Orcrest | Children of Sault

Children of Sault

Overview

A chase eternal in a house divided, always striving, always shining. The only true gods are the gods of the heavens, those that shine down upon us. Once One, cloven in twain by treacherous enemies, now the sun and the moon chase each other across the skies.

The pantheon of the Children of Sault revolves around Saultum and Saultas, the major shards of the shattered god Sault. These shards - the Sun and the Moon - forever chase each other across the heavens in an eternal cycle of balance. They are accompanied by smaller splinters: Forthace, the splinter of fortune, and Husconne, the splinter of misfortune, whose influences weave the fate of mortals like threads in a tapestry. Together, they teach their followers that life is a dance of light and shadow, joy and sorrow, and that harmony can only be found through accepting both.

Sault is said to have been shattered by the Great Deceiver, who turned Sault's own power against itself, obliterating the Deceiver but shattering the great god in the process. Still, a shattered god is yet a god, and the shards of Sault maintained godly power.

The Children of Sault embrace the duality of existence, understanding that light and shadow, fortune and misfortune, are two sides of the same coin. Saultum teaches that hard work and vitality bring prosperity, while Saultas reminds mortals to find wisdom in reflection and adversity. Forthace inspires joy and bold action, while Husconne tempers mortals through trials that forge resilience and strength. Together, this pantheon offers a balanced philosophy, guiding worshippers to embrace the full spectrum of life’s experiences with gratitude and grace.

Worship

Spiritual Hardships: Worship of Sault's shattered halves is common amongst humans and stoutfolk, and nigh unheard of in the Kingdom of Aer Arnad. It is the predominant religion in the Sulgate.
Sweat and Toil: Saultum rewards devotion and hard work with vitality, strength, and prosperity. Neglect is met with droughts or setbacks as a reminder to remain diligent.
Solace in Dreams: Saultas is said to offer quiet guidance in times of trouble, often through dreams or moments of clarity.
Gambler's Delight: Forthace offers opportunities to be seized by the joyful and deserving.
Pressure Makes Diamonds: Husconne hones worshippers with challenges, and rewards those who endure with subtle blessings.

Core Information

Symbol: The sun rising from a crescent moon

Major Domains: Saultum (Sun), Saultas (Moon)

Minor Domains: Forthace (Fortune), Husconne (Misfortune)

Internal Relations: Worshippers tend to choose Saultum or Saultas to the exclusion of the other. Though two halves of a whole, this internal divide has given rise to stereotyping and jeers about those on the other side of the line.

External Relations: The Children of Sault believe the only divinity is that of the heavens. The gods of other religions are false, either in nature or in existence - though that does not mean they do not have power of their own.

Rituals

The Festival of Radiance: A joyous celebration held at the summer solstice, where worshippers give thanks for the Sun’s blessings through feasts, songs, and offerings of golden flowers.
The Shadowed Vigil: A night-long ritual during the longest night of winter, where worshippers meditate under the moon, seeking Saultas’s guidance and reflecting on the lessons of the past year.
The Dance of the Twin Lights: Held during an eclipse, this rare ceremony honors the interplay of fortune and misfortune. Worshippers present offerings to both gods, asking for wisdom in navigating life’s unpredictable turns.

The Eternal Flame • The Sunshard

Lore

Saultum, the god of the Sun, the radiant Sovereign, is the embodiment of light, vitality, and prosperity. According to myth, Saultum’s first act was to rise above the primordial darkness, igniting the dawn and bringing life to the barren world. This act marked the beginning of time, as the Sun’s journey established the rhythm of days and seasons. Saultum encourages hard work and optimism, offering warmth and vitality to their followers. He rewards diligence and effort, but scorches those who grow complacent or arrogant.

In the tale of The First Light, Saultum is said to have cast his rays upon the earth, awakening the first mortals and teaching them the value of hard work and optimism. He gifted warmth and nourishment to the land, ensuring its bounty, but warned that his light could also scorch the unprepared. Saultum’s lessons teach that fortune must be cultivated through effort and that basking in success without vigilance invites ruin.

Forthace

Herald of the Stars • Splinter of Fortune

Forthace is the playful and exuberant splinter of fortune, the bringer of opportunities and serendipity. Split from Saultum’s radiant essence, Forthace dances across the heavens, scattering blessings upon the deserving. In the story of The Golden Fields, Forthace saved a starving village by guiding sunlight to their barren crops, bringing a bountiful harvest.

Forthace inspires mortals to seize opportunities and make the most of their good fortune. However, her gifts are fleeting, and those who squander them may find her favor quickly withdrawn. She grants sudden strokes of luck and opportunity to inspire joy and success. Though, she withdraws her favor from those who take fortune for granted.

The Silent Luminary • The Moonshard

Lore

Saultas, the god of the Moon, represents the cool serenity of the night, reflection, and the trials that temper the soul. When Saultum’s light wanes, it is Saultas who guards the world, offering guidance through darkness. She is often viewed as the contemplative counterpart to Saultum’s active vitality. Saultas guides mortals through their darkest moments, offering quiet strength. She ensures balance, tempering Saultum’s radiance with their cool, shadowed light.

The myth of The Silver Shield tells of Saultas shielding the world from a celestial storm of chaos unleashed by a vengeful god, using their calming influence to restore balance. Saultas reminds mortals that misfortune is a teacher, and in the darkness of adversity, one can find strength, resilience, and clarity.

Husconne

The Veiled Watcher • Splinter of Misfortune

Husconne is the stoic splinter of misfortune, the bringer of hardship and tragedy. Split from Saultas' quiet reflection, Husconne lurks in the dark places between stars, delivering calamity without warning. While often misunderstood as a harbinger of doom, Husconne's trials give opportunity to forge strength and wisdom. In the tale of The Broken Crown, Husconne guided a fallen king through years of hardship, teaching him humility and wisdom before restoring his throne.

Husconne teaches mortals to embrace adversity as a crucible for growth. Those who curse his trials miss the hidden blessings within, while those who endure find themselves tempered and transformed. Often he observes silently, letting mortals learn from their hardships.