Istus - Goddess of Fate
Lady of Our Fate,
Istus is the goddess of Fate, Destiny, Divination, the Future, and Honesty. She is the oldest and most powerful of the Baklun deities. She stands apart from the other gods and is only interested in the fate of the universe and its inhabitants. People honor and fear her because she knows their destiny and can influence it; life, death and entire existence thus falling under her divine jurisdiction. Many people say a prayer to her when they are in a perilous situation or when an important event with an uncertain outcome must occur.
Appearance, Manifestations,
Istus (IS-tus) appears as a woman of any age or stature. She is often depicted in three different ways: as an old crone, as a mature and haughty noble dame, and as a cold and unfeeling young maiden. She carries a golden spindle, with which she spins the future into the present, thus weaving the web of fate.
Worshipers, Clergy & Temples
Istus has few true followers, but many people pray to her, especially during difficult times, in the hope of influencing their future. The clergy of Istus are often consulted by leaders and nobles before making important decisions.
Istus receives numerous offerings (burning of incense and candles, donation of material goods) where people count on their good fortune to prosper or simply to survive tyranny and oppression.
As Istus is known to "weave fate," her worshipers are often weavers themselves, and often support themselves making both blankets, clothing and tapestries.
Doctrine/Beliefs
The church teaches that it is natural that the extremes—Good and Evil, Light and Dark—exist in tandem in the world. Each of these opposing factors contributes to the destiny of a being, and we must try to understand how they work together and forge destiny according to their ebb and flow, in order to best use the share of free will that Istus offers.
