Plagori Faith

== Plagori ==
Plagori is a polytheistic belief system originating from Korè. It's a diverse religion consisting of a vast pantheon. It's mainly practiced north in Abexilas, within the nation of Korè and is a large part of the culture in that region. The plural for Plagori followers is Korai. Korai is also the plural for natives of Korè. It consists of 2 categories of gods: The Boreans, and the Korali. Borean gods are the highest group of all deathless beings. They are offspring of Ados and Usifel, or deities recognized as apart of their family (not always direct offspring). They live atop Adosia, a giant tower that houses these mighty gods, constructed by slave labor from deceased souls in the underworld. Korali are 'minor' deities, either lesser in power or not apart of the ruling Borean family. 
Korai are not restricted to following one god, they can pick whichever gods they feel more aligned to, but they all unify for the wills of the gods collectively. 
== Korai ==
Korai is a multiuse term. It's used to identify a citizen of Korè, and it's also used to identify one who believes in the Plagori Pantheon. At the top of the Korai hierarchy is The Sense. The current Sense is Jeropod, The Sense leads the religion and currently, Korè as a whole. Then there are the Hiereus. These people lead groups of followings divided by different deities. They tell tales of the gods and mortals alike. Then there are the Poets and the Bards. Such people are the most favored by Ados, whom craves the extol of mortals.
== Temples, Important Locations ==
Listed in this section are the temples and important mythological locations of Plagori. Only in game ones are listed.
=== Naós Zoís ===
The first temple constructed, it is dedicated to Linera, however it serves to be used for all gods as she welcomes all of her family to this site. When it was constructed, it contained a pit of fire for sacrifices to the pantheon. However, on July 12th, Ados struck the earth with a golden scythe, tearing a pit down to Qoios in an effort to try and trap Wilos in his fathers realm again. This had unintended consequences, the miasma of the void inflicted near blindess upon the world. Legions of the near sightless denizens of Abexilas waded their way through the mangroves all the way to Korè, and eventually the temple, where they sacrificed flowers, gold, and even blood down to the dark pit. Only then did Qoios ward off his afflictions by casting a flame at the barrier. It is now used for sacrifices.
== Borean Gods ==
There upon that lofty tower, the gods do command their authorities over the land.
=== Ados ===
God of Kings, love, and unity. Ados has the highest command of all the gods and is the main authority figure within the pantheon. His origins are not from Abexilas, vague tellings from all wise Anavackon tell us that he is from a world before ours, where he created the first land and convened Linera, Marduk, and Noborh. He did this after discovering Usifel sleeping, he planted a tree that grew so tall it pierced her domain in space. He is the main revered idol of Korè, large monuments are constructed to extol him and show respect. He is generally known as a fair god, but will not hesitate to display his power and superiority over mankind. He is associated with goats.
=== Usifel ===
Goddess of Space, stars, quiet, beauty, and wisdom. The solitary goddess sees few followers to revere her, yet all know her influence. She seeks not to meddle in worldly affairs, but counts the stars and drifts in extravagance, putting on shows for the mortals with her shooting stars and colorful nebulas. She is associated with glow squid.
=== Marduk ===
God of Death, resolution, hope, and redemption. Many speak fearful of Marduk, offenders of the gods who have cursed their fate in the afterlife. They have good reason to fear him, for he rules over the underworld, and can send them off to the terrible Kore River. The dismal stream at the bottom of the world where the gods send the truly wicked and their foes. However the youngest son of Ados and Usifel is not evil, it's simply his duty to keep the balance. He became widely associated with death for his role in creating Rot. Willing for the skies to be filled with black rain to kill off the overgrowing vines Linera had planted, commanded to do so by Ados. He is associated with bats.
=== Linera ===
Goddess of Life, the eldest daughter of Usifel and Ados. She is the deity most closely linked to nature, the woods and the glades, the trees and the grass. Linera holds a special place in the hearts of mortals. It is she who bestowed upon mankind the gift of consciousness. But she is no gentle goddess, she is not hostile, however when provoked is a formidable foe. Myths and tales from a bygone era have depicted her cursing disobedient mortals, threatening her brothers, and intimidating even Lord Marduk himself, king of the underworld. She is associated with sheep.
=== Eyq ===
Twin brother of Qalus, this boisterous and well revered god is a popular choice of alignment for mortals. When he is happy, he breaks his rays through the thick veils of clouds to lighten the days of others. But when he is angry, he brings drought to civilizations. But typically he is never angry, why should he? All he has to do is walk around the blue sky and be praised by the mortals grounded to the earth. The favored son of Ados draws jealousy from many gods. Typically the ones who allign with him are more creators than regular mortals. Musicians, Poets, Thespians, ect. He is associated with pigs.
=== Qalus ===
The severed sister of Eyq, these two are eternally longing, and eternally chasing. Their long rivalry started as a spawn of envy, Ados and Usifel needed the new sun and moon, so they told Eyq to roll a large ball of corn across the fields of the world. The ball grew larger and larger, while Qalus grew hungry and without any corn to eat. So she began to chase him, across the sky while hoistering a large boulder the mortals named The Moon, creating the daylight cycle. She is associated with chickens.
=== Iorus ===
Son of Linera and Abex, he is the god of land and mountain. Not often seen or chronicled by mortals as he often dwells deep in the mountains with his father Abex, who is the personified version of the world as we know it. Iorus is associated with cows.
=== Rahth ===
A hateful son of death should have no place in the hearts of mortals, yet he lingers trailing behind the 9 spirits of ail. Hatred is unfortunately rooted in mortal kind from it's genesis, leaving him the power and room for a spot on Adosa. The others are weary of him, however he did earn his keep, assisting the Boreans in The Rustomachy. Associated with vultures.
== Korali Gods ==
Deathless gods, as are the Boreans. They are formidable aswell.
=== Anavackon ===
God of Wisdom. The all wise Anavackon, god of knowledge. Another one of the mysterious old world gods, he is closely linked to the Korai King and Ados. Commonly found in the guise of a mortal librarian going by the same name, all who seek answers to their woes will make the journey to his library high up on his spire. Associated with owls.
=== Fraayu ===
God of Intoxication, Recreation, Impulse, and Trickery. The laid back god offers arrays of substances for mortal recreation, often as a means for him to lull mortals to rest for him to steal their belongings while they are asleep. Typically he takes the mortals belongings to Linera in exchange for more substances. The gods have kept Fraayus details on birth a secret, however it is widely believed he is not a member of the Borean family. The god lives among the Korai mortals. Associated with silverfish
Other gods that count as Korali, not explained here because they are explained in other sections:
* Ponos
* Nether
* Psychus
* Basalt
* Cerulea
* Crimera
* Sisika
* Qoios
* Emanos
== Primordial Entities ==
There are few we don't know the origins of. Beings proven to exist at or before the wake of Ados in the old world are considered as Primordial.
=== Emanos ===
He is no mere god, he is time itself. Theorized to be the oldest of all entities.
=== Sisika ===
Very scarce details survived from The Calamity on this god, and evidence shows that even in that old world there was scarce on this god. However teachings from Anavackon give little details on him. There is said to have been a second world, mirroring the old one that we know of, lead by Sisika. He is closely associated with vermin and mirrors, and is also hinted to have assisted Ados in the creation of the first world.
=== Qoios ===
Another surviving entity from before The Calamity, mainly because Qoios cannot be harmed. Qoios is The Void itself. Qoios is considered primordial because he is an undying force that was present in the wake of Ados. He is rarely spoken of because nobody ever sees him at all under his blanket of bedrock. However gaps do exist where Qoios is accessable, and some make sacrifices to him. Qoios is vast and empty and infinite, hence why Qoios is not only considered an incarnate of The Void, but also the God of Infinity.
=== Nether ===
The Primordial Goddess, Nether, is depicted as a massive realm that occupied the same void as Ados and Usifel, Ados being the middle ground, Usifel being the upper air, and Nether being below them, with Qoios somewhere in the mix. The flaming monster was feared by Ados & Usifel because she swallowed her 4 children, Psychus. Basalt, Cerulea, and Crimera. Despite it being a product of the old world, we have decent knowledge on Nether because it's a present day realm easily accessible by gateway. In the beginning days of Abexilas, Nether was sealed off as he feared the mortals too would be swallowed by her, however he was dismayed by the lack of proper protection against evil forces in the world, so he opened up gateways so that mortals can reap the resources.
==== Psychus ====
Believed to be the firstborn of Nether, she is a dim personality, her realm is covered with sand and coated in melancholy blue fog. Very little is known about this, Psychus is also referred as a location most call Soulsand Valley. Rahth is said to train and hone his fighting abilities in these dunes.
==== Basalt ====
A torn region for the torn God. The Basalt Delta is torn and battered because Rahth used to train here before moving to Psychus. The lashings of his sword frayed the body of Basalt. The Child of Nether is also associated with insanity, appearing in the visions of the mentally tormented.
==== Cerule ====
Originally another glum daughter of Nether, however she sprouted with life in large numbers when a blue seed fell down onto her from the realm of Ados, spreading blue grass and growing trees. She has pale blue skin and eyes of shroomlights, she is known to keep travelers safe in her forests. She is also a goddess associated with Alchemy, with her exotic fungal plants and flora. Those not familiar with the Korai call this region "Warped Forest".
==== Crimera ====
The youngest son of Nether, always at odds with his sister Cerule. He stole plants from her sister and planted them on himself to try and be as good looking as her, however Nether saw this and was displeased with her sons act of theft. So Nether opened an orifice in her body and stained Crimeras trees the color of blood so that he would be uglier than his sister.
== Personifications ==
In Plagori myths, natural forces and locations are often referenced as characters. Personifications already mentioned will be bulleted here, and the ones that have not been gone over will have longer descriptions.
* Qoios
* Nether
* Psychus
* Basalt
* Cerule
* Crimera
* Emanos
* Rahth
=== Nautica ===
Nautica is the Ocean, often times she is just referred to as just the Ocean, but myths such as Erolectus & Morduna, and Remains, give her the name Nautica. She is the creation of Usifel and her weeping after The Calamity.
=== The Moon ===
The Moon himself, also a creation of Usifel for Qalus to drag around while she chases her brother Eyq. He is rarely depicted as a person in myth, spare for a few times.
=== Wilos ===
The wind itself. Wilos is the offspring of Qoios The Void as told in the second myth of Plagori. Before mortals arrived into Abexilas, Wilos was an entity trapped in The Void for all of his existence. Wilos rebelled against Qoios and escaped through a tiny crack in the bedrock, unleashing wild uncontrolled winds upon the world. Ados cursed Wilos with eternal lust as his punishment. This curse would later lead to his "death", when Wilos grew a lustful obsession with Qalus it caused the wind to only blow at night and to the east. Qalus asked Areckaelas to go and destroy Wilos. Gods or forces of nature cannot be destroyed by mortal hands, so instead Wilos split apart into North, South, West, and East winds, these winds being associated with the seasons.
=== North Wind (Winter) ===
The North Wind, or often referred to as Winter is one of the pieces of Wilos. In the later chunk of the year he brings the cold temperatures from the north down to Korè. He is depicted as apathetic and destructive, with long white hair and frozen eyes.
=== South Wind (Summer) ===
The South Wind, or often referred to as Summer is one of the pieces of Wilos. He brings the hot winds of the south to Korè. Often he is depicted as a friend of Eyq. He is shown as young and fast, he is also known to be very charming.
=== East Wind (Spring) ===
The East Wind, or often referred to as Spring is one of the pieces of Wilos. She brings the pollen and warm air of the savannahs and forests in the east to Korè. She is depicted as a kind young lady bringing good luck to farmers.
=== West Wind (Autumn) ===
The West Wind, or often referred to as Autumn is one of the pieces of Wilos. He brings the cooler air of the waters west of Korè. He is depicted as an older man with orange eyes. Many confuse him with Ruste, God of Change from the Rustomachy myth. Autumn and Ruste are two separate entities. Whereas Autumn is the season itself, Ruste was often associated with Autumn because of the changes of leaf colors, and that the Rustomachy was in the autumn season.
=== Sytelis (Blindness) ===
The consequence of Ados opening a hole to Qoios. It was mostly suppressed by Qoios after offerings were made to him, however this ghost still looms in Abexilas, however it could have been worse had Qoios let more out. Sytelis is also associated with insanity.
== The Underworld ==
"The dead are welcome in Iris, the blue fields and the chill gales flow aimlessly."The Underworld is the multi-region complex beneath the earth. It has four regions, Nautica, Iris, Erdu, and Kore River. It is a realm created by Marduk out of grieving for his son Erdu, who was slain by Rahth out of envy. Erdu was meant to be a resting place for Marduks son of the same name, whilst the river was to punish and imprison Rahth.
=== Nautica ===
"Few have entered the sopping black pits to access Iris."Nautica is the undersea temple rumored to be in the large modern day Norvinian Bay. It's a remarkable copper temple complex allegedly used to worship the sea and its related figures. Some consider Nautica a personification for the ocean itself. It's labeled as an underworld region due to its gaping pit that leads down into Iris. Nautica is the only documented entrance path into the Underworld that can be accessed without dying, however it has only ever been written about and none know it's location.
=== Iris ===
"If not the terrible stream, then this is where the recently departed will end up. Made up of pale blue mountain ranges with deadly challenges and conditions seeking to prey on the weak. Paradise is earned, all mortals must wander their way out of Iris and survive its conditions to reach the next level. Should the spirit 'die' on the journey to paradise, then they will be born anew back in the realm of the living, where they will live again, die again, and try again."All are welcome to Iris, but it does not seem very welcoming at all. It's the first realm the soul enters when their mortal body has died, meant as a trial to pass before moving on to paradise. It's described as a foggy blue mountain range, with steep cliffs and dangers all around meant to destroy those who pass through. Should a soul be 'killed' in this realm, they will be reborn back onto the surface with a new mortal body, to start the cycle over again. It's named after Marduks wife of the same name, killed by a god from the old world named Noborh.
=== Erdu ===
"We toil in life, stamp our foots at the feet of the gods, why did they give us this?"
It served as a resting place for Marduks son, Irdu, but he opened its gates for all who could make it to him to give him company. A long and arduous trip to this place it is, but perhaps there is something stronger, something beyond death that will push the mortals to reach this place? It's a modest city for heroes and the most pious of all,
=== Kore River ===
"I tell you all, it's a mad place. It's a place where the foes of the gods go to die. Again and again." -Areckaelas
Even deathless gods are punished here, it encircles the world at its deepest points, even beneath the fields of Iris. It's described as a scathing hot green river where the most wicked of the living and foes of the gods end up. Dead mortals cannot end up here naturally, they have to be manually sent here by a god with the approval of Marduk. Along the rivers course is where Marduk lives, travelling on his boat Dasu. Dasu serves as a sort of 'palace' for Marduk, and tortured souls in the water can board and appeal their punishment to the God of The Dead himself. The water has long lasting effects on the living, in the rare cases that the living make contact with its water, one popular myth involving such a scenario being the journey of the Korai hero Areckaelas.
=== Dasu ===
=== Gods & Related Figures ===
The Underworld has a multitude of figures told through written myth or orally spoken tales.
==== Marduk ====
The feared, yet revered lord of the dead. Despite death being such a dreadful topic among mortals, he is written about frequently, most mortals fear bad luck and dismissal to Kore River if they do not grant him praise. He is described as broad, wearing purple robes and having ashy gray skin. He wears the skulls of vermin as earrings and has long dark gray hair.
==== Cees ====
Death himself. Personification of the black rain Marduk first summoned in the old world to cause the roots and overgrowth of Linera to wilt.
==== Pónos ====
God of Ailment, "The Shepard", holds power over the negative emotions of mortals. A Korali deity who was born as a mortal, he ascended to godhood through sympathy of Marduk, as described in "The Shepards Ailment", a myth of the Korai Age. He and his flock prey on the weak minded easily susceptible to inner turmoil. Visitations from his flock typically lead to a visitation from Rahth, as most of the traits the sheep represent are roots for hate to thrive on.
==== The Flock of Pónos ====
The negative traits of mortals, embodied as sheep controlled by Pónos. Dread, Guilt, Gloom, Agony, Exhaust, Doubt, Misery, Impulse, Envy. Each one of the sheep were killed by Pónos out of whatever emotion they are associated with. This was following the deep depression of Pónos.
==== Areckaelas ====
Areckaelas, the Korai hero, the first mortal to enter the underworld and return. Also the first mortal to directly injure a god, he split apart Wilos into the four cardinal direction winds, also creating the four seasons.
==== Nautica ====
Ocean Personified, also personification of the Nautica temple, largely being considered a region of the underworld, mainly an entrance to it.
==== Erolectus ====
God of Devotion.
==== Morduna ====
Goddess of Monsters.
=== Underworld Myths ===
==== Erolectus & Morduna ====
Erolectus, is stricken with grief when his beloved Morduna succumbs to an incurable illness. In his despair, he searches for the aid of various deities. When his searches come dry, he dives down into the underworld with Love (Ados) , to make a deal with Marduk. The lord of the dead tasks him to climb to the top of Adosa, from the depths of the underworld to its peak in the heavens, accompanied by the spirits of Despair, Fear, and Doubt. It's a philosophical piece of literature that discusses a few themes, the prominent one being how far one would go for love. We see an answer for this in the climb of Erolectus, where he puts himself against the elements and harshness of the journey up for a woman who doesn't even love him or know him anymore, because death has stripped her of identity.
In the end they reunite, and Marduk revives Morduna. However, Morduna has already decayed, leaving her as a zombie. And it is said that the offspring of Erolectus and Morduna from then on were the monsters of the world. When they both grew old together and died, Marduk did not want them to be separate, so he granted them immortality and sanctum in the realm of Iris, where they lived on as deities.
== Godly Artifacts & Other Items ==
=== Aspect of Qoios - Scythe Weapon: ===
"The day the sightless fled to the gates of Korè, She, Primordial Void gifted this blade to Jeropod, senseful king of the Korai people. Made of the darkness underfoot, may its wielder decide who reaps, and who sows."
=== Hrodreptus - Spear ===
"The weapon to be worn by the leader of the Korai."
Category:Traveler's Era