Karstephan Pantheon
Structure
While nominally and mythicaly related not much unites these faiths other than the overlying tenant that brain separates man from beast.
While those that follow Pythos and Karsteph take any and all within their ranks the followers of Thruil are more selective with a system of titles based on works produced.
Thruilian ranks in descending order are Grandmaster, Master, Journeyman, and Apprentice.
Public Agenda
- Pythos- Collect knowledge, create knowledge, dispense knowledge
- Karsteph- Protect freedom, disrupt authority, confuse the evil
- Thruil- Create perfection, advance technology, Hone skill
Mythology & Lore
Thruil is the god of humble craft folk and heady engineers. It is believed inspiration for the more complicated things comes from pages falling from his workshop, in a realm that he constructed. Followers of Thruil are readily accepted into almost any community as they often pay for services with designs or crafts of a fantastic and rare nature. Common themes of the mythos are thick skulled leaders getting themselves into hard places and witty young heroes, under the supervision or with the guidance of Thruil, creating a tool to get them out of the situation. This faith is quiet and keeps largely to itself but will gladly take sharp minds in for apprenticeship. Symbols of the faith are cog ornamentation, carrying smith’s tools, seeking out mechanical issues, trademarking, gilding, and the color saffron. The focus of clerics of Thruil is their detailing hammer, much too delicate to swing in combat but often glows as the heart of a forge would when preforming magic. His icon is the expanding shield, a legendary cog work device that can move to deflect blows with slight finger movements.
Number One, The First Citizen, The Rotten Tooth. A god of debauchery, self-determination, and self-fulfillment though not to a point of malice. Kerstephs legends largely focus on his love of the local cities and his desire to see the hardworking people take time to enjoy themselves. Their former Despot however sought to maximize the taxes and goods produced in his realm and so worked his subjects hard and mercilessly. Karsteph took to tricking the Despots plans often by appearing in disguise, turning caravans around, sending false letters, and capturing champions of the king in humiliating ways but never directly confronting him. In the attempts to protect plans and sort out mishaps the Despot suffered mental fits. Ultimately this allowed the people to throw off the Despot and establish the Republic as it is known today. This is the reason the ducat, the currency used in Republican trade, features a relief of Karsteph on the front and the Commission Speaker, the most powerful man in the republic, on the back. As every citizen of the Republic knows that He is number one. The signs of his faith aren’t typically shown overtly, except for offerings typically in the forms of songs or small portions of sweets. Holidays are unusual as music plays a large part of celebrations but the snapping of a twig is seen as an absolute taboo and will prompt a response from any faithful within a surprising distance as the faithful litter the antagonist’s feet with slippery fruit peels. Football is also banned (and generally kicking things seen as bad) as it is believed it resulted in the injury that caused Karsteph to leave the fledgling Republic during the independence celebrations. Clerics of the faith often wear vertically striped robes of purple and maroon and keep their hair curled in the front, their outlandish appearance not an issue due to their gods favor. The focus of the faith is a small horn often used in ritual offerings. His symbols often relate to his schemes such as nets, the seal of the Despot in a cage, and the cannons that grace the walls of the harbor.
The First Scribe, The Errant Explorer, The High One. The god known as Pythos is worshipped for his vast knowledge of events that precede the emergence of man. Long have the legends told of the Metatext, a representation of everything in the universe, penned by the hand of Pythos, in a system of runes only He could decipher. This parallels the quest of the followers of this faith. To recreate the metatext to return their god to being. It was believed upon putting his own name in the book the god was absorbed into it and his followers believe that he creation of a new Metatext will free him. The ironic questing that often leads to them being trapped or lost trying to find knowledge is not lost on them but these scholars have access to the largest library in the known realms due to their diligence in collecting information. Displays of faith for Pythos include utilizing an absurd walking gait, keeping of exotic blue songbirds, arriving unannounced and unexpected, and refusing (as a faux pas) to return to the Great Library without a work to be transcribed. The focus of clerics of Pythos is a brass casting of a snake, often used as a scroll hinge. The symbol of Pythos is an empty scroll.
Divine Origins
This faith sprung from the teachings of several individuals seen as the apex of their studies. It is understood that they acted as mortal gurus to an inherent power in the universe more so that dieties in the traditional sense.
Cosmological Views
While the followers of these faiths don't think of dieties as people they consider them as inherent forces within the universe that can be harnessed just as fire can. They also believe that one should improve and enjoy the current life as much as possible as a next one isn't a guarantee.
Tenets of Faith
Think through situations, often tactics and planning can win over brawn. Better oneself in a worthy endeavor.
Priesthood
The clergy of this faith are always taken in by a already established member and taught the basics of what it is to be in the faith. After that priests can do what they will to better themselves and others, learning through practice. Non-ordained faithful tend to just take the general message that thinking through problems is the key to all things in life and don't explore any one aspect too in depth.
The Flesh is Weak, The Mind is Eternal
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Alternative Names
Logicians, Rotfangs, Tickers
Demonym
Karstephan
Permeated Organizations
Related Traditions
