Deinain
The animist gods of the Aernigh. A shamanistic religion, worship of the Deinain (“Greatest divines”) is mostly unstructured, short of holy days for each season, solstice, and equinox, as well as an uncomfortable penchant for sacrifices. There were numerous Deinain, some worshipped throughout the Peninsula and some known only to a single village or clan. Some versions of the faith hold that the Deinain come from the sky, whilst others describe them as early children of the Hadrash, and therefore kin to mortal creatures.
Eskri the Cow Queen: Also called the Milkmaid and the Milkmother, Eskri was a beautiful woman with steer’s horns, who could supposedly sing to the cattle in their own language and make them fruitful. She lived in the Moon, and was also believed to protect her worshipers from Nabas, the Wolf of Night.
Harcus the Burning Ram: Usually depicted as a golden ram aflame, Harcus was believed to lead the flock of stars across the night sky (according to some), or to pull the great sun out across the day. Though usually called the Burning Ram, Harcus was sometimes depicted as a bearded man with ram’s horns.
Nabas the Wolf of Night: An enormous black wolf, Nabas was a shapeshifter and trickster. Despite having the power to swallow the world whole, Nabas delighted in outsmarting mortals, tricking them to leave their homes or walk into the woods where he or his children (the wolves or the Buraloi, werewolves) would devour them. Many a story is told of his trickery, and though a few of them feature clever mortals resisting his tricks, most result in their deaths.
Faena the Robin of Spring: Faena was a robin that was all red, though she often disguised herself as a simple grey robin. She would reveal herself to those who treated her well and bestow gifts upon them. She also appeared as a beautiful maiden with hair of flame. Faena was said to forge the lightning of springtime storms, and had supposedly given fire to a man who won her favor.
Crulos the Horned God: Though sometimes depicted as a great stag, Crulos usually appeared as a great, tall man with antlers upon his head. He was the god of all things wild and untamable, and often depicted as opposing Faena’s civilizing influence. Crulos supposedly appears in many cultures under many names, always speaking for the wilderness. He remained a central figure in Deinain myth throughout the age of the Aernigh and even afterward.
Uxxiol, the King of Tears: A giant king with a great beard and enormous tusks, Uxxiol is sometimes depicted as a walrus. He is usually seen as a father of a Hadrash princess who was buried with the Monsters when the world was formed. Some myths say that his tears created the oceans, but most say his tears merely gave them their salt.
Ottnum of the Frozen Eye: a war god of the Aernigh, Ottnum is most often depicted as a child of the Hadrash: giant, hunchbacked, hairless, blue-skinned, and brutal. He had one eye of crystal blue and one that was all white, his Frozen Eye. Some believed he wore a patch over his frozen eye, others that he simply kept one lid shut. Regardless, when he opened his Frozen Eye, terrible fates befell any it looked upon. For many generations, those who suddenly found a battle turning against them would be said to have fallen under Ottnum’s Eye, and the phrase was sometimes used for general misfortunes, so long as they were sudden. Ottnum figures into many myths, usually as the antagonist, often leading an army of Hadrash.
Faereann the Queen of Light: A lady of shimmering gilt skin, clad in jewels, with hair made of fire, Faereann is a later permutation of Faena the Robin of Spring. Like her forebear, Faereann is a civilizing influence, granting favor to those who display courtesy and kindness to strangers, especially those who are good hosts. She is a goddess of the forge and fire, of invention and magic.
Gorsecc the Howler: Also called the Screamer, Gorsecc was a corpse-like woman who wailed in fury, birthing the winds and thunderstorms. It was said the lightning bolts were either her children or the tears of ancient Monsters (or Hadrash) she had torn asunder and thrown into the sky. In this way, Gorsecc may represent the wild, untamed fire of nature, whilst Faereann represents the managed, controlled fire of civilization.
Lornisht Lolc, the Tempter: Most often depicted as a gnome or child, Lornisht Lolc was the spirit of adventure that took hold of some Milosians. Also the god of hope, he often appeared heading over the horizon, at the edge of a tunnel, or anywhere mortals might see the end (or beginning) of their journeys. Called ‘the Tempter,’ he was also sometimes seen as a malignant force, compelling men or women to abandon their familial duties.
Walth and Tuall: A divine father-and-mother spirit existed throughout the Deinain faith, but they were not given proper names and identities until the late pantheon. Walth and Tuall are alternately charged with mastery over the Shadows and the Ether (or vice versa) and consequently over the earth and the waters, or vice versa. Their personalities alter greatly depending on which element is ascribed to them, and the two often quarrel due to their differences, yet most stories see them reconciled sooner or later.
Filain the Fool: A powerful maiden with hair of beaten fire and gold, Filain the Fool holds mastery over courage, civil flame, forging, and warcraft. She is called the Fool for giving her gifts away to the mortals. Many a brave or foolish deed was performed after the doer claimed they felt Filain breathing in their ears. Filain was sometimes depicted as half-Hadrash, though she always appeared as a beautiful woman of divine aspect. Filain is also the goddess of Spring.
Lothar Lawgiver, God of Kings: A stout and mighty warrior, Lothar is more often depicted in the robes of office. Another half-Hadrash, Lothar is also described as divinely beautiful and supernal in his wisdom. Many myths show mortals, other gods, and the Hadrash spurning his counsel to their own misfortune. As one might expect, Lothar supposedly created the first laws, and also held mastery over reason, pottery, stonemasonry, and strategy. Lothar is also the god of Summer.
Sybil Staggers: A smiling woman of leaf-colored hair, Sybil has a single antler growing out of the left side of her head, which grows larger and larger until falling off at the end of each year. She fancies herself a clever trickster, but legends have her constantly giving herself away by falling over or getting her antler stuck in trees. She is a friend of birds and beasts, and holds mastery over curiosity, rivers, weaving, and retreats (or luck). She has been depicted as a child, a young woman, and an old crone. Sybil is also the goddess of Autumn.
Milgroff Muler: A small and wan man, Milgroff was said to bring sorrow and rot wherever he went. Riding on a mule so stubborn it refused to admit it was dead, legends said either that Milgroff was the only one whom the mule would obey, or that Milgroff simply rode wherever the beast took him. Sources vary on whether the sorrow and rot come from Milgroff or his mule; indeed, some say a great pestilence called the Malevolence is following Milgroff, who slowly flees on his mule; slowly, as part of him longs to be one day taken by the Malevolence and thus end his friendless life. Milgroff is also the god of Winter.
Early Deinain, Examples
Middle Deinain, Examples
Late Deinain, Examples
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Divines
- Chiuin Ban, the Snow Queen
- Crulos the Horned God
- Eskri the Cow Queen
- Faena the Robin of Spring
- Faereann the Queen of Light
- Filain the Fool
- Ghiilac the Pallid Prince
- Ghrian the Shining Prince
- Gorsecc the Howler
- Harcus the Burning Ram
- Lornisht Lolc
- Lothar Lawgiver
- Milgroff Muler
- Nabas, the Lord of Night
- Rosmerin of Rath
- Sarchros, God of Blood
- Sena Dona
- Spiir the River Queen
- Sybil Staggers
- Talamhar the Forest Queen
- Uxxiol, the King of Tears
- Walth and Tuall
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Myths