The Great Hellanic Pantheon
Helathen is a Polytheistic country, with 12 Major Deities as core components of it and many lesser gods and goddesses across the various city states. Due to the city state nature of the country, the churches are only loosely unified among the region, primarily answering only to the Heirophant or Archiereas of a given city state.
The Deities of the Great Hellanic Pantheon have analogues that exist in other countries, and their worship often remains the same in some areas. Their exact names and roles have naturally changed across generations.
The Various Mythologies of the Hellanic Pantheon
The Helathen Creation Myth
Before the start of all things, there was only the Great Celestial Egg, Avegio. The egg cracked, and the sheer force of what it contained exploded outwards and birthed energy, time and raw mana into the universe. From the resulting explosion of Avegio, two figures were born: Tychas, the Titan of Primordial Chaos, and Seiropia, the Titan of Primordial Order.
While born together, equal and mighty in their power, Tychas hated Seiropia above all else. From the raw mana that flowed about them, Tychas drew forth a great darkness, so they might hide from Seiropia, and plot in peace. Seiropia, on the other hand, held boundless love for their equal, and thus they placed about stars within the darkness, lighting the way as they searched for the hidden Tychas.
Lurking in the dark, Tychas brought forth such abominable creatures, creatures whose very names should not be spoken, lest you draw their attention and ire. As Seiropia forlornly searched for their sibling, Tychas set their creations upon the ever-searching Titan, tearing them into pieces. As poor Seiropia lay dying within the early dark, every aspect of her being torn asunder, the various parts shifted and grew, birthing new creatures to avenge the fallen primordial titan.
From their Blood rose Theilas, filled with Seiropia’s coursing rage; From their Bones came Girokti, filled with Seiropia’s steadfast will; From their muscles and sinew came Sedloga, imbued with Seiropia’s strength; From their soul came Vateos, powered by their final spark of life; From their mind came Signos, who carried the boundless wisdom of Seiropia; And from their Heart came Asranos, mightiest of all their siblings, for they carried Seiropia’s passion and joy. United by that which was Seiropia, they turned on the Tychas and their children and pushed back in bitter vengeance.
Victorious, the Children of Seiropia tore apart Tychas and, from his many parts, constructed a prison in which to hold the Children of Tychas, sealing them from the world in the darkest, blackest hole, praying that they may never break free and bring terror with them.
With nothing more to fight, and their vengeance fulfilled, the five used equally shared the remnant essences of Seiropia and Tychas in which to individually craft a place for them to dwell.
Girokti gathered about the essence and used it to craft the earth, bringing forth plants, trees and grass in its fertile ground.
Theilas took their share and forced about great bodies of water to separate the earth, bringing into it a great many fishes and beasts of the sea.
Asranos used his share to bring forth a great sky with which to filter the light of their progenitor and push back the darkness, at least for a while each day, and haven for which they could rest that he gave names like Arborea, Mount Celestia and Elysium.
Crafting first a great forge, Sedloga tinkered away and used their share to make many other creatures, in which to thrive in the world. Urging the other Gods to assist, they poured any last remnants into these creatures to give them life.
Seeing the life they had borne, Signos gave their share of essence to grant these creations the wisdom and intelligence they would need to survive in this world, urging them to unlock the secrets of creation.
For a time, their creation was perfect and they rested. But the land they had created shared the essences of both Chaos and Order, and all good things must come to an end. For eventually, the first of their creatures grew old, and when their life spark finally gave up, a new being was born, Kalatos; It is not remembered if the first created spirit became Kalatos, or if Kalatos was born because of its end.
Regardless, the Gods realized that a place must be created for these fallen souls to rest, and thus Vateos used their share of the essence to create the Underworld and it’s many levels. He reasoned that Kalatos would bring the souls to him, and he would judge them; if they lived good lives and were honorable in the names of the Children of Seiropia, they would be able to rest in his land, but if they were cruel and wicked, living dishonorable lives, they would instead pass on to other terrible lands, like Hades, Gehenna or Baator.
With the balance finally made, the Gods truly rested, knowing that their glorious creation would settle and be at peace.
The Sundering of Asranos
There came a time when Asranos grew troubled. Their very mind was awash with dark thoughts and terrible feelings, plaguing their every waking moment. Their body was wracked with pain, their hands trembled and made it impossible to work. They longed to hunt everything and anything, they wanted to tear everything apart, and learn how it functioned. Unable to rest, or focus, they implored their fellow gods with a means to relieve their plight.
Theilas advised bathing within the waters of their domain. Asranos lay in relaxation in the Sea, but still their mind was troubled. Signos advised mental exercises with which to empty their mind, which Asranos applied themselves too for 30 days and nights, to no avail.
Asranos turned to Sedloga and implored them for assistance. Sedloga offered to separate the pain and troubling thoughts from their form, taking them and distilling them into separate forms. Seeing no other way, Asranos agreed and Sedloga began their working. Working with great care, they took the troubling thoughts, the pain in their form and all that troubled them.
All of this was taken and formed into three new beings; the Rage and Strife was shaped into Tyrlus, the Pain and desire to Hunt became Kyniko, and the troubling Thoughts and Intrigue became Mirgeia. What was left of Asranos was a calm, painless and genderless being, far greater for the aspects that plagued them. These three new Gods knew no purpose, so they turned to Asranos and demanded one.
No longer plagued, Asranos turned to each in turn and gave them a duty. To Tyrlus, they would make him the overseer of war in all its glory and the lone Tyrant against all would be pretenders. For Mirgeia, they granted the ever-needed mantle of inquiry and intrigue, and the duty to care for the most intriguing thing of all, the creation of new life amongst all the creatures of the land. Lastly, they gave to Kyniko the lordship of the Hunt, so they might be an inspiration to the predators of the world.
With new purpose, Asranos sent the aspects of what they once were into a waiting world, ready to receive worship and the attention they deserve. Remember then that when you create beautiful things from terrible circumstance, you are like Asranos and next to godliness in that regard.
The Time of Forging
There are many creations of Sedloga, but none is he prouder of than the ones he gave life to during the Time of Forging. For each god came to him and gave him the task of creating new life, and each a work of art he held immense pride in.
The first to come to him was Asranos, chief of all the gods and goddesses. They asked Sedloga for one that could bring the light to all and make harmony of the stars. So Sedloga collected all that he might need to make such a being. He borrowed the whisper of the wind, the trickling laughter of a stream, the radiance of the sun and the warmth of a good meal. All of these he took, sharing them into a single form, and thus was born Ichsike, a radiant being whose very song matched the swirl of existence, and their presence shone to all who saw them.
The next to come to him was Mirgeia, for she now over saw the birth children, and grew worried about their safety, since she could not watch over them all. She asked for one who could help her in this task, and watch over them when she could not. Sedloga took the firmness of stone, the crackle of the open flame, the crash of the wave and the strength of iron, and bestowed it into a form. This form would become Eskes, and she would protect the Hearth and the families that lived around them.
Next came Theilas, whose loneliness and mood could not be satiated by any of the Gods in existence. She asked for one who could fulfill such a task, and do so with utter joy and abandon. Sedloga pondered for a time, before gathering that what he needed; the comfort of a cat, the desire from a rabbit, the beauty of a rose and, last of all, the Spark from the Hammer and Stone. To quench this creation, Sedloga placed it into Theilas’ domain, and thus was born Maglefia, the one who would bring love, beauty and desire to all who needed it, especially Theilas.
Then came Girokti, who desired to commune with the plants and trees of her making, to speak with them and theirs. Sedloga mulled over the request, unsure of how they might fulfill such a desire, until inspiration struck them. They took iron from the earth, broke it into fine grain and went to the first tree Girokti made in the Time of Creation. They scattered the Iron grain around the earth of the tree, and the ground hardened, waking the Tree from its slumber. Thus Denryas was born, first of the Dryad Queens, caretaker of the trees, and the holder to the secret of the plant tongue.
Next was Signos, who desired all knowledge and yet could not comprehend the secrets of mana, and thus wished for one who did and could teach him what he needed. Sedloga created a container, bathed it in the light of the moon and used it to capture the essence of mana that permeated all things. The container took on a life of its own and formed into Fenganya, who was as much a Goddess of Magic as she was magic itself. She shared what she knew, and Signos finally had the last of the wisdom he desired.
After this came Tyrlus, filled with the desire for competition and an equal who might challenge them to greater heights, a rival against whom they could level their ire and know they will return it in equal kind. For this, Sedloga gathered together the fury from a bull, a scale from a dragon, metal from the heart of a volcano and the loyalty of a hound. Mixed together, forged into a suit of armor pressed with runes and scripture, the last key was a single punch from Tyrlus’ left hand. With this, the divine energy sparked, and thus was born Parnoke, the great protector, the overseer of victory and eternal rival to Tyrlus.
Next came Kyniko, who desired to be blessed with the fortune necessary to aid in their hunt, and to harness the very concept of Luck. Hesitant to perform such an act, knowing what could come from giving Luck and Fortune a form, they eventually relented and began gathering ingredients. They carved a set of dice from the bones of an aged man, crafted a coin from the blood of victorious combatants and threw all of these items into a silver chalice. Sealing the chalice, the item was then dropped into the heart of Sedloga’s forge and waited. After a time, the golden form of Chygoura stepped free from the forge, the avatar of fortune and luck in the universe, and all owe their good fortunes to her.
Last to meet with Sedloga was Vateos, who sat in the presence of their sibling, deep in contemplation on what they desired. Vateos eventually asked for something that did not benefited them, but all others who walked the earth. He asked for Sedloga to craft a being who would be able to unite the lands, who would protect travelers on the road, and observe the markets of man. Fascinated, Sedloga set to work and gathered together the needle from a compass, the shavings from a felled tree and the feather from a goose. This he shaped and bended like clay, until he created Minide. They tasked this new God with guiding the creatures of the world to make roads, guide travelers and teaching fairness in the hallowed halls of commerce.
With their work complete, Sedloga rested by their forge, satisfied that their Time of Forging had come to an end. Having not left his brothers side, Vateos asked Sedloga that, since they had crafted a new god for all the other older gods, why had Sedloga not made one for themselves?
Sedloga admitted that they crafted these new gods because, while they could be inspired to make for others, they had no such inspiration for themselves. Truly, they did not know what they wanted, and their pleasure came instead of making for others.
Saddened that their sibling might end this Time of Forging empty handed, Vateos asked if they could use their brothers forge for a moment, which Sedloga cautiously agreed to. Having learned from their brother's actions, Vateos gathered a grape fresh from a vine, the scent of a lily in bloom, and the laughter from a child without care, and pressed them together with patience and care. While Vateos was no craftsman, they worked with necessary patience, until they created a companion for Sedloga; Vateos announced that this being would bring merriment to all, let wine flow in their presence and be a companion to the lonely. They would be called Krasymemnos, and their plump form exuded a jubilance unmatched by any merry drunkard. Tearful and in awe of their brother’s kindly gift, Sedloga accepted this friendly creation, and the Time of Forging truly came to an end.
It is said that if you are lucky, and could sneak into the Forges of Sedloga, you might be able to glimpse the crafting god with Krasymemnos, sharing in a glass of wine, taking solace in one another's company.
Remember always this story, my friends. Remember that a gift, to the person who works for all and expects nothing in return, will reap more returns than are dreamt of by mortal men.
The Tree Speaker
In the Forest of Verenestra, a humble creature called Fygan wandered its many trailing paths. Some say Fygan was a Centaur, while others claim they were a Satyr; Regardless of which is true, Fygan often travelled alone through the shaded grounds of the great forest.
Fygan had often travelled through this forest, feeling a great love for every aspects of nature. When they were a boy, they would often hug the trees they saw, speak to the flowers to encourage them to bloom, and always find themselves with dirty handed from their green fingered ways. Now they repeated these actions as a man, and what was once seen as boyish humor was now sneered upon as an adult.
On one fateful day of his travelling, he came across a panicked dryad spirit, Esi. Fygan tried to put them at ease, learning that the spirit was in the process of being assaulted; the tree they were part of was being destroyed by lumberjacks not too far from where Fygan and Esi were now. Horrified, Fygan tried to assure the Dryad that they would be alright, but as they spoke to them, Esi gave out a great cry and fell into a lifeless slump, for the tree had been cut down.
Filled with righteous cause, Fygan ran through the Forest, searching for the murderous lumberjacks. Eventually he came across them, this small team cutting at the trees with gay abandon, caring not for the destruction they caused and actual need.
Fygan threw themselves before the Lumberjacks, begging them to halt and simply take their daily hauls away. He begged them to realize the attacks on the trees without thinking first was doing more harm than good. He begged them to think of what Denryas and Girokti would think of such harmful actions. But the lumberjacks did not care, and one of them – a fool by the name of Kalok – stood before Fygan and swung their axe with a laugh, cleaving Fygan in two.
As their blood sprayed across the nearest tree and Fygan began to fall, the ground trembled with a vicious force, as Denryas, the mother and Goddess of Dryads and trees, ran through the Forest of Verenestra and towards the lumberjacks and fallen protector. Filled with a violent rage, Denryas cursed the foolish Kalok, changing him into a shambling mound of moss, twigs and vines, forced to forever serve as the testament of the Goddess’ wrath. With froth at their mouth, they commanded the other lumberjacks to flee, which they did without hesitation.
Turning to the fallen form of Fygan, she allowed the very twigs and vines that were part of her being to stitch the cleaved figure back together. Kneeling before his form, she gave a breath upon his cold skin and life returned to them once more. Denryas thanked them for speaking for the trees, offering to help when nobody else would. Filling him with purpose, Denryas commanded him to continue this, to protect the very foundations of the natural world, and speak on their behalf when nobody else would: thus was the humble Fygan made a God of Nature.
Over time, Fygan would make a deal with the mortals, with Denryas’ approval. They could take only that which they needed, so long as they made offerings to Denryas first, and planted fresh saplings in their place. So has this deal remained, and woe betide any mortal that breaks this godly deal.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Parent Organization
Permeated Organizations
Deities
- Asranos, Deity of the Sky, Stars and Ruler of the Gods
- Girokti, Goddess of the Earth and Agriculture
- Ichsike, God of Light, Music and Healing
- Kyniko, God of Hunting
- Maglefia, Goddess of Love and Beauty
- Minide, God of Travel and Commerce
- Mirgeia, Goddess of Marriage, Intrigue, Women and Childbirth
- Sedloga, God of Smithing and Crafting
- Signos, God of Wisdom, Knowledge and Civilisation
- Theilas, Goddess of the Sea and Earthquakes
- Tyrlus, God of War, Tyranny and Strife
- Vateos, God of the Underworld
Divines
- Asranos, Deity of the Sky, Stars and Ruler of the Gods
- Girokti, Goddess of the Earth and Agriculture
- Ichsike, God of Light, Music and Healing
- Kyniko, God of Hunting
- Maglefia, Goddess of Love and Beauty
- Minide, God of Travel and Commerce
- Mirgeia, Goddess of Marriage, Intrigue, Women and Childbirth
- Sedloga, God of Smithing and Crafting
- Signos, God of Wisdom, Knowledge and Civilisation
- Theilas, Goddess of the Sea and Earthquakes
- Tyrlus, God of War, Tyranny and Strife
- Vateos, God of the Underworld
Location
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