Käbon Mythology

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Käbon Mythology

Aside from the three virtues, Käbons express intimate ties to their many Gods. The Käbon pantheon, called the Nourrean Äeh Käy (NOOR-REE-ahhn ay KAA), is a diverse collection of many divine beings, and is usually separated into two principal groups—the Käy Boh Ok (KAA BOW awk) or the Old Gods and the Käy Ni Mah (KAA NEE maw) or the New Gods. All of the names and terms used in this text are the rough translations taken from Käbon languages. Any mispronunciations or errors present are made by this catalogues' compilers, and blame for these mistakes should not be assigned to the native correspondents associated with this record (or any other members of their species).

The Old Gods are ancient beings believed to be born alongside the Universe. Immensely powerful and volatile, the Old Gods are ignorant of the trials and tribulations of mortals, (though they generally bear them no ill will). Led by Nouríí, the Great Mother of the Käbon universe, the Old Gods garner favor and power from the most ancient forces of the universe, including light, darkness, life, and death. This inevitably bred discord among every member of the Nourrean Äeh Käy. 

The descendants of the Old Gods, the New Gods are less primal yet more foolhardy than their predecessors. Jealous and fearful of their divine ancestors, many of the New Gods sought retribution for their continual dismissal by their elder kin. Through violence and bloodshed, the New Gods seized supreme power over the Käbon universe, slaying many of their ancestors in the process. These epic battles rained the metallic blood of the Gods across Basillica's infantile surface, giving metallic life to the planet's arid landscapes. 

Though specialized worship of the Gods, Old and New, is typically unrestricted within Käbon society, praying to particular gods is incredibly sectionalized. Though clashes between Käbon sects are rare, they do occur most frequently within populations near Basillica's metallic pools. Throughout Käbon history, small skirmishes were sporadically waged with minimal results. 

BASCA (BAHS-skah) - The first of Nouríí's sons, Basca is the spiritual embodiment of Basillica. Unlike his older sister, Qur'okka, Basca is a vibrant being that exudes youthful energy and health. A tall, powerfully-built being with coppery-bronze skin and black eyes, Basca is the primordial life force within the metallic planet and all who walk upon it. Often considered "the prodigal son" or "the forge father" by Käbon clerics, Basca and his two sons, P'Tahrr'anna and Tau'Manör, are viewed as the original forces behind Käbon physicality, intellect and spirituality (respectively). 

CORBIUS (KORR-bee-uss) - The Youngest of Nouríí's children, Corbius was considered the divine of health, fertility, and family. An androgynous being, Corbius appears in both masculine and feminine forms across Käbon culture, depending on what attribute worshippers chose to honor. To Käbon healers, their shrines depict Corbius as a gigantic Käbon male, wielding a lengthy scroll and large satchel. Exuding strength and tenacity, this version of Corbius is commonly viewed as the pinnacle of Käbon health and athleticism. However, when Käbon sages pray to Corbius, they depict them as a pregnant Käbon, carrying a long walking stick and a magical cloth known as the "Cseh Käy Nol (SEH KAA nul) or "the cloth that births all". Despite this dichotomy, Corbius is viewed as one of the few divine beings that is easily observable, for they currently take the form of Basillica's silvery moon. Rumored to have been banished by the New Gods after their total victory, Corbius remains a reminder of all beings and their doomed existence away from their Godly kin. 

IRÍJU (eye-REE-hoo) - A being of pure starlight, Iríju is a goddess of magic and ethereal energy. A cosmic librarian and the mistress of Basca, she was born from the excess stardust generated with the explosive creation of Basillica and its nearby planetoids. After the birth of their two sons, Iríju and Basca roamed Basillica in search of other powerful beings. Iríju hoped to find a potential apprentice with whom she could share her knowledge of the universe. Finding no-one worthy of her tutelage, Iríju left Basca and their children in disappointment. It is said that she now roams the stars in search of more "enlightened beings" and has never again revisited Basillica nor its moons. Despite the bloody conflicts between her lover, their children, and the other Gods, Iríju has remained relatively aloof of their affairs and instead traverses the Galaxy in search of sacred knowledge. However, the same can not be said for her other children. 

NOURÍÍ (NOOR-REE) - Known as the All-Mother, Nouríí is the driving force behind Käbon cosmology. The divine creator that formed Basillica and its moons out of pure starlight, this silver-skinned Goddess is one of the few Old Gods who was not attacked or murdered by the New Gods. The Käbon attribute their planet's lack of silver deposits with Nouríí's nigh invulnerability, and claim that the silvery surfaces of the nearby Corbius are the leftover gore and afterbirth from Nouríí's cosmic birthing of the universe. To the Käbon, all things silvery and pure contain small scraps of Nouríí's essence, and are thus cherished as a holy material. 

P'TAHARR'ANNA (PUH-tah-HARR-ahnah) - The Käbon God of Light and Wisdom, P'Taharr'anna is  patron to all Käbon intellectuals and innovators. The younger brother of Tau'Manör, P'Taharr'anna's golden skin reflected the light from all the stars in the Middle Rim, allowing Basillica's surface to shine brightly, illuminating the world for all who walked upon it. Viewed as a benevolent God, Käbon scholars revere P'Taharr'anna as the being who brought intelligence and learning to all Käbon. The Käbon now believe that P'Taharr'anna is contained within Basillica's golden moon, and have named it "P'Tahara" in his honor. 

QUR'OKKA (CURE-rok-KAH) - Often called The Husk, Qur'okka is Nouríí's first child. The Käbon Goddess of dryness and death, Qur'okka was among the first of her mother's creations, fashioned out of the dust and debris surrounding the new universe. Charged with shepherding the dead into the afterlife, Qur'okka instead fought against all of Nouríí's descendants, young and old. As such, she despises all of the New Gods, and only spares contempt for her brothers and sisters among the Old Gods. The only time the death Goddess spares the mortal Käbon any attention is when she carries the souls of the dead towards the Käbon afterlife. However, Qur'okka delights in reaping the souls of Käbon she deems "unworthy," seeking revenge against her brethren through the torture and enslavement of the dead. Because of this, Käbon clerics often host shrines to Qur'okka, despite their fear and hatred of the deity. 

TAU'MANÖR (TOW-mann-OOR) - Known as "The Hardy One" by followers and allies, Tau'Manör is a symbol of power and hope for all Käbon clerics and laborers. Associated with nature, alchemy, and earthly wisdom, Tau'Manör is widely considered the primary deity responsible for the seasons, environment, and complex ecosystems on Basillica. However, after his fall in battle between the Old Gods and the New, Tau'Manör's corpse was ejected from Basillica's surface, where it hung in silent orbit for thousands of orbital periods. It is said that over time, debris collected around the defeated God, forming the moon that shares his name. Followers of the Hardy One claim that all life on Tau'Manör was formed by its namesake's dormant life force.

ELE'NAKKA (EH-leh-ah-NAH-KA) - The Käbon God of Fate, Ele'nakka is a force to be reckoned with. Unlike her fellow Gods, Ele'nakka holds no divine lineage. Once a Käbon priestess named Eleka, she led the worship of Basca and his sons across the planet. During her life, she praised the Old Gods for their actions and preached that wisdom could be gained from exclusively worshipping the Old Gods. Qur'okka, angry that her fellow Old Gods were praised while her nieces and nephews were sidelined, hatched a plan. She whispered in the ears of her daughter, Oxírí and her lover, Pläethra, telling them that Eleka had wronged the New Gods with her biased worship. Jealous of their ancestor's powers, and enraged that a mortal would so openly ignore the deeds of their fellow New Gods, they traveled to Basillica, where they slew Eleka and painted her congregation with her blood. 

However, after Oxírí and Pläethra left in triumph, Nouríí the Great Mother took pity on the deceased mortal, and traveled to Qur'okka's realm of dust and decay and granted Eleka immortality. Now imbued with immense power and a need for retribution, Ele'nakka and sought vengeance against her fellow New Gods in the only way she could—by wielding the Fabled Winds of Fate. Now, Ele'nakka, unlike many of her godly kin, protects the Käbon priesthood from the wrath of the New Gods while carefully redirecting their violent jealousy amongst themselves. Sadly, even her immense power over reality was not enough to stop the battles yet to come.

GUÉL'DELLIN (GWUH-ell-ih-dell-EENN) - A distant child of Nouríi, Guél'dellin is the Käbon God of smithing, mining, and craftsmanship. Like his uncle P'Taharr'anna, Guél'dellin is a patron for all Käbon artisans and traders. Lovingly called "the Maker", it is said that Guél'dellin spends most of his days dwelling on the golden moon of P'Tahara, where he crafts weapons for the New Gods. Guél'dellin's acolytes, calling themselves the "Nadda Guél Gah (NAH-DAH GWUH-ELL GAH) or "The Maker's Children," typically reside on the northernmost sections of the golden moon. Residing in sporadic semi-nomadic tribes of craftsmen, smiths, and journeymen traveling across Basillica, the Nadda Guél Gah keep themselves closely aligned with P'Tahara's nightly orbit.
 

LYR'ANAH (LEYE-rah-anah) - The daughter of Corbius and Iríju, Lyr'anah is the patron of all musicians, artists, and lovers. The Goddess of Love, Lust and Music, Lyr'anah uses her magical voice to sing beings into existence, or to manipulate the minds and wills of other beings. A close associate of Oxírí, Lyr'anah delights in seducing mortals and other gods, enthralling them with her beauty and songs. As such, Lyr'anah has sired many children with multiple beings, who now dominate the pantheon of the New Gods.

OXÍRÍ (OH-HEER-ee) - The only offspring of Qur'okka, Oxírí is completely insane. The Goddess of Chaos, Oxíri delights in manipulating and disrupting the affairs of other beings, mortal and immortal. Oxírí considers all criminals and thieves her worshippers, and enjoys seducing others into their most tumultuous desires. The Käbon attribute Oxíjir's insanity to her unnatural birth: as a being of dust and decay, Qur'okka is completely infertile. Moreover, due to her hostile nature, and her inability to connect with all beings (mortal and immortal), Qur'okka never encountered any potential suitors. Nearly driven mad by her solitude, Qur'okka sought to create a child out of the space debris and stardust surrounding Basillica's solar system. In her attempt to mimic her mother's creation, Qur'okka made a mockery of her efforts, and created a being that was disfigured, damaged, and nearly formless. Thus, Oxírí was born, a bastardized creature of pure bedlam. 

PDONGORA (DAWN-gorr-AH) - A being sung into existence by Lyr'anah, Pdongora is an ally to the jealous, greedy and untrustworthy. The predatory Käbon God of avarice and deceit, Pdongora cloaks themselves with lies and deception. Like their distant ancestor Corbius, Pdongora is an androgynous being, who periodically morphs themselves into whatever form suits them best. Additionally, Pdongora is one of the few beings who truly considers themselves friends to Qur'okka, mostly due to their ability to disguise themselves if they fall out of the Death Goddess' favor. As such, Pdongora is widely considered "Death's Messenger" by Gods and Käbon alike, and is often credited with being the catalyzing force behind the great battles between the Old Gods and the New.
 

PLÄETHRA (PLAY-ehth-rah) - The son of Corbius and Iríju, Pläethra is the Käbon God of War and Vengeance. A psychotic being who enjoys violent bloodshed above all else, Pläethra delights in spreading chaotic carnage and debauchery every which way. However, the War God does occasionally restrain himself from committing perpetual atrocities, if only to help wronged beings (mortal and immortal) seek vengeance. The only thing Pläethra enjoys more than endless violence is revenge, and he focuses most of his power on ensuring that both Käbon and Gods alike achieve retribution by spilling the blood of their enemies. Pläethra frequently manipulates his friends and foes into fighting each other, drawing power from their conflicts, then encouraging violent retribution afterwards. Thus, Pläethra gains power from the vicious cycle of perpetual violence and revenge, and he focuses most of his power on ensuring that this cycle never ceases. 

RHÖDÖRR (ROAR-dorr) - A being of pure copper and bronze, Rhödörr is the one of the few beings with no direct ties to the Great Mother. An artificial being forged by Guél'dellin, Rhödörr's titanic body was formed from the precious metals coating Basillica and P'Tahara and the lost soul of a dead god. Extremely loyal to its creator, Rhödörr helps Guél'dellin work his forge on the golden moon of P'Tahara, or whenever necessary, fights on his master's behalf. The first and strongest of his kind, Rhödörr and its fellow metallic beings led the charge against the Old Gods in the Ultimate Battle.
 

TE'LLÜNUM (TEH-ell-OO-numm) - The Käbon Goddess of harmony, Te'llünum is a symbol of peace and tranquility among mortals and Gods alike. The daughter of Pläethra and Oxírí, Te'llünum encourages unity and understanding among conflicted beings. Among her many abilities is her greatest weapon-the Silent Dawn. A large horn fashioned from the bones of an otherworldly beast, the Silent Dawn, when blown, sends waves of quietude, harmony and calmness in every direction. Every being enveloped by the Silent Dawn's waves, mortal or immortal, immediately loses their sense of aggression and will to fight. Thus, Te'llünum is revered as "The Great Peacemaker" by Käbon worshippers, those striving to live as peaceful lives as possible. Unfortunately, Te'llünum's power came too late to stop the near-annihilation of the Old Gods. 

XÖRA (ZOR-AHH) - Known as the Queen of Monsters, Xöra is a wretched being whose visage is only comparable to one's worst nightmares. Daughter of Oxírí and Lyr'anah, and sister to Zäebüta, the Lord of Nightmares, Xöra is the mother of all creatures vile and monstrous. A reclusive being, Xöra is abhorred by nearly everyone, aside from her smattering of worshippers, her aunt Qur'okka, and Oxírí. Other than these cohorts, Xöra keeps little council, and instead spends her days birthing new monstrosities and thrusting them upon the mortal world. Though pockets of Käbon revere Xöra as "The Beastbrood" and believe her children are holy gifts, many devout Käbon consider Xöra an atrocity not worth admiration or devotion.

ZÄEBÜTA (ZEYE-booh-TAH) - Son of Oxírí and Lyr'anah, Zäebüta is the most feared of the Gods. The Lord of Nightmares and God of Illusions, Zäebüta is a master of inducing terror and agitation in his victims. Known as "The Dreamslayer," he relishes plaguing Gods and Mortals with cyclical and vivid nightmares, often feeding on the psychological discord created by his intense visions. Once he encounters a potential victim, Zäebüta will torment them each time they rest, gradually driving them into insanity as they sleep. When his victim's mind reaches the breaking point, Zäebüta will "slay" their minds while they slumber and swiftly retreat, leaving them a husk of their former selves.