The Forgotten Gods of the Elves
"Once, we called upon many gods. Now, we are told there is but one. But the stars still shine, the forests still whisper, and the sea still rages. Tell me, then—do the gods truly sleep, or do they simply wait?"
— Eryndor Vaelithis
A Pantheon Erased
Before the rise of the Athesian Empire, the elves of Ysvadell worshipped a vast and ancient pantheon. These deities embodied the forces of nature, war, wisdom, and fate, shaping elven culture for millennia. Temples stood in every city, shrines nestled in forest glades, and offerings were made in reverence to gods who had guided elvenkind since the dawn of history. All of that changed with the ascension of Emperor Tassarion. Declaring that unity, not division, would secure the future of elvenkind, he abolished the worship of all gods save for Elendir—the deified warrior-king who had once led the elves in their greatest crusade. The temples of the old gods were torn down, their priests put to the sword, and their names were stricken from imperial records. To speak them openly was treason. To worship them in secret was death. Yet even in the shadow of the Empire, whispers of the old faith persist.The Lost Gods of Ysvadell
Aurielis, Lady of Dawn and Twilight
"Time bends to no king and no empire. Even the mightiest must bow before the setting sun."- Domains: The sun, transitions, change, fate, time.
- Symbol: A golden archway with a sun rising on one side and setting on the other.
- Lore: Aurielis was the keeper of time and destiny, watching over the cycles of history. She was honored at the start of every journey and the dawn of every battle.
Sylthara, Keeper of the Verdant Veil
"The forest does not forget. Neither do we."- Domains: Nature, the hunt, fertility, balance.
- Symbol: A silver crescent moon entwined with ivy.
- Lore: Revered by druids and hunters, Sylthara was the guardian of the wilds, embodying both nurturing growth and merciless culling. The Empire denounced her worship as primitive, and her sacred groves were burned—but some say her followers still move unseen through the deep woods, tending to what the Empire seeks to destroy.
Thalmyr, Lord of Storms and Sea
"An empire stands only so long as the tide allows."- Domains: The ocean, storms, war, vengeance.
- Symbol: A silver trident crossed with a lightning bolt.
- Lore: Once venerated by sailors and warriors alike, Thalmyr commanded the sea and sky. His priests calmed tempests and called forth winds to fill the sails of elven fleets.
Mythrien, Keeper of the Arcane Flame
"Knowledge is neither loyal nor silent. It will always find its way to those who seek it."- Domains: Magic, knowledge, secrets, trickery.
- Symbol: A book with an open eye in the center.
- Lore: The guardian of arcane wisdom, Mythrien was the patron of scholars and sorcerers. Though the Empire claims to rule magic through rigid control, some whisper that the lost libraries of Mythrien still exist, hidden beneath ruined cities or buried deep in forbidden vaults.
Tiryan, the Blade Unbowed
"Victory without honor is defeat in disguise."- Domains: War, honor, discipline, conquest.
- Symbol: A crossed sword and laurel wreath.
- Lore: The elves once honored Tiryan as the god of righteous war, the embodiment of valor and discipline. His name was invoked before every battle, his image carried into war. The Empire still wages war, but in conquest rather than honor. If Tiryan still watches, does he approve—or does he weep?
Nysaria, Weaver of the Stars
"Love, like destiny, bows to no crown."- Domains: Love, fate, stars, prophecy, beauty.
- Symbol: A constellation in the shape of a lyre.
- Lore: The goddess of inspiration, Nysaria was worshipped by poets, lovers, and dreamers. It is said that the stars are her woven threads, shaping the fate of all things.
Zareth, Guardian of the Forgotten
"The dead do not obey kings. And they do not forget."- Domains: Death, memory, judgment, the underworld.
- Symbol: A skeletal hand holding an unlit lantern.
- Lore: Zareth was the silent keeper of souls, ensuring that all found their place beyond the veil. His priests once conducted funeral rites and mediated justice. The Empire forbids his name, denying the past to rewrite history. But some still light candles in the dark, calling for the justice that has been denied.
Velthys, the Shadow that Watches
"They see only what I let them see."- Domains: Shadows, secrecy, hidden knowledge, betrayal.
- Symbol: A mask divided between light and darkness.
- Lore: The god of secrets, Velthys was honored by spies, diplomats, and those who moved unseen.
A Pantheon in Exile
The Athesian Empire has done all it can to erase the old gods from history. Their names are forbidden, their temples destroyed, their priests slaughtered. And yet, the gods do not die so easily. In the depths of forgotten ruins, in the quiet of sacred groves, in the whispers of rebels and outcasts—the old faith lingers. The stars still shine. The forests still whisper. The sea still rages. Perhaps the gods do not sleep after all. Perhaps they are simply waiting.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
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