Ankou

**Ankou** (pronounced *An-koo*) is the Kell god of fire, battle, and victory, and is supposedly the very being of the celestial body, the Sun (known to the Kells as *Anca*). Symbolizing righteousness and success, his worshipers often seek his comfort in times of grief, believing that he will bring them good fortune in the future. Ankou's symbol is that of the sun with a single upward-facing arrow within it.

Ankou does not live in the Aetherial Planes, and instead circles the Mortal Realm in the empty space known as the Mortal Bind.

## Description

Ankou is most commonly portrayed as a massive red-or-yellow falcon with flaming wings, though most recognize him as the literal sun that washes over Agara every day. A devout servant to his fellow Alder God, Aine, Ankou is a heroic soul, and provides all mortals with his sunlight.

Ankou also makes up the stars in the night sky, as they are made up of his remains when his first physical body was slain by Senuna, goddess of the Moon.

## Realm

Ankou does not have his own realm, and instead circles the Mortal Realm in the vast expanse known as the Mortal Bind.

## Personality

Brave and righteous, Ankou is the embodiment of hope. He is described as looking upon all mortals as equal, though he delights in the affairs they partake in, believing it to be a sign of progression; something Ankou adores. Even bloody wars advance a society and change the hearts and minds of mortals, which is most likely the reason that his domain is battle.

As righteous as he is, Ankou has one enemy; Senuna. Sprouting from their sibling-like feuding, the two even engaged in war at one point shortly after their creation. Witnessed in 1 ADA by the ancient Dagda, the *War of the Stars* was a day-long battle that could be seen in the night sky as the sun and moon clashing with radiant light, as well as smothering darkness. In the end, Senuna used a blade she had created from a piece of Agara known as *Dusk's Word* against the great falcon, splitting his body into a seemingly infinite number of pieces. The following year was made up of one long night, until Ankou was rejuvenated fully. This period was known as The Moon Year.

It is believed that the Callow God, Credne, gathered the stars and used them to create the constellations, in an attempt to record the history of the universe for all to see, sorting them throughout the Mortal Bind.

## Powers

Despite his godly abilities to directly influence the Mortal Realm through magic granted by the Alder Oak, Ankou sheds light upon the Mortal Realm, and many parts of the Aetherial Planes. He balances the darkness and moonlight magic that she conducts in the night with sunlight and warmth.

## Worshipers

With no shortage of followers, Ankou is worshiped by many, including those serving other gods. The only constant exceptions are followers of Senuna. Unlike most gods, he does not demand actions by his worshipers. Instead, he simply trusts that they continue to embrace his warmth, and contribute to the progression of the universe in their own ways; positive or negative.

### Clergy

As stated above, Ankou is not picky about his followers, such as long as they do not have any relations with the god of the moon, Senuna.

### Orders

* **O'lars Tribe**: The O'lars Tribe is a large Kell Tribe that is spread widely among Lothor. With most of it's members being priests and warriors, they are very uncooperative - if not flat out violent - when faced with worshipers of Senuna.

## Shrine

Ankou's shrine is located at Falcon Hill just inland of the southern coast of Lothor. Here, his followers come to pray upon his shrine, and his priests keep it's fires lit at night.

## Artifacts

* The Sunstones
* The Star Shards

## Trivia

* The events of the *War of the Stars* were so violent that some of Ankou's shattered pieces fell upon Agara, appearing as comets (named "The Star Shards"). It is believed that the few that remain scattered across the world could be pieced together as a powerful mote of his radiance, though many scholars argue that such an object of power could effect the ebb and flow of time and space.

## See Also

* Kell Pantheon
* Kells
* Dagda