Eriaz Pantheon

"*There was Erûsdû; He raced across the sky, his light spread upon the earth, from which arose, the Uknanurĭd..*"
—Creation of the Erĭaz pantheon, as recorded.
**The Erĭaz** (IPA: [eriat͡s]) **Pantheon** is a polytheistic religion originating from the nomads of ancient Erĭgarash, of whom the Erĭgĭ are the traditional adherents. Many Erĭgĭ cities claim one of the deities as their patron gods, overlooking, protecting and guiding their residents.

The pantheon consists of twelve major deities, personifying and governing many aspects of the mortal world. The twelve are traditionally thought to be:

* Anĭm-ur, Dûabmalyĭ, Halnanuǩ, Ilkhur, Kuraliz-ur, Lashĭras, Rasalamdû, Rashab-ur, Shulgĭ, Ûliğĭrdû, Zargamad & Erûsdû.

## History

### Origin of the Uknanurĭd

At the dawn of creation stood only one being, Erûsdû. Aloft in the heavens and alone, Erûsdû sought companionship and to witness the creation of something greater. A magnificent genderless being, that took the form of a winged golden Bull, Erûsdû had only to shed a single solitary tear, from which the seas would form. The creator god swooped across the sky, from which light radiated in all directions. From this heavenly radiance, the Uknanurĭd were born; 11 lesser deities who rose up from the oceans and began the creation of the world.

### Creation of Sabrim

The Uknanurĭd travelled this new world, each with the power to destroy and create. With Erûsdû observing from the heavens, Lands, Forests, Mountains and life sprung up in Sabrim. However all was not well, unrestricted and unrestrained, the life of the world began to falter as the living competed for what little there was. Ûliğĭrdû, imbued with the power to destroy and cause death, spread out across the world, turning plains into Desert, Mountains into Volcanoes and ensuring that life would not again choke on its own growth.

### Birth of the Races

Many of the Uknanurĭd wanted more than just simply life and the forces of nature to watch over however - from this, the creation of the races and species of Sabrim began. Many would bestow a part of themselves into their creations, required to bestow sentience on the mortals.

First, Zargamad; the Goddess of the Rivers, Seas and Storms, along with her husband Ûliğĭrdû brought forth the beast-races, Orcs & Goblins but monsters also. Secondly, came elf-kind. A creation of the Goddess Rasalamdû who in her wisdom, created the Zargĭ, who were often gifted with longer lives.

Finally, Rashab-ur; the God of Trickery, Messengers and Humanity, was not sated either. Deceiving many of the other Gods, he created his own races and embued them with aspects of many of the other deities, these races would become the three races of Man. The wroth of the Gods was great however and they sent many of their own creations to destroy humanity. Not to be outdone however, Rashab-ur took a single man, made him part-god and declared him to the first of Mankind, the leader and protector for all men. From the demi-god Ishĭ ĭnû-ur, all of Man would descend.

### Worship

The appraisal of the many deities is complex and highly dependent on the region of the world in question. For many, sacrifical killing of a cow is common. As well as the worship of a god through a great temple or Ziggurat by a King or a Priest. Many of the Erĭgĭ cities claim a deity as their patron and protector, in which the worship of these deities tend to be centered.

## Etymology

The common name for the collective gods, the Uknanurĭd is derived from the Erĭaz words meaning "Servants of Heaven". Uknanurĭd appears to be a contraction of the words for heaven 'Uk' and 'Nanan', meaning "to serve".

It is possible that this derives from an earlier form of the Erĭaz pantheon, where Erûsdû was a more active and leading figure in Erĭgĭ mythology.