Poeli

<Pow-lee>

"Legends say that Poeli was not always the god of storytelling - long ago he was just a mortal, though he would never admit that now. Ever the storyteller, he sought to tell an impossibly perfect lie - that he had been a god all long and all the world had simply forgotten. So masterful was his story that the very universe bent to his whim and made it true.
This is the essence of Weaving, to convince existence itself of your power. You must slash the threads of fate and reweave the tapestry of the universe until what you claim has always been true and reality seems the less likely option.
For your first lesson, please convince this cup of tea that it has been hot all along."

— Professor Rade, Universitas of Kemniton Lecturer

God of Storytelling

Poeli, the Storyteller, is a god of fate, storytelling, and weaving who seeks to tell the stories of the world. They are most commonly worshipped by bards, wanderers, and those who want to live an interesting life. Prayers to him tend to be for inspiration, luck, and safe travels. His divine symbols are the masks of comedy and tragedy, and butterflies.

Divine Domains

Poeli's domain is that of storytelling, memory, and illusions. As a god of storytelling, Poeli seeks to tell the interesting stories of the universe, and chronicle what might be forgotten. His tools are illusions, prophecy, and shapeshifting.

Illusia, Realm of Tragedy

When the world was young, stories were simple. A man would leave home to slay a monster, and his people would rejoice upon his return. These stories were woven into the grand tapestry of fate, there for all to see and cherish. It was a time when happy memories warmed the soul to its last days.
As the world grew more complex, so too did its stories. What were once monsters had become people with hopes and dreams. Doubt swept in. Pain and regret grew like weeds, for forgetting was not yet natural for mortals. Every mistake was an indelible mark to be remembered in perfect detail. Each one was a maddening reminder of a better world they had failed to make.
It was Poeli who turned mortalkind's eyes away from their past. He taught mortals to tell stories to themselves in happier times and remember with a smile. He helped mortals lie to themselves, and he taught them to forget.
And in Illusia, Poeli collected those forgotten memories. To travel his realm is to be faced with every mistake of your life.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

"May this be a trip be a story not worth telling, and brighter days on the horizon be Poeli's plan for me."

— Traveler's prayer to Poeli

Poeli is driven to tell interesting stories, and his antithesis is to stop before seeing its end. It is for this reason why many mortals fear Poeli - what makes for an 'interesting' story to Poeli does not necessarily mean a happy ending for those taking part in said story.
Worshippers of Poeli further his goals by living full and fulfilled lives - even a farmer raising a loving family is a worthy story. Some fall into gluttony and hedonism, while others act as forces of chaos and change to systems they believe are in need of upending.

Weaving

It is said that the art of Weaving was directly inspired by Poeli - to view and alter the threads of fate with stories. Through the study of storytelling, history, and the performing arts, its practitioners are expected to master both truth and lies. It is said that traveling to Illusia is the ultimate test of a Weaver's mettle.

Physical Description

Identifying Characteristics

Poeli is depicted in a staggering number of ways thanks to his use of illusion and shapeshifting, and many depictions of him display him in the background wearing a mask. Other pieces depict his presence as a butterfly with marking reminiscent of comedy and tragedy masks.
It is said that Poeli also rarely answers questions directly.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Among mortals, Poeli is largely only worshipped by the most devout storytellers and dramatic individuals, as he rarely answers prayers for aid - and if he does, it is not always in the way that is expected. Shrines to him tend to be found in difficult to access areas, such that anyone traveling to them will inherently have a story worth telling.

Other Gods

Curatsvo has an affinity for Poeli, who tells the story of her brother Tiegalaan rather than let him become a nameless evil.
Batu, the Collector has a complex relationship with Poeli - nearly everything that Batu wishes to collect has a complex and detailed story about it which means that the storytelling god has a strong say in the ending. Some end happily for the object, and others end in its tragic destruction.
Suriel holds a strong dislike for Poeli, who she sees as getting in the way of her goals. She would rather the story of the universe be simple - that evil was quickly defeated without complaint.

Crying Spirit by Leon Ropeter

Species

God

Meta

Poeli is a cross between prophet and trickster gods. He is not around to help out, he is around to make things interesting. He cannot parse the world through any lens other than storytelling.