Aj'Snaga Pantheon

### **Prime Gods**

The Prime Gods of the Aj’Snaga, were once a living group of individuals who were able to bring an order and peace to Palamoa after the end of the Varimathias’ Reign. Years later, once all of the group had passed on and civil wars wrought the land for control. The citizens choose to believe in what former good they knew in those individuals and the group was brought into a Pantheon of Godhood.

Though it has been wildly believed to only be stories or legends, many believe that the Aj'Snaga have champions in their service. Champions are mortals that gods have chosen to represent them on the Material Plane and gifted with powers from thier divine patron. The party has had the honor to meet a few in their travels.

#### **Broneli ‘The Defender’ - Protection & Power**

**Neutral Good**

**Symbol:** An Iron Tower Shield, emblazoned with a golden wing and crossed with a mace

In smaller circles, referred to as “He Who Watches Over”, Broneli is the beacon to protect those who can not. His call rings out to those stalwart paladins and honorable fighters, but others even make a magical deal for Broneli’s protection. A large portion of his followers come from the ranks of The Iron Helm (Skori Police), who choose to put their life in the way of harm for the safety of others. Broneli is the gatekeeper of the divine domain, he is said to stand guard and watch over Palamoa, protecting it from an unknown destructive god.

Broneli is portrayed as a large man clad in holy plate mail, carrying his radiant mace and shield, adorned with golden wings. His followers are generally known to hold their ceremonies along the edges of town, fortress walls or battlements so that they can watch and protect in his honor. Most artwork shows him standing guard at a gate or defending the innocent with his shield.

Broneli’s Holy Day, called “Savior’s Rest” takes place on the 13th day of Bronelta. In the Skorian Empire, members of the Iron Helm, Military and Navy are given the day off of duty and the local citizens watch over their towns and cities for a day.

*Championed by Bolton*

#### **Corvi ‘The Warrior’ - War & Wrath**

**Lawful Evil**

**Symbol:** A Silver helmet with the right eye bursting into flames

That What Lies Within, the words of Corvi. Embodied in the dark parts of every individual, an unending pool of rage and strength. Living on the battlefield Corvi can be seen in anyone who swings a weapon to save themselves. The burning, crushing and engulfing feeling of despair is only dwarfed by the wrathful will to survive.

Corvi is depicted as a hulking human, wearing his silver helmet and swinging a large great axe. His right eye is always shown in fire, his markers and statues can be found as markers to areas that once held great battles. The followers of Corvi are known to portray his wrath by tattooing his flames next to their right eye. His artwork shows him as a ghostly figure watching over tides of long forgotten battles.

Corvi’s Holy day is known as “Dust and Blood” a day of sorrow and solace for those who have fought and lost to the return of Corvi’s wrath. It falls on the 32nd day of Mynthro.

#### **Kenala ‘The Dryad’ - Nature, Life & Peace**

**Lawful Good**

**Symbol:** A Weeping willow tree with leaves of emerald and peridots

Kenala’s reach is where anything living breathes, any plant exists or any water shifts. As the Keeper of Animals and Plants, Kenala represents the unity and connections of nature within itself. Many of her followers are druids or rangers, those who find themselves at peace in the wilds. She is the Green Heart, One of the Wild Sisters; along with Fealtera and Gihiaz; protectors of the Wilderness.

Eternalized in the bark of trees and the falling of leaves. Kenala is shown as a soft dark skinned woman with hair of willow locks, leaves and vines wrapping her body in a beautiful dress. Her pillars and statues are found within the forests of Palamoa, usually carved into massive tree trunks. Her followers can be found in makeshift forest churches, notable by the willow branch bracelets that adorn their wrists. Most of her artwork shows her within the bark of trees or just stepping from them.

Kenala’s Holiday known as “Nature’s Birth” is held on the 1st day of Keil. Across Palamoa, festivals are held with feast and song, appreciating the natural beauty around them and Kenala’s gift of that.

*Championed by Avia Esantra*

#### **Leiona ‘The Temptress’ - Secrets & Knowledge**

**Neutral**

**Symbol:** A sealed scroll held between two red lips

What Must Not Be Said, the shroud of the unknown and knowing. Secrets are both a necessary good and a necessary evil. They protect and they harm. Everyone has them and they tempt the wills of others, the unearthing want and desire to know, the neverending thirst for knowledge. Those that search for the deepest of knowledge and secrets of the world are beckoned by Leiona’s everlasting call.

Portrayed as a tall, white haired woman, a pale complexion and bright red lips. Spiralling around are open scrolls and bits of parchment. Her visage can be seen in libraries across the continent, as the words on parchment were once someone else’s secret and knowledge. Her most devout followers are known to whiten their hair and wear a red wax seal choker. Artwork of The Temptress shows her whispering in the ears of her servants, revealing the secrets of the world.

Leiona has no given holy day, for she is both hated and loved.

#### **Niyela ‘The Nothing’ - Darkness & Death**

**Lawful Evil**

**Symbol:** A Bat Skull In A Pool of Black Bubbling Liquid

All that hides behind the black veil of Darkness is watched over by The Nothing. She who punishes the wrong. There is solace that in the darkness itself is that which hunts the monsters of the darkness, but there is also fear of it. For one to hunt within the darkness, one must become it and connect with it. It is a fine line to walk.

A haunting visage of a woman wreathed in black, the only distinguishment is the white bat skull marks Niyela through history. Her visage is rarely seen through society, but is noted to be seen south of Zhochiqed. There is not a known devout group to Niyela within the Skorian Empire, along with no known artwork.

“The Night of Sorrow” is the unofficial Holy Day for Niyela. Held on the last day of Yeilka, the claimed day in history, Niyela was found murdered in the streets of Rillasehje. Citizens stay up and walk the streets through the night.

#### **Osgonan ‘The Watcher’ - Light & Life**

**Lawful Good**

**Symbol:** An artistic depiction of Texildra’s Two Suns.

That which is bathed in the light of the sun is watched over by Osgonan. The bringer of the light, protector against the darkness, disposer of the cold. The will of the light is destined to be in the world and will always push against the darkness. The protector of Texil-dra is known to be unmoving in his gaze against the darkness.

The Watcher is portrayed as a middle aged genderless humanoid, always smiling. The hair consists of the orange and blue colors of the planet’s suns. It’s hands outstretched as to hug an oncoming individual. The most devout of their followers are distinguished by the wearing of the orange and blue colors exclusively. Artwork shows Osgonan floating, backed by the two suns, smiling. Either hands outstretched or with one hand grasping a long golden lance.

The Holy day for Osgonan is “The Matched Suns' '. On this day, both of the planet's suns move in identical patterns across the sky. Held on the 19th of Curcoro, many citizens of the Empire wear the Blue and Orange colors on this day

#### **Scura & Scoro ‘The Shroud & The Scorned’ - Life & Death**

**Neutral**

**Symbol:** A Large Black Diamond, adorned with swirling gold spirals, locked by a black iron chain with a Ruby Red Padlock.

Everything in the world needs its balance. What comes into existence, must also in time fade from it. The ties between the world and the Twin Gods can be found almost everywhere throughout. The simple feeling of being, is the connections that everyone has to the Twin Gods.

Scura and Scoro are visualized as Twins, Scura being Female and Scoro Being Male. Scura is clothed in white robes, with long flowing black hair. Scoro is shown in black robes with short white hair. A large portion of the Twin Gods followers are those that watch over the dead, like Gravekeepers; or those who bring life into the world.They can be distinguished by the symbols of the Twin Gods, usually worn together around the neck on a black iron chain. Artwork always depicts the Twins holding hands.

Any day of birth is the Holy day for Scura and any day of death is the Holy day for Scoro. As the guides of life and death, they usher new and old to and from the world.

#### **Tollanessa ‘The Scholar’ - Knowledge & Arcana**

**Lawful Neutral**

**Symbol:** An open palm holding down the ring finger with a sapphire in the palm.

Those who search for answers to the known world’s questions, seek the aid of knowledge. What is the endless possibility and how far can one reach to succeed? Tollanessa is the seeker of truth and understanding, a watcher to the unknown laws of magic. She Who Controls the Æther. The peaking curiosity is forever the call of Tollanessa.

Shown as a short woman, draped in long blue clothes, a waterfall of yellow hair pouring over her face. She always carries the sapphire in her palm. She can be seen through the ancient halls of the *Fortress Skorian*, as since the “Day of the Black Sun” she has fallen from her power, as magic is generally no longer used. Her artwork in the *Fortress Skorian* always shows her wrapped in a mystical energy.

#### **Myist ‘The Trickster’ - Knowledge & Trickery**

**Chaotic Good**

**Symbol:** An Assortment of Floating Gears in between two hands.

With knowledge comes the mediocrity of existence, but that doesn’t mean life has to be bland. The constant tinkerer and thought provoker those who worship Myist relish in the enjoyment of using their advantages to play tricks on others. Harmless, as it may be, Myist has the deeper meaning of entertainment and brings that to the people of Palamoa. A master of creations and crafting, Myist applies the unwavered vigilance of fanatics. The One Who Laughs at Peril.

Immortalized in a swath of color, Myist is shown as an ever changing humanoid. Regularly shown with diamond pattern trousers and a purple vest, topped with a turned bowler-like hat. His images can be found in Taverns and Bars across Palamoa, always reminding patrons to think and never forget to laugh. His followers can be recognized by a portion of the diamond pattern, somewhere on their clothing. There is no artwork that doesn’t portray Myist balancing cross legged on his upright walking cane.

Myist does not have a given holy day, as he is praised in every good time by anyone on the continent of Palamoa. The general cheer of drinks is “By Myist” on the continent.

### **Demi Gods**

The Demi Gods of the Aj’Snaga Pantheon are outlier gods, as a means to connect smaller groups and believers to the Skorian Empire. In a means to bring unity to the continent of Palamoa they were given official representation and religious rights within the Empire and the Aj’Snaga Holy Enclave.

#### **Avranti - The Protector of Rule**

**Domain: Honor, Justice & Law**

**Symbol:** A Long Ornate Halberd, wrapped in an unwinding scroll

The Natural Order. There is always a natural order to any world, a natural set of laws that the worlds abide by. The upholding of honor and the promises ones make. This is the domain of Avranti. They are known to hold more influence than any other Prime God or Demi-God, their influence can press against other domains and sway decisions.

Avranti in her native area is portrayed as a woman who has short dark hair, she is adorned in shining white robes holding her halberd aloft, the scroll hanging from the blade. She remains featureless with no eyes. She is normally outlined by a bright golden glow.

There is no specific day dedicated to Avranti because her visage and imagery is found in halls of engagement, law houses and the courts of The Skorian Empire. Committing to keep the justice and order of the natural world and The Skorian Empire.

#### **Dyeltora - The Guiding Light**

**Domain: Healing, Teaching, Change, Peace**

**Symbol**: A silhouetted blood droplet, wreathed in a radiant light.

The Gentle Touch of Life and the ever evolving change in Life. The Guiding light is derived from something long before the Aj’Snaga Pantheon itself. There is an unknown connection between Dyeltora and everything that breathes life. A force that has yet to be distinguished.

The imagery that exists of Dyeltora is only of the blood droplet, wreathed in light. It can be held in the hands of healers in paintings, backed onto one of the two suns in murals of growth and change. It is also seen in many images that also contain Osgonan.

Because so little is known about Dyeltora  there is no given holiday to represent an appreciation to their work.

#### **Fealtera - The Sky Leviathan**

**Domain: Sky(Air), Storms & Dragons**

**Symbol:** Two profiles of Dragon Heads; back to back; wreathed in wisps of cloud and rain.

The free roaming expanse of the Sky is the home to violent winds and a torrent of amazing beings, watched over by The Sky Leviathan. There is a claim throughout history that Fealtera has physically been seen in the skies, keeping watch in a Draconic Form and is one of the Wild Sisters.

Artistic views of Fealtera show here as an Air Genasi draped in a robe composed of clouds and lightning. Floating over areas and cities, sitting atop clouds or storms. She is also depicted in her draconic form as a large slender azurual colored dragon with long golden spines across its back. She is portrayed in her humanoid form in paintings of the Wild Sisters.

It is common agreement that “Nature’s Birth” is also the given holy day for Fealtera, along with Kenala and Gihiaz. A given holiday for all the Wild Sisters.

#### **Gihiaz - The Ever-Seeking Huntress**

**Domain: Nature, Wilderness & Beasts**

**Symbol:** An Antlered Elk Skull, with adornments carved into the antlers.

The land covered in the expansive biomes of wilderness are protected by the Huntress, one of the Wild Sisters. The protector of all beasts that call the wilderness their home and the wilds themselves. It is said that the rushing breeze that runs through the trees, is Gihiaz darting through her domain, watching ever silently.

She is portrayed in many artistic depictions throughout the Inner West Coast as a darker skinned woman, wearing shorter tighter green robes. Long red hair adorned with leaves from different trees, dashing in between the trees of the forests. She is also commonly portrayed similarly in paintings of the Wild Sisters.

It is a common agreement that “Nature’s Birth” is also the holy day for Gihiaz, as well as Kenala. A given holiday for all the Wild Sisters.

#### **Maltrya - The Puppeteer**

**Domain: Illusion, Trickery & Luck**

**Symbol:** A Pair of Mannequin Hands making a Cat’s Cradle

The Puller of Strings. Behind every act that feigns to commit to the truth, Maltrya is there. Maltrya is made as a direct connection to Leiona, because of the parallel alignment of Secrets and Illusions. Maltrya is also referred to as The Hands of Myist, for those who use the means of Trickery to prank their fellow friends. It is also said she pulls on the natural strings of luck to twist the fates of individuals, which is known to greatly upset Vaust.

Maltrya has only been shown in imagery as the pair of mannequin hands. The strings are usually connected to individuals shown to be committing crimes, pranks and even the conduction of wars by controlling the warriors. If the hands are not connected to someone, they are shown making the Cat’s Cradle.

In smaller areas of The Skorian Empire, the last day of Leis is considered the luckiest day. These areas usually hold festivals for Maltrya, so that they may have their luck changed.

#### **Rhizadeal - The Astral King**

**Domain: Knowledge, Deceit & Secrets**

**Symbol:** A Black Mask etched with Runes, wearing a Crown. The Left Eye glows Blue.

The forever changing Astral Sea is a place of ever changing imagination. The depths of the imagination birthed the Astral King Rhizadeal. A denizen of every dark willed imagination and idea. Rhizadeal is the holder of every dark secret and every unsultry piece of knowledge that spreads across the given Material Plane.

There is no imagery depicting Rhizadeal across the world. Even his known symbol is only found in very few places across Palamoa. Within the *Fortress Skorian*, in the halls of the *Golden Forge of Malli* and on the exterior of the *Temple of Licah*; now taken back by the forest that surrounds it.

There is no given holiday for the Astral King.

*Championed by Ob*

#### **Sognov - The Unshaking Earth**

**Domain: Forge, Craft, Creation, Stone**

**Symbol:** A Gold Rich Ore Chunk surrounded in flames

The Maker. Sognov is the creator and strength of the land. Bound to the dirt and rock, anything made or molded is conducted under Sognov. Sognov is directly connected to Kenala and it can be seen through many forge masters and crafters, who wear one of the Willow Branch bracelets of her major followers. Also noted that many of Kenala’s followers adorn their bracelets with a small piece of ore with gold veins, to show support for the Unshaking Earth.

Sognov in their native history is viewed as a humanoid mountain. A large individual of dirt and stone that wanders the plains creating new and diverse ecological biomes in its wake. It is noted that its eyes are representative of swirling pools of magma, which brings society to believe they are slumbering underneath the ever erupting Mount Draxignomo.

Not given a holy day in the calendar, many - noted as almost all - crafters, blacksmiths and sculptors give a quick prayer to Sognov, as they use his essence to make their wares.

#### **Vaust - The Enthralling Decay**

**Domain: Death, Necromancy & Fate**

**Symbol:** A Mushroom Covered Hourglass, pouring Black Sand onto a Pile of Skulls

The direct connection between the Shadowfell and the Material Plane. The connection that the land has when it takes back the living things that pass on. The maintained cycle of existence. The lives of everything are connected to the Fated Sands of Vaust, nothing is able to escape their final fate.

Any artistic depiction of Vaust is always of the same manner, A large ornate hourglass surrounded by mushrooms, filled with skulls being covered in a stream of black sand. The imagery never falters and is almost identical across many areas of Palamoa.

No given Holiday is made for Vaust, but they are prayed to when a living thing is returned to its place within the rest within the land.

*Previously championed by Tabernacle*

#### **Vile - The Crashing Waves**

**Domain: Oceans, Water, Tempest, Storms**

**Symbol:** A Large Colorful Conch Shell exploding with Lighting

The torrent of the waters and the crashing of waves. Vile is all the oceans of Texildra, every river, every stream, pond, lake and rainfall. Vile is considered a direct counterpart to Kenala, because of Vile’s specific nature it is believed that they have more control over their own domain then Kenala as Nature’s Prime God. Followers of Vile are known to carry a conch shell with them.

Vile in the history of Palamoa is portrayed as a gargantuan sea creature, a mix between a dragon, eel and seahorse. Rushing deep within the depths of the oceans, commanding all the darkest denizens of the depths. There is also a portrayal of a smaller similar creature, which is recorded in history to be Vile’s son, Vain. Vile is said within lore to be an actual sea creature that exists and is questioned on if they have an extensive lifespan or are genuinely immortal.

Not given a holy day, any living being that chooses to tread across the oceans or waters prays to Vile for safe travel across his domain. Some take it as a literal prayer, some continue the act out of pure superstition.

#### **Viqiz - The Eternal Sleep**

**Domain: Night, Winter, Darkness, Twilight**

**Symbol:** A Feminine Hand beckoning from an Ethereal Black Shawl.

The Longing from the Night. That which guides those into the far beyond. The bringer of the partial death. Viqiz is prominently represented through many minor pantheons as the Guide of the dead. They are said to work in direct tandem with Vaust to complete the cycle of one’s journey to the afterlife.

In many different cultures the imagery of Viqiz remains the same. A femine hand that beckons behind a black shawl with an ethereal appearance. Sometimes the imagery continues to show the frame of a woman underneath the shawl. The hand can also be seen in imagery of both Vaust and Niyela as well.

The Season of the Lich during the months of Nes, Yeilka and Osgo is given as Viqiz’s Season. When the Winter comes and the plants lose life is Viqiz’s Domain on the given Material Plane.