Beirn

God of Medicine and Peace

"Both God and Risen alike can fall to the temptation of violence and destruction; they are some of the most powerful forces in our world. It is easy, akin to breathing for some. Creation and preservation, however, take strength and resolve beyond this temptation. To take a life is natural, to save one is divine." - Beirn, preaching his dogma.

Beirn was born as a mortal, one of the first Ohrlen to be created by Orloch. In their early days, the Ohrlen were a people of war, constantly seeking the next battle or conflict they could partake in. Beirn was miraculously born with a different disposition. Rejecting the violent nature of his kin, he set about finding a different path for himself and his people. He devoted himself to the life of a pacifist and put his energy into developing means to sustain life instead of destroying it. This proved to be a difficult venture as he was immediately rejected by his tribe, but one he pursued nonetheless.
The survival rate in the early days of Risen conflict was extremely low. With their vulnerable mortal flesh, wounds were often too grave to heal on their own. Beirn began his pacifist lifestyle by studying anatomy. He would survey the remains of battlefields and study the corpses left behind, learning about how their wounds damaged their bodies in order to develop methods of treating said injuries. The young Ohrlen would then set up his tipi near battlefields to treat injured persons in what would later be known as the first hospital tents.
Learning how to bandage wounds and set bones was not enough, however. With the permission of those he was treating, alongside some self-experimentation, Beirn began to test combinations of herbs and solvents to create the first salves and elixirs that would develop into modern medicine. Injured Ohrlen who came to his tent began to emerge well and in fighting shape again. Many began to see his treatments as a second chance at life or, more particularly, a second chance at battle and glory in the name of their god. Although Beirn knew that many of those he treated would re-enter and continue the cycle of violence that he detested so much, he could only view his treatments as beneficial and pray that others would follow suit.
Word of his medicines began to spread throughout all of Tamaha. Esteemed members of each tribe began to be tasked with seeking out Beirn and learning his medicinal treatments in order to keep their tribe as healthy as can be. These members would become the great shamans of the Ohrlen, soon earning positions that would sit next to the chieftains of each tribe.
The Risen were not the only ones to pay attention to his works. Whereas Orloch showed dismay at a pacifist amongst his children, Deign, known for his benevolence, deeply admired the convictions that Beirn held. The Godsmith would begin to visit Beirn in disguise, offering him specially crafted tools and instruments to assist with his medicinal practices. These tokens of affection were welcomed and returned with Beirn's knowledge of his craft and stories of the people he had treated. Small favors and conversations turned to small feelings, churning back and forth between them as their love for one another developed.
Deign soon after revealed his true self, apologizing and wishing for forgiveness for his deception. Beirn dismissed these pleas with a knowing smile, stating that he had suspected for too long already -- no Ohrlen of his age could nor would have developed such fine tools for the purpose of saving life. With his blessing, Deign began to spread Beirn's teachings amongst the Dwehrlen and Hidefolk. It was not long, however, that Deign felt these medicinal teachings should be shared throughout all of Nora, and that he should not be the one to teach it.
The Godsmith called a meeting of the Council of the Gods and laid forth his petition to have Beirn go through the Rite of Ascension and become a god alongside the rest of them. Artur was originally against the idea, afraid of the precedent that it might set going forward. He ultimately relented to Deign's passionate pleading and permitted the Rite to take place alongside the approval of the majority of the council. Beirn ascended into godhood and was attributed the domains of medicine and peace, and finally shared his physical affections with Deign as equals. The two gods would shortly after be wed under Elaanah's guidance and be seated together on the council.
Although he was now one of the gods, he did not possess the power of divine creation that the others had, nor did he want it. He had no people of his own but found pleasure in the challenge of converting believers to his worship. Beirn traveled the land to spread his teachings and beliefs to any and all who would listen. The Dwehrlen took fervently to the husband of their beloved creator and welcomed him with open arms. The Dahlen, struggling their way through the desert, took a particular interest in his teachings and praised him for his gifts and kindness. They would call upon him and his favor greatly when Sturn would be put to judgment in front of the council.
Sturn was brought to trial in front of the Council of the Gods for granting Magick to the Dahlen. Many of the gods supported him against Artur and Elanaah's original convictions. Whereas Seigna and Orloch saw Magick in the hands of Risen as an opportunity to wage a new level of war, Beirn saw it as an opportunity to heal and mend in a fashion that mundane medicine could not compare to. He petitioned Artur alongside the others to forgive Sturn's transgressions and bestow this gift unto all Risen. Artur relented and it was so. Beirn began his pilgrimage throughout the world once again to teach Risen how to use their Magick to help one another and bestow his blessings of power upon those that he felt were worthy.
Beirn and Deign met many times during this pilgrimage to reconnect, sharing their stories alongside their love with one another. The two of them desired a child to call their own and Beirn mourned their lack of facilities for proper childbirth. However, Deign reassured him with the powers of godhood. They traveled to his homeland of Tamaha to collect the egg of a blue jay, cracking it open and adding blood from them inside before resealing the shell. With his powers of divine creation, Deign combined their genes together within the egg so that it would produce a son that had equal parts of both fathers. Rufio was born, a pale version of his fathers adorned with blue feathers. Beirn wished for him to be joyous and live a life of freedom, and he did, commanding the very winds at his back to sweep his winged arms wherever he wished throughout the world.
The God of Medicine continued his pilgrimage of peace and love until the day came when he would once again be called to judge Sturn in front of the Council of the Gods once again. He could not convince himself to choose Sturn's side wholeheartedly. He knew the strength of love firsthand, as it was love that earned him a seat on this council, and knew that he would do almost anything to preserve the love that he and his family now held. The thought of infidelity had not yet crossed his mind, but it now possessed him with an anger he had never known. Beirn ultimately sided with his husband, arguing against the idea of execution or physical conflict between the gods. The two of them visited Sturn in his cell, vowing to fight for a lighter sentence than death, one that all of the council could hopefully agree to. In the end, their wish was granted, and Sturn's execution was substituted for banishment.
Their victory was nonetheless bittersweet. The Council of the Gods was to be disbanded, Sturn was to be banished to the Realm of the Dead, Dahlia was to be left without her father, and the Dahlen were to be left without the presence of their creator. War had been avoided and still Beirn found it hard to call this peace. Deign informed him that the gods were planning to move on from this affair and leave the Risen to govern themselves for a while. Although he held doubts as to whether the Risen were truly ready for such a thing, he knew that he had no doubts that his place was with Deign and Rufio. Beirn bid his farewells to his followers, urging them to seek the best in one another and to always help those in need. He left them and this world behind, hand in hand with his love.

The Great Healer

Beirn has been associated with the domains of medicine and peace by his followers, even before his ascension into godhood was achieved. His pioneering of the fields of medicine and surgery has become widespread throughout the world of Nora and is credited to the extended lifespans of all Risen. Injured individuals were now being treated for their maladies rather than being cast aside and left to rot. The idea of treating the injured and preserving life became an innate concept among generations that followed. Although adapted over the many centuries, the healing salves and elixirs found in apothecaries currently are based on his original formulas.
His mannerisms towards peace and the preservation of life inspired many of his followers, who now travel and preach these same ideals in his name. Although many still bemoan or deny a pacifist approach, a call towards empathy and understanding instead of the rush to violence has resonated with a substantial amount of Risen throughout the world. His devout and faithful have been known to create areas of sanctuary that prevent the use of violence within their borders.
Now with his godly powers, Beirn has granted the blessing of divine healing amongst his followers. Priests and clerics of Beirn can pray to him for the ability to heal others above what natural medicine is capable of. His most favored followers possess the ability to cure diseases, remove poisons, even reattach limbs, and stop the throes of death if the injury is recent enough.

Icons of Beirn

Beirn bears the appearance of an Ohrlen, tall and powerful despite his warm and comforting demeanor. He has long, straight black hair and a clean face. Originally wearing the simple leather and bright textiles of his people and wielding no weapons, this would soon change after being betrothed to the Godsmith and ascending to godhood himself. He now wears the Robes of Sanctuary, a feathered vestment designed to repel all outside threats, and Panacea, a staff to channel his divine gifts and bless those around him with healing magicks.
Emblems depicting his worship are of a winged turtle shell. True devouts will construct these out of natural materials, such as the shell of terrapin and discarded feathers, but it is understood that Beirn does not discriminate against them fashioned from any sort of material as the intent is what is important.

True Strength Through Peace

Beirn regularly preached the effectiveness of peace and pacifism as solutions to the problems one held with others. He thoroughly believed that true strength came from the ability to set violence aside and resolve conflicts with empathy and understanding. Violence was seen as the easy path, a road of weak wills and inhibitions to determine righteousness through force. Those who could resist those urges and push forward on a pathway to peace would be regarded by him as the mighty, and he would welcome them as brothers.
Naturally, there are many who rejected his message and the very idea of pacifism. Pacifism was widely regarded as an excuse for the weak to still have their opinions and beliefs heard, even if they lacked the ability or desire to defend these beliefs with force. Many of his followers were openly discriminated against in the beginnings of their religion and to this day many still are looked down upon. His largest despareger would be his own creator and now fellow god, Orloch. But even he could acknowledge the courage it took for Beirn to look his creator in the eye and deny their will.
This is not to say that violence is completely outlawed from those among his faith -- only that it is only to be used after every alternative avenue has been explored. Violence done unto you does not excuse violence in return. Once peace is known to no longer be an option, if an adversary has abandoned reason, and the cause is still deemed to be totally just as in the protection of the weak or a loved one, then and only then can a follower of Beirn turn to violence.