Demigods of Avlis, Volume 2

Pelar (Hunters and Rangers)
Pelar, the son of O'Ma and a mortal woman, was conceived during the Age of Peace. His area of domain is a subset of O'Ma's. He is the god of the hunt, and those who live off of the forest.

In particular, Pelar's essence focuses on the male aspect of hunting, which covers the planning, the strategy, and the chase... and of course, the killing. He tends not to focus on the female aspects of hunting, those of animal fertility to increase population, the acts of providing food for sustenance, and the influence of the seasons and environment on the local game.

Pelar's major temple is located within the elven capitol city of Le'Or T'Nanshi. He has many shrines all over the woods, and often his priests appear as normal rangers indistinguishable from other non-clergy. Pelar is one of the few minor gods who can make druids in addition to clerics.

Ra-Ghul (Warfare, Combat, Berserkers)
Ra-Ghul can be considered one of the deific success stories of the barbaric nation of Tyedu. It is not widely known exactly which tribe he originated from, but the story goes that he was one of the many small "deities" created from Mikon's agents who watched over Tyedu at one point in its history. Whereas most of the deities created there were connected to a natural formation or area, and thus did not have much chance to perpetuate their following outside their resident tribe, Ra-Ghul's worship was transferred from tribe to tribe. This was due to his sphere of influence being a popular motif among many tribes in Tyedu, and as his legend and worship grew, so did his power. Ra-Ghul gained true godhood among the tribes of Tyedu, and interestingly enough, his worship slowly spread south to the Kurathene, where it was transferred all over the continent via the harbor cities located there.

Ra-Ghul's portfolio concerns any kind of fight that is done in an animalistic, chaotic manner. He is also revered by many different flavors of battleragers and berserkers around the globe. Ra-Ghul's priests still dress in fairly primitive skins and have many "rituals" to invoke the god's rage in a person. Some of them actually work, depending on the recipient. Though in the heat of a ceremony, it is more often the crowd pleasing measures and manipulation that count the most.

Followers of Ra-Ghul can be found on all sides of a conflict, for the god cares not for causes or reasons. Only the rage of the fight is what concerns him.

The Harpinger (Music, Messenger of Death)
The Harpinger is a mysterious figure among the gods of Avlis. No one knows its true name, or even its gender. Most accounts of The Harpinger give a different description of what it looks like, depending on what function it was fulfilling at the time. Some have described it as a beautiful maiden in flowing light blue robes, carrying a magical harp which can charm even an elven onlooker. Others have told tales of The Harpinger appearing as some form of skeletal undead in tattered black robes, with a one-handed sickle hanging on its belt, and that good old trusty harp in its hands once more. Less common accounts have described encounters with a charismatic bard who seems to have an endless supply of tales to tell, set to music once more with a harp. Stories of a female bard of this same description are also told.

The mystery of The Harpinger deepens when one considers its function. It is said that musical inspiration is granted by this entity. Bards who are looking to write a new tune often turn to The Harpinger with cautious prayer, for those who get too close often run into The Harpinger's other major function: the agent of Death. In this function, The Harpinger is said to be in charge of escorting a departed person's soul to their proper afterlife, making sure they arrive safely and then departing. Those who have been on the edge of death often tell tales of hearing a harp playing, and following the sound through a wide open grey area and a bright light, which seems to be the origin of the sound. When they pass through the light, they find themselves in the afterlife.

Some theories exist on the connection between inspiration and death. One theory put forth by The Harpinger's priests states that inspiration, especially musical inspiration, is granted directly to the soul by this entity. In order for the inspiration to come through, a person must loosen their bond with their own soul so that it may soar to the heights of the planes and receive the new gift. If this is true, then it would mean that The Harpinger is really just a keeper of souls, who insures that they go through their proper changes and receptions during the course of their life and death.

The Harpinger's followers can be everywhere. Many times they are bards, who devoutly pray to this deity as their source of musical skill. Other times, they are individuals who deal with death in one way or another, whether they are a murderer, or a white necromancer trying to insure that a patient does not die.

The Harpinger's clergy are also diverse in this respect. Many concern themselves with music, preferring to enrich the art itself. Some concern themselves with death, by either dealing it out swiftly to those they believe deserve it, or by insuring that proper internment rituals are performed on the deceased.

The Harpinger's symbol is that of an upright harp, with the straight edge of the harp being a blade. Colors are black when dealing with death, and light blue when dealing with music.

The'ton (Fear, Intimidation)
Scary stories around the campfire, as well as tales that mothers tell their children to frighten them often center about The'ton. If there were ever a "Boogie Man" on Avlis, it would be him.

Wherever there is fear, or intimidation caused by a bully or oppressor The'ton is controlling it behind the scenes. Among most inhabitants of Avlis, The'ton is a bedtime story and nothing more. Laymen will often say things to "ward off The'ton's evil" in a harmless habitual sort of way. However, those who work with fear for a living know better. The'ton is a force to be reckoned with in situations where fear can ruin everything. Contrarily, he can be an ally when fear is used as a weapon such as intimidation tactics.

The'ton's clerics often demand great sacrifices to him whenever they have set up a local shrine or temple. They argue that The'ton is willing to stay away from people's lives for a price, and that by donating their lives to him and working to get sacrifices from the population, they can keep him at bay. These pleas for wealth can range anywhere from harmless to very abusive.

However, on the lighter side of the Church, their clerics are often known as great storytellers. Many bards who specialize in ghost stories and horror will give tribute to him. Some have figured out that The'ton's area of control, that of fear, can be very entertaining and they don't hesitate to make a good living off of it.