The First Family
The First Family
"Most kholo give homage to Calistria and Shelyn as the Elder and Younger Sisters, twin goddesses of power and beauty. Nethys, the Brother, is the patron of bonekeepers, and Lamashtu, while a popular deity in other gnoll societies, is propitiated as the Old Mother, a goddess called upon only as a very last resort, and otherwise begged to stay away." - The Mwangi Expanse, pg. 111
Category Pantheons
Edicts embrace practical solutions, seek the wisdom of your ancestors, consume the honored fallen, placate the Old Mother
Anathema abandon your pack, let either cruelty or mercy get in the way of your goals, draw the Old Mother's ire
Areas of Concern community, survival against all odds, kholo, unity against greater threats
Pantheon Members Calistria, Erastil, Lamashtu, Nethys, Shelyn
Devotee Benefits
Divine Ability Constitution or Intelligence
Divine Sanctification can choose holy or unholy
Divine Skill Stealth or Survival
Favored Weapon mambele
Domains family, protection, knowledge, trickery
Alternate Domains change, passion
Cleric Spells 1st: endure, 2nd: animal form (canine only), 5th: moon frenzy
Variant Belief
The Old Mother
The Old Father
Though this interpretation is unpopular outside of followers of the First Family, Erastil is still respected as the apocryphal father that began the family. He is venerated mostly in his aspect as the Hunter and Provider, and, according to ancient kholo lore, his romancing of the Old Mother began with a hunt. He believed Lamashtu was the queen of monsters and tracked her down over one hundred days and one hundred nights. When Erastil finally found her and wounded her enough to subdue her, Erastil recognized that though she looked monstrous, she was no beast. Lamashtu was a nascent goddess and his caring nature compelled him to try and soothe her and teach her about community and family. Lamashtu learned what she could from Erastil and during this educating the two shared a short-lived romance as hunter and beast. However, their personalities clashed too greatly so they mutually divorced one another but not before the Old Mother was with child. This story and the tale of the Old Mother's relationship with Pazuzu are used as a justification in kholo culture allowance for mated partners to leave one another without consequence or criticism.
Despite not being a kholo in the old stories, Erastil is commonly depicted as one in First Family shrines. The horns upon his heads and the pelts his wears are the only symbols of his true nature; the horns varying from tribe to tribe though antelope horns and axis deer antlers are the most common. His idols are never to be placed in any way that is facing any symbols of the Old Mother's faith.
Exclusively Erastilian kholo priests, though rare, are often treasured for being skilled hunters or craftsmen and are willingness to do anything for their tribe and its well-being, though they take strict vows to never be in a romantic relationship with an Old Mother worshipper.
The Brother
Many worshippers of the First Family view Nethys as a symbol of balance and knowledge. That he knows all things is understood, but also that he does not impart this knowledge to others, even his most devoted followers. Instead, the Brother gives people the means to find knowledge for themselves; this is likened to, upon being asked a question by a student, showing that student to the right section of the library to find the information for themself, rather than answering the question directly.
Kholo worshippers credit the Brother for many of their more supernatural ancestral powers. Like Nethys the Brother, his mortal siblings wield the power of destruction in their left hand, and the power of protection and healing in their right, and this is manifested most strongly in the powers of the left hand and right hand blood.
As Nethys in all his incarnations seems to find direct worship distasteful, many First Family priests tend to study and practice magic as their act of worship, rather than offering prayers and sacrifices. Bonekeepers will often directly beseech the Brother for guidance, but understand they will likely not recieve direct answers.
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