Shathol
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The art is not final, comment to let me know if you want me to focus on it.
The art is not final, comment to let me know if you want me to focus on it.
Shathol, the Great Protector is the deity of balance and protection. They are the original creator of Tynauand the one who removed the physical presence of the deities from the Material Plane. Shathol is often followed by those who aim to bring balance to the world and several major leaders.
Appearance and Symbols
Shathol is shown most often as a red cloaked individual standing in front of a black gate, usually they are facing the gate, or have their face obscured in some method. They are often depicted with slightly tanned skin and a muscular if androgynous frame. They are described as the most dutiful of the Shattered Pantheon, seemingly taking on a lot of guilt and regret for the actions they had to take as a result of The Shatter. The followers who have met Shathol often describe them as kind, but not without faults.
There are several primary symbols of Shathol around the world of Nonvyrox, many having links to scales or gates of some kind. However, the most commonly used symbol is that of a black gate with a set of white scales in front of them. This symbol is often used to symbolize both the balance that Shathol and their followes aim to uphold and the Tynau for which they've become most known for.
Placeholder Flower by Owen Davies
Places of Worship
Unlike many of The Shattered Pantheon, Shathol is not often worshipped as a core part of everyday life, particularly by those who devoutly worship The Heraldic Gods. However, among many religious devotees and divine circles, Shathol is heralded as someone who stepped away for the betterment of the people rather than focusing on themself.
Heimter
By 735 AR, a divine champion of Shathol became prominently known within Heimter as a member of , a group of adventurers who became known for their battles against one of The Three Sisters. The champion helped to spread worship as a mortal towards Shathol but has now retained their own minor deification as Kalverinth. Kalverinth still walks the plane and uses this to continue to spread worship of Shathol around Heimter and beyond. There are several major temples to Shathol around Heimter, each with an intense focus on the dual nature of war and peace, both needed for divine balance. The largest temple is in the city of Vylothir, the battlefield of a major battle during The Leivron Rebellion. This left most of the city as place needing stability and balance. As a result they created the Grey Palace, a large temple that allows for the worship of any god, but is dedicated to Shathol.| Shathol |
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| Deity Information |
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| Type | Higher Deity |
| Titles | The Great Protector Conduit of the Tynau The Grand Scales |
| Domains |
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| Common Symbol | A black gate with a set of white scales in front of it. |
| Gender | Non-Binary |
| Pronouns | They/Them |
| Creature Type | Celestial |
| Alignment | True Neutral |
| Home Plane | Elethros |
| Worship Information |
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| Associated Domain |
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| Associated Patronage |
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| Divine Artifacts | Mask of the Scales |
Children
Placeholder Flower by Owen Davies
Ossalimar
There is a small temple in Zhora dedicated to Shathol called the Scaled Chamber. Shathol is not one of the approved deities of worship within the Ossalimarian Empire, but there are small contingents of worship within the Empire dedicated to the balance of all things. While they don't outright claim to follow Shathol, their silent worship empowers some among their ranks. While the predominant religion within the Dolvalyn Sovereignty worship The Dream Lord several people respect and have shrines to Shathol's balance, seeing them as a bastion between the idea of dream and nightmare that are the domain of their main deity. There is said to be a small temple to Shathol in Tyvalin that is for those who don't worship the Dream Lord.Vilura
In the city of Sovmora, there is a large contingent of worship towards Shathol and particularly the work that they started as the creator of the Tynau, ensuring the safety of all from extraplanar threats. This temple, known as the Red Cloak Sanctuary, is a place of protection for those who require it. Its positioned in a basin of the city almost acting as a focal point within the district dedicated to Shathol. The rest of Vilura is seemingly split between many of the Heraldic Gods, with some people worshipping Shathol and their actions. Though some within the Viluran Republic, particularly followers of Djanrol and Tyril find themselves often cursing Shathol for stopping them from seeing their deities roam around the lands and fixing the injustices they face.
Placeholder Flower by Owen Davies
Commandments of Shathol
- All have capabilities of good and evil, strive for the balance of the two.
- Protect those who are unable to protect themselves.
- If the task is hard to complete, then it shall be worth the success you achieve.
History
The many creation myths that exist claim that Shathol is at various points in the order that the gods were created. However, all tell that Shathol was created by The Weaver when they drew upon the magic of the leylines to create the gods. Some mythology claim that Shathol was The Weaver's attempt at making an equal, someone who can hold the power of magic and balance it through their form. Others say that Shathol was the first attempt to create something not inherently good, in doing so The Weaver created balance before creating evil.
There are many stories of Shathol during The Dawning, they acted as referee between many of their siblings. Some stories have even suggested that Shathol engaged in both acts of kindness and cruelty. During The Rift, its said that Shathol refused to intervene, believing that their role in the realm was balance, and therefore they chose to help neither side. Once The Deceiver Gods were trapped, Shathol was given the role of their jailor, a job that was not their choice, but led to them being scorned by many of the Deciever Gods. It is said in many tales that Shathol was there when The Weaver passed, acting as their confidant and granting them peace in their final moments.
Placeholder Flower by Owen Davies
Placeholder Flower by Owen Davies
During The Shatter, Shathol again chose not to take a side in the war. However, while Shathol chose not to take a side, they still empowered people for both good and evil. While Shathol didn't chose to take a side, they told their followers to chose whatever side they wished within the war, believing that it was important for mortals to be able to decide their own morals rather than imposing them onto others. It was during The Shatter that Shathol chose the first person to bear the name Balancer, a title that denoted them as a champion of Shathol, but also someone willing to cause chaos and still help those around them. Shathol imbued them with a fragment of their power to craft some artifacts that would help the Balancer during their missions.
At some point during The Shatter, Tral'Vokar and Shathol became a couple, siring a mortal child that would become Alvandis. They followed the same path as a Dual Idol, only obtaining their Major Deity status when they were ready to accept it.
By the end of The Shatter, Shathol had discovered how to adapt the spells forged by The Weaver to trap the physical forms of the Deciever Gods. In adapting them, Shathol found a way to trap all of those who had attained the status of a Major Deity behind this "Light Gate". They had attempted to approach the idea with their Heraldic siblings, but most of them wanted to continue to fight for the realm. Only Tyril and Boldir agreed with Shathol. This led to The Parting, in which Shathol formally wove the spells that would be the Tynau. All of the gods were forced to their own divine plane, with Shathol once again acting as the guardian of the Tynau.
Known Worshippers
| Name | Pronouns | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kalverinth | He/They | Once just a cleric to Shathol, Kalverinth became their champion early in life, learning more about the different parts of the world as a part of a group known as the . Once their time had finished with the group, Kalverinth took upon the role of the Guardian of the Tynau, this role along with the title Balancer, has led many to worship Kalverinth as a minor deity under Shathol. |
| Hlatha Mounterra | She/Her | The highest figure in the Red Cloak Sanctuary, Hlatha is a Drothgora who came to Sovmora to escape from a group that were aiming to persecute her and her kind. She was emblazoned with a rock in the centre of her chest that bear a striking resemblence to the symbol of Shathol. As a result she started to worship Shathol and the idea of blalance. |
| Maris Cleavetoth | He/Him | A half-elf from the Qil'Soran Republic. Maris came from a cult of worshipers of Ilvyr. After years of torture and pain at their hands, he slowly developed an exit strategy to escape from their clutches. Now he runs in fear and has ended up in Ulvrahill to escape from their clutches. While on the run, Maris discovered an innate connection in his blood to Shathol, allowing him to balance the luck of those around him. Using this innate ability, Maris has slowly started to gain reknown as a powerful caster, though he choses to hide his face to ensure his safety from his past. |
Divine Artifacts
Mask of the Scales
Fragment of The ShatterCreated by the first Balancer, the Mask of the Scales has the ability to empower those who use divine magic. Additionally it allows someone to impart their will onto those around them. For many years it was said to be lost until it was found by Kalverinth, who now possesses it in its Mythic form, allowing them to manipulate the balace of the world and protect those they wish.
Equirra
legendary daggerA powerful dagger alledgedly forged during The Dawning, Equirra is said to be able to return to its owners hand and allow them to grant portents of the future. In doing so, they must decide to act upon them or not. If they do, some part of their future is claimed by the powers of the dagger, often granting the wielder bad luck in something that they would normally be very good at. Equirra's location is currently unknown, having been lost at some point in the last few hundred years. There are many scholars who are out there trying to find it.
Mannaroj
legendary cloakSaid to have been trimmed from Shathol's cloak itelf. Mannaroj is a powerful cloak that allows the wearer to protect themselves stronger than most armor. In doing so, it allows for those who are more trained in casting to retain a more powerful ward around themselves. Anyone wearing the cloak can also send the ward over someone they want to protect, granting them the protective ward over themselves. The cloak is currently held within the Red Cloak Sanctuary as an item of immense power connected to Shathol, waiting for the right person to come claim it.
