The King's Thief

On the Gods of Ryastia: A codex by Anjander Tyrek, Monk-Historian of the Order of Lindress
    
There are several main temples on the world of Ryastia, but the primary three gods revered in the human world are: Stelia, goddess of birth and children; Lindriss, goddess of justice and law; and Kowdor, god of death. They are said to work together, Kowdor accepting the spirits of those fallen from the world, Lindriss judging their efforts in life and Stelia ensuring that they return on the Path of Life to a higher or lower station, dependant on the judgement meted out to them. As well as this partnership, the triad work independently, so that an expectant mother may pray to Stelia for a safe delivery, or an innocent man that has been arrested may pray to Lindriss that the guards release him. Kowdor has a following for funereal purposes, but also for fanatics, assassins and murderers. This is a congregation that the Priests of Kowdor try hard to eradicate, as, if nothing else, it doesn’t make for a good reputation.

Some of the pantheon of Ryastian gods and goddesses include: Urth, goddess of war, and also fire; Porria, god of fruitful harvest and farmers; Gyart, god of the rain, water and seas; Lek-Seth, the goddess of prosperity, thieves and beggars; and a whole host of supporting figures, some of whom have only a few cultish followers.

Of all the gods, none is as ancient as Istin, the God of the Creation. Upon his hand is the world said to rest and the brief fluttering of life on the planet, over thousands of years, is a mere second to him. As a result, his involvement in everyday life is minimal; he has never indulged in miraculous behaviour, there is no holy book of Istin and only very rarely does a young man leave his home to travel to the main temple at the frozen south of the world. Although, like all other human religions, there is a subsidiary temple in Theria, Istin’s worshippers represent only a tiny fraction of the whole.

The temples are loosely formed into a Forum based in Theria, with representatives from each temple being sent once every ten years to discuss various theological, political and moral questions. This Forum is chaired by a committee from the three main temples, each sending a nun, a monk and a priest. The King of Theria is invited to attend, as are royals from other nations, but they rarely attend, unless a discussion affects them personally.

As the proud nation of Theria has spread its wings to cover the breadth of Ryastia, other religious models have been encountered, but most have been absorbed into, or replaced by, the standard model we uphold. There is a nation to the west, Kendra, where the local deities have remained in name, but have taken on the aspect of our temples, thus ensuring our complete coverage. Therefore, what to us is Krulth, god of drunkards and drinking, is to them Renda. It is my opinion, and that of many in the temples, that the different names for the gods represent different aspects of the same divine presences.

The Sylva have a completely different pantheon of heathen gods which will serve only academic interest once the war is concluded.