TYR, God of Oaths

GOD OF OATHS, HONOR, WAR, AND LAW

Tyr, one of the oldest Aesir gods from before the Falling and a somewhat enigmatic figure. He was the god concerned with the formalities of war—especially treaties—and also, appropriately, of justice. Unlike most Aesir Gods, Tyr thrived in the thick of battle. He gives each individual warrior the courage to withstand the horrors of war and defeat his enemies.

He is stoic almost to a fault, but also exhibits a wry sense of humor. Those who honorably shed blood in Tyr's name can count on his support. Cowards and oath breakers are to be despised, and traitors don't deserve mercy in battle.

Tyr most often appears as a strongly built warrior in his later years. A balding head with long white hair and beard, he stands tall wearing his common looking armor with a shield strapped to his right arm, where the had is noticably missing. He speaks in a booming baritone that projects power, confidence, and courage.

TYR'S INFLUENCE

Tyr personifies the glory of victory, honorable combat, and physical competition. He is the unspoken bond between soldiers on the eve of battle, the courage of the standard bearer holding colors aloft in the midst of battle, and the exultation that comes after a hard-won victory. Iroas pushes his followers to excel in their chosen fields, particularly war and athletics, and gain honor through superior skill, training, and dedication.

War is, fundamentally, a terrible experience filled with pain, loss, and fear. Unfortunately, as Tyr sees it, war is also necessary. He sees preparing for and winning life's essential battles as being of paramount importance and the highest calling one can experience.

Tyr is far from only a war god. In fact, his primary role seems to be that of an upholder of law and honor. Tyr values faithfulness in oaths and bonds. Courtroom testimony and marriage vows are sworn on his name, for he can't tolerate the breaking of a solemn promise. He is the arbiter of morality, virtue, and honor. A oath sworn under his name can find terrible consiquences if ever broken.

Lastly, Tyr urges his followers to blunt the advances of his Vanir counter part, Mogis. This directive inevitably means combat, since Mogis wants of no other way to deal problems. Diplomacy isn't an act of cowardice, but because it isn't an activity Mogis is prepared to engage in, it isn't something Tyr expects of his followers.

TYR'S GOALS

Tyr sees his existence as a sign that honor can never die. He seeks to hold mortal and gods alike to thier words. Though this task takes place as a series of glorious battles to be won by both him and his followers. War is a testing ground from which only the strongest and most honorable emerge. Between battles, there are feats of endurance and physical prowess to perform. Tyr exhorts his followers to hone their bodies and minds just as they hone their blades. He is certain that to slacken his vigilance and grow lazy would guarantee his demise at the edge of Mogis blood-soaked axe. Tyr pushes his followers to be ready at all times to spread honor and justice.

DIVINE RELATIONSHIPS

Tyr is defined by his opposition to his Vanir counterpart, Mogis. Although both love battle, Tyr holds an honorable and valorous view of warfare, whereas Mogis lusts for carnage and butchery. Tyr firmly believes that mortals will always fight, whether in war or in less consequential pursuits. His charge is to ensure that war is waged with a code of honor and to prevent his counterpart's depravity from spreading through the world.

Tyr holds an abiding respect for Purphoros, who girds his warriors in the products of his artifice. Tyr sees finely crafted arms as the highest form of art, sublime and deadly at once. Still, Tyr finds Purphoros's volatile temper and bouts of passion unbecoming of one with such talent at creating weapons of war.

Tyr champions the cause of justice and thus seeks Heliod's counsel from time to time. During Heliod's piques of arrogance and temper, Tyr is the one who advocates restraint and calm. More often than not, the two deities agree where matters of justice and honor are concerned.

Tyr has a deep-seated hatred for Vidar. While Tyr can appreciate the perspective of most of his peers, she has no such understanding for those who would deliberately try to spread lies and deceit. Tyr opposes Vidar and what he sees as Vidar's utter disdain for everything he stands for.

WORSHIPING TYR

It is believed that a part of Tyr's soul lives on in his blood line under the name Corvus. The most devout followers of Tyr can be easily identified by one of two things, a lock placed on each of their boots (a symbol to remind of thier hatred for giants), the missing of their right hand (a reminder of the damage a lie can cause), or both of these things for the truest of followers.

Tyr recognizes honor above all other things, to follow Tyr is to follow the laws of the lands to enter, to act with virtue to all you meet and to keep a promise or oath, even if it means death. Swearing an oath to win a battle in Tyr's name and failing to do so is a great shame upon a warrior, thus such promises are never uttered lightly.

Tyr has a soft spot in his heart for underdogs, even if they lack the strength to win the fight. It is easier, he believes, to make a hero from a weakling who has a heroic heart than it is to turn a brute into a defender of justice. What's more, the victory of the strong gives them glory, but the victory of the weak gives glory to Tyr.

Why did Tyr seek you out as a champion? Perhaps you proved your courage and virtue even when victory eluded your grasp, or you demonstrated a willingness to use your strength for honor. Occasionally, Tyr's choice of a champion has as much to do with his enmity toward Mogis as it does with the mortal he chooses; is there some connection between you and the god of slaughter?

MYTHS OF TYR

The myths told about Tyr's deeds acclaim his honor and bravery as well as his inflexibility and stubbornness when it comes to oaths. Countless tales tell of him or his champions besting terrible beasts, enemy armies, or threats to the world. Still other stories rise beyond accounts of his victories.

Draught of Glory

Followers of Tyr often push their physical and emotional limits, pursuing honorable victory above all things. Even as priests of Tyr coach their followers to be the best, the most experienced religious leaders-particularly those who have retired from athletic competition-warn of growing addicted to triumph. Ultimately, they teach, only Tyr can drink endlessly from the river of glory and suffer no ill effects. Mortals, though, can grow intoxicated by a victory and sickened by ideals of honor or virtue. Therefore, wise competitors are encouraged to seek only their draught of glory-a finite amount that they might revel in but that allows them to experience a life beyond grasping for greatness. Those who don't find themselves upon the path to despair, personal harm, and the temptations of Mogis.

God of One Hand

The gods feared Fenrir the Wolf, because everyday he grew larger and fiercer. Eventually he gre so big that only Tyr dared give him food. The gods realised they would have to chain him under the guise of testing his strength. They had the Dwarves who once lived in Svartalfheim to build a chain. They made an inconceivably thin fetter named Gleipnir, and even though the is was practically invisible, the dwarves promised that no power in the realms was strong enough to break it.

When the gods suggestted to Fenrir that he should test his trength against Gleipnir, he refused to be bound. The wolf understood that it must be a trick, because the fetter was so light and thin. But the Aesir insisted, saying that if the wolf couldn't free himself from so fragile a thread, they hardly needed to be afraid of him, thus there would be no need to keep him in chains. Fenrir reluctantly agreed to the wager on one condition, one of the Aesir would have to stick thier a hand in the wolf's mouth as a guarantee. Tyr was the only one with enough courage to do this, and he put his right hand between the wolf's monstrous jaws. Once bound the wolf flexed and strained to try and free itself, but Gleipnir would not budge. The more he struggled, the tighter it held. Once the gods realised the wolf was bound at last, they all laughed. All except Tyr, that is, because he lost a hand.

The Iron Games

The fifth month of the Idavoll calander the Iron games are held to celebrate the treaty with the giant after the 88 years war. This victory cemented Horruck's control over a third of Idavoll. These games are the grandest display to honor Tyr. To even compete in the Iron Games is considered noteworthy, as each country send only their finest athletes. The grand prize, besides a ceremonial wreath, is the opportunity to be visited by Tyr's reincarnate himself.