Post by Harkovast on Jan 1, 2017 20:57:56 GMT
((took me long enough! I added some more gods, and made a few changes. I wanted a golden god of money, but then I thought it would be fun to make this the male aspect of Tasuit, which I think adds an even more interesting, Tendu-ish aspect to the god. I like the idea that in their different forms, come of the gods are really different and even opposite, while others are the same in both aspects.
Thanks for everyone who contributed ideas to this!))
Tendu society is based on a strict hierarchy, going from slaves, workers, merchants, priests, nobles up to the royal family themselves.
With only a few exceptions, movement between social castes is impossible.
Tendu believe in reincarnation, believe that after death people are reborn based on their behaviour in their previous life. The criteria on which they are judged it based on how well they performed their roll in their previous position in society.
So a slave would be elevated for being obedient and hard working, a noble would be elevated for ruling with wisdom and carrying out the will of the Maharaja.
A slave who escaped, or a noble who abdicated their duties would be considered shameful, and likely to suffer to demotion to a lower rank.
Animals are considered part of the this system, and a slave who does not serve well might risk being put into this even less important role.
Social advancement is not something that occurs in this world, but is decided in the next one.
Tendu gods each have roles in the celestial order, but unlike the gods of most races are not necessarily benevolent.
Tendu believe in duality and hidden meanings in all things, and their gods have many aspects, some positive and some negative.
The gods fulfil the highest roll in the order of things, and each carries out the roll to which they are assigned. Sometimes these roles may seem cruel or indifferent to mortals, but just as the slave may find their masters orders harsh, mortals must work as the gods direct them and accept their decisions. Authority flows downward and is unquestionable. Those born into positions of leadership are there because of destiny and this cannot (and should not) be opposed.
Tendu society is extremely complex and sophisticated, and this is also represented in their religion.
Their are three tiers of gods, each dwelling in different realms.
The Celestial Gods are outside of Harkovast, removed from mortal affairs, dwelling in the celestial realm where the dead are take when they die to be reborn. These gods tend to be aloof and disinterested in mortal affairs, regal and unreachable. These also include some of the most important and high ranking deities.
The Harkovestial Gods are believed to dwell on Harkovast itself. These gods tend to be engaged directly in mortal affairs. They are the ones most likely to be appealed to, but can also be the most likely to inflict hardships. These gods are generally extremely fickle.
The Outsider Gods are said to dwell outside of Harkovast but not in the celestial realm. They are isolated beings, often acting independent of other beings. Many have only limited connections to events on Harkovast, but form a part of Tendu theology.
It is important to keep in mind that the celestial gods are not viewed as "good" or the outsiders as "evil". They are simply taking up different positions in a complex cosmology. To the Tendu, ideas of good and evil begin to lose meaning when applied to the divine. The Gods are, and they do that which the Gods do, in accordance with the nature of the universe.
The actual pantheon is vast and extremely complicated, to the point that it is virtually impossible for a person to be aware of every Tendu deity.
As well as major deities, Tendu have local gods of particular cities or places and even house hold gods that watch over particular families. Each has their own stories and traditions and place in the hierarchy. Minor gods mostly fall under the Harkovestial domain, with the celestial gods being mostly fixed and outsider gods generally not being worshipped.
Each god has both male and female aspects, like the Tendu themselves. For some gods there is little difference between the two aspects, for others the god and its sphere of interest can change radically when their gender changes.
For Gods, changing gender is far simpler than for Tendu, and they can move between their different aspects fluidly at any time.
Tendu see death as an essential step in the cycle of being, a gateway to judgement and the next phase of an on going, eternal cycle.
For this reason, their priests, commonly referred to as Gurus or Yogis commonly paint their faces as skulls, wear jewellery and symbols of bones and may even carry or wear the bones of the dead in their costumes.
They are strange and frightening figures to outsiders, often dwelling in tombs or graveyards. The Tendu do not see this as morbid, but believe that priests seek to understand the journey all people are on, and death is an essential part of that.
These gurus engage in all manner of strange rituals that they believe can bring them closer to divine understanding. These involve practices of fire eating, body piercing, walking on nails or hot coals and other seemingly shocking or dangerous behaviour.
Again, these rituals are viewed as sacred and important to the Tendu, but make their priesthood horrifying and bizarre to members of other cultures.
While it would be impossible to list every Tendu deity, I will provide a list of some of the significant and widely known ones.
Celestial Gods
Hashlas- God of Rulers, the royal family and the Maharaja.
Hashlas has the head of gimbit and many arms. They are the highest and most important of all Gods. They are recognised as supreme in all things. They are so sacred that it would be considered a heresy for most people to worship them, and even mentioning their name, discussing them or making images of them is unacceptable for most of society.
Only the royal family themselves can directly worship Hashlas, for he/she is their patron. Hashlas is believed to give guidance to the nations rulers, not acting directly in the world but acting through the Maharaja. Just as authority flows downward through the mortal realm, Hashlas sends their authority downward through mortal rulers.
Varskit- God of food, drink, yowboo and celebration.
In both forms, Varskit has two faces, so they can consume and also speak at the same time. At least one of the faces is always consuming something in almost all their depictions.
In their male aspect they personify the love of food and eating, and in their female aspect they personify the enjoyment of drink and yowboo smoking.
Tendu do not consider gluttony to be a sin. If one has been born into a position where they have plenty, they should enjoy it. To not do so would be to disrespect the role they have been given. One should live well and enjoy all that life has to offer.
Varskit if views as a cheerful and good natured being, one of the most generally positive of the gods.
Rhaan- God of slavery, servants and manual work.
Rhaan is the lowest ranking of the celestial gods. He/she works endlessly for the other gods, seeking to fulfil all their requirements. In his male aspect he appears as a hulking, hunched figure of great size. In her female aspect she is a thin, ghostly figure, hiding in the shadows out of sight until needed. In his male form he does more physical tasks, such as carrying, building and fighting. In her female form, she performs household duties, creative crafts, as well as performing and entertaining her masters.
Rhaan works gladly, obeying all instructions unquestioningly and trying to pre-empt instructions before they are given.
Rhaan is the patron of peasants, slaves and the lowest rung of society and is the only celestial god that slaves are allowed to worship freely. They lowly worship of a slave would be an insult to most high ranking dieties. It would be considered ridiculous for those higher up to offer worship to him/her.
Rhaan personifies the perfection of what a slaves should be and is an ideal to work towards. They provide inspiration, example and comfort, but is not expected to directly influence in events to aid them. After all, Rhaan is the perfect slave and does not exercise authority of decision making him/her self.
Sokarati- God of destruction, death, renewal, birth
Sokarti appears as in a winged tendu in both aspects, healthy on one side, and skeletal down the other. They personify both the end of life and its beginning, as to the Tendu those two things are deeply connected.
They are viewed as an essential and vital force. Though people may mourn death or dislike unpleasant creations, these things are as essential as life and happy. Sokarati concerns him/herself with higher matters, and whether mortals like or dislike his/her designs is of no concern. People should not look for Sokarti to change his/her actions based on what mortals want, but instead mortals should come to understand Sokarati and bring their actions into alignment with his/her plan.
Harkovastial Gods-
Tasuit- God of merchants, sea travel, gambling, poverty and stealer of riches
In his male aspect, Tasuit appears as a fat, golden skinned tendu dressed in a loin cloth. They are patron of the merchant class, and of sea travel and the essential trade it brings. However, Tasuit is also associated with gambling and dice, and when the dice come up badly, Tasuit may turn to their female aspect. In this form Tasuit appears as a tendu woman walking on her hands and is the god of ruin and poverty, a reminder that all things are fleeting and can be lost.
In this aspect, Tasuit steals, tricks and cheats to take wealth from those who have it.
The more wealth one has, the more the chances are that Tasuits attention may be drawn, for those who are most successful always have the most to lose.
Tasuit may seem cruel but to the Tendu they are an essential reminder that all things are temporary in this world, and the cycle of change cannot be prevented. Hubris and arrogance, complacency and carelessness, Tasuit is quick to punish them.
The male Tasuit can give wealth, but it should always be remembered that in female form she can take it all away just as easily.
Money is the power of the merchant class, but it is inherently unstable and illusive compared to the inherited power of the noble class. It is this chaos that Tasuit personifies. As a male he gathers and build wealth, but in female aspect she destroys it.
Tasuit dwells in the mortal realm as that is where the wealth of mortals is gathered.
Shupatapa- God of secrets, knowledge and lies.
Depicted as tall and thing with completely black skin with many eyes all over their head.
Shupatapa is patron to members of the higher levels of society who can devote themselves to knowledge and learning.
Workers and slaves are generally discouraged from worshipping him/her.
In female aspect she is a teacher, whispering secrets but also spreading rumour and deception.
In male aspect, her is a listener, gathering knowledge, both to build understand and to find secrets and the power that comes with such information.
She/he is said to dwell in deep caves underground, but always remains on Harkovast, as to be away would risk missing some new piece of knowledge or secret.
Vahtalab- god of sandstorms, change, fate, battle and weather.
Vahtalab is depicted as a tendu formed from sand, with gleaming red gem eyes, dressed in a blood red sash. In both male and female aspects he/she can be serene or terrible. As they become more rage full their appearance becomes less tendu-like and more like a vast sand storm, in which can be seen the two gleaming eyes.
Vahtalab is especially feared by those in power, as it is his/her will that can bring them low.
Since Mamluks are one of the view classes able to advance socially in Tendu society, they view Vahtalab as their patron, allowing them to change their fate and move up in the social order. Most other Tendu fear Vahtalab (especially those of the noble class) but to mamluks he/she is seem as a more positive force, and they will generally give offerings to him/her to continue to bless them in battle and beyond.
Battle is a time when fate can be changed in an instant, so those going into battle will seek Vahtalab's favour, which is yet another reason the Mamluks want to appeal to her/him. This is another reason nobles are uncomfortable with Vahtalab, as they consider war to be a crude practice that is below people of their standing, meaning Vahtalab has little to offer them but a lot to threaten them with.
((I still need to do art for the gods and add some outsider gods. If you have ideas for gods or concepts you would like to see, let me know))
Thanks for everyone who contributed ideas to this!))
Tendu society is based on a strict hierarchy, going from slaves, workers, merchants, priests, nobles up to the royal family themselves.
With only a few exceptions, movement between social castes is impossible.
Tendu believe in reincarnation, believe that after death people are reborn based on their behaviour in their previous life. The criteria on which they are judged it based on how well they performed their roll in their previous position in society.
So a slave would be elevated for being obedient and hard working, a noble would be elevated for ruling with wisdom and carrying out the will of the Maharaja.
A slave who escaped, or a noble who abdicated their duties would be considered shameful, and likely to suffer to demotion to a lower rank.
Animals are considered part of the this system, and a slave who does not serve well might risk being put into this even less important role.
Social advancement is not something that occurs in this world, but is decided in the next one.
Tendu gods each have roles in the celestial order, but unlike the gods of most races are not necessarily benevolent.
Tendu believe in duality and hidden meanings in all things, and their gods have many aspects, some positive and some negative.
The gods fulfil the highest roll in the order of things, and each carries out the roll to which they are assigned. Sometimes these roles may seem cruel or indifferent to mortals, but just as the slave may find their masters orders harsh, mortals must work as the gods direct them and accept their decisions. Authority flows downward and is unquestionable. Those born into positions of leadership are there because of destiny and this cannot (and should not) be opposed.
Tendu society is extremely complex and sophisticated, and this is also represented in their religion.
Their are three tiers of gods, each dwelling in different realms.
The Celestial Gods are outside of Harkovast, removed from mortal affairs, dwelling in the celestial realm where the dead are take when they die to be reborn. These gods tend to be aloof and disinterested in mortal affairs, regal and unreachable. These also include some of the most important and high ranking deities.
The Harkovestial Gods are believed to dwell on Harkovast itself. These gods tend to be engaged directly in mortal affairs. They are the ones most likely to be appealed to, but can also be the most likely to inflict hardships. These gods are generally extremely fickle.
The Outsider Gods are said to dwell outside of Harkovast but not in the celestial realm. They are isolated beings, often acting independent of other beings. Many have only limited connections to events on Harkovast, but form a part of Tendu theology.
It is important to keep in mind that the celestial gods are not viewed as "good" or the outsiders as "evil". They are simply taking up different positions in a complex cosmology. To the Tendu, ideas of good and evil begin to lose meaning when applied to the divine. The Gods are, and they do that which the Gods do, in accordance with the nature of the universe.
The actual pantheon is vast and extremely complicated, to the point that it is virtually impossible for a person to be aware of every Tendu deity.
As well as major deities, Tendu have local gods of particular cities or places and even house hold gods that watch over particular families. Each has their own stories and traditions and place in the hierarchy. Minor gods mostly fall under the Harkovestial domain, with the celestial gods being mostly fixed and outsider gods generally not being worshipped.
Each god has both male and female aspects, like the Tendu themselves. For some gods there is little difference between the two aspects, for others the god and its sphere of interest can change radically when their gender changes.
For Gods, changing gender is far simpler than for Tendu, and they can move between their different aspects fluidly at any time.
Tendu see death as an essential step in the cycle of being, a gateway to judgement and the next phase of an on going, eternal cycle.
For this reason, their priests, commonly referred to as Gurus or Yogis commonly paint their faces as skulls, wear jewellery and symbols of bones and may even carry or wear the bones of the dead in their costumes.
They are strange and frightening figures to outsiders, often dwelling in tombs or graveyards. The Tendu do not see this as morbid, but believe that priests seek to understand the journey all people are on, and death is an essential part of that.
These gurus engage in all manner of strange rituals that they believe can bring them closer to divine understanding. These involve practices of fire eating, body piercing, walking on nails or hot coals and other seemingly shocking or dangerous behaviour.
Again, these rituals are viewed as sacred and important to the Tendu, but make their priesthood horrifying and bizarre to members of other cultures.
While it would be impossible to list every Tendu deity, I will provide a list of some of the significant and widely known ones.
Celestial Gods
Hashlas- God of Rulers, the royal family and the Maharaja.
Hashlas has the head of gimbit and many arms. They are the highest and most important of all Gods. They are recognised as supreme in all things. They are so sacred that it would be considered a heresy for most people to worship them, and even mentioning their name, discussing them or making images of them is unacceptable for most of society.
Only the royal family themselves can directly worship Hashlas, for he/she is their patron. Hashlas is believed to give guidance to the nations rulers, not acting directly in the world but acting through the Maharaja. Just as authority flows downward through the mortal realm, Hashlas sends their authority downward through mortal rulers.
Varskit- God of food, drink, yowboo and celebration.
In both forms, Varskit has two faces, so they can consume and also speak at the same time. At least one of the faces is always consuming something in almost all their depictions.
In their male aspect they personify the love of food and eating, and in their female aspect they personify the enjoyment of drink and yowboo smoking.
Tendu do not consider gluttony to be a sin. If one has been born into a position where they have plenty, they should enjoy it. To not do so would be to disrespect the role they have been given. One should live well and enjoy all that life has to offer.
Varskit if views as a cheerful and good natured being, one of the most generally positive of the gods.
Rhaan- God of slavery, servants and manual work.
Rhaan is the lowest ranking of the celestial gods. He/she works endlessly for the other gods, seeking to fulfil all their requirements. In his male aspect he appears as a hulking, hunched figure of great size. In her female aspect she is a thin, ghostly figure, hiding in the shadows out of sight until needed. In his male form he does more physical tasks, such as carrying, building and fighting. In her female form, she performs household duties, creative crafts, as well as performing and entertaining her masters.
Rhaan works gladly, obeying all instructions unquestioningly and trying to pre-empt instructions before they are given.
Rhaan is the patron of peasants, slaves and the lowest rung of society and is the only celestial god that slaves are allowed to worship freely. They lowly worship of a slave would be an insult to most high ranking dieties. It would be considered ridiculous for those higher up to offer worship to him/her.
Rhaan personifies the perfection of what a slaves should be and is an ideal to work towards. They provide inspiration, example and comfort, but is not expected to directly influence in events to aid them. After all, Rhaan is the perfect slave and does not exercise authority of decision making him/her self.
Sokarati- God of destruction, death, renewal, birth
Sokarti appears as in a winged tendu in both aspects, healthy on one side, and skeletal down the other. They personify both the end of life and its beginning, as to the Tendu those two things are deeply connected.
They are viewed as an essential and vital force. Though people may mourn death or dislike unpleasant creations, these things are as essential as life and happy. Sokarati concerns him/herself with higher matters, and whether mortals like or dislike his/her designs is of no concern. People should not look for Sokarti to change his/her actions based on what mortals want, but instead mortals should come to understand Sokarati and bring their actions into alignment with his/her plan.
Harkovastial Gods-
Tasuit- God of merchants, sea travel, gambling, poverty and stealer of riches
In his male aspect, Tasuit appears as a fat, golden skinned tendu dressed in a loin cloth. They are patron of the merchant class, and of sea travel and the essential trade it brings. However, Tasuit is also associated with gambling and dice, and when the dice come up badly, Tasuit may turn to their female aspect. In this form Tasuit appears as a tendu woman walking on her hands and is the god of ruin and poverty, a reminder that all things are fleeting and can be lost.
In this aspect, Tasuit steals, tricks and cheats to take wealth from those who have it.
The more wealth one has, the more the chances are that Tasuits attention may be drawn, for those who are most successful always have the most to lose.
Tasuit may seem cruel but to the Tendu they are an essential reminder that all things are temporary in this world, and the cycle of change cannot be prevented. Hubris and arrogance, complacency and carelessness, Tasuit is quick to punish them.
The male Tasuit can give wealth, but it should always be remembered that in female form she can take it all away just as easily.
Money is the power of the merchant class, but it is inherently unstable and illusive compared to the inherited power of the noble class. It is this chaos that Tasuit personifies. As a male he gathers and build wealth, but in female aspect she destroys it.
Tasuit dwells in the mortal realm as that is where the wealth of mortals is gathered.
Shupatapa- God of secrets, knowledge and lies.
Depicted as tall and thing with completely black skin with many eyes all over their head.
Shupatapa is patron to members of the higher levels of society who can devote themselves to knowledge and learning.
Workers and slaves are generally discouraged from worshipping him/her.
In female aspect she is a teacher, whispering secrets but also spreading rumour and deception.
In male aspect, her is a listener, gathering knowledge, both to build understand and to find secrets and the power that comes with such information.
She/he is said to dwell in deep caves underground, but always remains on Harkovast, as to be away would risk missing some new piece of knowledge or secret.
Vahtalab- god of sandstorms, change, fate, battle and weather.
Vahtalab is depicted as a tendu formed from sand, with gleaming red gem eyes, dressed in a blood red sash. In both male and female aspects he/she can be serene or terrible. As they become more rage full their appearance becomes less tendu-like and more like a vast sand storm, in which can be seen the two gleaming eyes.
Vahtalab is especially feared by those in power, as it is his/her will that can bring them low.
Since Mamluks are one of the view classes able to advance socially in Tendu society, they view Vahtalab as their patron, allowing them to change their fate and move up in the social order. Most other Tendu fear Vahtalab (especially those of the noble class) but to mamluks he/she is seem as a more positive force, and they will generally give offerings to him/her to continue to bless them in battle and beyond.
Battle is a time when fate can be changed in an instant, so those going into battle will seek Vahtalab's favour, which is yet another reason the Mamluks want to appeal to her/him. This is another reason nobles are uncomfortable with Vahtalab, as they consider war to be a crude practice that is below people of their standing, meaning Vahtalab has little to offer them but a lot to threaten them with.
((I still need to do art for the gods and add some outsider gods. If you have ideas for gods or concepts you would like to see, let me know))
