Twelve Gods

The **Twelve Gods** (or the **Twelve Immortals**) are the twelve most important deities who make up the Etoi pantheon. The cult of the twelve gods, also called Dodekathia, has spread across Askedoria and greatly influenced the beliefs of other cultures such as the Iskuzai, Hattusas and Agraurans with the notable exception of the Molubdenoi. Although a pantheon of twelve divine beings has been widely adopted, there is some variation in its exact composition across cultures and ritual practices of the Etoi tend to differ significantly from that of other peoples.

The Etoi categorise their gods according to a number of attributes. For instance, they distinguish between gods associated with the skies, such as Phós, and chthonic gods associated with the Underworld, such as Cirta. Another important distinction is that between auspicious gods and inauspicious gods. Whereas the auspicious gods are considered to be mostly benevolent and prayed to for protection, help and good fortune, the inauspicious ones are regarded as malevolent and dangerous and are generally feared. Their rituals are intended to appease their wrath and to make sure they do not bring misfortune over mankind.

## The Pantheon

The exact composition of the pantheon is still partially unclear. Below is a list of all deities which can be identified with certainty as being part of the Twelve Gods.

### Cirta

Iatromantis (the Mentor of Healers), Ctoniapotnia (the Underground Lady), Upogeia (She of the Underground Places), Megaketes (She of the Deep Chasms), Gorguraroa (She of the All-Swallowing Underground River), Igeia (the Curing One), Mètermena (Mother of the Moons), and known under many other names, addressed with many different epithets, revered with religious passion.

She is the Goddess of life and death, associated with the infinite underground waters and the invisible waters suspended above the skies. She is mainly honored in nocturnal rites, in natural sea caves. Cirta is a deity of oriental origin, quite like the cult of the Two Moons, of whom she is considered the mother. Although she is often referred to with terrifying names, Cirta is also the loving Goddess who heals the wounds of both body and mind. Even today, among all the peoples of Askedoria, the sick, the infirm and the mad are placed under the protection of Cirta and among the Zeugridas she is also called ‘Adona’, which means at the same time 'She Who Calms All Pains', but also 'She Who Brings Back Pleasures'.

Cirta's temples are built inside of caves and caverns where underground springs, rivers and lakes can be found. The Akroleuko (the Pale Cliff) and the Margelis Tura (Pearl Door) are said to be among her favourite places to manifest herself. Their exact location is being kept a secret by the female initiates of Cirta's mystery cults.

### Phoeraia

Leondmèter (the Lion Tamer), Despoinaroa (the Lady of Pomegranates), Mèter Iskuzoin (the Mother of the Iskuzai), Agria (She Who Lives in the Wild Lands), Apoteria (She Who Changes Herself Into a Beast), Balustia (the Pomegranate Flower), Alalkomena (the Protector), and known under many other names, addressed with many different epithets, revered with religious passion.

She is the wild Goddess of the hunt and of war, protector and destroyer of cities and armies, mistress of wild beasts, but also the Goddess of fertility, harmony and the fruits of the earth. Phoeraia is symbolically related to big cats and for this reason is considered the favorite daughter of the Double-Crested Panther. The Iskuzai believe they descend from her womb which they call ‘the Scarlet Cradle’. The Etoi learned the cult of Phoeraia from the Agrauran, who considered her the very personification of ruin and destruction, calling her ‘Demobora’, 'the Devourer of Peoples'

There are three important temples to Phoeraia. In Askedoria there are the Phoeraion Elasson (the small Phoeraion) and the Leagodesma, built on the acropolis of Tauromenion. The third temple is the Phoeraion Megas (the great Phoeraion) in the wandering island of Erobea in the western ocean.

### Auleo

Matematos (He Who Understands), Grammatopinax (the Cartographer), Aimonios-Astron (the Blood Red Star), Pheoeraiade (Son of Phoeraia), Koreamunter (the Protector of Our Daughters), Emerotes (the Civilizer), and known under many other names, addressed with many different epithets, revered with religious passion.

He was the ancient King of the Iskuzai who led his people to conquer Askedoria. The God of knowledge, or as the sages say, of cognition, – since not even the Gods are allowed to know everything – he is said to have ascended to join the Immortals following his suicide near the Crimson Strait – an event celebrated in many songs. Auleo is the divine protector of the homonymous island and city, a symbol of the harmony among the Iskuzai. It was he who willed the construction of the Geographic Temple, a place where all the knowledge of Askedoria is gathered. His cult is prevalent mainly among the Iskuzai and the Hattusas, while the Etoi consider him a demigod. He is identified with the red star that shines with a particular intensity on the celestial sphere. Although the Molubdenoi reject the worship of Gods, they call Auleo ‘Masfen-Qasis’, ‘the Prince-Priest’.

There are two most famous sanctuaries dedicated to the Divine Scholar: the Geographical Temple of Aulea, the heart of the Iskuzai alliance, and the Library of Adramittum, built on a site that predates even the Etoi.

### Erigonio

Kateudon (He who Rests), Akephalos (the Headless One), Scorpiogenetes (the Father of Scorpions), Adumeles (He With Beautiful Melodies), Philokteanos (He Who Loves to Possess), Basanistes (the Torturer), and known under many other names, addressed with many different epithets, revered with religious passion.

He is the God of violence and music, sharing the possessive power of both. Just like music invades and subjugates its listeners with its rhythm, so Erigonio possesses bodies and dominates them. He is feared and considered malevolent by the Etoi, and is most often invoked only to ward off his terrible manifestations. He is associated with the solar god by the Agraurans and is considered the son of Phoeraia by the Iskuzai and Hattusas. Erigonio was made insane and unpredictable by the loss of his head. His feasts and celebrations are solemn and strictly regulated, which is due to the hallucinogenic substances ritually consumed that otherwise might turn the celebration into a rampage the outcome of which is impossible to predict. Erigonio’s Head is said to be preserved in an ancient sanctuary across the sea and protected by a caste of bloodthirsty eunuch- priests who castrate themselves in his honor.

It is said that Erigonio's lost head is buried in the temple of Kephalos. The Kentron Temple is a revered place protected by uncountable swarms of scorpions; these creatures are consecrated to the god and nurtured with honey and corpses.

### Hekaterides

The temple of Strabia in the north is dedicated to the Major Moon. Markunda is consecrated to the Minor Moon. The Hekaterion, built at the mouth of the Igreus, is where they are worshiped together, among the banks of black silt.

### Methymelan

The burial stone of Methymelan, called 'the Taurobetilos', is the most sacred sanctuary of the god in continental Askedoria. Located between Pentalikas and Ishirras, it is venerated according to the ancient Agrauran custom with daily offerings of blood. Scholars claim that the temple built around the god's stone is the oldest building in Askedoria built by human hand.