Imbringen Religion

The Religions of the Imbringen Islands date back to the colonization of the first nation, Imbringen. Founded by a group of humans who broke away from the decaying Arathorian Empire, this island colony turned to ancients revered in legends passed down among their own people. As generations passed, those ancient beings began to be seen not as mortal creatures of the past, as they truly were, but as gods, powerful beings who ruled over aspects of existence. Shrines and temples were built in accordance with the belief structures built around each of the gods, and soon the religion known as the 'Twenty Gods' was established and began to thrive among the island nations.

As other races began to flock to the islands of Imbringen and the various nations which had been colonized from the original kingdom, they each adapted the religion of the twenty gods to suit their own needs. While the overall message of the gods remained the same, the churches and the symbols and artistry used occasionally differed. Where one god was seen in human constructed churches to be tall and prideful, in the dwarven churches that same god may have been pictured as a stoic dwarf. Even the gnomes and the elves had their own version for some, but not all, of the twenty gods, what they looked like, and what they represented.

As time wore on, other beings of great power were noted in myth and legend, tales of powerful elemental lords were spread throughout the populace along with wild tales of ancient brings and even a tale of four horsemen, taken from traders and passed through the generations. Despite this, faith in the twenty remained constant, although these other beings and the powers they 'supposedly' had meant that they were worthy of respect and occasionally reverence.

The Third War however changed much about religion, at least for the nation of Inferex. Following the collapse of noble order and the corruption of the great houses, many demons and undead lords became subjects of reverence. Many of the twenty, especially those who exemplified righteous action and justice were discarded entirely in favor of a perverted faith. This faith soon spread to the nation of Kemesh and although it remains a minor influence to this day, it is an influence that eats away at the heart of the nation of Kemesh like a cancer or malignant rot.

And still religion on the islands of Imbringen continued to change.

With trade resuming to the Eastern Kingdoms and distant Kalimdor, missionaries and adventurers have traveled to the islands of Imbringen and with them, they bring their faith and religious customs. Now within select cities and nations there are small followings dedicated to the Holy Light and the Titans, but as more adventurers begin to stream into the island nations, more faiths will come to Imbringen and its nations.

Loreus - God of Prosperity
Loreus according to the faithful is a god of extreme wealth and perfection. Within his shining fortress he has one of every single item ever created, flawless copies which continue to exist long after the destruction of the original. He is the most patient of the twenty and as the God of Cities, charges those who follow him with bringing civilization to the far reaches of the world. It was Loreus who directed the first group of settlers who left the nation of Imbringen to the island of Luxerois where they founded the settlement of Bioncourt. As the God of Prosperity, Merchants, Contracts, Trade and Wealth his subjects come from all walks of life. Farmers, architects, merchants, traders and aristocrats. The wealthy are often seen at his temples and shrines, but so are those who are poor and destitute, for they seek the blessing of Loreus so that their fortunes may be reversed either to pay off crippling debts, or regain what they once had.

He has four unique appearances, each one showing racial interpretation of how they view the God of Prosperity. To the Humans, he is shown as a regal, yet aged figure, garbed in gold armor and carrying a trowel, the basic tool of city builders. Among the Dwarves he is shorter and stockier, with a flowing golden beard and a hammer and chisel in his hands. To the Elves he is lithe and has a prideful appearance with gold tattoos marking his face, a woodworkers lathe in his hands and gold caps on his ears and finally for the gnomes he takes on the appearance of an elderly tinker with a golden wrench and a pouch of gold coins.

Clerics and priests of Loreus are the most organized of all the faithful, for their god is the god of city builders and merchants, neither of which can be disorganized if they wish to remain prosperous. They focus on assisting others rather than themselves and care more about the advancement of all societies rather than the elevation of their god. When in formal ceremony the Clerics and Priests wear flowing golden robes with an ivory edged trim, a golden sash covers their chest and they carry a golden building tool attached to a chain depending on their racial interpretation. The finery they wear is supposed to represent the prosperity of the god they serve.

The temples dedicated to Loreus are equally decorated. Gold trim and fine jewels can be found within the places of worship, and stained glass windows, mostly colored yellow and white, bathe the temples and cathedrals in a soft yellow glow. However with such wealth comes great temptation, especially from the servants of Nynos and so each temple and shrine dedicated to Loreus is well guarded by skilled swordsmen and thief-hunters, trained to prevent the theft of any of the precious materials that are used in the construction of his places of worship.

Within the center of each shrine, temple and cathedral dedicated to Loreus can be found the holy tome of his faithful.  'The Writings of Prosperity' those who read from the book and place offerings of wealth at his altars are said to be blessed with large windfalls of coin, however those that spurn the God of Prosperity are said to face a future of destitution as debts and financial disaster swallow the blasphemers and heretics whole.

Uvthar - God of Slavery
Uvthar is a god of cruelty and injustice, the master of slavery and tyranny. He is said to reside within a fortress of darkness and despair, the walls lined with implements of torture and suffering. He is not a chaotic god however, choosing to leave madness and chaos to his sister Vukana, instead he is extremely disciplined and demands unwavering obedience from all of his followers. To serve Uthar is to serve a master and disobedience toward the master is a punishable offense. He also believes, like all tyrants, that the strong deserve to rule over the weak.

Like all the other gods and goddesses of the twenty, his appearance varies depending on the culture that worships him. Although there are some, such as the Gnomes, who refuse to do so outright and as such, have no representation of the God of Slavery. To the humans in the majority of the Imbringen nations he is shown to have the appearance of a muscular tyrant, bared to the waist while carrying a whip and a shackle, the tools of his trade. This changes among the humans of the Kingdom of Inferex however, where Uvthar is given a more demonic appearance, to closer associate him with the other demonic lords that the corrupt noble houses revere. His hands are replaced by demonic claws, and he is given a set of fangs and horns, making him resemble one of the Nathreziem or Dreadlords. Among the Dwarves he is shown as a juggernaut, a fully armored warrior with a fiery beard standing on the backs of Dwarven slaves and finally to the Elves he is shown as an elegant dread-knight, with red and black armor covering his body, short black hair covering his head and a flaming whip in his right hand.

Public temples to Uvthar are few and far between, with most places of worship being places known only to the chosen and the faithful except for within the nation of Inferex where cathedrals and temples dedicated to him can be found in every city and township. In most cases, the temples dedicated to him are not constructed for his purposes, but are instead redesigned after the Priests who previously inhabited the temple leave, either through the direct purchase of the temple grounds or physical intimidation. Such is the case within the Inferex capital of Avaris, where the temple once dedicated to Aella, Goddess of Justice, was abandoned by the Goddesses faithful, allowing the servants of Uvthar to 'renovate' the temple to suit their own ends, which often means that the holy place is defiled.

Despite such conduct and being a master of slavery, Uvthar demands that his followers be clean and well presented, often in red and black robes. Among the faithful can be found slavers and tyrants who consider Uvthar to be their patron deity, but also bureaucrats and silver-tongued nobles who rely on the teachings of Uvthar even if he does not deal with their direct spheres of influence. His teachings are recorded in the  'Tome of Tyranny', which in almost all shrines and temples, is a flesh-bound volume that almost feels alive when touched.

Kixarae - Goddess of Lust
Kixarae is the goddess of lust and secrets and is said to reside in her own personal harem, surrounded by beings of all genders and races, all of whom tend to her needs on a daily basis. She is always seen as a trickster and schemer, planning conquests and taking advantage of moments of opportunity whenever they arise.

Followed by Nightwalkers, spies and lust-addicted thrill seekers, these individuals often congregate in pleasure houses and back-alley dens, which also act as temples to the goddess of lust. As such her temples have no stained glass windows or fine jewels, but comfortable beds, ornate throw cushions and burning incense. Depictions of her, like all the other gods and goddesses vary between the races that worship her. For the humans she is drawn as a seductive half-naked woman, bared from the waist up with black hair and red lip-paint. For the dwarves and gnomes, a fair dwarf or gnomish maiden is used to represent her. A thin red dress covers her body, with a single leg exposed all the way up to her upper thigh and for the elves a lithe, graceful and seductive maiden is drawn wearing a thin shift that hides very little from those who look upon her. Despite all the ways in which Kixarae is represented in the various pleasure-dens and lounges dedicated to her one thing remains constant in all the imagery. Regardless of the form taken, a cat is always seen in the picture, either behind her or beside her. This is because the cat is the sacred animal of Kixarae and one that she favors above all others.

Kixarae is also unique in respect to those that loyally serve her. Unlike other gods who draw from all those loyal, male and female, Kixarae's faithful are comprised entirely of women. These women often wear red slips as they walk around the 'temples' of their goddess which are considered scant by any other definition, covering very little and concealing even less. They also paint their bodies with colored dyes, often red but other colors can be found among the faithful. Every single faithful servant of Kixarae has a copy of her holy book 'Secrets of Pleasure' which tell stories of Kixarae and also teach the tenants of her faith.

While Kixarae is known for giving pleasure, she is not beyond giving incredible pain to those that scorn her. While those who honor her properly are often blessed with an amazing love life, those that disrespect her will find that their bodies become marked by cat claws, often in very sensitive areas.

Ione - Goddess of Wine and Ale
Ione is the goddess of wine and ale and is said to reside in the vineyards of the gods where she crafts the wines used during the deity celebrations. Mythological rumor states that she was not born a deity, but was given the gift of divinity by Loreus after he tasted a wine she created and declared it to be worthy of the gods themselves. Brewers and vintners consider her to be their patron deity and as such her temples and shrines are often found in vineyards and breweries, although smaller statues of her can be found in alehouses and taverns across the breadth of Imbringen.

Depictions of her vary depending on the races. For humans she is depicted as a maiden with long blonde hair sitting on a chaise with a pitcher and a goblet in each hand. For the dwarves she is depicted as a dwarven lass with hair braided into two buns, while carrying two steins of ale. The gnomes her image is similar to that of the dwarves, only carrying two smaller steins of ale more fitting to gnomish hands where as the elves see her as a lithe maiden carrying an ornate bottle of wine and a crystal glass of elven design.

Given that Ione's temples and shrines are located within breweries, vineyards and taverns she does not have a dedicated clergy to serve her. Instead the bartenders, brewers and vintners place the teachings of Ione, known as the  'Doses of Wisdom' on the walls of their establishments and donate a portion of the coin they earn from the sale of their goods to the Ione Charitable Trust who use the bulk of the coin to help the destitute and suffering within various cities and townships.

Like most other Gods and Goddesses, Ione rewards those who follow her loyally, often by rewarding them with a choice bottle of ale or wine. For those that spurn and disrespect her however there is a far greater punishment, with bottles found by the unfortunate either tasting of vinegar, raw sewage or blood.

Atune - Goddess of the Heavens
Mythology and legend state that Atune has existed since the founding of the world, and that while other Gods and Goddesses spent their time mastering plants, animals, rocks and other forms of life, Atune and her followers instead focused on the heavens above. The sun, the moon and the stars. Whether or not the legend is true is not being debated, but regardless of the truth, her gift to the world, including the celestial bodies and the stars themselves have given Atune praise from all those who rely on them for navigation such as scouts, adventurers, sailors and even traveling merchants.

In all depictions of her, she is shown to be a comely maiden garbed in a simple robe and carrying a navigation chart and a telescope. Her priests and priestesses wear a similar form of attire, with simple black robes with silver trim covering their bodies, a simple appearance, yet one that represents the core of what Atune represents, elegance through simplicity. Temples to Atune are open to the stars or have glass ceilings so that those who revere her can look upon her masterpieces and embrace them, yet none have a holy text within its walls. This is because unlike the other twenty gods, Atune does not have a divine text with teachings to pass down to others. Her teachings are written in the stars themselves and the messages that can be seen among them for those willing to look.

Kyheia - Goddess of the Hunt
Legends and historical myth claim that Kyheia is one of the oldest gods to have ever existed, having been around since the dawn of mankind. It is said that she crafted the first bow out of a fallen tree limb and gave it to a human who stumbled into her hunting grounds after tangling with a wild boar. She taught the human how to hunt the wild creatures of the world, and he in turn passed that knowledge on to his own people, allowing for civilizations across the known world to thrive as the hunted finally became the hunters.

Often depicted as a maiden wearing an animal headdress while carrying a bow and arrow, Kyheia is not only the goddess of the hunt but also the goddess of farming and family. Her shrines are found in the wilderness, far from the cities and are often carved out of trees or stone and statues of her can be found on the hearth of many homes across the breadth of Imbringen as faithful families ask for her to watch over their loved ones. Temples to her can be located across the islands nations, often in the forests and hills and take the form of Hunting Lodges. Within, the priests and priestesses of Kyheia practice their craft which is often hunting or the preparation of goods from hunted animals. Given the nature of their craft and the goddess that they serve, none of the priests have a formal garb for ceremonial purposes as it is considered to be unnatural. Instead the priests and priestesses of Kyheia wear simple leather armor and often wear capes which are made out of simple fur skins. Each hunting lodge dedicated to Kyheia carries a holy book with her teachings within it  'The Arrow and the Bow' which explains the tenants of hunting and the demands that her followers must adhere to if they wish to have her favor in the hunt.

Boldar - God of Battle
Boldar, the god of battle, strength and weapons is the product of a unique mythology. Ancient writings within his holy tome  'Way of the Sword' tell of how Boldar was forged from the fires of conflict, created when an unknown legendary champion was cut down during the first ever war between mortal races. A vengeful spirit of war, the priests and priestesses of Boldar all believe that their god watches over the fields of conflict, deciding the winner from on-high before charging into the conflict to assist the side that he declares to be the winner. Warriors on the field have sworn time and time again that they have seen Boldar, a powerful wrath like figure clad in magical armor and carrying a flaming greatsword as he wades into the conflict, although no one has ever seen him at the end of the battle.

His priests and priestesses are all warriors and can be found on the battlefields of the world preparing to face the enemies of their nation in heavy plate or some other form of metal armor. When not on the field they are found in the temples and cathedrals dedicated to their god, which are not simple churches or places of worship but fortresses stocked with all manner of armaments and provisions. Forges work day and night inside the temples of the god of battle, forging weapons of war for the soldiers and mercenaries that swear allegiance to Boldar and his teachings.

Boldar shows his favor in a manner befitting his status as a god of weapons and battle. Those who please him find that they accomplish great feats in combat with relative ease, and often do not need to repair their armor after the end of a taxing conflict, as the energy of Boldar has prevented the armament from taking lasting damage. Those who anger him however are quick to find that the opposite is true, with battles turning against the individual and weapons and armor becoming so brittle that a simple tap causes the once strong armament to shatter as if made from glass.

Fydos - God of the Sea
Ancient writings and holy texts of the god of the sea claim that Fydos has always existed in one form or another since the formation of the world. Depicted as an aged man with a long white beard holding a trident, Fydos is perhaps the most fickle god of all those in existence, for he commands the wind, rain and the sea, and they are as unpredictable as the direction of a leaf in a typhoon. All those who use the sea around Imbringen pray to Fydos for a safe journey regardless of their chosen craft, be they fishermen, traders or even Admirals and Captains within the navies of the island nations.

Unlike other gods and goddesses, Fydos has no temples or cathedrals. His domain is the sea and as such, standing on the shore and honoring the waves and the wind is as close as one can get to a holy site when it comes to Fydos's domain. This does not mean he does not have the faithful who serve him however, and there are many who do. If there is a fishing port or a dock located on the water's edge, there is a good chance that somewhere along that area of land is a Priest or Priestess of Fydos, with their sea-green robes and long white hair making them stand out among the bulk of the populace. Each priest or priestess carries a copy of Fydos's holy tome  'The Wind and the Waves' which tells the origin story of Fydos and the requests he makes of the faithful if they wish to gain his favor. Those who gain his favor find that the winds and the waves work in their favor, regardless of the task at hand, where as those who do not quickly find themselves lost at sea or the victim of unnatural storms.

Aella - Goddess of Justice
Aella was according to holy texts originally a mortal woman and champion to a warlord and tyrant. During a conflict with a neighbouring chieftain, the tyrant demanded that Aella slaughter a village filled with innocent civilians, the elderly, along with women and children. Aella, who was a staunch defender of honor and justice refused and turned against her master determined to punish him for his transgressions. Joined by her soldiers, Aella battled fiercly against her former master and delivered a lethal thrust with her blade, before being cut down in a last ditch attempt by her master to claim vengeance. Elevated by the soldiers that survived her, she became a martyr to a new cause, one dedicated to justice and honor with her surviving soldiers becoming the first priests and priestesses dedicated to her cause.

As time wore on, her story became more legendary and mythological. She became the embodiment of justice and honor and soon her story spread to the other nations and she was elevated to the position of deity. Priests and Priestesses flocked to her banner following the elevation, forming a church around her that was dedicated to providing justice to all that deserved it. Statues of Aella were erected in multiple locations, all of which depicting her as a woman holding a tome in one hand and a sword in the other. With justice as her cause, the various courts of justice swiftly became her temples and cathedrals and the offices of Marshals became shrines to her authority. Within each court the priests and priestesses of Aella wander the halls wearing their formal raiment, a simple white cassock with a silver trim while carrying the holy tome of their deity  'The Trials of Aella' which speak of her origins and what she stands for as one of the twenty.

Igstus - God of Knowledge
Igstus is the God of Knowledge and History, a deity which is believed to have achieved absolute perfection, an achievement that no other god or goddess can hope to match, although many certainly try. Unlike all the other gods and goddesses who have depictions located in their Cathedrals or holy books, Igstus has no such imagery for his followers all agree that no single image could live up to the perfection that the god of knowledge and history achieved.

Vukana - Goddess of Madness
Depicted as a crazed woman with lion claws for hands and a scorpion stinger as a tail, Vulkana is also the Goddess of Nightmares. Few temples and shrines to her exist in the world and fewer still seek her blessing except for the most unbalanced of individuals. Those wanting her blessing need only place the body part of a dangerous creature before her altar, although such an act is considered unwise even by the most prestigious scholars.

Erelia - Goddess of Magic
Depicted as a woman holding a scroll and a wand. Erelia is the patron of all witches, wizards and sorcerers. Anyone who wishes to call upon the forces of the arcane should seek her blessing, less the incur her wrath by calling on forces they cannot control. Arcane schools always have a shrine to Erelia located within them, and many students present arcane offerings to her so that they may have her blessing for the tests and trials that they face.

Teremis - God of Murder and Assassination
Depicted as a cloaked man holding a bloodied dagger, Teremis is the patron of all those who seek to kill dishonorably. For that reason there are few shrines and temples dedicated to him, but in places where those shrines and temples are located, they are perhaps the most popular shrines in the region. Men and women, both performing duties and seeking a skilled assassin come to the Temples of Teremis to receive his blessing with an offering of human blood or flesh.

Myreus & Uvira - The Twin Gods of Life and Death
Depicted as a young woman and a man holding a child into the air, Myreus and Uvira represent the cycle of life and death. Doctors, nurses, midwives, healers and funeral priests all turn to Myreus & Uvion for their blessing so that they may perform their duties although occasionally the husbands of pregnant wives can also be found at their temples and shrines. Hospitals and clinics always have a shrine dedicated to them present and often overflowing with offerings.

Qanros - God of Destruction
Depicted as a brute holding a massive hammer, Qanros is the also the God of Wrath and Disaster. Few seek out his temples, as destruction is not the way of honorable warfare, but those that do are usually tyrants or generals with no code of ethics or morals. Many conquerors placed blessings at his shrines during their attempts to conquer Bioncourt, but Qanros is a fickle god, and none of the blessings pleased him enough for him to deliver Bioncourt to them.

Tactris - Goddess of Healing
Depicted as a blind woman holding a bandage and a healing staff, Tactris is honored alongside Myreus & Uvion by all doctors, nurses and healers. Those who wish to preserve life, regardless of whether their duties take place on or off the battle, present offerings to Tactris before they depart to perform their tasks.

Uphion - Goddess of the Arts
Depicted as a young maiden holding a paintbrush, Uphion is also the Goddess of Culture and is honored by all artists and pursuers of cultural arts. Museums have shrines dedicated to her at the entrance, so that all those who come to observe the fine works can do so with her blessing. Offerings of artistic merit please Uphion greatly, as such her shrines usually have small pots of sealed paint and charcoal surrounding them.

Astus - God of Craftsmen
Depicted as a bald man holding a blacksmith hammer, Astus is the patron of all craftsmen and artisians, even if their profession is not blacksmithing. Those who seek his blessings often leave samples of their own creations as offerings and shrines to him can be found in all craftsman districts in various towns and cities.

Zonona - Goddess of Disease
Often depicted as a haggard crone, the temples and shrines of Zonona are few and far between, but are often located in hospitals. Doctors and healers seek her blessing, not to impart diseases on their patients, but to preserve them and seek cures. Unfortunately for most, Zonona is a cruel mistress, and often only rewards those seeking to place diseases on others, rather than help remove disease from the suffering.

Nynos - God of Darkness
Depicted as a cowled man holding a scythe, it is easy to confuse Nynos as the God of Death, but that is not his domain. Instead his domain is the night and shadow, where assassins and thieves hide before carrying out their chosen trades. As with Teremis, his shrines are few and far between, but are often visited by those who consider the night to be their allies, which often means that shrines to Nynos can be found very close to those devoted to Teremis.

The Holy Light
The Holy Light is a relatively new religion to the Imbringen Islands. For many years trade with the Eastern Kingdoms was non existent, and so the rise of the Holy Light, as it occurred after the Second War, did not reach the nations of Imbringen. However following the Cataclysm, trade between the Imbringen Islands and the Eastern Kingdoms resumed, spurred by the Luxerois Empire. As goods began to flow too and from the Imbringen Islands, word of the Holy Light began to spread, soon followed by missionaries who sought to bring the presence of the Light to Imbringen. While other Imbringen nations were wary of additional faiths, the cultural capital of Imbringen, Bioncourt, willingly accepted the missionaries, provided they remain peaceful and respected the faiths of the Imbringen people. A small temple was built within the Plaza of Faith so that the followers of the Holy Light would have a place to congregate, and despite initial aversion to this new faith, it has recently begun to grow on the populace, with a small peaceful following and many others respecting it to the same degree as the Twenty Gods.

The Titans
Another new religion to the Imbringen Islands and one brought to the land by trade. This religion arrived with Dwarves and Gnomes, eager to meet their kin who resided in the Kingdom of Dalen. Similar in many ways to the following of the Twenty Gods, it has gained much more respect compared to the Holy Light due to the similarities between it and the faith of the island nations. While the following of this religion is primarily focused in the Kingdom of Dalen, a small temple can be found in the Kingdom of Luxerois, at the Plaza of Faith within Bioncourt.