Religions of Aethe

Religion is deeply enmeshed in the lives of the peoples of Aethe. Most people believe deeply in their chosen faith, and attempt to live their lives according to its precepts. The words of a priest or prophetess carry great weight among ordinary folk, and one’s standing with the Temple can often affect one’s business and personal relationships. Although the civilized folk of Aethe often choose a single patron deity (usually Elos), they mostly believe in the existence of the other deities, and occasionally make offerings and prayers to them as well.

There are a great many deities worshipped across Aethe. The deities described here are those worshipped most often by the common races, and by the heroes and villains of the Long Sea.

The Temple of Elos

To gain a comprehensive understanding of religion in the world of Aethe in the year 1403 in the Age of Faith, one must first consider the worship of Elos. On the shores of the Long Sea, the Temple of Elos reigns supreme in the hearts of most peoples. Although other religions exist, only the Elosian religion truly flourishes. In civilized lands where the Temple of Elos holds sway, the temples of other deities usually choose to operate in secret.

Elos

Elos, the god of the sun, is lawful good. His titles are the Lightbringer and the Sunlight King. He is the most commonly worshipped deity among humans of the north coast of the Long Sea, and the worship of Elos is the official religion of many human nations. He has done much good in Aethe. He heals the sick, and lifts up the fallen. His priests strive to be a beacon of hope wherever they go, and are often well-positioned in the halls of power. All classes are common among his followers, but especially paladins. The domains he is associated with are Good, Law, Healing, Strength, Sun, and Glory. The mace is his favored weapon. Elos is a greater deity.

The worship of Elos the Sun God is the majority religion and the official religion of Altara, Prendor, Treverac, Wynt, and Hathaine. The head of the Temple is the Semptenar who rules from Coronen, Altara, in the Temple of the Brilliant Sun, within the district called the Semptenarium. Within each nation, the top religious official is the Patriarch, who has subordinates called Baelers running each region. Underneath the Baelers are Priests and Arristants (trained lay priests) who run the temples. In temples without Priests or Arristants, there will be an untrained lay priest called a Goodman, or Goodwoman.

As women are not permitted to be trained as priests, Goodwoman is the highest hierachical title a woman may gain in the Temple of Elos. Women seeking to serve Elos in a capacity with a greater potential for advancement often create or join outside organizations called sisterhoods dedicated to Elos.

The Elosian religion holds sway over much of the daily life of its adherents. Priests perform marriages, funerals, appellations (naming ceremonies), and newkindlings (coming-of-age ceremonies). Temples often employ skilled healers as well, though their services are scarce in rural areas. Monasteries abound as repositories of religious and historical knowledge, and priests provide most education for the children of noble and well-to-do families. Prayers are held at dusk, noon, and dawn every day.

The symbol of Elos is a sun divided into quadrants. Frequently, priests indicate their areas of expertise by symbols in the upper right and lower left quadrants.

Elos was known as the god of justice four centuries ago. But newly discovered religious texts transformed his portfolio into that of a sun god. A small sect known as the Justiciars still worship Elos as a god of justice. The human nation of Geonia follows the Justiciar path.

The Major Deities

Adonahane

Adonahane, the god of truth, is neutral good. His titles are Lord of Truth and the Omniscient. Above all, Adonahane and his followers seek and preserve knowledge, and expand upon it. Adonahane always speaks the truth. He is the son of Narduna, and the brother of Neir and Elos. Wizards and rogues are found among his followers, and worship of Adonahane is popular among elves. Adonahane is a greater deity, and he is associated with the domains of Good, Knowledge, Magic, Mind, Oracle, and Mentalism. His favored weapon is the longsword. His holy symbol is a blank scroll.

Hekar

Hekar, the god of death, is neutral evil. His titles include the Bringer of Death and the Dark Prisoner. Hekar is served by those who wish to bring great evil and destruction upon others for pleasure, or for their own gain. He is known as the Dark Prisoner because he was imprisoned beyond the Void Gate many ages ago by an alliance of other deities and great heroes of Aethe. His followers frequently include necromancers and rogues, and they are often scheming to release Hekar from his bonds. Hekar is a greater deity, and the domains he is associated with are Death, Evil, Trickery, Destruction, Hatred and Darkness. His favored weapon is a scythe. His holy symbol is a skull against a black star.

Narduna

Narduna, the goddess of nature, is neutral. She is known as the Aethemother. Narduna rules over the wilderness and the elements, and she is a friend of those who dwell in peace and harmony with the natural world. Barbarians, rangers, and druids sometimes choose to worship her. She is a greater deity, and is mother to the deities Elos, Adonahane, and Neir, and is a swarn enemy of Hekar. Among her servants are the deities Besos, Goprani, and Brebos. Among the dwarves, she is known as Narda, the Dwarfmother. In the dwarven pantheon, Narda is wife to the deity Thror, and patron to the deity Nikander. The domains Narduna (Narda) is associated with are Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Plant, Animal, and Weather. Her favored weapon is the quarterstaff. Her holy symbol is a simple circle.

Neir

Neir, the goddess of war, is chaotic neutral. Her title is the Lady of Wrath. She is mighty and honorable on the battlefield, but fickle with her support. She is the daughter of Narduna, and sister to Elos and Adonahane. The domains she is associated with are Chaos, Protection, Strength, Wrath and War. Fighters and Barbarians can be found among her followers. Though most of her followers are human, other races are certainly welcome. She is a greater deity, and her favored weapon is the battleaxe. Her holy symbol is a row of three parallel lightning bolts with an axe across them.

Racial and Regional Deities

Bahg Ara

Bahg Ara, the god of the ice plains, is chaotic evil. His title is the Blade. Bahg Ara despises his twin brother Bahg Tura, who stole his position as god of the orcs from him, and Bahg Ara has been working to get back his portfolio ever since. The domains Bahg Ara is associated with are Chaos, Evil, Destruction, War, Domination, and Orc. He is an intermediate god, and his favored weapon is the battleaxe. His holy symbol is a bloody axe.

Bahg Tura

Bahg Tura, the god of the orcs, is chaotic evil. He is called the Watcher by his followers. Bahg Tura demands strength from his followers, and that they cull the weak from among them so that they may conquer the territory Bahg Tura desires. He is the twin brother to Bahg Ara, whom he displaced. Bahg Tura is a greater deity, and the domains he is associated with are Chaos, Evil, Strength, War, Domination, and Orcs. His favored weapon is the spear, and his holy symbol is an eye.

Eloath

Eloath, the goddess of spiders, is chaotic evil. Her titles are Queen of Spiders, and Queen of the Demonweb. Dark elves (drow) generally worship Eloath, but she has few worshippers on the surface of Aethe. She is despised by the Ancestors of Ithilan and considers them her enemies, as well as the gods of the dwarves. She was an ally of Hekar long ago, but has since been largely forgotten outside of the underdark. The domains that Eloath is assciated with are Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Trickery, Drow, and Spider. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the whip. Eloath's holy symbol is a spider with her face hanging from a web.

Ibiris

Ibiris, the Ammenite goddess of the sun, is lawful good. Her title is the Sunlight Queen. She is primarily worshipped by the good humans and halflings of the nation of Ammen, and is largely unknown in the lands of the Long Sea. The domains assocaited with Ibiris are Glory, Good, Nobility, Law, Sun, and War. She is a greater deity, and her favored weapon is the khopesh. Her holy symbol is a serpent coiled around the sun.

Koth

Koth, the Ammenite god of Night is chaotic evil. His title is the Night Pharoah. Koth is worshipped by the evil humans, elves, halflings, and humanoids of the kingdom of Ammen and its neighbors. He hates all good deities, but especially Ibiris. The domains associated with Koth are Air, Chaos, Darkness, Destruction, Evil, and Strength. He is a greater deity, and his favored weapon is the shortspear. His holy symbol is a twisting whirlwind.

Mublu

Mublu, the god of the goblins and their kin, is neutral evil. His title is the Dark One. Mublu is primarily worshipped by goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears, but other races of the mountains and the underdark may occasionally choose Mublu as a patron. Domains associated with Mublu are Chaos, Darkness, Destruction, Fire, Evil, and Trickery. Mublu is a greater deity, and his favored weapon is the battleaxe. The holy symbol of Mublu is a torch with black fire.

Nikander

Nikander, the dwarven god of prosperity, is neutral good. His titles are Bringer of Prosperity and the Resplendent King. He is among the newer deities, having been raised to godhood by Narda (Narduna) only recently. Prior to ascension, Nikander was a great and wealthy priest-king of the dwarven kingdom of Turingard. He is loyal to Narda, and allied to Miroth and Ranoc. The domains he is associated with are Earth, Good, Fire, Craft, Trade, and Metal. He is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is the warhammer. His holy symbol is a hammer and forge.

The Ancestors

The Mourners worship the spirits of their ancestors, who perished during the Age of Legends in the great Elven city of Ithilan. Collectively, the spirits are a greater deity. Although occasionally other races also have joined the ranks of the Mourners, they are mostly made up of elves and half-elves who are directly descended from the people of Ithilan. Unlike adherents of most other religions of Aethe, Mourners do not ever pray to any other deities. Mourners stand out in society because they dress in simple grey cloaks. They are frequently, though not always, unwelcome among other faiths. The domains associated with the Ancestors are Chaos, Good, Protection, War, Community, and Elves. Their favored weapon is the longsword. Their holy symbol is a sundered ziggurat.

The Innumerable

The Innumerable are, collectively, the deities of the gnomes, and they are neutral good. There are a seemingly infinite number of deities for every aspect of life, and gnomes raised to revere the Innumerable are taught their names and purposes from childhood. The domains the Innumerable are associated with are Good, Protection, Trickery, Community, Creation, and Gnomes. Collectively, the Innumerable are a greater deity, and their favored weapon is the battleaxe. Their holy symbol is a simple prism.

Thror

Thror, the god of the dwarves, is lawful good. His titles are the Great Father and Lawgiver. Thror is the lover of Narda (also known as Narduna), and is a crossover deity from the pantheon of the dwarves of the Kherinai mountains to the north. Thror is the protector of the dwarves, and created them many ages ago, as a gift for Narda. He has pledged to always aid the dwarves in battle. The domains he is associated with are Good, Law, Dwarves, Creation, Earth, Fire, and Protection. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the warhammer. His holy symbol is a warhammer and shield.

Volena

Volena, the goddess of the halflings, is lawful good. Her titles include the Stalwart Protector and the Blessed Mother. Volena is the creator and protector of all halflings, though many worship other gods. The worship of Volena is found most often among groups of halflings that live together, rather than those that are intermixed into human societies. Domains Volena is associated with are Good, Law, Protection, Community, Creation, and Halflings. Volena is a greater deity, and her favored weapon is the short sword. Her holy symbol is a silver goblet.

Other Deities

Aestin

Aestin, the god of scholarship and learning, is neutral. He is called Aestin the Divine Scholar, and is rumored to know more of the nature of Aethe than even its divine creator. Wizards of all races worship Aestin. He is allied with Adonahane. The domains Aestin is associated with are Knowledge, Magic, Trickery, Mind, and Oracle. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is a quarterstaff. His holy symbol is an open book.

Ambira

Ambira, the goddess of magic, is chaotic neutral. She is called the Lady of Mysteries and the Lady of Magic. Her divine loom, called Ambira's Loom, from which she spins the spellthread that makes up all magic, appears in the sky as a constellation during times of great import on Aethe. She is a servant of Adonahane. Wizards and sorcerers of all races worship Ambira. The domains she is associated with are Law, Magic, Mind, Domination, Spell, and Rune. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the dagger. Her holy symbol is a dagger across a crescent moon.

Aris

Aris, the god of conquest and battle, is chaotic evil. His titles are the Battlelord and the Conqueror. Though previously allied with Neir, Aris has now aligned himself with Hekar. He is worshipped by evil fighters and blackguards, and counts many orcs and humans among his followers. The domains Aris is associated with are Destruction, Evil, Law, War, Domination, and Tyranny. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the flail. His holy symbol is a pair of crossed arrows.

Arte

Arte, the goddess of retribution, is lawful neutral. Her title is Lady of Vengeance. Arte (pronounced "ART-uh") is invoked by those who seek a just revenge for wrongs done to them or others. She is a servant of Elos, though she is more independent than his other servants. Her followers are as diverse a group as any, including both paladins and rogues, druids and wizards. She is primarily a human and halfling deity, though others follow her on occasion. The domains Arte is associated with are Law, Protection, Strength, Destruction, and Domination. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the mace. Her holy symbol is a clenched fist.

Aruntus

Aruntus, the god of balance, is lawful neutral. His title is the Balance Keeper. Aruntus is charged with weighing the sins of the dead to determine which afterlife they are destined to enjoy or suffer. His followers often include fighters and druids. Although primarily a human god, Aruntus welcomes other races as well, and elves and dwarves can often be found among his worshippers. Aruntus is a loyal servant of Elos. The domains he is associated with are Death, Fate, Law, Protection and Balance. Aruntus is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the mace. His holy symbol is a balance scale.

Besos

Besos, the god of the ocean, is neutral evil. His title is the Stormbringer. Besos hates sailors and fishermen and strives to thwart those he casts his gaze upon. Though he was once a servant of Narduna, who raised him to the intermediate deity he is, he has since turned away from her. His few followers are often sorcerers and druids. The domains Besos is associated with are Chaos, Destruction, Storm, Ocean, Water, and Evil. His favored weapon is the trident, and his holy symbol is a crashing wave.

Boreas

Boreas, the god of the north wind, is lawful good. His titles are Wind of the North, and the Platinum Dragon. Boreas is rarely seen or worshipped among humanoid races, but is often blamed for unseasonably cold days and nights accompanied by eerie but colorful lights in the northern sky. The domains Boreas is associated with are Air, Cold, Good, Luck, Protection, and Dragon. He is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is the heavy pick. His holy symbol is a star-tipped scepter.

Brebos

The god of beasts, and of competitions, is chaotic good. His name is Brebos, and he is often called the Beastlord. Brebos is the patron of athletes, who often choose a totem as an emissary to the Beastlord. He is a loyal (if free-spirited) servant of Narduna. Brebos' worshippers include skilled fighters, barbarians, rogues, rangers, and druids. The domains he is associated with are Chaos, Good, Animal, Luck, Strength, and Competition. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the battleaxe. His holy symbol is a claw holding a animal. The animal can be of any type, and is called a totem.

Bryl

Bryl, the god of murder, is neutral evil. He is called Bryl the Cruel. Bryl is the patron of assassins and murderers, as well as those who enjoy slaughter on the field of battle. His worshippers span the races, but include many orcs and half-orcs. Barbarians and rogues are especially common among his followers. He is a servant of Hekar during Hekar's periods of strength. The domains Bryl is associated with are Chaos, Evil, Trickery, War, and Madness. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the morningstar. His holy symbol is a grinning mouth full of fangs.

Daionus

Daionus (pronounced die-OWN-us), the god of luck, wine and the arts, is chaotic neutral. His title is Lord of the Vineyard. Rogues and bards frequently worship Daionus, and he is especially popular among elves, half-elves, gnomes and halflings. The domains Daionus is associated with are Chaos, Luck, Trickery, Celerity, and Mind. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the rapier. The holy symbol of Daionus is a wooden cross.

Dismater

Dismater, the goddess of conquest, is lawful evil. Her titles are Matriarch of Many Colors, and the Chromatic Dragon. Dismater is rarely seen or worshipped among humanoid races, but is often blamed for unusally aggressive dragons and drakes. The domains Dismater is associated with are Destruction, Evil, Law, Trickery, and Dragon. She is a lesser deity, and her favored weapon is the heavy pick. Her holy symbol is a pendant with the heads of black, white, red, blue, and green dragons emerging from a central gem.

Ematri

Ematri, the goddess of ambition, is neutral. Her titles are the Queen of Ambitions, and the Queen of Favors. She is a servant of Neir. Merchants and ambitious nobles are among her followers, as are many rogues, bards, wizards, and sorcerers. Though primarily a human and especially halfling god, dwarves, and gnomes are also often found in the halls of her temples. The domains Ematri is associated with are Knowledge, Trade, Travel, Creation, Competition, and Wealth. She is a lesser deity, and her favored weapon is the light crossbow. Her holy symbol is a large gold coin.

Geshana

Geshana, the goddess of valor, is neutral good. Her title is Mistress of Valor. She is a servant of Neir, and is worshipped by those good warriors who are obliged to do battle and valiantly strive to fight with bravery and skill. The domains she is associated with are Good, Law, War, Glory, and Inquisition. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the longsword. Her holy symbol is a longsword embedded in a stone.

Goprani

Goprani, the goddess of the woodlands, is neutral good. She is known as the Woodland Queen. Goprani is a friend and protector to the good people of the forests and their allies. She is especially liked among elves, half-elves, gnomes, and halflings, and her worshippers often include rangers and druids. She is a servant and ally of Narduna, though she often feels Narduna does not go far enough to protect the good creatures of Aethe. The domains she is associated with are Animal, Good, Plant, Sun, and Celerity. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the longbow. Her holy symbol is an image of a great tree.

Iux

Iux, the god of creation, is lawful good. His title is the Creator. Iux is an ancient and largely forgotten deity with few worshippers today. The domains Iux is associated with are Law, Good, Creation, Knowledge, and Oracle. He is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is the mace. His holy symbol is a sword and star.

Miroth

Miroth, the god of mercy, is lawful good. His titles include the Wise, and Merciful Savior. Miroth is the patron of prisoners and petitioners. He is among the newer deities, having been raised to godhood by Elos only recently. He is loyal to Elos, and allied to Ranoc and Nikander. Miroth's worshippers include paladins, fighters, and bards, and he is popular among the poor. The domains he is associated with are Good, Healing, Law, Protection, Glory, and Courage. He is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is a lance. His holy symbol is a shining white throne.

Misera

Misera, the goddess of grief, is neutral. Her title is Lady of Sorrow. Though known as a bringer of sorrow, Misera is also known as a comfort to those who are bereaved, especially widows and widowers. She was an ally of Hekar in the past, but is now unaligned. The domains Misera is associated with are Death, Suffering, Destruction, Healing, and Community. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the dagger. Her holy symbol is a skull inside a teardrop.

Rame

Rame, the god of honor and duty, is lawful good. He is called the Honorable One. Rame is often invoked by those who feel honor-bound to accept a difficult task or quest they would not otherwise attempt. Rame is a loyal servant of Elos. He is primarily a human deity, and paladins often invoke Rame. The domains he is associated with are Good, War, Strength, Protection, and Glory. He is an intermediate deity, and his favored weapon is the greatsword. His holy symbol is a blue-and-white shield.

Ranoc

Ranoc, the god of hospitality and travel, is neutral good. He is called Ranoc the Red and Ranoc the Reborn. Ranoc is the patron of scholars and wayfarers. He is among the newer deities, having been raised to godhood by Adonahane only recently. He is loyal to Adonahane, and allied to Miroth and Nikander. Ranoc's worshippers often include wizards and sorcerers, as well as bards and good-aligned rogues. The domains he is associated with are Luck, Protection, Knowledge, Magic, Travel, Celerity, and Weather. He is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is the quarterstaff. His holy symbol is a set of three concentric circles, signifying a portal.

Satana

Satana, the goddess of disease, is chaotic evil. She is called the Queen of Pestilence. She is often blamed when a plague strikes. Evil druids and assassins are among her followers. Satana is an ally of Hekar. The domains she is associated with are Death, Destruction, Evil, and Pestilence. She is a lesser deity, and her favored weapon is the quarterstaff. Her holy symbol is a sickle and rat.

Umija

Umija, the goddess of lies and deception, is chaotic evil. She is called Umija the Cursed, and Revealer of Lies. She had deceived Adonahane into thinking she was a loyal servant, but she instead has worked to undermine him. Above all, she hates Aestin, Ambira, and Ranoc, who are Adonahane's true loyal allies, and who alerted him to her treachery. When he was alerted, Adonahane stripped Umija of her true form, which is her curse. Evil illusionists and rogues are often found among the worshippers of Umija. The domains she is associated with are Evil, Trickery, Luck, Knowledge, Madness, Illusion, and Oracle. She is an intermediate deity, and her favored weapon is the longsword. Her holy symbol is a twisted mask.

Vaalru

Vaalru, the god of evil and sorcery, is neutral evil. His title is the Whisperer. Vaalru was once an evil sorcerer who discovered a means to elevate himself to godhood. He is worshipped, usually in secret, by evil spellcasters of all races. The domains Vaalru is associated with are Evil, Knowledge, Magic, Darkness and Madness. Vaalru is a lesser deity, and his favored weapon is the dagger. His holy symbol is a gray hand with the forefinger severed at the first knuckle.

Into the Under

There I stood, considering the maw of the cave as my heart steadily quickened. I had never seen it as a thing to fear before yet now, somehow, it seemed remarkably like a mouth that might swallow me up and never spit me out again. I became aware that I was even holding my breath a little. It’s good the elders had gone…..I guess. What were they thinking? Sending me, their favorite daughter into almost sure death.

No more of this. I willed myself forward and once again stopped at the end of the daylight. One foot into the passage enveloped me in darkness, behind me was the last daylight I might see for who knows how long. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready for eternal darkness. Yeah, sure, they blindfolded me and made me walk around and grope in the dark, but that was different. I knew the blindfold would come off. I knew I would see my people’s faces again. Who, or rather what would I wake to down, down under the earth?

They told me of evil creatures, the goblins that used to raid our village, and of icky things, slimes and oozes, and fungal creatures, and to be wary of other travelers because no one is as they seem in the underdark. They trained me in the practical use of several weapons though I had never killed anyone and now I might need to. They gave me one of the few luxuries they could provide, an everburning torch, a magically created wonder that would light my way in the darkest of darks. I had food for weeks and a vague map-like piece of parchment that supposedly led me somewhere another halfling had wandered to and from once before. Great. Yeah, ready.

Well, here it is, the day I asked for. Not the way I’d imagined exactly, but here anyhow, alone, trying to push away the uncertainties, stepping into a life in darkness. Okay, Teeny, trying to get used to that pseudonym, let’s see it then. Let’s see that plucky spirit and that impatience and those grand dreams of adventure. I’ll show ‘em. I’ll find the best for those old coots. They’ll see. Death don’t knock on this girl’s door so easy. With my hands on my pack straps I took another step, then stopped, turned to face the outside one more time and yelled,

“Thanks for everything, you crazy old coots!”

And with that and a spin on my heels, I plunged in to darkness.

After a few hours walking down, always down, I stopped to have a look at this almost a map. Where was I going again? Right, Cray, a deep dwarven settlement on the fringes of Turingard’s rule. I knew dwarves well enough as they had been through the village enough times though they didn’t speak overly much. They always seemed tired and still busy. Something important to do that frivolous halflings wouldn’t understand. Pah! What do they know. We took their money for ale all the same. Once, before I was trained for service, I even served a few of those longbeards. They thought I was cute and dainty like a small human girl. One of even tried to flirt with me, the nerve of foreign men. As if the local leerers weren’t enough. Well now I shall be the guest and we shall see if their customs are found wanting or not.

I started walking again, down the tunnels, which were partially carved from running water of long ago and partially of dwarven or even goblin crafters, sometimes very difficult to distinguish nature from nurture here. It was more or less slow going as well. Even though the torchlight provided enough illumination to see many halfling steps ahead and behind, the ground wasn’t kind and loose rocks slid about under every other footfall. Occasionally there was even a long echoing opening into gaping pits of darkness that really would swallow you up if you were to misstep one to many times.

Always, always, I was told to be looking and listening for unsuspected companions. It was all too easy, they had said, to let the darkness wrap you up in your own thoughts and your own brighter worlds until you just drifted downward with a wind of blissful ignorance filling your sails. That is when you were most in peril. Do not drift, walk with purpose, sit for a spell when you are weary, but do not get lost in thought or you are lost. I started to understand this more and more as my attention wandered further than my small ring of light. They were right to say that there is no teacher like experience. She is gracious and merciless with her instruction.

After another bit of food and a few hours more of what felt like aimless wandering though I knew I had a destination, I heard voices. It was hard to tell from where or how far away. They seemed distant and more than one, though I could barely make out a language. I now walked with all the stealth a halfling could employ and cautiously yet briskly I tailed the voices. As I got closer I could hear better the language of the underdark. I had very little practice speaking undercommon, enough to recognize it though not enough to understand clearly what they spoke of. I wrapped my fingers around my katar without knowing why. Echoes of kill or be killed rang in my excited brain. What if they were dark elves, drow? What if goblins? What if dark dwarves, the duergar? I had been instructed on the debatable societies of these unkind races and knew that my only hope other than fighting was to rely on the fact that most of the underdark knew precious little of surface dwelling halflings.

I knew I could lie well and I knew I had knowledge on my side, but a small lonely girl in an unknown, dark land, coming upon unknown folk felt like wrapping her fingers around a weapon, if for nothing more than comfort. After all, I had been taught to kill and effectively I might add. More so I had been taught to hide and sneak and wait for the right moment. Was there a right moment in an unknown darkness? Lost in thought, lost in thought. The torch might give me away. What to do? I knew too that most underdwellers could see in darkness. The voices were getting louder though my pace had slowed. Perhaps they were coming up.

I quickly pushed back into a creviced wall and wrapped the lit end of the torch in extra clothes to hide it’s light. Louder still. They were coming up. Oh no, oh no. I’m not ready, I’m not ready. Just hide girl. You know what you’re good at. Calm your breathing or they’ll hear you and don’t forget that there are friendly travelers in the dark as well. All the same, I waited for what seemed like too long and I smelled them before I felt them pass. They were goblins I think, though I can’t be sure. They paused for just a second in front of me and I heard one sniff the air once.

“What, what? Let’s get on with it. All this talk of kidnappin’ and thievin’ and that damned old traitor witch, we’ve no time for your infernal nose now.”

“Something sweet’s gone by here, I tell you, and sweet means loot. Always the sweet smellin’ ones are carryin’ gold and interestin’ pleasantries. Are ya’ too busy for gold, fool?”

“Just hurry it up, is there something or not? We’ll get ‘nuff gold if we get on to doing this job and besides we’d’ve seen a torch if some wealthy merchant came this way.”

“Not for a dwarf, not for a dwarf. You know they walk in the dark as we. No need for cursed lights. It seems to be going up, maybe to the surface from Cray with goods for sale.”

“Dwarves never smell sweet. Yer dreamin’. Let’s go on then. If we find ‘em, we find ‘em and we rob ‘em then. Enough of this fool trackin’. Come on, it’s not far to our filthy employer now.”

“Watch yer tongue, lest you lose it says I. I don’t trust ‘im either, but a job’s a job. Fine, let’s move.”

And they passed on leaving a girl’s head swimming in fear and confusion and wondering what she’d just heard. Wait now, little Teeny, wait. Their footsteps became softer and softer until I felt it was safe to breathe normally again. What am I doing, what am I doing? Is this adventure? It is what is and now I must go down for going up means goblins in my path. I waited sitting for another thirty minutes or so until I felt sure my torchlight could be used again. There was no sense groping along even more slowly if I didn’t have to.

The light restored some comfort, if you can call, wandering in the dark comfortable at all and I looked at the map again. It was mostly useless. You might have well just drawn an arrow pointing downward and said, that way. It did give some approximation of a time to Cray which is what I wondered. These goblins seemed to be speaking of a nearish town and I wondered how close I was or if they could be referring to Cray. They had mentioned it at any rate. I was still less than a day into the journey and I had thought the town to be further than perhaps I realized. It seemed I was only another half a day to a day off.

Well, that begged the interesting question of sleeping. Would a girl sleep out in this unknown dark to be pawed and looted by those whose senses were more keen to darkness than mine? No, no, I had food and I was far from tired after that little excitement. I would walk until I couldn’t and hopefully that would land me in Cray sooner than later. The last thing I want is any goblin pawing about me in the dark. Nothing good could come of that, of that much I was sure.

Down and down and down again then. A little while back on the path and I let some pride in. I just passed my first journey’s test, hadn’t I? Clever Teeny. Teeny, Teeny, Teeny, got to get used to that name. Perhaps I have more adventure in me than I thought. For sure a toast to the old coots when I get to Cray and maybe this little excitement will pay off. Kidnapping and thieving, huh? Someone will want to know about that. Stupid goblins.

-- by Jon

Where, Where, O Dark?

An inconsequential tavern in the land of Turingard...

“What say you dwarves, a song, a story for a mug of ale and a bowl of dwarven stew?”

A few drowsy dwarven men look up from their own brews and glance toward the door.

‘Eh? What’s that? A beggar, a minstrel, a bard all in fineries even?”

“Sir Trossit, at your service good sirs.” He says with an indulgent bow.

A raised eyebrow from behind the bar with a laughing tease, “Good sirs? Don’t know me boys too well then, do ye? Ha! Their not worth the breath of a Sir, ha!”

“Shut yer yap Ol’ Kellen. A sir then, is it? A knight, not a bard then? From the mouths of knights come only morals and lessons and such. Ya’ can keep them, sir.”

“No, no, gentlemen. I was made a sir in another land, perhaps one you’ve never heard of. No knight am I men. Not half so gallant as twice so full of it and a fair bit famished to boot, but that is another story unless you’d care to hear. Perhaps a moving moment to complement your beer? Or something of a tale you’re already rather fond of? A morsel for an ear bending, no danger there, yes?”

An olden dwarf turns about from a far corner and says, “I’ll have ye’ on, fair Trossit man. I can tell already you’ve a voice worthy of at least a pot o’ stew. How ‘bout the lay of the traitor? Don’t right remember the proper name, but the day those devilish dark elves winced a bit, betrayed by their own shadowman. Know it, do ya’?”

“Ah, a brilliant tale with a melody strong, worthy of this dwarven hall. Yes, I know it well and a choice selection if I do say. Shall we begin then?”

Several dwarves flick wrists at Ol’ Kellen for tankards all around as the baritone voice of Sir Trossit starts at a hum. Most of the bar turns at least halfway ‘round on their stools and benches, grateful for some new distraction.

“Hmmmmm, hm, hm, hmmm. A minor tune for a major story of darkness and betrayal. Listen to my tale and know something of another place and time yet still lives all around us.”

Deep, down dark, below the earth
Where fires flow and devils birth
It’s said they came from forges old
By hand of wicked gods
Skin rubbed black with miner’s coal
And hair as white as frozen cold.

Eyes that blind in sun’s warm light
Made to live in shadowed night
Gifted warrens of ancient make
Endless corridors of stone
Their cities rose with unseen hands
No aid except enslaven drake.

Some say of their twisted ways
Nature cries or evil plays
No friends, no allies all are foe
Save one, save one who left the flock
The day when evil’s smiles frowned
For long planned ills brought low.

Grew and grew their power and lust
Craving more than cavern dust
With magics learnt, dark and fell
To steal lands of burning light
As below, above on Aethe
endless night for all who dwell.

Councils met deliberating
Sorceries to end cruel waiting
Blind no more the world is ours
All said yay save one, save one
I’ve walked among them, man and dwarf,
Brethren elf you would devour.

Pleading sense against such folly
You’d waste our powers drunk and jolly
On children weak with eyes of light
While future queens lay starving
Homeward, homeward blinded fools
Forget these talks of endless night.

Warped your words from sun’s enchantment
We’ll feed our queens on spoils granted
Away, away misled spy
May darkness forgive your tongue
Stripped of rank and wealth and home
One wandered torn ‘tween dark and light.

Years were passed, spells were gathered
While unknown above nothing mattered
And still he knew their every move
Stripped of all save power
He stole into the sacred chamber
Now was the time to prove.

Though known not, this benefactor
Screams of rage reacted
Rising up from unseen depths
Screams turned to soothing balm
For every man, woman, and child
Who sees sun rise and go to rest.

Now he wanders, traitors plight
Curse of sun, hand of night
Where, oh where dark-born soul
Forgotten savior, shadows danced
Holding sun in ashen hands
Ages pass with thanks untold.

“Hear, hear, a fine rendition, worth more than a stew or an ale or two.”

Scattered applause and cheers crept up in the dim lit bar of dwarven workmen.

“A drink all around for a song well sung. Kellen, me tab be damned.”

“Thank you, thank you. Reward enough is the gratitude of my bearded brethren.”

“Cheers to Trossit and cheers to the sun. We’ll wake tomorrow to work another day and drink another night.”

“Drow be damned, but one, but one. Hear, hear.”


-- by Jon

Questions Answered

In the village of Clan Lightfoot, days passed mostly quietly and routinely. Many of the younger Halflings, including me, longed for more. Oh sure, we made mischief and pranked each other, but we all wondered why we had been taught our way if we never were to use it. Orc raids were nearly nonexistent and even if they did come, our help wasn’t needed. What good is this service in the guard if we never use it? We don’t practice, we aren’t challenged, we will become weary and lazy like most of our parents.

I sat with Kami one afternoon talking about these things and throwing rocks into the open mouth of the underdark cave we were forbidden to enter,

“Don’t you want something, anything to do Kami?”

“Not really. I just want to finish this silly service time and get married to a good man, maybe Kenan, and be happy. Why don’t you ever just want to be happy, Tava?”

“Don’t you care about history, our past, your great grandparents? Don’t you wonder about the legends they taught us, where they come from, why, and why do we still honor them?”

“Will that make you happy, T? If it’ll make you happy, then yeah, I wanna’ know, too.”

“Brat. You’re hopeless. That’s it, I’m going to pester the elders again and I’m not letting up until they tell me something or do something or something. I am so sick of the some day you will understand crap. Wanna’ go with?”

“Oh T, someday you’ll understand, (snicker).”

With a playful smack, I left Kami there to go do the thing I do every week, ask more questions. Surely they cannot stay relentless in there silence. There must be a way or something I haven’t said right or maybe if I cry, no. Heh, I almost won that time with the whole I’m just a girl thing, until Granny Lightfoot showed me her dark robe and said someday you will understand child. Pah! When, when?
By this time, I knew my way to the training hall where we first were sworn. I made sure no one followed, not even a bird, as usual until I came to the grand steps. They really didn’t seem so grand anymore and I felt like I was just walking into the clubhouse in the woods. That would roil ‘em. Maybe I’ll throw that one out.

“Ah, Tava. What brings you buy today?”

Well, Savin, make a wild guess.”

“So impatience brings you yet again. Perhaps it is time for you.”

“What? How did……, I mean yeah, right, it’s time. Um, what does that mean Savin?”

“If you cannot be taught by us then maybe it is time for the world to teach you. I will confer with the others and you may return here tomorrow. Answer just this for now Tava, are you afraid to die?”

“What?”

“Answer me, Tava. Do you fear death?”

“Well….I mean….I don’t know….no. No. No I don’t. I don’t fear death just as I don’t fear any of you.”

“Then return tomorrow, dear child.”

Well that was certainly different. What are those old coots up to now? Come back tomorrow is only a little better than you will understand someday. I waited this long, what’s another day?

“You have returned Tava. Are you ready to hear our decision?”

“Yes, Savin. Please tell me.”

“Come into the council room. They are waiting.”

“Tava Lightfoot, sworn. Will you this day swear once again upon your ancestors and upon your duty and upon our way to never speak of this day again, to any?”

“I will swear.”

“You will be given more training and you will be sent away, into the underdark, on a mission for your people. You will never speak of your homeland. You will never reveal your given name and you will not see those you care for from this day forward until you return though you may not return. That is your decision. Do you understand?”

“Yes my council, I understand.”

“Alright then, we can take off these stupid hot robes and get to it.”

“What…..Th-thank you. Oh thank you all so much. I have been waiting and waiting.”

“We know young daughter, we know. We believe you will serve us well as many have before.”

From that moment on, I understood that I would be trained to travel alone in the underdark though traveling thus I would also learn more than could be taught at home. It was the only way to join the ranks of the elders. It was the only way to understand. It was the only way to become one with shadow. And when the time came, I would again meet him. He, of darkness and mystery. Only he could pass you on and approve your task and now I worked steadfastly for that day.

A year passed and my knowledge grew, my skill grew, I no longer pined for any of the trivialities of comfort. There was no time for such thoughts, though I did occasionally miss Kami and my family. The elders assured me that my family would understand for I was not the first of my kin to seek the shadowdance.

It was made clear that my mission would be to add to the voluminous collection of poisons our clan had discovered over time. Every man or woman that embarks on this trial must return with a new poison of a new creature that could only have come from below. You were set to memorize what was already found and understand the uses of them to aid you on your journey. You were to memorize the much shorter list of known, but as yet undiscovered toxins and venomous creatures and you were to understand how to identify the qualities of a poison should you encounter something unheard of.

There were many days in the alchemy lab that none save the elders knew of. It had been built by ‘him’ and the elders had been trained by ‘him’. As I could not use my name in the world, nor could we know his. It was taught that we would bring great danger and terrors upon our village should certain forces learn of what we know and have. They would know who taught us and they would destroy us in their hunt for ‘him’. The reasons behind this were unimportant, only that you understood that you were bound to secrecy at the risk of the destruction of all you knew, friends, homes, and our way.

Finally the day came when I would be blindfolded and brought before ‘him’. You could not learn of his locale or how to contact ‘him’ until you proved you could overcome the underdark. I knew my mission, I was equipped with the knowledge passed on to me and I stood alone in a clearing to wait in the dark.

I waited. I was told to practice patience and vigilance and to stand up against fear and that these traits would grant my approval. I waited for an unknown time. My eyes grew heavy as I searched the darkness around me. I wondered if a beast might kill me first for I was given no weapon and no torch. I wanted to walk away from that place, but I did not know where I was or which way I could go. Trapped, trapped, by stupid old coots and some weird elf. No, no, the anger comes from the fear. I must be calm. As I chastised myself, I put my head into my hands for just a second. That is when he came.

From nowhere, from everywhere, without a sound, it could hardly be real. I sucked in my breath when he touched me and I raised my head up. He was behind me and yet I knew not what to do. Do I turn to face him? I stood unmoving, wondering if he had heard my quick breath.

“I carried you in my arms as a small child, I remember you. Your face was full of joy though you were as scared as the others. Joy and trust. You knew that you need not be afraid despite the emotions of youth.
I heard your gasp when I approached young one. That will get you killed below the surface. I could forbid you go on that alone. I will not. Now turn to look at me. See what your enemies will look like.”

I turned slowly, on the verge of tears.

“But you are not my enemy, are you?”

“Take this seal, Lightfoot daughter, and know that when next you look upon one like me, you must kill or be killed. Now go child.”

With that he was gone as I stood there facing where he had stood. I did not even see him step away and my questions were only answered with more questions. Was I ready? I need now only give his seal to the elders and my life was to change. A life of shadow, together and apart.


-Jon

The Great Betrayal

As the Infinity Train rumbled quickly through the rock and stone of the world below the surface, Vendar, Teeny, Fingus, and Vardis turned to the middle-aged, raven-haired woman they had unbound. It was now days after they had released her from Kurenthis’ mobile prison, but she was still pale and weary from her captivity. Though now fully healed, the slender noblewoman sitting before them hardly seemed capable of the dazzling display of sorcery that had brought down the illithid lord Kurenthis.

“Tell us, surface woman,” said Vendar Prin, “How did you come to be imprisoned by this mind flayer you slew?”

“Exactly who are you, Lady of Prendor? Have you the power to control this great artifact, this Infinity Train?” Teeny demanded.

Fingus added, “Just what on Aethe are you doing here, my lady? And how do you come by such mighty and impressive talents?”

Slowly, and with the reluctance of a heavy heart, Lady Flora Harmonant of Prendor began her tale…





In the year 1398 in the Age of Faith, I was counted as a noblewoman of some influence in the surface nation of Prendor. There was some truth to that, as I am… was… married to Prince Gideon Harmonant, youngest son of King Harl Harmonant. We were blessed with eight beautiful children, six sons and two daughters. As I was the eldest remaining of my father's children, all daughters, my own children stood to inherit the province of Mystria, the feudal realm of my father. So yes, I held influence in Prendor.

But that year, a storm was brewing. The King, growing ever more concerned about his legacy as an devout Elosian, determined to rid his lands of all sacrilege. Paintings and books were burned, sculptures crushed, and the holy places of lost religions defiled. Of course, there were those who begged the king to relent and allow the great works of the ages to stand. But he would not listen.

And then the King stumbled upon the Avatars of Mount Aothlenn, near the town of Colossea. Called the Tridianth by the locals, the avatars were immense statues of the deities Elos, Narduna, and Adonahane, holding aloft a torch that burnt with an everlasting flame. They, like many other such statues, had mysteriously appeared nearly four hundred years ago in the early days of King Gawaine the True.

The Avatars appeared in all the lands of Aethe where Elos, Narduna, and Adonahane were known and revered. But the Temple of Elos transformed in the century that followed into a monotheistic religion, and the Avatars portray the deities as equals, and thus, to King Harl and others like him, were profane. One by one, the avatars fell to the dark destructions of the zealots.

Othelius the Mourner, Chancellor of Prendor, ancient even among the Mourners, knew what few others did: that the Colossal Avatars held a powerful curse at bay. The destruction of the last remaining statue would cause a dark and powerful magic to be loosed upon the world of Aethe -- the shadow loom would begin to weave its insidious tapestry once more. And a glimmer of hope would grace the Dark Prisoner's ever watchful eye.

When reason failed to persuade the King, Othelius took drastic action. He fomented a rebellion among the King's sons, whose piety did not lead to zealotry: Patrick the Crown Prince, William the Exile, Edward the Lame, and my husband, Gideon Starlight, at whose side I stood, with Jacob, our eldest son. Half the King's provinces rebelled and war enveloped the land.

But the tide soon turned, and the King's armies marched straight for the Avatars, forsaking other targets. We marshaled our forces for one last defense of the mountain, and we waited while Dayne Turrant, Duke of Brascany, laid siege to Colossea and the Avatars. The seige was grand indeed, with many heroic skirmishes and escapes. But Othelius was convinced the town would fall.

He turned his mind toward saving the Avatars, and learned of a spell that would take them forever from the King's reach. And there, the leaders of the rebellion gathered. My husband and I and my precious son Jacob, the Crown Prince and his family, Stephen and Sean Kierny -- the two greatest generals the rebellion had -- and Sir Philippe-Emmanuel Gryne -- Prendor's most storied knight, admired by friend and foe alike -- all stood watch as Othelius brought salvation to Aethe and safety to a wonder of the world. But alas, it was not to be. At that cursed moment, we were betrayed.

Othelius' servant Braeden Hynde unexpectedly and without warning, interrupted the spell and stabbed his master in the neck. As Othelius fell, the traitor grabbed his staff. The nearest to them, I too grabbed it and we struggled. But I failed to take it from him before he could complete his treachery. He snapped the staff in two over a nearby rock. And with that act of betrayal, plunged the world into a terrible darkness.

Othelius' oaken staff, shod in iron, with inlaid runes of gold and silver, was no ordinary staff. It was one of the staves of the magi, the making of which has been forgotten since the days of the Weaver. The very wise know the true terrible power that is released when a staff of the magi is sundered, and would have known exactly how many lives would have been lost and what the consequence would be.

I believe that of all those on Mount Aothlenn that night, I alone was not killed in that blast, which destroyed the Colossal Avatars there. I survived because for some unfathomable purpose, Braeden Hynde released his grip on the staff moments before it snapped. As the last person to touch the staff, I was pulled through a dimensional rift created by those unstable magical energies surrounding it.

I found myself near the point of death in a place on the edge of time and space, a dying realm with little merit. With great regret, I tell you the first sentient beings I came upon were the illithids. Their kingdom, Ninithail, was one of the seven kingdoms that allied themselves to the Dark Prisoner so many years ago, and were banished for their treachery. Their mental powers were strange and foreign to me, and I was ill-equipped to fight them. They captured me and neutralized many of my... talents.

First the three who found me kept me for weeks on an altar of some sort, exhausting my mental defenses. Then, when I proved too resilient, they brought be back to their city. Most of the people of the city were not illithids but rather their slaves of all races. All were obsequious and reverent to my captors to my great chagrin -- I found no friends there. Only about 2000 of the city's 200,000 residents were illithids, and they gathered in the city's forbidden inner circle.

In a garden of sorts, they gathered to pay homage to a briny pool which contained the brains of their ancestors. They referred to the pool as the Elder Brain. While the illithid you saw, Kurenthis, was their leader, the Elder Brain was their god. I was tied to stake and dipped into the pool. I remember little of this. I can only surmise by this, and by subsequent observations that I do remember, that I failed to defend my mind against their powerful inquisition. The experience drove me insane.

Through my torture, they learned of the way I knew back to Aethe, and of Prendor. They learned also of the destruction of the Avatars, and what that meant for our world. They came here to escape their dying world, yes, but also for the insidious purpose of conquering the world of their origin.

Once their barrier to Aethe was lifted, they loaded their city into the Infinity Train, and brought it to the under-realms. I was kept as a prisoner to torment now and then by Kurenthis, but of late he had forgotten me. The loneliness merely fed my insanity. If you had not come to my rescue when you did, I might have been lost to the void. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, the Infinity Train is yours to command, so long as the Mercurial Chalice remains on the table and the genie obeys. It will go where you wish.

My talents too are at your disposal, such as they remain. My bloodline is that of the Weaver, favored by Ambira’s Loom. But Kurenthis has sundered much of my strength. I am far weaker than I once was.

As you must see from my tale, I am anxious to return to my surviving children. But from what I have gleaned through my madness, I sense the nobility of your quest and the potential for great deeds among you. I will aid you if I can.