Dominus, God of Strength

Sometimes, a god does not need a massive following or cathedrals in every nation to have a significant impact upon The Eye. Manifesting at the dawn of mortal life along with many others in the pantheon, Dominus takes the role of the God of Strength - in every sense of the word. The idea he represents is not only the physical power of one's muscles, but their will to succeed and the influence they exert upon the world. As a result, while he lacks the sheer quantity of followers enjoyed by the likes of Mana or Velodrea, the ones he has include adventurers, powerful martial artists, and many others who may well change the world in their number.
Of course, it is impossible to speak of Dominus without mentioning some of his less storied and more problematic followers. These overly masculine types remove much of the nuance from his tenets, focusing purely on cultivating their own strength and muscles above all else. While such a lifestyle certainly does require the sort of dedication and effort expected by the God of Strength, some of his priesthood consider this to be a disservice to what he truly represents. To him, they say, it is this dedication and effort that truly matters, far more so than the actual results. For this very reason, some Dwarves also show belief in him, seeing common ground between Dominus and The Bearer.
Due to his connections with mastery of the mortal form and exertion of one's strength upon the world, he is also frequently linked to the development of Ki abilities. For this and many other reasons, his most prominent following is in Nalanosa, where the grit and determination required to develop one's strength is held in high regard. The nation's tournaments and competitions are especially emblematic of this, though religious devotion to him is by no means required to participate. Even so, the influence of these beliefs is apparent to any who visit the continent's most elaborate arenas, where the iconography of Dominus is on clear display.
This association with ki, along with his origins in roughly the same period of time, result in many parallels being drawn between him and Arcana, Goddess of Magic, much to the apparent chagrin of both parties. Both strongly representing a major supernatural force, the two often clash due to the differing natures and philosophies behind the two. In many ways, the rivalry between the two gods reflects the conflicts that many practitioners of magic and ki have with each other, and the recurring question of which supernatural force is 'better'. In the same vein, this rivalry is often lighthearted in tone, lacking any apparent animosity in either deity.
As for the supernatural beings that represent and serve as messengers and heralds, Dominus primarily works with the rare giants that do not reject their flesh. His domain is known by many as The Halls, a place of revelry and competition after a life of hard work and struggle. Due to its nature, it is exceedingly rare for the living to be allowed entry to The Halls regardless of reason or urgency, even amongst divine domains. And there is little need for guards to be stationed to ensure that this rule is upheld - one need only guess what would happen to a trespasser in such a place.

Divine Domains

Exertion, Presence, Physicality, Determination, Dedication

Divine Symbols & Sigils

The symbol of Dominus is one associated with conquest, a blade permanently embedded into stone, unable to be removed. While this proves a very demanding holy symbol for his priests and clerics to physically carry, this very fact is considered an important aspect of devoting oneself to his tenets. Along with this, the symbol is used as a funeral rite for fallen warriors and adventurers, with their comrades driving the weapon of the deceased into the earth at their gravesite.

Tenets of Faith

The God of Strength prizes dedication to mastering their mortal form above all else, devoting themselves to the goal of reaching the absolute pinnacle of their abilities. As long as they put in the effort and show dedication themselves, he cares little about their specific goals or what outside help they receive in achieving them. Along with this, he teaches his followers to allow no obstacle to inhibit them, overcoming even the most daunting of challenges.

Physical Description

Identifying Characteristics

The most defining aspect of the physical presence of the God of Strength is that it overshadows all those around him. Regardless of the species he appears as - or even gender, in some cases - Dominus is well-muscled and larger than those around him, even if dragons or giants are among that number. Contrary to having a distinctive outfit, he tends to wear as little as possible to fully display his divine form.

Divine Classification

Deity, Aeon