Garhanu

Garhanu, XXXXXXXX, the XXXXXXX, is a child of Touz and thus an Aiyu-Thani deity of the Touzu-Vaati kindred. Garhanu is androgyne and, in Achuirea, is referred to using Chomarra's special grammatical case which simultaneously denotes masculine and feminine characteristics in the sacral context. However, he is typically considered a god with some androgyne characteristics in Orithea, and Tuvai speakers refer to him as male. His cult is widespread in many parts of Orithea and Achuirea alike.

Garhanu is associated with music and poetry, revelry, indulgence, joyfulness, wine, and sexual passion, but also with sadness and mourning, and with healing (although to a lesser degree than Telaon or Deinoa). Despite his primary associations, he is also said to be a hard worker; the mythic canon of Utara-Vaati often depicts him travailing alongside his brother Tulkhur, performing various menial labors in the forge while the Hundred-Handed One attends to some intricate piece of craftwork. He is, for obvious reasons, the patron god of brewers and wine-makers.

Garhanu's temmataiyu are said to guard vineyards against thieves and pests, to inspire poets and bards, and to bring comfort to those afflicted by grief. One of his most notable attributes is his scepter, in the form of a golden XXXXXXXX-branch, whose touch is said to be able to turn water to heady spirits, or stones to the fare of a rich banquet. Another is the XXXXXXX, his enormous wine-brewing vessel, supported by seven golden legs in the likeness of gazelle's legs, by which it is able to walk about instead of being carried, and follows him wherever he goes. The wines and other nourishing or intoxicating drinks he produces in the XXXXXX have all manner of miraculous properties. Both of these articles were made for him by Tulkhur, and given to him as gifts in thanks for aid. The holy symbol of Garhanu is a double-headed, horseshoe-like pendant of peculiar shape, usually carved from jade or carnelian, although they may also be made from wood, ivory, bronze, or gold. It is curved such that the two heads of the pendant are turned to regard each other; they represent joy and grief, drunkenness and sobriety, revelry and regret.

Garhanu is said to spend half the year in Aenuvion, brewing ambrosial wines for the tables of the gods, and the other half in Urva, going about among the inhabitants of the mortal world. In Aenuvion, he makes wine for both the Thaedonu-Vaati and the Rhantaseppa, without regard for their divine feud or the ancient schism between their followers. Like other members of the Touzu-Vaati, he is often viewed with some suspicion by the Vanir-Vaati priesthoods due to his association with Touz herself and his veneration in Achuirea. This does little to reduce his popularity among the common people, though.

There is a major festival associated with the date when Garhanu is believed to return from Aenuvion to Urva (XXXXXXXXXXX), and another when he is believed to go back to Aenuvion (XXXXXXXXXX). Both feature much drunkenness and revelry, and the priesthoods of the Thaedonu-Vaati usually try to discourage them from getting out of hand.

Garhanu has few established temples and no organized or hierarchical priesthoods. His priests and priestesses are usually itinerant, although they do often join together into informal groups, since solitude and isolation are anathema to them.