Fides Sedecim
Faith of the Sixteen
Vayonism, also known as Vayonistic Hexadecism and known chiefly among its adherents as the Faith of the Sixteen, is a continuum of religious denominations with a common origin in the writings of the religious scholar and philosopher Vayon of Aratheda, reconciling the Ancient Vathoran religion with the punishment and despair of the Blight and the Age of Abhorrence. The term Vayonism is an exonym coined by scholars later on, mainly in order to focus specifically on the teachings of Vayon, the faithful always call it the Faith of the Sixteen.
Gods Above Gods Below
| Name and Epithets | Azaral the All-Mother, the Herald of the Beginning, the Lady of the Morning | Alyal the Lady-Most-Kind, the Herald of the End | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | Goddess of the Dawn, of Life, of Birth, and of Creation | Goddess of the Twilight, of Death, of Decay | | Symbols | The Golden Lance | The Silver Chalice | | Explanation | Azaral is the Goddess of the Dawn, the first deity to be formed from the Divine. She heralded the beginning of all creation and the birth of her husband, Azen, the God of the Sun. She brought the first rays of light into the world with her Golden Spear and is widely considered to be the symbolic mother of all creation, and because of that, she is also often considered to be the patron deity of mothers and wives. She represents the beginning of the cycle of life, the birth and growth of all. | Aylal is the Goddess of Twilight, the second deity to be formed. She heralded the coming of her husband, Zyran, the God of Night, and she will one day herald the end of all creation, the end of the world. She is the Goddess of Death, but she does not control it, she is more of a messenger of it, in some ways, a servant of Death, for Death is a concept that exists even beyond the gods. She represents the ending of the cycle of life, the inevitable decay, collapse, and death of everything. She oversees bringing souls to the afterlife, in her silver chalice, and as such, humans call her the Lady-Most-Kind, for it is she who takes care of souls between death and their judgment, without prejudice. Her kindness also extends to granting the sweet release of death to those who need it. |
| Name and Epithets | Azen The All-Father, the Lord of Flames, the Eternal Flame, the Lord of the Gods, the Sovereign Sun | Zyran He-Beyond-The-End, Lord of the Night | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | God of the Sun, of Fire, of Existence and of all Stars, Lord of Order | God of the Night, of Darkness, of Nothingness, of Nihility and of Chaos | | Symbols | The Torch, the Sixteen Rayed Sun | The Black Shroud, the Black Sword | | Explanation | Azen is the God of the Sun, the King of the Gods. He is the Divine who brought fire, warmth, and light into the world, and the Divine who banishes the darkness during the day. Together with Azaral, they are the Givers of Life, and they represent warmth and growth, and having created the planets and the other gods of creation. Azen is most often associated with the Noon Sun, and much like it, he represents the middle of the cycle of life. He is the King of the Gods, and is associated with rulers in general, particularly with monarchs, and he is also the patron deity of fathers and of husbands. He is the Far-Reaching and the Far-Striding, for the sun covers all the sky during the day, and all the stars in the night sky are believed to be representations or mirrors of the power of Azen. In opposition to his brother, he is also associated with existence itself, and with the spiritual world and the soul. | Zyran is the brother of Azen and the husband of Aylal, and he is the God of the Night and of Darkness, associated with the night-sky and with the nothingness that exists beyond creation. He is the fourth of the Gods to be formed, but he also represents the nothingness that existed before creation, with most theologists considering that he is the scion of the Divine who started to represent that nothingness after the light of Azen pushed it to the edges of the world. He is the God of the Night and of all that happens during the night, and he is also associated with nothingness and nihility, what lies beyond the cycle of life, beyond death, and the ultimate end of all that is material. As the god of what lies beyond creation and beyond the spiritual, he is also associated with Chaos as the opposition of the divine and spiritual order. |
| Name and Epithets | Valal She-Of-The-Three-Moons, Ladies of the Hearth, the Lights in the Darkness | Heral She-Of-The-Silver-Tongue, the Lady of Wealth, the Weaver of Lies | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | Goddess of the Moon, of the Hearth, of Home, of Truth, of the Family | Goddess of Trade, Trickery, Cunning and Exploration, of Strangers, of Far Away Lands, the Wealth Spreader | | Symbols | The Hearth, the Candle | The homing pigeon | | Explanation | Valal is the daughter of Azen and Azaral, and she is the virgin and chaste Goddess of the Moon. She is associated with the three moons in the night sky and is a guide of all those who are challenged, who work or live in the night, giving forth the light of her father even in his absence. She is a guardian and a guide. She is also the goddess of the hearth, and of the flames that bring warmth to a home. She is the deity of one’s home and of home in general as a concept, of community and of one’s homeland, of the people of you know and of families, the protector of familial bonds. She is also associated with borders and thresholds, and with oaths and keeping one’s vow, and in opposition to Herad, she is also the deity of truth and honesty. While formally one deity, she is often revered in three forms, one for each of the moons. | Heral is the Goddess of Trade, divine protector of all merchants and traders. She is associated with money, value, and profit, but also with all that one needs to succeed in the ways of trade. She is the Weaver of Lies, the Goddess of Trickery and Cunning, the patron deity of liars and of thieves, and of all those who must lie their way out of situations. In opposition to Valal, she is also the patron deity of faraway lands and of everything that is strange and foreign and unknown, and in the typical Vathoran iconography, she is depicted as a lady of darker skin. She is as such also the protector of explorers, of people traveling and of people who are foreign in a land, and her divine right was often invoked to protect travelers and foreigners passing through Vathoran lands. She is also associated with foreign languages, and the learning of foreign tongues and of customs. |
| Name and Epithets | Kaï Lord of Amber, He-Who-Preserves-Us-All, the Crafter of Walls, the Maker of Weapons | Ghiron He-Of-All-Ruin, Lord of Blemishes, the Breaker, the Ruiner, the Destroyer, the Liberator | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | God of the Righteous Wars, of Honor, of Strategy, of Tactics, of Valor, of Preservation and of Defense, of Metallurgy, Crafting and Wall-Building | God of the Wicked Wars, of Destruction and Dishonor, of Violence, of Treachery, of Rebellion | | Symbols | The Wall, tablets of lapis lazuli | The Mace | | Explanation | Kaï is one of the two deities of warfare in the Vathoran pantheon, the Divine associated with just wars, with wars fought for the defense or protection of something. He is a wise deity, the greatest commander of hosts, the wise advisor of all generals and rulers, and the patron deity of tactics, and strategy. His way of warfare is one of honorable protection of one’s homeland, and he respects valor and honor over pure martial prowess. His status as the god of those who protect led to his association with protection, and then later generally with the concept of preservation, with patience, sacrifice, and survival in face of opposing odds. He is glorified as the Lord of Amber, preserving those under his care like amber does to anything it contains. He is also associated with the building of walls and of defensive works and is also the main deity of metallurgy and crafting, especially of weapons, shields, and armor, but his love for beauty shines through in the more artistic creations of those who worship him. | Ghiron is one of the two deities of warfare in the Vathoran pantheon, the Divine associated with unjust wars, invasions, occupations, raids, and wars of destruction. He is usually prayed to alongside his brother, where soldiers will ask for the blessings of Kaï and the mercy of Ghiron. He is a god of brutality and of violence in warfare, of letting one prey to his own basic instincts in battle, of wars where no distinction is made between those who fight and those who don’t, of attacks and of the complete destruction of one’s enemy. He is also the deity of dishonorable tactics and tricks that can often be necessary to achieve victory in battle, but he is also associated with the bravery that soldiers need to fight away from home, and he is said to respect battle prowess more than anything else. He also represents the concepts of destruction in opposition to his brother’s preservation, the deity of ruin and of blemishing. He is also associated with the brutality of rebellions, so to some, he is worshipped as the Liberator, the only god to listen to the desperate pleas of those who want to gain their freedom through blood. |
| Name and Epithets | Azema The Abundant One, the Merciful Mother, the Mother of Calmness and Stillness | Vatan He-Who-Has-Two-Faces, the Ever-Turbulent-One | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | Goddess of the Earth, of the Sweet Waters, of Rivers and Lakes, of Fertility, of Harmony and Joy, of Agriculture and Animals | God of Saltwater, of the Seas and the Oceans, of Storms and Winds, of Choices and Transitions, of Dissonance and Sadness | | Symbols | A staff with ripe wheat | The wave, the galley | | Explanation | Azema is one of the most important deities in the Vathoran pantheon. She is the Goddess of the Earth, associated with the soil and in particular with rich soil that can be used for agriculture, but also with nature as a whole and with fertility. She is said to hold the seasons of spring and summer in most regard, leading to her association with warm weather, joy and with fertility. Vathoran tradition holds that she is the Divine who first taught humans how to plant crops and how to tame animals. She is also the patron deity of calm waters, of sweet waters, of rivers and lakes, and in opposition to her distant husband, she is also the deity of harmony and calmness. | Vatan is the god of saltwater, the Lord of All Seas and Oceans. He has an aspect associated with the abundance of seas and the blessings that he gives on all those who depend on the sea, but he is also a multifaceted god, controlling the storms and winds that can cause havoc on the sea and on the coast. He is usually portrayed as having two faces, and holds sway over transitions and changes, like the ever-changing sea. His unstable nature has brought him apart from his wife, Azema, and has pulled the oceans and lands apart, and because of that, he is also associated with disorder and dissonance, and with sadness and departures. |
| Name and Epithets | Zhelan Lord-of-the-Scales, He-Who-Weighs-Souls | Thelal Lady of Snakes, She of the Silver Scales | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | God of Divine Justice, the Scale of Souls, the Gate Opener | Goddess of the Earthly Justice, Punisher of All That Is Worldly, Guardian of the Gates | | Symbols | The Golden Scales | The Silver scales | | Explanation | Zhelan is the deity of justice in the afterlife, of the justice of the gods, the Divine who weighs the souls brought by Aylal, and decides their fate in the spiritual realm until the next cycle, opening the gates to one of the Eight Heavens or one of the Eight Hells depending on a soul’s actions in the mortal life. If the deceased had lived a worthy life, his soul would be heavier or equal in weight to the scroll representing its material sins, and would pass to one of the heavens, if not, and the scroll representing its sins is heavier, it would pass on to one of the hells. Zhelan then opens the proper gate and sends the soul on its way. | The twin sister of Zhelan, Thelal is the deity associated with justice in the material world, representing the protection and inspiration that the Gods are giving to the justice of the humans. She wields the silver scales, and grants wisdom to judges and rulers. Much like how her brother ensures that all souls are punished or rewarded in the afterlife, Thelal watches over punishments in the human world. She is also the guardian of the gates to the Eight Heavens and the Eight Hells. |
| Name and Epithets | Kedan Lord of Longevity, the Spring of Healing | Lhazel Nurturer of Plagues, Lady of Pestilence, She-Who-Cleanses-All | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | God of Healing, of Life and Permanence | Goddess of Pestilence, of Cleansing, of Propagation and Voracity, the Devourer of All | | Symbols | The Emerald Fountain | The scorpion, locusts | | Explanation | Kedan is the God of Health and of Healing, the patron of doctors and of all who fight disease, the Divine who fights to prolong life, and the ultimate expression of immortality, the Lord of Longevity and the deity associated with permanence and resistance in face of an early death. His benevolent nature has often brought him in conflict with the other gods, as his love for the mortals ensures that he tries his best to ensure that they live long lives – and if the other gods had left him to do his bidding, his biggest desire was for mortals to achieve immortality. | Lhazel is in many ways the opposition of her husband, as she is the Goddess of Pestilence, associated with plagues and diseases. She is not necessarily a malevolent god however, and she merely reminds humans of their mortality, and cleanses the world of sin and evil through disease. She watches over the propagation of diseases, and she is also associated with voracity and the eating away of harvests and of lives. |
| Name and Epithets | Naza She-Who-Loves-All, She-Who-Gazes-At-Wonders | Haligon Lord of Frenzy | | --- | --- | --- | | Areas of Oversight | Goddess of Love, of Selflessness and of Beauty | God of Elation, of Freedom, of Selfishness and of all Extremes | | Symbols | The rose, the girdle | The scepter of ivy | | Explanation | Naza is the deity of love and of beauty, not only considered to be the most beautiful of the deities, but also the Divine who represents finding beauty in others, the patron deity of artists. She is also associated with seduction and sex and is the patron deity of prostitutes. She also embodies selflessness and sacrifice. | Haligon is the brother of Naza and is often considered to be the ugliest of the gods. Thought by some to have been born insane, he rebelled against his own appearance by becoming focused on elation and of all manners of gaining happiness, with this dual nature being characterized through his association with dissonance. He is a selfish god, one focused on all the extremes, of music, alcohol, and joy. He represents the act of rebellion from the constraints of life and of society, and he is the deity of those who wish to focus only on themselves and on their happiness. |
After the Sixteen Gods first created the world, the scriptures teach us that humans were led astray by spirits and false promises. Weakened and corrupt, the humans were conquered and enslaved by the Realm of the Sun and Moon, the empire of all Loroi, and suffered underneath it. It is said that in those days of suffering and slavery, a human child, an orphan, and a beggar – had a prophetic dream from the Gods. Known thereafter simply as “the Divine,” this prophet preached to the human slaves of a time in the near future when a gift of the gods would give the humans new power and strength to reclaim their freedom and their lands. It is believed that the prophet was caught and executed by the Loroi, but all the efforts of the elves were in vain. The humans found that gift, an artifact of immense magical power, which became the center and symbol of a new human realm. The Silver Throne.
With the help of the Gods, the true believers freed the slaves, broke apart the realm of the Loroi, and created a new empire. But again, in time, the weakness of humans showed itself. The Vathoran Empire fell into sin, and the faith of its subjects degraded even further. Decadence, the mocking of saints and of messengers, of prophecies and of priests. Not all mindlessly stood aside as this was happening though. Three humans of great faith received inspiration from the Divine and tried to fight against corruption, and they became known as the Three Augurs. The first of the Augurs was Narsa the Catechist, who wrote a series of scathing theological works against the corruption and issues of the Vathoran faith, which led to her alienation and eventual exile from the Empire. Megara the Enlighter was the Second Augur. She was a high-priestess, and her writings and preachings roused part of the population of Vathora to the Smashing of the Idols, a religious revolt that ended with the execution of all those involved.
The third and most important Augur was Vayon the Foreteller. Born in a poor family in Vathora itself, Vayon somehow became a scholar, and then a respected philosopher. It was from a philosophical perspective that he discussed faith for the first time, and it was with philosophy that he criticized the realm and the faults he saw in it, turning the foundation of Narsa into a proper concept of how the true Faith should be. Criticized for his views and hunted by the Silver Throne for his criticism, Vayon had his first revelations, and foretold the Calamity of Vathora, a punishment of the Gods. Few heeded his warnings, however. It is not known what it was exactly that forced the Gods to act. Some believe that the Vathorans had refused to listen to the oracles and had decided to go beyond what the Gods had allowed them, to conquer the entire world. Other say that their crime was even worse, and that they were preparing for a war against the Gods themselves. While some believe that they might have even tried to become Gods themselves. Whatever their true sin was, it was lost as the Blight fell upon Vathora, destroying and corrupting everything. An empire fell in a day, centuries of power and knowledge lost. What followed proved the dreams of Vayon to have been right. What followed was the Age of Abhorrence.
Many lost their faith completely during those dark times, falling ever deeper into sin, but some, many of them having been followers of Vayon, accepted their punishment, and prayed to the Gods for forgiveness. It took a lifetime for the wrath of the Gods to finally subside. It was then they started sending dreams of prophecy again, but the first who were chosen, the Four Kings, failed their duty and fell to sin and corruption. The Gods forgave the mortals for their weakness, and again sent saviors for them – the Three Emperors. One of them, the Emperor of Ice, failed his duty and was forgotten, but the remaining two, the Emperor of Thorns and the Mage-Emperor of Fire – defeated the demons, witches, monsters and wicked kings, and ended the Age of Abhorrence.