Air Deities of the Elemental Tetratheon

Here are the air deities of the Elemental Tetratheon. Not actually part of the A-Z Challenge, or I would’ve done it three weeks ago for ‘A’, but I have a use for it fairly soon.

Much of this pantheon was shaped, even created, by a tragic misjudgement on Povjetara’s part. It broke her mind, and the fragments were scattered far.

Goddess of Air

Povjetara, The Anguished Wind

• Domains Air, Death, Liberation, Madness
• Alignment Neutral
• Chosen Weapon Heavy mace (actually a twisted battleaxe)
• Symbol Broken skull with shards of a crown embedded

This goddess of winds once was seen as a loving deity who sought to free her people from the rule of a cruel emperor. When her agents and allies finally defeated the oppressive ruler, it was discovered that his policies were not due to malice, but necessity. The fall of the ruler released the evil that had been held back by his will and his power. A deadly wind swept the land, devastating her people. This torments her to this day, and being a deity she still sees every one of her followers that died.

Povjetara’s shrines are tall, open places exposed to the wind. Her followers still gather, but there is a feeling of stillness, of absence.

Prayers are offered to this goddess at evening, when changing temperatures cause the wind to shift.

Her followers are called Vagabonds, and wander without direction until they find a quest that might reduce Povjetara’s anguish.

This goddess has not openly manifested in centuries. From time to time it is thought she might manifest indirectly as a surprising patch of dead air where a wind would be expected, or as an unexpected wind bearing a stench of death.

Aspects of Povjetara

Promijena

• Domains Death, Air, Law, Magic, Healing, Repose
• Alignment Lawful Neutral
• Chosen Weapon Dagger
• Symbol Balance with a cheerful face and a skull on the pans

This god of eternity acts as a breeze that clears away debris and stale air, guiding and enforcing the incontrovertible cycle of life and death. Separated from Povjetara when her mind shattered, his power is her fervent hope that all things end so that new things may begin, and the harm done to her people will ultimately be undone. Undead are anathema in his sight, and he countenances the creation of undead only as a punishment, to remove an offender from the great cycle.

Promijena’s temples are well-ordered places, clean and well-aired. Those who suffer injury or disease can come here, certain that one way or the other the problem will end. Life and health, or a death no worse than it must be, are the likely outcomes.

Prayers to this god are offered at midnight, as one day becomes the next.

His followers are called Guides, because they escort the unwell to health or to their next lives.

Promijena manifests as an ordinary-looking man dressed in brown, possibly wearing a bloodstained apron and bearing a small, very sharp knife (scalpel).

Nesmetan

• Domains Liberation, Air, Weather, Chaos, Magic, Travel
• Alignment Chaotic Neutral
• Chosen Weapon Staff
• Symbol Battered hat, or a ragged fan

The god of freedom was torn from Povjetara in the moment her mind shattered. He goes where the wind blows him, satisfied with the consequences of the deadly wind because “at least they died free”. It is thought that if Povjetara does regain her mind that he will seek to evade her and fight returning to her.

Nesmetan has no shrines, they could ultimately be a way to find and capture him when Povjetara is restored. However, given how much and how quickly he travels, any prayer offered to the wind can reach him.

Prayers are offered to the wind as much as possible, at no set time. The greater the wind the more likely it is Nesmetan will receive the prayers, and many followers have used fans (or their hats) to try to create or increase wind and increase the success of their prayers.

His followers are known as the Unfettered, seeking always to avoid entanglement and commitment.

Nesmetan manifests as a disheveled, wind-blown man with a furtive look, bearing a curiously-carved staff.

Razuma

• Domains Madness, Strength, Air, Travel, Repose, Evil
• Alignment Neutral Evil
• Chosen Weapon Flail
• Symbol Face with eyes torn out

This amorphous being is the projection of the mind of a mad goddess. Povjetara’s anguish is so great it has expanded beyond her immortal body to spread among mortals. Razuma wanders the world and causes situations to drive others mad. Where Vydirani strives to torment mortals into suicide, Razuma stretches them to the breaking point and keeps them there indefinitely.

All shrines to Razuma are constructed by those who have been broken by this mad deity, and they vary in form. Each is strewn with the remnants and mementos of what the broken one has lost.

Prayers are offered to Razuma at midnight, in the depth of the night when there is no one else to hear.

Razuma’s followers are known as the Broken, the shattered remnants of people who were once healthy and strong.

This deity rarely manifests openly, instead appearing as disturbing images to the one being attacked. These images might be unpleasant lies, even more unpleasant lies, or painful reminders. All are formed specifically to drive the viewer to madness.

Associates of the Air Deities

Charolija

• Domains Magic, Nobility, Death, Liberation
• Alignment Neutral
• Chosen Weapon Longsword
• Symbol Steel mask with fiery eyes

This god of magic grants people the freedom they deserve. Charolija is an unusual god of justice that is less concerned about order than returning to people what they have given. Those who give weal or woe will be rewarded in kind… and Charolija’s burning eyes can see all.

Shrines to Charolija always take the form of a court, with a raised throne where a ruler might give judgement. A steel mask rests on the throne, and during ceremonies rises with flaming eyes to accept obeisance.

Prayers are offered at noon, when mortals come closest to seeing as well as Charolija.

This god’s followers are called Magistrates, as they make all effort to ensure balance as does their patron.

Charolija manifests as a majestic wizard with rich robes and wearing a polished steel mask. His eyes can be seen burning through the holes in the mask, and nothing can be hidden from his sight.

Putovanja

• Domains Travel, Liberation, Darkness, Madness
• Alignment Chaotic Evil
• Chosen Weapon Hammer
• Symbol Broken shackles made of gold

This deity is a further extension of Razuma, and similarly amorphous. Putovanja is a cloud of darkness that breaks people from the doldrums of a secure life. This deity delights in disruption and the breaking of social contracts.

Shrines to Putovanja are light and portable. Most often a shrine is little more than a brazier.

Prayers are offered at midnight, consisting of burning a litany of grievance and hatred, stained with the blood of the petitioner, so the ashes can be blown into the night and received by Putvanja.

This deity’s followers are called Solicitors, as they seek out those who wish to call on Putovanja.

Putovanja manifests as a cloud of darkness, full of smoke and the ashes of petitions received. This deity might be suspected present when people seem to suddenly change personality or break commitments, throwing away what they have worked for.

Pokonici

• Domains Repose, Death, Plant, Madness
• Alignment Lawful Evil
• Chosen Weapon Sickle
• Symbol Bloody hand with dirty fingernails

This goddess of death is a dark reflection of Promijena. One of the consequences of the deadly winds that cross the lands were many people and animals died, providing fertilization for the soil. Trees and other plants grew wildly, in some cases overgrowing parts of settlements, to the point that some have been entirely lost. Where Promijena is the cycle of life and death, Pokonici aggressively works to see that more people die so the rest of the land can return to forest.

Her shrines are all untended groves and thickets of well-grown plants and trees, fertilized by those who died in the deadly winds.

Prayers are offered just several hours before dawn, when sane people sleep and will not see the offerings being buried.

Followers are called Planters, and they spend much of their time spread seeds and planting seedlings in ‘surprisingly fertile soil’.

Pokonici manifests as a farmer with vines and small plants growing from her clothes and hair, and bloody hands with dirt under her fingernails.

Closing Comments

When I started working on this pantheon the air deities tended toward evil. I originally thought of something along the lines of taking the old ‘Wind Dukes of Aaqa’ and making them sinister. Instead, I ended up with a mad goddess whose broken mind has scattered, like the wind, with the power to spread the harm that she experiences.