Gurzil

## Deity of War *(former)*

Gurzil was the god of war and battle, and cared for almost nothing else. He was one of the first Deities. Gurzil's main attribute was his bearskin pelt. Even in domestic scenes, such as feasts of the gods, he was depicted as wearing or holding his pelt. The people of Aeglion believed that the other gods protected them and helped them in useful ways, and so they loved them. But the only help they could ever expect to get from Gurzil was that which he might give them when they were at war, and even then he might be on the other side. So, instead of loving him as they did Sho’risdal and Valothiel, they dreaded him, and called him "bloody Gurzil," or "raging Gurzil," because of his fierce temper. And although they worshiped him, they did not care to build quite so many temples in his honor as they did for the other gods.

Nothing pleased Gurzil better than a battle between two great armies. He liked to see the chiefs driving furiously toward each other in their war chariots, with helmets on their heads, and shields on their arms. He liked to see them throw their spears, and shoot their arrows, and strike with their swords at one another. The roar and confusion of the battlefield were delightful to him, and the more men that were killed the better he liked it.

Indeed, Gurzil was so fond of battle that he once came down from Menione to take part himself in the Kasai War, where the strongest and bravest of warriors had to give way before him. It is said that his flurry of blows and rapid movement in battle caused hurricanes. The wind chilled and the ground froze, turning the northern realm of Kasai into an iceland. For his intervention, Gurzil was punished by having his left eye plucked out and his weapons taken away. He was only saved from a heavier punishment from the Elder Beings at the behest of Avarkim, who had previously been rescued by Gurzil after King Hortaconn's deception.

Despite his bloodthirsty nature, Gurzil came to the aid of his fellow Deities on multiple occasions. Other than rescuing Avarkim, Gurzil was also the first one to come to Sho'risdal's aid in the Demon War of Raya. Along with Avarkim and Valothiel, he battled the army of demons led by the Lord of Deception Mahisa at the gates of Raya, for nearly a hundred celestial years. Maimed and unarmed, Gurzil finally locked in single combat with Mahisa only to discover that his opponent could not be defeated by any man. When Gurzil's strength gave out, Mahisa took the form of a great black bull and gored him fatally in the chest. The remaining Deities, Sho’risdal, Valothiel and Avarkim, fled to Harap, where their combined divine energy gave birth to Kirati, who emerged from the pool of ichor Gurzil's body lay in.

Gurzil's soul is believed to have achieved *moksha* (permanent liberation), but that is a matter known only to the Elder Gods.

Gurzil fathered of Ingorf, Lord of the forge, with the demigod Fae.

Even though he was killed, Gurzil is not a completely forgotten god. He is revered particularly by the barbarian clans of the east and the warriors of the Kasai, who see him as the bloody god of victory in warfare. Monuments to Gurzil still exist in the eastern deserts and the northern Icelands.