Caihong Long

The Rainbow Serpent

Areas of Concern balance, the elements, and wisdom
Edicts preserve balance in both nature and society, seek understanding through experience, practice temperance
Anathema act on emotion against your better judgment, overindulge yourself
Divine Attribute Constitution or Wisdom
Temples anywhere a rainbow is visible, cathedrals, monasteries
Worshippers druids, leaders, monks, scholars
Sacred Animal serpent
Sacred Colors rainbow

Devotee Benefits

Cleric Spells 1st: dizzying colors, 2nd: blur, 6th: vibrant pattern
Divine Font harm or heal
Divine Sanctification none
Divine Skill Nature
Domains air, fire, earth, water
Alternate Domains metal, wood, wyrmkin
Favored Weapon bo staff

Caihong Long, also called the Rainbow Serpent, is an enormous imperial dragon who dwells in the upper atmosphere. A neutral god of wisdom and temperance, he seeks to maintain balance in all things, but as an imperial dragon, he primarily concerns himself with the cycle of the elements. He embodies all elements simultaneously and has a deep understanding of their place in the universe. Through his mysterious motions through the sky, he works to keep any one element from overpowering the others.

Artifacts

It is believed that parts of Caihong Long's body, when shed or removed, would hold great magical power that would be granted to their bearers. There are several legends from across Nerilia telling of someone finding one of these artifacts and doing great or terrible things with them. Each part of the Rainbow Serpent's body is said to be associated with a different element.

The hair from Caihong Long's tail holds the power of air and grants its holder the power to fly. His antlers hold the power of wood, and a piece of them grants the holder greater vitality. His teeth hold the power of water and grant the ability to swim quickly and breathe underwater. His claws hold the power of metal and grant heightened senses. His scales hold the power of earth and give the holder great defense and durability. Finally, the hair from his mane holds the power of fire and grants its holder greater strength. Each, of course, also grants some measure of control over its associated element.

No one has ever acquired all six of these objects at once, but the power they grant together would likely be greater than the sum of each. Doing do, however, would be likely to attract the attention of Caihong Long himself, and if the items' bearer is not utilizing them in a way that he considers "balanced", it is unlikely that they will be able to continue for long. The Rainbow Serpent cares not for mortal perceptions of right and wrong, though, so it is possible that the bearer could cause a great amount of suffering without the god's intervention.

Tenets of Faith

Followers of the Rainbow Sepent strive to lead balanced lives, never indulging themselves either emotionally or physically, but doing everything in moderation. He also encourages his followers to seek and listen to every side of a conflict without bias, and not to dismiss a proposal before considering it. He is worshipped by anyone who wishes to lead a healthy and disciplined life, but especially monks seeking mastery over tehmselves, druids and wardens seeking balance between nature and civilization, and rulers seeking the be wise and fair in their leadership.

Holidays

Caihong Long has no official holy days, but it his followers commonly celebrate the spring and fall equinoxes, as they represent a perfect balance between night and day. These celebrations tend to be subdued in comparison to the festivals of other gods, as the Rainbow Serpent's followers take care not to let their activities get out of hand.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Caihong Long first appeared on Nerilia at the same time the imperial dragons did, and his origins are equally mysterious. Like his more sociable kin, scholars debate whether he came from elsewhwere in the multiverse or was born on Nerilia. They are mostly in agreement, however, that he is unlikely to have been an ordinary dragon that ascended to godhood, and that he either was always a god, or began with some kind of special divine spark and connection to all six elements

Social

Contacts & Relations

Caihong Long is as mysterious to the other gods as he is to the mortal inhabitants of Nerilia. He rarely engages directly with the world or his peers, except when he believes a crucial balance of some sort is threatened, and even when sought out, he rarely speaks or even acknowledges his peers. Occassionally, a follower who impresses him by living out his edicts well will recieve more direct communication, but this happens very infrequently.

Divine Classification

God