God Block

															////////Major Gods////////

Oshizu, The Matron:

She is one of the Three divinities that oversee the Material plane, and holds domain over Life. She is wed to Matsura and is the Elder Twin of Kunido. She is also the creator god of the Elves and their kin, and all of the Elvish races but the Shadar-kai and Drow pay her respects. The other Elvish followed her Twin instead. Those that answer the soothing call of The Matron are those that wish to nurture and provide succor to those in need as well as stifle and prevent suffering wherever possible. Her clergy wears Silvery lines robes with tabards that glitter against the light, and have Silver Gilded flowers or leaves adorning their clothing or Weapons made of the stuff.

Oshizu herself is usually depicted as a beautiful Elven woman with an exceptional figure who was blessed with olive skin and a kind face framed by auburn hair. She is always drawn or envisioned in a flowing silver dress that flows unlike any material that mortal men have seen.

Worshipers: Parents, Farmers, Elfkin, The General Public.
Jurisdiction Rites: Saving the dying or sick, When marriages are celebrated, Births and Birthdays.
Tenets of The Clergy: Never slay wantonly, Never forsake a life you can save, Only use Violence in Defense of Life.


Kunido, The Widow:

Kunido is the younger Twin of Oshizu, as Life comes before Death. She holds the Domain of Death, and holds those that try to run from it in contempt. Her preachers say "Death comes to make way for new Life". This is seen in the season of Winter, as nature falls away to make itself a bed for new trees and flowers in the spring to come. This leads many to venerate Kunido in the cold months. She takes many of the unwanted or misunderstood races under her wing. This is in order for them to both aid in her endeavors of defeating the undead that crop up on Essen as well as keep them on a path of virtue, however dark and bloody it can be. She watches over those near death or those who send its resistors towards it, delivering her agents to them in their final hour. There is a centuries old story from her gospel. It says that she holds the balance of Life and Death in such regard that she had sent even her Betrothed to his final rest. Her Clergy wear bleak colors, often being Black or Grey, and they have small effigies of bleached bone on their person to represent Kunido.

Kunido has always been envisioned as a woman with an almost concerning pale complexion that she hides behind a hooded cloak made of a shadow material. What can be seen of her face is usually strands of long black hair falling down past the lower half of her youthful face.

Worshipers: Undertakers, Soldiers, Assassins, Misfit Races (Drow, Tiefling, Shadar-kai, Kalashtar, etc), The General Public.
Jurisdiction Rites: Offering the dead tribute, destroying undead and anything to do with them,
Tenets of The Clergy: Protect the entombed in their slumber, Embrace death for it comes to all, Stay on the path of delivering "Righteous Death".

Matsura, The Refulgent: Light Domain. (Protection, Fire, Order)

Matsura is the oldest Male Deity in the Pantheon. His domain is Light; the Light that sears away corruptions of the mind, body and soul. He is also holding the Abyss at bay from engulfing the mortal world by standing Vigil at The Veil of the Material Plane. Matsura also believes in holding the Order of things, as without Order chaos leads men astray. He is also purported to be the patron Deity of Humanity. He has a tenuous relationship with Susano due to his chaotic nature. His clergy are vested in golden half-plate armors that bear a Half-Sun on the front with a Dao in front facing upwards.

Many of the religious texts and paintings depict him with medium length white hair and a long beard which both flow on their own. He is also adorned in a golden armor that is almost too bright to look at, wielding a blade made of pure sunlight which destroys Abyssal creatures and Portals

Worshipers: The Penitent, The Spiritually Lost, Humans, The General Public.
Jurisdiction Rites: Lighting candle vigils in his temples, Redeeming yourself of a sin you committed, Slaying Abyssal Entities and barring their portals.
Tenets of The Clergy: Show others the light of goodness, Guide those without purpose, and purge all corruption where it festers.


			/////////Minor Gods///////////

Susano, The Storm:

Susano is one of the so called "Self-Made Deities" of Essen. 500 years ago he was once a mortal Human, until he took the Domain of the Tempest and willingly stepped into The Abyss. Many would view this as suicide, but he returned and was greeted by Matsura on arrival. The God of Light struck at Susano but could not land the blow, blocked with a flash of lightning and steel. Matsura rationalized: "if he is not banished with a strike from this sword of mine then he can't be corrupted of The Abyss". At the behest of the other Deities Susano was brought into the Pantheon and aided Matsura in his fight against the Abyss and its forces. Susano watches over people that make journeys in search of something important they want to achieve. He believes Strength, Wealth, and Experiences, to be the best reasons of all. He sometimes sends storms and calamities to test particular souls as he was tested by the Abyss. Many of his Clergy believe him to be the Chaos to Matsura's Order, as is the nature of storms. Susano's Clergymen tend to be people with Sea-Green attire which are adorned in colorful sea-glass made into medallions, rings, and belt-buckles. They are also people of wild demeanor who will engage in frequent carousing that carry a Sea-Glass Bolt of Lightning on their person in some shape or form.

Susano appears in the shape of a well built and grizzled man in his late 30s, wearing a loosened Haori shirt with Hakama pants. His clothing is colored black with waves made of red embroidery that flow along the material as if part of the sea itself. His face is covered in a thin gruff beard while he sports a back-full of long black hair. He also leaves behind him a trail of dark cloud like wisps when he moves. He carries a Jumonji-yari (3 pronged spear) as his weapon of choice in battle.

Worshipers: Sailors, Travelers, Martial Artists, Merchants, Humans.
Jurisdiction Rites: Pouring a 1/4 of any drink into the sea as offering, Slaying Abyssal monstrosities of the Deep, testing oneself in the face of danger.
Tenets of The Clergy: Grow with each trial you endure, Find joy in revelry, Let your strength be that of the realms.


Tetsure, The Craftmaster:

Tetsure is the second of the "Self-Made Deities". In life he was a reclusive master of the Arts. Writing, Blacksmithing, Sewing, Dye Making, whatever he plied himself to. His skill was such that his handiwork was sought by beings even outside the Material Plane. One day he was sourcing materials for his work when he pulled a gem from the earth that glowed many colors, some he couldn't even put to words. He immediately ran home to begin working the material, yet he could not form it with chisel or acids, so he tried the hammer. The moment his tool crashed onto the gem a light consumed his home. When the light dissipated everything seemed normal, yet the gem was gone. Grumpy from losing such a fantastic stone he returned to his unfinished work, and to his surprise he finished them in an inhuman amount of time. Plate armors done in hours, swords molded to perfection in moments, pottery, locks, and wood-workings to order precisely as envisioned in his mind. He went on to craft in a fortnight the Grand Wall of Gunma. The Gods saw the powers of a Domain in Tetsure and elevated him to the status of a Deity, but not before he could choose practitioners of Arts of all kinds to carry on his teachings. The races most adhesive to his teachings were the Dwarves and the Orcish. Once he finished his instruction he ascended at a grand festival in his honor, and to this day the Dwarvish and Orcish races revere him as a Chief deity among their peoples. Clergymen of Tetsure are usually masters of a particular craft, and have a symbol of Wrought Iron gloves on display somewhere in their shop or on their person.

Tetsure was a man of short but muscled stature, with what some would describe as a beastly countenance due to the almost tusk-like teeth that he had in his mouth. He was however a man of integrity and honor by all accounts that loved teaching his disciples. He was bald atop his head except for the long lustrous beard he had. He also sported an eyepatch on his left eye, and a pair of scarred arms. He also is drawn in his trademark leather apron and timeworn gloves.

Worshipers: Blacksmiths, Artists, Dwarves, Orcs.
Jurisdiction Rites: Crafting one item a year to offer to Tetsures temples, Offering a piece of art or entertainment to Tetsure’s hall in Sagai, Honoring your ancestors.
Tenets of The Clergy: Master all crafts to the best of your ability, Respect the work of others, Spread the love of the craft.