Ylari and Nithian Pantheons

By Marco Dalmonte

Special Thanks to Aleksei Andrievski for the first draft of the Ylari Immortals

Nithian Immortals Before Al-Kalim

(BC 1,500 - BC 500)

Wardens of Nithia

(Immortals who brought the downfall of Nithia after Thanatos's corruption and still watch over Nithia's dark secrets in the outer world):

Horon (Ixion) [Head]

Pflarr (The Gnoll)

Orisis

Old Man of the Sea (Protius)

Zephyr (Odin)

Ptah (Sinbad)

Ylari Immortals After Nithia

(BC500 – AC 900)

Current Ylari Religion

(AC 900 – the present)

The Eternal Truth (Al-Kalim and the Immortal Guardians)

The Rightful Immortals

Al-Kalim - The High Prophet, The Peacekeeper, Protector of Ylaruam, Lord of Freedom, Knowledge and Warfare. The man who brought Ylaruam into the modern era by chasing out Alphatian and Thyatian overlords and earnt Ylaruam its freedom. Al-kalim was the first real hero of modern days Ylaruam, and has become the most respected and the only Immortal openly followed by ylari after AC 900. He's considered a Prophet of the Guardian Immortals, but also a deity himself, the Protector of Ylaruam and bringer of knowledge and peace. It is also the Great Tactician, worshipped by Ylari raiders, nomads and warriors.

Balsam (Chardastes) - Patron of Healing. The word 'balm' comes from  his name. He is fairly neutral to Al-Kalim, since he wanted to devote  his attention mostly to Traladara. The cult of Chardastes came to Ylaruam via Selenica in the seventh century. Chardastes was revered there by Traladaran immigrants (there's also a university of medicine in Selenica) and some Ylari merchants imported his cult. He became one of the newest immortals and many "healers" and "doctors" raised prayers to him before curing patients.

Bastet - Cat Goddess, Patroness of Rakastas, Goddess of Luck. Bastet is the goddess who created rakastas, and was worshipped as patroness of luck in ancient Nithia and still is in Thothia. Her cult is not so widespread outside rakastan cultures.

Horon/Tubak (Ixion) - Father Sun, Banisher of Darkness. He protects the Ylari against monstrous enemies and evil, and was the Patron of Just Warfare in the ancient days of Nithia. He was the most revered Immortal before Al-Kalim came out, and was likely in competition with Rathanos. Ixion got a minor following in Ylaruam, in the emirate of Makistan, after the fall of Nithia, until the coming of Al-Kalim supplanted all old faiths.

Isiris (Valerias) - Patroness of Love, Fertility and Arts. Much worshipped in old Nithia, lost her followers after the fall of Nithia. Nowadays Al-Kalim’s Eternal Truth preaches kindness and respect towards the fellow man.

Maat – Goddess of Justice and Honor, Patroness of Nithia. The first wife of Orisis, she is credited with discovering the magics behind the ritual of mummification and preservation of the dead. She was a great warrior and honorable leader, who by marrying the rival Orisis unified the Nithian tribes. She assisted her husband in his struggle against Bachraeus/Set and was later remembered as patroness of Nithia and all that was just and honorable. She is still worshipped in Thothia and Nithia in the Hollow World as supreme judge of the sins of men.

Old Man of the Sea (Protius) - Lord of Waters. The patron of Al-Kalim and worshipped by many marid tribes of genie. He was happy to allow Al-Kalim take over the Emirates, since he is only interested in the seas. He's still worshipped as one of the main Guardian Immortals of Ylaruam, and is considered the bringer of life (since he's the patron of Water).

Orisis - Guardian of the Dead, Patron of Knowledge and Law. One of the earliest addition to the outer world Nithia, Orisis was the first Nithian pharaoh who unified Nithia in BC 1500 and gave the kingdom its laws and structure. As such he is worshipped as a great unifier, patron of laws and goodness and later as Guardian of the Dead. He fought with his brother Bachraeus for the throne of Nithia and helped by his wife Maat was able to come back from the dead and chase Bachraeus twice from Nithia. When he saw that Nithia was doomed, he participated in its destruction and took steps to avoid the folly of the late dynasties to be discovered and followed by future generations. Nowadays he is still revered in Thothia and HW Nithia and by the White Druids of White Isle in Ierendi.

Pflarr - Patron of Magic and Knowledge. One of the main deities of Nithia, later caused its downfall seeing how tainted it was by Entropy and turned his attention from the outer world to the Hollow World, where is is still one of the main powers of Nithia.

Ptahr (Kagyar) - Patron of Craftsmen and Arts. Remains friendly with Al-Kalim, as dwarves and Ylari are allies. He still has some followers from the days of Nithia. Artisans and artists honor him with some rituals to craft good items and make profitable business, but he has got few real clerics.

Qeb/Yamuga (Terra) - Mother/Father Earth, Lord of the Desert. The Ylari have both a deep respect and a deep love for the desert, which is viewed with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's treacherous and deadly, a foe that must be always dealt with and cannot be trusted, since it hides countless snares and perils. On the other hand, it's a place of peace and astounding beauty, where man is in direct contact with his soul and those who created him: it is a friend for those who know its ways and speak its silent language. For this reason, in the ancient times both the Ylari and the Makistani worshipped the desert, which was embodied by Terra (or Yamuga, as was Terra’s name for the Makistani), who strives to protect the land (each type of terrain) and that helps those who try to survive in every condition of living. Terra is currently greatly worshipped by all dao genies living in Ylaruam.

Rathanos - Lord of Flame, Energy and Life/Destruction. One of the greatest Immortals of ancient Nithia, he has taken over Horon's place as head of the pantheon in HW Nithia (together with Pflarr). The main deity in the Thothian pantheon after AC1003 (when the cult of Arachne Prime is outlawed), he is also still honored by efreets in the Alaysian desert. Unfortunately for Rathanos however, his faith in Ylaruam is now banned, since some of his mages and clerics put it too far and began using violence to convert other to his cause, burning many followers "to let them return to the Great Flame". This way the Magian Fire Worshippers earned the populace’s contempt and became a secret sect. Not exactly on the best of terms with Al-Kalim and sworn enemy of Corona, who has perverted his Magian followers (he has driven them crazy).

Sinbad - Traveler God, Patron of Wanderers and Heroes.  He's the Traveler God of the legends: an old Immortal who took the form of a young sailor to teach the Ylari the ways and the marvels of the world. He's much older than Al-Kalim and still revered by many adventurers and all the nomadic tribes (including many jann tribes), although more as a hero rather than a full fledged immortal. He represents the will to know and to find the answer to any question, going to great lengths to obtain it. He was one of the main Immortals of the Nithian pantheon, but has lost importance after Al-Kalim's coming, even though he doesn't mind.

Zephyr (Odin) - Lord of Winds and Air, Lord of Storms and Rain. This ancient immortal was the embodiment of sky, rainfalls and storms and as such held a high importance in the old Nithian and Ylari rituals. Many djiins still honor him, as well as many northern travelers (under the name of Odin). He was one of the Guardian Immortals who destroyed Nithia for its sins and who still watches over its dark secrets.

The Dark Fiends

Al-Fakish (Alphaks) - Lord of Destruction and Violence. He had human sacrifices in the past. Not a widely followed Immortal, but he helped the Ylari against Alphatian oppressors. He was worshipped during the Alphatian occupation, but was later banned and forgotten after the Ylari converted to the Eternal Truth.

Corona (Zugzul) - Lord of Fire and Darkness, Patron of Necromancy. Formerly known as Zugzul in the old days of Blackmoor, Corona was a later addition to the Nithian pantheon (around 700 BC), and managed to wrestle away the Order of the Flame’s loyalty from Rathanos. Corrupted by Thanatos in his bid for power and obsession for necromantic secrets, his greatest trick was undoing the Nithian empire from inside (with Thanatos's and Ranivorus's help) without the other powers noticing it until it was too late. This is why Corona is usually referred to as Thanatos's secret ally. Orisis first discovered his treachery and confronted him, but it was already too late to save Nithia. His faith is still strong among the renegades Magian Fire Worshippers, and secret sects of loyal cultists are always looking for long forgotten artifacts of the past to bring him into this world.

Ranivorus - Lord of Beasts, Hatred and Insanity. The first gnoll to attain immortality, this foul Entropic conspired with Thanatos and Corona to corrupt Nithia and still strives to bring insanity in this land and in Ylaruam. He is currently the head of the fiends who conspire to corrupt and bring destruction to the ylari people.

Set (Bachraeus) - Lord of Evil, Revenge and Poison. An old Immortal, formerly the brother of Orisis, first King of Nithia, he tried to usurp his brother’s throne with deceit and assassination, but was discovered, cursed and chased away by the resurrected Orisis. He returned after making a dark pact with Demogorgon under the identity of Set and displaced Orisis once more. Orisis however was reincarnated by Maat in her womb and grew up as Mitras, coming back to kill his uncle/brother and bring Nithia justice. Set later attained immortality and spread his influence over Nithia, trying to undo his brother’s empire. He is currently banished in all Nithian civilizations and in Ylaruam as well,  but ancient cults are die hard and his beastly sons still slither in the sands of Ylaruam and Thothia.

Tal'ishaa (Talitha) - Lady of Assassins, Thieves and Deception. Her faith was imported by the Alphatian overlords around III century AC and quickly merged with the native Ylari secret sects, appealing to the most merciless assassins and thieves for her cold sadism. She’s patroness of stealth and usually associated with murders, tortures and theft (and that’s why many tribes of desert brigands pay homage to her nowadays). Many shady viziers also worship her to gain the upper hand on their lords, using them as puppets or removing them as they see fit. Rumors have the Kin Faction working together with adepts of Tal’ishaa to cause the downfall of the Preceptors Faction and of the current Sultan.

Thanatos - Lord of Death and Suffering. The main cause of Nithia's downfall, his worship is outlawed in Nithia, Ylaruam and Thothia as he represents the evil aspect of Death. However, he lost interest in the region after Nithia fell and let his other allies’ cults took over.

The Hated Mother (Demogorgon) - Lady of Corruption and Diseases, Mother of Set and Ranivorus. (Falsely) Portrayed as the mother of both evil deities, Demogorgon’s cult was imported in Nithia when Set sat on its throne and never really got kicked out. She is now patroness of the Dark side of mortals, diseases and evil undead in general, and her secret cultists operate in Ylaruam and nearby regions.

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