Ephras
Ephras is the son of Raspastin and Saranna, and the God of Warmth, Fire and Courage. Like his twin sister, Larassa, they were born to brighten the world and lessen the terrible pressures faced by the mortals and gods alike. To Ephras, was given the comfort for people in the dark and cold – the warmth of welcome, the light and safety of fire, and the courage to reach them. His domains are more abstract, but given that courage is seen in all mortals, great and small, he possesses great power at unexpected times.
He and Larassa, unlike their parents, had a short childhood – the domains they governed had long been without a custodian, and so they took to their duties quickly.
Ephras is, almost always, a calm and comforting presence, his skin always emanating a gentle and accommodating warmth. But he can enter terrible rages, losing himself in the anger, and not coming to himself until someone can bring him back with words of calm and comfort. The legends speak that he is four-in-one, with three spectral spirits of fire walking with him through life, as well as his own. These spectres are there to guard him and protect him from losing control too often, but they can also be distracting, sending voices and images to plague him when he least expects it. He is a god therefore, also of those with mental health problems, and he often goes to comfort Abrastis, but in a different way to Farasta.
Farasta calls Abrastis to his duty, never-ending in her exhortations. Ephras reaches through the prison (daring Zessillian to prevent it), and lets the ancient Mad God know that he is here, to give comfort, warmth and courage if he can just reach out for it.
There is also a deep loneliness to Ephras, he is often there to give comfort to others, but is so beleaguered and distracted by his spirits – whether spirits of his mind or elsewhere – that he often does not look after himself. He is a consummate swordsman however, training exhaustively for when his next great test might be. He is the Knight of the Golden Throne, first into battle and last out, taking on challenges that the other gods might refuse.
In the way of gods, he is also the lover of Iliaern – an aspect of who is also his grandfather. His sister is also in love with the God of Sacrifice and Love, and it is the only thing they have ever fallen out about. Indeed, it was in one of Ephras’ rages, uncontrolled, that he scorched the face of Larassa, marking her for all time. She fled the Golden Throne, and though the two remain close somehow, it has damaged their relationship greatly.
Now, Ephras tends to Iliaern at the Golden Throne, but Larassa takes that place when Iliaern travels beyond the Throne in search of those who need his aid.
Ephras chooses favourites amongst mortal warriors, and is particularly enamoured of the summer eladrin, and when the bonds of his duties lessen, he can be found in the Feywild, in the Summer Courts, drinking sweet wine and lying in the arms of ancient and beautiful elves.
By turns noble, haughty, comforting and distant – angry, calm, gentle and jealous, Ephras sums up all the contradictions and blazing inconsistencies of fire and flame. And just as with flame, his embrace is both captivating and – oft unintentionally – fatal.
Tenets of Faith
- Inspire greatness, inspire courage, inspire hope;
- Resist the rage, save for the worst of crimes;
- Only unleash the rage when there is no other choice;
- If you cannot control yourself, enter penance after, and leave the world a better place than you found it;
- Stand against discrimination based on who men and women love;
- Guard the faith of Larassa, and help repay my ancient debt;
- Train and prepare, train and prepare, train and prepare;
- Aid a cleric of Saranna, and a cleric of Raspastin, when they ask.
Comments