The Demigods of Edari TLDR
Afriend, Demi-god of Art and Beauty
Parent god(s): Adyn
Personality and Appearance: Always adorned in extravagant and unique clothing, Afriend has appeared to many in dreams in visions, yet always concealing their face in some way. Claims at seeing their true face are either dismissed or accepted as a stunningly beautiful and life-like mask. Owing to their name, they are incredibly amicable and positive towards anyone, happy to give their opinion on any creative work and help best translate the idea of the artist to its final shape.
Common Practices: Afriend, perhaps paradoxically, tries to avoid becoming the center of attention, and is more interested in the work itself and the enjoyment of whatever audience comes across it. One of the fiercest debates amongst religious scholars is whether or not Afriend promotes an objective or subjective standard of beauty, a topic that Afriend themselves has pointedly avoided clarifying.
Lore: Whereas the other offspring of Adyn have had clear stories and circumstances that warranted their creation, Afriend's existence seems purposefully vague. As long as people have sought beauty and expression of creativity, Afriend has always been close by to lend a hand or advice.
Andu, Demi-god of Trickery & Thievery
Parent god(s):Eida
Personality and Appearance: Being one of the Chaos Beasts, their form is bestial in nature with a white carapace adorned over red flesh. The being has four arms and a set of bird-like wings on its back, as well a head silhouetting that of a crow's head, but with exposed teeth and unblinking boulbus yellow eyes. The few people that have encountered Andu described them as an incredibly earthly god, stealing and misleading those only to the benefit of their own survival.
Common Practices: Common practices revolve around ideas of wealth distribution, and acting in one's own way to survive; distinctly different than that of the fey's whimsical pranking. They are the patron saints of thieves and the downtrodden, and are frequently worshipped in the hopes of an opportunity presenting itself to be taken.
Lore: There is little to none written about Andu, and any history associated with them alone without the Chaos Beasts. The only easily accessible information is a folk tale of someone slipping past a sleeping Eida to rip a chunk of her hair out, that then squirmed to life, congealed, and created the demi-god.
Caddo, Demi-god of War
Parent god(s)Zirco
Description personality and look Cold, calculating, opportunistic. Caddo is often depicted as a masked humanoid figure with dark eyes. Many call onto her when war is afoot or broken out. Most know that she will help anyone, even if it means both sides. The longer the war, the more destruction there is, the greater rebirth for the nation. She gives both strategies and weapon plans to those who ask. She does not have favorites.
Common Practices Even though it is known she does not have favorites, many try to appeal to her when war is oncoming. Most sacrifice a prized animal or promise a large number of slain in her name. Others, in the midst of war, will offer her the slain for her to claim.
In a non war time, many pray to her to have wars and conflict in other areas. Some prayers have been successful, while some have not.
Lore Back when humans were first starting to fight amongst each other, Zirco decided it would be best to split into two parts in order to properly balance the world on his end. Caddo focused on conflict and specialized in the destruction that comes with. It took many years, but she has honed her skills to bring the messiest of wars. Many say the Century War was heavily influenced by her.
Galanthe, Demi-god of Civilization, History, and Record-Keeping
Parent god(s)Helix
Description personality and look Galanthe is often described as a shorter man with short blonde hair and green eyes. He is often fashioned in a white Peplos that is accented with gold embroidery on its edges, as well as a rope tied around the midsection of the same color; adorned on his head is a circlet made in the likeness of a laurel wreath. He is an outwardly friendly god, appearing to be a paragon of civilization, and structure. Galanthe always appears to be only on your side, as he is a habitual gossiper who wishes only to play men like puppets to fight battles in the name of a "one true civilization".
Common Practices His temples are often doubled as libraries and historical sites, where people come to worship him and etch their way of life down for others to build off of in another life. Worshippers of Galanthe are commonly found as state officials, or members of office who wish for the wellbeing of their nation and perseverance for the days to come. There are only a scarce amount of rituals that directly involve praise towards him, most of them happening asynchronously to the yearly cycle. Instead most occur as mourning services for history lost in the case of fires or war, and celebrations for the founding of towns and instillation of municipal buildings.
Lore The birth of this demigod is currently shrouded in mystery, but a commonly recited rumor says that a man with the hubris of a god approached Helix to request his aid on the unorderly formation of kingdoms and nations, and said that he knows of a way to make all sentient life to conduct themselves properly. Intrigued, Helix took his offer and together they crafted Galanthe; though the man was hopeful, he was also idealistic and naïve. In the process of creating Galanthe's thought, he incorporated discriminations and hate causing the rising demigod to segregate the nations and create conflicts between he people.
Kuluri, Demi-god of the Ocean
Parent god(s): Eida & Zirco
Personality and Appearance: A massive red oarfish with a body that stretches for thousands of meters, traversing the depths of the seas and ocean. The iridescent orbs Kuluri has for eyes seems vast and expansive, similar to the ocean. As one of Eida's Demi-gods and one of the Chaos Beasts, he is beastial and animalistic in nature and personality. Kuluri is skittish and will disappear if it senses any threats. He swims along the bottom of the ocean, but his long movements are so massive that it affects the currents up above.
Common Practices: Fisherman and sailors offer tribute to Kuluri by throwing food into the ocean. Many fisherman also limit themselves to fish found near the surface of the water in order to respect Kuluri.
Lore: Kuluri was created when a stream of Eida's blood splattered against the planet Garmu. He, like the other Chaos Beasts, were used as conduits of power for weapons of mass destruction during the Century War. Zirco developed an affinity for Kuluri and viewed him as a beloved companion. When Kuluri is spotted at the surface of the ocean it is often a warning of impending disaster. This is because wherever Kuluri is sighted, destruction (Zirco) often follows.
Lekwati, Demi-god of Medicine and Health
Parent god(s): Adyn
Personality and Appearance: Lekwati is a luminescent woman, tall and golden skinned with long, dark hair and often depicted in whatever local garb that denotes doctors, nurses, or apothecaries. Ever doting, she is often portrayed as tending to those who desperately cling to life, and easing the pain of those whose time has come. This causes deep reverence for those who have loved ones afflicted with sickness, yet furious scorn for those who believe that their loved ones were neglected by her.
Common Practices: In addition to her followers often being trained in all kinds of medicinal customs, she is best known for enforcing a strict devotion to hygiene. As the link between cleanliness and the prevention of diseases became more apparent, it is these doctrines that are credited with saving more lives than any salve or cure.
Lore: In one of the few arguments between Adyn and Zirco made known to mortals, she disputed the swift and inevitable death to injured creatures. To prove her point, Adyn tore several points from her crown and fashioned Lekwati with them right there, rebuking the assumption of unceasing entropy in the new world of Garmu. The story is also noteworthy for being the only recorded argument that Zirco would so definitively lose.
Pidad, Demi-god of Storms
Parent god(s): Eida
Personality and Appearance: A bluish-black bull made out of storm clouds. Pidad has the ability to soar through the skies, summon cataclysmic storms, and create powerful gusts of wind. As one of Chaos Beasts, Pidad is unruly, stubborn, and animalistic. His mighty tempests don't pass easy and are highly destructive.
Common Practices: Followers of Pidad often participate in shows of strength to prove their worthiness to the storms. Believers also view obstacles as chances for growth rather than as setbacks. In times of drought, farmers will pray to Pidad to till their farms and bless them with rain.
Lore: Pidad manifested when Eida exhaled. He, like the other Chaos Beasts, were used as conduits of power for weapons of mass destruction during the Century War. Due to Siun's watchful eye, Pidad has calmed down significantly since his conception.
Pryreon, Demi-god of Nature & Survival
Parent god(s): Adyn
Personality and Appearance: She is a thin, lean woman depicted with hind legs, clawed hands, and long, matted hair. She works tirelessly to balance both life and death in creation, showing favor to that which continues to struggle as she does.
Common Practices: Ritual sacrifice is incredibly common among her followers, but not out of the desire for answered prayers, but instead as proof of success in survival and elimination of excess that causes one to become fat and domesticated.
Lore: Originally created by some of the earliest and longest clippings of Adyn's crown, Pryreon served both Adyn and Zirco faithfully by ensuring that the efforts of both would yield new life capable of sustaining and adding to the world. When Adyn disappeared following the Century War, Pryreon would step up to maintain all of nature, working themselves down to the gaunt, bony figure they are depicted as today. Many would consider her to be one of the strongest of the demigods.
Siun, Demi-god of the Moons
Parent god(s): Eida
Personality and Appearance: Siun the shepherd is a writhing fleshy mass of inexplicable size. Her alien form is ever shifting and impossible to comprehend without divine eyes. She resides inside of the Outer Moon named after her. On very rare occasions, onlookers have claimed to see Siun passing from the Outer Moon to the Inner Moon, Zehba. Siun is keen and is said to observe the movements of every living being on Garmu. Her watchful eye makes sure that the Chaos Beasts are not being exploited by mortals.
Common Practices: Worshippers of Siun are keen and perceptive like her. They seek to ease her burden by helping her watch over Garmu. Followers of Siun will explore the corners of the world Siun's eye cannot reach in order to make sure that evil is contained.
Lore: Siun was created when Eida scooped out her eye and gently placed it in the night sky. Eida gave Siun the title of shepherd and tasked her with ensuring the safety of the Chaos Beasts. Siun now lays atop the night sky and watches the world from above. Her watchful eye ensures that chaos is contained solely to nature and cannot be exploited by the likes of mortals.
Thalios, Demi-god of Death/Decay
Parent god(s)Zirco
Description personality and look Silent, patient, sorrowful. Thalios is often depicted as a masked humanoid. The mask is made of silver with the faces of the damned carved into it. Candles cover the top of the mask and pauldrons they wear. They cry blood constantly to show their silent contemplation. It never is quick to kill. They know when the time comes, everything will die and pass on.
Common Practices Mostly necromancers and occultist hold the practices to properly worship Thalios. Most pray to bring bodies back as zombies or to revive the body. Others use rituals to allow some life to be brought back to bodies. Additionally, each region has their own funeral practices to make sure Thalios takes care of the soul in the after life.
Lore Thalios is the other half of Zirco. They are in charge of the afterlife and the passing of souls. They make sure everything moves on, even if they return back to the mortal plane temporality. It has been said that when people pass, they personally greet each person and escort them to their afterlife.
Turfi, demi-god of Tools and Artifice
Parent god(s): Adyn & Akhard
Personality and Appearance: Turfi is a short and stocky man adorned with an illustrious bronze helmet that encompasses his entire head in the style of a feline. He is often depicted wearing simple clothing underneath a dark, heavy apron and some manner of interchangeable eyewear attached to the helmet. Whereas the other god of crafts, Afriend, pursues expression for expression's sake, Turfi finds fulfillment in the application of their craft. Ever the pragmatist and the problem-solver, he hammers away at each new project with zeal and enthusiasm.
Common Practices: While prayers to Turfi for successful and smooth projects are abundant, much of the clergy dedicated to him put less emphasis on doctrine or faith and more on preserving, rediscovering, and creating new methods and practices for any and every artisanal trade. Perhaps the only moral element of his worship revolves around the awareness and acknowledgement of the worst possible application for any tool or creation, especially with those seeking out Artifice.
Lore: Turfi was created when Akhard asked for a few pieces of Adyn's crown that he could instruct and impart his vast knowledge to, eventually gifting the young demigod with an enchanted helmet that would allow them to see even the most minute of impurities in any metal or design. As civilizations flourished across Edari, Turfi was there to impart his knowledge to the mortals, leading to great works of Artifice developing across the lands. However, these secrets of Artifice would be unleashed in the Century War, aiding to much of the destruction and devastation. Following Adyn's restoration, Turfi opted to withhold his works of Artifice from the new generation. Hopefully with the slow rediscovery of these practices, mortals can learn from the mistakes of their predecessors.
Turl, Demi-god of Morality
DM: Dmitri T. (discord: bugsby)
Parent god: Helix
Personality and look: Turl is a cataloguer. In Helix’s words, he “seeks to find order in that which is naturally disordered,” i.e. morality. Seeing the “disorder” amongst people’s morality, cultures, and understandings of the world, Turl created the alignment system to organize everything on the axes of good and evil, lawful and chaotic. Turl does not interpret the alignment system as his creation, but rather his discovery.
Turl often manifests as a young-looking humanoid with golden hair, tanned skin, and a white toothy smile. He often wears loose white garments and two pairs of white-feathered wings sprout from his back. He carries a notebook with him everywhere, jotting different notes in incomprehensible tongues.
Common Practices: Most worshippers of Turl do not worship him alone and tend to worship him in conjunction with Helix, putting statues of the two of them in temples, worshiping them as father and son and an image of holy fatherhood. Some tangential worshipers of Turl tend to be cataloguers or academics who go out into the world and create logs of different things, whether they be living things like insect species or people groups, inanimate things like stratigraphic layers or metal types, or practices like cloth dye making techniques or uses of feathers in art. Cataloging is a hobby for some and a full-time job for others. Many cataloguers also assign alignments to different animals, like squirrels or small lizards.
Lore: Turl was created by Helix and Helix alone -- single father and son. Some sects of Helix’s and Turl’s joint worshippers believe he supports his son in all endeavors and was the one who originally created the alignment system, then passed it on to his son. These worshippers of Helix tend to have a more iron-fisted view of order. Turl's holy symbol is a grid. Officially a 9x9 grid in the most accurate texts and art, many worshipers make smaller grids on their own holy symbols or prayer wheels.
Vonia, Demi-god of Impossibility
Parent god(s)Akhard
Description personality and lookA purple skinned elven woman, cloaked and wearing a featureless mask. She stands in stark contrast to Akhard, usually thwarting people's advances into magic with danger or simply unpredictable results. Some are foolhardy to use magic fueled by her, letting themselves be at the whims of chaos.
Common PracticesWorshippers of Vonia live their lives in randomness. Magic users drift towards chaos magic and magical items that produce randomness, while someone with less magical prowess will gamble on almost anything and everything.
LoreWhile nobody knows for sure how Vonia came to be, and Akhard isn't saying, rumors have spread that she was an accident. As Akhard wove reality with magic, there always remained contradictions no matter how hard he tried to make everything uniform. Rather than forever try to fix this, he instead decided to incorporate these contradictions into the very way magic functions. And thus Vonia was born.
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