The Twins of Fortune

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“The embodiment of consequence, the personification of luck, the Twins of Fortune linger in the shadows as their children ready blades or words to unravel the very structure of oppression that rises from the belly of corruption.”

— ShadowMask Kaliri

About

Zavali (Za-vaal-e), God of Luck and Vieni (Vee-en-e}, Goddess of Misfortune.   The beauty of life is a constant tilt of a scale that dips into the good and the bad. This is the heart of the Twins of Fortune. Born beneath the thumb of tyranny from a time long since passed, they found strength in one another and the virtue of righting the wrongs through their own means.   The Madame of Misfortune, a woman of means and absent of mercy when it comes to those that would oppress others. A blade in the dark and a whisper in the shadows, she is a reminder of what will come for you should you choke the delicate balance through greed.   The Lord of Luck, a man of unforgettable beauty who could charm his way in or out of anything. A seductive smile, a soft whisper of promise, he is the embodiment of turning fortune in your favor. Though you must tread lightly, for he is a fickle and quickly foe should you turn to greed.  

Description

Caramel skin, dark hair, and mismatched eyes. Masters of disguise and distorted memories of a time long since past have changed the very features of the twins. But there is no question concerning their origin and mysterious colors. With one blue eye and one dark brown, they are believed to have been born with the natural duality blessed by the Keeper.   Veini, sister and daughter of distraction, is portrayed as a dark hooded beauty with eyes piercing out from beneath the ensemble. Mask in one hand and blade in the other, she is remembered as a quiet killer who would strike fear into the hearts of those who violated the balance.   Zavali, brother and son of seduction, is portrayed as a well-dressed man or a more provocative attire with tattoos and markings along with piercings to enhance his allure. A golden coin twisting about one hand and a blade in another, he is remembered as the boisterous and beautiful man who would bring his lovers luck or scheme those who had taken too much out of their coin.  

Origin Story

Near the end of the first Age of The Greater Gods, life within the human lands had changed from a perfectly balanced paradise to a constant tug of war between corruption and peace. With the absence of the Keeper in the face of the northern war, kingdoms began to rise and those who had fallen to corruption shifted power in their favor, beginning the first known Amican Empire.   The twins were born impoverished under a tyrannical government. Forced to scratch out a life through deceit and questionable work, the siblings soon found themselves faced with the reality that so many around them had to live through. Unwilling to allow their children to take the fall for stealing food to stay alive, their parents were publicly executed as criminals. Heartbroken and furious, the twins cursed those who had taken so much from their city and their people, promising to right the balance no matter what they had to do.   Their cause would capture the hearts and minds of the oppressed and begin the first nation wide revolution. Utilizing the shadows and deception the twins and their cohorts tore at the very foundation of the Amican Empire. A shadowed civil war began to spread like wildfire across the land, stoking the fires of the people who wished for balance once more.   The prayers and cries of his people brought The Keeper to the heart of the Empire, witnessing the war-torn country he demanded to know what had transpired. As the record of what had happened was recalled, he would confront the twins. To his surprise, the twins did not cower at his presence. Instead, they demanded that he acknowledge the necessity of punishment for those that had violated the balance and taken advantage of others. Impressed by their conviction his heart was turned and he offered them a place by his side.   They accepted such an offer but only if they could ensure that those living or dead would pay for what they had done. Accepting the wisdom of the twins as truth, he ascended them to the heavens as overseers of the scale of balance.  

Relationships

The delicate balance of good and evil, luck and misfortune; this is the constant scale that the Twins of Fortune keep in line. A very interactive pair of Gods, they have been said to hold their relationship with the mortals closer than that of the divine. Consistent tricksters and shapeshifters, the twins have made their presence known through their followers or their sudden appearance along side the children that follow them.   Relationships with the Divine are not as well documented save for accounts of those who are near death. Some see Vieni by Olim’s side and others have sworn they see Zavali with Olim as they begin to walk towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Though it has not been confirmed, there is a standing acceptance that Olim is close to both twins and is thought as their shared lover.  

Religion

Dogma

"Never take from those who cannot spare it."
"In the face of greed and injustice never shy away."
"Always spare a coin to those who have been wronged."
 

Clergy

Following the tradition of the Twins, many who take up the mantle of their clergy are also devoted into enforcing the delicate balance of society through the shadows. Outcasts, bards, rogues, thieves, entertainers, and travelers. Those apart of the Order of Fortune are varied and do not wear their holy symbols nor devotion outwardly save for to those that they can trust.   Their prayers and offerings come in the form of coded messages, poems secreted away, stolen items, and earned coin that is then returned to society to continue the balancing of the scale. In every city, if you pay the toll to a Shadowmask Priest of the Twins, they will offer you sanctuary and help. Their idea of law lays in the hands of their Gods over any standing laws of the land.  

Temples

Very few countries allow an open Temple of the Twins within their cities. The promotion of the shadowy characters being allowed to openly worship is seen as welcoming trouble. But no matter if they openly have a temple or not, there is always an underground maze or network of safehouses that interconnect to places of worship dedicated to one or both of the Twins.   Those few temples that are scattered across the globe are simple in stature but tend to have an inn or gambling halls attached or at least nearby. Any and all are welcome within the halls even if you are not a devout follower. The clergy within tend to wear more street clothes with markings that indicate their rank over official robes.  

Worship

Because of the profound impact that the Twins had on the human race, nearly every child is taught about the consequences of disrupting the balance. Due to this, many humans will pay lip service to the Twins to bless them with luck or to forgive them in order to stop the series of unfortunate events that has recently plagued them. Out of all of the Gods, the Twins of Fortune are the only ones that hold a consistent amount of superstition around them.   A devout follower of the twins on the other hand would offer their worship through their teachings, offerings, and continued work alongside the thieves guild or other organizations that keep society in balance through the give and take. For the Lord of Luck, many offer coin or performances in his name. For the Madame of Misfortune, many offer items they took from those who undid the balance of society or offer an assassination in her name.