Elu'Vashan
For the people that cling deeply to their fey roots, the Elu'Vashan is a pantheon that serves that purpose. It reminds them of the first Archfey that may have created them and offers a hope that they may one day return home. For they wait in the the center of Elu Lake for the day when one unified across all lives may one day free them and allow them to destroy the corrupted god they keep shackled among their ranks. The members of the Elu'Vashan are:
- Gashiro the Blight, Corrupted God of Corruption and Malice
- Lilisa the Lifegiver, Goddess of Vigilance, Weather, and Divine Truth
- Nera the Raven Queen, Goddess of Death and Reincarnation
- Raselo the Caretaker, God of Nature, Life, and Temperance
- Virsiro the Undertaker, Goddess of Conflict, Famine, and Pestilence
Mythology & Lore
Raselo was one of the first Archfey of Faenum and the first to claim the title of King of the Fey. In his court were several influential figures such as Gashiro, Lilisa, and Virsiro. While he ruled over the light side, his wife, Nera, ruled over the dark side as the Queen of Shadows. Whether fey or archfey, they all loved the young king and paid tribute to him in artistic or mischievous ways. One member of his court, Gashiro, was a favorite for quite some time but the pride he felt fed too deeply into his ego. Eventually, Raselo found another to impress him, and that pride and arrogance made him act out even more. Gashiro targeted anyone who took Raselo's favor, torturing them or causing them harm. This malice began to corrupt him until he placed the blame on Raselo himself for not recognizing his talent. And so he aimed to fell Raselo and failing that, torture him just like he did the lesser Fey. But he needed to weaken him first.
Through machinations, Raselo was convinced to create a people for the Fey to call their children. Many wanted them to serve specific roles for the Fey but Raselo wanted none of that. They were Feyborn, their children, and they should be treated as such, not as servants or tools to be used for the benefit or amusement of the Fey. This only created resentment as he created the various Fey-related people. His powers waned, bringing him closer to a level where Gashiro could kill him and supplant him.
When the Elves, the last of the Feyborn, were created, Gashiro struck with a vengeance. The arrogance, the hatred, and the envy that built up in him over this long time tainted him and he released a blighted attack on the Fey King. His actions turned many from his cause except for a few loyal followers while Raselo's wife and court joined the King's side. Seeing that no good could come from a war such as this and wishing to protect everything he built, Raselo made a sacrifice. Using a ritual only he knew, he obliterated himself, his court, his wife, and his enemies. The Elves were caught in the blast as well.
However, it wasn't death that awaited them but reincarnation. The court of Raselo landed on Avestra in the island in the middle of Elu Lake known as Rasil. Their primal Archfey power was changed, connecting them to the aspects of what would become their godhood. Gashiro, for his actions, was imprisoned on the island by the plantlife, with Raselo and his friends serving as the Blight's wardens. No matter how many times they reincarnate over the ages, they stay on that island, to forever hold back the darkness of Gashiro.
But one day, they will no longer need to hold back the Blighted anymore. There is a story amongst the Elu people that one day, a reincarnated Elf will finally have his past lives unify as one being. That elf will remember the ritual that bound the Elu gods to eternal reincarnation and be the first one to reach the isle of Rasil and use that ritual to free the gods. And the rest of the Elu people shall finally receive the gift of reincarnation and return home to a united Fey once more. who will destroy the Blighted and those who stand with him.
Divine Origins
Raselo and the other members of the Elu'Vashan are believed to be ancient Archfey that disappeared during the rise of the Feyborn. Whether they were the creators of the Feyborn or actually real is a matter of debat amongst even the Fey as their memories of those ancient times. At first, the Elu'Vashan was used as a way to control the different Feybon, highlighting how special the Elves were or the roles of the others. As more rebelled against this mentality, the perception of the faith shifted as well. As the Great Exile and Great Exodus neared, Raselo turned from a simple King who gave them their assigned roles into the Grand King of the Fey who's disappearance is what caused the negative aspects of the Fey.
When the Feyborn landed in Avestra and the Elu culture formed, the pantheon was split in two. Some of them became members of Menzo'Vashan while the others stayed as the primary aspects of the Elu'Vashan. Additonally, the mystery of the island of Rasil influenced the faith. This was due to how no one could approach the island as whether through mist or magic, they would simple return right back to where they departed from. Stories and pieces of ancient history became to point to that island being where Raselo and his inner court were kept.
When the Elders came and their forces were unable to approach the island, this only increased their belief in this idea. As tensions rise between the Elu and some people of Faenum and even amongst the Elu themselves, the Unified Soul legend gains prominence as well. Time will only tell if events will prove these theories true or false.
Tenets of Faith
- Gashiro: All keep darkness within them. All keep a corruptive nature within them. Why push it away? Why treat it like its alien? Accept the taint within and use it to bring your ambitions to fruition.
- Lilisa: Weather feeds life. And yet weather too strong can destroy it, just like corruption can destroy one's self. Watch for the rot that exists in all and if it festers and corrupts others with its falsehoods, burn it away with the divine truth's light.
- Nera: Death is nothing to fear. Whether one reincarnates or suffers a final end, it comes to all again and again. Cherish the life given and accept the depth given.
- Raselo: Life is a garden that must be taken care of. Never abandon it but never allow it to run rampant and end life around it.
- Virsiro: Gardens and lives are important but one day they may be overgrown and decay. And just as one needs to cut away the decay, so too must life be cut away. Whether through natural or unnatural means, find a way to balance it by getting rid of those that cause decay.
Worship
- Raselo's worship is as simple as enjoying life. Whether through merriment, adventure, work, or hobbies, if one is able to enjoy themselves as they go through life, then they worship him by their actions. Often, bards and tavern residents alike will offer praise to Raselo. Another form of worship is to defend nature itself, whether through gardening like he does, or protecting naturel if civilization encroaches too harshly.
- Nera's worship includes protecting the graveyard forests of the deceased and hunting down any undead that rise and cause harm to the innocent. For the lucky Elu who are able to reincarnate, they thank her and Raselo for giving them this gift and pray that one day the other Elu can join them.
- Lillisa is prayed to for good weather, whether it is rain to water the crops, or clear skies so one may find their way. Judges, Scholars, and Guards also worship her to guide them in their never-ending search for the truth. Bringing criminals to justice or discovering new truths are often attributed to her as worship.
- Despite being an ally of Raselo, Virsiro takes a more gray aspect of the pantheon and Elu faith. The rot and decay many attribute her to combating is often seen as evil people but in general, the rot refers to anyone. Famine, Pestilences, and War are tools for the followers of the Undertaker to rid the Elu lands of this rot. Whether on purpose or on accident, they flourish the same and some are keen to keep it that way in honor of their goddess.
- Gashiro, despite his supposed imprisonment, and his role as the villain of the pantheon, still has followers. Criminals flock to his banner, stealing, killing, and pillaging in his name so they may be granted the strength to live another day. Torture and other brutalities are tools to make his will known and to awaken the darkness in others so they may continue to spread his will. For as long as evil resides in their hearts, he will always have a way to be worshipped.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The pantheon's existence fuels the political intrigue of the Noble Shores, or Elu Arevar as the land around Elu Lake is called. Even with the rise and fall of the various countries, none of the Elu nations have made a large-scale move against each other to completely engulf the region in war. While some believe that this would help bring about the Unified Soul Elf and pave the way for the return of the gods, others would rather hold onto what power they have instead of risk it all for a legend that may or may not be true.
However, the different countries do have small-scale wars from time to time, especially the city states along the isthmus. However, there has been an increase in conflict lately from the northern countries of Aslumerin, Arthandor, Maraselo, and Rynead. Factions within them wish to be the one who will bring about the unified soul or even have them appear in a lineage that allies with them. As such, these factions have been pushing for war against each other or against the smaller countries in the south.
Sects
- The Blight Lord. Followers of this sect are a cult that believe in the supremacy of Gashiro. They wish to find the unified soul and corrupt them so they can corrupt the ritual and release Gashiro instead and he can release his blight onto the world and Faenum alike. Evil clerics and fey alike flock to this sect, especially the hags, known as the Blighted Ladies when they fall under his banner.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Successor Organization
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