Manani (MAN-ann-ee)
God of the dead and the underworld
The Younger Brother, The Sober, The Shadow Dweller, The Constant Companion, The Axe
Manani (he/him) is the god of death and the dead, and the younger brother of the creator goddess Tephera. That relationship is very important to both gods, and they are frequently portrayed together as children at the beginning of the world. The story goes that as she created the people, animals, and birds, he destroyed them and thus kept the living from overrunning the land. His priesthood is charged with protecting the bodies and spirits of the dead. Throughout Drintera he is regarded as the Constant Companion who is present with every living thing until the end. He is also the Younger Brother, so for some the relationship with death is familial and warm.
In Drinteran mythology, Manani had a bad first experience with alcohol. It offended his sense of order and he has sworn off the stuff ever since, so he is called the Sober. Of course, Manani is also the god who created the mertal root, a useful cure for hangover symptoms.
Shapes and Messengers
Manani is everyone’s little brother. As such, he often appears as a thin, serious male a bit younger than the person to whom he appears. He may be a child, a youth, or an old man. In all his aspects he is clad in well-fitting clothing of purple, gray, and blue, and his hair is cut or neatly tied back. Since he is a constant companion for everyone since birth, his appearance does not necessarily mean that the person's death is imminent (though all die eventually). The stories tell that Manani has a silver axe that he uses to separate the living from life. If he appears to someone with the axe lowered or clipped onto his belt, the god is simply there to communicate information or check up on his charge. If he brandishes it, it is too late.
Flies are his heralds, and they collect information for him. Because they are everywhere, Manani knows almost everything, except the future.
Plenty of Daltomer dwarves claim to have seen Manani while drunk. This is both the truth and the beer talking—drunkenness is used by some groups to divine the will of the god. He is generally not pleased by this.
Manani is shy and does not often appear to mortals, perhaps because he knows how frightening the idea of him can be. Sometimes his flies will buzz in people’s ears, gently whispering secrets.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Manani’s most frequent symbol is a skull shown half in shadow. Elves use an elvish skull, humans a human one, and so on.
Empty wine bottles and beer jars that have never contained actual spirits are often displayed in his temples and in private living spaces. The sober deity approves of them.
The mertal root is favored by followers of Manani for its beneficial post-hangover properties. The leaves of the mertal plant are another of his symbols, referring not only to the medicinal uses but the idea of something useful being hidden from view yet marked for those who know where to look.
