Celestials

The Celestials

Celestials are the gods of The Sphere. They are the stars, heavenly bodies, and planets upon which Mankind lives. Due to their position within the Cosmic Machine, each Celestial holds dominion over an aspect of Creation and thus influence over life and death as mortals experience it. Storms, love, seas, war, the hunt, the harvest, and so on…these are all the domains of the great watchers in heaven above.

There are, of course, many thousands of celestial bodies turning within the Cosmic Machine; stars, comets, nebulae, and others all have their places within the heavens. They do not, however, hold the same level of sway and power as the great planetary Celestials and serve more as nobles, vassals, and retainers within the courts of the greater Celestials.

The Celestials are known by many names, genders, and temperaments as the many cultures of The Sphere's many worlds each have names, beliefs, stories, and traditions concerning them. Given here are names and traditions concerning the Celestials according to Aventism, one of the most prominent and widespread religions on The Sphere.

Each god and goddess has a different personality, agenda, and a governing ethos their devout followers tend to share. Mortals pray to the Celestials in hopes of divine intervention, praying to stars and moons of the harvest for crops and rain, asteroids and nebulae of war for victory in battle, and planets of hearth and home for children.

By exerting their influence over the Cosmic Machine, the Celestials can influence events across The Sphere (especially on their own worlds). However, divine intervention inevitably turns another part of the Cosmic Machine, leading to unpredictable consequences elsewhere on The Sphere. Because of this, the gods avoid direct interference in mortal affairs and entrust their power to divine agents within creation. Divine priests, templars, and avatars in tune with the wishes of the Celestials act on the gods' behalf within Creation, working their will without the complications of a Celestial intervening directly.

Living Worlds

Once, there were 20 Celestials watching over the affairs of Mankind. Now, after The Collapse and the ensuing war in the heavens, only 11 remain.

Delphine
Delphine reigns over the sea and influences the weather. Both sailors and farmers pray to her fickle and moody whims, offering sacrifices for a safe journey across the ocean or plentiful rain for a season’s crops. She is often depicted in iconography as a stern old crone standing upon stormy waters, holding a trident in one hand and a lightning bolt in the other.
Also Known As: Astora, Hestia, Veth, Ghuan, Eskuo, Lady of Storms, The Crone,
Domain: Weather, seas
World & People: Delphine appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Astora where she is mother to the Cyreans.
Symbol: Two crossed lightning bolts
Iconography: Waves, gulls, trident, sea shells, lightning bolt, crone, the colors blue & green

Fiona
Fiona is the sister of Murillene and the goddess of love, beauty, and springtime. While most associate her with romance, her domain extends over the whole of human relationships from friendship to loyalty. She hides lover’s trysts and answers the prayers of the lonely for companionship. Fiona is also the mistress of beauty, not just in the physical sense (though attraction and sex certainly fall within her domain), but also in the realms of art, music, and all that inspires the mortal spirit.
Also Known As: Arcadia, Fernicia, Shen Mi-Kara, Lophe, Utaru, Lady of Flowers, The Maiden
Domain: Love, beauty, spring
World & People: Fiona appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Arcadia where she is mother to the Quendi.
Symbol: An intricate circle of intertwining knots
Iconography: Flowers, partridges, bow & arrow, blossoming trees, acorn, maiden, the colors violet & white

Garo
The wild places of creation are governed chiefly by Garo, a green planet seated amidst a field of asteroids. Lord of wild places and the hunt, Garo is a reclusive and temperamental being who offers his guidance and protection to survivalists, hunters, and those who revere the natural world while sending plague and pestilence upon those who despoil the beauty of the wild.
Also Known As: Tendale, Hyrocles, So-Shiryu, Gungador, Ti-Tikata, He Who Waits, The Hunter
Domain: Wilderness, the hunt
World & People: Garo appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Tendale where he is father to the Kindred.
Symbol: Skull of a stag in front of a crescent moon
Iconography: Tree, hawk, arrow, wolf, paw print, hunter, the color green & brown

Leone
Leone is a bright blue planet presiding over the ideals of justice, heroism, and courage. He raises up heroes, protects and guides law enforcement, and inspires the young to pursue their dreams with boldness. A zealous and passionate god, he holds to fast, immutable moral standards and cannot see situations in terms beyond black and white, good and evil. He is depicted in religious texts and stories as a powerful warrior armed with a gleaming sword and unbreakable shield.
Also Known As: Thera, Cadeus, Ryo, Endrega, Bukuro, The Unconquered Lion, The Child
Domain: Justice, courage, adventure
World & People: Leone appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Thera where he is father to the Humans.
Symbol: Fist holding a sword burning like the sun
Iconography: Laurels, eagle, sword, lion, castle, hero, the colors blue and gold

Lysse
Craftsmen and inventors pray to Lysse for skill and inspiration. In many stories, he is the unseen force guiding and inspiring the creation of history's greatest cities, weapons, and inventions. Lysse continues to bless the efforts of smiths, architects, and artisans to this day, laboring in tandem with their talent to create wondrous works of art and engineering.
Also Known As: Diodes, Mithrain, Xian-Xi, Tutho, Pholos, Lord of Forges, The Smith
Domain: Crafts, invention, creativity
World & People: Lysse appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Diodes where he is father to the Oluxar.
Symbol: A wheel of eleven spokes
Iconography: Anvil, ostrich, hammer, rivers, wheel, craftsman, the colors silver and gold

Marduke
In stern rotation behind Murillene is the great red planet, Marduke, god of war. He is circled by his twin children, the moons Firenze and Atama who vie ceaselessly for their father's favor in contentious, overlapping orbits. While the goddess Firenze embodies wisdom, tactics, and cunning, her brother Atama lords over raw strength and conquest. Warriors of all walks look to Marduke for strength in battle and worship him through ritual combat, offering sacrifice before great battles and prayers with each deadly blow.
Also Known As: Helios, Ghar, Yoshina, Faruq, Watunk-Yodar, Lord of War, The Warrior
Domain: War, strength, conquest
World & People: Marduke appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Helios where he is father to the Orcs.
Symbol: A bloody skull with crossed swords behind or beneath
Iconography: Skulls, vulture, crossed swords, bull, bonfire, warrior, the colors red and black

Murillene
Considered by many astronomers the Queen of the Celesitals, Murillene's domain extends over the home, family, and the fertility of living creatures. Once wife to Kibs, the King of the Celestials, she reluctantly inherited the role of Queen upon his demise. New wives pray to Murillene for children, expectant mothers ask that their children be born healthy and whole, and mothers of many maintain shrines above the hearth, praying that their children stay safe and that their homes remain happy.
Also Known As: Varion, Olster, Shizune, Namur, Theka, Queen of the Gods, The Mother
Domain: Family, home, fertility
World & People: Murillene appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Varion where she is mother to the Elan.
Symbol: A pregnant woman with a sun on her belly
Iconography: Hearth, hen, cradle, apples, eggs, crown, pregnant woman, the colors white and red

Pamataro
Pamataro is the god of laughter, mirth, revelry, and drunknness as well as the god of chaos and change. He is a trickster, responsible for many upheavals in legends and liturgy. His antics are supposedly motivated by mischief and a love of fun, but belie a deeper wisdom and foresight beneath. His name is invoked regularly at parties, festivals, and orgies. Vintners offer him their prayers as do any who wish to make their party a particularly memorable occassion. In the Cosmic Machine, Pamataro is a wily planet that appears irregularly in the sky when, according to some astronomers, he isn't drunk or off cavorting somewhere.
Also Known As: Nod, Jast, Qun Lo, Shemphati, Yeleros, Lord of Laughter, The Trickster
Domain: Intoxication, trickery, chaos, change, dreams
World & People: Pamataro appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Nod where is his father to the Nubari.
Symbol: An overflowing chalice of wine
Iconography: Wine glass, peacock, spear, grapes, mask, reveler, the colors purple and green

Pastacho
Pastacho is an enormous celestial body, great, bright, and glorious as he burns at the center of the Cosmic Machine, giving light and warmth to all within The Sphere. He is the sun the dawns over all worlds and is often depicted as a jovial man, smiling, bald, and fat. Not only is Pastacho responsible for giving light to The Sphere, but he presides over summer and the harvest. Many religions revere him as the giver of life, especially plant life. Farmers pray to him for plentiful crops and entreat him to stay his joyous fervor during particularly hot seasons.
Also Known As: Luko, Tian-Xiao, Khanpati, Mogu, Lord of Summers, The Father
Domain: Light, harvest, summer, life
World & People: Pastacho is the sun at the center of the Cosmic Machine and though he has created no race of people, he is father to all living things.
Symbol: A blazing sun of eleven curled rays.
Iconography: Sun, phoenix, torch, wheat, sickle, farmer, the colors gold and white

Setharkis
Setharkis winds her way through the Cosmic Machine, appearing once each month on every world as a haunting silver moon that fills the night sky. She is queen of the dead and presides over the shadows of night. While the living may inhabit the green worlds below. the dead ascend to Setharkis when she appears where they await judgment for their deeds during life. She is a mysterious entity, secretive and elusive. While not entirely detached from the burdens of mortals, her greater concerns are for the dead.
Also Known As: Hephastes, Xinami, Devira, Ombubu, Lady of Winters, The Wanderer
Domain: Darkness, night, winter, death
World & People: Setharkis is a great pale moon that winds through the Cosmic Machine. She is mother to no children though all must rest upon her bosom one day...
Symbol: A skull-faced moon.
Iconography: Crescent moon, raven, scythe, skeleton, mist, hooded figure, the colors white and black.

Ystrane
The most remote planet with the furthest orbit from Pamataro's warmth is Ystrane, a pale and distant planet visible in the winter sky as a distant spark. Depicted as a many-faced deity, Ystrane is the keeper of knowledge and secrets. He/she is also record keeper of the Celestials, noting all of their deeds for some erudite purpose. Scholars often pray to Ystrane for insight while thieves, spies, and conspirators offer sacrifices to keep their elicit activities hidden.
Also Known As: Evenar, Voluscar, Hisen-Tou, Vishda, Nuula, Lord of Whispers, The Scholar
Domain: Knowledge, secrets, hidden things
World & People: Ystrane appears in the Cosmic Machine as the planet Evenar where he/she is father/mother to the Aldorei.
Symbol: A book with an elaborate key symbol on its cover
Iconography: Book, crane, dagger, shadow, lidless eye, scholar, the colors blue and black

Maleficati: The Dead Gods

Mortal life is short and full of pain, beauty, despair, and hope. Lives pass like a vapor compared to eternity, ending almost as soon as they begin. Yet even as the body dies, the mortal soul lives on to be reborn again and again. While mortals may be especially subject to death, immortals are not as far beyond its reach as they may seem. For the gods however, death is very different. The divine are not subject to age, disease, or the frailties that haunt mortal creatures. Only an immortal such as another god or a sufficiently powerful spirit can kill a fellow immortal.

When mortals die, they change, leaving behind their physical bodies to become beings of pure spirit. Gods transform in a similar manner when claimed by death. However, since gods are already beings of a spiritual nature, Oblivion pollutes the core of their being as they pass through the lower realms. Known as Maleficati, the dead gods are twisted, perverse echoes of their former selves. The divine powers and unknowable thoughts which set them apart from mortals remain, but those thoughts and powers turn from former concerns and fixate on one goal: Oblivion. Perhaps their minds, like their spirits, become warped by death…or perhaps the Maleficati simply wish to end their miserable existence and will go to any lengths in order to do so, even if the universe must end with their suffering. In either case, the lost Celestials become destructive entities, the entirety of their will bent towards the end of the universe.

Celestials who die become Maleficati, phantom worlds of aberrant nightmares fixated on Oblivion and the end of all life in the universe.

Aberrant Races

Each race of people is tied inexorably to their world of origin. When the Maleficati died, the races they had created were twisted by Oblivion in body and mind. Many became Aberrant creatures, driven by dark desires and the insidious whispers of Oblivion. Still, some resisted the pull of darkness and still live among the other peoples of The Sphere as outcasts and aliens. Those belonging to such races have a reputation for being criminals or cultists, as many embrace their social status as pariahs or the pull of Oblivion upon their mind. Still others fight these forces, even rising up to become champions of goodness and light despite their personal demons and the expectations of society.

Celestials that undergo such a change become black, unseen blots against the night sky. The essence of the departed Celestial is essentially “uncreated”, existing in a state between the material and Oblivion. The planet, star, or heavenly body passes into shadow, becoming a twisted and horrible place of eternal torment as this world and Oblivion become one. These Celestials no longer exist in the same space as the worlds of the living. Theirs is a space between existence and nothingness where they turn as they once did, ghost worlds which only the dead can ever touch.

To end the Dark Age, nine Celestials gave up their lives became the Nine Hells, phantom planets to which the souls of evil mortals are exiled after death. Their former names stricken from the ledgers of time and memory, the Nine Hells are now known only by their new, tainted names. The Hells are filled with a hatred for all existence, plotting endlessly to put an end to their misery through service to Oblivion. Like the living Celestials, they are worlds filled with children who bear their horrid likeness and grant their "divine" power to the cults, priests, and fallen paladins that worship them and work toward the end of all things.

The Nine Hells

Aglaeca
Aglaeca was once the heavenly maiden of beauty, a star of unrivaled glory envied and desired by all. In death, she is a stinking, bog of horrid pollution and acid rain. When her star appears in the sky, plague and pestilence soon follow.
Also Known As: The Wretched Maiden, The Plague Star
Domain: Vanity, ruin, plagues, pollution
People & Followers: Aglaeca is mother of the ??? race. Her followers are the hideous, the scarred, the mutant wretches cast out from the light of day. They live in sewers and networks of underground tunnels where they plot to destroy the vain and the lovely.
Symbol: A broken mirror
Iconography: Mirrors, maggots, razor, smoke, the colors yellow and white

Baltherus
Skittering upon thousands of vile bronze legs are the wandering walled cities of Baltherus, the former architect and guide of civilization. His cities are rotted and barbaric, stinking with pollution, overcrowding, and the constant violence of demons and spiteful souls that dwell therein.
Also Known As: The Carrion City, The Venal Star
Domain: Anarchy, crime, urban decay
People & Followers: Baltherus is the father of the ??? race. His followers are the corrupt, the criminal, the thieves and degenerates who drag great cities into degradation and lawlessness. They sit in seats of power, crawl through gutters and skulk in alleyways, thinking only of their own desires at the expense of civilization.
Symbol: A building crawling on a hundred legs.
Iconography: Insect legs, centipede, garrote, pig, the colors gray and brown

Dis
First among the Nine Hells is Dis, formerly a great and glorious light in the skies of the First and Second Eras. Though once the Celestial tasked with the domain of wisdom and learning, Dis is now an endless, ever-shifting labyrinth of vengeful spirits, nameless horrors, and perpetual darkness.
Also Known As: The Great Deceiver, The False Star
Domain: Ignorance, deceit, confusion
People & Followers: Dis is the father of the ??? race. His followers are those who falsify facts to suit their agendas and obfuscate the truth with labyrinthine arguments going nowhere. They are con-men and deceivers, perverters of the truth who cause confusion wherever they go. They nestle in halls of academia, sequestering away or destroying tomes of insight and miseducating the eager minds who seek knowledge. They thwart rational discussion, squelch free speech, and oppose any who would see the truth come to light.
Symbol: A winding labyrinth with no actual solution.
Iconography: Labyrinth, squid, book with torn out pages, a lock with no key, the colors blue and gray.

Kerebos
Kerebos was once a sun who shone alongside Pastacho, giving light and joy to The Sphere. He is now a charred, black, and empty star, a dead land of ceaseless torment characterized by rivers of fire, blazing winds, and vast, empty landscapes of jagged rocks and endless pain.
Also Known As: The Second Sun, The Red Star
Domain: Pain, chaos, dischord
People & Followers: Kerebos is the father of the ??? race. His followers are sowers of chaos, inflicters of pain for no other reason than to watch others suffer as the world burns. They are wild, disorganized, and prone to in-fighting with religious zeal. If ever they were to cooperate long enough, The Sphere would shudder under their assault.
Symbol: A burning skull.
Iconography: Flayed skeleton, scarab, kris, burning tree, the colors orange and red.

Malgya
Freedom and justice were once the domain of this planet before her horrific death. Reborn as Malgya, she became a vast prison world of chains, barbed wire, sadistic tortures, and bloody, eternal death matches.
Also Known As: The Maiden of Pain, The Dread Star
Domain: Tyranny, bondage, violence
People & Followers: Malgya is the mother of the ??? race. Her followers are tyrants, bullies, and conquerers who revel in crushing the hopes of their foes before crushing their skulls. They lead armies of the dejected and brutalized, ruling through fear, violence, and pain.
Symbol: Two conjoined triangles surrounded by a wreathe of thorns.
Iconography: Manacles, scorpion, scourge, thorns, the colors red and black.

Mukshasas
In life Mukshasas presided over the weather, generously answering the prayers of those in need of rain or fair skies. In death, he is a roiling tempest of violent thunderstorms, earthquakes, freezing rain, hail, and cloudless gouts of black lightning.
Also Known As: Destroyer of Worlds, The Tempest Star
Domain: Destruction, carnage, natural disasters
People & Followers: Mukshasas is the father of the ??? race. His followers are chaos worshippers and storm-bringers, enacting rituals to overthrow the balance of nature and wrack the land in cataclysms. They revel in upheaval and destruction, causing disaster and calamity at the end of their long, perilous schemes.
Symbol: A fractured bolt of lightning.
Iconography: Tornado, baboon, morning star, wild fire, the colors red and gray.

Noctressen
In a lightless corner of the sky dwells the planet Noctressen, a deep, dark, cavernous pit where the most horrible of creatures dwell. Souls can fall for eternity in bottomless pits or wander, lost in darkness and stalked by any number of pitiless creatures who dwell in the pit of the former mountain king’s eternal innards.
Also Known As: The Lost Lord, The Black Star
Domain: Darkness, despair, ennui
People & Followers: Noctressen is the father of the ??? race. His followers are a seeping rot that slinks into the deepest corners of whatever institution or city they infiltrate. They bog down leadership with pointless politics, assassinate efficiency, and bring an air of despondence and drudgery to anything they touch. They are notoriously difficult to identify and deal with, their tracks concealed by layers upon layers of deceit and misdirection.
Symbol: A snake swallowing its own tail.
Iconography: Pits, bats, cloak, caverns, the colors black and gray.

Shelokinath
Once a star shining with the gentle light of romantic love and marriage, Shelokinath now lies alone and spurned in the darkest corners of the Cosmic Machine, her surface frozen over, scoured by unforgiving winds, ice storms, and boundless wastelands.
Also Known As: The Lady Pale, The Frozen Star
Domain: Cold, loneliness, betrayal
People & Followers: Shelokinath is the mother of the ??? race. Her followers are heartless, cold, and cruel, bringing heartache and bitterness with them. They deceive and isolate their prey, causing close relationships to fracture and fray under the perception of betrayal until there is nowhere left to turn. It is said that to join the cult, one must freeze their heart and break it into a thousand pieces, living only by the power and will of Shelokinath to spread such mad cruelty to others.
Symbol: A heart, frozen to ice.
Iconography: Snow, arctic fox, scepter, ripped veil, the colors white and blue.

Thanak-Yule
A dark and thorny forest filled with venomous creatures, carnivorous plants, and demonic archers known as Thanak-Yule was once master of the wild. He is now among the most treacherous and fearful of all the Nine Hells.
Also Known As: The Lord of Beasts, The Demon Star
Domain: Poison, beasts, fear
People & Followers: Thanak-Yule is the father of the ??? race. His followers are relentless assassins who taunt and tease their prey, filling their hearts with fear before the sudden end. They are lone hunters, choosing prey based on visions given to them by the Lord of Beasts. Some can even abandon mortal form when they hunt, taking the shape of terrifying, inhuman beasts.
Symbol: A set of nine monstrous fangs.
Iconography: Eyes, snake, bow & arrow, wolf, the colors green and black.