Great Spirits

**Great Spirits** refer to the exceptionally large and powerful spirits that control various aspects of Haless. These spirits have often shaped societies, brought about myths, or been creatures of worship (such as by the Mystic Accord) while their powers influence the land. These spirits were unleashed in the Rending of Realms, causing widespread devastation as they traversed Rahen and Haless.

## Great Spirits

* **Hokuma** often appears as black mist; legends say he was being drained by the Oni in the Demon Hills for centuries, making him weak but burning with rage. He is the spirit of the earth and vengeance.
* **Yanhe** often appears as a spectral dragon; his legends are numerous along with his titles. Known as the Father of Kings, the Thrashing Dragon, the First Warlord of Haless, and he who shepherded men to build the first cities of Shamakand and Yanshen, he is considered among the mightiest of the Great Spirits. Once, every dynasty of Yanshen claimed descent from this spirit, and even today he remains a potent symbol of a state's power and authority among the Yan.
* **Kharayunyana** often appears as a spectral catfish; legends depict him as a great catfish clad in whites scales with an unfathomable length. Many go to watch him as he swims down the Kharayunyana river; as he swims by, many smaller fish hop out of the river to avoid him, and as such end up caught by onlookers, prompting feasts in his honor.
* **Phokhao** often appears as a peacock; known as one of the most graceful spirits, Phokhao resides in the Phokhao mountains, and has such authority over gems and other riches one might find there. In legends, Phokhao often represents nobility, class, and the fine arts.
* **Hengdu Bowu** often appears as a giant spectral frog; legends say he emphasizes perfection of the body. Many of his followers become self taught warriors who train alone in the hills of Xianjie, he is also the embodiment of winter and calmness.
* **Cinlau** often appears as a dreadnaught whale; legends say he adores the wide oceans he found when he arrived in Haless, and admires the courage of sailors and others trying to explore them. He helps protect the coasts while providing aid to seafarers and any who work to conserve marine wildlife.
* **Lupulan** often appears as a giant spectral lizard; legends often center around the Lupulan rainforest, where Lupulan is the most popular spirit amongst the Mystic Accord - likely because the Lupulan rainforest is the last major stronghold of the faith. The spirit is known to give Yanglam kings their right to rule their lands and wage wars, having thousands of small temples dedicated to it. As a monitor lizard, it stalks the deep jungles; though his appearances, though once frequent, became scarce once Arawkelin rebuilt the temples up until the Rending. He is the guardian of Semat Tiditkuhai.
* **Dhenbasana** often appears as a spectral elephant; despite his size, legend paints this spirit as quick-witted and agile. He has been credited with many of the innovations that have sprouted in Rahen - his home region - making it hard to separate the truth from him and his innumerable stories of debauchery. A long nose is said to be a sign of his favor, denoting one who has inherited his guile. Stories of brilliant advisors appearing and vanishing on a whim in the courts of Rahen, leaving innovation and scandal in their wake, are often attributed to Dhenbasana appearing in disguise.
* **Marutha** often appears as a spectral lion; legends report him appearing in the Marutha Desert, where it has long been a tradition for kings of northern Rahen to venture out into the dust and sand to prove themselves worthy of the crown. It wasn't until the temples began to wane as the Rending drew near that one could hear a lion's roar echoing across the desert. Those watching the sands have stated they could see a writhing cloud of dust and sand waver between a visage of a menacing regal lion, and that of monarch's wise gaze.
* **Gehet Ketine** often appears as a scorpion; legends often depict the spirit as a master of assassination, spies, hidden dangers, poison making, and willpower.
* **Hukai and Telebei** are twins and often appear as a black swan (Hukai) and a white turtle (Telebei). Living on twinned sister rivers, they are patrons of art and craftsmanship along their banks. They are known for frequently concocting rivalries and contests between their followers, and each other.
* **Huszien** often appears as a nine tailed fox; legends say that though she was once dead when her mind was fractured into thousands of shards six thousand years ago, she was revived by the efforts of Yinquan. Adoring magic and the arcane, she has been said to be capricious and indecisive.
* **Tughayasa** often appears as a pair of eyes floating like paper talismans, blinking with the sound of shredding parchment. Legends say that Tughayasa aids in the divination of the oracles, as he holds power over future sight, intellect, philosophical prowess, and planning for the future.