5th Edition,  D&D,  Monday Mythology,  RPG,  World Building

Monday Mythology: Marija, God of Nature

Marija, God of Nature

Other Titles: Harvester, Grainkeeper, Huntmaster

Alignment: NG

Weapon: Club (Communion)

Like the other gods in this last stretch, Marija requires a tiny bit of information. He was once one of the most powerful gods, and one of the first. Spawned directly from nature, Marija was powerful from the outset. However, recently transpired events culminated in his death. He was baited to the earth by some force, none know what, and then, in powerful ritual, corrupted. Gestril was sent by Takkannas to deal with the problem, but Gestril became infected with the same corruption. during the combat. Something happened, and nearby heroes were imbued with the essence of Gestril who aided and guided them into confronting Marija. Through an epic battle, the Corrupted God was defeated, and Gestril, through his essence imbuing the killer, absorbed his domains. Now, with Marija dead, there are two separate groups of followers. Those fanatics who still worship Marija, and are being granted power from something, though no one knows what, and those who have switched over to the worship of Gestril, even though his is lost and fragmented in the ether.

Major Domains: Nature, Grains, Harvest

Minor Domains:  Animals, Husbandry, Domestication

Totem Animal/Warform:  Tiger ( The warform is made of flames and ash, with eyes of purple flames and stripes of black and orange flames)

Holy Symbol: A blackend, stone fist clutching an Oak Tree

Favored Appearances: When Marija lived, he favored simple, peasantish appearances. Most often, he was a strong, tanned farmer with broad, weathered features, including his hazel eyes and his sun-bleached hair. He was never extremely attractive or extremely ugly. He greeted everyone with a wide, open smile that radiated from his entire body. He exuded simple, balanced, and naturalistic life.

His female form was a similar style body, broad, strong, and without flair. She, too, had broad features, weathered and worn by the sun and years of work. Her eyes were green, and her short hair bleached blonde by the sun.

Personality: Marija was the god of agriculture and cared for many races., giving them the methods, means and training to live in a civilized society. He cared, as well, for the balance of nature and its caretakers, and was one of the most active Paltonarchs on Kasan. There were a number of races that saw him as their patron, having given them methods to survive in the darkest of times. Though he showed goodwill to all those who respected his lessons and teachings, his wrath was terrifying when roused. Nothing got him more riled than the defilement of natures spaces or the overworking of the land in any way.

Teachings: Marija was the god on the boundaries of civilization, both wrathful and giving. He taught proper land management,  careful husbandry, and beneficial harvesting techniques.  He believed quite sternly in the balance between the natural world, and the civilized one, creating a confusing web of rituals, observances, and taboos that kept that delicate balance. This same balance was carried over to that of the herds of sheep, elk, and other domesticated animals he watched over. Balance in all things natural can very well be considered among his prime teachings.

following on that is his insistence on humility. Taking what you need, and no more, both from other people and from the land and animals around you.

Abode: When Marija lived, his home was a great Iron forest in the middle of the Iron Marches, called the Rolling Grove, bordering on the conflicted lands in the center. Though he held no specific home, he had many places where he could shelter to sleep and to hold audience with those who sought him out.: Great halls within the trees to fit hundreds and caves and hollows large enough to fit only him.

Clergy: His priests were, and some still maintain, the main functionaries who give blessing to a harvest, a hunt, or a herd. They were also the ones who made petitions when drought, plague, famine and other tragedy befell an area. They would beseech the proper gods in the name of Marija for reprieve and perform the proper sacrifices, when necessary, to grant the good favor again.  Often, the Clerics would be asked to Sanction a logging operation, mine or other expedition into the wilderness to prove that Marija was not against them.

Knightly Order: Long ago, a princess of an unknown land sought out and courted him. He was immediately smitten. She was mortal, however, and his devotion to balance required him to let her die a natural death. However, she bore him two daughters, Messara, the eldest, and Keimoa, the younger who were able to shift between a Tiger and a Humanoid form at will. Blessed by their father, they created the Wild Wardens, a dedicated force to both teaching humans respect of the natural world, and enforcing punishment when they do not.

Clerical Attire: Unsurprisingly, the god of nature prefers dull browns, russet reds and strong greens. Many of his followers wear dyed leathers with embossed leaves and plant heraldry on it, with different plants signifying dedication and position within the clergy.

Followers: Often Druids, some fighters, and many rangers were among the most devout worshipers of Marija. Now, rangers chiefly stick with the faith, relying on little more than their prowess at arms.