Nïo

Credited as the Firstmost Creator of the world, Nïo is an ancient, elusive deity which is said to represent the base aspects of kins everywhere. Though they are often referred to using female-pronouns and monikers, especially in the modern age, it's an accepted fact that this is only the latest of the deity’s many shapes. In times past, Nïo showed themself only as splotches of color, while times before that, they walked amongst mortals as a man. As such, people have simply come to refer to them using the pronoun ‘they’, while using gendered monikers as descriptors of its manifestations (such as ‘Lady’ or ‘Queen’).

Those who worship Nïo are few and far between. Though they are a god for which many hold a deep respect, their importance to daily life is limited. The common folk have not much interest in such sweeping concepts as creativity and art. Those that do worship Nïo do so in small ways, and they can be found amongst artists, inventors, painters, actors, and others of the same ilk.

Similarly to the Core Deity itself, Nïo’s manifestations are not often seen being actively revered aside from select individuals and dedicated worshippers.

### The Painter

The first manifestation is the Painter, and is representative of Nïo’s control over the aspects of Creation, Creativity, and Eternity. This manifestation is most similar to Nïo’s basic form, save that it trades the aspect of the sword for that aspect of the paintbrush. The Painter sees the most activity in the Unidon Republics, as a patron god for artists, which tend to be quite common in that region of the world.

### The Lady of Colors

Secondly is The Lady of Colors, a feminine figure made of pure rainbow lights, which represents Nïo’s control over the aspects of colors and ink. The only organized group which actively worships this specific aspect of Nïo is found in the White Lands, and they refer to themselves as the Order of the Boreal Aurora. These worshipers believe that the Lady of Colors is representative of the hidden beauty of the world, and that finding her amongst nature is their divine providence.

### The Queen of Spring and Autumn

Lastly is the manifestation known as the Queen of Spring and Autumn, who is thought to control the aspects of seasons, inventions, and beginnings. The manifestation is often represented as a woman dressed in a variety of leaves of every color imaginable, typically carrying either a staff or sword. Some farmers are known to give respect to the Queen of Spring and Autumn, though this is usually in tandem with the worship of Seerena or Fulya, whose control over nature and crops are more pronounced.

Nïo’s most ardent followers tend to be artists, creators, painters, and inventors. The largest church of Nïo can be found in The Morinfrüe Dominion, though it has roots that coalesce all around the world. This church is known as the Chantry of the Maker, and it celebrates holidays during times of beginnings, such as at the start of a year, of a season, or otherwise. The Chantry of the Maker has the task of keeping track of the national calendar, and it's their aptitude with the job that has allowed Morinfrue’s understanding of time to spread across the world.
Theists find talking about Nïo to be a difficult task. Though the deity is largely considered to be equal to the rest of the pantheon, there is a large amount of evidence that suggests they were first amongst the gods and only accepted a place among their brethren after the pantheon has already been formed and shaped. Additionally, many cosmogonies credit the Creation to have solely rested upon Nïo’s shoulders, which provides the deity with an enormous importance, one which the other deities, for all their gloriousness, cannot match. It is then difficult to reason why the worship of Nïo has been so muted in the history of the world, for surely the deity should hold a stronger place in the overall pantheon? There are two common theories to explain this. The Morinfrue Dominion believes that Nïo willingly gave up their influence to Alreida, which is when the latter mantled the aspects of leadership. Others, however, will simply state that the aspects of Nïo are anathema to the concept of adoration and exultation: Nïo is a deity of beginnings and creation, not of endurance and perseverance. In this, perhaps we are meant to be reminded that the Creator does not wish to rule, for the Creation was a gift unto itself, to be ruled by itself and its people.