Elduri Pantheon

Elduri National Pantheon

The national pantheon of Eldurgrund shares many familiar figures with the greater recognized pantheon of humanity, though centuries of cultural development have reshaped interpretations and implications. All officially recognized divine entities in the Elduri Pantheon are as follows:
Muren: seen merely as the god of mountains abroad, the Elduri have grown to revere him as an agent of security, wisdom, hearth, and traditional Elduri values. While his domain of "mountains" remains in spirit, it has become a vestigial assumption that often bears no mention in discussion.
Wenlen: craftsman god and sister of Muren in foreign pantheons, mentions of familial relation in the Elduri pantheon are few and far between. Rather, her role in the Elduri mythos is that of a steward and prophet of Muren. Guiding humanity with the knowledge of creation, she draws upon Muren's natural provisions, reinforcing his importance in the culture.
Onothis: a revered Ohdaufehl in several cultures, Onothis defends humanity and the natural world, drawing the line between necessity and exploitation. Also serving as a prophet of Muren, he was sent in tangible form during Ettermiddag to assist mortals in surviving the dark era. To the Elduri, he represents a stalwart dedication to defending your holds; such interpretations often lead to dichotomous conflict in which both sides use the rhetoric of Onothis to justify their cause.
Fei Invaru: harbinger of bloom, Fei Invaru is viewed as an antagonist of the Elduri pantheon in tandem with her sister, Huereina. The temperate nature of Eldurgrund means its denizens regularly struggle for survival. Summer fires, winter famine, and rotating environmental pressures emphasize the desire for safety and security. Such security is provided by Muren and the hearth, making the harsh seasonal changes and natural environment antithetical to prosperity. Nature is never a source of complete disdain, however: its exploitation is always viewed as a conquerable challenge by humanity.
Huereina: harbinger of winter and sister of Fei Invaru, Huereina proves that evil is destined to destroy itself. While the sisters bring struggle for the Elduri, the strife they create for each other prevents growth and prosperity for themselves. Winter strives to end summer and vice versa. The sisters are often the source of parables for children, particularly during sibling conflict. By comparison, Muren and his prophets are models of how one should strive to create and hold such creations dear, including family.

Imperial Augury Deities

Eldurgrund is a member of the Augury; the national pride of the Elduri has resulted in notably fragile relations between the organizations, particularly where faith is considered. One requirement from the Augury is for its territories to recognize the Ohfjuren brothers as the chief authority over Laminarum. The imperial capital, Saint's Maar, recognizes most Elduri gods as children and grandchildren of the Ohfjuren, yet the abstract domains of these patriarchs hold little significance to the Elduri. The 'recognized' imperial gods in Eldurgrund are as follows:
Chaimut: father of Huereina and Fei Invaru, Chaimut has authority over the flow of time. His inclusion is perhaps the least controversial, as his behavior is considered antagonist in both cultures- fitting of how the Elduri perceive his daughters. Like his brothers, Chaimut is recognized as a real entity, even in national tales. Still, his impact is considered so distant and abstract that the Elduri pay him no mind. While referenced as the father of Fei and Huereina in a few pieces of scripture, his background or identity is never investigated by the text.
Bailum: god of justice to the Augury, nigh monotheistic figure to the people of Shellbay, and despised by the Elduri. Bailum's values and actions in scripture bring no offense to the Elduri, rather, his historic representatives drive disdain for the deity. Shortly after Ettermiddag, Eldurgrund had developed an empire of its own (one of the first in Laminarum). After generations of growth and domination, they entered a conflict with the Saltkrigere. Their competing empire was ruled from Shellbay and pushed Bailum's ideals across the land; due to their supreme military power, the Saltkrigere Empire conquered Eldurgrund. After centuries of authority, the Saltkrigere Empire fell to the Augury, which subsumed Eldurgrund. Eldurgrund still holds old wounds from the zealous Saltkrigere, making Bailum an offensive symbol of Elduri weakness. Bailum goes unmentioned in Elduri scripture, though this was likely a retroactive change in the early years of the imperial clash. To make matters more inflammatory, the Augury recognizes Bailum as the father of Muren and Wenlen.
Taopin: god of reincarnation, Taopin's domain clashes with the Elduri view of death. Viewed as a reverent event in Eldurgrund, death represents a finite end to what one can create and bring to the world. Few Elduri consider what happens after death, instead focusing on what persists in the world around you. While the concept of reincarnation is within the realm of possibility in Elduri scripture, subsequent life shouldn't outweigh the value of your current life.

Religious Strife

While the Ohfjuren cause strife between the Augury and Eldurgrund, leading members of the faith consider the conflict to be rectifiable. Most of the conflict arises not from the gods or different values, but from the insertion of these gods into the familial lineage of the Elduri pantheon. While the connection is verifiable by all available evidence, forcibly interjecting historically conflicting figures and symbols into national scripture puts long-standing parables and lessons in imbalance. And while the Ohfjuren are the only required deities in technicality, accepting all tales in association with the brothers means that any referenced figures must be true and abided as well. Perhaps the most damaging of these tales are surrounding Anoch Athylis, an important prophet and cultural figure in Eldurgrund for his allowance of morals to wield fire magic (the method that allowed Eldurgrund to be founded and risen from the ashes of Astania. In Augury scripture, Anoch Athylis is considered an Inutherin: a devil and general of Milin Orphi charged with authority over an outer plane. As all devils (especially those in the direct service of Milin Orphi) are banned from worship in the Augury, worship and reverence of Anoch Athylis was stripped from Eldurgrund.
However, Eldurgrund is not free from the same crimes, often overlooking or belittling dwarvish and orcish gods and suppressing all mentions of the Astanian faith a millennia ago. Many residents of the governy presume that the dwarves worship Muren, as he represents the dwarves' valuable symbol of mountains, invoking many features of their culture. In reality, the dwarves have their own gods dedicated to such symbols and concepts. The ability for orcs to worship their deities in the capital is limited, as no formal support from the state is provided to the orcish faith; for example, icons, books, and centers of worship aren't present in any portion of Euvurcrest.
Other smaller faiths (or civilizations) continue to be oppressed by Eldurgrund. The villainized goblins have been reduced to nomadic tribes while Half-Folk have been reduced to small settlements, nomadic tribes, or a dedicated forest. Their faiths lack accessibility and recognition by the Elduri government. Lastly are Urrfolk, who like goblins, are not protected in the eyes of the law.

Mythological Figures

Eldurgrund has a host of legendary and historical figures supporting its mythos, some of whom remain contemporary figures while others have been forgotten by time. Below is an assortment of characters from the Elduri mythos who are no longer worshipped within the pantheon but still hold significant roles in its origin or fables.
Orkangunderr: Now fallen by the wayside, the wise sea serpent was a spirit rumored to have lived during the nation's founding. An agent of justice, Orkangunderr was a divine judge of morality, capable of knowing the quality of mortal souls and discerning true intent. When faced with deception or opposition, Orkangunderr was swift and wrathful in his destruction; many believe that the beast was meant to symbolize early Eldurgrund, with his actions mirroring the destruction of Astania. Perhaps he was a parable of the times, but many of his roles in the faith have been subsumed by other figures. Orkangunderr nevertheless persists in bedside stories and epic tales of theater or written fiction.
Didaniplead: Squire to a knight during The Razing of Astania, Didaniplead allowed for the capture of Astania by valiantly leading a charge in his people's darkest hour. Credited with taking the burden of Anoch's pact and unlocking the secrets of fire magic for the world (excluding the J'barri mages, who were previously blessed with its power), Didaniplead is tantamount to the nation's founder.
Anivol Brandson: Anivol, along with many kin, was banished from Astania on the basis of ancestral impurity. Forced to travel abroad and grow up in a new land known as Caripreet, Anivol grew discontent in his later years. He idealized his old home as the world's shining jewel and wished to take it back, which he accomplished by building an army of his contemporaries and outcast J'barri. In the razing of Astania, all those who had denied him of his home were slain. Anivol would take the surname "Brandson" and anoint himself as Baron of Eldurgrund.
Both the Bonsai: Both (pronounced "Bawth") was a spirit who descended into Eldurgrund during The Empyrean Cascade. Having come to the land of mortals by mistake, Both found his home in the Lyslure Woods, living in equilibrium with nature and civilization. It wasn't until he was bound to Eldur Monk Canaan that he was eternally reformed as "the Bonsai," which rendered him immobile and untrusting of outsiders. What once was a kind and caring spirit has grown into a vengeful monster, only communicating with particular individuals (such as select members of the Eldursteries). While his time as the bonsai has only constituted a fraction of his time in Eldurgrund, the shift in personality has cemented his new status within Elduri folklore.
Sturmavthdur: similar to Both, Sturmavthdur rests comfortably as a creature of folklore. First appearing around 1900 NG, Sturmavthdur is a relatively recent addition to Elduri culture. Its inclination to sinking vessels has burdened outgoing trade for decades and has even pushed foreign nations to avoid the coastal routes of Eldurgrund. Unlike Both, Sturmavthdur's sightings are few and far between, with details always shifting between tales. Many believe him to be a resurfaced Orkangunderr, but scholarly organizations rebuke such claims. While his activity is certainly more local compared to other folk figures, the creature's terror makes all sailors think twice before wading the Elduri coast.

Anoch Athylis

Previously serving as a prophet and martyr for the Elduri people, Anoch Athylis was banned by the Augury due to his designation as an Ithitar. In Elduri faith, Anoch allowed humanity to wield fire magic before being promptly stripped of his domain by Milin Orphi, who otherwise rarely appears in Elduri myth. The tales of Anoch in Eldurgrund promptly end at his punishment and incarceration by Milin Orphi, while they continue in faiths abroad, outlining his fall to devilhood. It seems each faith only kept one half of the tale throughout Ettermiddag, as the people of Fjordstrond and Shellbay make no mention of his deliverance of fire magic upon humanity.
Anoch may be banned in modern Eldurgrund (ca. 1960 NG), but his presence is still the backbone of its history. Tales of him are told to inspire children with themes of sacrifice while fringe cults still practice beneath the plate of Euvurcrest. All icons of Anoch are banned, yet the Eldursteries are permitted to possess a few to preserve and record the nation's historical culture.

Unique Elduri Perspective

All of Eldurgrund's worshipped deities are present in the Augury pantheon, as well as select independent nations abroad. Given the figures are present in so many cultures, priests wished to uncover why religious perspectives have strayed beyond familiarity. Following consideration, priests of Eldurgrund and Saint's Maar determined a series of justifications: the use of mountains by different cultures, geographic isolation, circumstances of the nation's founding, and Ettermiddag.

Mountains in Culture

The first believers of the Ohdaufeen pantheon came from the Snow Rock Isles before founding Shellbay, where they eventually radiated northward to found Fjordstrond. All along the way, mountains were seen as an obstacle preventing discovery rather than a source of intrigue. On the other hand, the Elduri rely on their mountains for housing, security, and symbolism. Cultural ties to mountains were only reinforced when the Eldursteries were founded and Muren's Mantle was constructed as a dedication to the gods. The representation of mountains as hearth and security would eventually lead to the "god of mountains" moniker falling by the wayside. Instead, the feelings he evokes are ingrained in tales, refocusing faith on his character rather than any associated domains.

Geographic Isolation

During Ettermiddag, most baronies became isolated as civilization retreated behind the walls of its most populous centers. For the Elduri, the eastern mountain range was a haven. Disconnecting from written or verbal tales, the faith persisted in internal stories built to inspire humanity's survival. By the time globalization returned, the tales after isolation were all that remained. These beliefs were then transmitted by the Eldurgrund Empire, reinforcing their continuance.

Eldurgrund's Founding

During Ettermiddag and in the following centuries, the dominant baronies were all founded without conflict (relatively speaking). Shellbay was initially home to a small population of Kaban before quickly being conquered while Fjordstrond was an uninhabited land ready to be civilized. The same could be said for Astania in the years before Ettermiddag, as it was given to its founders through a political transaction but was previously uninhabited. Eldurgrund was founded by destroying Astania, making it the only barony (aside from Saint's Maar) taken by force. This source of conflict seeded defensive and nationalist ideals, all centered on securing that which belongs to you (be it a home, lordship, faith, or your people).

Ettermiddag

the dark era served as a new age of founding myths for those who survived. For Eldurgrund, the new founding myths included the creation of Muren's Mantle, the betrayal of Epithet, and the formation of the Eldur Knights: these features persist today through military roles, holiday traditions, and infrastructure. Ettermiddag also allowed mortals access to divine entities such as Onothis (and ironically, Epithet). During The Empyrean Cascade, humanity gazed upon the Ohdaufeen's desires with yet unrivaled clarity.