Unwelcome Dental Advice

Deities and Religion:

This is supplemental content pertaining to the chapter provided recently, titled “II-I-VI-XVI.”

Religion on this yet unnamed world takes many forms. Some people worship their gods in temples and churches, while others worship in solitude at shrines. Out of the six worshipped deities, only two – Llendras and Nesperia – have an organized religion with churches and orders. A grand citadel to Nesperia was built in Vekh’nath back when Emperor Thorris first came into power, and it still stands today, the main headquarters for the devout to the All-Mother. Llendras also has a dedicated temple, though not quite as grand as Nesperia’s. It is located in the Merchant District in the royal city of Elendria.

Nesperia: The All-Mother, as she is often referred to, is widely believed in and worshipped the world over. Some think she is the one true goddess, while others believe she mothered all the other gods. Most who worship her believe she is the mother of modern civilization, and the embodiment of all that is good. Shrines to her depict Nesperia as a tall, beautiful humanoid woman with long, flowing hair, six slender arms, and angelic wings. Nesperia is almost exclusively the focus of worship in the Northern Kingdoms, but has nearly as many devout followers within the Vekh Imperium.

Churches dedicated to the worship of Nesperia are typically centrally located in the larger towns and cities, and are often the most lavishly decorated building. While not fortified like a castle or a keep, the temples of Nesperia are always tall with stone walls and a central turret, where the High Priests live. Attached are usually a small abbey which houses the abbots and devout. Banners with a picture of Nesperia raising all six arms to the Heavens and an orb of light shining down upon her are found in abundance.

Worship for Nesperia is widespread, and members of the faith care not for the differences of the different countries. The church welcomes any who would worship, regardless of race or where they come from. In fact, clergy members often travel to the Imperial lands on pilgrimages or to hold conference with the High Priests of faraway lands.

Leviathan: Leviathan is also referred to as the Lord of Wyrms. He is the Dragon God and Lord of the Seas. The dragonkin, also called “drachen” worship Leviathan exclusively, as they believe he is the father of their race. The Skald (lizardpeople of the Sjorenvahl) also worship Leviathan, falsely believing they share a kinship with the great sand wyrms that used to live in the deserts they now inhabit. Shrines to Leviathan depict him as an enormous blue dragon surrounded by the tides and lightning. It is believed Leviathan either brings the storm, or calms it. To this end, he is sometimes worshipped by seamen, pirates, and traders.

There are no churches dedicated to Leviathan, only shrines. These shrines are generally found near the sea, cresting small hills of jagged rock, or in caves near mountains. Worshippers often leave gifts of food at the shrines, such as haunches of lamb or goat, or maybe a beef or venison heart. They also leave donations of gems or fine salts, in hopes that the Dragon God will bless them with calm seas or future riches.

Aliria: She is the Lady of Nature and Master of the Fay. For shaman of the Free Cities of Sohm, and the Dryads of the Fay, Aliria brings peace, beauty, and purpose. The Master of the Fay is often depicted as a beautiful woman with thick vines adorned with blossoms for hair, and garb made of plant life. She is responsible for the balance of life around the world. Shrines to her worship are found all over the Free Cities, and in a few places in the Northern Kingdoms. Each nexus point in the Fay has an enormous shrine in her honor.

There are no churches or chapels dedicated to the worship of Aliria. Shrines in her honor are typically found in wooded glens or by secluded ponds and lakes. Worshippers will leave the Lady of the Fay gifts of flowers and other fine herbs in hopes that she will bless their harvest, bring rain, or end winter.

Llendras: Llendras is the Lord of Knowledge and the Arcane. He is often referred to as the Builder, for those inspired by him often create the most wondrous buildings or devices. For this reason, it should come as no surprise that Llendras is widely worshipped by craftsmen as well as wizards. Shrines dedicated to his worship can be found in many merchant quarters as well as schools and places of arcane study. These shrines portray him as a scholarly man with flowing robes accompanied by tools and tomes, standing in front of an easel with drafting layouts. Humes of the Vekh Imperium worship Llendras over Nesperia (but only by a marginal amount).

Libraries in major cities often double as places of worship to the Lord of Knowledge. Libraries that allow worship are adorned with red banners outlined in gold that have a picture of a drafting parchment, hammer, and a pile of books. Worshippers do not typically leave gifts at Llendras’s shrines. They instead believe that using the knowledge found in books or working a trade skill is gift enough to the one who bestows inspiration and information.

A few sparse, secluded shrines to Llendras exist in the wilds, and are used by the Vir’ith, a race of flightless bird-people. They often leave gifts of scrying orbs and trinkets of their former days of glory, before they lost the use of their wings.

Ursius: Ursius is the Bear Lord. Many consider him a lesser god, because worship to Ursius is exclusive to the Bruinfolk. The proud Bruins have a storied history of descending from Ursius, an eight foot tall bipedal bear who could speak many tongues. Many believe he was a consort to the Lady of the Fay, Aliria, which then gave birth to the Bruinfolk. It could also explain their ties to shamanism and nature. The bear people believe that after they were given life, Ursius retired from godhood to live in the wintry lands of Arcadia among the other gods who left the world.

The Bruinfolk typically build small wooden huts dedicated to Ursius and his worship. These huts are places where the bear people go to pray and reflect on their lives. Each Bruin town or city has a Druid Lord, who is the spiritual leader of that community. They confer with the Bruin chieftains (often called Aspects) directly and offer guidance to those who would come to them in times of crisis of faith. Despite the Bruinfolk believing that Ursius no longer sits among the pantheon, they continue to honor their sire with gifts of honeycomb and tribal liikias, necklaces adorned with feathers and claws obtained through hunts.

Anubisai: Anubisai is often called Lord of the Jackalmen. The Lhyr (pronounced “leer”) worship their own lesser deity, much like the Bruins who worship Ursius. Not much is known about Anubisai, or if he even existed. The Lhyr believe they are his children, and that he, too, was a consort to Aliria. Depictions of Anubisai always show him garbed in silver plate covered in lavish robes, and claws of gold.

The Lhyr typically worship Anubisai in private. Many of his shrines are located in old ruins or caves, far away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world. The Lhyr make gifts of the arms and armor of their foes. The jackalmen believe that Anubisai will imbue them with the power of their slain enemies to aid them in future battle.

The Priests of Anubisai are cruel and often counsel worshippers to commit malicious acts in the name of their god. They believe their god to be the Lord of Tricks and Deception, and thus work to undermine the gains of others.