Deities

The Shark King

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 13, 2026.

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“How do you know that he will help me?” – Man.

“He has not eaten you. This is a very good sign.” – Crab.

***

The Shark King appears as an enormous shark of no particular type. With skin covered in coral, the Shark King is indeed a fearsome sight. Few, however, have witnessed this creature and lived to tell the tale, as he is quick to eat most living things that fall within the reach of his great jaws.

When on land, the Shark King takes the form of a great and powerful man. Whether on land or in the sea, this creature is exceptionally quick and powerful. The Shark King may devour prey in human form just as he would in the form of a shark. He has no use for weapons.

It is not malice that leads the shark king to consume humans or other sentient creatures, but rather a sense that eating them is as natural to his appetite as other meats would be to humans. The Shark King will not hesitate to consume anyone who comes within his reach. Yet, the Shark King may be approached in times of great need. He has even been known to aid those with a worthy cause or to protect those who pay their proper respects. Surviving the first few moments of an encounter with the Shark King is always the most difficult task in gaining his aid.

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Religion: The Shark King does not have an organized Priesthood, but he is a prominent figure in the world of the Coral Isles. Those whose lives bring them close to the waters pay homage to the Shark King on a regular basis. Offerings may be made when fishing or swimming, even when setting to sea on a long trip. His favor may well be the difference between a successful catch for a fisherman and the loss of life or limb.

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Domains: Fishing, Ocean Depths.

Symbol: The Holy Symbol of the Shark King is a representation of a shark, whether it be a tooth or a fin, or even a pictorial representation of a whole shark.

Favored Offerings: The Shark King is most pleased with meat thrown to the waters in his honor.

Ululutek

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 12, 2026.

***

“Ululutek does not favor those who keep the dead under their own power. The Lord of Death does not look kindly upon those who steal from his own domain.”

– Book of the Necromant

***

Ululutek appears to be a tall slender human male with the face of an owl. His skin is jet black and he is entirely devoid of body hair. He carries a bronze scimitar and a spell pouch.

Ululutek has dominion over all the dead, a power he seems to regard as a great responsibility. It does not appear that Ululutek seeks to cause death, at least not by any direct means, but those who die are immediately delivered into his care.

The Lord of Death appears to regard intelligent undead with a degree of patience. He regards the reluctance of ghosts and similar creatures to pass on with grace much as a father might look upon the behavior of a prodigal child. In time, they will all come to him. He knows this. Ululutek seems to regard Royal Mummies with a degree of blessing, however, but this is only when they are interred with substantial offerings in his honor. Ululutek will happily keep a Royal Mummy safe in their tombs, but the Lord of Death waits patiently for all other undead to accept their lot and grant him control over their fate.

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Religion: The Priesthood of Ululutek is large and well organized. It is centered in a desert kingdom within the Sunrise Islands, butits priests may be found in both the Sunset Islands and the Wisdom Islands. Followers of Ululutek seek always to promote respect and reverence for their lord and his domain, often creating great temples in his honor. Wherever the cult of Ululutek is strong, the rituals of burial are sure to be elaborate, expensive, and terribly solemn.

Gossip and fear mongering aside, the cult of Death is not is not particularly malevolent, but its members can be rather cold.

***

Domains: Death.

Symbol: An Owl.

Favored Offerings: Anything of value. This does not include living creatures (as the moment of death is his decision). Ululutek is particularly interested in offerings made on behalf of those who have recently died, or for whom death is imminent.

 

Tlegachet

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 12, 2026.

***

“Upon greeting Tlegachet, The first king showed his admiration with a dozen strong horses, a chest of gold, and a wagonload of the finest silks. The second king bore no gifts at all. One his knees before the fair nomad, he said simply; ‘the gates of my kingdom are open; whatever is mine is now yours.’

“To the first king Tlegachet replied; ‘The riches of miserly men is a burden upon their soul. I shall repay your kindness today by relieving you of the bonds which now bind you. Your city shall feed itself without grains, greens, or meat; your armies shall fight without hands; your mentors shall teach without tongues, and your women shall raise their children without husbands.

“Tlegachet smiled upon the second king; ‘There is no shame in empty hands, but only in tight knuckles and sweaty palms. To you I shall bring the treasures which a generous king ought to have at his disposal. In a fortnight you shall receive all the wealth and slaves that you could ever dream. The children of your kingdom shall grow fat and wise. Your farmers shall reap beyond their own seeds, and your armies shall join mine bearing new weapons and riding new horses. When next I travel, you shall be at my side, and you shall share in the riches we discover.”

– Kulest Hulugur, Elder Bard.

***

Tlegachet G’Surl is at once feared and loved throughout all the lands knowing her name. She appears as a beautiful nomad, always in the company of great horses. (She always rides a standard horse with at least 3d8+10 Experience Points) carries a great bow and a scimitar. On her right hand, she bears a ring of war.

Tlegachet is known both for her compassion and her cruelty. The one, she shows to all who submit to her rule, and the other she inflicts on all who resist her. Stories of her compassion towards those Tlegachet brings under her control are matched only by those of misery and suffering inflicted by those who thought to deny her ambitions.

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Religion: Priests of Tlegachet rarely settle into any kind of temple. They travel instead with great warriors, preferring especially to accompany those on the march in foreign lands. Many a soldier

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Domains: Conquest, Pastoralism

Symbol: The Symbol of Tlegachet is a scimitar over two horse hooves.

Favored Offerings: Tlegachet is most pleased with well cooked meals offered to her in prayer.

Taiyo

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 12, 2026.

***

“The sun does not rise of its own accord. Rather it is carried into the sky by an able warrior, one who is charged with the responsibility to ensure the daylight returns each morning.”

– Rabbit Sage

***

Taiyo appears as a strong samurai warrior, one who is always bathed in the brightest of sunlight. In the darkest of night, he reflects light as though the sun shone directly upon his body.

Taiyo is responsible for launching the sun into the sky every morning, a feat he carries out without fail. Taiyo loses responsibility for the sun at about midday when it passes into the charge of Kotoya. This is usually a peaceful transfer, but sometimes the two of them fight over their charge.

Taiyo is also patron to some of the great kingdoms of the eastern world. An accomplished warrior himself, Taiyo inspires great courage among his followers. He is thought to reward the greatest and most honorable with success in battle.

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Religion: Taiyo has a well-established Priesthood in the Wisdom Islands. Wherever possible his priests will forge bonds with the ruling class, serving as advisers and spokesmen for any kingdom willing to claim their god as its own.

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Domains: The East, Morning, The Sun.

Symbol: A sun with rays emanating outward.

Favored Offerings: Any plunder acquired through conquest.

Kotoya

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 12, 2026.

***

“Most times the sun passes peaceably from Taiyo to Kotoya. Sometimes Taiyo is reluctant to part with his charge. If Kotoya must fight with Taiyo for control of the sun, then the sun falters and its light fades. Thankfully, Kotoya has always prevailed, or perhaps Taiyo has always seen wisdom in the cycle of the day. To date, the sun has always regained its strength and finished its course. The wisest among us does not know what would happen if Kotoya should ever fail to take the sun down with him at the end of the day.”

– It is written in the ropes.

***

Kotoya appears to be a handsome and strong man. He carries a Bola and  Great Club. His is otherwise clad in the finest of cloth, spun from the fur of a vacuña. Kotoya often wears gold, and never silver.

As the Lord of the Sunset, Kotoya is charged with bringing about the end of the day, a duty that he performs with pride. He is otherwise keen to protect mortals from terrible monsters.

Kotoya looks after the welfare of a great mountain empire whose rulers are said to be his descendants. The Lord of the Sunset will not abide any threat to this kingdom or its rulers.

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Religion: Although people all over the world may pay their respects to the Lord of the Sunset, Kotoya enjoys full worship in only the kingdom claiming him as their ancestor and patron. In that kingdom, he is foremost among the gods, and his offerings are gathered from all over the land.

The official cult of Kotoya is very much concerned with support for imperial expansion, and with ensuring that such expansion is done to the honor of their great lord. Priests of Kotoya have been known to make great offerings of gold and jewelry. On occasion they will also demand young women from conquered territories, the majority of which are forced to serve as priestesses. On rare occasions, they will sacrifice one to the sun in a ritual marriage.

The greatest among Kotoya’s followers are always mummified and kept in royal tombs filled with treasure, all given in sacrifice to Kotoya.

***

Domains: Royalty, The Sun, The West

Symbol: An Eye contained in the Sun.

Favored Offerings: Gold and jewelry.

 

The Monkey King

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

***

“Like Beating the Monkey.”

– Common Expression for losing a fight.

***

This deity appears as a human with an unnaturally full beard and mustache, and of course a prehensile tail. The monkey king is every bit as agile and swift as one might expect on hearing the many legends of his exploits. He is inquisitive to a fault, and very fond of practical jokes. The Monkey King is accordingly prone to find himself in trouble of such magnitude as to make resolution a challenge, even for someone of his own considerable skills.

The Monkey King has often used his skills to protect objects and people of great importance.

***

Religion: The Monkey King has little in the way of an organized church, but one does find the occasional Priest of the Monkey King attached to some temple or monastery in the Wisdom Islands. His greatest following can be found in the martial arts schools as well as those of acrobats and mask theatre performers, many of whom pay homage to the Monkey King for one reason or another.

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Domains: Marshal Arts, Simians.

Symbol: A Monkey with a staff.

Favored Offerings: Food or Small and Shiny Objects.

EFFINTHISTLE SHIRDESK’NEEN

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

***

“Humans think themselves privileged, because elves sometimes allow them to pass freely through the forests. They think themselves honored to fell a tree or two and build a house, so long as they pay their respects to the wood. They think the Lady of the Woods a mere mystery, and take her goodwill for granted. Time was when man knew her darkness.

“Time was when men knew of those lost in the woods. She has them all. It is the foolishness of mankind that it forgets the loss of a small child and congratulates itself on obtaining safe passage for the day. The Lady of the Wood may have helped mankind in times past, yet her favor is uncertain. When the final struggle of good against evil breaks upon this land, only a fool would count upon her and her minions to stand with mankind.”

– Kormund Coalspear, Dwarven Bard.

***

Effinthistle was born a little before her brother, Ogath Sjkull-Gritter, God of the orcs. Not long after the birth of her first brother,  a second brother was brought into the world quite dead. The second brother remains ever nameless. There is little doubt but that their deceased brother was killed in the womb. Whether it was Ogath or Effinthistle that killed him remains a topic of great debate within the halls of the Library Philosophic. Elves and orcs fight over the same question all across the forests and the wastelands. It is of course quite possible that the Ogath and Effinthistle together slew their younger brother. Whether the death of their brother was an act of self-defense or outright murder is also a topic of great dispute. In either event, neither Ogath nor Effinthisle have ever spoken a word about it, but their hatred for each other was evident from the moment of their birth, and by all accounts, the demise of their brother is the source of their conflict.

Effinthistle appears as a young elven woman of stunning beauty clad in a green dress. She is actually one of the most ancient beings in all existence. Effinthistle carries a bow and a sword, as well as a great quiver filled with several dozen arrows. She carries another filled simply with 12 more arrows.

Effinthistle and her minions favor wilderness forests and meadows as a home, sleeping under a forest canopy on most occasions. She is said to look after the welfare of the forests, though the boundaries of her anger have never been terribly clear to men. Many a tree has been felled without raising the ire of this goddess, but woe be unto the city that grows too large and clears too much forest. Exactly when this line may be crossed is a question commonly answered in hindsight.

Effinthistle is known for great knowledge, particularly regarding things of a magical nature.

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Religion: The Priesthood of Effinthistle consists almost exclusively of elven spell casters. Her worshippers include a variety of Sprites in addition to virtually all of elven kind, save for the Dark Elves that live underground. It is rare to see humans or other creatures worship Effinthistle. She and her followers are often regarded with great suspicion by those dwelling in great cities.

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Domains: Elves and Woodlands

Symbol:  The Symbol of Effinthistle is a Pine Tree.

Favored Offerings: An arrangement of flowers, pine cones, and other plants from the forests.  Each must be gathered in prayer and gathered into an arrangement.

 

Ogath Skull-Gritter

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

***

“It is said that the god, Ogath Skull-Gritter, is the first born of the orc kindred. It is also said that the memory of his birth tortures the soul of every orc to this very day.”

– Shen Kilsidore, Story-Teller.

***

It is said that Ogath was born a little after his sister, Effinthistle the Goddess of the Woods. He was born a little before his brother, who having been born dead, remains ever nameless. There is little doubt but that their deceased brother was killed in the womb. Whether it was Ogath or Effinthistle that killed him remains a topic of great debate within the halls of the Library Philosophic. Elves and orcs fight over the same question all across the forests and the wastelands. It is of course quite possible that the Ogath and Effinthistle together slew their younger brother. Whether the death of their brother was an act of self-defense or outright murder is also a topic of great dispute. In either event, neither Ogath nor Effinthisle have ever spoken a word about it, but their hatred for each other was evident from the moment of their birth, and by all accounts, the demise of their brother is the source of their enmity.

Whatever the truth of his origin, Ogath and his kind have never held the respect of any but the most wretched creatures of this world. Ogath is regarded with great distaste by all other gods, most of whom regard him and all of his kindred as a curse upon the world itself. For his own part, Ogath has little but hatred to give others. That hatred is of course reflected in the actions of his followers, and particularly, those of other orcs. The first instinct of an orc is violence, as is their last. If they possess any other qualities of character, few will ever see it. This is exactly as Ogath would have it.

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Religion: Followers of Ogath are almost always violent and cruel, but they often possess a kind of honesty. Many lack the guile necessary to concoct effective lies, and others simply prefer to let their enemies know what is coming. It is an article of faith among believers in Ogath that telling a lie to someone is to submit to her authority. The followers of sundry wizards and sorcerers must frequently deceive to their masters. The followers of Ogath tell all as it is. And in most cases, the first act of a new convert to the cult of Ogath is a sudden willingness to come clean to all whom he has previously told lies …often just before killing them.

A small sect of Ogath’s followers remains devoted to the memory of his dead sibling. It is said that the beauty and kindness of orcs died with Ogath’s brother. Needless to say, adherents to this cult blame Effinthistle for the death of that brother.

***

Domains: Orcs, Wastelands.

Symbol: The symbol of Ogath is a broken wizard’s staff, symbolizing the destruction of forces enslaving his people. Those showing veneration to his siblings will add a symbol of one or two gravestones, depending on their devotion to one or both of the dead twins.

Favored Offerings: Ogath’s favored offerings include Souvenirs of War and anything captured in battle.