Shik, God of Knowledge (ɕik)

Shik, God of Knowledge is the Inheritor God who governs knowledge of all kinds. Practical knowledge such as techniques, historical knowledge, and magical knowledge all fall under her areas of interest. Her most well-known followers are the philosophers of Fora, who believe that knowledge must be archived and shared, and govern according to their understandings of rational thought.

Depictions

Shik's physical appearance changes from story to story and artwork to artwork. Sometimes she appears as a wizened old lady, other times she is a waif who owns nothing but the knowledge in her head. However, she always has a keen gaze and a seemingly insatiable curiosity. In stories, she arrives as a mysterious stranger that encourages the main character to follow their hunches or dig deeper into some mystery. Sometimes she plays tricks on those who hoard knowledge, stealing their books and sometimes even their thoughts right out of their head and giving them to whoever she deems most deserving.

Beliefs

Shik believes in the pursuit of knowledge as its own goal. To uncover a fact about reality or some ancient piece of history is a precious act tantamount to saving a child from being lost in the wilderness. She also believes that knowledge should not be hoarded, but rather allowed to flow free. This does not preclude writing down knowledge in books—in fact, she is often depicted surrounded by books—but everyone should be able to access them. According to the followers of Shik, libraries are therefore the ideal way to store these books, and schools could accept those who seek knowledge and teach them.
Similarly to Voro, God of the Road, Shik encourages those who have the inclination to travel the road and gain first-hand experience. Many followers of Shik end up benefiting from the rules of hospitality prized by Voro. Because many of the two gods' beliefs align, they are considered allies. It is not uncommon for a follower of Shik to place an offering to Voro when on the road, and followers of Voro are welcome guests in Fora.

Domains

Arcana, Knowledge, Trickery