(( A fictional religion based around the GoIO world ))
The Holy Celestium Order is based around the worship and spread of knowledge of the Gods, Spirits, and Daemons that exist (or they believe to exist) in this world. The Order was founded (or said to have been founded) long before the Flight of the Icarus and even before the Great War, having survived in some far corner of the world. It wasn't until well after the travel of airships that the religion began to spread. The Order has found a small home in many parts of the world, especially among popular trade routes. There are numerous Gods and Spirits that can be prayed to for boons and protection, and a number of Daemons whose ill intents can be sated in the same fashion.
A Brief History
In the beginning there was Chaos; light and sound, darkness and heat, cold and thunder; all existing and not existing at the same time. From this Chaos the world was born, and on this world the Gods awoke. These gods worked together to forge the world and push back the Chaos, creating Order. Sorchae forged the earth and stone, created the mountains and valleys, carved away the oceans and filled them with water. He was the great builder, the creator of the Home.
Nijida saw what he had made and formed the night and darkness, surrounding the world, protecting it from the Chaos. In this darkness the world froze over, but the Chaos could no longer touch it.
Tiel who was watching, saw their work and decided to make it something more. She created the heavens, the stars and the sun, filling the world with warmth. She created other gods to help fill the world with life, creating the winds and seas; instructing Sorchae to create the trees and fields, while Nijida rested.
For a time, all was well. The Gods and Spirits of the world enjoyed what they had created, it was a perfect place, free from the unending chaos. They continued their works, creating animals and even man. It was the birth of man that started the change of things. Man worshiped the sun and light, reveled in the earth and fields that had been created. However they did not rejoice in the night, sleeping during this time. This made Nijida jealous, for she wished to worshipped as much as he fellow gods. She and her daughter Hyllia, who was bored with the world, created the daemons to punish the humans. Famine, plague, sickness, strife, fear and more were born to the world. The greatest of these daemons was Death itself. Humans, animals, and plants began to perish from the world, and it started to fill with Chaos from the destruction. The gods were divided and fought for some time, until the world they had created was almost destroyed again.
After it was all nearly lost, the war finally ended. They had come to a compromise so that they may all be happy. Nijida would gain the world of the dead and night, while Tiel and Sorchae would govern the world of light. And so the world we know it was born. The gods fixed the broken world, saving what was left, leaving their creations to fend for themselves as they set about their own duties.
It was only eons later when things took another turn. One of the young gods, Ossazarin was enamored by Hyllia; although she held no feelings for him. Seeking her affections, Ossazarin created many mechanical wonders and devices of war. She ignored him and his creations, but that only made him create more and more, until they littered the world. Humans discovered what he had created and began using them for war, forcing Hyllia to almost lose control of her domain as The Great War broke out. Once again the world was in danger until it finally ended, much of the world in ruins. Sorchae was heartbroken. His great cities and land, broken and destroyed, scarred forever.
Ossazarin was held responsible, and it was said he was punished for his actions. New inventions and creations around the world ceased, and the humans entered a dark age. It wasn’t until many years later that the gods realized that Ossazarin, the one responsible for all the destruction, was also the only one capable of correcting the mistake. With his punishment lifted, the wheels of progress began to turn again. The most notable being The Flight of the Icarus and the creation and spread of airships, opening up travel and trade between the fragments of the world’s remains.
The Gods
The High Pantheon
The high gods are the eldest, in most cases siring the lesser lords and spirits.
Tiel – Among all the gods, Tiel is of the highest order. She is goddess of the heavens and sky, holding the domain of light and seeing. She was one of the first, and rules over the other gods. She is prayed to for many things and held in much regard by followers of the faith. Scorning this diety has been known (or believed to have been known) to lead to ill fortune and untimely deaths.
Sorchae- Husband of Tiel, he is the god of fire and metal. His domain is the earth and sun, and he is prayed unto for good harvests and keeping hearths warm over the cold winters. He is a god of great cities and structures, and many builders ask for his blessing before undergoing a project, lest the god feel slighted.
Nijida- Sister of Tiel, she is the goddess of the night and shadows, ruling over secrets and darkness. Her domain is all that the light does not touch and the realm of the dead. She is worshipped by many who work outside of the law of cities, dealing in secrets and lies. Assassins, smugglers, practitioners of adultery, weapon dealers, thieves, drug dealers, con artists; all of them offer prayers to Nijida to keep their way of life profitable and themselves safe. Nijida is also worshipped by those who have lost loved ones and family, so that they may find happiness in her domain.
The Upper Pantheon
The Upper Pantheon holds many more gods and goddesses; often those dealing with the winds, trade, seasons, storms, the sea, and other aspects of life and the natural world.
Ul, Tel, Mnew, and Saiz – The four gods of wind, ruling over the North, South, East, and West winds respectively. They are the sons (and in the case of Tel, daughter) of Tiel. They travel the world over and over again, guiding souls of the dead to gates of the underworld. They also give aid to the living, helping send their airships along their routes. They are worshipped before travelling by superstitious captains and crew seeking fair winds and safe journeys when travelling along their respective currents.
Ossazarin- The Tinker God. He is the high inventor, the one many humans most respect. For he is knowledge and science. He is said to be an eccentric god, working on whatever he fancies, often leaving projects partially finished. However, it is also said that he played a part in the Great War that destroyed the world, and was punished by his fellow gods. The flight of the Icarus was said to be a symbol for the time his punishment was lifted, allowing knowledge and the science to return to the world with the creation of airships.
Hyllia – The Goddess of war and famine. Hyllia rules over conflict and strife, the daughter of Nijida. It is said that it is she who sired the many daemons that exist in the world, such as sickness and droughts. Hyllia is also the Storm god, feared by captains and crew alike. She is worshipped by many not for her blessings, but to stave off her wrath. It is said that some soldiers and warriors pray to her for strength in battles, as she prizes honorable combat.
Vydor- The God of the Sands. He rules over the deserts and sandstorms. Originally he was a lesser god, but with the destruction of much of the world, his domain spread. Many who travel through such areas offer him prayers so that they might survive the journey, as he is as fickle as the shifting sands. Swallowing and burying travelers for no reason, while allowing others to discover the treasures he has hidden away.
Mendal- The god of the coin. He is a deity that represents wealth and trade, and is quite popular in this day and age. Many a trader carry talismans or trinkets offering worship to him, in the hopes that they might continue making money. It is said that those who openly scorn or mock him will become penniless, for he is a shallow god. Although such people may go broke because it is said the god will also punish those who trade with them..
Calistio- The goddess of joy and merriment. She represents happiness, drink, and friendship. Unsurprisingly, she is by far one of the most worshipped gods, especially during nights of heavy drinking. She also represents beauty, and as such is often pursued by Mendal. She has a few holidays and is often toasted during celebrations. The most loved of the gods by man, for she often bestows good fortune among many, even without being worshipped for it.
Ko and Hwa– The twin gods of time. They are the son and daughter of Tiel. Although which is the daughter and which is the son changes. Ko represents the past, often depicted reading or writing books of knowledge. Hwa is the future, often followed after by Ossazarin, who wishes to know what is to come. Hwa is often depicted as a misty or foggy being, as the future is unknown. Sometimes they are also said to represent the genders of man and woman as well.
Among Others
The Lower Pantheon
The Lower Pantheon is composed of an even larger number of deities and spirits. Often they are local, representing mountains, rivers, fields, or guardians of settlements. Such as Tellon, who is said to be the diety that protects Anvala. Others represent aspects of man, such as bravery, strength, or wit. Daemons are like the lesser spirits and deities, but represent the darker things in the world. Such as hate, sickness, disease, despair.
Is there a god or goddess we missed and should be on this list? Give us your thoughts~ (Brief histories of the deity enjoyed)
