Arven (ar-vhen)

God of death, legacies, and reincarnation
Allies: Akmens, Rodina, Farraige
Enemies: Öken
Temples: None; see below
Worshippers: The bereaved, families, parents
Sacred animal: Worm
Sacred colors: Gray and black
Holy symbol: A Thieves' cross; one branch is white, the other black, joining together into a gray branch
[DnD 5e] Domains: Death, Grave
  Arven occupies a special place within the Yasamaqi pantheon, as he is both probably the most culturally important god, and also the one that people like to talk the least about. If all of the Yasamaqi gods are thought of as a family, then Arven is the grim and dour uncle, the one whose dire work causes him to be taciturn and serious.   When somebody dies, it is Arven's role to carry that soul to the Gem. It is his role to explain to the deceased soul what happened to them, and what will happen to them now. It is Arven's role to make sure that the next bearer of the gem will be chosen correctly, and it is his role to make sure that said bearer will eventually come to collect their due. In short, Arven's role is as contradictory as it is important; he ferries those who die, and heralds the coming of the generation. Life and death, leading into reincarnation - the gray branch of the cross.   Because of his very specific role, worshiping Arven is mostly a very personal affair. People call his name when people die, to wish their next incarnation well; and people call his name when a child is born (along with Rodina's), so that it may stay healthy and bear the clan's name proudly. They chant his name when retelling tales of their proud ancestors, and whisper it in fear when they head into danger, wishing for a calm death.   There are no temples dedicated to Arven in Yasamaq, nor can any single place be considered a "holy site" for Arven. Some would argue that Kreelenvolb is Arven's temple, but even then, that would be a very loose definition, for it is a holy place indeed, but not a place of worship per se. And because there are no official graveyards in Yasamaq, as the body is only the envelope of the soul, Arven has the particularity of being very important, yet having no place where worshippers can congregate. In Qarah's Dream, the Eternal Sleep is sometimes considered a holy place for Arven; but otherwise, most dedicated worshippers of Arven gather at the Dreamer's Clan.   Arven has been represented in a variety of ways over the years, most often as a dour, stern-faced member of whatever race the worshiping clan is. Very few clerics of Arven exist, and those very few who received a vision from Arven often speak of him as a Thieves' Cross composed of glittering Arvenhelmi, which blink as he speaks.

Holidays

The 13th of Winter is often considered a holy day for Arven, which can be considered as a kind of "day of the dead"; a celebration for those who were departed, with wishes that their next incarnation will thrive.

Common rituals and gestures

Those who see a dead body often trace a 'Y' shape in the air, to call for Arven's help in helping their soul to their Arven's Gem. This shape is always traced using three strokes, and no more. As per most Yasamaqi gods, there are no official prayers associated to him, but some lamentations, written in Ancient Yasamaqi, still persist to this day; dirges whispered in a low voice when undertaking the grim task of returning a Gem to Kreelenvolb, or when taking a youth to it to receive their gem.

Divine Intercessions

Arven is not known to grant his blessings or his curses very often; in fact, all known instances of such are only seen in legends. His blessings seem to grant the next incarnation of a person an important role, and some say that Qarah's previous incarnation was one such person; which made sure that their next incarnation would have a black sapphire. His curses would be the exact opposite, cursing their next incarnation with a wrecked mind and body.

Aphorisms

Because most people would prefer to live over dying, these aphorisms are often used as warnings.   Arven is visiting: An euphemism for "Somebody in our clan/family recently died".   May you avoid Arven's gaze: This proverb is used to wish the receiver well, that they may live another day in spite of great danger.   Black branch strike you!: As the black branch of Arven's holy symbol represents death, this curse effectively wishes death upon the receiver.   The gray branch continues on: Said when a youth first recovers their Arven's Gem, as if to say "the legacy goes on".