The Shade Walkers of the Deno-badin
In the southwestern mountains in central Alus, there exists a pantheon dedicated to worshipping the shadows of the Underoads and the night. It has become synonymous with the Deno-badin as these gods are tailored to their culture and their lands. Shaped by the the history of the Underoads and the Feyborn that arrived from the dark side of Faenum, the Shade Walkers are the 5 goddesses that form key points in life for the Deno-badin:
- Lira the Mystic: Goddess of Psionics and Magic
- Nilo the Carver: Goddess of Stonecarving, Runecraft, and Smithing
- Nira the Raven Queen: Goddess of Death
- Queni the Shade: Goddess of Shadows and Subterranean Agriculture & Life
- Talira the Moon Walker: Leader of the Pantheon, Goddess of Moonlight and Exploration
Mythology & Lore
The Shade Walkers' tale begins with the story of Talira. Little is known about her supposed origin. Whether she was a Fey or an Elemental who traveled across the three moons and Avestra itself is unknown. In both Alus and Faenum, she found those that clung to the darkness and the safety of the night. Especially those who lived on the dark side of the moons and the shadows of the Alusian mountains. She saw their struggle against threats in both day and night and sought to find them a home.
Another figure, Nilo, saw to complete what she thought was her greatest work, the Underoads. But she could never complete this alone as there were areas even she would miss. But the people that Talira wanted to save, they would do quite well for the task. The Carver approached the Moon walker and told her of the Underoads which could serve as a home for the people she cared about. Talira agreed and with the pale moonlight she controlled, she guided these wayward souls to the southwestern mountains where they would carve their section of the Underoads.
As they delved deeper into darkness, they needed a food source to sate their people. But not much could grow in the darkness. And so Talira saw out someone that could aid the Deno in this task. She went deep within Avestra and met Queni, the manifestation of the shadows of Avestra, and Nira, the Raven Queen. She knew much about the flora and fauna that could be cultivated in the darkness and keep Talira's people alive. And when the time came, Nira would see them shepherded to the afterlife, keeping their food source from dwindling. Talira agreed and the two Shadow Goddesses spread these teachings to the Deno.
Due to the constant delving, the Deno people were exposed to magic and minerals that gave them latent psionic abilities. One of these Deno, a mystic known as Lira, became a powerful psychic. Her teachings spread and with it, the power of the Deno people spread as well. But with power comes hubris. Soon, Deno psions believed they outgrew the gods and Lira and tried to supplant them. Lira tried to stop them but despite how powerful she was, she could not stand against the number they raised against her. But in the death of her physical self, she became a pure psionic being and ascended to godhood as thanks for her efforts.
These psions grew drunk off their power and delved deeper and deeper until the dark depths of Avestra swallowed them whole. The Empires of the Underoads enraged the Shade Walkers and whatever they found in the depths saw fit to punish them. Many of the Under Empires were consumed and forgotten while others fell apart, leaving only their history behind. The Deno people were fractured and torn apart until only one nation remained. But the Shade Walkers believed in mercy and so this one nation continues to exist, it's name changing throughout history but always under the protection of the gods. They were humbled by their fall and as they go to find what they have lost, many who believe in the Shade Walkers know to avoid the failures of their ancestors.
Divine Origins
The oldest goddess in this group is Queni as the ancestors to the Deno-badin people always had a representation of darkness and shadow. At first, she was seen as a malevolent entity due to the dangers that exist at night. Due to the Arachni being a threat in the Ancient Age, she was often depicted as one. However, as the Arachni became friendlier, and Queni's followers moved atop and into the mountains, she became a friendlier goddess turning from a goddess of death to a goddess of nocturnal agriculture and nocturnal life.
Nilo the Carver was a holdover from when the proto-Deno people were influenced by the Giants and their love of craft, particularly runes. When the Underoads were forged and this culture was influenced by the Under Empires, they took on qualities of cultures from across Avestra, turning Nilo into a goddess of Smithing and Stonecarving. Some Deno-badin still worship her runecrafting side thoguh.
Lira was a constant fixture as latent psionics was a common occurrence in the proto-Deno people. There are many stories about powerful psions that suddenly disappeared or became pure psionic beings. As such, she became a constant fixture as time went on. Some historians theorize that the number of psions back in the Ancient Age were even greater than the ones that exist now and that this psionic convergence played some part in the fall of the Under Empires. It is also theorized that the psionic energy called out to the Elders and served as a beacon for them to follow. Whatever the case, Lira's followers changed her stance to teaching the Deno psionics as a way to defend tehmselves from this new threat. Those corrupted by the Elders view her as a goddess that wants them to use their psionics to add the residents of Furorum.
Talira and the Raven Queen arrived when the Feyborn landed in Avestra not long after the fall of the Under Empires. The dubious accounts of past memories and Fey claim that Talira was a powerful Archfey who found a way to visit Avestra. Her oral teachings told of the region the Deno-badin would inherit and even about qualities in the depths that would be impossible to know at that time. It is unknown if Talira is a fictious story but her role in the Feyborn coming to the region elevated her to godhood status. The Raven Queen on the other hand was a holdover for the Feyborn that lived on the dark side of Faenum. In Faenum, she was connected to shadows as well as death but the former conflicted with Queni. To make peace between the two sects, the Raven Queen lost her shadow domain in the pantheon and all focus was put on her role as the Goddess of Death and being anti-necromancy. Despite the Deo being a mostly subterranean culture, she has kept the title of Raven Queen.
Tenets of Faith
- Protect the Deno homeland from all threats, especially the Aberrations that threaten it
- If you have the will, master the psionic arts and protect them from those who would corrupt them
- Take care of the flora and fauna that keep the depths alive
- Reclaim the glory of the fallen Underoads
- Accept that though you may die, you'll never die alone as the shadows are always with you
Worship
In general, protecting and growing Deno lands are seen as the main way to worship the Shade Walkers. Whether it's through cultivating flora in the Underoads or keeping the fauna in harmony, both are valid methods of keeping the Deno people thriving. Another example is fighting against the Aberrations and their forces that attempt to claim Deno lands. Focusing on reclaiming the Underoads what the Carver's stoneworking domain calls her worshipers to do. It also leads to exploration which Talira herself is known for in her legends. Since the Shadows are constant in Deno lands, worshipping them and burying people in the darkness are common for worship for the the Shade and the Raven Queen.
Priesthood
- Lira the Mystic: Despite being focused on psions and psionics, Lira's followers push the study of all magic. Psions are commonly the priests of Lira, bearing the sigil of an eye, representing the third eye that will be awakened when a psion reaches the pinnacle of psionic strength. These priests serve as teachers to young psions and defenders of their home as they use their talents to prevent Aberrations from encroaching on their settlements.
- Nilo the Carver: Priests of the Carver serve as masons, architects and crafters across Deno territory. They rise in station by improving their crafts which they believe brings them closer to the goddess. An increasing number of them have manned expeditions to the Underoads as well to reclaim what she helped them craft.
- Nira the Raven Queen: As the goddess of death, NIra's priests often take care of the crypts in Deno cities. Whether it's preparing the dead for burial or protecting them from threats in the Underoads, the Raven has kept its status as a protector of the deceased.
- Queni the Shade: There is no structured priesthood for Queni as anyone can become one. Druids or religious people who give blessings to the harvest and protect the ecosystem of the Underoads can fulfill this role as well as anyone else.
- Talira the Moon Walker: As the leader of the pantheon, Talira is worshipped for her role in bringing the Deno people together. Some take this a step further and become protectors or adventurers, delving into the depths or into the nearby Abberant-tainted lands to hunt down the creatures that would threaten her people.
Granted Divine Powers
Due to how important the shadows are, one of the greatest gifts is shadow weaving where one can bend the shadows into objects whether for a short time or permanently. Another gift is low-light vision and dark vision for those who were not born with those gifts, allowing them to see the darkness as the rest of the Deno people do.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Shade Walkers are the reason the principality of Deno-Kirin exists in the first place. As a punishment for the arrogance of the ancient Deno people, followers believe only one may exist for the Deno people as a whole. This is also why they are ferciously loyal to their nation and defensive, butting heads with the Shogunates to the west and the Draconic nations to the south. The focus of defense in the religion is also why Deno-Kirin finds an ally in the isolationist Mazidun people who just want to be left alone.
Sects
A growing force want to revert Queni to her old domain as a malevolent goddess, seeing the Deno people as growing too weak in their defensive phase. This has grown in tandem with the more aggressive and warmongering faction in Menzo-Kirin. Currently, the mainstream faithful view these people as misguided at best or a cult at worst that must be stopped.
Lira's followers face threats from the ignorant and the aberrant alike. The ignorant outside and even inside Deno lands believe that psions are the reason the Elders and their forces came here. as such, her followers and psions are persecuted in the belief that if all psions are dead, these aberrant forces will leave or be greatly diminished. The other threat is that the aberrant view Lira's followers as perfect candidates for experiments and worthy servants in service to the Elders. With Aberrations trying to reconnect to the Elders, psions could serve that purpose and have started influencing weaker psions to view Lira as a goddess connected to the Elders.
The psionic persecutions and aberrant manipulations are both major threats that the Deno people are trying to stem by attacking Aberration hives or educating or attacking those who would spread vile propaganda about psions. Time will tell if their efforts are in vain.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Related Ethnicities
Comments