Selindari Gods
The Selindari worship all gods, and their
pantheon is massively inclusive of all faiths, religions and beliefs; there is
a sense in Selindar that the embrace of the divine is essential to human
survival and understanding, and that no one belief should be regarded as
sacrosanct and above all others. As a result, most gods in the Hub of Etyri are
worshipped here. However, a few gods stand out as being distinctly local. Such
gods include the following.
Creation Myth: the Selindari have an
exotic creation myth which contends that each land was its own island, on the
great Vanzarik Ocean. Each patheon of gods arose and created their land as they
saw fit, and it was the call of Etyri, who rested upon the hub of the world,
that drew the islands of the many gods and their creations together to form the
convergence of three great lands. The Selindari of course say they are the
favored of the goddess, chosen by her to bring commerce, education and language
to the many lands such that all men could speak and communicate their ideas.
Etyri
AL: LG; Domains: Commerce, Life, Knowledge; Symbol: a scale with coins
The goddess of commerce, engagement and
diplomacy is regarded as the principle goddess of the local Selindari pantheon.
Though Etyri is regarded by many as a modern goddess, it is her influence in
the ways and thought of the Selindari that have made their culture what it is
over the last two thousand years. The dictates of the goddess founded the
politics and caste system of the land, and also fostered a curious openness to
all religions and beliefs, such that the Selindari adopted whole swathes of the
Merillian, Fadasari and Dasamite pantheons as their own. Etyri is truly the
goddess who rules Selindar.
Elinzada
AL: LG; Domains: Life; Symbol:
the image of a circular pool of water
The benevolent goddess of healing and
prosperity is the second most popular goddess in Selindar. Her life-giving
waters are found throughout the kingdom, and it is said that her touch can heal
the sick. Elinzada’s magic is powerful and well known. Every few years a
servant is chosen who bears her spirit, a literal embodiment of the goddess,
and that servant of the goddess much journey from city to city to offer her
healing, using his magic to empower her sacred pools.
Recently Elinzada’s servant was murdered,
and his replacement is missing. There is doubt that the goddess will be able to
bring healing as she is supposed to, and now at least one city has fallen ill
to a plague of darkness. These are all believed to be related, and there is a
call in the land for heroes to seek out and find the missing spirit of the
goddess.
The Lesser Household Gods and Spirits and
the Trade Gods
AL: Various; Domains: various; Symbols:
various
The household gods and spirits of Selindar
and Waladar are similar to the “Rabbits” of Nepar, in that they represent
highly specific entities, usually regarded as folk spirits or lesser gods, who
are dedicated to the protection and maintenance of specific duties, concepts,
tasks and social functions. There are about seventy three hundred documented in
the annals of the High Temple of Etyri in Uralhat at last count.
The trade gods are a subset of the household
gods, specifically considered servants of Etyri herself who oversee aspects of
trade, commerce and goods. They are all regarded as important servants of the
goddess.
There are no priests of specific lesser
deities like this. Instead, priests who dedicate themselves to large swathes of
such deities provide advice and ritual services for households or merchants of
a wide range of useful deities. Some priests may gain a corner on the “market
of blessings” by offering such services to invoke especially rare household
gods, such as the god of chimneys or the god of cheese.
Palitonius, the Belt and Buckler
AL: LG; Domains: Knowledge; Symbol:
A belt buckle; Selindari Trade God (borrowed from Merille)
Originally a minor folk spirit of Merille,
Palitonius became one of the thousand trade gods of Selindar and has
subsequently become popular abroad, while his memory in Merille is all but
lost. Palitonius is the lesser deity of belts, buckles, knots and straps. If
you need something secure, a blessing from this diety will help. Sailors love
Palitonius, and see him as a patron deity as well.
Jms, Lord Tablet Cooking
AL: LN; Domains: Knowledge; Symbol:
the pot and pan; Selindari and Waladari Trade God
A trade god of cooking who has also become a
common household god in Waladar.
Mereska, Patron of childbirth
AL: NG; Domains: life; Symbol: a
pregnant woman; Selindari and Skarkathic Household Goddess
The goddess of childbirth and doulas is very
popular in Selindar and Skarkathis too, for some reason. She is regarded in
Skarkathis as a spirit of the home.
Drumia, Goddess of Virgins
AL: LG; Domains: light; Symbol:
a venus figure; Selindari and SKarkathic Household Goddess
The goddess of virgins and young women is
seen as sister to Mereska, and is popular in the same lands she has spread to.
She is the embodiment of femininity before childbirth.
Sukavese, Goddess of Poultry and Fowl
AL: LN; Domains: Nature; Symbol: a regal hen; Selindari
Household Goddess
One of the many popular Selindari household
deities, Sukavese oversees those who raise fowl for food or otherwise. A very
benevolent goddess by all accounts, unless you are a game bird or tengu. The
Tengu haaaaate Sukavese and see her as a death goddess.
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