Four Divine Beasts

The Four Divine Beasts (also known as the Great Spirits or the Creators by the elves) are at the center of the elvish religious pantheon. Though the elves (especially the Free People) often give thanks and praise to a number of nature deities and sprites, the Divine Beasts are the only true divine beings that they pray and build shrines to. The Divine Beasts are believed to be the guardians of natural balance and are among the rare few deities that actively exist in the mortal world. Many claim to have seen these beings when their need is great, though few have ever spoken to one, as they never stay long. It is believed that the Divine Beasts were born from a being called the Earth Mother, however most records on who she was and what she looked like have been lost to time. She perished after a battle with a great force of evil and created the Divine Beasts to keep watch over the mortal plane in her stead. While the elven faith includes only the four Beasts described below, some theologists believe that the Black Tortoise, Obsiduth, revered by the dwarves, may have some connection to the Divine Beasts, as many similarities are found between the ascribed traits of the Tortoise and those of the Four Beasts.

Virdant, the Viridian Mustang. The mustang spirit of freedom, growth, and nature. He is believed to run around the world, rarely stopping, and that wind currents are created from his passing. When there is no wind, it means Virdant has stopped, and when the winds are raging, it means Virdant is raging. He represents the season of spring.

Verminculo, the Vermillion Bird. The phoenix spirit of fire, passion, and life. He circles the world together with the sun and comes to those who follow their passions to bring them inspiration. It is believed that as long as life exists, the sun will keep rising to warm the land, and Verminculo will keep existing. He represents the season of summer.

Cerulea, the Cerulean Whale. The whale spirit of storms, magic, and the ocean. Temperamental as the ocean itself, she rarely leaves her reclusive underwater hideaway. It is believed that during rough storms, sailors can sometimes hear her song amidst the crashing of thunder and the movement of the waves. Her chosen are often survivors of shipwrecks or travelers from far-off places. She represents the season of autumn.

Alabastrum, the Alabaster Doe. The doe spirit of knowledge, death, and tranquility. Smallest among the Beasts, she non-the-less shows the most compassion to mortals. She is believed to come to those who are about to perish before their time, blessing them with power to carry on. Those who follow Alabastrum believe in peace, acceptance, and kindness, with many taking a vow of non-aggression. She represents the season of winter.

The faith of the Four Divine Beasts is highly fragmented, with very few documents pertaining to the way the Beasts were originally worshipped remaining. Each elven clan has their own unique interpretation of the scraps of information that have been passed down for generations. Though all of the Beasts are worshipped collectively as part of the natural order, each beast is prayed to specifically during their respective season and during events associated with their domain of influence. For example, Alabastrum is prayed to for the safe passage of recently deceased souls to the afterlife, while Cerulea is prayed to during long voyages or storms.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Deities