The Religions of the Pridelands Peoples
Though The Thirteen are revered nearly everywhere, many cultures, in whole or in part, still maintain their religious independence and hang onto the old ways of their pasts. For most of these civilizations, these represent what are known to many as 'The Old Gods' or other variations of the same; in fact, some of the deities of the collected peoples of the Pridelands date back to the very end of The Old World, with influence dating even further.
There are dozens upon dozens of sub-deities, various micro-domains, demigods/goddesses and saint-like figures amongst the Pridelands peoples, but their main religion is divided amongst five greater Deities and their large, sweeping domains.
Menthet's origins vary, from tribe to tribe or people to people, but the general story is that he was once a crocodile or alligator living within the Okoniawai River, but aspired to walk amongst men as their equal. Eventually, he did so, and soon rose above them, gaining many of their traits, such as being bipedal, but retained his crocodilian features.
Menthet is depicted as having a man's body, but the crocodilian snout and facial features, often wearing an elaborate headdress. As a creature of the River, he is in control of much of nature, including the wet and dry seasons; his wrath can cause great droughts for many years, and his boons often include gentle rains falling over his chosen tribes. He is most closely associated with the clerical domains of Nature, Tempest, and Strength.
Isthet is considered the Mother Goddess, and, as such, is the wife of Menthet. However, as is common amongst many of the pridelands peoples, she is, also, his sister, making her his Sister-Wife. Though her origins are not entirely clear, she appears to be similar to his; a water dwelling creature that wished to exist upon the land. She, however, is depicted as a hippopotamus-like entity often carrying a shock of wheat or other crop within her hands. Menthet is associated with many of the womanly virtues of the tribes, including beauty, fertility, and rebirth; all qualities that exist within the great flooding and inundations of the life-giver, the Okoniawai River. Her clerics are the most numerous amongst this pantheon, and they are mainly devoted to the domains of Life, Order, and Peace. The river gives life, but also takes it; some clerics relish in her darker aspects, including the Tempest and the domain of Fate.
There is one singular truth about the universe, one unavoidable fate that everyone, rich or poor, orc or Elf, merchant or Magister, must adhere: Death comes to us all. Minhotep, the son of Isthet and Menthet, wields the power of the afterlife in the palm of his hand, and, as such, is widely considered to be the most powerful (and most revered) God of the Pridelands peoples. In a role much akin to Urriem'tier, Minhotep chooses the fate of every soul that departs the world, deciding whether they should reawaken in a paradise-like afterlife (not unlike the Starry Road) or whether they should live on in a somewhat living, not-quite-Undead afterlife as a mindless slave to those still among the realm of the living. Minhotep weighs the value of a soul, counting each sin and good deed, using a magically enchanted abacus made of an exotic wood not known on Kermoria; he gazes at each soul in a cold and calculating manner, weighing their deeds without being swayed by their pleas. Much akin to Urriem'tier, Minhotep takes the form of a bipedal basilisk-like lizard, not entirely unlike a lizardfolk of the Hex'oatl Empire. The distinction is clear, however, as the Pridelands peoples are often found utilizing a ritualistic form of petrification to honor their dead; perhaps this was once used as a way of subtly appeasing the Lord of Death as He passed his judgements.
Understandably, those in the service of Minhotep tend to be of a neutral demeanor, and his clergy are almost all dedicated either to the Grave or Death domains; however, there are a growing number of clergy under Minhotep who profess the solace that comes with Death, and dedicate themselves to the domain of Peace.
Every civilized society eventually begins building; sometimes simple homes, and other times, great works that take decades to complete. Within the Pridelands, those works fall under the purview, and require the blessing, of Ramenses, the Chief Architect of the Great Works.
As the brother of Menthet and Isthet, he is considered one of the elder Gods, charged with some of the most important matters in their religion. This includes the construction and maintenance of temples, mastabas, shrines, tombs, cathedrals, and every monument larger than a man. It was with His influence that the great Mastaba of the Necrolords was constructed, and by His will alone it remains undisturbed by time and the events of the world around it.
Ramenses is a shapeshifter, utilizing his abilities to blend in amongst mortals and influence their hands and designs during construction; when seen in his truest or most common form, it is that of a simple Loxodon so as to blend and not be noticed.
Chloenaptra represents many aspects of the feminine form that Isthet does not; sexuality, lust, and desire to name a few. She also is known as a great inspiration, serving as a source of song and poetry for bards, singers, songwriters, and playwrights.
Goddess of music and other traditionally feminine things, Chloenaptra is a seductress, known to bring ruin to families that do not turn away her advances; these fools are often driven mad with lust and take their own lives as offerings, their souls then being weighed by her father, Minhotep.
Like her cousin-husband Ramenses, Chloenaptra is a shapeshifter, but she has mastered it to a level that no one will ever recognize her; she takes the form of animals as easily as humanoids, however, due to her nature as a goddess, often, her forms reflect her beauty and sexuality.
There are dozens upon dozens of sub-deities, various micro-domains, demigods/goddesses and saint-like figures amongst the Pridelands peoples, but their main religion is divided amongst five greater Deities and their large, sweeping domains.
Menthet, The Father God
Menthet's origins vary, from tribe to tribe or people to people, but the general story is that he was once a crocodile or alligator living within the Okoniawai River, but aspired to walk amongst men as their equal. Eventually, he did so, and soon rose above them, gaining many of their traits, such as being bipedal, but retained his crocodilian features.
Menthet is depicted as having a man's body, but the crocodilian snout and facial features, often wearing an elaborate headdress. As a creature of the River, he is in control of much of nature, including the wet and dry seasons; his wrath can cause great droughts for many years, and his boons often include gentle rains falling over his chosen tribes. He is most closely associated with the clerical domains of Nature, Tempest, and Strength.
Isthet, the Birth Mother
Isthet is considered the Mother Goddess, and, as such, is the wife of Menthet. However, as is common amongst many of the pridelands peoples, she is, also, his sister, making her his Sister-Wife. Though her origins are not entirely clear, she appears to be similar to his; a water dwelling creature that wished to exist upon the land. She, however, is depicted as a hippopotamus-like entity often carrying a shock of wheat or other crop within her hands. Menthet is associated with many of the womanly virtues of the tribes, including beauty, fertility, and rebirth; all qualities that exist within the great flooding and inundations of the life-giver, the Okoniawai River. Her clerics are the most numerous amongst this pantheon, and they are mainly devoted to the domains of Life, Order, and Peace. The river gives life, but also takes it; some clerics relish in her darker aspects, including the Tempest and the domain of Fate.
Minhotep, Lord of Death
There is one singular truth about the universe, one unavoidable fate that everyone, rich or poor, orc or Elf, merchant or Magister, must adhere: Death comes to us all. Minhotep, the son of Isthet and Menthet, wields the power of the afterlife in the palm of his hand, and, as such, is widely considered to be the most powerful (and most revered) God of the Pridelands peoples. In a role much akin to Urriem'tier, Minhotep chooses the fate of every soul that departs the world, deciding whether they should reawaken in a paradise-like afterlife (not unlike the Starry Road) or whether they should live on in a somewhat living, not-quite-Undead afterlife as a mindless slave to those still among the realm of the living. Minhotep weighs the value of a soul, counting each sin and good deed, using a magically enchanted abacus made of an exotic wood not known on Kermoria; he gazes at each soul in a cold and calculating manner, weighing their deeds without being swayed by their pleas. Much akin to Urriem'tier, Minhotep takes the form of a bipedal basilisk-like lizard, not entirely unlike a lizardfolk of the Hex'oatl Empire. The distinction is clear, however, as the Pridelands peoples are often found utilizing a ritualistic form of petrification to honor their dead; perhaps this was once used as a way of subtly appeasing the Lord of Death as He passed his judgements.
Understandably, those in the service of Minhotep tend to be of a neutral demeanor, and his clergy are almost all dedicated either to the Grave or Death domains; however, there are a growing number of clergy under Minhotep who profess the solace that comes with Death, and dedicate themselves to the domain of Peace.
Ramenses, the Great Builder
Every civilized society eventually begins building; sometimes simple homes, and other times, great works that take decades to complete. Within the Pridelands, those works fall under the purview, and require the blessing, of Ramenses, the Chief Architect of the Great Works.
As the brother of Menthet and Isthet, he is considered one of the elder Gods, charged with some of the most important matters in their religion. This includes the construction and maintenance of temples, mastabas, shrines, tombs, cathedrals, and every monument larger than a man. It was with His influence that the great Mastaba of the Necrolords was constructed, and by His will alone it remains undisturbed by time and the events of the world around it.
Ramenses is a shapeshifter, utilizing his abilities to blend in amongst mortals and influence their hands and designs during construction; when seen in his truest or most common form, it is that of a simple Loxodon so as to blend and not be noticed.
Chloenaptra, The Inspiration
Chloenaptra represents many aspects of the feminine form that Isthet does not; sexuality, lust, and desire to name a few. She also is known as a great inspiration, serving as a source of song and poetry for bards, singers, songwriters, and playwrights.
Goddess of music and other traditionally feminine things, Chloenaptra is a seductress, known to bring ruin to families that do not turn away her advances; these fools are often driven mad with lust and take their own lives as offerings, their souls then being weighed by her father, Minhotep.
Like her cousin-husband Ramenses, Chloenaptra is a shapeshifter, but she has mastered it to a level that no one will ever recognize her; she takes the form of animals as easily as humanoids, however, due to her nature as a goddess, often, her forms reflect her beauty and sexuality.
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