VIDAR, God of Deception

GOD OF DECEPTION, LIES, AND CHEATS

Vídar was the Aesir god of vengeance in Norse mythology. A member of the Æsir, he is the son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr. During Ragnarök, when the monstrous wolf Fenrir swallows Odin whole, Vídar is told to avenge his father's death, as he takes Fenrir by the jaw and tears his head apart, killing Fenrir. He ultimately survived Ragnarok, as he then meets with his brother Honir in Nyx, where Asgard once lay.

He did not approve of the Vanir gods and became spiteful of the new gods, finding ways to trick and decive them. Through his actions he eventually transformed from the god vengeance to the god of deception and cheats, becoming the gods largest thorn. He governs the spheres of gambling, deception and betrayal.

Vidar is a shadowy and mysterious figure. When appearing before mortals, he prefers the form of a willowy humanoid with ashen gray skin, clad in elegant robes. He has also been known to appear in a variety of animal forms, including the shapes of asps, mockingbirds, or rats. Regardless of his shape, a mask forever conceals the blank face of the lost Aesir god.

VIDAR'S INFLUENCE

Subtlety and manipulation-of mind, word, and deedare the cornerstones of Vidar's power and his influence over mortals and immortals alike. Even gods enjoy hearing what they prefer to hear instead of the truth, and Vidar is happy to give them what they want.

He takes pleasure in finding ways to subvert or corrupt champions of law, order, and justice, turning them to his cause. Whether by feeding the hubris of a champion of Heliod or subverting the moral code of a stalwart of Tyr, he tempts mortals by confronting them with seemingly inconsequential decisions, each of which offers an opportunity for the person to compromise their principles. One by one, these acts move the needle of a person's moral gauge by a small amount. Over time, these choices accumulate until the individual's fall from grace is complete.

VIDAR'S GOALS

Phenax doesn't want to rule Nyx. He is the perennial outsider, existing only to disrupt the plans of his fellow gods. Every lie, every betrayal, delights him as it sows discord in the world. He respects a well-planned and executed grift or heist, sometimes rewarding able followers with opportunities to serve as his champions.

As the metaphorical progenitor of the Aesir, Phenax also takes time to provide shelter and opportunities for his children to disrupt the mortal world.

DIVINE RELATIONSHIPS

It stands to reason that the god of secrets, deception, and betrayal isn't close with the rest of the pantheon. This is not to say that Vidar doesn't have active relationships with others in the pantheon, but his position as the patron of lies doesn't lead to close, lasting friendships.

Vidar finds Heliod and Tyr overbearing and insufferable. Both represent ideologies diametrically opposed to Vidar's, and both have followers who regularly try to foil his schemes. In turn, Phenax does his best to upend their plans through lies and deception. After all, a fair fight isn't worth fighting. Though a special hate radiates towards Tyr, who once sat as the second in command of the Aesir now comfortably socialitizing with the Vanir like there was never any war.

Nowhere is Vidar's commitment to upending the status quo and angering his fellow gods more evident than in his role in the rise of Xenagos, the now destroyed god of revels. Xenagos's attacks left many of the gods disconnected from their followers, inciting a panic in Nyx. Vidar, basking in the chaos of Xenagos's plot, found myriad ways to covertly aid him until the satyr's apotheosis. Helping another mortal ascend to godhood was, to Phenax, the ultimate subversion of authority.

WORSHIPING VIDAR

Every lie is an homage to Vidar. Because his most devout followers are criminals and cheats, his influence is keenly felt in gambling halls and dens of thieves. But everyone has their own reasons to stray from the truth at times, and thus, they also find small ways to seek Vidar's favor as they go about their daily lives.

Formal services to Vidar are conducted at night, with the most sacred rituals performed on nights of the double new moon, whe nthe nights are darkest. Offerings are made to attract Vidar's favor, with valuables from successful robberies, parchment filled with lies, or loaded dice being thrown into deep crags or buried at crossroads. Such sacrifices often vanish soon after, claimed by the god or his servants. Devout criminals often offer Phenax stolen goods as part of their preparations for premeditated crimes.

Phenax expects his champions to be cunning and self-sufficient, much as he was when he escaped death defeating Fenrir. He has great respect for a sound plan that is craftily executed and might offer all manner of clever assistance to mortals he deems worthy.

What did you do to garner his attention? What set you apart in his eyes from petty schemers, grifters, and criminals? What made him think you would be a good champion?

MYTHS OF VIDAR

The tales told of Vidar's deeds speak of his duplicity, cunning, and wit.

The Defeat of Fenrir

During Ragnarok, the Aesir gods and the giants battled, and most of those involved on both sides were slain. The god Odin was devoured by the wolf Fenrir. Vidar, a son of Odin by the giantess Gríðr, immediately set upon the wolf to avenge his father’s death. He wore a shoe that had been crafted for this particular moment. It was the strongest and sturdiest of all shoes, and surely also charged with magical properties. With it, Vidar kicked open the wolf’s lower jaw, and then, holding the beast’s upper jaw open, he sliced Fenrir’s mouth to pieces with his sword, killing the monster and ending his devastating rampage.

Feud with Nylea

A pair of accomplished hunters, both fervent followers of Nylea, had a bet with one another to prove who was better with a bow. After countless tests found them equally matched, the hunters' rivalry drew Vidar's attention. Assuming the form of a dryad, Vidar goaded and taunted the hunters. Though amusing at first, Vidar's words cut deep, making the hunters careless. Thus, when the dryad suggested a blindfolded test of marksmanship, the hunters agreed. Once blinded, Vidar positioned the hunters to shoot one another. In the moment they fired, though, Nylea noticed Vidar's trick. She curved her hunters' arrows mid-flight and multiplied their number. Vidar's disguise shattered as he was riddled with arrows that pinned him to a great tree. Nylea appeared to the trapped god, mocked his pointless duplicity, and warned him never to threaten her followers again. She then left him to struggle free from the deeply embedded arrows, an escape that took him over a week. During that time, the god concocted plot after plot to have his revenge on Nylea. Some tales claim that this embarrassment directly led to tragedy for Nylea's favorite dryad companion, while others warn that Vidar's revenge has only just begun.

The Darkest Night

Formal services to Vidar are conducted at night, with the most sacred rituals performed on nights of the double new moon, when the nights are darkest. Offerings are made to attract Vidar's favor, with valuables from successful robberies, parchment filled with lies, or loaded dice being thrown into deep crags or buried at crossroads. Such sacrifices often vanish soon after, claimed by the god or his servants. Devout criminals often offer Vidar stolen goods as part of their preparations for premeditated crimes.