RELIGIONS:

 

Kysianth and Eliyoniell are two major deities with the most followers across the continent. They are considered the First Circle Deities, i.e. the highest of all. Vallekarea, Greannell, Aollear, Irinvine and Nerissian are Second Circle Deities, with less – not to mention secluded – followers than the First Circle Deities. There are also Third Circle Deities, but they’re less popular and less worshipped than the first or the Second Circle Deities, thus they will not be explained. It is also common for a person to worship more than one deity, i.e. a Magerunian warrior may sometimes worship both Eliyoniell and Irinvine.   

 

First Circle Deities:

 

General image of the two major gods rarely differ in any region, presumably because they are the most popular (thus the most often painted) deities. These two deities represent the way of life, i.e. how you lead your life. Vallekarea is originally in the First Circle Deities, but over time he descended to the Second Circle Deities, presumably because of decrease in the amount of followers.

 

Kysianth: White God, God of Light, Patron of Justice, Bearer of Order

Kysianth is usually worshipped by the people of Advantare, as Advantareans value law and justice highly. Kysianth is sometimes symbolised with the sun. He is viewed as the father of every living thing, with Eliyoniell as either his partner or his rival (in some region, however, they are husband and wife, their son being Vallekarea). The popular theory is that Kysianth gave birth to Eliyoniell, as light gave birth to shadow (which made Eliyoniell his daughter, partner and rival). It is said that after his dispute with Eliyoniell, Kysianth made a country and created intelligent people to populate the country, and taught them to avoid the ways of chaos. The people of Kysianth despise Eliyoniell’s Animal Spirits, viewing the Animal Spirits as a degrade to human value. Kysianth is usually depicted as a blonde haired man, wearing crown, royal clothes and carrying a gold sword.

 

Eliyoniell: Black Goddess, Goddess of Darkness, Patron of Freedom, Bearer of Chaos

Eliyoniell is usually worshipped by the people of Magerune, as Magerunians value freedom and despise law as an annoying bind to their act. Eliyoniell is sometimes symbolised with the moon. In several stories, Eliyoniell is said to rebel from Kysianth, tired of being constantly under his order. She wanders the world for freedom, doing anything she pleases, but still maintaining some morale aspect. It is said that after Kysianth made the country, Eliyoniell saw that the human populated country was a threat to nature. Eliyoniell, having travelled the world, had fallen in love with nature and its inhabitants. She decided then to create a country populated by Animal Spirits to protect nature, then she created people and chose several of them to be the Animal Spirits’ messengers. Eliyoniell is usually depicted as a black haired woman wearing a gown, decorated with feathers and sometimes wearing animal hide, carrying a fan of feathers.

 

Second Circle Deities:

 

There’s almost no general depiction of the Second Circle Deities. This is due to the fact that they are worshipped quite regionally, thus each person in each region depict them accordingly. Greannell and Nerissian are originally in the Third Circle Deities, but their followers grew in amount over the last few decades, raising them to the Second Circle Deities. However, Yolleaner (Yellow God, God of Air, Patron of Indulgence, Bearer of Joy) descended to the Third Circle Deities, as his followers decreased and was eventually disappeared. Some said this was due to the intense conversion commenced by Greannell’s followers, which occurred in the same period as Yolleaner’s followers’ disappearance.

 

Vallekarea: Grey God, God of Shadows, Patron of Silence, Bearer of Loyalty

Vallekarea is usually worshipped by outcasts, people who don’t care about either Advantare or Magerune, or gypsies, wandering the world. Some rumours even said assassins adopt him as their patron god. Vallekarea is usually related with death and suffering, although no one can explain why, as Vallekarea was originally related to patience, endurance and the overcoming of grief; the choice to remain neutral, not to be involved in any dispute (somehow this role was transferred to Greannell). Vallekarea is usually depicted as a hooded figure, his face rarely shown (even if shown it will be masked), wearing a cloak in the colour combination of black, white and grey. Less popular depiction of him is of a thin man wearing a mask with a silver hair and pale skin, wearing the same cloak, carrying a key. An even less popular depiction of him is of a skeletal man wearing the same cloak, carrying a scythe (in several regions, Vallekarea also plays the role of Death).

 

Greannell: Green Goddess, Goddess of Nature, Patron of Souls, Bearer of Peace

Greannell is usually worshipped by The Spirit Bearer, one of the more natural inhabitants of Magerune. In the myth, Greannell is said to be a maid to Eliyoniell; Eliyoniell assigned her the task of protecting nature so that she can continue her quest of freedom. Worshippers of Greannell are usually quite fanatic, living in the forest only by the mercy of nature, trying to live in harmony with nature. For this reason, Advantareans are rarely Greannell’s worshippers, as machinery is against nature. Greannell is usually depicted as a brown haired maiden, wearing a gown made of leaves and flowers, flower crown and holding a holly leaf, sometimes carrying a wooden basket of flowers.

 

Aollear: Blue God, God of Water, Patron of Knowledge, Bearer of Time

Aollear is usually worshipped by the majority of Advantare, being the patron of knowledge. Aollear is said to be a disciple of Kysianth, who was so bright that Kysianth finally decided to grant him immortality, feeling it would be a shame if such a talent and intelligence wither away one day. Most of his followers are from scientific background or simply speaking, the most intelligent ones among the Advantareans. Aollear is usually depicted as a grey haired old scholar, wearing eyeglasses and holding a sand hourglass, sometimes a book. A less popular depiction of him is of a brown haired child, holding a book and quill.

 

Irinvine: Red Goddess, Goddess of Fire, Patron of Courage, Bearer of Spirit

Worshippers of Irinvine vary, no one can tell of the majority who worship Irinvine, but it is likely that her worshippers are those who face battle daily, or warriors. For this reason, many The Spirit Bearer worship her. Most Animal-Linked worship her as well. The Animal Linked is viewed as a plague by Advantareans, thus they always seek any chance to destroy The Animal Linked as well as The Spirit Gifted, making their life in constant danger. Irinvine is said to be born of the fury between Kysianth and Eliyoniell, although many object to this theory, saying that Irinvine was born of the constant dispute between Advantareans and Magerunians. No other theory is known. Irinvine is usually depicted as a red-haired maiden, wearing a black-steel armour, holding a golden cup filled with wine (some say it’s blood).

 

Nerissian: Violet God/ess, God/ess of Beauty, Patron of Art, Bearer of Passion

Worshippers of Nerissian, as with Irinvine, vary, but mostly it is painters, poets or singers. Nerissian is said to have drunk the cup of beauty which was preserved for Vallekarea (Vallekarea was not very good-looking), in the version where it is said Vallekarea was Kysianth & Eliyoniell’s son. But it turned out that Vallekarea never wanted the cup anyway, but still he asked Nerissian to serve him as a punishment. Nerissian, not wanting to serve anyone, offered Vallekarea the remains of the beauty potion. Vallekarea agreed, but questioned Nerissian as there wasn’t a single drop left in the cup. As an answer Nerissian kissed him, giving him the remains of the beauty potion in his/her mouth. It is said that due to this act (due to the small remains), Vallekarea’s face changes all the time. Sometimes his face became beautiful due to the beauty potion; other times his face returned to its original look, which was not very good-looking; Vallekarea wore a mask ever since then (he despised his own beautiful look). Depiction of Nerissian varies, but the final depiction is surprising. In the early days, Magerunians depict Nerissian as a very beautiful silver-haired maiden, holding a mirror, while Advantareans depict Nerissian as a very handsome black-haired youth holding a harp. In the end, Nerissian is depicted as an androgynous silver-haired deity with unspeakable beauty, holding a harp.