Iliaern
Iliaern is the God of Love and Sacrifice, formed from the union of Vaskull (despair) and Shadowent (dreams and darkness). From such an illustrious lineage, Iliaern was a beacon of hope for those whose ancestry has them destined for a darker destiny. The two-edged blade of love can often result in despair, and so it is fitting that Iliaern became the God of Love. Despair and dreams, after all, are part of the heady mix of Love.
Iliaern remains to this day a beloved God, followed by paladins and clerics alike, who seek to espouse his virtues of sacrifice and love for fellow mortals. His doctrine is one of loyalty, love and virtue, with a deep respect and obedience for those one serves. His viewpoint has always been that a lord or lady should always be worthy of respect and love, and those that are not do not deserve loyalty – but the darker shadow within him has flickered to the surface in recent centuries, as he has become more insistent that his followers obey his commands utterly out of love.
He despises things that harm people, those that work evil, but believes that some people who willingly endanger themselves to achieve great things are worthy of adoration – and those that command them should have a right to expect that level of sacrifice from their flock.
Iliaern, of course, has no ‘betters’, not even his dearest love Asaldine, and when the Calculix went mad and almost devoured the gods, he refused to sacrifice himself. For love of him, Asaldine sacrified her form and had her ‘first death’, and the veil was stripped from her about Iliaern for the rest of time. Whilst he admirably inspires his followers to acts of great selflessness, and he cares deeply for his mortals, when it comes to it, his faith is ultimately shallow. Some gods, Asaldine included, hold out hope that one day Iliaern may redeem himself. Others, such as Vaskull, dream of an Iliaern that meets the dark destiny of his lineage.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Beautiful robes, golden threads, stylised formal heart patterns, demarcations of rank (hearts with more intricate threads denote a higher rank golden heart symbol; golden tear symbol, etc. They tend to keep their head covered around anyone of lower rank, and tend to remove their veils or hoods around those of higher rank.
Tenets of Faith
- Give all that you can to those above you in the faith;
- Give so that it pains you, and revel in the love of that sacrifice;
- Embrace the love of those around you, and seek to inspire it in others;
- Counsel those who are broken-hearted, and show them new paths;
- Aid those in need, no matter how terrible the cost;
- Healing is not for all, sometimes suffering can be virtuous;
- Always make the world a little brighter, even if it costs you personally;
- Your love and loyalty to your superiors is the greatest gift you can give;
- Your love and loyalty to your inferiors is the quality by which you will be judged;
- You do not owe love and loyalty to those that mistreat you.
- Do not treat love carelessly or ill, it is a gift to be treasured;
- Oppose the works of fear, despair, decay and hatred, for these are the enemies of love;
- Your ultimate love must always be to Iliaern, and you must always keep enough back so that he can be served at the final moment.
- Opposes Aesa (decay), for it destroys what is sacred about the world;
- Opposes Vaskull (fear / despair), and yet fears him;
- Hates the Blight, and the Calculix
- Used to oppose Shadowent (dreams) before the sacrifice of Asaldine turned her away from evil, now offers alliance with his mother;
- Respect for Abrastis as former head of the pantheon;
- Alliance with Ephras (courage), together they work to oppose Vaskull
- Troubled relationship with Larassa (beauty) – in her times of ugliness he hates her, but she loves him; in her times of beauty, he loves her but she hates him. They unite in love only on the midseason nights;
- Current close friendship with Farasta (light and hope
- Quarrelsome relationship with Asaldine (healing), but will ally together when needed;
- Disdain for the other gods.
Divine Classification
God
Religions
Church/Cult
Siblings
Children
Comments