in these places.
While she may seem fearsome to many, she is a silent Goddess, moving through her realm with only a whisper, looking over those who may be trapped or alone in the night and dark, keeping them safe from the Demon Seed until Grannax once again lays his eyes upon them. A very misunderstood and mysterious Goddess, Neglis receives little trust from most people, who do not understand her place in things. The coming of the Demon Seed have caused them to forget the cool comfort of the night, and the safety and sanctuary it once held.
Neglis is most often depicted as a hag with leathery bat wings hanging from under her arms. Rare depictions show her as a woman of stunning beauty with graceful wings stretching from her arms to her body as she reaches for the full moon above her.
Her symbol resembles a triangle with no bottom, and represents both the veil of night and Neglis reaching upward, her wings swept down. Her priests, those few who actually adhere to her, wear a black sash with silver trim or tassels, representing that without the night, Isel could not be seen in the sky. Most w
ear her symbol as some form of adornment.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Neglis is Cast the Shadows. With this terrifying Gift, the Blessed takes back the night from the Demon Seed. Invoking this Gift grants the Blessed the ability to manipulate, control, and even create shadows, giving them solid forms and making them unstoppable fighting forces.
Her Divine Mark is The Bat.
Garrius
The eagle-headed father of humanity and judge of the dead.
Once a Sky God, Garrius took on the judging of the souls of the dead, making him a Night God. It is he who examines the lives of the dead and decides if they are fit to stand before Zastra. The Judgment Hall is where he reigns supreme, and receives the souls of the dead. Many who come before him receive instant judgment, passing on to Zastra, for their lives left little in the way of debate. It is said that he holds a mystical scroll that will tell him the deeds of whoever stands before him, and it is from this that he reads when pronouncing judgment.
Garrius is most often depicted as an eagle-headed man seated upon a basalt throne, holding a great scroll. Other depictions show him as an eagle, sweeping down upon the unjust while showing the worthy the way to Paradise.
His symbol is the three-taloned eagle claw, representing truth, justice, and fairness. His priests wear a gray sash to represent his conflict between both the Sky and the Night pantheons to which he once belonged. They will often wear his symbol as a necklace.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Garrius is Soul Rend. Garrius grants his Blessed the powerful ability to deal Soul Damage to the Demon Seed, attacking them on a spiritual level, and damaging them from a distance. It can also be used to send dying friends painlessly on to Zastra, making it an extra Blessing.
His Divine Mark is The Eagle Head.
Mercinon
The Coyote God of sleep and dreams.
It was not until the coming of the Demon Gods that nightmares came to exist, and with them, a piece of Mercinon's once peaceful domain was forever corrupted. He has not forgotten, or forgiven this fact and is one of the most ardent voices in the call for the destruction of the Dark Ones. Mercurial and mysterious, he often speaks in riddles and nothing is ever what it seems where he is concerned. Often, even the other Gods find it difficult to understand Mercinon. The Demon Gods on the other hand, understand him quiet well, for with them he speaks only the language of revenge.
Mercinon is most often depicted as a coyote wearing multicolored robes, though other depictions show him as a man with a coyote’s head contemplating the stars. One other depiction shows him as a coyote with a paw resting in a pool that reflects all things there are.
His symbol is a hook-ended staff, meant to represent the power of dreams, though no one knows how or why. The few priests who find their calling with him wear a black sash with green trim or tassels. Some wear his symbol as adornment, but many more actually carry a hook-ended staff.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Mercinon is Dream Form. This awesome Gift transforms the Blessed into a fearful fighting force. Upon being Blessed, the Dream Form is constructed in the subconscious mind. When the Gift is called upon, the Blessed physically transforms into their Dream Form. Trolls, Giants, Dragons, and stranger things have been seen come from use of this Gift, all of which lay waste to the Demon Seed.
His Divine Mark is The Coyote Paw.
The Lesser Gods
THE LESSER GODS care after many things, things that the other Gods do not cover. While they may not have as many adherents, they are important never the less, and fill roles other Gods cannot.
The mark of the Lesser Gods can always be found on the back of the left hand of those whom they bless. Their reason for placing it there is unknown, and in keeping with the mystery of the Lesser Gods.
Agrid
The Cow Goddess of trade and commerce.
It was Agrid who first created money and taught the races how to use the market for selling and trading. At the time, it was meant as a way to get back for what you had put out, but since then, she has wondered if she may have helped create greed, lowering her status from Earth God to Lesser God. Regardless, the damage has been done, and Agrid attempts to control it to the best of her ability, laying out laws for fair trade and honest business dealings. Her father, Hepheron, would have it no other way.
She is most often depicted as a woman with the head of a cow, though other depictions show her as a woman riding a cow. There are rumors she was a mortal woman who was adopted by Hepheron, but these are only rumors.
Her symbol is the coin. Like many of the Lesser Gods, she has no priesthood, only merchants.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Agrid is Know the Value. This bizarre Divine Gift grants the Blessed the ability to know the actual value of anything they look upon, including people. While this may make little use in a battle, Blessed of Agrid have truly found their place among the markets, stopping the slow spread of Demon Corruption in the economy, and working as equipment managers for teams of Blessed.
Her Divine Mark is The Cow Head.
Velli
The Rat God. Messenger of the Gods.
It is Velli to whom the most important of messages are trusted, for he is swift and knows the ways of the Shadow Realms better than any. However, because he is also the patron God to thieves, he has lost his place as a Sky God. A sly and devious God, he is quick with his feet and even quicker with his wits. He became associated with rogues long ago, during the Second Age, when Borona, a rogue in the employ of Emperor Cynthanis, started keeping a pet rat. Since then, all rogues have attempted to live up to this great legend, and Velli has suffered the consequences.
He is most often depicted as a slender man in black with the head of a rat. Other depictions show him as a rat that walks as a man, sneaking in the darkness. One depiction that has survived since the Second Age shows him as a hooded figure, astride a great rat, carrying a satchel with the seal of the Golden Empire on it.
His symbol is the dagger, favored weapon of rogues and scoundrels everywhere. Velli has no priesthood, for he has the rogues.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Velli is Incorporeal. It actually provides the Blessed with the ability to become incorporeal, passing through whatever they wish. It only lasts for a moment however, unless they are still inside something, making it weak in battle, but immensely useful for getting into and out of places unseen.
His Divine Mark is The Rat Head.
Daphus
The deer-headed God of the hunt, men, and fertility.
Once an Earth God, Daphus fell in status after the coming of the Demon Gods and the invention of rape. As the forested places are cut down in favor of cities and traps are used to capture animals rather than hunting, he continues to sink more and more into the status of Lesser God. The hardest part about all of this is that Daphus is truly an honorable deity, seeking only goodness in all things. Regardless, he is still called upon by many farmers for good crops.
Daphus is most often depicted as a powerfully built man with the antlers of a deer. Other depictions include a deer-headed man holding a bow and arrow.
His symbol is the antlers. Like many of the Lesser Gods, he has no priesthood, though he once did. In their time, they wore green sashes with black trim or tassels, symbolic of their respect for the animals who died to feed the people.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Daphus is Endless Trail. This Divine Gift ensures no Demon Seed will ever escape. By using it, the Blessed may track their prey over any form of terrain, even water, regardless of weather or passage of time, making them truly formidable members of any Blessed team.
His Divine Mark is The Deer Head.
Rialda
Crow Goddess, grandmother of creation, the First God, patron of wealth, luck, and fortune.
While many think Rialda should be a Sky Goddess, it is her long absence from the World and its occupants that make her a Lesser God. The races are still getting used to her havi
ng returned and while they consider it fortunate, they remain uncertain as to where she has been. Rialda seems unlikely to speak much on the matter, focusing her considerable intellect and power on cleaning up the mess her unruly children have made.
Few depictions remain of Rialda, her long absence from the Gods having cost her many faithful adherents. Those that do exist however, show her as a crow-headed woman in black, or a raven-haired beauty wearing a cloak of crow feathers.
Her symbol is the wheel. She is the beginning and many feel, the end as well. She has few priests at this time, the order only now beginning to grow, but they are easily distinguished by the gold sash they wear, representing the good fortune their Goddess brings.
The Divine Gift bestowed upon Blessed of Rialda is Blessing of Luck. This Divine Gift makes her Blessed everyone's best friend. The Blessed becomes extraordinarily lucky. Their opponents trip and fall in battle, blocked passages are opened by accident, and any number of other events transpire that give them a strange, and fortunate, edge in the war with the Demon Gods.
Her Divine Mark is The Crow Head.
Gol Mok
The Ram God of earthquakes and mountains.
Originally an Earth God, Gol Mok fell in status as more and more cities were built and then crumbled by the pounding of his hooves. Except for fear that he would open the maw of the World to swallow all of the races, worship of him would cease entirely. Gol Mok cares little for this, actually, and has long held that the races of the World would only bring about the downfall of the Gods. Regardless, he is a pragmatic deity, and knows that the box, once opened, cannot be closed again. Therefore, he is attempting to do what little he can to build trust between himself and the races of the World, if only to stop the Demon Gods from destroying all there is. Gol Mok, a force of change and upheaval, recognizes the Demon Gods as stagnation and ruin, and as such, is vehemently against their continued existence.