Perun, Lord of Lightning
God of War and Thunder, Lord of Strife
and Rebirth, Patron of Valera and the
Seven Cities, Lord of the Storm Court.
Perun, the god of war and thunder, is the Lord of the
Storm Court in the Crossroads and on the Rothenian
Plain. His chorus is the sound of spear on shield, his
ceremony is the tramp of boots marching and mustering.
Perun seeks to expand conflict between nations and to
strengthen his worshippers against their enemies. He is
the bright blade of youths at their first Mustering, and the
notched edge of gray-bearded veterans. All turn to him in
times of anger and know his service is an honorable estate,
as long as they do not break the Edicts of Just War.
At first glance Perun is the simplest of gods—a creature
of destruction, strength, and war. His deeper aspect
promises healing and rebirth, since his mysteries involve
not just death and glory, but also resurrection and a
cleansing of the soul. Most soldiers, guards, bandits, and
scouts make offerings to Perun.
In his cavern-temples he brings the greatest warriors
back to fight once more, through resurrection at his
priests’ command. Perun’s role in resurrection is tied to
his role as a master of the spear-maidens, angelic figures
said to have once visited Midgard in corporeal form to rule
it with complete justice.
Though primarily a god of war and thunder, Perun
is also the god of chaos and rebirth. The chaos of war is
well regarded in the North, or at least respected, but it
is considered something to be mastered by priests in the
south, who see chaos as an undesirable but irrefutable
aspect of the storms of war.
Worshippers
Humans are Perun’s most devoted worshippers, especially those of the Seven Cities (who call him Mavros), the Magdar Kingdom, the Rothenian Plain, and the Grand Duchy along the southern border with the Goblin Wastes. Soldiers and guards, farmers and shepherds alike appeal to the Lord of War and Thunder for strength and guidance. Symbols and Books
All weapons of war are weapons of Perun, and yet his favorites remain the spear and sword. Minotaurs associate the axe with the Bloody God of War. Many of his worshippers use a lightning bolt, a red bull, or a red circle in their heraldry. The holy writings of Perun include the 25 Martial Books and the mystical Soldier’s Journey. The first is written in the Northern Tongue, and the second in the Southern Tongue, but both are translated for his priests in other regions. Shrines and Priests
The most famous sites for the worship of Perun are the House of Swords in Valera, the Temple of Twin Thunderbolts in Donnermark, the Seat of Mavros in the Wasted West, and the Fist of Mavros within Valera (which grants access to those who call him by other names). The Seat of Mavros is a site of pilgrimage for soldiers every year, and a bastion of the faith in a hostile land. Mavros is invoked constantly from spring to harvest time in the Seven Cities, and he is also popular in Rumela, Krakovar, Perunalia, and on the Rothenian Plain, where he is admired by the centaurs. His priests frequently serve as officers in southern armies, and they are considered both the best officers and among the worst (given his fanatics). The priesthood is more than 80% male, though shield maidens and amazons are well represented. The worship of Perun is most common in spring, as the campaign season begins. His priests are indistinguishable from mercenary captains, and indeed some serve as captains in the Free Companies. The best known orders of Perun include the priesthoods of the Numinous Spear, the Keepers of the Seat, and the Defenders of the Lightning Fist. The Order of the Storm in Perunalia is considered somewhat heretical, since it emphasizes the storm god’s side of the faith, and it rejects the primacy of war—the same order in the Magdar Kingdom is more orthodox. Despite this, few wish to cross the god’s daughters in battle, for their battle-rage is as great as any man’s when required. Masks
Perun is the voice of the thunder and war—and perhaps one of the least subtle masks in any pantheon. Surely this is the same god called Thor in the North, Mavros in the Seven Cities and the Wastes, and even Mavrash in distant Ishadia. Yet the three faiths differ in emphasis quite a bit, more like brawling brothers than twins. And the argument over which of the three is the original, true faith of which the other two are masked reflections is a contentious one. Other Faiths
Perun is the husband of Marena the Red Goddess in the North and Crossroads. He is also the son of Wotan in the North. Yet he is scarcely connected to other faiths, since his priests emphasize soldiers as his children and victory as his only love. Perun’s greatest enemies include Lada the Golden Goddess, whose priests scorn the honorable wounds of battle and urge peace rather than strife, as well as Hecate, a deceptive goddess of schemes and dishonor, and the dishonorable Hunter, whose bloodshed is wasteful and ignoble. What Perun Demands
Perun wants action! Worshippers are expected to seek out battle and keep their martial skills well honed. The perfect death for a follower of Perun is on the battlefield—they abhor death of old age. Followers of Perun must attend the mysteries at his temple before any great battle or long journey, and must never abandon a comrade’s body on the field. Cowardice is shameful and abhorrent. All worshippers of Perun must make the pilgrimage to the Seat of Mavros at least once in their lifetime. Fights, duels, and combats may never be refused. Retreat is acceptable, but victory is the finest goal of a follower of the war god.
Humans are Perun’s most devoted worshippers, especially those of the Seven Cities (who call him Mavros), the Magdar Kingdom, the Rothenian Plain, and the Grand Duchy along the southern border with the Goblin Wastes. Soldiers and guards, farmers and shepherds alike appeal to the Lord of War and Thunder for strength and guidance. Symbols and Books
All weapons of war are weapons of Perun, and yet his favorites remain the spear and sword. Minotaurs associate the axe with the Bloody God of War. Many of his worshippers use a lightning bolt, a red bull, or a red circle in their heraldry. The holy writings of Perun include the 25 Martial Books and the mystical Soldier’s Journey. The first is written in the Northern Tongue, and the second in the Southern Tongue, but both are translated for his priests in other regions. Shrines and Priests
The most famous sites for the worship of Perun are the House of Swords in Valera, the Temple of Twin Thunderbolts in Donnermark, the Seat of Mavros in the Wasted West, and the Fist of Mavros within Valera (which grants access to those who call him by other names). The Seat of Mavros is a site of pilgrimage for soldiers every year, and a bastion of the faith in a hostile land. Mavros is invoked constantly from spring to harvest time in the Seven Cities, and he is also popular in Rumela, Krakovar, Perunalia, and on the Rothenian Plain, where he is admired by the centaurs. His priests frequently serve as officers in southern armies, and they are considered both the best officers and among the worst (given his fanatics). The priesthood is more than 80% male, though shield maidens and amazons are well represented. The worship of Perun is most common in spring, as the campaign season begins. His priests are indistinguishable from mercenary captains, and indeed some serve as captains in the Free Companies. The best known orders of Perun include the priesthoods of the Numinous Spear, the Keepers of the Seat, and the Defenders of the Lightning Fist. The Order of the Storm in Perunalia is considered somewhat heretical, since it emphasizes the storm god’s side of the faith, and it rejects the primacy of war—the same order in the Magdar Kingdom is more orthodox. Despite this, few wish to cross the god’s daughters in battle, for their battle-rage is as great as any man’s when required. Masks
Perun is the voice of the thunder and war—and perhaps one of the least subtle masks in any pantheon. Surely this is the same god called Thor in the North, Mavros in the Seven Cities and the Wastes, and even Mavrash in distant Ishadia. Yet the three faiths differ in emphasis quite a bit, more like brawling brothers than twins. And the argument over which of the three is the original, true faith of which the other two are masked reflections is a contentious one. Other Faiths
Perun is the husband of Marena the Red Goddess in the North and Crossroads. He is also the son of Wotan in the North. Yet he is scarcely connected to other faiths, since his priests emphasize soldiers as his children and victory as his only love. Perun’s greatest enemies include Lada the Golden Goddess, whose priests scorn the honorable wounds of battle and urge peace rather than strife, as well as Hecate, a deceptive goddess of schemes and dishonor, and the dishonorable Hunter, whose bloodshed is wasteful and ignoble. What Perun Demands
Perun wants action! Worshippers are expected to seek out battle and keep their martial skills well honed. The perfect death for a follower of Perun is on the battlefield—they abhor death of old age. Followers of Perun must attend the mysteries at his temple before any great battle or long journey, and must never abandon a comrade’s body on the field. Cowardice is shameful and abhorrent. All worshippers of Perun must make the pilgrimage to the Seat of Mavros at least once in their lifetime. Fights, duels, and combats may never be refused. Retreat is acceptable, but victory is the finest goal of a follower of the war god.
Divine Domains
Beer, Tempest, War Domains
Death, Healing, Strength, War, Weather Subdomains
Blood, Murder, Restoration, Resurrection, Storms, Tactics Alignment
Neutral Favored Weapons
Longsword, spear
Beer, Tempest, War Domains
Death, Healing, Strength, War, Weather Subdomains
Blood, Murder, Restoration, Resurrection, Storms, Tactics Alignment
Neutral Favored Weapons
Longsword, spear
Children
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