Athreos, God of Passage
All mortals are destined to face Athreos, the River Guide, when their lives come to an end. The God of Passage ferries the dead across the Tartyx River, conveying each mortal soul to its destiny in the Underworld. For many, Athreos embodies the greatest mysteries of existence - the terror and wonder of life's last moments.
He is no judge. The veiled, silent god undergoes no deliberations and makes no exceptions; he reads the truth of each soul. Having heard every conceivable mortal plea, there is no haggling and sympathy aboard Athreos' skiff.
Though the deity's shrouded form give no clue, many consider Athreos mortal. He appears as a gaunt figure cloaked in ragged robes and a collection of golden masks. What little can be seen of his body is unsettling, its grey flesh stretched thin over a barely human skeleton. He is never without his ancient staff, Katabasis, which he transforms into the ferryboat.
Divine Domains
Most mortals focus in Athreos' role in their own death. Countless superstitions prescribe ways to garner his favour, but all he demands of those he transports is payment: a single coin of any minting or value.
Athreos is also invoked as the god of passage, as well as the deity with dominion over borders, boundaries and that which is "neither". Those who undertake long or dangerous journeys into the unknown often drop a coin into a fountain or body of water in apotropaic acknowledgement of the River Guide. Bridges and borders are also places where Athreos is commonly remembered, with many such sites being marked by motifs of rivers or spirit.
Additionally, phenomona that are neither one thing nor another, defying simple classification, are often considered within his province - most notably the state between life and death, but also echoes, phantom sensations, and the feeling of deja vu.
Artifacts
The Athena Obols - Some claim that Athreos does not collect coins out of greed but because he is looking for five specific treasures. Some writings say that he was the first mortal to ever die. When he came face to face with the gods, he brought a single treasure as an offering to each of the five mightiest deities, hoping to receive a peaceful place among them in return. The gods realised what Athreos represented: the first of an endless flood of mortal souls that would soon begin to join Athreos in death. Unwilling to spend eternity sorting the endless stream of dead mortals themselves, the other gods did give Athreos a place among them, as well as charging him with an impossible task.
They did, however, also offer him hope. The gods cast Athreos' offerings back into the mortal world in the form of five coins. They promised him that, once he collected the coins anew, the gods would free the river guide from his service and welcome him into their ranks. Ever since, he has laboured away at his task whilst continuing his search for these coins. It is said that any who might bring him one of these coins will be granted any wish within his power to grant, including exemption from death.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Crescent Moon: Athreos is symbolised by the moon that is notable for its absence from the Sfaiyran sky. It is said to only be visible to souls who are caught between the mortal and the underworld. To see it, is to know you are dead.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Athreos endlessly works to maintain balance between Asteria, the Underworld and the lands of the living. The River Guide sees himself as a servant of the mortal world and knows nothing of the glamour, honour or mystery mortals often ascribe to him. Rather, he does what must be donna nd should some cosmological condition fall out of sorts, the River Guide and his servants work to restore balance.
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