Rysus
[Hermaphroditic, Unaligned]
Rysus, the god of Speech and Breath is also known as the Breath of Life to his worshippers. He perpetuates the cycle of life through the need of all living things to breath, as well as the emotional desire to speak and sing. Communication and expression through the essence of life encompasses a much larger aspect of mortal existence than many would suspect, but those who have felt Rysus’ touch understand just how important this god is to the balance of the material plane. Rysus also guards the secrets of Truespeech, an obscure magic that allows one to know the true names of all things, potentially gaining mastery over all reality should the power ever be abused.
He appears as a large humanoid manifestation of swirling air currents infused with a shining white, sparkling essence. When he speaks, his voice can be heard as a deep, whipping rasp, as if breathing in and out with each word simultaneously. While Rysus is ordinarily calm and serene, the god can be roused to anger. When this occurs, the calming winds which comprise his body tear into a frenzy and expand outward, causing his insubstantial frame to swell up to twice its size, lashing out at everything around it with the fury of a hurricane.
Other than his powerful physical form, he has no distinguishing features or possessions save a crude crystalline staff the color of the sky.
Portfolio: Breath and Speech
Cleric Training:
Prospective Clerics of Rysus are first trained in the language of
Primal, so they may understand the will of Air Elementals. This is a difficult task in of itself due to the mastery of breathing required to enunciate the words correctly. Once this is accomplished, this skill serves as the basis for how a priest will utter their prayers to Rysus and channel divine energy.
The regular duties of an Acolyte revolve around ensuring that the windows, doorways, hallways, and all rooms within a temple remain completely clear of debris and obstruction, so that air may flow through the structure freely. While these tasks are being performed, it is expected that the students also regularly engage in breathing hymns for at least 4 hours out of the day. Senior acolytes are expected to continue this practice for a total of 8 hours each day.
As the young priests grow ready to begin their lives as full-fledged clerics, they are tasked with multiple small journeys to nearby sites deemed “closest to Rysus”. Most temples to Rysus are at higher elevations on the material plane, close to tall mountains, cliffs, or sometimes even man-made structures that reach towards the heavens. So it is that when an acolyte arrives at such a place, they must stay there and fast in prayer for 3 days and nights without rest. Afterwards, they return and rest for a like amount of time. This process must be repeated ten times, each time in a location of greater elevation, and at the end of this ordeal, they are considered to have mastered both their connection to their god as well as the physical demands of the greater forms of breath and speech.
Quests:
Flight of the Zephyr
The Church of Rysus believes that travel along the hymns of their god is the highest pinnacle of enlightenment one can achieve. Deep within their tomes of knowledge there is rumored to be a passage of truespeech that can transform the speaker into an elemental zephyr, a divine being of pure wind energy. Many clerics and even some simple worshippers have spent decades scouring the various scriptures of the deity of breath and speech for clues as to how to attain such a form. Some scholars say that each individual word of the complete passage is hidden away in a book of lore within each of Rysus’ major temples scattered throughout the world.
Copying down the text, however, is strictly forbidden and each word must be recited with perfect clarity upon discovering the complete incantation. The true challenge to this is that the Flight of the Zephyr is rumored to be anywhere from 175 to 700 words long, and the few times in recorded history where this feat has been completed all claim a different length in the passage.
A great elven High-Priest of Rysus, Senuin Highfeather, had succeeded in this task, but chose to return to Nexxen lest she be swept away in utter rapture. Her flight was said to have lasted for nearly 200 years and, upon her return, she claimed that the incantation of the Flight of the Zephyr had required 1,000 full words of the forbidden speech, although she would not reveal what they were.
Prayers:
Breath of Life
Within all life is the torrent of wind. Contained within the body: breath is power, breath is freedom, breath is feeling. Contained within the mind: breath is wisdom, breath is strength, breath is serenity.
Hymn of Understanding
Between the words are the meaning
Reveal the winds for us to hear
The truths that guide the seeing
Of secrets that are read through ears
Temples:
Rysus’ has a moderate number of small temples throughout the world, many of which are located in high mountain caves or within cities built upon places of high elevation. They are most commonly made of stone so that they can resist the eroding push and pull of the winds. Temples to Rysus are always constructed to reach high into the sky. Not necessarily built in the shape of towers, each temple has multiple tiers that worshippers must ascend to participate in common services.
The Crystal Pinnacles
Rysus’ has a moderate number of small temples throughout the world, many of which are located in high mountain caves or within cities built upon places of high elevation. They are most commonly made of stone so that they can resist the eroding push and pull of the winds. Temples to Rysus are always constructed to reach high into the sky. Not necessarily built in the shape of towers, each temple has multiple tiers that worshippers must ascend to participate in common services.
The Crystal Pinnacles are 3 towers located throughout the world: One in East Oblian, West Oblian, and Southern Someria. Their purpose is to serve as conduits for speech between worshippers and clergy the world over. While they also serve as places of worship, they provide a service to all as a method of fast and efficient communication. For followers of Rysus this service is free, but for those outside the church, a generous donation is often requested, especially from those wishing to use their power for nefarious or selfish purposes.
They appear as towers of pure white marble, with sub-sections of deep blue crystal ringing the outer walls at each new floor. At the top of each tower is a roof of similar pointed crystal. Each of these towers acts as a magical beacon for the other, the crystals that fortify them sharing a resonance for divine wind magic. When a Cleric of sufficient power is present, they can channel the individual’s message through a tower and, in a matter of hours, the words are carried through on divinely charged winds to one of the others. Once the messages are received, a confirmation of receipt is sent back and a runner is dispatched to deliver the actual message. A subsequent divine prayer or the use of a local wizard is also added to the cost in the case of individuals who are still far out of the way.
Rites: Rites of the Priests of Rysus are fairly inexpensive, as the predominant components are the air provided by the lungs of the speaker and the manipulation of the winds around them. The latter can be performed with divine energies or simple tools meant to redirect the flow of the element, such as fans, wide tree leaves, and even novelty items like pinwheels. Unlike most common rites of other churches, these rituals do not rely on drawn circles or religious symbology, although such items can be helpful in enhancing the power of any divine magic produced.
The common rituals completed for worshippers and priests revolve around ensuring clean air to be breathed and exhaled both for the purpose of healthy living, cleansing, and communication. They promote good health, inner peace, and shared wisdom.
Burial Rites: Worshippers of Rysus are cremated, their ashes scattered to the wind. This is the most common practice for those who follow the god of breath, but another, somewhat obscure ritual, actually involves the inhaling of these ashes. The belief is that by breathing in the remains of a loved one, their knowledge, voice, and spirit will always remain within oneself. Families of the deceased have been known to gather at the wake of a particularly cherished or successful relative and each inhale a portion of their ashes so that they might benefit from their experiences.
While for the most part this practice is accepted by most factions of Rysus, a few specific purists believe this to be a violation of the spirit of the dead, trapping them within the body of another mortal instead of allowing them to pass on.
Tithe: A Tithe to Rysus is made be a donation of a small amount of currency, followed by the gift of speech. This could be a simple poem, a short story, or even an amusing limerick. The church of Rysus prefers silver, but accepts all forms of capital. They also accept donations of silver objects, anything from silverware to full sized busts and sculptures. Rare and valuable crystals or gems are greatly appreciated and often accepted with the understanding that the one tithing may request a small favor in exchange.
Priests and other members of the order make similar donations, but are expected to pray over their offerings with rhythmic exhaling chants while burning incense, before delivering them to a collector or donation box.
Benefits: Clerics of Rysus are granted divine mastery over their own inner turmoil, to such a point that the shells within the Sphere of Tranquility protect them from Psychic damage and manipulations. They also learn to manipulate the air around them, able to hold their breath indefinitely, slow the descent of themselves and comrades, and even walk on air. As a supporter of life, Rysus also grants his clerics mastery over the body, enabling them to reduce the effects of necrotic energy that drains and slays mortals. This power also makes resurrection magic far less taxing on the body and spirit of the cleric.
The more common benefits available to all worshippers of Rysus are access to one of the largest libraries of spoken language on Nexxen, and they also have no shortage of scholars who are able to teach them. Thanks to the Crystal Pinnacles, the faithful also have access to one of the most powerful communication tools in the world, although those who live somewhat remotely might not have easy access to these towers. Local Clerics are still capable of utilizing Divine Prayers to assist their flock with these needs. They also conduct regular church services, such as leading prayers, conducting sermons, community events, and so on.
Herald and Allies:
Narweiss The Chimer [Herald]
Narweiss The Chimer serves as Rysus’ herald. It is a humanoid amalgamation of both crystalline and air elemental origin. The larger portions of the body are made of a blue crystal similar to the kind used in many of Rysus’ mortal constructions. The chest, arms, and head are all comprised of this material, while the connecting joints and lower half of the body are made up of rapid yet gentle swirling winds. These currents bind its solid pieces together loosely and Narweis can in fact manipulate its winds to move its crystalline components about as it pleases. The face itself is smooth, flat crystal, featuring two bright blue points of light for eyes. As it moves, the winds bounce about among its solid pieces freely, creating a powerful yet relaxing melody that forcibly calms all who can hear it.
Narweiss carries no weapons, however it can manipulate its aerial body into short, powerful gusts or long, gale force winds, manipulating great numbers of objects as if it had innumerable hands. Furthermore, its crystalline limbs are nigh indestructible and have impossibly sharp edges. These appendages can be used to punch through thick rock walls, steel constructs, and the hides of even the greatest of monsters.
Despite having incredible destructive powers, the herald of Rysus only shows itself to create peace in areas of excessive strife. Throughout history, Narweiss has appeared in response to prayers made amidst great turmoil, such as raiding hordes, cataclysmic rifts within the earth and magical warfare threatening to tear the land apart. Upon its arrival, it quickly sets about finding the source of the disturbance and pacifying it with its calming powers. Should this fail, it will resort to efficient and ruthless acts to permanently silence all aggressors.
The Champions of Layfell [Ally]
A band of heroes known as the Champions of Layfell count themselves as friends to Rysus. At the beginning of their careers, they had made an enemy of a corrupt priest of the god and sought to put an end to him for his crimes against the city of Layfell. Much to their surprise, however, just as they were about to confront the villain in his windswept cave lair, another group of far more powerful adventurers made a sudden appearance. Not understanding the true nature of their mutual enemy, they easily dispatched the priest mid-ritual, unleashing an angry avatar of the god himself. The Champions of Layfell watched in abject horror as these heroes battled the avatar, several of them nearly being slain in the process.
The other adventurers eventually overcame the challenge and stole the remains of the broken shell before departing, claiming they were going to save the world while the party’s fighter suggested The Champions of Layfell “Go back to killing goblins.” Surprised by the rudeness of this band, the Champions communed with the sharded remnants of the avatar to learn what had happened. It was explained that the Priest was actually making a divine offering to Rysus in exchange for the knowledge of Truespeech, and Rysus had been enraged at the denial of his right. Had the adventurers simply allowed him to complete the ritual, and asked nicely, they could have procured what they wanted with little difficulty.
The Champions of Layfell took this bizarre experience as a lesson to always approach a situation with an open mind and a willingness to communicate, using the more arrogant adventurers as an example of what not to do.
Relationships with other Gods: Rysus hates the god Soot for a transgression made against him long ago. Soot bestowed the secret of truespeech upon a group of heroes to prevent a catastrophe that, while potentially devastating, was not his to prevent. The fact that this was done despite Rysus’ insistence that this information never be shared whipped Rysus into a rare frenzy, bestowing a curse upon Soot’s followers that has forever put the two deities at odds with each other. Despite this, Soot bears no ill will towards Rysus, but recognizes that the two are enemies.
Roli and Odeen both favor Rysus, the three of them sharing a bond and desire for tranquility in their worshippers. With little conflict between them, they have managed to assist in settling many disputes amongst gods and mortals alike. While their respective demeanors are perhaps owed to varying philosophies, the core of their ideals make them well suited to serve as mediators amongst other beings of great power.
Factions:
The various outposts of Rysus’ worshippers tend to be fairly uniform, as his methods require a great deal of the same style of practice. The only major difference are the general dispositions of these outposts.
Calimna, the The Temple of the Screeching Winds in North Eastern Solmeria, is populated by Clerics and Monks who train in the use of Divine and Sonic magics, and their constant testing of the limits of this power can be heard from miles away, day and night.
Brist, the Cave Church of Lystomia, is made up of a large network of caves that naturally funnel the winds of Nexxen into a soothing music that is used both for prayer and for healing.
Thesna is a village that worships Rysus. While they do not have a temple, their entire town serves as a place where followers may go to bask in their god’s teachings. Nearly every dwelling features consecrated wind chimes that can be used as shrines for offerings and prayers. The inhabitants tend to be calm, stoic, and welcoming to travellers who have knowledge of the outside world to share.
Relics:
Scroll of Infinite Words
This unique Scroll can receive any words the speaker wishes it to hold, including the incantations of a spell or prayer. The ancient parchment pulls spoken words onto its surface and inks them in its own silvered lettering. When the words of such stored magics are spoken aloud, the magic of the power activates and the writings disappear. A new Spell or Prayer can then be spoken onto the scroll without a need for magical ink or writing of any kind.
Fan of Whispers
This ornate fan is bound with a cherrywood base, the folds of the paper gilded in divine runes. The fan has two basic functions
Comprehension: When speaking words into the fan, the words can sound out in any language or voice the wielder desires, even if they do not know how to speak it themselves. Furthermore, while waving the fan near their ears and mouth, they gain the ability to understand any language spoken to them.
True Sending: If the wielder whispers words into the fan with an image of the person they wish to tell them to in their mind, the words are carried along air currents to the target. If the recipient of the words wishes to, they can respond along the same air currents that will then reverse direction and return to the owner of the fan.