Azgovian mythology

**Azgovian mythology** is the variant of Vozonid mythology practiced in present-day Azgo. This article also covers religious practices in modern Vozolaz.

## Gods

### The Divine Court of Sixteen, The Sixteen Gods

In Azgovian, they are known as Suvon Sannoi or Sojazannoi, "The Sixteen Holy Ones".

* Tarkhonzo, Tarukhonoz - the god of thunder and weather, the king of the gods. He is often invoked during war, to bless a leader or ruler (emperor or president), or when fighting demons. His gem is the diamond.
* Khannakhanna - the goddess of harvests, the queen of the gods. Her gem is the spinel.
* Sorrumoz - the god of lightning, the chief son of Tarkhonzo armed with a bolt-wreathed axe. His presence protects the leader from harm.
	+ He is also known as Jazorin.
* Laghuraz - the goddess of the earth.
* Zomjonōr - the god of dreams, protector of people from evil spirits. His gem is the emerald.
* Sammakari - the god of the sea and water.
* Zōval - the god of death
	+ His chariot is pulled by four flaming hyenas.
* Tuoroz - the red god of war. His gem is the ruby.
* Thosornoz - the god of education and writing.
* Khasamalin - the god of science, smiths, and engineering.
* Kaurosipaz - the goddess of medicine and healing.
* Iskharai - the goddess of oaths and vows.
* Talpinoz - the son of Tarkhonzo and Khannakhanna who taught humanity to use tools. He is also the god of farms.
* Rondajoz - the god of the hunt, the Great Hunter. He is also the protector of the lost.
* Inarai - the goddess of animals and wildlife. She is the daughter of Tarkhonzo and Khannakhanna, and Rondajoz's wife. Together, she and Rondajos represent all aboriginal peoples that live alongside and around the Vozonids (who are related to many of their tribes) and Gauvajuts.
* Sondai - the lion god of civilisation.

### Other gods

* Naubjoz and Kharzjoz - the bodyguards of Tarkhonzo.
* Khonvazoja - the minister of Tarkhonzo who leaves omens to suggest who will be the next authority, the mandate of Heaven. It is said that she might appear as anything to personally meet Tarkhonzo's chosen ruler.
* Naupaja, Sallori, and Sanarin - three sisters who observe every deed and report them to Tarkhonzo.
* Rathjanōr - the god of the conscious mind. Zomjonor's brother.
* Arinna - the goddess of the sun, daughter of Tarhunz and Hannahanna. She has golden hair and a burning sword.
* Tiwaz, Tivaso - the god of the moon, husband of Arinna.
* Arūdoz - the god of the rising sun. His body and hair are red.
* Kaimūldoz - the god of the setting sun. His body and hair are gold.
* Purulli - the goddess of the new year and harvests. She is Arinna's sister.
* Olinōr - the god of the Baval Olhi River, calendars, and agriculture.
* Lauvarin - The goddess and queen of the sea, and the wife of Sammakari. Like him, she is dark-skinned. She is venerated as the protector of sailors.
* Athazol, Rjazasol, and Rindaisol - The three sons of Sammakari and Lauvarin, the princes of the oceans. Athazol governs the north, Rjazasol governs the south, and Rindaisol governs the Western Hemisphere.
* Ranjasrai - The princess of the seas, the chief daughter of the sea gods. The goddess of sea animals, from fish to sharks and coral.
* Tandornadoz - The god of technology and machines.
* Ronnoz - Rongo, the Hiriwan god of finer arts. He is sometimes worshipped in graduation ceremonies in artistic festivals.
* Tūmataunoz - Tūmatauenga, the Hiriwan god of war. He is sometimes worshipped by those who fight various threats and seek his blessing, whether against murderers or invading armies.
* Ankodroz - The god of sculptors.
* Jondavoi - The god of love and marriage.
* Raidakori, Tronavjaz, and Kralindaz - The goddesses of the three main rivers of the east.

## Characters

### Heroes

* Glintaraz - a gryphon angel.
* Klōdiraz - the green star angel that brings bad luck and humour.
* Dūbokhoz - the pumpkin wight who records every harvest and good deed, to be rewarded by Khannakhanna.
* Karkinja - a spinel wight who rides on a white horse. She brings good luck and fortune to anyone who meets her.
* The Nine Sages - Nine men and celestials who were selected by the gods in overseeing the universe and constellations. In some myths, they sail on a ship studded with diamonds, forming a new constellation in the northern sky.
* The Sixteen Dancers - Sixteen women from Jerde assigned by the gods after their deaths to oversee the divisions and seasons of the year, as assistants to Hannahanna. Because of them, sixteen has become a sacred number to Gauvajuts and Vozonids alike. They are also the goddesses of classical dance.
* The Twelve Ministers of the Underworld (including Katazoripo) - Twelve earth-wights who assist the god of death by recording the deeds of the dead. Katazoripo is the more popular among the twelve wights, as he records the good actions and motives of each soul to Zōval.
* Ape-wight of Mount Mandil - a great ape spirit in golden armour who guards Mount Mandil until the destruction of the world.

### Evil characters

* Mittiraz - the queen of the witches and the goddess of the Ontemazei, a race of plant monsters.
* Gorūsoz - the king of the sorcerers and the god of the Ontemazei, a race of plant monsters.
* Illujankas, Ilojongoz - the four-headed dragon who rules the demons.
* Avysoz - the dark chief of lies and deceit.
* Sogun - the evil god of the Void.
* Khyroi - God of disease.
* Bjurinza - Goddess of murder.
* Tymauloz - God of the Terrans, otherworldly human invaders filled with pure evil.
* Tamuranaz - Goddess of vanity.
* Mokolyrok - God of noise, trauma, and torment.
* Suatazor - God of recklessness.
* Maulagloi - God of injuries, abuse, and sadism.

## Creatures

### Good creatures

* vjorsoz - star warrior, a celestial
* jauboroz - a gryphon spirit or angel sent by Zomjonor to protect the living. Also among the soldiers of Heaven who fight for the good and innocent.
* nizajoz, nizajaz - wights, spirits of the trees, rivers, ground, and weather.
* drysoz, drysaz - landwights, guardians of the ground and lands.
* berzatri, bezatri, bazaitri - the angels of Zoval, the angels of death who bring those who die to Zoval's court to be judged. Black bazaitri, known as vosal(zo), drag the dead to Hell.
* The Four Directions - The starhorse, the sunhorse (or sunbird), the raptor (or syroli bird with its jewel-like feathers), and the gryphon (or kalak-bird that heals, or the albatross). Each represents the north, east, south, and west, respectively.
	+ Each direction is also represented by one or two gods who keeps their respective animal: in Vozolaz proper, they are (clockwise) Bosroz, Aisoz, Garsoz, and Norjōz and Sidarjoz.
* syroli - a large bird with jewel-like feathers that nests on the mountains of the far south.
* kalakkoz - a white bird that heals people. The herald of Kaurosipaz.
* hangiri - dwarves who assist the harvest or guide the lost.
* tadōroz - red spirits of the war god or the earth
* dozuroz - black spirits of the night who protect people.
* roidoz - spinel warrior, the soldiers of Hannahanna
* Otholkazōr Mathodol - a great head that judges people's hearts and minds, and crushes the wicked.

### Evil creatures

* hobbai - a lesser monster
* moroiro - a greater monster, a smoke demon
* khurjoz - a spirit of illness
* lujankoz - dragon demons, arch-demons
* kakamboz - vampire
* kurkoi - horned demon
* koroi - demon
* zȳlau - devouring flea
* lukoi - creature of Chaos, eldritch abomination, dimensional horror
* imbaroi - evil Celestial, tyrant-angels, fallen angels, enslavers

## Ghosts

* uiro - any ghost
* miloviz - a red candle ghost
* moidokaz, truzaloz, nurdaloz - ghosts of murder victims
* irulkivoz - ghosts of drownings
* Milonor - "Lord of Candles", a powerful ghost appearing as a large red torch or a candle
* Tamanomakai - "he with the swirling eyes"

## Places

* Imbar - Heaven, the realm of the gods
	+ Nibai, Nibas (The Sky)
* Vjarallaz - Fairyland, the world of the wights that is parallel with our world
* Naubisan - Paradise, the garden-world of the righteous dead
	+ Sailasotar (Land of Flowers)
* Vjormoz - Hell, the domain of the demons and the wicked.
	+ Atoi (The Depths), Dūlaz (Darkness), Hoighoron, Hojuron (Chaos)
* Zjasal - a volcanic wasteland where the Terrans, ancient invaders from another world, supposedly come from.
	+ According to legend, Terrans were created from the sins of every person throughout history, forming a being of shadows that later takes the form of a human being.
* Dulgammaz - the Sea of Dark Entropy that devours anything beneath hell.
* Julkoz - Chaos, the outer domains of Hell where horrific monsters dwell.

## Religious practices

* Spinel gems are considered holy to Azgovians, so they are used as talismans for divine protection or to bring good luck and wealth. Syllabic prayers in the Gauvajut language are carved on the gems.
* Every month, a flower is cut and placed over a banana leaf bundle wrapped around a rice meal. This is offered to the gods with a cup of wine, and it is known as a "nolban".
* 21 December - round lanterns, burning paper orbs, and sun frames (gunkursas) are erected to honour the sun goddess.
* Clothes that are coloured with ti dye are considered holy.
* Rats are considered evil, and they must be killed. It is better not to touch a rat.
* Dragons are evil creatures.
* If a ghost is sighted, light a red candle to stop it from killing you.
* To pray to a god, put a fist and a palm together. If you are in a hurry, just bow your head and ask the god.
* Azgovians attend temple ceremonies at the full moon. Sometimes they attend again at the new moon.
* Before entering a temple, washing your hands, feet, and face.
* Temple ceremonies involve beating large drums, singing hymns, bowing to idols, and burning food and plant offerings.

## Religious terms

* kravjaz - goddess, deity
* kravjoz - god, deity
* Naibaz, Njobaz, Nijabaz - Heaven, the Gods
* Najobaz - the Gods, the authority or favour of the Gods, well-being, blessing
* Najobaz do! - May you be blessed [by Heaven]!/Long live!
	+ Usually used alongside "Turo" to salute a monarch or a president.
* krjaudan, kraudan - temple
* puri - offering
* nolban - offering in a banana leaf, (formal) offering
* vjoraz - turn, prayer
* vjorimal - to pray
* zridal - faith, resolve, courage
* suōrai - shrine
* asyroz - one who is dedicated to the gods, purified one
* suvon, suvan - holy
* sol - halo, disc
* srota - scriptures, sacred books
* gonos - demolishing damaged shrines
* gonos-omal - to demolish a worn-down shrine
* mairaz - a blessing, a boon, a gift from the Gods
* sotul - forbidden
* sattol - sin

## Trivia

* Azgovian religion resembles a mixture of Hittite and Thai art.
* Azgo's vocabulary seems different from the Sarmelonised standards of its neighbours.

## See also

* Azgovian glossary
* Azgovian calendar
* Vozonid symbols
* Sarmelonid pantheon
* Josolchir mythology