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gods:zepherin [2024/03/31 18:59] – [Temples] quiddlesticksgods:zepherin [2026/02/28 19:09] (current) – Adding new aspects Hemara and Pulchrior trazyntheinfidrip
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 Unlike those gods who may adopt many different aspects when interacting with mortals, Zepherin only has two forms that have ever been documented, and these are known to simply be different manifestations of the same divine entity.  Unlike those gods who may adopt many different aspects when interacting with mortals, Zepherin only has two forms that have ever been documented, and these are known to simply be different manifestations of the same divine entity. 
  
-==== The Mighty ==== +==== Zepherin the Mighty ==== 
-In most cases, Zepherin appears as a tall, well-muscled human man with brown hair and lightly tanned skin. His usual outfit has been described as remarkably casual, being a sleeveless top and comfortable shorts or pants - much like an outfit one would wear when training or going to the gym. Despite this attire, those who have witnessed Zepherin the Mighty all report that they undoubtedly face a god.+The most widely worshipped aspect among adventurers, Zepherin appears as a tall, well-muscled human man with brown hair and lightly tanned skin. His usual outfit has been described as remarkably casual, being a sleeveless top and comfortable shorts or pants - much like an outfit one would wear when training or going to the gym. Despite this attire, those who have witnessed Zepherin the Mighty all report that they undoubtedly face a god. As the patron of athleticism and strength itself, none, even among the other gods, can match him physically.
  
 This incarnation of Zepherin is exuberant yet kind, well known for giving good advice to one's health and encouraging a mortal who may be in a slump to chin up. This form, though undoubtedly powerful, is rarely seen fighting; the most Zepherin the Mighty does is show off. He has been known to arm-wrestle adventurers in a friendly display. This incarnation of Zepherin is exuberant yet kind, well known for giving good advice to one's health and encouraging a mortal who may be in a slump to chin up. This form, though undoubtedly powerful, is rarely seen fighting; the most Zepherin the Mighty does is show off. He has been known to arm-wrestle adventurers in a friendly display.
  
-==== The Small Fury ==== +==== Hemara ==== 
-It is said there is nothing worse than the wrath of a kind man. This form is rarely witnessed, and Zepherinite priests widely advise it is best to not attempt to meet it. Zepherin only takes this form when truly angered or spited. The Small Fury faces sinners within the priesthood and others who deserve to face Zepherin's wrath, but deserve no honor from the encounter. He has no smile, he has no patience, he merely appears before those who angered him and fights. +While the other aspects aspire to an ideal of perfection, there is the understanding that one cannot reach that perfection without rest and recovery. Hemara is patron of all who heal and preserve the body, whether they be the wisest doctors or the simplest masseuse. 
  
-The Small Fury appears similar to the more common, bulking form of Zepherin, but is several feet shorter with none of the impressive musculature and heft. He almost appears like a normal man, but packs an equivalent amount of power in his enraged fists. +Hemara most commonly appears as a feminine figure with dark skin and a slender but muscular build, wearing a large white cloak with many pockets full of herbs, medicines, and oils. Her devotees often work in temples dedicated to the other aspects to offer care to those in search of strength or beauty, and her own temples are myriad in their functions, from surgery centers to spas and physical therapists to pharmacists.
  
 +Hemara is close with Isis due to their shared duties in the preservation of life, as well as Empani in seeking new medical knowledge. They also work with Anubis when healing can go no further, and when a body is preserved after death.
 +
 +==== Pulchrior ====
 +No two accounts of Pulchrior’s appearance are exactly alike, but all of them agree it represented some perfection of beauty. Sex, gender, size, race; all are malleable to “Lord of Looks” (his own words), and every temple dedicated to the deity represents her in a different way. She is patron not just to beauty artists, but also to clothesmakers and jewelers, and all things that may enhance beauty. Devotees of Pulchrior seek to reach the pinnacle of physical beauty, whatever that may be to them, and seek to help others reach their own desired appearance.
 +
 +Pulchrior is known for being more catty and coy than their other aspects, but does so for the most part in a spirit of fun. Her temples are often the sites of beauty pageants, fashion shows, and drag performances, and they work together with their Hemaran brethren to provide care to those who need medical help to reach their own ideal of beauty. He is often seen walking amongst mortals, observing the ever changing trends and standards of beauty.
 +
 +
 +===== Servitors =====
 +
 +==== The Small Fury ====
 +It is said there is nothing worse than the wrath of a kind man. This form is rarely witnessed, and Zepherinite priests widely advise it is best to not attempt to meet it. This servitor only appears when Zepherin is truly angered or spited. The Small Fury faces sinners within the priesthood and others who deserve to face Zepherin's wrath, but deserve no honor from the encounter. He has no smile, he has no patience, he merely appears before those who angered him and fights.
 +The Small Fury appears similar to the Zepherin the Mighty, but is several feet shorter with none of the impressive musculature and heft. He almost appears like a normal man, but packs an enormous amount of power in his enraged fists.
 ===== Origins ===== ===== Origins =====
 A certain Zepherinite myth attests that he was once a mortal human adventurer, with a life's ambition to become the strongest in the world. He worked out every day, increasing the weights every time. This continued for a few decades, and one day, there was talk in a small village of a nearby hill rising up and down. This was brushed off as kids messing around, some kind of prank.  A certain Zepherinite myth attests that he was once a mortal human adventurer, with a life's ambition to become the strongest in the world. He worked out every day, increasing the weights every time. This continued for a few decades, and one day, there was talk in a small village of a nearby hill rising up and down. This was brushed off as kids messing around, some kind of prank. 
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 That man was Zepherin, and he had begun the final leg of his training. Going into town the next day, he introduced himself, declaring himself the strongest man alive, and apologized for the earthquakes. So this continued, larger and larger land masses being lifted, until one day it stopped. No one heard from Zepherin for a while, but those who were inspired by his training could swear they heard him cheering them on when they finished a set, watching when they finished a new personal best, and frowning when they laughed at those weaker than them. These followers spread these ideas, ideas backed by the strange strength boost they seemingly had even without workouts, and this soon became the church of Zepherin. That man was Zepherin, and he had begun the final leg of his training. Going into town the next day, he introduced himself, declaring himself the strongest man alive, and apologized for the earthquakes. So this continued, larger and larger land masses being lifted, until one day it stopped. No one heard from Zepherin for a while, but those who were inspired by his training could swear they heard him cheering them on when they finished a set, watching when they finished a new personal best, and frowning when they laughed at those weaker than them. These followers spread these ideas, ideas backed by the strange strength boost they seemingly had even without workouts, and this soon became the church of Zepherin.
  
 +While stories regarding Hemara and Pulchior are less consistent and certainly less dramatic, scholars agree that it is likely these aspects began as mortals too, and attained their divinity by seeking perfection and betterment in healing and beauty the same way Zepherin the Mighty did with strength. In time, the three drifted together, as did their faith, to form a unified veneration of a God of the Body.
 Most priesthoods believe that, along with [[gods:vormaxia|Vormaxia]] and [[gods:almar|Almar]], Zepherin is one of the only three gods to have once been mortal. Most priesthoods believe that, along with [[gods:vormaxia|Vormaxia]] and [[gods:almar|Almar]], Zepherin is one of the only three gods to have once been mortal.
  
 ===== Priesthood ===== ===== Priesthood =====
-On both Jaern and Cahyali, followers of Zepherin are called **Zepherinites.** They have a reputation for being strong and caring, yet a little dim-witted when it comes down to the wire.+On both Jaern and Cahyali, followers of Zepherin are called **Zepherinites**. They have a reputation for being strong and caring, yet a little dim-witted when it comes down to the wire.
  
 +Followers of Hemara and Pulchior are referred to as **Hemarans** and **Pulchrites** respectively.
 ==== Temples ==== ==== Temples ====
 Temples of Zepherin usually take the form of training grounds, gyms, or hospitals, where the populace goes to receive training, advice, and care from the priesthood. The architecture often matches that of the settlement the temple is in, with the most distinguishing mark being the symbol of Zepherin's fist emblazoned in green and gold. When a temple of [[gods:isis|Isis]] is unavailable in a town, many seek out the temple of Zepherin for healing services. Temples of Zepherin usually take the form of training grounds, gyms, or hospitals, where the populace goes to receive training, advice, and care from the priesthood. The architecture often matches that of the settlement the temple is in, with the most distinguishing mark being the symbol of Zepherin's fist emblazoned in green and gold. When a temple of [[gods:isis|Isis]] is unavailable in a town, many seek out the temple of Zepherin for healing services.
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 Most discussion in Zepherinite circles centers around self-improvement. Although many seek to become the strongest, some priests may chase "physical perfection" with ambitions to become the fastest, most beautiful, or most healthy. It is considered a direct affront against the tenets of Zepherin for a priest to look down upon or insult anyone else who may not have attained the physical heights they have - as Zepherin believes all people are capable of improvement.  Most discussion in Zepherinite circles centers around self-improvement. Although many seek to become the strongest, some priests may chase "physical perfection" with ambitions to become the fastest, most beautiful, or most healthy. It is considered a direct affront against the tenets of Zepherin for a priest to look down upon or insult anyone else who may not have attained the physical heights they have - as Zepherin believes all people are capable of improvement. 
  
 +Becoming a priest of Zepherin differs depending on the aspect, but it is often not a formal process. Aspiring priests may go to a temple and profess their faith and desire to become a priest, and the clergy will judge their faith, prowess, and dedication to decide whether they will be ordained. In many other cases, however, if one undertakes a journey of betterment and asks Zepherin, should they be found worthy they may be immediately ordained by the god themself. 
 +There are few strict tenets in the worship of Zepherin, with most relating to the journey for self improvement and the support of others on their own journeys. There is little fear of the god’s ideals being twisted; should a priest or group of priests become corrupt, they would be disavowed by others, and any who continually transgress face the god’s rare but no less powerful wrath.
 Many temples follow dogma preaching that the body must remain intact after death, and do not cremate or otherwise destroy the body during Zepherinite funerary practices. Instead, the body is usually mummified or embalmed, and buried whole. Certain other priests may follow the belief that the body should be left to nourish other "bodies", and simply bury the dead in a natural place for flora and fauna to overtake. Many temples follow dogma preaching that the body must remain intact after death, and do not cremate or otherwise destroy the body during Zepherinite funerary practices. Instead, the body is usually mummified or embalmed, and buried whole. Certain other priests may follow the belief that the body should be left to nourish other "bodies", and simply bury the dead in a natural place for flora and fauna to overtake.
  
 ==== Holidays & Feast Days ==== ==== Holidays & Feast Days ====
-The **Week of Joy** is an annual celebration wherein Zepherinite temples organize feasts, competitions, and sporting events for the settlements in which they live. This week honors the doctrines of health and strength, acting as a way to demonstrate one's physical fitness and participate in positive rivalries. The Week of Joy usually takes place in mid to late summer, though the exact date can vary year to year.+The **Week of Joy** is an annual celebration wherein Zepherinite temples organize feasts, competitions, and sporting events for the settlements in which they live. This week honors the doctrines of health and strength, acting as a way to demonstrate one's physical fitness and participate in positive rivalries. Temples organize sporting events, fitness and health seminars, beauty pageants, and more. The Week of Joy usually takes place in mid to late summer, though the exact date can vary year to year. 
 + 
gods/zepherin.txt · Last modified: 2026/02/28 19:09 by trazyntheinfidrip