Firna

God of Dragons and the Sky

"You may hold your believed authority over this council but not over me, boy. For I, myself, have judged the Lawbringer and found him lacking." - Firna, addressing Artur during the last of Sturn's trials.

Firna, also known as the Dragon God, the Great Winged Serpent, and the Watcher in the Sky, was the second son of Stirna handed down to join the gods on Nora. Unlike Sturn, who was given a body similar to that of the existing gods, Firna much closer resembled his father with a long serpentine body of iridescent violet and two great wings ending in talons that served as his arms. He was the opposite of his brother not just in body but in mind as well. Firna refused to embrace the new gods or humor them with any form of charm. Sturn mingled amongst them as equals while he would watch over them in judgment during their father's absence. He would never call one of the gods his equal nor would express any affection for their affairs, though he kept a tender heart and a watchful eye over his brother whom he kept above the others in all respects.
Firna traveled with them, however, as they roused the other fledgling gods and expressed the divine purpose handed down to them from Stirna. He scoffed as Artur and Orloch came to blows with one another during their first meeting which only further entrenched his feelings of superiority over them. However, he still insisted on being a part of the Council of the Gods. He did not stand in the way of Artur's claim to leadership as he believed it did not apply to him to begin with. It also remained his best way of keeping tabs on their continued dealings as the gods moved to fulfill their divine purpose.
After the first meeting of the Council, Firna took to the skies and would remain there for a century at a time. The skies became his first sacred territory throughout Nora where he kept an ever-watchful eye on the affairs of the gods and the Risen which were now spreading throughout the world. He did not make any Risen of his own, at least not in the fashion of the others, and instead spent several centuries just circling the planet. His first real involvement since the initial meeting would be when his presence was required to bring Sturn to trial before the Council. The summons was initially ignored as he viewed the ordeal as some farce, but he quickly flew to his brother's defense when he realized the seriousness of the trial. At Sturn's request, he came in peace but made his anger with Artur known.
It ended peacefully with many of the gods siding with Sturn. The Watcher in the Sky held this fact over Artur who responded with a challenge of responsibilities, claiming that Firna was not fulfilling their divine purpose as the only one in their original number who had not created a Risen of his own. Firna spat on Artur's claims and vowed to show him what a creation of the gods should really be like. He spent the next five decades crafting what he believed to be the new apex of created life on Nora, the first dragon.
They were not welcomed initially as they brought fear with them and were believed to pose too great a threat to the Risen. Firna made them great and powerful with immense intelligence and wellsprings of Magick that filled them with raw power. Artur and Elanaah communicated their trepidations with Firna who immediately shot them down. The dragons were far fewer in number and the Risen were recently gifted with Magick to defend themselves should the need arise. Many of their numbers began to spread throughout the world in an attempt to intermingle with established Risen cultures but were often met with apathy or fear. Some were welcomed, particularly amongst the gentle Dwehrlen. The rest of the dragons would settle and create the Dragon Kingdoms on the continent that would later be known as The Freelands.
Separate from the other gods once again, Firna founded the country of Tennotani on a large island far from the other emerging Risen nations. The Great Sea Serpents that spread throughout the waters of the world would inhibit most outsiders from entry for centuries to come. Tennotani would develop in solitude with a handful of Risen selected from each variety with dragons as the ruling class. Though the nation would keep Firna as the most revered deity, he ensured there would also be equal love for his dearest brother, Sturn. Multiple clans would establish themselves throughout the nation and vie for control over the land with one another. In this, Firna shared his beliefs with Seigna and Orloch, believing it both natural and enriching for cultures to have conflict. The Great Winged Serpent felt that such conflict would only lead to a better-developed Risen overall.
When the call for the Council of the Gods in order to judge Sturn once again was issued, Firna was the first to answer the call. The Dragon God flew into a rage at the mention of execution and threatened to kill Artur before the trial had even commenced. It was only the pleading of his brother that kept him at bay. Firna had no concern for marriage and disregarded it and the laws surrounding it just as easily as he did with most of Artur's proclamations. He believed that both he and his brother were above the judgment of the Lawbringer and spoke so proudly. During the period of deliberations, he visited Sturn in the holding area and offered to side with him and start a war against Artur and any who would stand against the two of them, or even bring their father's attention to the world once more. Sturn's pleading once again stopped him from proceeding with violence. Firna chastised his brother for emotional attachments but knew in his heart that those attachments were the purpose behind his brother's creation. The Dragon God returned to the council in peace and pleaded himself for a lighter sentence. Sturn was ultimately sentenced to exile and Firna accepted the sentence only as far as his brother did.
The Council of the Gods was disbanded as they all decided to let the Risen look after themselves going forward. Firna celebrated the end but spat on Artur's invitation for the gods to travel together. He chose to remain, albeit distant, to keep a watch over the world and what would come of it. Worshippers of Firna still believe that he is waiting for the gods to transgress upon Nora once again, to which he will come to protect the best interests of the world.

The Watcher in the Sky

Firna possesses the power of Divine Creation and used this great power to create the dragons, the most fearsome of all Risen. Dragons possessed a grasp of Magick unmatched by other Risen and established their might throughout the world. Although they are believed to now be extinct, their impact can be found throughout all of the world, specifically in the Freelands formerly known as the Dragon Kingdoms. Now, the servants of the Dragon God are largely found in Tennotani and remote temples throughout the mountains of the world.
The name 'Watcher in the Sky' was granted to him due to his tendency to remain aloft high above the clouds where he acted as a sentinel over the world. Firna believed that it was his mission to ensure that the gods did not forsake the great gifts that were given to them and to call his father's attention back to the world if necessary. His powerful wings were said to never tire and he would never need to land if he did not desire it. Despite remaining miles above the earth and hardly visible with his own massive body, he possessed such a keen vision to see the actions of Risen on the ground as if he were next to them. It is a common superstition amongst Risen that the feeling of being watched comes from Firna observing your conversations unseen from miles away. It is considered bad luck to discuss secrets and ill wishes outside of the shelter even if otherwise alone.
Like many of the dragons he made, he also possessed the ability to spew a highly toxic and combustible vapor from his breath, ignitable at his desire. Unlike most of the gods, however, he turned down Deign's offering of divine armaments, choosing to rely solely on his natural abilities if the need for combat ever arose. Firna is also believed to have an overwhelming grasp on cosmancy due to his direct ties to Stirna but has rarely shown it. Despite challenging Artur on multiple occasions, there are no recorded conflicts where he has displayed his abilities aside from mock fights with his brother, Sturn.

Icons of Firna

Firna is physically the largest of the gods with his serpentine body extending over fifteen meters. Iridescent violet scales cover the entirety of his form. Two large wings bearing clawed hands adorn his body with no appendages otherwise, representing the Amphiptere subspecies of dragons. His tail ends in a rudder-like fin with a single talon hanging from it. Firna wears no semblances of clothes or armor, instead demonstrating great pride in his physical appearance and believing any attempts to cover it would be shameful.
Emblems depicting worship are simple carvings of his form with wings spread, though some classical artists will draw a dragon's eye among the clouds of their work to represent his presence. These will often be carved from various metals with star metal being the most prized for emblems by his priests. Star metal, harvested from fallen meteorites, is believed to bring them closer to their deity and his creator in turn. Altars to the Dragon God are primarily found in Tennotani and more uncommonly in temples to Sturn throughout Nioyaathep. Rare temples and altars dedicated to his worship can be found in the various mountain ranges throughout the world.

Ascension to Dragonhood

As demonstrated through Beirn and Hector, the gods of Nora possess the ability to raise Risen to godhood. However, Firna demonstrated a different kind of ascension. He offered the secrets to Dragon Ascendancy to the first emperor of Tennotani, Taiyo Kawasemi. This allowed the emperor to transcend the limits of his human form and take to the skies as a dragon, where he left Tennotani to be with his favored deity. Succeeding emperors who exemplify a just and honorable tenure will also be granted access to this secret ritual and ascend themselves.
It is believed that the key to Dragon Ascendancy is the God Altar of Firna, an elaborate structure of star metal hidden deep in the bowels of the emperor's castle in Onoshiro. The God Altar serves as a font of power for the ritual and the current Altar Bearer. The Altar Bearer, often the highest-ranking priest in Firna's service, is granted limited aspects of dragonhood as well as an understanding of cosmancy. The use of these abilities is crucial in the ritual performed for a fitting emperor in which they also receive a vision from Firna himself to discern whether the standing emperor is worthy of such gifts.
So far, four emperors have completed the ritual and each one has left Tennotani behind in turn to be with Firna. As these dragons have not been seen again, it is unknown where they have gone, but the people of Tennotani believe they still keep watch over their beloved country and will return to them in days of strife.