Charatos (CARE-ah-tos)
Charatos ascended to godhood millenia ago during the fabled War of the Gods, when he avenged Benevo, god of the humanities, by killing Zelgos, god of storms. Taking on both mantles of the fallen gods, he represents a duality as both a paragon for the common man and an unstoppable force of judgement and vengence.
Duality of a god:
Charatos's worshippers arrange themselves into two main branches, each worshipping Charatos according to one of the two dieties' mantles he took on at Rysenmount.Charatos Benevos:
This epithet indicates Charatos's role as a provider and supporter of the common man, and is revered primarily by the clergy branch of his followers. These clerics and priests usually stay in one city, living in or near their cathedral, and spend their days helping their community in whatever way they see fit. Many branches of the church of Charatos will found a school, orphanage, or similar, out of the land provided to them from the city they reside in. Though most clergy stay put, some find it a better service to travel the world and help those along the way. These most often take on the role of traveling healers and mentors, rather than fighters or protectors.Charatos Zelgost:
Charatos's role as a storm god is most often associated with him as a divine enactor of judgement and justice. Those who have been wrong might call on Charatos to cause a storm while their enemies are at sea, or his mages may call down literal lightning on their foes in battle. Those who take on a more active role in enacting Charatos's will are dubbed his Champions. These fighters, paladins, or otherwise will either travel the world looking for injustice to root out, or stay put and become part of the church's personal militia. This militia usually will not act with any power in the city or town where they reside, but are sworn to rise up to protect their people should danger arise. It is not unusual for one of Charatos's champions to swear an oath to a single cause, such as protecting a Circle of the Ladies of Aparta, devotees to another diety that has long had a friendly bond with Charatos's followers.Myths:
The War of the Gods:
There are many myths across the various pantheons that suggest as to why the gods went to war millenia ago, but rarely do any deny the story of Charatos, a mortal man who, on the final day of the war slew the storm god Zelgos to avenge the death of his friend, the god Benevo. On the peak of Rysenmount, Charatos took on both gods' mantles and power, ascending to godhood and cementing his sphere of influence over both protection and providing for the comman man as well as the fury and vengeance of the tempest.The War-Brother's Oath:
Another myth from the war of the gods is that of the oath Charatos took with a warrior goddess before his ascention. The name of the goddess has been lost to time, though many religions have claimed to be said goddess for various reasons, but the reasoning remains generally consistant across the many stories. Charatos's oath was to be an aid and protector of the goddess as she went through a series of trials as she sought greater power. As a symbol of his oath, a four-pointed star appeared on the back of his hand. To this day, clerics and champions of Charatos will take these oaths together, though the reasons change from one pair to the next. There are little to no consequences for breaking this oath, but if you do, the star mark on your hand will burn and darken into a scar forever.Symbols:
Pairs:
Others:
Children
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