Vernoron. The Harvest Lord, the God of Autumn, the Harvest, Uncertainty, Famine and Drought.
Sometimes hot, sometimes cold, much like the changing colors of the leaves. Vernoron is an unpredictable god. Calculating, temperamental and devious. The god of harvest is fickle, more so than any other. Providing abundance one year and scarcity the next. To appease him is difficult, to predict him, is impossible, in all but one way. He, like his colleagues, takes his duties to nature seriously and strives to keep it's balance.
He is one of the Primordial Green. The Third of the Season Riders. He is one of the Archfey. He is the patron of the Autumn Eladrin.
Church of Vernoron
Worshippers
Much like his other colleagues, such as Boreas, Vernoron does not seek worshippers, but respect of nature and the keeping of balance. Many farmers, shepherds, land-owners and even kingdoms pray to this deity for bountiful harvest - sometimes even wishing hardship on others. He takes both these in kind, but none can truly predict his nature. Most seek to appease him, but he is an unyielding god.
Many that wish to show their worth often don and stuff the autumn leaves in a pouch, a pocket, on their hats until the end of autumn - showing that they are willing, and they seek his appeasement.
Shrines and Temples
Vernoron does not hold any temples, but has a simple shrine - of trees carved with his face when the first leaves that turned to autumn. Many then make masks and wear it with autumnal leaves, paying homage to him.
Realm
His domain is the Vernal Retreat in the Feywild.
Divine Domains
Nature - Life - Grave
Holy Books & Codes
The Vernal Guide: This book is a collection of knowledge, wisdom, and teachings, old and new techniques of farming, agriculture and successive harvests - paired with detailed methods of animal husbandry, breeding and animal illnesses that may pervade their crop. Though these are commonly collected by experimented methods from across the land, and updated more by word of mouth - seen as a guide, but passed by word of mouth and by experienced hands. This way, the words will be gathered in the air and unreachable for outsiders while available for those that speak the language of nature and common tongue.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
A trio of autumn leaves, a red, a brown and a yellow leaf. Flanked by a pair of harvest scythes cutting in an arc.
Personal History
Vernoron, a deceitful and fickle god, has been tricked only by one deity before in a contest. The Halfing god, Maevericki, to whom challenged him to a game of wits and trickery in order to make the Harvest Lord smile before the next harvest. Though the Harvest Lord was not amused, the offer which Maevericki posed was intriguing and sought to humiliate this little deity and win at his little game.
Maevericki played tricks on the Four Seasonal Riders, hoping to gain a rise from Vernoron, involving his fellow brethren - first, Boreas, then Eostara, then Freya, and lastly, Vernoron.
He hitched Boreas on to the back of his great eight-legged steed Sleipnir, and chased him across the world with him towed behind, flinging all through the air.
Eostara was tricked to plant herself in the ground to help bring life to a grove of seeds, when really they were painted rocks.
He had somehow convinced Freya to become an ass to show how much of a hard-worker she can be throughout the summer.
However, it was Vernoron that was made the fool. Maevericki had done all this, and threw a great celebration the day before the challenge was due, in Vernoron's name. Suspicious, he had seen all the Fey and the Seasonal Riders arrive, and begin to argue. Maevericki had disguised himself as each of the Seasonal Riders, and were all advised by Maevericki as Vernoron that it was he that put them to the challenge. And all pointed their frustrations at him. He argued and accused Maevericki, furious. To which, Maevericki gave out the punch-line: "You reap what you sow."
He had intended for Maevericki to be the fool, but his attempts to dismay him and belittle him did not work. And it blew back in his face. And with the punchline, he understood, it all connected, and he smiled in admiration at a well-played scheme. It humbled him, but he did not show it. The Harvest Lord wished him of what the Halfling God wanted, believing him to be left toward humiliation... instead, he asked for something sweet and would turn his spirits from uncertainty, that will humble him with one sip and humiliate him with two. As Maevericki's prize, Vernoron conjured a fruit from a vine, and pressed it into a glass... he was granted the gift of wine and the grape vine; and became the deity of wine. To this day, it is said that when Vernoron thinks on to this ploy, he cracks a slight smile, before switching quickly to a cold frustration.
Physical Appearance
He appears as a handsome and comely elf male, with yellowed skin, and dark browning hair. He wears a cloak of colourless leaves. He wears reflective bronze-brass armour decorated in autumn leaf filigree, and a regal suit. Wielding two blades, to which when drawn, conjures Famine or Drought.
