religion/culture: world’s called: Zemphus Gods: Aelar (God of the Sky) - "AY-lar" Vorrun (God of War) - "VOHR-un" Nirae (Goddess of Healing) - "NEER-ay" Belthor (God of Earth) - "BEL-thor" Sylana (Goddess of Nature) - "SIL-uh-nuh" Tarrak (God of Death) - "TAH-rak" Fiora (Goddess of Love and friendship) - "FEE-oh-rah" Kaelen (God of Justice) - "KAY-len" Druvian (God of Shadows) - "DROO-vee-an” Ithra (Goddess of Wisdom) - "ITH-rah" Zharik (God of Time) - "ZHAH-rik" Eldara (Goddess of the Sea) - "EL-dah-rah" Yren (God of Chaos) - "YEH-ren" Solira (Goddess of the Sun) - "SOH-lee-rah" Haldar (God of Strength) - "HAL-dar" Lyssara (Goddess of Beauty) - "LISS-ah-rah" Korvus (God of Trickery) - "KOR-vus" Mirael (Goddess of Dreams and Sleep) - "MEE-ray-el" Ildra (Goddess of Peace) - "IL-drah" Gavros (God of Storms) - "GAV-ros" Cynara (Goddess of Fate) - "SIH-nah-rah" Oryndor (God of Fire) - "OHR-in-dor" Velyra (Goddess of Harvest) - "VELL-yee-rah" Balthor (God of the Forge) - "BAL-thor" Ravok (God of Strategy) - "RAH-vok" Zerath (God of Fortune) - "ZEH-rath" Draxis (God of the Void) - "DRAYK-sis" Elora (Goddess of Luck) - "EH-lora" Valathar (God of the Moon) - "VAH-lah-thar" Kryssia (Goddess of Trade) - "KRISS-ee-uh" Thyros (God of Night) - "THAI-ros" Zulian (God of Secrets) - "ZOO-lee-an" Selenae (Goddess of Protection) - "SEL-en-ay" Valek (God of Victory) - "VAH-lek" Ithros (God of Revenge) - "ITH-ros" Lurana (Goddess of the Arts) - "LOO-rah-nah" Kessara (Goddess of Endurance)- “KESS-uh-rah” Ramith (Goddess of Weapons)- “RAM-ith” 1. Northmen of the Northern Tundra Deity: Tarrak, God of Death Pronunciation: TAH-rak The Rite of Winter’s Grasp: they have a series of athletic challenges to show who is the strongest members and who is the weakest, the weakest member, or those who lose the most challenges, get thrown into the Death Cove as an offering to Tarrak. The Eternal Blizzard: Once every few years, the Northmen perform the Eternal Blizzard ritual to honor the fallen ancestors and Tarrak. They gather in the harshest part of the tundra and stand still for an entire night in a fierce blizzard, believing the storm to be Tarrak's judgment. Those who survive the night are said to be touched by death, but blessed to remain in the world a little longer. Communities: strong will dominate the weak mindset 2. The Sea People Deity: Eldara, Goddess of the Sea Pronunciation: EL-dah-rah The Tidal Offering: Each year, the Sea People perform a ritual called The Tidal Offering where they gather precious sea treasures like pearls, and set them afloat on the tides. This is a sacred act to honor Eldara, hoping that her blessings will bring good harvests of sea life and protect their homes from underwater volcanoes and other stuff. The Sacred Current: During certain celestial alignments, the Sea People gather to ride the sacred currents of the ocean. They believe that by traveling the tides at this time, they can receive visions from Eldara, who communicates through the flow of the tides. The Pearl of Eldara: Once a year, the most skilled divers undertake a perilous journey to retrieve a single, sacred pearl said to reside in the deepest part of the sea. This ritual is done in Eldara’s honor and is believed to bring good fortune to the tribe. The pearl is then kept as a symbol of protection from the ocean's dangers. communities: they live in tribes. The tribes are either extremely peaceful or extremely territorial. There is no in between. 3. The Desert People Deity: Kessara, Goddess of Endurance Pronunciation: KESS-uh-rah The Oasis of Hope: In times of severe drought, the Desert People gather at an oasis to conduct the Oasis of Hoperitual. They offer up items symbolizing their personal sacrifices, and Kessara is believed to grant them relief and ensure their survival during hard times. It is a time for community members to share stories of past endurance and offer blessings to each other. Communities: the desert people live in small, close knit communities. Everyone knows everyone 4. The Sky People Deity: Aelar, God of the Sky Pronunciation: AY-lar The Flight of the Eternal Winds: Every year, the Sky People gather to perform the Flight of the Eternal Winds, a grand ritual where they ascend into the sky and as they reach the highest point, they offer prayers and sacrifices to Aelar, seeking his favor to guide their journeys and grant them safe passage across the skies. The event is both a symbol of gratitude and a plea for protection in the ever-changing winds. Communities: The sky people are scattered over Zemphus, they rely on trade to make a living.
5. The Tree People Deity: Sylana, Goddess of Nature Pronunciation: SIL-uh-nuh The Dance of the Seasons: The Tree People celebrate the change of seasons through the Dance of the Seasons, where they dance around sacred trees in their villages. Each season is marked by a different dance—spring for growth and rebirth, summer for vitality, autumn for harvest, and winter for introspection. This ritual honors Sylana, the goddess of nature, and is a way of ensuring her continued blessings on the forest and its people. The Binding of the Roots: During the full moon of the harvest season, the Tree People gather at the oldest and largest tree in their village for the Binding of the Roots ritual. They weave vines and flowers around the tree’s roots, symbolizing their deep connection to Sylana and the earth. This act is believed to renew their bond with the goddess and ensure the prosperity of their crops and community for the coming year. The Sacred Grove Feast: After the harvest, the Tree People celebrate the Sacred Grove Feast, where they gather in the heart of their sacred groves. They offer the first fruits of the season to Sylana, singing songs to honor the goddess and ask for her continued protection over the forest. The feast is a time of community bonding and storytelling, as each member of the tribe shares tales of past harvests and the wisdom they have learned from the land. Community: they are peaceful. Villages are in the trees/treehouse villages 6. The Mountain Clans Deity: Vorrun, God of War Pronunciation: VOHR-un The Trial of the Peaks: The Mountain Clans observe a brutal trial where young warriors must scale the highest peaks, fight a wild creature at the summit, and return victorious. This ritual is done in honor of Vorrun, seeking to prove their strength, bravery, and combat skill. Those who survive the trial are marked as warriors of the highest honor. The Bloodstone Oath: Before any major battle or war, the Mountain Clans participate in the Bloodstone Oath. Each warrior cuts their palm and drips blood on a sacred stone, pledging to Vorrun that they will fight with honor and never retreat. The stone is then placed in a sacred hall where it is passed down through generations, symbolizing the sacred bond between the people and the god of war. The War Council of Iron: Every year, the elders and strongest warriors of the clan gather for the War Council of Iron, where they discuss the tactics, strategies, and the defense of their lands. It is believed that Vorrun watches over these councils, guiding the leaders with visions of strategy and honor, ensuring that the clan will be prepared for any future conflicts. community: they live in clans that are constantly at war with each other. 7. The Nomadic Tribes Deity: Kaelen, God of Justice Pronunciation: KAY-len The Scales of the Plains: The Nomadic Tribes hold an annual ritual called The Scales of the Plains, where they gather under the open sky to settle disputes. They believe that Kaelen, the god of justice, watches over these proceedings, and his divine balance ensures that fairness reigns. The tribe uses ancient, weighted scales to symbolize fairness, and all decisions made during this ritual are believed to be protected by the god of justice. The Oath of the Wanderer: Each new member of the tribe must take the Oath of the Wanderer, where they swear to uphold justice and honor during their travels. This oath is sworn on the sacred Staff of Kaelen, which is believed to carry the essence of the god’s impartiality. Any betrayal of the oath is seen as a direct affront to Kaelen, and the person is often exiled. The Journey of Truth: Once every few years, the Nomadic Tribes embark on a long pilgrimage called the Journey of Truth, where they travel across the plains and visit sacred sites that mark key moments of justice throughout their history. This is done in honor of Kaelen and is meant to remind them of their duty to uphold justice wherever they go. community: they are very social sand and happy to include outsiders into their tribe, this causes tribes to often have a hundred or more members.
