Agrogax

A portrait of Agrogax

Agrogax is a deity belonging to the Imperial Pantheon of Gods. He is known as the God of Fire and represents both its protective aspects and its destructive ones. He is one of the Six Elementals, the first children of Kovus and Astrios, and thus is one of the eldest gods. He is both respected and feared by his family, which is not unlike the attitudes mortals have towards his flames.

Agrogax is a deity made of contradiction and balance, for the fire he watches over can be both a force of protection and comfort but also one of destruction and death. This is represented by his two faces. His front face is calm, collected, and kind. This represents the nurturing potential of the fire. Alternatively, the face on the back of Agrogax's head is angry, bitter, and aggressive. This face represents the burning destructive power of the fire. However, both faces are blind - symbolic of the impartial nature of flame.

## **Symbology**

As the God of Fire, Agrogax's main symbol is that of the open flame. This symbol has many meanings and interpretations, both as symbol of good and bad, and this is reflected in how Agrogax is worshipped. Another common symbol is that of the torch, a simple light-brining tool that represents the fundamental importance of the flame.

### **Personality**

Agrogax has two main personalities, for he is technically two people in one body. His frontal face is kind, caring and open. His rear face, however, is aggressive and angry. These two faces are often in direct opposition to each other and are forced to find a liveable balance in order for the whole to function properly. This applies to Agrogax's involvement in mortal affairs, in which a different face will respond depending on what the situation and/or request is.

Naturally, Agrogax is both heavily respected and feared by his family. The other gods admire the caring nature of his frontal personalities, but fear and sometimes even resent the destructive anger of the rear personality. Nevertheless, he plays an important role in maintaining a balance between the gods, alongside all the other Six Elementals, and is typically able to find compromise and balance for even the most hated of the Imperial deities.

### **Agrogax's Realm, Ignan**

Agrogax's realm is known as Ignan. This ream is a molten land of fire, ash, and smoke that seemingly never ends. Volcanos dot the landscape, forever erupting, and indeed even the rocks themselves are permanently on fire. If Agrogax's domain has weather of any kind, it certainly is not noticeable. Any rain would likely evaporate due to the extreme heat anyway.

To visit Ignan is a dangerous affair, though certainly a possible one. The intense heat is not suitable for mortal bodies and so visiting the realm without the necessary protection spells will result in an agonising death as the water inside the victim's body evaporates. The most dedicated followers of Agrogax can certainly enter his realm with relative ease, but must first perform long and complicated protection rituals in order to survive the journey.

## **Cult and Worship**

Just like Agrogax himself, worship of the fire god comes in two opposite methodologies. On one hand, he is worshipped by those seeking protection and warmth. But, on the other, he is equally worshipped by those seeking mayhem and destruction. Only one of Agrogax's faces will respond to any given prayer, depending on the desires of the worshipper. Generally speaking, though, Agrogax is most favoured by blacksmiths who wish to keep their forges hot, business-owners who wish to protect their businesses from fires, and generals who wish to see their enemies burn. Many war mages also find themselves giving thanks to the God of Fire.

Due to the split personality of Agrogax himself, the Cult of Agrogax is seemingly in a permanent schism. One half of the cult fixates on his protective aspects, while the other focuses on his destructive ones. It should be said that neither half of the cult wishes to annihilate the other, for they both acknowledge that their god represents the entire cult in equal measure. Nevertheless, they seem to be unable to properly co-operate and so a temple dedicated to Agrogax will likely only correspond with one particular aspect of his being, depending on which branch of the Cult of Agrogax controls it.

## **Trivia**

* Agrogax is loosely inspired by Agni, the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. Most notably, the concept of multiple heads/faces is inspired by Agni's typical look.