Zvire Mythos (Human Pantheon)

The Zvire gods are a pantheon worshipped primarily by tribal, semi-nomadic humans, though some wood elves and other forest creatures also worship them.

The gods are depicted as animalistic humans or anthropomorphic animals, sort of like were-creatures. The gods can change their shapes from a large version of the animal, or a midway sort of human/animal hybrid, but more commonly as a bipedal humanoid with fur or features, hands with opposable thumbs that have human functionality but resemble the animal’s claws or talons as closely as possible, and a head that very closely resembles the animal’s.

The gods do not have any sort of hierarchy amongst themselves, or any sort of dominion or rulership over one another. However, within each of the three realms — the sky, the earth or land, and water — there is one god who is perceived as being the most powerful: Orel, the Eagle for the Realm of Sky; Tygr, the Tiger, for the Realm of Earth; and Zralok, the Shark, in the Realm of Water.

Each god has dominion over animals of its kind and is served by a coterie of intelligent, slightly anthropomorphized versions of those creatures. Each can also control, to a lesser degree, related animals that are similar. (Kun, the Horse, has lesser dominion over donkeys, mules, zebra, and the like, while Orel the Eagle and Jestrab the Hawk have lesser dominion over other raptors.)

Worshippers of the Zvirek Gods

The Zvire gods are worshipped by nomadic, tribal humans as well as some wood elves and other forest humanoids like dryads, pixies, and sprites. Many lycanthropes consider the Zvire gods to be the progenitors of lycanthropy. Almost all of those born with the condition into families and communities that share it will worship the Zvire, and even those who become afflicted later in life but embrace lyncanthropic culture will often abandon the gods of their youth in favor of the Zvire.

Zvirek Legends and Folklore

Zvirek folklore is filled with tales of the gods interacting with one another, as well as with mankind. Many tales involve a human encountering a somewhat large animal, only to discover that it is one of the gods who reveals himself to reward the human for his kindness to the animal or to punish him for his unnecessary cruelty.

Zvirek legends are unusual in not having myths around the creation of the world. The earth simply always was. Although the Zvirek gods are often referred to as Father or Papa by the other animals, they are generally not considered to be the progenitors of the animals. Rather, they rose from the ranks of other animals, as the largest, strongest, and best. And as other animals looked to them for leadership, they grew stronger and more powerful until they became gods.

But though the Zvire do not have legends around the creation of the earth, they do have stories about the creation of mankind. One day, Opice, the Monkey was playing in the mud and from it fashioned a naked ape that he called Man. But Man was naked and weak and defenseless. He didn’t have Tygr's claws, Zralok's teeth, Kanek's tusks, Jestrab’s talons, or Zmije's venom. He did not have Kun's speed, Kralik's stealth, or Medved’s strength. He could not soar like Orel or Netopyr. He could not stay beneath the waves like Chobotnice and Zelva, nor float away on top like Kachna and Labut. The other Zvire gods took pity on the naked ape and gave him gifts. Vulk taught him to live in tribes to protect one another, while Kocka gave him a home, Kun gave him villages, and Liska gave him order and rules. Kanek taught him how to grow and raise his own food so he was not always dependent on what he could find. Kachna taught him adaptability and flexibility. Vydra taught him how to use tools, and from this Man learned how to make weapons. The other Zvire each gave their own gifts, and from this the naked ape who started with nothing was able to use many disparate gifts to assert dominion in the world.

The Gods by Realm and Animal Type

Realm of Sky

Orel, the Eagle

Orel, the Eagle is considered to be the most powerful of the gods of the Sky. He holds dominion over the domains of Light, the Forge, and War. He can command other raptors and birds of prey.

Netopyr, the Bat

Netopyr, the Bat can command ordinary bats on Adnati. His clerics typically have their domains in the Grave, Nature, or Twilight.

Jestrab, the Hawk

Jestrab, the Hawk shares command of the earth’s raptors with Orel, the Eagle. His clerics typically have domains in Order or Tempest.

Sova, the Owl

Sova, the Owl is considered to be one of the wisest and most knowledgeable of the Zvirek gods. His clerics typically have domains in Arcana, Knowledge, or Twilight.

Havran, the Raven

Havran, the Raven, like Sova, is believed to have taught arcane lore to Mankind. He is a favorite among Arcane Tricksters. His clerics typically have domains in Arcana or Trickery.

Pevec, the Songbird

Pevec, the Songbird has dominion over most birds, and is a patron of music in particular and the arts in general. His clerics typically use the domains of Life or Peace.

Sup, the Vulture

One of the most ominous of the Zvire gods, Sup, the Vulture is the God of Death.

Realm of the Earth

Tygr, the Tiger

Tygr, the Tiger is considered to be the most powerful of the Zvirek gods who make their homes on land. He is powerful and quick to anger, and it is said that when he is angriest, his roar can trigger earthquakes and even volcanic eruptions. His clerics typically have domains in War, the Forge, or Tempest.

Medved, the Bear

Medved, the Bear, is a paradox, for his clerics have domains in both Peace and War. He is peace through strength, the god of combat and might, but tempered with justice.

Kanek, the Boar

In the Zvire mythos, Kanek, the Boar, is the patron of farming and agriculture, particularly livestock and other domesticated animals. His clerics are typically of the Life Domain.

Kocka, the Cat

Kocka, the Cat, has a close affinity with home and hearth, and of domestic life. She also has a close affinity with spellcasters, and it is said that the reason familiars often take the form of a cat is to show homage to Kocka. Her clerics often have the domains of Arcana or Life.

Liska, the Fox

Liska, the Fox, is considered to be wise, fair, and just, and for that reason is often called upon to adjudicate disputes. Liska’s clerics often have the domains of Order or Knowledge.

Kun, the Horse

Kun, the Horse, is the patron of hard work and civilizations, particularly towns and villages. His clerics typically have the domains of the Forge or Order.

Jesterka, the Lizard

Many tales about Jesterka, the Lizard, find him being encountered as he basks in the sunlight, and for this reason, many of his clerics have the Light Domain.

Opice, the Monkey

Opice, the Monkey, is known for his cleverness and his playful tricks. It is said that he created a naked ape out of clay, which became Man, upon which the other gods bestowed the naked ape with their gifts. His clerics typically have the domains of Arcana, Knowledge, or Trickery.

Vydra, the Otter

It is said that Vydra, the Otter, taught mankind how to use tools, and from this knowledge, man was able to learn how to create weapons. Her clerics are typically with the domain of Knowledge.

Kralik, the Rabbit

Kralik, the Rabbit, is the patron of fertility, and married couples often pray to Kralik when they are trying to conceive. Kralic’s clerics typically use the Life or Grave domains.

Beran, the Ram

Beran, the Ram, is the patron of war, particularly large, multi-battle campaigns and machines of war. His clerics usually have the War Domain.

Krysa, the Rat

Krysa, the Rat, is known for his slyness and subterfuge, which makes him an ideal patron of spies and thieves. His clerics typically use the Trickery Domain.

Jelen, the Stag

Jelen, the Stag, is the patron of the peacefulness and serenity of the natural world. His clerics are typically priests of Nature or Peace.

Zmije, the Viper

Zmije, the Viper — like Sup, the Vulture — is considered to be a dark and ominous deity. She is the patron of treachery, poison, and assassins. Her clerics are typically of the Death domain.

Vulk, the Wolf

If Jelen represents the peacefulness and serenity of nature, Vulk, the Wolf represents the savagery and brutality of the natural world. His clerics typically adopt the Nature or Twilight domains.

Realm of Water

Zralok, the Shark

Zralok, the Shark, is the most powerful deity in the Water Realm. His clerics typically are of the Tempest, Twilight, or War domains.

Kachna, the Duck

Kachna, the Duck, is the patron of adaptability and change, for Kachna is at home on land, in the air, and on water. His clerics typically have the domains of Nature or the Grave.

Ryba, the Fish

Ryba, the Fish, is playful and elusive, swimming to great depths and darting through plant-life to hide from predators. Her clerics typically choose the domains of either Trickery or Twilight.

Chobotnice, the Octopus

Chobotnice, the Octopus, is treated by the other Zvirek gods as a sort of “wise elder,” though she’s no older than any of them. Her clerics usually take the domains of Arcana, Knowledge, or Order.

Mlok, the Salamander

Though the Zvire mythos considers Mlok, the Salamander, to be part of the Realm of Water, he is equally at home in the fiery depths of a volcano or the steaming vents at the ocean’s floor. He is fire and water, steam and fog. Most Zvirek clerics with the Forge domain have Mlok as their patron, though many other Mlok clerics choose the domain of Light.

Labut, the Swan

Labut, the Swan, is grace, beauty, and love. Her clerics generally choose the domains of Peace, Light, or Life.

Zelva, the Turtle

If any of the Zverik gods would be considered older than the rest, it’s Zelva, the Turtle. Like Chobotnice, he is treated like a wise elder, and is consulted for his knowledge of ancient lore. His magic is often performed as long, drawn-out rituals; many of the tales about him involve him engaging in rituals that can last days or weeks to complete. He is the patron of longevity and stability, and his clerics typically take the domain of Arcana, Life, or the Grave.

The Zvirek Gods by Domain

Arcana Domain

Death Domain

Forge Domain

Grave Domain

Knowledge Domain

Life Domain

Light Domain

Nature Domain

Order Domain

Peace Domain

Tempest Domain

Trickery Domain

Twilight Domain

War Domain

Alphabetic Listing of the Zvirek Gods

 

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