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Home Page > GM's Guide > Gazetteer > Religion > Skoja Pantheon |
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Religion - Skoja PantheonHistoryIn the Elder Days, there was the Oerind, and the Oerind guided the Earth and its creations. Now, at this time, the Earth was new, and its creatures powerful. Most powerful among these were the great Wyrms: Eharinjar, dragon of the Earth, Feyrin, dragon of the rivers, Ypyren, dragon of flames and Selindor, dragon of storms. The Oerind, wary of the power of these great beasts, called into being those who came to be known as the Erion, or Elder Gods. First was born Skaji, to combat the drakes, then Gurdi, to protect the land, Hon, creator of weaponry, was next, and finally, Kyataleen, the Maker of Ways, to guide the gods in their struggle. Then the Oerind with his Erion did wage war upon the Wyrms, driving them always away, but unable to fully defeat them. During these combats, the earth as it is today was formed. Feyrin's tail lashed great streams into the ground, Ypyren's wrath blasted fire from the Earth, creating volcanoes, and Eharinjar clawed the soil, forming huge cliffs and canyons. It was during one such combat that Skaji was mauled. If not for the valiant efforts of Gurdi, he would have fallen, and returned to the void. He was saved, however, and, in thanks, took Gurdi to wife, and she bore a son, Thurin, who sprang full-grown from her womb. During this time as well, the other two Erion, Hon and Kyataleen, had a daughter, Reelas, who was also an adult at birth. These two were called the Orion, or Younger Gods. However, Reelas was reckless, and she, taking a Dragonbane weapon from the forge of Hon, set forth on her own to trap and slay a dragon. And, though her plan in great part succeeded, she had underestimated the Eharinjar's strength, and he bit her right arm from her shoulder. In shock and in pain, she could do nothing as the drake prepared to finish her, and were it not for the other gods' arrival, she would have met her end. However, due to the hasty nature of the gods' departure, they were not fully ready to fight a battle here, and as such were fatally surprised by the arrival of the other three Wyrms. They fought mightily, but the Oerind was destroyed by the drakes nonetheless. As a last attempt to preserve its powers, the Oerind transferred much of itself to the closest of the gods, which happened to be Thurin. Before it could complete the transfer, the four drakes fell upon and devoured it. Bereft of a leader, the gods retreated, bringing with them the now catatonic Thurin. For the next century, the gods fought a holding action against the dragons. When Thurin awoke, 100 years after the fateful loss, he was significantly changed. His hair had become stark white and his bearing commanding. Under his leadership, the gods finally defeated the great drakes and, unable to destroy them, imprisoned them in the Earth. Eharinjar becoming the mountains, Feyrin the ocean, Ypyren the central lava core of the Earth and Selindor the sky. The gods stand on watch, that the Wyrms might never break free. Skaji created the Skoja to reinforce the gods, should the Wyrms ever awaken and break free. The ErionSkaji - God of Raiding, War & SurvivalDomains: War, Destruction, Luck First-born of the void, Skoja was brutally mauled in the Drakanic War. He prunes his chosen people, the Skoja, of weaklings by sending them in raids against the sheep-like settled humans. He admires bravery and skill in battle, and gives support to those suffering near-death wounds. He has stiff, blonde hair and a long beard and moustache. He wears a long shirt of fine chain-mail and is depicted holding a weapon of war, though never a shield. His chosen weapon is the greatsword, and possible avatars include snow lions and ice hawks. His holy symbol is a shattered sword dripping blood. Treeborn - The Treeborn are a cadre of warriors formed from wood and animated by the souls chosen by Skaji as the greatest of the Skoja warriors who fell in battle. It is thought to be the greatest honor available in the afterlife and thus a glorious death in combat is sought by all Skoja. The Treeborn stand in wait for the eventuality of the Wyrms' awakening. Gurdi - Goddess of Fishing, Brewing, Hearth and HomeDomains: Fire, Healing, Plant Second-born of the Erion, Gurdi saved Skaji from death in the Drakanic war. She is a bustling, matronly woman, who has a hidden streak of jocularity. She aids the Skoja in providing food and is often prayed to regarding pregnancies. She has long, black hair, usually tangled and snarled. She wears a shirt splattered with food and ale stains and an ever constant grin. She is usually depicted holding both a tankard and a harpoon. Her slightly off-color humor occasionally makes her the butt of criticism by her husband, Skaji. Her chosen weapon is the harpoon, and possible avatars include the dolphin and the elk. Hon - God of Smithing, Music and MagicDomains: Earth, Magic, War Third-born of the Oerind, Hon forged the gods' weapons and aided them with his magic in the Drakanic war, though he did not physically participate. For this he is often considered something of a coward by Skaji, though he is too thankful for the help Hon did provide to say so. Hon is a gruff, burly man with a bristling black beard and no other hair. He is often soot-encrusted and wears his smithy apron everywhere. His chosen weapon is the warhammer, because it is closest to his smithy's hammer, and his avatar is almost invariably an arctic fox. The Dragonbane Weapons - During the Drakanian War, Hon forged each of the gods a weapon of their choice and imbued them with many enchantments and runes of power. During the war, all but one of these weapons was lost, and the gods still search for them today. Kyataleen - Goddess of the Sea, Ice, Glaciers and SailingDomains: Luck, Travel, Water Last of the Erion, Kyataleen was the scout during the Drakanic wars. She devised ambushes, and determined ways of traversing stretches of difficult terrain more easily. She invented sailing after watching an iceberg moving under the power of the wind. She is a grim and foreboding woman, with white blond hair and an icy pale blue eyes. Her weapon is the bow, and some of her avatars are the leopard seal, polar bear, and skua gull. The OrionThurin - God of Knowledge, Lordship and MightDomains: Knowledge, Law, Strength Originally the son of Skaji and Gurdi, Thurin became much more when he absorbed in great part, the essence of the Oerind. His entire bearing changed, and he took over command of the gods in their war. In deference to the spirit which partially resides within him, the other gods usually defer to his judgment. He was originally the god of single combat, but this was in great part over-ridden when he absorbed the Oerind. However, many warriors still offer him their prayers before entering a duel. Thurin has pure white hair, a lordly bearing and a muscular figure. He wields a bastard sword and a shield and his avatars include the albatross and the orca. Reelas - Goddess of Revenge, Justice and DeathDomains: Death, Law, Luck The daughter of Hon and Kyataleen, Reelas foolhardily set out to trap a great Wyrm on her own, and lost her arm during the struggle. She now has a very bitter, cautious outlook on life and has no patience with fools of any kind. Reelas has bright red hair, a sneering face and a slightly stooped posture. She is missing her right arm, and in the other carries the only remaining Dragonbane weapon, the shortspear Narwhal's Horn. Her avatars can be animals of any kind, but no matter which form she takes, they all lack a limb or fin.
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