Unmei
It was all at once that Unmei awoke from her nightmare. She had dreamt many a terrible thought, of savagery, and cruelty, and nothingness. Naked, afraid, and alone, she saw nothing around her but the void, and it reminded her of her nightmare. She wept in her bedding until a voice called out to her:
"Wherefore doth thee weep?"
"I weep for I am alone."
"Then let us remain together."
Nil, Master of Space, raised Unmei from her bedding, and they walked through the darkness toward a distant light. That light was the light of The First Flame, and through kindling it, the stars blinked into the sky and chasing away the void. Once placated by the light of the stars, Unmei set about weaving the threads of time and magic throughout the realm. Her acts along with the expansion of space that Nil provided led the other Vestiges to this realm, and they staked their claim, striving to create a world of perfection and beauty together, as best they could.
"The Weeping of Unmei," Ancient parable of Unmei and Ryoku, 3500 3e
Divine Domains
Fate and The Threads That Bind.
Holy Books & Codes
The Kojiki - A series of myths and parables that seem to feature semi-accurate portrayals of the First Age. Although scholars cannot discern what sources wrote these texts, they are highly prized by Humans and Elves for their historical relevance of both early humanity around the Mandate of Humanity as well as of The First Halcyon.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Tenets of Faith
We are all bound in this together, but all must choose our own path to our destination.
There is no such thing as destiny; only roads to incalculable outcomes.
Holidays
Matsuri: Primarily celebrated in Ezo, matsuri are a variety of festivals. These are generally distinct between communities, but are shared between racial communities. The most famous of these is the Obon Festival near Ajisai, where great pyres are set alight in the mountains to the north. Matsuri are widely practiced throughout global elven cultures, and although are in devotion to Unmei, are widely seen as nondenominational festivals.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Unmei was born eons ago, before all history, around the same time as their siblings among The Eternals. They are the God of Fate, one who is well known as that which both guides and restrains people to ensure they take the paths through life that most befit them.
It is said in the days of old, there were two halves to a whole: fate and destiny. But the God of Destiny, Ikigai, was slain during the War in Heaven. With destiny destroyed, Unmei is said to have taken them realm in upon itself. There is no thing such as Destiny allowed any more; instead, only fate guides individual.
What is fate? Perhaps chance, perhaps luck, perhaps good timing. It is intentionally ambiguous, but best explained by a fork in the road. All individuals have a path to take, and they have a destination in mind. But how one reaches that destination is up to them. Some will know the right way before they begin their journey, while some may never reach their destination, either distracted or obstructed throughout their entire way. This is fate, and this is what Unmei seeks to uphold: the true freedom of a person to choose where their destination is, and to arrive at that destination by their own merit.
Some see Unmei as cruel, for she is not always known as a helpful god; others see her as imperative, for it gives mortals more agency in a realm where they could easily be swept away by gods and deities far stronger than anything they could ever hope to understand.
Unmei is worshiped almost universally throughout the realms. Many seek her guidance at the beginning of a long journey, or before a very difficult decision. She is also frequently invoked at major events throughout life, such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. She is also invoked frequently during times of battle and war, but it is mandated that those who thank Unmei for letting their fate continue must also thank those who fell in battle, for it was by her guidance that one lived while the other did not.
Unmei is most popular with commoners, but is widely revered throughout all social circles. While a commoner prays with a "bootstrap mentality," royals will similarly pray for their good fortunes already presented. She is particularly honored among sorcerers and warlocks, as she is seen as enabling their powers to manifest, either by chance or by guiding a patron to the individual. She is least popular with wizards, as they tend to view their diligence toward magic as hard work, rather than fate, although many other mages similarly contest this, for the difficulty in becoming a wizard and earning the training at all is difficult in and of itself.
Unmei is worshiped a number of different ways. Ancient rituals in Ezo and among Elves follow the ancient traditions of Ezo Marriage Ceremony. More casually though, Unmei is worshiped through simple acts: perceiving the world around oneself, making friendships, the act of adventuring and journeying; and most especially cooking, eating, and sharing food with oneself and others. Weaving, tailoring, and thread are also distinct signs of Unmei, and she is particularly noted among artisan tailors and weavers who find religious joy in their craft.
Relationships
History
Unmei and The First Flame are the two of the remaining Eternals - formerly known as The Vestiges - who survived the War in Heaven. Their legacy dates back further than history. Unmei and The First Flame are said to be some of the true earliest of all the Eternals, and thus tend to favor a close bond with one another.
Comments