Bog's World

Altogether elsewhere

The Divine Court/The Vanished

One creation myth for the elves describes divine birth as a result of spiritual harmonies between somnolent powers embodying the sun, Caen, and the moons. These gave rise to the gods of the Veld, carving their domain from a hostile spiritual realm (now conceded to be Urcaen), before giving birth to the elven race. The link between the elven gods and the celestial bodies ties them to great cycles of time and an intricate divine calendar. This is related to an elven system of astrological divination.

The name "Lyoss" is sometimes used to refer to the palace of the gods, at other times to the entire territory controlled by them in the Veld, and was later adopted by the elven empire in Eastern Immoren before it collapsed. The Veld is now understood to be the region of Urcaen encompassing and proximate to the domain of the elven gods; no one knows its current condition. There were a number of puissant divine servitors created by Lacyr whom the elves hope are defending and maintaining the afterlife. Certain constellations are named after these servitors.

Some domains below have been lost, and are not likely to ever be detailed, given none of these gods are granting clerical powers any longer (except Nyssor, among his people). GMs wanting to use these for their own purposes can get creative.

Lacyr

"Narcissar of Ages, and Potentate of the Living"
First born among the elven gods and most powerful was Lacyr. She had mastery over the creation of forms and all cycles of life. She understood the nature of time and the mysteries of the world. Lacyr is the mother of the elven people and creator of all the supernal servants of the gods.
Domains: Creation (lost), Good; her priests could also choose domains from any other of the Divine Court.

Ossyris

"Incissar of Hours, Sovereign of Conflict, General of Lyoss"
Ossyris had lordship over time and the passage of hours, and could halt or reverse its flow. He was master of warfare and battle, and general of the elven divine hosts. He gathered the souls of those who died in battle and brought them onward to further conflicts in the hereafter. Ossyris passed the lore of weapons and armour to the elves.
Domains: War, Law, Righteousness, Time (lost)

Ayisla

"Nis-Arsyr of Night, Suzerain of the Fallen, Watcher of the Gates of Lyoss"
Watcher of Lyoss in the hours of darkness, Ayisla was chief of the gatekeepers and protected the domain and palace of the gods. She was responsible for gathering souls of the dead so they could be purified or reincarnated. In the hour of midnight not even Lacyr could command Ayisla. She granted special mortals the gift of prophecy.
Domains: Night (lost), Protection, Rebirth (lost)

Nyrro

"Arsyr of Day, Senechal of Lyoss Palace, Lorekeeper"
Ayisla's twin is the lord of daytime and keeper of the divine palace. He was best known for his great library, the organisation of which only he could fully comprehend. Its tomes could only be read at certain hours, penned in languages from many times and places. Nyrro gifted elves with arcane lore, which would be their undoing. In the hour of noon no other power could stand before Nyrro nor command him.
Domains: Day (lost), Fire, Knowledge, Magic

Lurynsar

"Issyr of Summer, Armsmaster of Lyoss and Chief of Scouts"
A warrior second only to the Incissar of Hours, he was fleet of foot and deadly accurate with bow or spear. To Lurynsar fell the responsibility of the armoury of Lyoss, and keeping its servitors in fighting trim. Foremost in scouting hostile regions and guiding divine armies to capture territory. He taught elves to use terrain as a barrier or weapon.
Domains: Trickery, Summer, Warrior

Lyliss

"Nis-Scyir of Autumn, Court Assassin and Mistress of Poisons"
Lyliss was the most cunning of the gods. The counterpart to her healing sister, the goddess of Autumn was masterful in the knowledge of unravelling life, using poisons both natural and fabricated in the service of the gods. Lyliss was sent among enemies to bring their downfall silently. Lyliss was a charming and beautiful goddess, possessed of grace. She appreciated humor, even as her jokes were often cruel.
Domains: Assassination, Destruction, Autumn

Nyssor

"Scyir of Winter, Grand Crafter and also known as the Frozen Sage"
Last was the god of winter, ice, and snow. Nyssor kept himself distant from his brothers and sisters, and rarely attended the court. He was said to be a craftsman without equal, and much of the construction of Lyoss and its palace were done by his hands. He was quiet, but his eyes betrayed knowledge of much that was left unsaid.
Domains: (Listed in the IKCG)

The Doomed Gods of the Elves

The elves, once the world's dominant race, builders of the first civilisation, are now concealing a terrible secret. Deep within the elven homeland of Ios, six great jewelled cities lie in ruins and decay. Only two of their great original cities remain: Iryss and the ancient capital, Shyrr. Cloistered away under the capital, below their most holy Fane, rests the weary form of the goddess of Spring... and she is dying. Scyrah, who helped give birth to elvenkind, beloved and last of the elven patrons, has no more than a century to live. Elven holy men know this with certainty, and believe nothing can prevent this fate. All of their other gods, around whom they built their magnificent cities, have vanished and never returned.

The cause of the gods' disappearance millennia ago is mysterious, but the effects have been profound. The formerly proud and powerful race has withdrawn into itself. The lands of Ios, once legendary for their beauty, now are shadowed and dying. The elves have become a race of orphans, adrift in fear and self-doubt. Their numbers are dwindling, and when the last goddess Scyrah finally passes on, no more Elf-children will be born at all. It is twilight for the elves, and there is no relief in sight.

Scyrah's clerics have a gut-churning dilemma before them. Each time they channel their patron's power, they take a bit of her strength and hasten her demise – and the demise of their entire race. At the same time, it is their duty as holy men to help those in need, and they know that elven society must be strong and faithful if Scyrah is to have any chance of survival. They agonise over each spell cast, trying to evaluate where the greater good lies. The priesthood has become fragmented in the last two centuries into three distinct sects, a reflection of the desperation of the elven people. The traditional Fane of Scyrah attends to the goddess in her last days, and encourages the elves to stay isolated and secretive. The radical and militant Retribution of Scyrah believes the vanishing of the gods and Scyrah's illness are a result of an attack upon them and wish to strike back against perceived enemies. Most hopeful is the somewhat naive Seekers sect, who think all is not yet lost and a solution to their doom awaits them if they look hard enough for it, perhaps with help from the other races.

Domains for Scyrah's Clerics

Scyrah is a chaotic good deity. Each of the major sects portrays Scyrah slightly differently, and picks from different domains.

• The Fane of Scyrah choose the Domains of Animal, Earth, Healing, Plant and Protection.
• Retribution of Scyrah clerics choose from the Domains of Chaos, War, and Healing.
• Seeker clerics may choose from the Domains of Good, Healing, Knowledge or Protection.