Cord, Goddess of Fate
Cord
[Female, Neutral]
The goddess of cosmic measure, Cord represents the will of mortals who believe in a greater universal meaning. The cosmos have an ebb and flow that outpace the meager existence of a singular planet, and so Cord’s personality is distant, calming, and at times condescending towards lesser creatures. This latter aspect is a misperception among lesser creatures, as more so than other deities, Cord is tied to the Weave of Fate, and privy to knowledge normally forbidden to all creatures, mortal or otherwise.
Cord appears as a slender human female figure, however her body seems to be made of the stars themselves, her skin an infinite black dotted with brilliant points of light. Two bright orbs make up her eyes, resembling a larger set of stars that pulse with energy based on her emotional state. Other than this small tell, she always appears serene to mortal observers and has never been known to lose her temper.
Cord focuses her efforts on any beings within her considerable reach that wish to learn more of the broader scope of the universe. She rarely makes judgements on morality, understanding that both evil and good are necessary aspects of existence, and so has been worshipped by all manner of creatures. In addition to earthbound mortals, she also has a small following among Dragons, and even some Hellspawn and Celestial creatures. The nature of her gifts are relevant to nearly all life forms, and because of this she has become one of the stronger deities within Nexxen’s considerable pantheon.Portfolio: Luck, Fortune, and Fate
Cleric Training:
Those who wish to become Clerics of Cord must submit their fates to her church willingly. Once a follower makes this decision, they are willingly giving up the aspects of mortal humanoids that always strive to struggle against that which they cannot control, and must become accustomed to accepting things as they are in order to progress in their training.
Once the indoctrinated is deemed an empty vessel, they are filled with the knowledge of the universe, studying astrology and astronomy in equal parts. To increase their chances of developing a divine connection with Cord, they are often encouraged to partake of a wide variety of plant based substances that alter their brain chemistry beyond the “limitations of the flesh.” After several months of this kind of experimentation, a budding cleric’s holy powers often begin to manifest. Those who do not form this connection are often let go from the church. They are considered too connected to their earthly routes to transcend towards the ether, and thus Cord will not accept them.
Those who succeed are required to join a circle of other priests in a series of moonlit rituals that serve as one part study and one part revelry. The strain of this final sequence is more difficult than it appears to outsiders, as the priests focus on maintaining their connection to Cord for over 12 hours at a time, from dusk till dawn. When this revelry ends, they must maintain their daily duties as normal, the cycle repeating for an entire month. Sleep becomes both a liability and necessity at this point, and the young clerics must determine how best to endure this trial. Rest is often taken in small half-hour periods during their rare amounts of down time, although some more unusual methods have also been used in the past. By the end of the experience, their mind enters a dreamlike state for a short period of time where the mysteries of the universe are laid bare. They report their findings to the High Priest, and shortly after are promoted to full-fledged Clerics of Cord, after a mandatory week of rest, of course.Quests:
The Universal Fate
When a faithful of Cord wishes to make the final leap into true understanding, they begin their search for the Universal Fate. This is a common thread of existence that all beings share with each other. Gods, Angels, Demons, Mortals, and even Undead have a thin connection with one another, a barely perceptible destiny that supposedly culminates in a grand resolution at the end of time. A worshipper who learns of this connection could potentially be capable of tracing back from this thread to the beginning of time itself.
Only those who are truly connected to Cord are capable of discovering this knowledge, however, as absolute impartiality is required of any being who learns this secret. An unscrupulous worshipper, or even one with benevolent intentions, will almost certainly misuse this knowledge and cause irreparable damage to the time stream itself. Those not possessed of complete neutrality in earnest will find their research blocked time and again by not only the incalculable forces of fortune and destiny, but the actual servants of Cord herself. While she will never physically harm a seeker of greater truths, they will find themselves constantly redirected to a point of confusion and loss. From there they must begin their studies anew, or become content with what they have already experienced.
While this quest is not a physically dangerous experience to the explorer, it is mentally taxing to an extreme. To ascend to impossible heights, the use of powerful drugs are often required, sedatives so powerful as to leave a flesh and body incapacitated for days or even weeks at a time. Often times magical precautions must be taken before embarking on such a journey to prevent the wasting away of the flesh. Perhaps the harshest fate of those who venture too far into the realm of the unseen is the loss of the mind. The body persists in a comatose state while the spirit and intellect of the searcher become one with the universe itself, eventually evaporating to nothing.Prayers:
The Bridge of Stars
Seeking understanding, we look to the night sky and see we know nothing. Limited by our earthly tether, we grasp for the heavens, and find ourselves lost. We shall search again on the morrow, upon the bridge of stars.
Hymn of Fortune
Within your grasp are we, your children
Provide us your gift, pulled from your form
Control the chance and grant it’s blessing
Within your star we shall find our dream
Temples:
The Eternal Eye
The followers of Cord constructed a temple of stellar exploration known as The Eternal Eye. This unusual structure rests on the northernmost peninsula of the lesser, separated plate, Vaeru. Disconnected from the rest of Nexxen by a wide gap of space, followers of Cord often seek this temple out towards the latter half of their lives, seeking a retirement filled with contemplation and a deeper connection to the universe. Some younger explorers have also been known to make pilgrimages to the Eternal Eye. This is sometimes due to having been chosen for a specific task by Cord herself, although few of the chosen are ever aware of this for themselves. Instead, they are drawn to the temple by a deep yearning that resonates from the goddess.
The temple rests at the edge of the landmass, constructed from several enormous tiers of deep obsidian stone, etched with the languages of the galaxy. At the pinnacle of this creation sits the eye itself, a gigantic lens capable of peering out deeper into space than even the gods themselves can reach. Some deities and their followers view this as an affront to their power, but as Cord holds a great deal of interest in The Eternal Eye’s continued quest for the hidden truths, the temples has been left untouched by other divine forces.
In addition to worshipers, a great many wizards, sorcerers, historians, and sages take up residence within the temple (making reasonable donations in exchange) to gain access to not only the eye itself, but also its considerable library. The library houses Nexxen’s largest known collection of trans-dimensional theory and space exploration. Some of these texts are even rumored to have been written by members of the Solstian race, procured by powerful adventurers in years past.Rites: A ritual of Cord is always accompanied with a selection of potent incense selected by the ritualist in order to set the mood. For a gathering of worshipers, more potent aromas are often used to induce a relaxed state of mind. They are also performed at night when possible, when the sky is clear. This aids in the strength of the magic and allows the participants to slip into a trance when necessary.
These rites often involve imparting understanding or the infusion of powerful karmic energy to a recipient. To a lesser extent, they also bestow knowledge of the past or future, and can even throw a bit of luck into the mix. Cord is one of the few deities whose portfolio can access such intangible gifts, and so many adventurers, especially superstitious ones, will often seek out a priest of Cord in the hopes of receiving a blessing from the Mistress of Destiny.
However, the rituals of Cord’s priests do not always work on outsiders. In order to receive their power, one must be open to a certain amount of resignation and acceptance of the improbable and intangible. Fighters, Rogues, and Barbarians tend to have a difficult time with these concepts, as their skills, the strengths in which they survive their day to day struggles, are rooted in pragmatic and practical understanding.Burial Rites: When a follower of Cord departs the mortal coil, they are removed from their earthly restraints by their church unless their remaining loved ones profusely object. Their bodies are sometimes placed in coffins of various quality based on their wealth and status. Many followers of Cord tend to be wealthy nobles who believe their place in the mortal pecking order is preordained, and so they often ensure that their place of rest is as extravagant as possible.
A unique aspect of the burial rites of Cord are that the location of “burial” is determined based on the deceased’s accomplishments in life. For those who had spent their time using Cord’s gifts to better their own positions or strengthen their inner being, their bodies are placed in one of Nexxen’s many waterfalls that run over the edge of the main plate. The coffin is carried down to the core of the world so that their remains can add to the power source that strengthens the planet’s continued existence.
If the deceased was decidedly more benevolent, or prone to outward contemplation, either towards others or the universe around them, they are given to nothingness and thrown from the edge of Nexxen to join with infinity. This is done in the hopes that their knowledge and dreams can join with the universe and strengthen the minds and hopes of all creatures.Tithe: Followers of Cord tend to be adventurers, nobility, and royalty more so than in other religions, and so tithes to the Mistress of Destiny can be substantial. Such individuals are expected to yield 15% of their monthly income to the church, and once a year provide a significant “donation” in the form magical power. This need not be an item, but can also be a spell or prayer used to aid Cord’s goals, or to simply help another follower in need of a bit of good fortune.
Priests and other servants of the church are expected to provide extra service to outsiders, free of charge. This is done with the mindset that it is far easier to attract worshippers when they are given a taste of what is in it for them. Unsurprisingly, many who experience the benefits of having fate on their side quickly convert. This method absolves most clergy from making personal tithes, as the steady stream of wealth generated by an ever growing base of believers far exceeds any one, individual donation.
Benefits: Clerics of Cord gain unique and powerful benefits not easily accessible by other adventuring professions. Luck and the Stars encompass the scope of destiny, and so the Cleric can both increase their allies chances of success, causing attacks to deflect, or increase their own chances of striking. Through the stars they learn more from their experiences, and very rarely get lost along the way. They can choose to use time in the way they perceive it, either increasing their own speed or decreasing the speed of others. Lastly, their need to maintain balance within a world of infinite possibilities grants them resistance to alignment damage, and even allows them to bend their own alignment to ensure the cause of neutrality is served.
For those who simply worship Cord, the benefits of regular prayer are many and versatile. Overall, those people who follow faithfully always seem to have things go there way. Merchants make good deals, farmers reap healthy crops, heroes win the day, and even villains tend to get away with their crimes. The church's tangible services are conducted to ensure this pattern of success continues, once or twice a week, but little is done in regards to material charity. Although, a priest of Cord will rarely turn down a person in need of respite and in fact seems to find themselves in the company of those who need help often, whether they asked for it or not.
Herald and Allies:
Winklie Widestep [Herald]
Winklie Widestep is a Halfling Male dressed in exceptional finery. He favors black velvet suits with deep blue or red silken shirts worn underneath. On the cuff of each arm are three star like links that seem to glow and move of their own accord. Like all halflings, he does not wear shoes, but does wear a set of dress spats. Even amongst taller folk, Winklie carries with him an indecipherable charm and air of confidence that all find irresistibly magnetic. He is known for having a light-hearted sense of humor, his facial expression always suggesting that everyone around him is soon to be privy to a most amusing secret should they remain in his presence.
Being a non combative sort, Winklie carries no weapons, but does possess an exquisite cane and a fantastic platinum, diamond encrusted pocket watch. The shaft of the cane is made of a translucent, deep blue shimmering crystal swirling with magical energy. If he touches a mortal with the item, they soon find that everything is going their way, financially, professionally, romantically, or otherwise. Conversely, a tap of his cane can reverse the effect, causing the individual to descend into a spiral of endless misfortune.
The Herald of Cord prefers large cities to serve the needs of all, not only the rich. Throughout history, his presence in these places has brought both prosperity and ruin, in all cases enforcing a measure of balance to the lives of those under Cord’s protection. Overly wealthy areas that threatened to squeeze the life from the less fortunate, soon found their businesses suffering from a lack of interest or financial support, causing them to rely more heavily on the services of the poor. This kind of cooperation inevitably balanced out the local caste system to a separation in title only. Poorer areas rife with crime and threatening law-abiding citizens have also changed. The criminal element that once infected the streets would find gainful employment as apprentices and laborers, mysteriously deciding to turn over a new leaf.Cord has a great many allies on Nexxen, for many would rather have luck on their side than not.
Mawlowin Softfoot [Ally]
The city of Systra houses multiple churches and shrines to Cord in every district. The residents that live there, as well as visiting adventurers and soldiers, pay regular homage to the Lady of Good Fortune. Among her most prominent of supporters is Mawlowin Softfoot. This Half-Elf thief was once an adventurer of great renown, but now sits on the city council as a master of commerce. He ensures the coffers of the city remain full, and that their resources are evenly distributed throughout all of the city’s districts.
While he is ever faithful to both Systra and Cord, he is a restless sort, prone to gambling and risky endeavors. His reputation in this area preceded him for many years, yet he somehow managed to win the election into his current position despite this. While initially many in Systra tried to detract from his position, under his guidance and occasional longshot investment strategies the city has flourished as a place for powerful and wealthy humanoids to gather and profit from one another. Those who have witnessed Mawlowin’s uncanny ability to almost reshape probability in his favor have begun to suspect that he is one of Cord’s chosen.
Relationships with other Gods: All the gods view Cord with a healthy measure of respect and deference. As one who is more deeply tied to the weave of fate, a construct even the gods are beholden to, the rest of the pantheon has but little choice but to be amicable to her goals. Many times throughout the centuries, gods who tired of her seeming immunity from the designs of fate attempted to ignore or challenge her advice, and all have suffered as a result.
Ullem is one such being. The Beast God has always believed that the natural order of things are determined by one’s own will or instinct. The idea that a creature’s very existence could hinge on fate or some other unapproachable concept has been a source of uncertainty for Ullem since the two gods became aware of one another. However, when Ullem challenged Cord for mastery of its own destiny, not only did it find that the mortal animals it represented were suddenly far weaker than they had been created, but Ullem itself had difficulty determining how the conflict had arose to begin with. Now Ullem treads through the pantheon with half the wit it once had, serving as an example to others who would go against a goddess of fortune.
Factions:
The Chosen of Cord are a human order found on a small island off the eastern coast of Lower Oblian. These ascetic monks practice mastery of inner harmony in their meditation, combined with extensive training in the chaotic art of warfare. What they learn from Cord’s teachings they apply to their battle strategy, in that they trust that their deity’s power will guide them through the impossible difficulties that they may face in the future. These warriors relish impossible odds, and are known for inviting powerful heroes and villains to their island to participate in grand tournaments. The prize for the winner? A single wish, to be granted by Cord herself. To date, no outsider has ever managed to claim this prize, so no one has been able to validate that they have the power to call upon such a favor.
However, the combat prowess of the highest ranking members of the order is legendary, their ability in hand to hand combat outstripping nearly all of Nexxen’s fiercest combatants. In that regard, claiming a powerful connection to the divine is not nearly the stretch some would think.
Relics:
The Cosmic Birthright
This fantastic amulet features a single, perfectly spherical gemstone, dark blue and translucent. It is held in place by several golden frames resembling crescent moons, attached to a thin chain, also made of gold. The mortal who wears this item will find that their Destiny suddenly becomes one of their own choosing, allowing them to gain new knowledge, training, and abilities instantly.
Entire kingdoms have fallen in an attempt to gain possession of this item, the greedy and grasping hands of royalty forever seeking to better their position within the humanoid pecking order. Unfortunately for those who seek the Cosmic Birthright, the item is possessed of the will of Cord, and only allows itself to be worn by those it deems worthy. Any who manage to take it by force will inevitably misplace it, have it stolen, or in extreme cases see it destroyed. In the latter case, the amulet will be found again, in a different part of the world.
The Stone of Infinite Fortune
Another wondrous piece of jewelry possessing the same kind of gemstone found in The Cosmic Birthright. This ring is made of finely polished silver, with a stream of quicksilver running through a small channel along the length of the ring. The liquid swirls over the gem as well, constantly refreshing its luster. Any wearer finds the good will of the universe constantly on their side, allowing them to alter the results of their actions with ease.