Kovar

**Kovar** is the realms god of light, the sun, virtue, and protection. They are well known as the ruler of Mount Celestia, being the embodiment of the Divine Light, and is the parent of Kierbeth, Goerwyr, and Havana. The are seen as the ultimate divine being and are often viewed as a representation of virtue in its purest form. As the ruler of Mount Celestia and the living Divine Light, Kovar resides in the Throne of Heaven, known as the Empyrean.

In terms of campaigns in Evarencia in Chromatic Chimera's series, Kovar is perhaps most well-known for being the patron god of the Kovithian Empire who see themselves as the chosen people of their god. Besides Kovithians, the month of Kovander derives its name from the god who returned light to the land. In some form of poetic irony, the spread of the Church of Kovith across Maywikt has seemed to make Kovar's worship outside of the culture of Kovith grow less popular.

Kovar created the Order of the Planes Militant to safeguard the Realms Above from the threats of fiends and others who would seek to undo cosmic order. Their arch-nemesis is the Prince of Shadows, Blackheart. Their rival is Verthae, their sibling. They are also opposed to the Stygian Shadow and those born of it. Their avatar is the Lightbringer, a mortal warrior who their essence bonds to the soul of. During the Sunless Era, this was Saint Orianna Orchtenbrück, who as the Sovereign in Alabaster commands the Order of the Planes Militant. Kovithians believe their Emperor continues a millennia long legacy of being Kovar's Lightbringer.

## Description

Kovar is often depicted as a genderless being of pure radiance with the sun often being used as a symbol to represent the god. It is believed they are the source of light not only to all of Celestia, but all of the Realms Above considered one of the six heavens. They do not have a physical form, but rather are experienced as a Divine Light and the Holy Chorus; a being of pure light and sound. As the Divine Light, Kovar is the source of the Idea of Good, light, order, and virtue in all the Realms. It is possible that Kovar is a trans-sentient star that obtained divinity in Time Immemorium long ago before Evarencia was created by fighting for Azor Bael against his counterpart, Agora. Lanterns, torches, and lighthouses are symbols often used to represent Kovar as well.

The Lightbringer, the gods avatar, is said to be a mortal person containing the essence of Kovar.

## Worship

*"Orianna, my lantern,*

*If you would take up arms in Our name, restore light to this realm, and break the shackles of the dread lords’ cursed darkness,*

*Then you are We, and We are you. You are Our Lightbringer. Tis not a burden We would ask of anyone. Daughter of Brytegoth, only will We enter thine house if thee would have us."*

-Excerpt from the Book of St. Orianna, one of Kovith's sacred texts comprised of the personal writings of the First Lightbringer.

Kovar is primarily worshipped by Kovithians, who have adopted their gods name for their culture. They believe themselves to be their gods chosen people to safeguard the realm from the eventual Darkfall when the dread lords return for virtue's last stand against wickedness. The Kovithian Church believes that St. Orianna was chosen by Kovar to be their avatar, and through her lineage, the Lightbringer has been maintained through the Emperor of Kovith.

Not so much a separate religion, the Church of Kovith is more so a sect of the pantheon commonly referred to as the 13 Realms. Where people and communities will adopt a god of the pantheon, the Church of Kovith sees Kovar, god of light and guardian of mortals, as their patron. The Church of Kovith was formed in the kingdom of Kovith long ago before it was the sprawling empire it is today. The Church of Kovith believe that the emperor of Kovith is the living embodiment and avatar of their god, and thus treat the emperor this way. It is held in their teachings that the essence of Kovar is transferred to the child of the emperor upon their conception. The Church holds certain doctrines as Undeniable Truths, which form the basis of the faith;

1. *The King of Brytegoth is the Lightbringer-* The ruler of Kovith, the Emperor (gender does not effect title) is the avatar of the god of light. Part of Kovar inhabits this mortal avatar.
2. *The Lightbringer is the Guide and Protector -* The avatar, as the ruler of Kovith, is to protect mortals from Darkness.
3. *There Shall Only Be One -* There shall only be one Lightbringer; this is a piece of dogma that the Church has fought bloody conflicts in the past over, and it is why every royal family only has one child. The Lightbringer essence transfers to the child from the blessed parent, marking that child the next Emperor.

The Church of Kovith also posits that Kovar is superior to the other gods, even those that share the same status as gods of the realms above. Other gods, such as Urboch, Verthae, Azrael, Okku, and Marlfax may be seen unfavorably.

### Churches

Temples devoted to Kovar are referred to as Churches and are often extravagant structures with beautiful architecture to give praise to the lord Kovar. Every church features two steeples: one as a belltower and another as the lighthouse beacon that stays lit as a symbol to Kovar's light never actually leaving mortals. Churches built to honor Kovar certainly fit the image of what most folk imagine when they hear the word 'church.'

### Notable Cultures

* Kovithian
* Old Gothic
* Morrahn (extinct)