While I continue to work on a map for the first sections of The Curse of Steel, I’ve come across another bit of world-building that seems very fruitful. To wit, now that I’ve developed something of a language for Kráva’s people to speak, I’m also in a position to develop mythology for them.
I had already come up with a few theonyms, but over this past weekend, I decided to work out a complete pantheon, with names, epithets, and backgrounds for a dozen or so deities. Not only am I very happy with the result, but it’s given me a number of new ideas for the story itself.
In particular, while I’ve been doing this, I’ve also been reading the new edition of the Scion roleplaying game, currently published by Onyx Path Publishing. Scion is basically an urban fantasy of the old World of Darkness stripe, but it’s chock-full of interesting ideas as to how to handle characters of divine descent in an otherwise mundane world. Clear inspirations from things like the Percy Jackson stories, American Gods, or The Wicked + The Divine. I’m honestly kind of tempted to shift my plot-development paradigm from FATE to Scion, which seems better suited for the kind of story I’m hoping to tell. Still thinking about that.
In the meantime, though, here’s a short set of first-draft notes on the gods of the Tremára people. You’ll probably detect that this is Standard Indo-European Pantheon, variant #3-b . . . you won’t have any trouble recognizing bits and pieces of inspiration here. Just as I’m applying Indo-European-like principles to my constructed languages, the same applies to my constructed mythologies.
The Tívai Atesdan
The primary deities of the Tremára are called the Tívai
Atesdan, the “Twelve Gods.” The Tremára cosmology also includes a
horde of minor gods, spirits of nature or of place, and divine heroes; all these
lesser beings have their local cults, but the Twelve are revered by all.
Kádir Tívar, Sky-Father, Lord of the Bright Heavens
Patriarch of the Tívai Atesdan, Kádir Tívar is the divine chieftain and King. His is the oath that binds all under the law, and his is the iron rule of hospitality that keeps the peace among humans. In the time before humanity arose, he overthrew the creatures of Chaos who came before him. Now he maintains the cosmic order with stern ferocity, knowing that any respite might lead to his own overthrow.
For the most part, Kádir Tívar has been faithful to his
marriage with his divine sister, the Queen of the Earth. On rare occasions, he
has been known to descend to minor goddesses or mortal women in order to father
great heroes. This is never a matter of lustful desire on his part, but rather
a concession to the dictates of Fate – and his wife, as the arbiter of Fate, is
often in full concurrence.
Athenná the All-Mother, Queen of the Earth
Athenná is the sister and wife of Kádir Tívar, the eternal
foundation of all life and all existence. She is the mistress and arbiter of
Fate, which stands above all law and justice. In ancient times, she was one of
the children of primordial Chaos, and she retains more of that character than
most of her siblings. She rarely appears to humans in their own form, but she will
sometimes manifest as a force of nature, in majesty and dread.
Athenná has never been known to wander from her marriage to
Kádir Tívar. That is not to say that she doesn’t create or choose heroes to
carry out her will, only that their origins tend to be more indirect and mysterious.
Múrkavrio, the Great Bull
The embodiment of masculine power and procreative force,
Múrkavrio gives men the power to strive and be victorious over all the
challenges of life. He also manifests the power and prosperity that come from herds
of domesticated beasts, especially the cattle whose form he often takes.
Múrkavrio’s insatiable desire has made him the undisputed
champion among the gods for fathering children upon other divine creatures and
upon mortal women. Almost every tribe and clan among the Tremára can
claim descent from the Great Bull, renewed in every generation. His wife,
Tálanna the Golden, seems reconciled to this, although there have been exceptions.
Tálanna the Golden, Lady of the Ripened Grain
Tálanna is the great nurturing power of the earth, the goddess
who brings seed to grow and yield sustenance for all the earth’s children. Hers
is the power that gives life to the grain, brings offspring to every animal
kind, and sustains humanity. She is the patron and protector of women,
especially in childbirth and motherhood.
As with her sister Athenná, Tálanna has never been known to
consort with minor deities or with mortals so that she can bear heroes. Her
champions are chosen or created, and are almost always women, sent forth to
protect their mortal sisters against the violence or injustices of the world.
Tario, Lord of Thunder, Champion of the Gods
Tario is the son of Kádir Tívar and Athenná, the warrior and
champion of the gods. He strides forth against darkness and chaos, leading the
divine beings in battle at the command of his kingly father. His greatest
weapon is the lightning, which he calls down from the storm-clouds of war. From
warriors he demands unfailing courage, but also wisdom and clear thinking amid
battle.
Despite his masculine nature, Tario is not known for ventures
away from his wife, the Lady of Horses. Instead, he tends to incarnate
among humans from time to time. On each occasion he lives an apparently mortal
life, adds to his legend, and then returns to his place among the gods after
death. Unfortunately, Tario’s incarnations rarely live an easy life; he seems
to be fated to suffer greatly and fight the most difficult battles, no matter
which turn of the Wheel he may be on.
Tekuná, Lady of Horses
Daughter of Múrkavrio and Tálanna, the Lady of Horses came
to the Chariot People in the earliest times, as a great white mare who bore a
thousand offspring and gave humans the power to thrive and journey across the
land. Later she taught the people about chariots, and she and her husband Tario
taught them to be warriors of strength and courage.
Like her father, Tekuná is well-known for her affairs with mortals,
and many heroes can claim descent from her. Her children and their descendants are
often seen to have a special way with horses, and they make superb charioteers
and riders.
Kaima Gerio, Lord of the Underworld
Originally the first human being, the “divine twin” was
elevated to godhood after his death, and assigned to rule over the Underworld.
He is grim and silent, but not malicious, and he treats all with the same firm
justice. He is also the source of all the wealth that comes from within the
earth, the patron of miners, coiners, and jewel-smiths.
Kaima Gerio has never fathered heroes upon mortals, so far
as is known. Most often, he will instead select the shade of some great warrior
or sage of the past, and grant it reincarnation in the living world to serve as
one of his champions. Heroes connected with the Lord of the Dead are often
uncanny creatures, knowing things no mortal should know, seeking objectives
that no mortal can understand.
Skádna, Mistress of Shadows
Daughter of Kádir Tívar and Athenná, Skádna was (very
unwillingly) married to Kaima Gerio when he became the god of the Underworld.
She is the goddess of shadows and liminal spaces, who stands between light and
darkness, life and death. She is the Comforter who conveys human spirits to the
Underworld, and the Advocate who argues for mercy or for vengeance depending on
their deeds.
Skádna despises her husband, always remembering that he was
not originally of divine birth. She has been known to sneak out and enjoy
affairs with other gods or with mortals. Her heroic offspring are more likely
to be wise-men or sorcerers than great warriors. Kaima Gerio punishes Skádna
when her activities reflect poorly upon his honor, but he never persecutes her
mortal lovers, always knowing that they will one day be required to face him
for an accounting.
Kórsata, the Lofty One, Lord of the Sacred Flame
Kórsata is a son of Kídar Távar by Kórsia, a minor goddess
of the mountains. He is the twin brother to Advenáta. He is the god of fire,
whether it be the fire of the hearth, the fire of the forge, or the fire of
holy inspiration. He is the healer and protector of humans, the patron deity of
smiths, and the god most revered by bards and vaitai. Kórsata’s ways are
unfathomable, as he often seems to pursue wisdom beyond mortal ken.
Kórsata is unmarried, having never found a goddess capable
of understanding and embracing the depths of his spirit. He has been known to
father heroes upon mortal kind, but some of his most well-known champions have been
creations: carvings or statues or even poems brought to life by
his blessing.
Advenáta the Beautiful, Lady of Love and Passion
Advenáta was also born to Kídar Tívar and Kórsia, twin
sister to Kórsata. She is the goddess of beauty in all its forms, and the
passion that such beauty inspires in humans. She is the patron of lovers, and
is likely to take vengeance when love is denied.
Advenáta has so far refused to accept a husband, preferring
her freedom. Indeed, not even her father Kádir Tívar has seen fit to insist on
her attachment to any god or mortal, knowing that she must be left free to move
as her spirit wills. As might be expected, Advenáta is renowned for the number and
variety of her romantic affairs with gods, spirits, and mortals. She has borne several
mortal heroes, a surprising number of whom have become great chieftains and
kings.
Marapótio, Divine Master of the Seas
The brother of Kádir Tívar and Kaima Gerio, Marapótio was
little known to the ancient Chariot People, but he has become more prominent as
the Tremára interact with coast-dwelling folk. He is the solitary master of the
great waters, the bringer of sea-storms and the king of sea-monsters. Few humans
love him, but all fear and revere him, and call upon him when traveling upon
the sea.
Marapótio has fathered few heroes among the Tremára, who have dwelt far from the sea for many centuries. The bards suspect that he has been more active among dwellers in the coastlands to the west and south, although those people likely know him by other names.
Kekóna, the Trickster, Mistress of Twists and Turns
Another daughter of Múrkavrio and Tálanna, Kekóna is a
trickster-deity, goddess of lies and deception. She is a patron of merchants,
thieves, and all those who must travel and cross boundaries. She is also a
patron of warriors, but she favors those who use cunning stratagems to win,
rather than those who rely upon brute force and courage. Strangely, she is usually
portrayed as not resembling the Tremára, instead being light of hair and pale
of skin like some people of the cold Northlands.
Despite her freedom of spirit, Kekóna is not known for casual dalliance with other gods or with mortals. Her love affairs are infrequent but very intense. Her gender is somewhat fluid; she has been known to engage with goddesses or women, and even to manifest herself as male if that is more likely to suit a prospective partner. Her rare children tend to be tricksters, wanderers and outcasts, much like their divine parent.
. . . and a Bonus Diagram
So, almost by accident, I tried putting together a little chart to help me visualize the relationships among all these gods. Turned out pretty well, given that it only took an hour or two to assemble. Enjoy:
