The Origin of Astvanor

Stories about the creation of Astvanor do not change much across the kingdoms.

Relatya and Tsaliora are the origins of many creation legends in Astvanor. While various peoples and faiths have personalized and interpreted their stories in their own ways, many agree upon the basic tenements of the Twins. Generally speaking, legends claim that Relatya and Tsaliora were made from the two hands of Celthaes, the father of stars. The creation of the solar system exhausted Celthaes, so he reached into the heart of a star and withdrew Relatya. With his other hand, he pulled Tsaliora from the nothing around them. He gifted his daughters the world and all her stars.

No active temples to the Twins exist in Astvanor today. Following the events of the Spring War and the creation of the Pantheon, both Tsaliora and Relatya retreated from the business of the mortal plane. Worship of the Twins is not forbidden, but denizens of Astvanor recognize that any prayers will go unheeded. That is not to say the Twins have been forgotten. Temples to gods of the Risen Pantheon often include alters and shrines to the Twins as a way to thank them for the creation of the gods they worship.

Relatya, the Sister of the Sun

Though created in the same moment, Relatya considered herself the eldest of the two. Impetuous by nature, she often attempted to exert her authority over Tsaliora, much to her sisters chagrin. In contemporary art, Relatya is often portrayed as being a Sun Elf.

Relatya is also occasionally referred to as the Sunmother or Sunsister.

Tsaliora, the Sister of the Stars

Created from nothing, Tsaliora's existence was always wrought with a terrible sense of cold. Despite this, she found fascination in the smallest of gestures and the most careful of movements. She often longed for balance in the wake of change. In contemporary art, Tsaliora is occasionally portrayed as being Drow or or a High Elf.

Tsaliora is also occasionally referred to as The Coldmother or Wintersister

The Creation of Mortal Kind

Most races in Astvanor attribute their creation to the Twins. Some races have specific stories and myths and gods and goddesses created by the sisters to create them. Humans and Sun Elves believe they were created by Relatya herself while Dwarves often claim that when Tsaliora built the mountains, she took the remaining stone and she built Diathar, the Stonebinder.

According to dwarvish legend, Diathar then carved dwarven kind from the sides of the Kaztar Mountains. Some Goliaths believe themselves to have been carved from the same mountains by Diathar.

Temples to Diathar can be found deep in the Kaztar Mountains, and are often places where the great fires and forges are tended to by dwarvish acolytes. He is still greatly admired and revered by the dwarves of Kaztar.

Other races have similar stories. Wood Elves and Firbolgs often claim to be the children of Caletras the Woodshaper, occasionally also called Caletras the Wildheart

Legends tell of the first forest to have been built by Relatya. They say that when the first fires tore through it, only one single, tall, oak tree remained. From the heart of the oak, Relatya pulled Caletras, the first wood elf. She bestowed upon her the ability to give life to the woods and the charge to protect nature. Caletras then gathered the remains of the first forest and from them she made the wood elves and from the stones she made firbolgs.

Caletres is only truly worshiped by those in Kelfema, however rangers often emboss their quivers with her symbol - a crescent moon crossed by two arrows - to seek her guidance, as Caletres was also often considered the first huntress.

She is largely not worshiped, however her name is often invoked to wish good travels.

Orcs often attribute their creation to the Orc God Roshka, the Shorebreaker. Orcs believe that they have walked Astvanor since long before Caletras formed the elves from trees and before Diathar broke stone into dwarves. According to Orcish faith, Roshka was crafted by Tsaliora from moss and clay as one of the first experiments in life creation. She wanted to fill the realm of Astvanor with sound and light and music, but found her creation lacking in strength.

Wanting to give her creation more, Tsaliora then imbued Roshka with all the power found where the sea meets the sand - tying her to the shorelines of Astvanor. She then gave Roshka the power to create more orcs from the shore, letting her breathe life into washes of kelp, driftwood, stone, and sand - making the orcs from the beaches and the soil.

Roshka is still worshiped by orcs in Striog. There are temples dedicated to her as well as feasts and celebrations in her honor. Her name is often invoked for protection during sea travel, and Striogisian ships are blessed in her name.

Alaeymena and the Birth of the Pantheon

In the time before the Spring War, a violent clash of burgeoning nations made more intense by the involvement of the Sunken Ones, Relatya and Tsaliora ruled over all domains in Astvanor. They regarded their duties seriously and took great care to remain fair and just. However, when Alaeymena Thayerblossom, a young cleric of Relatya, witnessed her lover, a paladin of Tsaliora recorded only by the moniker, Ansrivarr, fall in battle, she became distraught. In a frenzy, she called upon both sisters with everything she had to bring Ansrivarr back. Relatya, desperate to help her beloved cleric, reached for Alaeymena. In the same moment, Tsaliora, feeling the loss of her champion and wishing to give Alaeymena the power for retribution she craved, did so as well. The combined power of both Tsaliora and Relatya caused a magical backlash unlike any other. Both armies were devastated and Alaeymena crumpled, unable to contain the force of the gods.

The magic seeped from Alaeymena, and within moments, the battle-worn earth beneath her began to sprout and grow wildly. From her blood grew flowers known today as Martyrblossom. Roots would grow and encompass her body, entombing Alaeymena in the heart of the thick, magical, verdant land she created.

Touched by Alaeymena's sacrifice, Tsaliora and Relatya extended a hand to Alaeymena and offered her a place alongside them. The place of her death would be renamed Springrest in her honor, serving as a sacred grove for clerics and druids alike.

However, the Twins both realized that their involvement in the matters of mortals had come too far. Installing Alaeymena in the realm of Spring where she rules over the domains of Life, Light, Nature, and Blood.

The twins then set about creating the other three gods to make up the Pantheon and vowed to never interfere in the world of mortals again.

Arayla, the Tempered One

Created by the Twins to watch over the moral armies, legends say that Arayla's cold demeanor came from the horror of seeing unjustifiable horror and bloodshed. Stories claim that the first paladin she championed in her name betrayed her, becoming the First Oathbreaker. She was filled with a righteous fury, vowing to strike down those who dared to commit atrocity in her name.

Arayla was given place in Winter, and rules over the domains of Death, War, Order, and Tempest

Asalor, the Redeemer

Much like Arayla, Asalor was created watch over the mortal worlds. They were created in the same moment and given the same charge. Unlike his sister, however, Asalor did not feel the same cold rage. He watched as the mortal world changed, as they learned from their mistakes and rebuilt. Asalor, unlike his sister, is often thought of as patient.

Asalor was given place in Summer and rules over the domains of Grave, Forge, Unity, and Protection

Rova, the Conduit

Magic in Astvanor is a living thing. All forms of magic have their agendas, motivations, and desires. One the Twins retreated, the magic they gifted the mortal world risked becoming a threat. In order to control it, the twins created Rova. She values the learning of the things and the care of children. Many schools and orphanages are dedicated in her honor.

Rova was given place in Fall and rules over the domains of Knowledge, Trickery, Arcana, and Twilight

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