Turtle Islands

Raven

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 14, 2026.

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“Yes, The Raven is ever the benefactor of mankind, but Raven does not always choose for men what men would choose for themselves.”

– Agnor, The One Eyed

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This deity appears to be an exceptionally large raven. He is an accomplished trickster whose skills have often benefited mankind. Raven is also greatly feared as his blessings are almost always mixed with some cause of misfortune.

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Religion: The cult of the Raven is strong in the outermost regions of the Turtle Islands as well as the Sunset Islands. He has few priests, or even dedicated followers, but in the more remote lands it is common to find that a shaman or a healer who sing his praises on a regular basis. Whatever their own deity, hunters and travelers will commonly pay tribute to Raven, hoping that he will show them the way to their game or to their home.

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Domains: Fire, Birds, Trickery.

Symbol: Raven

Favored Offerings: Food. Offerings to Raven are customarily tossed outside a campsite or home-site

Kotoya

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 12, 2026.

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“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.

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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.

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Domains: Royalty, The Sun, The West

Symbol: An Eye contained in the Sun.

Favored Offerings: Gold and jewelry.

 

Lady Spider

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

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“Do not harm the Spider who weaves in your home. She is a blessing.”

– Good Advice.

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Lady Spider may take any spider form she wishes. In human form, she appears to be a middle aged woman of great beauty. Lady Spider is dark skinned with long black hair. She appears with a great blanket wrapped around her, and she almost always brings with her a wondrous Loom.

Long ago, Lady Spider gave the craft of weaving to man, and to this day she continues to look after those practicing the craft. She is also known to protect mothers and to aid them in the protection of their home and children. Those inflicting harm on innocent women and children may find themselves on the wrong side of Lady Spider’s good will. Though she is unlikely to attack anyone directly, Lady Spider will happily provide what aid she may (often taking the form of critical advice) to those she deems capable of helping to protect innocents.

Lady Spider frowns upon those who harm her kindred, though she does not necessarily fault those who place spiders outside their homes without violence. Common wisdom suggests that a home is safer with at least one web-weaving spider present. A quick review of Lady Spider’s powers may reveal the reason for this.

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Religion: Lady Spider is known most anywhere one can find spiders. She has few Priests of her own, though Many a Shaman or a weaver from different parts of the world pays homage to her. Home keepers often look to her as a matron deity of sorts, and she is as likely to help them as anyone.

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Domains: Domestic Welfare, Spiders, Weaving

Symbol: A Web Containing a Spider.

Favored Offerings: Lady Spider is pleased with Woven Artifacts of all types, particularly those that have been woven by the very person making the offering.

Coyote

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

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“‘Do not open the basket!’ Lady Spider warned.

…and Coyote opened the basket.”

– Hosteen Nez, Medicine Man

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This character has the appearance of a large coyote. Few would describe him as an actual deity, but his actions have consequences rivaling those of the most powerful deities. So, it might be best to regard him as a god after all. Despite his size, Coyote never has any trouble hiding from others. Coyote is always up to no good, but his antics often have positive consequences that no-one could have expected (least of all Coyote himself).

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Religion: Coyote has few worshippers, but in parts of the Turtle Islands those engaged in cunning or concerned about the cunning of others will often pay respects to him.

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Domains: Coyotes, Irony, Trickery.

Symbol: A Coyote.

Favored Offerings: Food. (Offerings to coyote are customarily made by tossing small portions of meat just outside a campsite or home-site.)

Ayomichi

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

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“Having defeated his neighbors to the North, South, and East, King Atlauatle set aside a third of his conquered neighbors to live as they had always done, a third he sent to work in the mines, and a third he gathered for a great sacrifice. But Zhidastra never received his offering. That very morning, Ayomichi smashed all of the king’s temples, set free his slaves, and carried those to be sacrificed off to a land where they could be safe. One child alone, Aymomichi left behind with but a simple message for the king. ‘Leave you neighbors in peace. Place no life upon the alters in your temples, lest you and yours find yourselves living buried in rubble.'”

– Codex of the Center Kingdom

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Ayomichi appears to be a giant sea turtle with a great dent atop his shell. His great shell is nigh invulnerable, but even the exposed parts of Ayomichi’s flesh is quite tough to penetrate.

Ayomichi is a benign deity, ever seeking to minimize the suffering of mortals. He is particularly opposed to all forms of torture and human sacrifice, a fact which places him in constant conflict with Zhidastra.

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Religion: The cult of Ayomichi is strongest in the warmest of the Turtle Islands, though oppressed people’s all over the world pay to him, albeit using alternative names.

Many witch doctors and village healers claim Ayomichi as their deity, but his church is small, often relegated to the centers of fragile and peaceful kingdoms. It is not uncommon for those with cruel neighbors to seek protection from the great sea turtle, but it is rare indeed to find a successful king who remembers his message, or even tolerates his cult in their borders. Ayomichi is patient with mortals. He helps them as he can, always hoping that those once-oppressed will remember compassion when they come to powers of their own.

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Domains: Peace, The Sea, Turtles,

Symbol: A Turtle.

Favored Offerings: Poetry, Songs, Creative Efforts of all sorts, especially those reflecting the efforts of the one making the offering. Ayomichi is not fond of material wealth, and he would be quite unhappy to see any life sacrificed in his own honor.