Religion in the Viszudar Religion in the Viszudar is loosely organized, except the worship of Îsha. The Grand Cathedral of Îsha extends from the Conclave of the Shamans up into the Vardo district. It is primarily here religious services are held at sunrise and sundown, and are attended by the majority of religious citizens of the Viszudar. Faith is not mandatory, and the worship of Îsha is not required by law. Other faiths are tolerated, but one must question why another god is more worthy of admiration than the mother of humanity. Deities Gods known to and worshipped by the people of the Viszudar are listed below. Pronunciation keys are given to the best of my ability to native english speakers. All divinities listed below are capable of granting spells, including the dead powers. The one-step rule applies. This is by no means a complete list of the deific forces in Rennisilon, merely the gods known to the people of the Viszudar. Îsha (eye-sha) Titles: Arbiter of Natural Order, The Light in the Darkness, Justice, The Great Mother Alignment: Lawful Neutral Power: Intermediate Deity Domains: Law, Chastity, Community, Family, Radiance, Balance Portfolio: Light, Law, Motherhood, Humanity Holy Symbol: An idol of a motherly human with her hands clasped over her breast with head bowed solemnly. Dogma: The core tenets of Îsha’s dogma dictate the world and the universe has a natural order and balance, and the duty to maintain and live in harmony with that order has been passed down from her, to her creations. Every man and woman have their place in this natural order, and it is imperative to see yourself and others down the straight and narrow path. The people of Viszudar view Îsha as the mother of humanity. Humanity are Îsha's chosen creations. Femininity is divine, and motherhood is holy. Marriage rites are sacred among Îshites, as is natural light. Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff Typical Worshippers: The worship of Îsha is common in the Viszudar and human dominated societies further north. Additional Details: Îshites attend worship twice daily, at sunrise and sundown. The tell-tale ringing of gongs resound at these times in Îshite societies. Those of great deed are said to be immortalized in the night's sky by Îsha. Andran (on-dron) Titles: The First Man, The Prodigal Son, The Deceiver Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Power: Lesser Deity Domains: Trickery, Temptation, Envy, Planning Portfolio: Deceit, Ambition Holy Symbol: A yellow eye in the middle of a clockwise spiral. Dogma: As an individual, it is your duty to be the greatest you can be. We live only one life, and it is your responsibility to be the greatest you can be, regardless of your circumstances or weaknesses. Ambition is holy. Nothing is forbidden, all is permitted, as long as the goal is the advancement of self. The world and all its splendors are tools for self advancement, and it is your rite to despoil and abuse them in the process of advancing yourself. Favored Weapon: Ranseur Typical Worshippers: Nongood spellcasters, capitalists, outcasts, the disenfranchised. Additional Details: The worship of Andran is forbidden in the Viszudar. Underground societies among the Rhane and Thal worship him in practice, meeting at midnight in secret. Andran is Îsha's first creation, and gained divinity after slaying the wife Îsha bestowed on him to steady him. Îsha's creation, named Anetta, contained a scrap of her divinity, which Andran recognized and immediately plundered. This betrayal is referenced in Îshite scripture. Îsha learned her lesson, and future humans would be made as the weak, struggling, fleshy creatures they are today. Andran is opposed to Îsha due to his betrayal. Andran is opposed to Ilisidoria because he covets her portfolio, and deceit is opposed to truth. Vollûr (vohl-oohr) Titles: The Iron Fist, The Wargod, The Lord of Struggle Alignment: Lawful Evil Power: Greater Deity Domains: Destruction, War, Tyranny, Law, Evil, Army, Pride Portfolio: Tyranny, Domination, Conquest, War, Leadership, Goblinoids Holy Symbol: A gauntleted fist holding a chain with a snake's head. Dogma: It is your right to have dominion of those who are weaker than you. Your place is on the throne, and those you dominate, whether it be through coin or whip, shall find you there. Society is made by the strong, and the natural order dictates those who are capable must lead. Your ability to own something goes as far as your ability to defend it from others. To these ends, there is nothing wrong or unjust. The way of the universe is struggle. Favored Weapon: Flail, light or heavy. Typical Worshippers: Hobgoblins, Slavers, Warriors, anyone who desires dominion over others. Additional Details: Vollûr is an old god. In the past, the goblins of Nar'Gashkar paid him homage. Now, many warlords and warmonger, along with those who would wish to rise to those stations do as well. To the east of the Viszudar, many surviving settlements of Iskhar-Yog worship Vollûr. Goblins and Goblinoids to the west who do not worship creatures of the beyond often worship Vollûr. Vollûr's worship is not explicitly forbidden in the Viszudar, like Andran's, but to announce such a thing would betray your intentions. Thus, many who worship Vollûr do so surreptitiously. Among the houses of the Viszudar, Vollûr is most popular with less moral Xola and Thal. Zhir (zh-ear) Titles: The Heart of the Forest, The King of the Jungle, The Wind of the Desert, The Storm of the Seas Alignment: True Neutral Power: Intermediate Deity Domains: Plant, Air, Water, Weather, Sand, Storm Portfolio: Nature, Weather, Change, Decay Holy Symbol: A sapling superimposed on a great oak. Dogma: Everything in Rennisilon has a natural state, and will return to it eventually. All rocks erode. All life begins and ends. This cycle is what Zhir has dominion over. Nature itself carries the touch of Zhir, and is bound to him. As mortals, it is imperative to respect nature and the order of nature. We are but actors on the stage nature sets. Favored Weapon: Sickle Typical Worshippers: Many pay lip service to Zhir before going on an expedition or making a journey over sea, but few revere him specifically. Those who do generally are druids, woodsmen, exiles, and loners. Rarely, an enclave of Zhir worshippers is founded deep in the woodland or marsh, although compared to other religions, Zhir has few devoted worshippers. Additional Details: Zhir allies himself with Îsha, as they both seek to maintain the natural order. Naturally, he opposes all of the outer gods, as they are not of the natural world and are anathemic to his purpose. Ulior (oo-lee-or) Titles: The Golden Prince, Fortune's Friend Alignment: True Neutral Power: Lesser Deity Domains: Avarice, Fate, Wealth, Oracle Portfolio: Wealth, Chance Holy Symbol: A coin with two heads, or a coin landed on its side. Dogma: Fortune is a fickle thing, and those who have it on their side can have whatever they want. The pursuit of wealth is a worthy pursuit on its own, and through wealth we will live comfortable lives. Chance and the future are tied to the same coin, and the ability to see through the veil and manipulate either are the key to amassing wealth of all kinds. Favored Weapon: Dagger Typical Worshippers: Gamblers, Rogues, Thieves, Merchants. Oracles Additional Details: Ulior, like Zhir, is a god many pay lip service to but do not worship exclusively. Those who live to amass wealth may worship Ulior, as may some dedicated diviners or oracles. Some among the Thal, especially specialized diviners, worship Ulior. The practice is not forbidden in the Viszudar. Ilisidoria (ill-issi-door-ya) Titles: Our Great Love, Our Fiery Lady, She-who-speaks-no-lies, Our Passionate Goddess Alignment: Neutral Good Power: Intermediate Deity Domains: Emotion, Fire, Nobility, Good, Courage, Lust Portfolio: Truth, Love, Flame, Compassion Holy Symbol: White heart bordered with a red outline. Clerics of Ilisidoria's holy symbol often bears a white opal heart with ruby inlaid edges. Dogma: Ilisidoria's dogma dictates all are worthy of love, sympathy, empathy, and kindness. This does not, however, require one to make peace with all who would wish them ill. To Ilisidoria 's followers, there truly are no creatures beyond redemption or unworthy of warmth. One is always to speak the unequivocal truth, because even if a lie is harmful at its face, lies always cause more misery down the road. Flames represent the passion of the goddess, the love of her we feel in our hearts, and the love we feel for one another. Favored Weapon: Heavy Mace (Ilisidoria's Rose) Typical Worshippers: The Wayfarers, the lovestruck, paladins. Additional Details: By nature, Ilisidoria is opposed to Andran, as truth is opposed to deceit. Like Zhir and Ulior, many pay lip service to Ilisidoria when making prayers relating to love, but she is not widely worshipped, with some exceptions. The Wayfarers, a ragtag band of nomads originally composed of exiled elves, devoutly and exclusively worship Ilisidoria. Although the goddesses are not at odds, for this reason there is no love between worshippers of Ilisidoria and Syr-Liandria. The Devoted, an international order of paladins, serves Ilisidoria. The worship of Ilisidoria is permitted in the Viszudar. Syr-Liandria (seer-lee-ann-dree-uh) Titles: The Lady of Struggle, The Queen of Elves, Mistress of the Cycle Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Power: Intermediate Deity Domains: Elf , Competition, Renewal, Trickery, Destiny, Zeal Portfolio: Rebirth, Conflict, Murder, Elvenkind Holy Symbol: Green sunburst on a white wheel. Dogma: The Lady of Struggle guides us and births us anew. She gives life and purpose to elves. Under her eye, we must be the strongest of our kind, and obtain her favor. Only through struggle will we gain inner strength, and become what we are meant to be, through lifetimes of learning. She is our guidance, and knows the truth of each and every one of us, which we must find. The Oracle's word is sacred, and is the voice of the Goddess. Through the Oracle, we commune with divinity and understand our purpose. Favored Weapon: Longbow Typical Worshippers: All elves integrated into elven society worship Syr-Liandria. Those who wish to become elves after they pass from their mortal coil may also worship Syr-Liandria, but often only those true to her worship are truly reborn as an elf. Syr-Liandria has no other worshippers. Additional Details: Syr-Liandria is the goddess of the elves, and controls the cycle of rebirth elves undergo. Syr-Liandria and her worship are barely known to the Viszudar, and are not banned. Gisarlarinzee (gih-zar-lorin-zi) Titles: Queen of Filth, The Corrupt, The Horror, The Face-beyond-the-veil Alignment: Chaotic Evil Power: Greater Deity Domains: Corruption, Moon , Spite, Madness, Ooze, Night, Vile Darkness Portfolio: Night, Corruption, Abominations, Bloodlust, Madness, Oozes Holy Symbol: An open mouth with three-pronged teeth. Dogma: Destroy and despoil to your heart's content. Nothing is sacred, save bloodshed and carnage. The Queen of Filth will one day engulf Rennisilon and the masters from the world beyond will take the thrones of mortal pretenders. Favored Weapon: Falchion Typical Worshippers: Madmen, orcs, anarchists, monsters, outer beings. Additional Details: It is said Gisarlarinzee hides behind Östyek until an eclipse. Once the moons are eclipsed, she may part the veil from the world beyond to Rennisilon, and unleash her abominable offspring to pollute and destroy natural life. Only a madman would worship her, yet enduring cults devoted to Gisarlarinzee crop up periodically. The worship of Gisarlarinzee is banned in the Viszudar. Haig-Tirah (hayg-teerah) Titles: Emperor of the Deeps, Ol' Lurk, The Terror of the Tides Alignment: Chaotic Evil Power: Lesser Deity Domains: Watery Death , Blackwater, Time, Cold Portfolio: Sea monsters, drowning Holy Symbol: Inverted trident piercing a human head. Dogma: Give tribute to the Emperor of the Deeps in live sacrifice. He hungers and craves living flesh. Give your firstborn for clear skies, and slit the throat of your neighbor for a safe journey. Lure the unwilling into the deeps, and be rewarded with treasures. Favored Weapon: Trident Typical Worshippers: Seafarers, evil aquatic humanoids, pirates, those who are lost at sea. Additional Details: It is said Haig-Tirah has lurked at the bottom of Rennisilon's oceans from shortly after its creation. This creature, preserved from prehistory with foul magic, traversed into Rennisilon as a fluke, and has remained ever since. Old salts and mariners in dire straits at times whisper prayers to Haig-Tirah. Cults dedicated to Haig-Tirah inevitably crop up, and are most common among evil aquatic humanoids. The worship of Haig-Tirah is forbidden in the Viszudar. Emon-Lon (emyn-lawn) Titles: Lord of Suffocation, The Pactmaster, The Witness, The shade from beyond the stars Alignment: Neutral Evil Power: Lesser Deity Domains: Dream, Entropy, Suffering, Pact Portfolio: Pacts, Shadow Holy Symbol: A lifelike heart on a black backdrop. Dogma: Emon-Lon chooses his protégés and takes infants at his whim. Fulfil your pact, and do the master's bidding, and you will be rewarded with power beyond measure. Stray from the path, and be consumed. Emon-Lon rewards loyalty, and the well of power drawn from the world beyond is bottomless. Favored Weapon: Whip (Waning moon) Typical Worshippers: The desperate, those overwhelmed by grief, ambitious fools, those whom Emon-Lon has chosen as his own. Additional Details: Emon-Lon resides in the world beyond. It is said he will entertain any pact, and offers power to those who are foolhardy enough to ask for it. Emon-Lon always exacts terrible prices for pacts. Occasionally, he will set his sight on an infant, yet to be born. At times he snuffs the infant out, resulting in a stillbirth, and others he makes sickly, and develops according to his twisted and alien design. It is said by those chosen by him that he suffers with those slain. The Faceless are considered to be distantly related to Emon-Lon, and this is an aspect of why they are generally disliked by many. The worship of Emon-Lon, and making pacts with Emon-Lon is forbidden in the Viszudar.