Post by Oniryukain on May 6, 2009 22:14:37 GMT -5
The Deities of Westeroes
[/size] [/color] A Work in Progress
[/i][/center]Magic
Cerropharism, the faith of the deity Neeja[/i][/size]
Neeja is the deity of magic, he who represents all that is mystic and the light of the flame that keeps what should not be within the realms of darkness. Through his teachings the comprehension of magic is made apparent but within these lessons are examples of how boundless the power of magic really is and why it must be used with care. The first of the siblings to become a god but the first to enter a period of slumber, but only after a fierce battle to keep magic from dying again or being taken over. The deity Neeja is known to take on upwards of four appearances, though some claim he takes on many more but few are as common as these four.
The first of the forms is nearly that of his former mortal self, though with some “improvements” as he would say – a man with long silver hair, to about his mid-back, wearing a loose fitting medium-dark azure robe that has accents of silver laced about it, though under these robes his body is covered in a deep blue and silver colored tattoos that when viewed as a whole seem to blend together to form a giant flame but individually they appear very tribal-like. This is his most Human looking form, as it was once Human (in a sense), and he appears in this form the most, communicating with those who call upon him, when he is moved to answer them, and with his own kin in places of peace. He will often be seen walking about the Plains of Ash, in this form, helping lead people to safety or to what they seek.
His second form is the one many call either “Cerro” or “The Wanderer,” as it appears only within the realms of The Plains of Ash and usually only when death is coming for the one seeing him, often he is accompanied by a pair of monstrous wolf-like creatures known as Yagora. Cerro is a very tall but thin Humanoid, with gangly arms whose wrists hang pass his knees, he moves with unnatural quickness and is hard to watch his movements due to his strange body movement. He has his face masked, the mask only has a right eye slot and otherwise featureless and appears to be crafted from some of black metal which draws the attention of any looking at Cerro to it. In addition to the odd mask, he appears bound in tight azure leather travel outfit with silver chains wrapped about his waist and forearms whilst a blade of azure and hilt of silver sits sheathed upon his back and all of him is wrapped in almost always a tattered brown cloak. If Cerro appears before one, their fate is being weight upon their deeds and desires – why did they come to the Plains of Ash, what is it they seek, what will they do with it and do they deserve to live? Endsong, the Blade of Azure, is his choice to execute or save a traveler from the wastes of the Plains of Ash and its bite is known to inflict whatever amount of pain the wielder desires from instant painless death to unspeakable burning agony that doubles with very movement and cannot be escaped from. He is known though to be the fairest of all judges and is actually respected by most regions that know of him, he is especially revered in New Dorne where the poor look to him to bring about divine justice to the greedy rich, Doomsayers claim he is coming.
Arteh Hether is the name of his third form, a living and roughly humanoid shaped fire, the flames are blue with hues of silver. This form is rare to see but it comes out when Neeja wishes to make a fancy entrance and display of power or when he enters an uncontrollable rage. The flames pour off of him, creating smaller beings of magical fire whenever he desires it, and he can control how much heat is being given off that it seems cold to so hot it melts lead nearly instantly. The light given off of him in this form is too much for most monsters, fellbeasts, and beings of darkness to bear and they usually retreat, if not right-out destroyed, but this display.
His fourth most encounter form is that of the great silver dragon who shines with a deep blue light in the morning’s sun. Its head is adorned with two backward sloping horns with the face entering something akin to a beak but without beak-like definition, it eyes are bright blue and seemingly burning with intense life, whilst it’s earholes are noted with two small frilled fin-like appendages. The majesty of this form can be seen for miles around when it is present and its roar, when upon the Ashorn Tower, located where Tombarreal was, can be heard nearly in all directions across the ash desert. This form is potentially Neeja’s most physically powerful and is capable of doing battle against any foe in the Plains of Ash that would dare challenge him. Using a powerful antipode breath it burn foes in two manners, with intense frostbite that often freezes them solid and than a swirl of blue flames that dance about scorching all it touches. But finally it is potentially Neeja’s most commonly seen non-Human form, as it is said he enjoys flying over the wastes – sometimes using it similar to his Human form to lead faithful or those he deems worthy of living out the plains.
His realm is the Grey Haven a location within the Plains of Ash that is not accessible without the help of Neeja, or one of his sibling gods, but it also exists outside the mortal realm in the space between planes of existence, between the light and the shadows. It is a large grey walled building that seems to have numerous, though equally spaced, mirrors for windows that when looked upon show a reflection of the Plains of Ash as a utopia waiting to be born out of the ash much like a phoenix. Within the building it is a place filled with calming furniture that all have a slate gray coloration save for various things that occasionally have hues of silver or azure within them, keeping the place from looking dreary. A warm light source is always present in most of the chambers, save where visitors wish to sleep – temperature, humidity, and all that sort of thing is completely controlled by Neeja and adjusts just by a simple thought. The location is a perfect place of tranquility that acts like Neeja’s chosen place of solitude though he often willingly opens it up to visitors who impress him or to his family that occasionally visits him in the Plains of Ash. It often acts also as a place to hold discussions and meetings, a neutral territory for most – and Neeja sometimes plays the role of mediator, when it is needed.
Cerropharism is the following of the lessons of magic and using magic, as well as the worship of the deity Neeja. The road of the mage is taught, from the earliest senses of “feeling magic” to the first spell till the complete mastery of a school of magical concepts, the lessons of Neeja are strong and taught carefully to those who wish to use magic responsibility for the betterment of the person and even society, in some cases. Spells and their methods of usage are taught in addition to how to protect places from magic, whilst respect for the cycle of life – by learning what necromancy is, not to embrace it. The Cerropharic faith is normally worshipped in any lands touched by magic, such as Ermite, in addition to any that fear Neeja’s power, like New Dorne. His chosen is called the Chosen of Neeja, while none are currently holding the spot, it was formerly held by the now Ironblood Prison detainee James Nogueira, who was responsible for the Great Fell-Cataclysm.
The following is a few important things to note about Neeja and the Cerropharic faith. Neeja is currently not at war with anyone. His purpose is to maintain magic, the manaflow, and to keep back those who should not exist that linger in the dark shadows of the Plains of Ash. Cerropharism, while named after Neeja’s wanderer persona, is the name of the general faith in the deity Neeja and Magic, as Magicism or Neejism just didn’t sound good at the time. Spell components used in various number of spells outside of or within the faith, will end up in a special room in the Grey Haven, there they are often sent back into the world unless it shouldn’t exist any longer – exceptions include things like sacrifices to other deities.
The method of his worship outside of temples such as those in New Dorne and Ermite (the few there) and home shrines are runestones scattered across. Each of these stones represents an magical lesson of the faith of Neeja, often with numerous spells written in the old tongue as well as a test one must pass if they wish to gain true reward for the visit, and his voice can be heard and will speak with the petitioner, as he rarely appears and if he does so it is via a magical projections and not in any physical sense unless it is within the Plains of Ash. From these runestones he conducts business with his faithful sending them on any sort of errand or task he desires in exchange for favor, money, or items. Few bother to visit them all but any attempting to become the new Chosen must visit them all and pass the test presented upon them, in addition to any tasks asked of the person.
The Cerropharic Faith dates back to the ascension of Neeja Snow after a violent and explosive battle with his former master and god Kil'errhyen Azhai. Neeja was nearly tricked into killing himself, or allowing himself to die, in order for Azhai to have another chance to defeat the other deities in order to win the right to rule the world and do what he saw fit with it. But Neeja didn’t wish for a fail god to be left behind to help his siblings and to potentially ruin the world – so the two did battle, after a lengthy duel, Neeja was victorious and as result destroyed Dorne, as his powers came into the full. He was the first of his siblings to ascend, and with him the gift of magic came back to the world, as without it may had proved impossible to defeat Krur during the final battle, in which after it, his siblings arose to godhood. As result of his power though, given his power source was Dorne, Neeja became tethered to what was now the Plains of Ash, but his power was increasing daily and he was able to move increasingly further and further near the edge of the desert until it occur. A thousand years to the date of his ascension was when the reviving essence of the slain deity Krur began to merge with what was left of her former, one time, lover’s essence, Azhai. Together their power grew rapidly forming into the great five-headed chromatic dragon of the darkest black skin and scale, known as the Kruazhi Dragon, who begun a battle with the now dragon-formed Neeja. The battle lasted several hundred years, in which the Chosen Fred Dunst perished, his staff taken by James Nogueira who later would found several orders and schools in his friend’s and god’s name – but James, with the combined staves, helped Neeja seal and imprison the Kruazhi Dragon in stone. Once this was over, Neeja sent his Chosen into the word to spread the faith, which he did for a very long time, whilst Neeja begun to enter the time of slumber, he crafted a failsafe that would ensure magic would live on no matter if he lived or died, the Manaflow, as all things give off a small bit of magical energy known as lifeforce, it can regulate that all things are therefore connected by magic and as result magic and live off after draining, but not killing, many to replenish the supply of it. The Manaflow can be tapped by all capable to cast spells from, it replenishes naturally from Neeja, who reabsorbs new power from the Plains of Ash, to keep the cycle infinite outside of his death somehow. But after this, Neeja fell into a deep slumber to regenerate from such an extensively long and draining battle, whilst a sleep the world would change a great deal as Neeja would sleep for nearly three thousand years. Upon awakening, Neeja has sensed a decline in his power and now seeks to renew it once more.
Human
Serenitism, the faith of the deity Tamalynn[/i][/size]
Tamalynn is the one half of the deity of mankind and she represents the light, the good. Through her is the salvation of mankind, their path to true serenity and their only hope of not becoming completely consumed by their own darkness. She is known to take on two forms, her mortal self and that of a being that has otherworldly beauty and is akin to most concepts of an angel. This angel form has long golden blond hair laced with streaks of red, tall and lithe, with strong but soft white wings – she is usually adorned in a silken dress that is both light in coloration and weight, she appears at first counter to Cyrus but the two match perfectly.
Her realm is one half of a much larger one that encompasses both of the aspects of man, the light and the dark. It is a massive castle that is dark on one half and light on the other, the half Tamalynn rules is of all the virtues and gifts of mankind and many beyond Human understanding whilst they still are mortal. In the center there is a throne room with a court that is where both merge to form the Balance and it is here where Cyrus and Tamalynn spend most of their time together in rooms behind the thrones, though still within the center merging of the two halves. The throne room also doubles as a court, a place where mortals are judged and then placed on the side they represent the most to be dealt with how that god chooses – though there has been rare occasion that they are left in the Balance or given life fully once more to prove more clearly their life’s worth. The light half of the castle is known as Bliss while the dark half of the castle is known as Misery, while the merging is known as Mortal.
Serenitism is the following of the good aspects of mankind and the worship of the deity Tamalynn as she governs these aspects. The seven virtues come into mind as one looks over the spectrum of what Serenitism covers, many good concepts and practices are done via these teaches and lessons and much good comes of it. The Serenitic faith is normally worshipped in any lands Humans are common in and by peace loving people, especially though in Dragonsport that is known to embrace all things related to this particular faith. Her chosen is the Chosen of Tamalynn who is the high priestess of her faith and is currently Lydia Solgel.
It is important to note that Tamalynn is not at war with Cyrus, the two hand in hand with one another and are lovers, the two faiths are forever bound to one another. But as Mankind is not known for its understanding and the faiths sometimes do battle one another to destroy the other but light and darkness cannot exist without the other so they both end up in co-existence once more. She has taken this side of the coin willingly, all in order to stay with her lover for eternity.
The method of his worship outside of temples such as those in Riverrun and Dragonsport and home shrines are seven stone monuments scattered across Westeros’s former Human-lands (the lands south of Cailin). Each of these stones represents an aspect of the faith of Tamalynn, one of the seven virtues, and a fitting form of her appears to speak with the petitioner. From these stone monuments she conducts business with her faithful sending them on any sort of errand or task he desires in exchange for favor, money, or items. Few bother to visit them all but any attempting to become the new Chosen must visit them all and prove to the world their faith in Tamalynn and their willingness to do her will in the mortal realm.
Tamalynn was once a Human born of noble blood of the Stark and Tully Houses, she was well known for her beautifully and excellence of customs and etiquette. She was chosen by the Seven to be their champion but she was tempted several times by the Darkness due to her deep love for her brother (though later revealed to be of no relation) Cyrus Snow later Blake. At one point she even left the faith of the Seven to become a potential champion of Krur in order to remain with him for eternity but the power of the Seven changed this and Cyrus to something more powerful – restoring her to her rightful place and him as her complete opposite but without him incomplete much like a two halves of a circle. As result her faith reaches back to the end of the Era of Men after the final battle with Krur, she like her siblings and lover rose to divinity. The two ruled the Kingdom of Men from the city of Dragonsport for many years until they grew tired of mortality and left the mortal realm for their own, to be together and to rule man from there. Their lineage continued to rule from Dragonsport until they were expelled from power – they still attempt to recover it to this day in the name of Cyrus and Tamalynn.
Cyranisim, the faith of the deity Cyrus[/i][/size]
Cyrus was once a Human and was among the more physically beautiful, at least in terms of men, but after his taste of demonic power whilst a champion of Krur, he never forgot the feeling of how it was to be a demon. However, when he turned his back to Krur’s power, he gave up his demonic form for one of the angelic powers of Seven, this was done so against his will – this too would change after he, himself, became a god, where he would alter this form. Once, and only once, did Cyrus transform into the divine angelic guardian the Seven granted him leave to use but this was only to corrupt it horribly by turning its bronzed toned skin to a deep crimson, its golden blonde hair to midnight black, his legs from Human-like ones to those of a satyr, its white feathery wings for those of dark leathery wings, and finally its halo into twisted horns that accented the devilish goatee and tail he grew in addition. An angel fallen from the light and into the darkness where it grew altered and more powerful, this form is what Cyrus is known to appear in most of the time outside of the rare occasions as his Human one. He is often wearing only a blue vest whilst in his fallen-angel form but in his Human form he is in an elegant black colored armor that he wore as a mortal.
His realm is one half of a much larger one that encompasses both of the aspects of man, the light and the dark. It is a massive castle that is dark on one half and light on the other, the half Cyrus rules is of all the vices of mankind and many beyond Human understanding whilst they still are mortal. In the center there is a throne room with a court that is where both merge to form the Balance and it is here where Cyrus and Tamalynn spend most of their time together in rooms behind the thrones, though still within the center merging of the two halves. The throne room also doubles as a court, a place where mortals are judged and then placed on the side they represent the most to be dealt with how that god chooses – though there has been rare occasion that they are left in the Balance or given life fully once more to prove more clearly their life’s worth. The light half of the castle is known as Bliss while the dark half of the castle is known as Misery, while the merging is known as Mortal.
Cyranisim is the following of the darker aspects of mankind and the worship of the deity Cyrus as he governs these aspects. The seven sins come into mind as one looks over the spectrum of what Cyranisim covers, here all forms of pleasure and pain are experienced and the costs they take upon the soul, body, and mind. The Cyranic faith is normally only worshipped in the shadows and hidden backrooms in most civilized regions of Westeros – its main territory is the Underport, a section of Dragonsport that is known to embrace all things related to this particular faith. His chosen is his Shadow Lord, the high priest of his temples and leader of Underport, who is currently Cyan Cloudstain.
It is important to note that the Cyranic Faith is not the worship of the powers of Darkness and Evil like Krur’s but the Dark Aspect of Mankind, which CAN be evil but sometimes just simply sick or twisted. In addition it is very important to note he is not at war with Tamalynn, the two hand in hand with one another and are lovers, the two faiths are forever bound to one another. But as Mankind is not known for its understanding and the faiths sometimes do battle one another to destroy the other but light and darkness cannot exist without the other so they both end up in co-existence once more. He has taken this side of the coin willingly, all in order to stay with his lover for eternity.
The method of his worship outside of temples such as Underport and home shrines are seven stone monuments scattered across Westeros’s former Human-lands (the lands south of Cailin). Each of these stones represents an aspect of the faith of Cyrus, one of the seven sins, and a fitting form of him appears to speak with the petitioner. From these stone monuments he conducts business with his faithful sending them on any sort of errand or task she desires in exchange for favor, money, or items. Few bother to visit them all but any attempting to become the new Shadow Lord must do so in order to gain favor with Cyrus, with enough favor and faith in Cyranisim, the person may challenge the previous (if there is one) Shadow Lord for the right to lead the faith of Cyrus and Underport.
The Cyranic Faith dates back to the ascension of the heir of Elaisa Krur and Kil'errhyen Azhai, Cyrus Blake, formerly of the House Snow that is the bastard house of the noble House Stark. Cyrus was once battling Aerys the Second to become champion of the demonic goddess of darkness, Krur, but due to his choices, and some that were forced upon him, he became the dark champion of the deities of man, the Seven. He served the counter to the holy champion of the Seven, his own sister (though later revealed the two were not blood-related), lover and wife Tamalynn Stark and the two together were the power that kept the race of Man from becoming destroyed in the final war with Krur that ended the Era of Men. After this battle he became a full fledge god like his siblings and lover – the two ruled the Kingdom of Men from the city of Dragonsport for many years until they grew tired of mortality and left the mortal realm for their own, to be together and to rule man from there. Their lineage continued to rule from Dragonsport until they were expelled from power – they still attempt to recover it to this day in the name of Cyrus and Tamalynn.