World:Koschei/Pantheon of Koschei/The Council of Nine
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The Council of Nine
The Council of Nine is the universally recognized group of deities that rule over Koschei. While the Council as a whole prefers to not get involved with earthly matters, individual members of the Council of Nine (known as Councillors), frequently answer prayers and intervene in matters of the races of Koschei when necessary. The Nine Councillors span a variety of alignments and represent most of the races of Koschei, with very few being excluded (such as half-elves and half-orcs.). There is much debate whether the newest gods of the pantheon of Koschei, Atruos and Keirst, should be added to the Council. It has been pointed out that neither Keirst nor Atruos had any part in shaping the world, but their actions that have changed the history of the world justify ascension to the Council in many people's eyes.
The Nine Councillors
Alqu, the Passionate Councillor
| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | A Heart Pierced with an Arrow |
| Home Plane: | The Council of Nine's Plane |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio: | Art, Beauty, Courage, Daring, Freedom, Love, Marriage, Men, Mirth, Music, Passion, Retribution, Truth, Vanity, Victory, Wealth, Wine, Women, Abundance |
| Clergy Alignments: | Chaotic Good, Neutral Good, Lawful Evil |
| Domains: | Pleasure, Retribution, Joy, Flame |
| Favored Weapon: | The Heartstring (Longbow) |
Alqu is known for his fiery temper and his intense love affairs with other gods. Recently, Alqu has taken a keen interest in meeting Keilae, for obvious reasons. Many of the clergy of Alqu are battle priests or priests who deal with marital affairs or romantic quarrels. Alqu's more unsavoury clergymen take part in dealings with devils to achieve revenge upon those who have wronged persons who follow Alqu.
Veld, the Councillor of Peace
| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | A Golden Coin |
| Home Plane: | The Council of Nine's Plane |
| Alignment: | Lawful Good |
| Portfolio: | Art, Artisans, Civilization, Commerce, Communication, Envy, Harvest, Honesty, Jewelers, Loyalty, Mercy, Trust, Truth, Wealth, Abundance |
| Clergy Alignments: | Lawful Good, Neutral Good |
| Domains: | Community, Good, Trade, Greed |
| Favored Weapon: | The Equalizer (Warhammer) |
Veld is the Councillor who ultimately brought peace to Koschei and an end to the War Era. Veld's clergymen often serve as diplomats between countries or as practical economists within the markets of Koschei, preaching of the need for free trade and encouraging economic activity in lieu of violence. Some of Veld's followers take this a bit too far, becoming greedy entrepreneurs who take advantage of those within their line of work.
Gando, the Rhythmic Councillor
| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | A Violin with Music Notes |
| Home Plane: | The Council of Nine's Plane |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio: | Art, Artisans, Bards, Dance, Freedom, Gnomes, Hearing, Humor, Mirth, Music, Poetry, Tricks, Wine, Writing |
| Clergy Alignments: | Neutral Good, Chaotic Good |
| Domains: | Dream, Gnome, Herald, Time |
| Favored Weapon: | The Conductor's Baton (Quarterstaff) |
Gando is the Councillor who created Gnomes and bestowed the power to the music that bards play. He is known for his universally known beats that his clergymen play throughout the land. The clergymen of Gando tend to lean more towards neutral good, rather than their god's Chaotic good because Gando followers are close friends and allies with Veld clergymen. Gando, in his creation of Gnomes, is also called the Gnommish Councillor, the Master of Rhythm, and the Conductor.
Urd, the Councillor of Earth
| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | Flaming Warhammer striking an anvil |
| Home Plane: | The Council of Nine's Plane |
| Alignment: | Neutral Good |
| Portfolio: | Crafts, Creation, Dwarves, Justice, Honor, War, Earth, Mountains, Metal, Mining, Protection, Smithing |
| Clergy Alignments: | Any Good |
| Domains: | War, Glory, Earth, Creation |
| Favored Weapon: | The Passion of the Earth (Warhammer) |
Urd is the member of the Council of Nine who crafted the Dwarven race into existence. He is deferred to when a dispute over the shaping of the earth or the creation of artefacts is discussed by the Council. He is also a strong proponent of Keirst joining the Council, since both Urd and Keirst have similar beliefs and goals. Urd demands the utmost respect from his clergymen and followers, fully embodying the glory that comes with being a god. Anyone who betrays Urd's faith or denies him after a period of faith is often exiled from their clan and branded with the mark of Urd's passion, a flaming warhammer, on the forehead and henceforth called one of the "Faithless". Urd's tenants for his followers include being righteous in one's conquests, aiding brethren, boasting of one's accomplishments, crafting fine goods, and doing battle rather than being diplomatic.
Whin, the Councillor of Death
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fova, the Councillor of Magic
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Abala, the Lord Councillor
Abala is the Lord Councillor, meaning that he does not intervene in even Council affairs unless there is a tie between the other eight councillors. Abala is the Councillor who began the creation of Koschei, bringing to his side the other eight Councillors and tasking them with populating and shaping Koschei as they saw fit. Abala is also known as the Councillor of Law. He has laid out the ultimate laws that the Council must stay within, and has been known to threaten destruction of those who do not follow those laws.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Srerd, the Dragon Councillor
Srerd is a chaotically insane Councillor. He tends to favour solutions that are off-the-wall and come from out of nowhere. Being the creator of Dragons, Srerd is one of the more powerful Councillors and having Srerd as an ally in the War Era was a huge boost to that side. Srerd's clergymen, while they are not dragons for the most part, closely associate themselves with the Dragon Lords of Dai-Drac and the several ancient dragons that are in Eldai.
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Eisia, the Councillor of Life
| Greater Deity | |
|---|---|
| Symbol: | White-Barked Tree with Golden Leaves |
| Home Plane: | The Council of Nine's Plane |
| Alignment: | Chaotic Good |
| Portfolio: | Elves, Life, Water, Art, Artisans, Balance, Beauty, Flora and Fauna, Medicine, Healing, Love, Trees, Truth, Zeal, Wind, Mirth |
| Clergy Alignments: | Mostly Chaotic Good, some Neutral Good |
| Domains: | Healing, Water, Renewal, Chaos |
| Favored Weapon: | The Song of Life (Quarterstaff) |
Eisia is the councillor who brought the first seeds of life to Koschei. It is in her love of the world that she revels, often visiting the oldest forests of the world and occasionally speaking to passing travellers. Eisia brought the reclusive but beautiful race of Elves into being, earning her titles such as the Beautiful Queen, and the Lover. Eisia is good friends with Keilae, though occasionally their differences of opinion regarding law vs. chaos have caused minor skirmishes between the two. Eisia also jealously lusts after Keirst, which is part of the reason she is a proponent of Keirst joining the Council.
The Creation of Koschei
The Council of Nine is credited with creating Koschei, with each Councillor taking a different role within the creation of Koschei. It is also said that six of the nine Councillors took part in the creation of the major races of Koschei.
The Ages
(Being rewritten because this part is dumb.)
Footnotes
In Koschei, the word 'Mortal' refers to a non-divine entity. Even if a mortal was technically immortal (unable to die naturally), they were called mortals due to their ability to be killed. Originally there were six mortal races, created by the Council of Nine: Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and Dragons. Before the War Era, these six races could not die by natural causes.
