Terak (TAIR-ack)
The Valiant, Bold, The Mighty, King of Heaven, Marshal of the Gods
Terak is the god of the body, valor, war, physical struggle, brotherly unity, and battle. He is worshiped by soldiers and warriors of all stripes, those who need the protection of physical strength, and protectors of the weak. Terak is shown as a powerful figure, broad of shoulder and with a great barrel chest. His hair falls to his knees and is either braided or left loose, depending on the culture that made the icon. He is also usually shown with a long beard, blonde hair and icy blue eyes. He is often armored, always carries his battle axe, and is represented wearing a cloak of fur and bones—bones taken from his son, Aerix. Two symbols represent Terak. The first, is the fasces: a bundle of sticks lashed together with a golden cord. When one is in a hurry, this symbol can be fashioned as several small circles around a central circle. This is used for stamps on weapons, low detail work, and hasty scrawls. This set of circles cast of bronze is often used as a holy symbol, even though it is not supposed to be.
The second symbol is Terak’s axe. Forged in the first epoch and the first weapon made, the axe was used by Terak against his own brother and the tree of life, Eliwyn, but also against Kador, and the dark god’s wicked progeny. The double-headed axe of Terak bespeaks this contradiction. Weapons have two sides. They can be used for great harm, or great good. This lesson is dear to Terak’s followers. The simple version of the axe is a circle with a line that moved from its top, through the middle, and past, to become the axe’s handle where the circle stands for the blade.
The correct holy symbol of Terak, and the one worn by most of his faithful, is a bronze likeness of the axe. Sometimes one head of the axe is golden and the other, black, but this is an ornate symbol only worn by commanders and similarly powerful faithful. Even though this is the “correct” symbol, many clerics wear the fasces, and have no trouble casting their spells.
He is associated loosely with animals of war like dogs, horses, and hawks, but his closest association is with the lion. He is served in the heavens by lamassus, the mystical creatures with which he is often associated, and the children of his animal companion, Metteron. Terak is worshiped most fervently by the mortal races that wage war in an organized and tactical manner: humans and dwarves. Elves, halflings and gnomes certainly pay their respects to Terak as one of the gods, but his worship is not especially popular in their homes. Because of the religion’s strict belief that all five mortal races are equal, the worship of Terak is incredibly popular with ostracized half-orcs and half-elves.
Divine Domains
- Confidence
- Duty
- Might
- Vigil
- Zeal
Divine Symbols & Sigils
There are five symbols of faith always found about the person of one of the Teraketh. All worshipers of Terak who bother to identify themselves as such wear or carry these symbols. Even if he smokes, drinks, and commits adultery regularly, he has these symbols, or cannot claim to be of the faith.
Unshorn Hair
The Teraketh do not cut their hair, so they are easily recognized by their long braids or beaded hair. In very hot climates, they wear head wraps to keep their hair off their necks.Vambrace
All followers of Terak wear armor (of leather or metal) on their right forearms. This signifies the protection a warrior wears and the bond of service all the faithful bear, to Terak and to their brethren of the mortal races. When the faithful sin or violate the strictures of the faith, they are chastened when another simply casts a glance at the vambrace—a visual reminder that the bond is violated. For those who cannot wear a full piece of armor for whatever reason, a simple leather wristband suffices.Holy Symbol
All followers of Terak wear his symbol, the two-headed axe, openly—though some now wear the fasces instead. This is not meant to show off their piousness but to inform all who see them that they are duty-bound to protect the weak. Technically, it is considered a sin for any worshiper of Terak to turn down a request for help from any member of the five mortal races who cannot help themselves. This has grown into something rather different, with many turning it into a justification to form mercenary bands and armies, offering services to the weak for a “nominal fee.”A Weapon
Even though the holy symbol of Terak is the axe, all manner of weapons please him. A worshiper of Terak must always be ready to stand in the defense of his brethren. Even while the faithful sleep, they wear “sleeping daggers.” Small and ornamental, these cost 1 gp and weigh 1/2 lb. They deal 1d4 piercing damage and possess the finesse and agile properties.The Forelock
All Teraketh carry on their person a lock of the hair removed when they came of age. This is to remind them that they were once young and frail and required the protection of others. The forelock is the “hidden” symbol, in that it is the one Teraketh do not wear openly.Tenets of Faith
Might Makes Right
Most myths and many scholarly works present Terak as a sort of knuckle-dragging, violent maniac. The reasons for this are simple: First, he really was a violent maniac in his youth, as were his siblings Tinel and Zheenkeef. Second, these sources are usually written by the worshipers of Tinel, Zheenkeef, or one of the other chaotic gods. Terak is best understood as the wily king or general from a warrior culture. He sits on his throne pondering warfare and the strengths of nations. Elaborate aesthetics, matters of learning, and books hold little appeal for him. However, he is no longer the simpleton he is represented as. He loves sincere songs, and poems without double meanings or bits of hidden cleverness. He enjoys the simple pleasures a life of decency brings. Since the death of his son Aerix, he has ceased pursuing the expansion of his personal power. In the past, Terak was a primitive god who sought glory, strength, and supremacy, which brought him into conflict with his brother Tinel. Now, while he is still in conflict with his brother, it is for different reasons. Terak sees there is one thing that truly matters in the world: strength. While his brother Tinel puts faith in the strength of the individual and the power of knowledge, magic, and other abilities an individual might possess, Terak puts his faith in the power of the many. He sees true strength in a unified society. And while he sometimes makes it clear he opposes the use of that strength for evil, at other times he seems to support the power of unity without question. These mixed messages led to a schism among his followers that is generally cordial, but sometimes grows fiercely argumentative. Terak wishes to see the mortal races unified. He would see a world where the will of the many prevails over the few. He is fondest of the common people, and those who protect and serve them, such as soldiers. He has little love for those who consider themselves superior because of their knowledge or magic, or because they possess greater wealth. He seems to have no problem with those who use their physical prowess to unify people against the elite and learned. In Heaven, Terak is king because his wife is queen. He bears no special authority as king over his brother and sister—indeed, they resent his status. Terak would like to unite Heaven under goodness, but his pride keeps him from extending much friendship to Tinel.Holidays
The temples of Terak do not celebrate any universal holy days. Instead, each regional council organizes celebrations of local holy days tied to local great battles. The temples take it upon themselves to commemorate all fallen heroes from such wars, regardless of their faiths. Among each of the faithful there is one particularly important and holy day, which is the day of adulthood. Called the sword day (shortened to Sworday and pronounced Soreday, a favorite pun among those mocking the Teraketh), it marks the day when a member of the faith comes of age. The young boy or girl is given a family weapon, usually an axe or sword crafted just before his or her birth, but sometimes one passed down from generation to generation, and the child’s head is shaved, removing the hair of youth. This is the only time the hair of the faithful is ever cut (though they can shave their faces) and the forelock from the occasion is saved and carried by the Teraketh for the rest of their lives.
Once the weapon is bestowed and head shaved, several stout warriors from the community gather around the newly minted adult and, depending on the culture, either beat him or her into unconsciousness against the adolescent’s fierce opposition, or stage a ceremonial fight.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Terak is the Marshal of the Heavens. Against anyone foolish enough to bring an army against the gods, Terak stands as the general of the divine forces. He has a personal retinue of one thousand heroes, all of whom are half-mortal children who became part of the Celestial Host upon their death. His closest lieutenant among them is Aerix, who was humbled by the circumstances of his death, and is now a radiant figure of goodness without pride. Lying before Terak’s throne in heaven is the Lion,
Metteron. With golden hair and fur, and teeth long as a man’s arm, Metteron is said to be the strongest beast on any plane. He is father to the glorious lammasus, winged lions with human heads, and the magnificent griffins, winged lions with eagle heads. When Terak sends a message, or aid, it comes from one of Metteron’s progeny, a lammasu. In particularly dangerous cases, when a lammasu is not enough, Terak might send one of his progenies or another celestial. On rare occasions, Metteron himself might come to the aid of one of Terak’s faithful.
Divine Classification
God
Religions
Realm
Church/Cult
Children
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