The Pretenders: A Spiritualist Religion

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A hagiographic depiction of the Pretenders alongside each other

 

The Pretenders (diekdikitís) are a collection of lesser deities worshiped by the Cliffian peoples as prominent aspects of various domains within reality. Within this culture, the Pretenders all compete against each other for the ultimate role of Pantokrator. In this sense, the followers of these Pretenders know well the limits of their power, and still admire and respect them as the forces of nature they believe them to be. 

 

Within the religion of the pretenders, which is spiritualistic at its core, sacrificial offerings, prayers, and the maintenance of temples are key mainstays of practice. It is not uncommon for each Pretender to have its own temple “cult” (a group devoted specifically to that figure above any other) and an entire culture of religious practices unique to them. Though it is also common for the Pretenders to be worshiped as a group, seen as complementing elements that exist within metaphysical tension with one another. Although there are endless amounts of Pretenders within the Cliffian worldview, below are a few of the most popular and recognizable ones who also play a consequential role within the mythos of Pretender faith. 

 

 

Kaptos, Pretender of Mighty Storms

(Lesser spirit of Lightning Strikes and Roaring Thunder under Neizdark) 

King of the Pretenders, ruler of the skies, bearer of the Sacred Bolt, master of thunderous power, Kaptos is the most popular Pretender within the pantheon and is widely considered to be its leader. Nicknamed the Father of the Pretenders, Kaptos’s domain stretches from thunderous skies, rainstorms, lightning, and such patterns which reflect his might within the natural world. The mythos of Kaptos dictates that he, alongside Pallas Vellena, his sister, and Neptos, his brother, devised a plan shortly after the birth of creation to reclaim reality from the warring Titans, who are believed to have forged reality from their combined wills. The story claims that Kaptos, with the intelligence and strategy of Vellena, the might of the seas under Neptos, warred against the Titans by unleashing both the elemental order of existence and numerous divine constructs and races, such as giant Bronze automatons and centaurs, nymphs, and daimons, against them in battle. The war lasted for over two decades, with new Pretenders joining the efforts against the Titans with each passing year, until a total of twelve of them had combined forces to overcome them. After the defeat of two Titans brought devastation across the natural world, Gaea forced a ceasefire to be called between the Pretenders and the Titans. Kaptos, with the help of Vellena, forged a contract of terms between the Pretenders and Gaea and the titans with the following conditions: in exchange for ending the war, the Pretenders would be given the right to war among themselves to decide who will gain ultimate dominion over reality as the Pantokrator. The Titans would withdraw from the natural world and into their own realms, with the exception of Gaea and Promeus, the Titan over volcanoes and magma within the Earth, who gave mortals the ability to harness fire and heat to the advancement of civilization. Gaea begrudgingly agreed to these terms but has still found ways to assert the Titan’s influence into the world, specifically through using nymphs and other entities as ambassadors for her will, and acting upon the worshipers of the Pretenders themselves who decide to honor her and her authority. Kaptos emerged from this conflict as a leading figure, and it is said he is the reason why no Pretender has successfully clinched the title of Pantokrator. Even Vellena and Temeres, with their emphasis on war and strategy, have difficulties overcoming the sheer force and dominance that Kaptos possesses on the battlefield. Priests of Kaptos are often called upon to ward off harsh storms or to exact Kaptos’s vengeance upon those who might seek to trifle with them and their nations. Kaptos is often portrayed as a selfish, prideful, and bashful Pretender, seeing others as means to an end, and warring endlessly to claim the title of Pantokrator. 

Helena Katharsios, Pretender of Purification 

(Lesser Spirit of Lawful Purity under Scorthuz)

 

Lady Helena, sometimes known as Helena the Pure Lawgiver, or the anassa (queen) of Lawful Katharsios, and the Maiden Alexicacus (averter of evil) is one of the most popular figures within the Pretender religion, rivalling even Vellena and Kaptos in the amount of devotees she attracts to her ranks. Helena’s role within Pretender religion is one that concerns purity, in heart, mind, and soul, and therefore constitutes a significant role within the cultures and practices of the adherents of the Pretenders. Purity is seen as an important condition to reach and maintain within the Pretender religion in every respect. The impure, they believe, cannot access the insights or wisdom of the Pretenders, nor can they live in a way that brings about eudaimonia, flourishing, or arete, excellence. This concept explains Helena's popularity. Helena’s might is called upon to cleanse all afflictions of soul and mind, whether brought about through foul magicks, curses, monsters and daimons, or through mundane sources such as poisonings. On the other hand, Helena is often known to afflict the impure and criminals under her Pure Law with debilitating conditions that stop their illegal activities. Exorcisms, cleansings, and purgation rituals almost exclusively invoke Helena and her pure law as the only divine force in the matter. Offerings and prayers are given to her as well before every ritual or religious event honoring the Pretenders to ensure nothing malign attaches itself in the process. Helena’s power is known to even contend with other Pretenders and their actions if and when she sees fit and is asked in a way that is befitting to her status. Helena is believed to represent the necessity of divine law in governing the actions of mortals, such as respect for the Pretenders, an acknowledgment of Gaea and her rules of creation, and basic respect for the laws, customs, and norms of their civilizations and leaders. Thus, Helena is most at ease and appeased when her followers acknowledge both mortal and spiritual laws, and seek to follow them for the correct reasons - and avoid any and all influences of mind, soul, and body that might lead them astray. The ‘pure law,’ which constitutes both the will of Helena as communicated by her priests and intermediaries, and also a general reverence for the spiritual order, is taken seriously within all sects of the Pretender religion and a violation of it is often the first step of invoking Helena’s presence into any given situation. Helena’s priests often act as exorcists, protectors, guides, and cleansers against all violations of the pure law - mortal and otherworldly alike - within their societies. The sacred animal of Helena is the Peacock.

Pallas Vellena, Pretender of Strategy, Warfare, Wisdom, and Invention

(Lesser Spirit of Strategic Invention Under Vulka) 

Pallas Vellena, the mind of Eternity, the Lady of Strategy, she-who-births-mighty-works, and Maiden of Warfare, is a Pretender adored by all order-bound warriors, strategists, tacticians, and inventors within the Pretender faith. She is widely considered one of the most intelligent and wise members of the Pretender pantheon. Contrary to her brother, Temeres, who represents the primality and brutality known to open warfare, Vellena insists that her followers rely on strategy, precision, and technique over brute force or violence in matters of warfare. Practicing and refining the art of warfare is a key tenet of worshiping Vellena. Both the practical strategies offered by Vellena in mythos and teaching, and her alleged influence alongside her followers in conflict, are credited with many victories in battles of many scales, from skirmishes to wars between nations. Followers of Vellena are often military officials, amateur warriors, or clerics who have adopted an aesthetic of warfare. They serve as the minds and defenders of the nations they live in, oftentimes forging mighty inventions and grand strategies in Vellena’s name. Given Vellena’s emphasis on intellectual arete, these individuals tend to have extensive knowledge of many different domains, not just warfare, making them grand wells of knowledge in many subjects. In Pretender mythos, Vellena is credited with the downfall of the Titans (the race of beings credited with forging existence itself), outsmarting the Giants of Stakos, a race of warrior-beings from the underworld who bled into the natural world. And she is also credited with being the only Pretender who has devised means to keep back the might of Temeres and Kaptos from consuming the world during their occasional fits of rage. The sacred animal of Vellena is the owl. 

Neptos, Pretender of the Seas 

(Lesser Spirit of Oceanic Wrath and Protection under Ankrus)

The shaker of the Earth, the might of the Seas, the King of the Tides, Neptos is perhaps one of the most feared names in the entire Pretender pantheon. Respected by seafarers and navies, both his protection and assistance is beckoned when traversing the high seas. Neptos is known to offer favorable winds and gentle tides to those who gain his favor, while surrendering those who offend him to the cruel fate of the seas. Neptos is often visualized wielding a jewel-encrusted trident while standing atop a rock of coral, governing the condition of the seas with unilateral might. He is the brother of Kaptos and one of the principal participants in the overthrow of the Titans and the eventual removal of their influence from the material world. His priests are often sea-fearers who beseech protection for seaside nations and beseech Neptos’s mercies from natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis.

Ariena, Pretender of Hunting and the Wild

(Lesser Spirit of Archery Hunting and Taming under Votar)

 

Often called the great huntress or the Archer-Maiden of the Wilds, Ariena is a beloved Pretender for hunters, outdoorsmen, and pioneers within the faith. She is said to bless the fortunes of those who seek to tame and hunt grand beasts of the wilds, especially if such ventures are undertaken through archery. Pretender mythos dictates that Ariena prefers archery because it was an art she used to bring down the Cyclops Tok, who was feared throughout the lands of Bronze for successfully defeating every hunter who tried to stop him while also destroying entire villages. Ariena’s bow is believed to have fell him with one strategic shot to the eye. His body was then taken and dispersed to every land and nation devastated by him to be used as trophies and a reminder of Ariena’s triumph over even the most fearsome creature of the wilds. Ariena is often invoked when a new settlement is built in untamed land, or just before undergoing dangerous hunts that will involve directly confronting the wildness of Gaea. Ariena is believed to be the only Pretender who can contend with Vellena on the level of tact and strategy, and it is also believed that she has come close to besting Kaptos for the Pantokrator role on more than one occasion. Ariena’s priests are often huntsmen, archers, and explorers who beseech her tact and precision against the untamed wilds of the world. It is said that Ariena abhors untamable predators, and will grant additional assistance to any devout follower who seeks to use her means to bring them to heel. This makes both natural creatures and supernatural ones of grand might, such as Dragons or their descendants (like Azdrazi), daimons (Inferi), popular targets for Ariena’s followers during their divine hunts. 

Apolloyion, Pretender of Sunlight and Creation

 

(Lesser Spirit of sunrays and daybreak under Aztran)

Apolloyion, sometimes called Apollo for short, the Phoebus (bright shining), King of the Sun, and the Hekatos (far-shooter) of Light, and the Alexicacus (averter of evil) is the Pretender who rules over the Sun, light, and governs day within the mortal world. Apolloyion is said to have the ability to ward off plagues and diseases, expose lies and schemes that occur under darkness, and also give good fortune upon those who receive his smile. Apollo is also said to give visions and signs to those who beseech and honor them, ones that guide the course of fate, fortune, and behavior. Son of the Titan Promeus, Apolloyion established his place among the Pretenders when he slayed the Styxos, a three-headed hydra birthed from the shadows which terrorized numerous villages in the lands of Bronze at night. In Pretender mythos, Apollo received a vision of this beast and its location, and went to the forge of Vellena and stole a golden bow infused with the might of the Pretenders, but unusable to anyone except a specific individual who possessed the arete to harness the creatorial force of the sun at any time. Apollo, given his divine lineage, had such a spark within him. He took the bow and went to a village named Crata during the dead of night, where the moon barely shone, and waited atop a small hut for the arrival of Styxos. Within moments the beast swept in, making its announcement through a faint screech that took the lives of anyone who heard it by petrifying them with fear. The mythos goes on to explain that Apolloyion, in a mighty act of courage, approached Styxos whilst he was briefly distracted and fired his bow at him, unleashing a volley of fifty arrows at Styxos infused with the power of the sun. The beast was felled and the shadows of the night immediately faded, bringing about an era of eternal sunlight over the land where Styxos lay dead. It is said that Apollo’s act on this day gave the sun its supremacy over the lands of Gaea and her natural cycles, and permanently subordinated night to its measure, creating the day-night cycle seen by all today. Daybreak is therefore considered a holy time for followers of Apolloyion. Apollo left Styxos’s corpse to roast in the naked light of the day and took upon himself the title of light-giver and protector. In the modern day, Apollo’s rays bring forth clarity, truth, and ward off even the most fearsome agents of the night. His priests are often protectors and guides of the communities they live in, and Apolloyion’s light is said to bless those who revere him and his example of courage by praying and offering sacrifices to him. 

 

Apolloyion slaying Styxos and bringing the Sun to rule over darkness.

Temeres, Pretender of War and Conflict

(Lesser spirit of chaotic warring under Enrohk)

The ravager, the father of war, the master of strife, all of these titles encapsulate the reputation of one of the most feared members of the Pretenders pantheon. Temeres, brother of Vellena, is known in Pretender myth for his guttural, brutal, and chaotic approach to conflict. Unlike his sister, who is known for helping armies triumph over their foes through sound planning and witty strategies, Temeres dominates through total warfare and complete destruction, where no standard of decorum, decency, or morality prevents the annihilation of anyone who opposes him or his followers. Temeres was one of the last Pretenders to join the war against the Titans, and the mystery cults connected to him often argue his role in the conflict had more of an effect on the outcome than Vellena, who is often credited with helping Kaptos drive the Titans from the world. In the longstanding rivalry between Vellena and Temeres, Pretender mythos dictates that Vellena’s measured ways have always won against Temeres brutality, creating a slight rivalry between their respective followings. It is widely agreed by both factions, however, that to face a priest or warrior of Temeres on the battlefield is akin to fighting a force of nature: a prepared foe may overcome them, but unprepared or tactically inept forces are bound to viciously be cut down by the Ravager’s wrath. Temeres’s priests are often called in when Vellena’s strategies have failed, or when they are not appropriate for the adversary at hand. Gladiators, champions, and other confrontational warrior types are often included in the ranks of Temeres and his following. Priests of Temeres, in addition to being wielders of brute strength, generally have the ability to call down the Curse of Temeres in battle through a special prayer to the Ravager, which causes a foe’s own passions to consume them and their allies. This curse has ended many battles before they have started, and has even intensified the level of brutality involved in conflicts where Temeres was present, where his enemies tore themselves apart, and then he picked up the pieces at his pleasure. 

 

Panos - Pretender of the Wilds

(Lesser Spirit of Grand Wilderness under Freygoth)

Whereas Ariena tames the wilds, Panos embodies the fullness of wilderness and its excesses. Known as a being with the head and legs of a goat, with the upper-body of a man, Panos is revered by settlers, outdoorsmen, farmers, shepherds, and admirers of the unrefined parts of the natural order all alike. Brother to Kaptos and largely considered King of the Wilds, Panos is considered an active force within reality, perhaps even moreso than other Pretenders who represent more abstract concepts. Pretender mythos Panos fought in the war against the Titans as a centaur aligned with a cult of Kaptos, one who was elevated to the same divinity of the Pretenders through ritualistic sacrifice, though he was not quite yet a Pretender. One tale claims that during a battle between the Pretenders and the Titans, Panos contributed to Pretender victory by letting out a massive screech and an air shattering sound with his hooves which caused the Titan forces to reel back in fear. After Gaea and the Titans were formally excluded from the world upon their defeat, Panos claimed the title of Pretender of the Wilds, and began to lord over the domains which formerly belonged to the Titans in his own way. Mystery cults, pioneers, farmers, and mountainous villages sprung up in devotion to Panos and were guided by an ethic of rustic simplicity, natural living, and a deep respect for nature. In a sense, Panos fulfilled Gaea’s mandate merely by guiding what was left unguided in her absence. Followers of Panos tend to be quite separate from the rest of Pretender society, preferring the isolation of nature and the beasts of the wilds to more formal examples of civilization. Priests of Panos are entrusted with making well-placed prayers to ward off wild beasts from settlements, and also to ensure the wilds cooperate with activities done to sustain life, such as gathering resources and such. In battle, Panos’s followers are known to make prayers that invoke his power in a way that mimics his legendary screech against the titans. This horrific power is known to cause even the most strong-willed soldiers to flee in utter terror, giving Panos’s priests a reputation for being able to shift battlefields with relative ease. The sacred animal of Panos is the goat. 

Algryines - Pretender of Pain and Wrath

(Lesser spirit under Krathol of Vengeful Suffering)

 

Wrath and retribution are important features within the religion of the Pretenders and the cultures that worship them. Adherents believe that acts that rebel against the divine order can be punished in many ways, among them being calling upon the curse of the dreaded Algryines. Algryines is a Pretender whose main function is executing vengeance upon the foes of the Pretenders and those who might seek to disrupt the world in its proper functioning. Murderers, for instance, might suffer wounds upon their body and mind from the horror of their act. Committing patricide or matricide, two grave offenses within the culture of the Pretenders, might be met with immense torment and madness to the mind of the offender. A nation that faces the wrath of Algryines might notice its crops die and its vitality fade away. In any case, the priests of Algryines serve a dual function as wrathful executioners of divine order within the world, a strong reminder of the enduring might of the Pretenders. This Pretender is often visualized as a sole woman with discolored skin wearing a dark cloak, or a group of women with a similar appearance walking in unison with one-another, speaking in one voice. 

 

Terana - Nymph of Gaea

(Lesser Spirit of Rugged Terrain and foliage under Bregthar)

In the cosmology of the Pretender faith, the world is the physical embodiment of a Titaness named Gaea, a being who played a role in shaping the very structure of reality as we know it. These beings, with the exception of a handful, are largely shut off from the world they helped create except through their echoes, enabling the Pretenders to assert dominion over what formerly belonged to the Titans. Terana is one such echo of Gaea, an ancient daimon of terrain and foliage who was entrusted many eons ago with guardianship over the natural world and its various structures. As one of the last enforcers of the will of the Titans and Gaean law, Terana takes her role as protector of the Earth quite seriously, and similarly demands her followers do the same.  In a world sprawling with continued defilements of the Gaean order from runaway nations that carelessly excavate for hollow purposes, to chaotic darkspawn spoiling crops and creating hellish landscapes with foul magicks, the role of Terana and those who heed her wisdom are exceptionally important. Terana and her priests not only work to heal the land of its unnatural wounds, they also seek to prepare the world for the restoration of Gaean natural law,  which is the last major echo of the order of the Titans within reality. To those who are willing to bid her presence, Terana also acts as the will of Gaea herself, capable of bringing the debilitating weight of mountains upon those who might defile it, to trap and bury them in its immense, and lending its strength to others who vow to defend it. For this reason, many priests and priestesses of Pallas Vellena also cooperate with Terana to ground their strategies in the will of Gaea herself and use it to dominate battlefields. The cults of Panos and Ariena are generally indifferent or hostile to Terana worship, viewing her as an agent of the Titans and a potential threat to their control over nature. However there are examples of Panos, Ariena, and Terana cooperating alongside one another to defeat bigger threats to the natural order, leaving open the possibility for situational collaboration between their respective followings.