Saren

"Strength in unity, power in knowledge, honor in war"

The Guardian of Man

Saren is the Isran god of Unity, Knowledge, War, and Honor. He is the chief deity of the Sareni pantheon and is the catalyst for their transformation from the The Anrivari to the Sareni.
To many Saren is the god of unity, battle, and honor and to others he is the embodiment of ruthless slaughter and savagery, regardless of what one believes it is difficult to deny his prowess in combat and leadership. Alone he is capable of great feats and when leading an army he does so with precision and grace. His influence was also paramount in ushering in the Age of Divinity, a fact many of the Elven peoples choose to ignore or manipulate, and for centuries he would educate the Sareni in the arts of war and military tactics, the strength in unity and the pursuit of knowledge, and the prestige of honor. These lesson would prove invaluable to the Teldaran humans and it has kept them alive to this very day. As such he is the patron of both warriors and philosophers alike.
Religion and Culture
To the Sareni peoples, Saren stands above all other gods for he is the one to have guided their ancestors ages ago. He taught them the value of honor, of standing together in the face of adversity, and pursuing the knowledge of the world; all values the Sareni hold dear to this day. While the Sareni do not believe Saren created them and the realms they do believe he offered aid when they truly required it and kept a watchful eye to ensure their survival. The influence he has had on their culture is undeniable, as art, architecture, literature, strategy, music, etc. are all still affected by their patron deity. He is also the center of the various Sareni religions and any perceived offense to Saren is an offense to the Sareni.
Among the Dominion Elves, the Sol, Lun, and Syl Vithar he is known as Sarathin, the Darksky Conqueror. Millenia ago when the legendary human hero Tarek Varro ascended and began his journey of freeing the world from the grasp of the ancient dragons, the Elves contested this advance believing Tarek to be a would-be tyrant for a false god. Thus Saren, and Tarek for that matter, is remembered in infamy as a conquering deity unworthy of any worship.
Given the close ties the Arikiri have with the Sareni, the Arikiri clans view Saren in a similar light as the Sareni. Though Shiri and Taruk stand as their patron deities, Saren is seen as a god of battle and strategy and it isn't entirely uncommon for some among the clans, especially the Kyr'tol, to pray to the god of honorable war.
To the Snow Elves of Norrim, Saren is known as Sareth, god of justice, honor, and war. He was considered a close ally to the Snow Elves patron deities, Artio and Felwin, and worked closely to foster prosperous relations among the Felvithar and Sareni. Ancient Snow Elf legends speak of the honorable manner in which Saren conducted himself and the graceful strength he displayed in combat.
In Madura he is known as Saru, god of duels, honor, and war. Decades ago the Madurans viewed Saren and the Sareni in a rather positive light, believing them to be a respectable and forthright people. However, this outlook would change with the Nekovan invasion of the archipelago. As the invasion continues the views the Madurans have of the Sareni and Saren have soured, despite Valaren's efforts to mitigate the damage caused by their ally.
Among the Ankari peoples he is known as Sarotep, god of war, protection, and strength. While not their patron deity, the Ankari respect the honorable god and perceive him as a grand champion for humanity. Old Ankari tales speak of Saren and Suresh, chief deity of the Ankari, sparring in the night sky creating shooting stars with every strike.
To the Sarkosh, Sizin is their interpretation of Saren as a god of domination, war, and conquest. This darker interpretation stems again from the legendary hero Tarek Varro, who slew the ancient Black Dragon who the Sarkosh deeply revere. From that day the Sarkosh detested Saren for granting humanity such divine power and many of the Sareni for brutalizing such a sacred being.
Worship
The Sareni are the primary worshippers of Saren, though some among the other Iskaran races do worship him to some extent, with Custiocism being the largest religion with Saren as its chief deity. This faith dates back to the Age of Divinity and encompasses many of the Divines worshipped by the many races.
Within Custiocism there are several sects with differing views primarily focused on the current state of the divine. Some believe that through honorable actions may mortals prove they are worthy of their guidance again, while others believe that the gods are gone forever but it is their responsibility to uphold the lessons bestowed upon them.
Realm
Honor's Sanctuary 
Legends speak of Saren's realm as a pristine paradise of flowing rivers, titanic mountains, rushing waterfalls, and rolling grasslands for those who lived a principled life. Dotting the verdant lands are exquisite marble structures and grand libraries filled to the brim with knowledge far exceeding what any mortal could fathom. They speak of training grounds for those who could never abandon their fighter's spirit and gardens for those who seek to put that part of their life to rest. However, with his disappearance after the Incursion, many hope he remains within his realm to welcome the Sareni people.  
Servants
Saren only had one spirit race under his command, the Iatans. The Iatans take the form of stone-skinned humanoids with vast white-blue wings. They adorn themselves with heavy silver armor and utilize both melee weaponry paired with divine magics. Their weapon of choice is a silver bladed spear with a marbled shaft. They are said to represent honor, discipline, and order and serve the winged god with unmatched loyalty. It is even believed the Ventara Valkyr modeled her Valkyries after these magnificent titans.

Divine Domains

War, Strategy, Unity, Knowledge, and Honor

Artifacts

Saren's Spear
The Spear of Saren is his signature artifact and is a weapon of great renown. Believed to be created by Saren himself, the elegant spear is said to have a marble shaft with golden patterns woven throughout. The blade is a radiating silver, with golden edges. The spear splits down the spine of the blade, at its base lies a finely cut light blue gem. The spear is capable of piercing most armors and can store Arcana within its gem which can then be released in a precise, light blue beam of energy.
This artifact is highly sought after, especially by the Sareni of Nekova  and Valaren, for its graceful power. However, the spear has been lost for centuries and many have dedicated their entire lives to rediscover it. 
The Tome of Order
This ancient tome is said to be wielded by Saren himself and is speculated to contain divine spells crafted by the Isran. Alongside such spells is divine knowledge few mortals could comprehend, as such the tome is held within the Psijic Circle towers. Though which tower holds the real copy is unknown, as all others hold a copy that is protected by extensive wards.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

A pair of blue-tipped wings with either an open tome or shield in the center.

Physical Description

Body Features

Saren is typically depicted as a tall and well built individual adorned in grey and black cloths and a sleek silver helm. A defining characteristic is his blue tipped wings that are said to span the horizon. In these depictions he is either wielding a great spear, the Light's Wrath, in his right hand and a shield, the Light's Aegis, in his left or a large white arcane tome, the Illuminex.
The Vithari however, paint humanity's guardian as a savage warmonger. In their depictions Saren stands tall with wings of fire and ash. They also show him with jagged horns protruding from his helm while he wields a blade of cinder.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Saren was among the first to emerge from the Anvil of Time, a great conduit for the primordial forces of Ori, and is thus one the most powerful of the Isran deities. Like many of his kin he fought the Ventara eons ago, indirectly creating the realm of Illyium. After the Isran victory, Saren would travel this lifeless, young realm in hopes of discovering a new purpose. Even after a millennia his drive never wavered and in time his faith would be rewarded. 
On a world unlike any other, mortal beings roamed an untamed land. These mortals would pique the interest of several of the Isran, Saren included. For a time these beings fascinated the almighty but as time passed the clans of the The Anrivari would begin to impress him. Saren would watch as the mortals survived through the tyranny of the Dragon Lords, who emerged following the War in the Heavens, and would heed their calls. He would bless the ancient legendary hero Tarek Varro with his divine power, creating the first Ascendant. With such power Tarek would defeat the Dragons and usher in an Age of Divinity, forming the first empire. With this achievement the Anrivari would be bestowed elegant markings to represent Saren and thenceforth would be the Sareni. Following the formation of this empire, Saren would guide the Sareni people through a time of unprecedented prosperity.
However, this age would be brought to ruin when the Lords of The Void pierced the Veil and invaded Iskara. For years the Ventara would reek havoc upon the world, bringing it to its knees. Only through immense sacrifice and bravery, were the Isran, their Ascendants, and the armies of mortals able to drive these devils back to the Void. This event would be known as the Incursion and following its destruction, the gods vanished, as did Saren.

Gender Identity

All records indicate that Saren has only presented himself as a male.

Social

Social Aptitude

Saren is strong-spirited and noble. To the Sareni he is considered the bravest and the most honorable of all the Divines in their pantheon. He was primarily concerned with teaching his followers the importance of his divine domains and the general furthering of law and justice in the world. Saren detested duplicity, trickery, rule-breaking, and wanton destruction. He likewise hated lies and the breaking of oaths and was disgusted by persons who earned prestige and influence from such things. For his own part, he was known to never break a promise.
Saren also urged the establishment of moral and ethical codes for the Sareni to apply in many aspects of their lives. Such lessons carryon to this day and have had magnificent impact on the culture of his followers.

Divine Classification

Isran/Divine

Religions

• Sareni / Valaren

Alignment

Lawful Good

Species

Isran

Realm

Aetherius

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Wings of Order, Lord of War, The Unifier, The Azurewing Lord, He Who Knows, and The Protector

Age

Unknown

Other Affiliations

• Nekova
• Sareni / Valaren