Astus, God of Fire (Ass-tous)
God of Fire Astus
On one side of the world, a man is hunched over a small fire. The wind and snow rage around him and the small shelter he's haphazardly built for himself out of branches and hide - the fire in front of him is the sole source of comfort. The man shivers, and hunches forward over the flame, both seeking its warmth and protecting it from the elements outside. His hands, raw from being whipped by the sleet, are held as close to its warmth as he can without it being outright painful. This fire, he thinks, is all that's keeping him alive right now. His tired mind thinks a quick prayer to Astus for this gift.
On the other side of the world, a woman wails, her shrieks - worse than any banshee's - piercing through the otherwise silent air of the night. In front of her, her home - the home she's lived in for countless years now, in which she's built her life - is engulfed in flames swinging and swaying in a mesmerizing dance. Plumes of smoke - taller than any building - fly into the sky for all to see miles over. She prays her husband, the love of her life, will appear from the burning wreckage; but she knows he won't. She prays her children, young and with so much life left in front of them, will run out of the fire; but she knows they won't. Sobbing, she sinks to her knees as the flames continue to dance, uncaring. She curses Astus for taking everything she had and loved away from her.
Divine Domains
Astus' domain can be described as a single word, and yet is far from simple. As the god of Fire, Astus is said to oversee everything from the smallest candle to the largest blazing inferno. As a temperamental god, he doesn't see many dedicated worshippers. The biggest of those will be practitioners of magic - mostly wizards - who specialize in the destructive school of fire magic.
Artifacts
The only known artifact of Astus is his eternal flame, which has been in position of the Taidon Shogunate for centuries now, passed down from Shogun to Shogun as the symbol of their power and having made it's way onto their flag. Currently, it is in the possession of Shogun Kanna Vesaryon, prominently displayed in the throne room of her Imperial Palace: a constant reminder of her power and the power of the Shogunate. Beyond being eternal, it is said the flame also tremendously increases the power of any fire magic cast in its presence.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Quite logically, Astus is symbolized by the outline of a flame. In the Taidon Shogunate, he is specifically symbolized with depictions of the enternal flame.
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