Craetor

## Craetor, The Elderlight

The God of Dawn and Darkness was the firstborn child of Aeanthyl, the Endemic Being of Sky and the Heavens. Craetor rules as the King of the Gods in the Divine Realm, known as Tirnixith in Old Common, that is a part of the Outer Planes. In most myths, it is said that Aeanthyl, the creator of the sky, had done so without a care for ethics or order. Thus, tyrannical beasts and horrible creatures were free to roam. It was not until Ranyth and Kreafa urged Aeanthyl to impose order over his dominion that Craetor was created. Know as the First Light, or Elderlight, Craetor brought order to the chaos of the Heavens. It was Craetor who first banished Ashtareth to the Negative Planes. It is also commonly depicted that he is married to Doamoc, and through their union was born In'Ren, Iloul, and the twins Ekaar and Rakaar.

Craetor is chiefly noted as the greatest of the Primixith, (The 16 Prime Gods), and is respected and honored for the defeat of the Court of Dragons that nearly destroyed the Material Plane. While many in Noros ascribe to their own gods, Craetor is unanimously known and respected by mortalkind. Temples of Craetor are built in almost every major city, though shrines to Craetor can be found in every settlement.

## Iconography & Symbology

The primary symbol of Craetor is a moon eclipsing a sun, crowned by a golden coronet. This is what typically adorns fashion of Clerics and other clergies. Holy symbols approved by the Iris Crown in Polast and other countries typically conjoin an obsidian and heliodor gemstone with a golden band, all formed on either an iron or silver dish. Iron dishes are usually relegated to the peasantry, while holy symbols to Craetor with silver dishes are generally synonymous with wealth and stature.

Craetor is also known as the Exactor of Justice and can sometimes be depicted with the visage of Zophiel, one of his angels. This form is most readily recognizable by the ornate and imposing sword of Zophiel, which features a prominent golden crossbar, accented by a moon and sun.

## Mythology

### Birth

Craetor is the son of the Endemic Being Aeanthyl. By what consort it is not known, with some suggesting Ranyth and Kreafa united their own powers to impregnate Aeanthyl, (who, as an Endemic Being, was largely believed to be capable of self-reproduction).

Ranyth is the Endemic Being of Desire and Want, while Kreafa is the Endemic Being of Benevolence. They were born sometime after Aeanthyl, and, having a greater understanding of the need for order, convinced Aeanthyl that the massive expanse of the Heavens was too great to be uncontrolled. Before Craetor was born, the Endemic Beings were free to roam the Heavens willingly, but often came into conflict with untold horrors like the mythic being Zieriziran and Gœddleblot. Kreafa, being kind of heart, saw this as an affront to their plans to create a race of beings who might prosper from their creations. She persuaded Ranyth to instill a desire for a son in Aeanthyl's mind, thus creating Craetor. Therefore, it is sometimes implied that either Kreafa or Ranyth sired Craetor with Aeanthyl.

After his birth, Craetor was sheltered on Auchtyria by Oroshinao, who taught him how to harness his godhood. Craetor is believed to have been raised in present-day Brimold, though he wandered the land in search of his purpose after Oroshinao deemed him worthy to fend for himself.

### A Young Warrior

Craetor's youth was spent searching Auchtyria for a worthy challenge to test his strength. At this point, the only Gods were himself and Oroshinao, who acted as a father figure to the young god, and gave his blessing for him to seek greater strength.

Roaming over the Jastara Mountains in Eastern Villterre, Craetor came upon the mythical civilization of Thi'iva. They had been conducting a festival in honor of Ashtareth, often seen as the antithesis of Kreafa. The Thi'ivans conducted brutal sacrifices and sacrilegious acts, which Craetor deemed evil and subsequently chastised them with the command that can only come from a god. When they refused to recognize his parentage, he challenged their leader, the Demon Lord Apollyon, to a duel. Unexperienced in combat and having not yet mastered his godhood, Craetor was defeated and imprisoned under the mountain. Oroshinao was confronted by Auchtyr, his father, who questioned the decision to send Craetor into the world without training. Conflicted, Oroshinao condemned himself to an eternal penance, believing Craetor to be dead.

However, Craetor's immortal soul had been in captivity under the Jastara Mountains. Auchtyr summoned enough strength to expel the young god in a mighty volcanic eruption. Being freed, Craetor then returned to the Heavens to be trained by Aeanthyl, who gave him lordship over Night and Day. After 100 years of training, Craetor returned to Apollyon under cover of darkness and slew him. This angered Ashtareth, who in turn challenged the young god. Craetor had learned of Ashareth's hatred of sunlight, and, seizing the opportunity, created a dawn so brilliant and fierce that the Endemic Being was cast off the Material Plane.

### The Dawn of Mortalkind

Several millennia passed after the banishment of Ashtareth. It is said that Craetor took a great slumber after defeating a great evil. In this time, the other gods began to emerge: Doamoc, Shandr, Crikif, Meandr, and Gymorath. Each appeared with the desire to sire mortals who might prosper from their creations, just as the Endemics before them. However, there was great chaos between the mortal races. Each sought war against the other, and the gods had difficulty in keeping the peace while defending the mortals from other threats. Ashtareth was forever scarred by Craetor, vowing to seek his vengeance on the other gods.

When the Demon Lord Baphomet sought to purge the world through his beastly creations, Doamoc offered her hand in marriage to the slumbering Craetor. As the myth goes, it is believed that her pure love and fiery will roused Craetor to such emotion that he awoke at once, creating another great dawn that established a renewed cycle of order and peace. Doamoc and Craetor sired Iloul out of the need for a fierce warrior to fight the denizens of the Demon Lords.

### Devotion to Mortalkind

Craetor has always had a paternal affection for mortalkind, taking direct roles in the lives of many different races. There are depictions of him from the Zaquian Civilization teaching the lizardfolk how to harness his divine magic. This would be the last time until the Age of Ascendence when gods would directly influence the lives on Auchtyria. Craetor had been convinced that the Zaquians and Yuan-Ti cultures were capable of thriving on their own merits, and the gods retreated to the Outer Planes to rest. Craetor would occasionally gift a mortal with a portion of his divine knowledge, creating a line of Oracles and Demigods. This won him no favors with the other gods, all of whom grew jealous of the affection the mortals gave Craetor. This directly led to Doamoc's departure from his side, as well as several gods siring Demigods with the mortals.

During the Age of Blight, it was said by the Oracles and surviving Demigods that the Primixith had abandoned their attention to Auchtyria to fight the appearance of an Army of Uldyr Ones. It would not be another nearly 1,500 years before they returned to fight the Demon Lords who had held sovereignty in their absence.

Thus began the Age of Ascendence, and Craetor renewed his devotion to mortalkind by creating the Dwarves, Gnomes, and Orcs, though the Orcs would inevitably betray Craetor and the Primixith by giving their loyalty to Yon-Kathu, the Orc God. The gods continued their practice of siring heroes and Demigods with mortals. Two of the most notable mortals being Ingebrodr, the Dwarven consort to Doamoc, and Thander, the son of Iloul who was granted godhood.

### The Creation of Humans

Craetor and Doamoc held contempt for one another for several injuries, but Doamoc approached Craetor with the idea to create one more race of beings in their own image. Craetor agreed, suggesting that they be granted limited lifetimes on Auchtyr, relative to the existing races, so that they may not live so long that they endure the evils of the prior ages return. Humans were to be Craetor's final act of devotion to mortalkind. This led to outrage from some of the other races, whose dominion receded. Many of the oldest races, such as the lizardfolk and Yuan-Ti, seemed to disappear for good. The Dwarves and Elves kept to their own civilizations either deep within the forests or underground, while the Gnomes and Halflings readily accepted the young Humans. Only the Orcs and Dragonkind sought direct confrontation, though a small sect of Orcs splintered to welcome the Humans. This led to the creation of the first Half-Orcs.

Craetor sought peace between the Dragonkind and the Humans, though the dragon Kalai saw the Humans as a direct challenge to his own power. Of near godhood himself, Kalai challenged the gods and Craetor directly, siphoning power from the Negative Planes to exert his own will and banish Craetor from walking the Material Plane.

Craetor sought a new champion, choosing Gyorvan the Silvered to become the first Paladin of Craetor. Gyorvan submitted himself to become a vessel for Craetor, who used the mortal form to create a powerful army and defeat the Court of Dragons. Though Oroshinao is credited with the final plan to imprison Kalai, it was Craetor's power that routed the Dragon Army.

### The Allfaith

Also referred to as following the Primixith, the Allfaith is the composed teachings of the Oracles and tenets handed down from Craetor and the Gods. The Tenets are as follows.

* To each Divine must there be an acceptance of divinity, and to each Divine's dominion must there be an accorded respect.
* The world was a gift not of the Primixith, but of the Endemic Beings. Thus, as Divinity is limited to being a caretaker, so should Mortalkind strive to cultivate for the benefit of the world.
* Mortalkind has been gifted a soul, which is a small portion of Eyon, or Eternity. Though your body may perish, your soul is immortal.
* Your mortal actions dictate your immortal resting place.
* All mortalkind must find for themselves a purpose to serve. The lack of purpose, or the rejection of one's destiny, is the first of the three Transcendent Blasphemies.
* Any worship of Ashtareth or his followers is an affront to the gifts imparted to Mortalkind. This is the second of the three Transcendent Blasphemies.
* To question the authority of the Primixith is to question the behest of nature. To challenge their authority is the ultimate hubris, and is the third of the three Transcendent Blasphemies.

## Followers of Craetor

Many of the factions that follow Craetor are widely followed across political boundaries.

### Clerics of the Beryl Order

These are Holy Clerics and Preachers of the Allfaith. They tend towards a Lawful Good alignment, typically seeking the greatest good for the people. It is their charge to protect and cultivate the Temples of Craetor or Halls of Many Shrines, which are often the centers of society. They detest evil in every form and will actively fight the manifestations of demonic or blasphemous origin.

The followers of the Order are referred to as a Beryl, though the term is sometimes preceded by their rank within the Order, such as an Iron Beryl or High Beryl. Though a large population of the Beryls are in fact clerics, wielding great divine power, not all possess these abilities. Their sigil is a finely cut Beryl gem on a white field.

### Knights of the Sacred Dawn

These Knights were once the militant arm of the Beryl Order. Paladins of the highest caliber, they championed noble causes and were called upon the destroy the more powerful malevolent forces of evil. The most famous Knight was Gyorvan the Silvered, who began the order after the defeat of the Court of Dragons. Their numbers have dwindled in recent years with the reduced need for such a force.

It was tradition to house the Knights in a temple of their own that was near the Temple of Craetor, though this has fallen out of fashion. While there are still guild houses for the Knights, they are not as common. Their sigil features the blue Beryl gems of their Cleric counterparts, but these are featured as the pommels of a crossed sword and ax upon a white field.

### Bannerets of the Everdusk

Though not expressly an outlawed order, these Paladins were once members of the Sacred Dawn. Diverging some time in the late 1st Age, the Bannerets took the fight against evildoers in their own hands, often in direct confrontation with the law. They tend toward Chaotic Good alignments, opting to work within small groups or by themselves.

Bannerets have no established base of operations, generally using the estates of the wealthier Bannerets as temporary lodging or outposts. They are not entirely trusted by the communities they inhabit, as the Bannerets have garnered a reputation for secrecy and mysticism. Their sigil is a waning moon on a blue field aflame with white fire.

### Order of the Third Dawn

This is an outlawed order of wayward Clerics and Paladins who have misconstrued Craetor's teachings and seek to return the world to an all-encompassing darkness. Then will Craetor return once more to create a Third Dawn to purify the world in a more perfect way. The Order was founded soon after the ending of the 1st Age by the Oracle Bosimor atop the Thurifiri Peak.

The Thuririfi Mountains have long been known to be the historical center of the Order, constructing a hidden castle high into the peaks. It is believed to be abandoned, though bandits have attempted to use it as a hideout. Their sigil is a yellow iris flower on a black field.

## Rituals and Worship

### Days of Worship

#### Feast of the Primixith

The month of **Craetor** has been devoted to the worship of the god. However, the 16th day, or 2nd Ixith, is relegated to a specific day of feasting, referred to as The Feast of the Primixith. Celebrations typically are held beginning three days prior on the 13th of Craetor. A festival is held that signifies the final three days of the battle against the Court of Dragons.

#### First Dawn

The first day of the new year, the 1st of Late Dawn, is the symbolic rebirth of Craetor's promise to defend Auchtyria. It is the last day of the Winter Septenary, celebrating Crikif. First Dawn is celebrated by gift-giving and charitable acts.

### Daily Prayer and Rituals

Followers of the Allfaith all recite the tenets as a common prayer, but specific disciples of Craetor also have the following prayers to turn to in their own meditations:

"To Craetor, The Elderlight... may the Light Divine, which has long since thwarted the denizens of evil, shine bright upon my travels and reveal all that is good."

"May the Elderlight guide my hand and my sword. May the Elderlight infuse my mind with the pure and Divine. May the Elderlight sanctify my soul and make me a vessel for good."

## Demigod Children, Angels, and Oracles

Craetor has always been regarded as a father to Mortalkind, especially Humans. However, Craetor does have a more paternal connection with other entities that act either on their own divine agenda or as extensions of his own divinity. Many of these Demigods formed what became known as the Undirna.

### Demigods

#### **Yohre**

**God of Rains,** *Domain of Tempest*. Craetor's first child with Mortalkind, the mother was the powerful Elven mage Anvarathil. Yohre spent half of his life with the Elves of Braehaea Isle, fully aware of his divine parentage. By his middle-age, nearing 400 years, Yohre first communed with Craetor, who desired him to learn the ways of Mortalkind. Yohre asked for the power to give food and water to the starving of his kind, and Craetor gave Yohre command over the rain clouds.

#### **Medyja**

**Goddess of Oracles,** *Domain of Knowledge.* A child of Craetor and Gymorath, Medyja lived among her divine parents as a child. Medyja befriended many mortals, often inspiring occult practices among her followers that wished for foreknowledge. Though Medyja never intended it, many of these cults led to mortalkind tampering with magic far beyond their abilities to change the future and past.

#### **Kahna**

**Goddess of Seasons,** *Domain of Nature, or Order.* Craetor saw that the four deities that represented the seasons, (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Crikif, Rakaar, Doamoc, and Shandr respectively), had difficulty in deciding how long their reign should last. Learning from his own responsibilities of establishing an order between night and day, Craetor asked Thyslvar to create for him a child that could adjudicate the seasons. Craetor was given a glowing orb that resembled a golden egg, and from it hatched Kahna, a gynosphinx.

### Angels

#### **Zophiel**

**The Sword of Craetor,** Zophiel was born of a desire to carry out Craetorist justice. Zophiel often appears to mortals who are touched with Oracular gifts, as well as some particularly gifted Clerics and Paladins whom Craetor has chosen for a higher calling.