Ioun: the Hearthkeeper
Ioun, the Hearthkeeper, is the god of all domestic arts. The Dalish pray for him to spare the sick and to watch over the innocents.
It is unclear if Ioun was born of Elgar'nan and Mythal, if he was born of the earth itself, or if he created himself. However, it is known that Ioun is the brother of Andruil.
He is currently trapped in the Beyond with the rest of the Dalish pantheon after being tricked by the Dread Wolf.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
His name is invoked before a fire is kindled and after it is quenched. The Dalish sprinkle their aravels with tree-moss and ask that Ioun protect them and all within.
Tenets of Faith
Ioun's path is called the Vir Atish'an — the Way of Peace. The Way is simple and asks of its followers to seek peace wherever there may be some.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
"We dedicate all our crafts to Ioun, for it is he who taught the People to bend the branches of trees to make our bows, and to fashion coverings of furs and ironbark. Without Ioun, would we have the aravel, or the harnesses for our halla? When the People were young, we wandered the forests without purpose. We drank from streams and ate the berries and nuts that we could find. We did not hunt, for we had no bows. We wore nothing, for we had no knowledge of spinning or needlecraft. We shivered in the cold nights, and went hungry through the winters, when all the world was covered in ice and snow. Then Ioun came with Andruil by his side, and gave us fire and taught us how to feed it with wood. Andruil designed bows and arrows and knives, and had Ioun craft them so that we could hunt. We learned to cook the flesh of land's creatures over Ioun's fire, and we learned to clothe ourselves in their furs and skins. And the People were no longer cold and hungry. These acts pleased the People, but angered Elgar'nan, for he wanted nothing to be created unless if by the hand of his mother, the Land. Elgar'nan chained him to the foundation of the earth and buried him under a mountain of stone. Everyday, Ioun would take small breaths and with each breath chiseled away parts of the mountain he laid under. Eventually, small whispers of his voice could be heard from underneath the stone. The People were drawn to the location, and heard the melody he sang. As they listened, the People felt that they heard something that was truly beautiful. Eventually, Andruil found him and demanded Ioun make her armor using a shard from the abyss. He did so, and in so doing was freed from under the mountain. Though he was free, his body was weak and he could not move so Ioun taught the People how to use herbs to heal. He then gave all of his knowledge to Dirthamen, so even if Ioun would be lost, his knowledge never would be. He then returned to the mountain of stone from which he was buried underneath, grew a tree, and sat in its branches. There, he sang his songs and made art so that all the People could feel as he did. — From a prayer spread by Camhlen, something he dug up from times long ago
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