Fantasy 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐙𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 — OF GODS AND MEN

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the tales of divinity.

the first being.

A mysterious entity that only exists in the clans’ beliefs and, even then, only as a myth. She is thought to have dispersed her soul across the world, transforming into an energy later known as Qi, giving it the possibility of life.

qi; the breath of the gods.

A type of energy that exists in all life forms, which can be used to strengthen mind, body and even external tools depending on the wielder's strength and mental fortitude.

Those who are more Blessed by a god than others can wield their qi more strongly in a way that reflects the god's powers, and those who are blessed by an Upper God are rumored to be able to manipulate the elements themselves. Most unblessed others are still able to use their Qi to work with the elements and utilize them in their crafts and infuse it in weapons.

your blessings.

the upper gods.

The Gods of Conferment and Condition, Umei & Umyeo, also known as the Twin Gods. Some believe they were born from the final breath of the First Being, others believe that they have existed since the beginning of time, but all revere them as the highest powers of the world, particularly in Zenuá.

As their title suggests, Umei & Umyeo are thought to be twins and not only an unbreakable pair but also undying rivals; those who are visited by one are sure to soon come across the other. The God of Conferment, Umei, is typically prayed to for a blessing upon oneself, while the God of Condition, Umyeo, is more often prayed to for a curse upon others. Either way, however, they tend to interfere with each other’s handlings with humans, a trait that forms the foundation for many a folklore.

Their true nature and appearance is unknown, as they take on a variety of forms in the eyes of mortals, depending on what their hearts and minds picture. The popular theory, however, is that the Twin Gods are a mischievous and vindictive force, generous with their gifts to the ones they favor but cruel in the games they play with their beloved toys.

the ones who left.

the pantheon.

Haesena

Goddess of the twelve seas. From the very first sea bubbles that materialized in this world, a goddess is born with waves as hair and body that dissolves into deep waters. Haesena is overall depicted as a calm deity who wanders the twelve seas in solitude. She lends protection to those who traverse her waters and is rumoured to reward some worshipper souls with aquatic treasures. Haesena is not one who revels in devotion and is neutral to those who worship other gods as well. Nevertheless, she is not all kind and tranquil. If you disrespect her then these calm waters can quickly turn into a deadly flood. Worshippers often tell the tale of a harbour city who insulted Haesena by dumping their trash into the ocean, only to be completely wiped away by a huge tsunami. It is said that you could see the sunken ruins if you dive deep enough around where the city once stood.

Nuhua

Goddess of nature/earth. In ancient texts, it is detailed that before the existence of Nuhua, the earth realm was nothing more than a vast area of barren, uninhabitable land. To breathe life into this realm, Umei gifted it the birth of a goddess who could summon flora and fauna with the slight flick of the hand. Umyeo left its own print in this creation by making the deity powerful but at times unpredictable. There are many sides to Nuhua, having gentle touches of greenery, untameable manoeuvres alike to the wildlife that roams the lands, and wakes of carnage in the form of disasters only nature can cultivate. Those who worship Nuhua have accepted the wild nature of the goddess and appeal to all different sides. Warriors pray for the goddess to unleash her terrestrial forces on the enemies while hunters pray for her to gift them the creations they need to survive. Nuhua is depicted as neither good nor evil -- just chaotic. Her amount of care about her subjects differs from narrator to narrator. Some people say that she is not a goddess who pays much attention to worship and just does what she does while others claim that she has helped enough villages of worship by gracing them with plethora of natural resources.

Kazeroji

God of wind and art. Scriptures of faith picture a deity materialized out of welkin and air -- light and almost melodic. A god who is perhaps the most carefree and friendly out of them all. Floating across the heavens and appearing wherever he feels peering. Kazeroji was created as a gift of inspiration by the upper-gods and first destined to walk among the mortals to keep close track of their artistic progressions. However, he slowly began to be more interested in the humans and their artistic abilities than tending to the heavens above. Years went by without tending to his duties as the god of the wind, resulting in a heavy turmoil not only among earthen life but also among gods. In the end, Umyeo had to punish Kazeroji and cursed the wind god to be tied to his place among the clouds, only able to walk the lands once every decade. This day is considered a religious holiday for those who worship the god and ìs celebrated by holding a grand offering of arts. Artists and musicians from across Zenuá often fight to get a spot in the sacred temples for that day with the hopes to get their best works to be noticed and blessed by him. There also remains a fair share of people who worship Kazeroji for his wind powers and it includes many prayers and offerings as well. In general, Kazeroji is depicted as a social deity and positively looked upon by the majority of Zenuá.

Daisini

God of fire and valor. An entity born from the depths of boiling lava, Daisini is believed to have emerged from the flames with such a great roar that the land split itself into the continents. A fickle and fierce god, he is thought to represent not just fire but honor, courage and all that creates a true warrior. Despite being known in more recent eras as a war god, Daisini is not, in his essence, a malevolent or warmongering being. In fact, he was one of the first gods to offer mortals shelter and guardianship, having been the patron god of many warrior clans, even before the Dülaan came into existence. People often pray to the god before battles for the strength and will to endure, as well as the intensity and resolve to push forward. He is a protective existence, being more involved with his subjects than most gods, but thus also the most sensitive to disrespect. The stories of men who were saved by Daisini’s blessings are plenty, but so are the stories of men who earned his wrath and perished in terrible infernos.

Gyebal

Goddess of wisdom. The youngest of all the gods, Gyebal was created alongside humans, as a gift to the new race, by Umei & Umyeo’s combined efforts. A seemingly omnipotent yet unfortunately unspeaking entity, Gyebal favors those who are as eccentric as she is and who yearn to push the boundaries of human knowledge, who understand yet constantly strive to test what the world accepts as fact. The temples of Gyebal are unique in the pin-drop silence that roams its halls, and many of her devout followers take on vows to not speak, often for months at a time, in search of enlightenment in the nothingness. To create a ruckus in the shrines of Gyebal, especially in the territory of her worshippers, is considered contemptuous of the clan at best and treasonous at worst. Prayers to Gyebal are rare, but often come in times of desperation, when the solution cannot be seen and the questions suffocate or overwhelm. An immediate answer is perhaps more than you could hope for from a being like Gyebal, but it is believed that if your prayer was true and your mind open, she will send help in subtle ways.

Seikami

God of passages. Umei and Umyeo had created many gifts for life, unknowing those below craved for one going beyond their graves. It was not necessary, they thought, to create something that represented an end for those under their care. Alas, they quickly learned that humanity, as invested as it was in life, was just as focused on death. And so Seikami’s existence was weaved from fragments of souls, shatters of bone and darkness’ threads. Depicted as a lone god, a shadow one is not able to perceive till their last breath, he rules over his own separate domain. It is painted as a realm dark but not ominous; a sense of peace is lingering around, its glass a reflection of memories warm and nostalgic. It is a world in between, where ghosts may rest before leaving for another life. In contrast to popular belief, most prayers to Seikami are not to bring death, but more so to guide their loved ones to a nice afterlife or reincarnation. Nothing much is known about this entity, tied to its sphere, separate from life and divinity. Nor good nor evil -- because death is none.

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[triples]

the way of the world.

brief

Clans have been forged and ruined over the centuries, but six among them have stood the test of time to become ruling forces of the continent. Cultures vary wildly from clan to clan, with many differences in all things from fashion to religion — a beautiful yet lethal fact. Though inter-clan politics exist, ordinary members of different clans hardly ever mix and those who leave one for the other are rare and mistrusted, even if it were by official means.

a deeper look.

Tensions run high between the clans, as they have since the beginning. Relations rise and fall like angry tides, from one shore to another, and none are safe from the fires of war.

In the mountains, the Yūrei and Dülaan loom as villains, one a city of assassins and the other a tribe of brutal warriors. Shízu stands in the middle of chaos, dragged into conflict from all sides, while Daeya's coveted trade routes find themselves constantly targeted. Even Hyeon, advocates for peace, and Shinsora, lovers of freedom, clash over culture, at times with everyone else and often with each other.

It is this violence that have soiled the lands of Zenua and turned the gods against their people. It is this violence that must be stopped, in the name of the prophecy, even through grave sacrifice.

your people.

ongoing conflicts.

✾ The War of Snakes & Shadows

The longest ongoing war in the continent, mainly between the Shízu & Yūrei. The assassination of a beloved leader, the poisoning of military water supplies, the tragedies and the accusations, all coming together to form a messy web of conflict, leading to bloodshed on both sides. After more than a decade and a half of fighting, the war has reached a lull, but peace hangs only on a weary thread between the two clans.

✾ The Silent War

A cold war between the Shinsora and Hyeon, a matter of less violence but equally strong grudges, manifesting in trade embargos and banishments of the former's members from the latter's premises. It began from the vandalism of a Temple of Gyebal by travelling artists, an act taken as an intense insult by the devout Hyeons, but is truly more so the culmination of the growing clashes between their two cultures.

✾ The Southern Conflicts

A series of intermittent conflicts between Dülaan, Daeya and, more recently, Shízu. The barrenness of their territory forces Dülaan to get most of their supplies from other clans, which means trade disputes often lead to full-out battle. Though Daeya initially found itself an easy target, forging an alliance with the nearby Shízu has allowed them to push back. There are significantly less conflicts now than before, but mistrust still remains strong.

the left behind.

the clans.

Daeya

Sanctity in water. A clan with pacifist tendencies, made up of mostly fishermen, weavers and sailors, residing largely around the coast/islands in the south. The Daeya are relatively friendly with their neighbours, mostly thanks to the multitude of trade routes they control. Warriors are known to use harpoons and tridents alongside more typical weaponry; a traditionalist society, women are respected as mothers and daughters of the Goddess, but are not expected to go out to sea or war. Worshippers of Haesena.

Shízu

Calm in chaos.
A clan based in the grand center of the continent, most of their territory built into the forests that prevail in the area. Politically prominent by virtue of their position and are often dragged into conflicts as a result. Best known for their herb-based healers, poison-using warriors and, interestingly enough, tea. Another traditionalist clan, where men are warriors, women are healers and rarely are either taught the arts of the other. Worshippers of Nuhua.

Shinsora

Belief in joy.
The only largely nomadic clan, whose members travel in small and scattered groups, though their ability to unite in emergencies is remarkable. Shinsora has a rich and colorful culture, enhanced by the variety between various groups, and are known for their strong dedication to the arts; most famous artistes come from here. Free-spirited in all ways, and every member is allowed to be what they want to be as long as they contribute to the clan. Worshippers of Kazeroji.

Dülaan

Freedom in fire.
A clan residing in the deep mountains of the north, where frost is permanent through the seasons and the sun never quite settles. Known for their brutality and strength in battle as well as, frankly, their warmongering ways. Though traditional in other ways, warriors of all forms are accepted and even encouraged. Due to the widespread, long-held animosity against them, the Dülaan's other talents in engineering and blacksmithing often go unacknowledged by most other clans. Worshippers of Daisini.

Hyeon

Wisdom in silence. A peaceful clan with likely the shortest record of violent conflict, whose most influential members are their scholars and diplomats. Martial arts and military exist, of course, but serve mostly as a last line of defense. Libraries and temples are most sacred here and are generally open to all visitors, even from other clans. An accepting culture, but with strong emphasis on carrying oneself with dignity and having respect for one's teacher and the Goddess. Worshippers of Gyebal.

Yūrei

Lethality in truth. A quiet clan steeped in mystery, yet they follow close behind their neighbours of the mountain range, Dülaan, in terms of hostile relations with other clans. A strong military, best known for their network of spies and assassins, who are feared for still-unproven abilities to travel unseen. A strict and authoritarian but extremely merit-driven society, where jobs and identities are assigned to those who deserve them rather than chosen by the individual. Worshippers of Seikami.

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