The Book of the Availioth

This book serves either as an introduction or a reminder of the Human pantheon, known as The Availioth. It is not a holy book, nor an examination of the damned, but rather a primary course of educational materials.

What follows is a description of the deities within the Availioth. Consisting of two levels, the pantheon has a total of 9 deities. Uniquely, each level has 5 deities, as the god Ocirico is counted within both levels of the pantheon. The subjects are categorized as follows.

 

THE PROTO PANTHEON

NA'DOR, THE JUDGE OF ALL

It is said that all souls face Na'dor upon their death, and it is he alone who may give them to Korcera or Ulthiros. His knowledge of souls is said to be infinite, and humans believe he judges all races, considering him beyond their pantheon. His citadel, know as “The Supremacy,” is situated prominently in Thronefast, serving as an unyielding house of oversight, tradition, and yes, worship. The Supremacy holds the deepest secrets of not only the human race, but of knowledge far beyond them. It is the oldest following among the humans, but the mysterious origins trace to a time before this current pantheon, on their former planet of Vas Demith. In fact, the order has included races besides humans, possibly even in this very era. The devotees of Na'dor go by many names, but are led by the Judges of Na'dor. Little is known about the Judges, although it is believed that section of their order does not cover the entire structure of their governance.

 

OCIRICO, THE BLIND FATESMITH

Of Virtue

The lone deity who is found both in the Availioth of Virtue and of Contempt, Ocirico is typically counted twice.

Known as the Blind Fatesmith, Ocirico forsook his eyesight at the dawn of time so as to not craft the record in favor of any nation, ruler or individual. Thus he is often depicted with a cloak that covers the top half of his face, though it is merely an artistic trait as he truthfully has no eyes.

Believed to be the god most acquainted with Na'dor, Ocirico shapes fate as if it were one continuously evolving work of metal. Once a millennia, that work is revealed for Na'dor to hang in the heavens, and a new work is begun. With each blow of his hammer Ocirico records the life of everything in the mortal world, his strikes falling without flinch or discrimination.

When the work is finished, it is prophesied that all of history will be manifested at once and time as well as fate – with no material left to course upon – will each cease entirely.

Of Contempt

As mentioned before, Ocirico is often counted in both branches of the Availioth. 

This is not due to his inherently virtuous or contemptible nature, but rather how the members of humanity perceive his dispensation of fate. If your fortunes are good, perhaps Ocirico is pleased with you because he is good and you value yourself as good. But if calamity is ever at your door, then he must be evil, because you are good and undeserving these slights by the Fatesmith. Even further, the proudest of mankind mock Ocirico, his dominion often slandered and his power reduced to that of an ineffectual, maimed laborer. But to the humble he is understood as a purely even god, whom they respect but do not necessarily honor, for he seeks no such praise.

 

THE FIVE OF VIRTUE 

This section is a collection of descriptions of the Five Gods of Virtue in the Human Availioth Pantheon.

Korcera, Vacera, Argos, Niri and Ocirico

Note: Ocirico, being a part of both Virtue and Contempt was given his own section instead of being divided between the two levels.

 

ARGOS, HE WHO BRINGS PEACE

Argos is the chief deity of the Fortress DeViare and the DeViare noble family.

While his title suggests a passive role, Argos is often paired with the elements of war. He is the Bringer of Peace, to be sure, but peace is often brought through conflict.

Argos is often depicted on shields, sails – or in the case of Thronefast itself – on the massive ballistas that face the Bethrale Sea. His presence is believed to determine the outcome of battle and he is hailed as undefeated in every encounter on Terminus. It is among the highest honors to declare a warrior “Fraught with Argos,” owing to his or her inability to be deterred from victory.

Argos is sometimes simply referred to as “The Bringer,” and his worship spikes in times of peril or battle, waning among the population in times of peace. Thus his priests are known to remark, “Argos is forgotten as quickly as he arrives, and lamented as quickly as he departs.”

 

VACERA, OUR LADY WHO GIVES

Since Thronefast's founding, Vacera has been increasingly seen as the divine benefactor of its wealth and power. Because of this belief she has ascended in prominence, if not true reverence. Whereas Korcera or even Argos have often been prime deities throughout Human history, elevated in eras where death and battle were the most pressing concerns, this new age of achievement has raised Vacera in kind. 

Among the wealthy and the nobility it is now fashionable to honor Vacera, while her fortunes are still sought out as the last hope among the destitute. Misconceptions about her purpose are not Vacera's fault of course, and could the goddess speak to her new convoy of affluent followers she would no doubt test the shallowness of their devotion.

 

NIRI, THE DAUGHTER OF MIRTH

Niri is often depicted with her brother, Biri, in a manner that reflects their opposing approaches to dispensing joy into the lives of mortals. Niri lifts the eye of the depressed souls of humanity with deep care and impervious peace. Not a mere repository of happy thoughts, Niri aids in helping mortals break free of false joys as equally as she supplies new and authentic ones.

While some reduce her position to one of simple mood improvement, true devotees know the goddess' great benefit for those who diligently seek her out. She gives her long suffering adherents unshakable delight even in the face of incalculable loss. The sound of her laughter is said to cure sicknesses of the heart and mind, and “Niri's Mirth” is a blessing that cannot be purchased, though many have tried.

 

KORCERA, PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY

Long ranking at the top of the Human pantheon along with Argos, Korcera is both a guardian and a guide to the pious and valiant. Her arms are said to stretch as wide as the Human race, with no righteous soul left unconsidered or humble voice unheard. In the realm beyond mortality, she is said to lead the defense of the Holy against the damned who escape from Ulthiros' keeping. While Korcera's place has shifted back amongst all tiers of the civilian population, within the military her position endures undiminished, ever the bedrock of their bravery in defeat and bulwark against hubris in victory. “Korcera's Kiss” is said to rest upon the noble of heart, no matter their rank in society, birth or tragedy in death.

In the wake of the Deicide War, few celestial relationships were as devastated as Korcera's with her followers. The understanding of what shifted is still painfully weak, but there was a global severing in the direct communion between gods and mortals. Devout followers of the Protector of the Holy said they could hear her wailing over the entire continent in the quiet of the night, for several years.

The centuries of writings from Korcera's library survived, even while Havensong did not. As a tribute of constant worship, much of this ancient wisdom, writ and wonder was studiously converted into song, hymn and chant. The doors to her expansive hall are always open and the sound of vocal instrumentation never ceases, save for during the Feast of Accounts when only the one speaker at a time is permitted. The high columns and golden statues of her sanctuary seem to burn in the downpour of sunlight, which cascades through the walls of glass, many overlain with metallic scenes of past saints.

 

THE FIVE OF CONTEMPT

This section is a collection of descriptions of the Five Gods of Contempt of the Human Availioth Pantheon.

Lucerra, Ossari, Ulthiros, Bibi, and Ocirico.

Note: This Section is Currently Incomplete due to lack of data,on Ulthiros and Bibi, and partial data for Lucerra. 

 

OSSARI, 'HE WHO RAGES'

After descending to join the cohort of the Ravaging Lord along with Haethus-Kevgrejl of the Archai, Ossari enjoyed great success against his former race. Mercifully, he suffered a mortal's fate at the hands of the Suns of Terminus, on the Silent Plains.

As with all of the Five of Contempt, there is illegality associated with the worship of Ossari. Temples and shrines to Ossari are by law destroyed immediately upon discovery, with prison terms levied among the participants. Tokens and depictions of Ossari are similarly outlawed, but some vengeful mortals keep these items buried beneath their cloaks, and bodily markings similarly covered. In those depictions, the head of a defrocked god is often missing, though he still holds his twin axes: Thrash and Profane.

Despite this persecution his name is still invoked, most often by those seeking vengeance, or used as a curse by those who have been empowered by great anger.

 

LUCERRA, “THE SISTER WHO TAKES”

Lucerra's miserable wake is as full as the net she carries over her shoulder. That net is overflowing with every good thing in life, things that she has stolen from mortals throughout all time. From the trinkets of children to a beating heart, Lucerra's long, serpentine fingers are said to have taken from every mortal who has ever lived, filling up her net as she wails throughout the world.

There is no joy within her own eternal being. Instead of a heart there swirls a bottomless yearning, and abyss of …