Telchur

Telchur

"Winter does not care if you are ready. It comes when it wills, stays as long as it pleases, and leaves only when it is finished. Pray Telchur shows you mercy."

Overview

Telchur is the Oeridian god of Winter, Cold, and the North Wind. He embodies the harsh, relentless nature of winter, a force that cannot be reasoned with or defied. He is often depicted as a grim, bearded man clad in heavy furs, his breath turning the air to frost, his touch numbing flesh to the bone. Worshiped by those who endure the frozen wastes, Telchur is both feared and respected. His followers embrace the philosophy that strength is found in surviving hardship, and those who cannot endure the winter have no place in the world.

Domains and Influence

Telchur's dominion extends over the bitterest of winters and the howling winds that scour the land. He is often invoked by those who seek shelter from the cold, though his favor is fickle, and his mercy is rare. To those who offer him proper tribute—especially sacrifices of warmth, food, or shelter—he may grant a reprieve from his wrath, but more often, he lets nature take its course.

Telchur is particularly venerated in the lands of the far north, where icy wastelands stretch beyond the reach of civilization. Sailors venturing into the frigid seas, nomads traveling the tundra, and even some warriors preparing for battle offer prayers to Telchur, believing that only those who accept suffering will survive it.

Relationships with Other Deities

Telchur's cold nature extends beyond his dominion—he is known to be a distant and unapproachable god, even among the Oeridian pantheon. He has a particular enmity with Velnius, god of the sky, for it is Velnius' warm rains that drive back his icy grip. His greatest grudge, however, is against Atroa, the goddess of Spring. It is said that long ago, Telchur was meant to take his turn among the four seasonal gods, but when his time came to pass the world into Atroa’s care, he refused, extending winter far longer than it should have lasted. Though he was eventually forced to relinquish control, his bitterness toward Atroa has never faded.

"Telchur’s wrath is not one of fire or fury, but of silence and cold. He does not strike you down—he simply waits for you to fail."

Worship and Rituals

Telchur’s followers include hermits, survivalists, and those who must endure the bitterest of winters. His priests are often harsh, unyielding figures who teach that struggle breeds strength and that comfort is the enemy of true resilience. Some settlements in northern reaches leave offerings of burning incense, hot food, or warm furs in places where the wind howls fiercest, hoping to placate Telchur and ensure their survival through the harshest months.

Some grim legends speak of entire villages sacrificing their weakest members in times of great hardship, believing that Telchur will spare those who remain if they show they are willing to let go of the weak. Whether this truly earns his favor or is merely an act of desperation is unknown.

Temples and Holy Sites

There are few temples dedicated to Telchur, as he is not a god who provides comfort or protection. His shrines are often little more than stone altars in the midst of frozen landscapes, battered by the wind, where the strong seek his blessing and the weak are left to die. In rare cases, monasteries devoted to Telchur exist, where ascetic monks train themselves to survive in the most brutal of conditions, forsaking warmth and comfort in the belief that they will be made stronger through suffering.

Holy Symbol

Telchur’s holy symbol is an ice-crusted staff wrapped in windblown cloth. His followers often mark their shields, banners, or clothing with a stylized frost-covered staff or swirling, wind-like runes.

Artifacts and Legends

One of the most infamous relics associated with Telchur is the Frozen Tear, an icy sapphire said to be the crystallized sorrow of a dying god who perished in the cold. Those who wield it are said to command the chilling breath of winter itself, but all who have carried it for long were ultimately consumed by the cold, becoming frozen statues of ice.

"The wind does not hate you. The frost does not seek to punish you. They simply exist. It is you who are too weak to endure them."

Conclusion

Telchur is a god of quiet, creeping doom—an entity that does not rage, but merely waits. He is the embodiment of winter’s indifference, the reminder that no warmth lasts forever, and that only those who accept hardship will survive. Those who worship him do not seek kindness, only the strength to endure.