Lore24 Roundup 4
- Aelyrya Payne
- Jan 31, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 2, 2024
January 22nd-28th (Days 22-28)
Welcome to Lore24 Roundup 4!
We're focusing on more Gods this time around, and looking at one more Pantheon as we approach the end of the month. All original posts can be found on my Mastodon.
Remember, all Lore24 posts are initial thoughts - they are not finalised at this stage!
Breakdown of Lore24 Roundup
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22. Mabon ap Modron, the Green Youth
A Major Deity of the Cylch Cannaid in the Elven Pantheon, Mabon is the God of Youth, Forests, Druids and Rangers. The son of Modron, a long-time ally of Gwynrhi's father, Mabon took the moniker "Ap Modron" (Son of Modron) to honour his mother after her death. Mabon is a close friend of Silvanus, seeing him as a brother figure, and is also known to closely associate with Aerona and Gwynn.
Mabon operates in the Domains of Nature, Light and Life. His symbol is a tree standing before a rising sun, and his favoured mineral is malachite. His favoured animals are wolves and bears, his favoured colour is green and he shows preference to Rangers and Druids, as well as acting as a Patron to Sylvan Elves.
Mabon is a cheerful God, but seeks the highest punishments for those who would bring ruin to Nature. He represents balance, nature, hunting, youthfulness, fertility and freedom, and is known as the Leaflord, the Green One and the Eternal Youth. He is a member of the Green Court alongside Silvanus, Oberon, Cernunnos and the Lady Ellhorn.
As you can probably tell from the naming conventions, Mabon is based on the Welsh figure of the same name, though with some artistic licensing. In A'arde, what we know as the Welsh Gods are known historical figures within expanded Ancient Fey lore, and many of the new Elven Gods took names of those figures in honour of their past. While the Material Plane is less aware of these transcosmological figures, the Elven Gods know the implications of the names they have taken.
23. The Unseelie Court
One of the Courts of the Fey, and a part of the Sylvan Pantheon, the Unseelie Court is well known for its disdain, or sometimes outright hatred, for Mortals. Also known as the Winter Court, the Unseelie Court tends to harbour the darker aspects of the Fey. They embody beauty and darkness, even going so far as to embrace Undeath, though their primary focus is on nature and the protection of Tìr na Sìthe.
The Unseelie Gods are few, but they harbour some of the most powerful feelings of negativity toward Mortals, who they see as inferior and parasitic. They will toy with and torture them without hesitation, and have no qualms with kidnapping or murdering simply for fun. They also believe that offense is the best defence, and are more likely to strike at their enemies without heavy planning. Despite this, the members of the Unseelie are still calculating and clever Gods.
Led by Titania's younger twin sister, Mab, the Unseelie Court is also home to Titania and Oberon's first son, Sioc, as well as the Gods Shae, Dour and Roisin Dubh. They have attempted to lure Clíodhna, Queen of the Banshees, to their Court with little success over the centuries.
The Unseelie are often considered evil outside of the Fey Realms because of their malicious intent toward Mortals. However, they are not considered so within the Realms themselves. The Unseelie love their Realm and their people in the same way that the Seelie, they simply do not tolerate Mortal incursion in the same way. However, even the Unseelie have use for Mortals in some manner, which is why they do not seek to outright destroy the Material Realm.
24. Wilder, the Red Harvester
A Greater Deity of the A'arden Pantheon, Wilder is the charming and industrious God of Autumn, Rebirth, Agriculture and the Harvest. He is the father of the twins, Jerzy the God of Farmers and Grains, and Pastora the Goddess of Shepherds and Animal Husbandry. Wilder is a known associate of Silvanus, Alizeh and Delkii, but has tense relations with Dáinn and Gwyar, who he regularly butt's heads with.
Wilder operates in the Domains of Nature, Light and Life. His symbol is a red oak leaf over a sickle, his sacred mineral is carnelian and his favoured colours are red, orange and copper. His favoured animals are oxen and butterflies, and he shows preference to farmers, orchard workers and gardeners.
Wilder is considered a friendly, helpful and hard-working God, usually sending his messages to followers through omens in the fields. He values hard work in his followers and often rewards dedication with bountiful harvests and high quality produce.
I always envision Wilder as a massive, muscular man with flaming red hair and a cheerful, smiling face. I'm not sure why, as many of my previous depictions of Autumn-based spirits and Gods have been serious in nature. When I developed the Steampunk Seasons, almost a decade ago, Lord Autumn was a serious grump! I think perhaps I just wanted a change!
25. Cailleach, the Hag of Beara
A member of the Tuatha De Danann, the Pantheon that oversees the Border-Fey (the Realm between the Material and Tìr na Sìthe), Cailleach is the Goddess of the Seasons and Storms. She is predominantly active during the Autumn and Winter, but has been known to make her presence felt all year round. Cailleach is known to have taken a husband, a Fey Druid named Mogh Roith, but it is not known if he still lives.
Cailleach operates in the Domains of Nature and the Tempest. Her symbol is a pair of spirals radiating out like a whirlpool, one black and the other white, on a dark blue background. Her sacred mineral is quartz and her favoured colours are grey and dun. Her favoured animals are deer and cattle, and she doesn't tend to favour any Mortals above others.
Cailleach is generally reclusive and rarely interacts with her followers. She is known to have a devout following amongst the Bodachs, Fey tricksters,but it is not known if she cares for them in kind.
Like the Elven Gods, the Tuatha of A'arde are based on the Irish Gods of the same Pantheon. In this instance, however, the Tuatha here are alternate incarnations of their other selves - they are aware of their existence, on a subconscious level, but the extent to which they are connected is unknown, and how they came into being is likewise a mystery. Lady Danu of the Ancients is not forthcoming with that information!
26. Veeda, the Lady of the Roseheart
An Intermediate Deity of the A'arden Pantheon, Veeda is the Goddess of Beauty and Love. She is a subordinate of Orino and a close friend of Zada and Olina. She also spends a lot of time with the cousins Oron and Shiron, who are both thought to vye for the beautiful goddess' affections. She regularly fights with Dáinn and has openly voiced her hatred of Medea, who Veeda believes openly works to destroy what she creates.
Veeda operates in the Domains of Light and Life. Her symbol is a pair of swans with necks forming a heart, her sacred mineral is rose quartz and her favoured colours are white, pink and red. She favours swans and doves, and shows preference to promotors of art and secret lovers.
Veeda is a passionate yet flighty Goddess who thrives in the tenderest of emotions and the promotion of beauty. She loves and protects all of her followers, but has a weakness for sincere flattery.
The main thing to remember about Veeda is that she is the embodiment of love and beauty in all its forms, including the darker aspects. To her, obsession and lust are just as valid as the more socially acceptable forms of love, and she will not turn away from those who seek her with those kinds of thoughts. That being said, she has been known to punish those who act on impulses that harm those who are too young, too ill, or unable to otherwise give informed consent for what is done to them, and those who actively ignore the consent or wishes of another in order to bring harm.
27. Fir Doirich, the Butlers of Shadow and Fear
Also known as the Fir Dorocha, and called "Dark Men" in Common, these male spirits are greatly feared as the dark butlers that serve and tend to the shadey desires of their Masters. Emotionless, efficient and unable to speak unless allowed by their Masters, Fir Doirich commonly serve Clíodhna in Tìr na Sìthe and the Raven Queen in Tìr nan Dubhar, though some are known to be in the employ of Mab. Titania has a single Fear Doirich serving her, but he is rarely seen at the Court.
The Fir Doirich are masters of stealth, shrouded in shadow and adept at hiding any traces of their presence. They are wholly subservient to the Masters, enacting their will with silent obedience. This usually involves the kidnapping, punishment or assassination of Mortals who have earned the attention, good or bad, of the Fear Doirich's master. The Fir Doirich are able to summon coal-black steeds made of shadow, and are adept sorcerers particularly skilled at transmutation, charm and fear magics, which they can cast without verbal components.
In real-world myth, Fear Doirich or Far Dorocha is a singular entity tied to the Faery Queen, whatever her name may be. In A'arde, there are many of them; that was a decision I made to make them seem more frightening. For one thing, if there are more of them, you can never be sure which "Master" has taken a dislike to you, which could make for some fun quests and character development in games!
28. L'hôte Étoilé, the Starry Host
The Halfelin Pantheon is unusual in that no matter who you serve, hospitality is at the forefront of the Deities' minds. Even to Circe the Weaver and Darcel the Mask, there are rules of etiquette that must be followed, no matter the purpose of your activities. Should you partake in nefarious deeds, you must be prepared to make amends in other aspects of your life.
The Host brought the Halfelin to A'arde to protect them from a world-ending event, and they have never forgotten the generosity of the A'arden Deities for allowing their people to live there. Clerics to the Starry Host will also encourage the worship of the A'arden Pantheon in order to thank them for their continued hospitality.
The Starry Host are approachable, affable and generally warm, though can be prone to violent temper should they be let down or disrespected. The Host don't care much for selfish deception, and are unlikely to give their blessings if they believe an act is self-serving or made under false pretenses.
The Halfelin are A'arde's answer to Halflings. They are generally personable and jolly, but are capable of being quite vindictive should they be slighted - this is especially true if they feel that their position as gracious hosts has been insulted or taken advantage of! The Halfelin Pantheon are generally quite active amongst their followers, but these are often in subtle ways, rather than outright showing their position. While they accept that such emotions can exist within Halfelin, the Pantheon do not encourage selfishness amongst their people, and are likely to turn away from Halfelin that refuse to show at least the basic levels of hospitality.
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