Kord

Kord is the Asgardian god of Athletics, Sports, Brawling, Strength, and Courage. His symbol is an eight-pointed star composed of spears and maces.
 

Description

Kord is depicted as a hugely muscular man standing nine feet tall, with a red beard and long red hair. He wears a fighting girdle made from a red dragon's hide, gauntlets from a white dragon's hide, and boots from a blue dragon's hide. He wields the greatsword Kelmar in battle, and also carries a bastard sword that he wields while Kelmar is dancing.
  Kord is sometimes depicted by his urbanized faithful as a more civilized athlete or wrestler.
 

Personality

The sacred texts on Kord are littered with stories of how his inalienable sense of freedom and individuality often plunge him into trouble, and how he always gets by thanks to his courage, determination and exceptional physical condition.
  Kord is also famous for being a hedonist who accepts challenges just for fun and who is easily distracted by a pretty face. He prefers humans and elves, but he has also been known to mingle with other half-humans and even giants. Many mortals claim to be from the line of this vigorous god, and it is said that his realm is full of his sons and daughters.
 

Divine Realm

Kord's petitioners dwell in the Hall of the Valiant in Asgard, a grand hall made of stout wood where there's always a feast - or a wrestling match.
 

Worshipers

Kord is a popular deity amongst barbarian tribes, with most paying some homage to him if not worshiping him outright. He is also well known and commonly worshiped by those who fight for a living, whether on the field of battle or in gladiatorial arenas.
  Kord's faithful often undergo tests to prove their strength, such as winning in a gladiatorial arena, climbing a mountain, or slaying a mighty dragon.
 

Dogma

Kord's followers are urged to scorn cowardice, and taught that the strong and fit should rule the weak. To Kord's faithful, a leader's best quality is bravery.
  Kord loves physical contests, and this inspires many barbarian tribes to use nonlethal sports as a method for resolving disputes.
  Because battle claims the weak and cowardly alike, there is nothing to lose by seeking battle; indeed, battle determines who is most worthy of life, and ensures a place at Kord's side after death. Those who flee from battle are often publicly excommunicated.
 

• Be strong, but do not use your strength for wanton destruction.
• Be brave and scorn cowardice in any form.
• Prove your might in battle to win glory and renown.

 

Clergy

Known as the Fists of Kord, clerics of Kord are not known to be great thinkers, but are always strong, well armed and trained, and maintain exceptional physical condition. It is a warlike clergy but without the objective of conquest or domination, and the chaotic actions of its members have little to no strategic aims.
  Fists of Kord are known for their courage, kindness, compassion and generosity, but also for their ability to cause trouble. Clerics of Kord never take offense that a stranger is better than them, it simply provides them with a new challenge. However, doubting the physical fitness of a priest of Kord is considered a grave insult to them, and they will go to great lengths to prove themselves.
  They are always searching for challenges, heroic quests to accomplish, and new adventures. If such tasks promote resistance to tyrannical and repressive regimes, it is even better. They will not accept missions that seem impossible to them but, if there is even a slight chance of success and a certain promise of glory, then they will undertake it without much hesitation.
  Fists of Kord are leaders at heart who must lead by example, leading their followers and showing unfailing courage in battle. Some consider them reckless, stupid, or suicidal, but they are none of that. They can make whatever preparations they think necessary, and consider the magnitude of the problems or challenges before taking action. They sometimes become enraged when those they have sworn to defend come to harm, but it is usually a conscious decision on their part, when they feel it is the best course of action.
  Any cleric who shows cowardice (by conscious act and not under the influence of a magic fear or any charm) is shunned by Kord, losing much of their divine powers. They must seek a higher level cleric to atone for their fault, typically in the form of a heroic quest to prove their worth to Kord and his clergy.
  One of the main motivations of the Fists of Kord is to resist any authoritarian rule, especially if it is imposed by evil beings. They disdain any questioning of free will and despise those who lead by force and fear. Any nation or region under the control of evil forces is a natural target for their actions. They infiltrate such territories and try to cause as much disorder as possible by disrupting trade, drawing patrols into ambushes, and taunting officials. They help the locals who are mistreated, especially when they plan to overthrow the tyrant who makes their lives miserable.
  Within the clergy of Kord, capturing an enemy rather than killing them is highly regarded. A priest who manages to defeat a powerful opponent by non-lethal combat techniques will be praised. This custom can also serve as a source of income for the faith, with some Fists of Kord acting as bounty hunters for dangerous and wanted criminals. They accept such commissions only when the motive and the nature of the crime collide with their own principles.
  Wherever the opportunity arises, Firsts of Kord seize it to prove their strength and skill, especially if it takes the form of a sporting competition. It is sometimes a source of frustration for their companions, because such challenges can distract them from an urgent mission, and it is not without difficulty that they can convince them not to participate.
  Evil dragons are the deadly enemies of all followers of Kord. Upon entering the clergy, they are taught to identify the five basic evil species of chromatic dragons (white, black, green, blue and red), although they have no special training in the strengths and weaknesses of these creatures (other than knowing the nature of each one's breath). If revealing signs of the presence of an evil dragon are discovered, they should seek to locate it and, as far as possible, make every effort to destroy it. If a priest ignores this responsibility, they may draw the anger of Kord and suffer a denial of some of their divine powers, unless they are clearly not powerful enough to defeat the monster, or have to complete a more urgent mission.
  Kord's clergy help train those under their charge to become stronger. They organize athletic competitions and eagerly participate in challenging athletic activities. They also participate willingly in the work of the community which requires strong arms.
  Would-be clerics of Kord come into the faith one of two ways. Most succeed on some feat of strength (often at a local carnival or sporting competition), drawing the admiration of a cleric of Kord. Less often, a youth attains notoriety for their sickly nature, but a cleric of Kord notices how passionately the child craves strength. Either way, becoming a cleric of Kord involves rigorous physical training, including calisthenics, running, and practice in any number of specific sports.
  There is no organized hierarchy within the Fists of Kord. They believe that the strongest amongst them is the best amongst them, and the bravest and most athletic of their ranks command the most respect.
  Kord's clergy don vestments of bright red, white, and occasionally blue, although they may not duplicate the exact pattern that Kord wears on his girdle, gauntlets, and boots. They may not wear dragon-hide armor unless they are direct descendants of Kord himself.
 

Temples

As most organized worshipers of Kord are nomadic in nature, permanent temples to him are rare, though not unheard of. Those that do exist often resemble arenas filled with practice spaces and galleries where combat can be observed. They may also include baths, gymnasiums, trophy halls, and statues of Kord.
  More common places of worship are large, simple tents, often with wooden bleachers erected around the perimeter, that serve as makeshift arenas or exercise spaces.
 

Rituals

Kord's rites are kept brief, usually lasting no more than a few minutes. They are joyous, dancing ceremonies held at the end of a battle or some lengthy feat of strength. Services often feature members of the church proudly reciting their physical accomplishments and glorious victories. Songs of praise to Kord honor the deity by listing battles fought in his name.
  Prayers to Kord generally involve rhythmic clapping and chanting, the louder the better. Many of the syllables in these chants exist solely to maintain rhythm and rhyme, rather than to add meaning. Examples include "Ah re, ah ree, Kord the Mighty..."
  The most important ceremonies consist rather of demonstrations of strength and dexterity, in which the whole audience takes part, followed by informal discussions, during which the points of doctrine are hardly discussed, and which essentially relate to tactics, combat techniques and the organization of future sports competitions. Songs of praise to Kord honor the deity by listing battles fought in his name.
  Oaths and epithets related to Kord include "May fate see your blade shatter!" "By Kord's sword!" and "By the blue boots of Kord!"
  No holidays are specifically linked to the cult of Kord. His priests, however, take part in the various festivities taking place in their region. It is an opportunity for them to organize sports competitions, to meet pretty girls and to provoke some fights.
 

Relationships

Kord show little interest in the politics of the various gods, especially those within his own pantheon, though he is more than willing to stand up to the enemies of his fellow Asgardians, or those that threaten Odin directly.
  Kord views Odin as a father figure, though he is an adopted member of the Asgardian Pantheon, and has a friendly, or at least cordial relationship with all fellow Asgardians.
  He was once close friends with Gilgeam, though they drifted apart after he claimed the throne of Unther, and he maintains a friendly rivalry with Tempus and Uthgar.
  Kord is a bitter enemy to all dragonkind, but especially chromatic dragons, and considers Tiamat to be his greatest foe.
 

History

Kord came to Astora as an interloper deity along with a few other gods of his pantheon during The Godswar. He was the sole member of his pantheon to survive The God Bomb, and found himself with few surviving followers and no kinsmen at the end of the conflict. Though he intended to depart the realm and attempt to find his way back home, Odin, who valued his courage and might, offered him a place within the Asgardian Pantheon, and so Kord found his home there.
  After the death of Gilgeam at the hands of Tiamat, an avatar of Kord was summoned to Astora by his followers to enact vengeance. He hunted Tiamat down, forcing her to flee for fear of utter destruction at the hands of the vengeful god.
 

Legends, Myths, and Rumors

If a legitimate child of Kord is shown to have particular physical prowess, then it is said that Kord will present himself to this child on the eve of their coming of age to gauge their merit. If they are deemed worthy, Kord will then assign them a grand task to accomplish. If this test is successful, Kord will give them a small portion of his divinity, granting them great power and binding their soul to his. Such chosen remain mortal, but are destined to a place by Kord's side the Hall of the Valiant as true demigods should they live up to their heritage in life.