Reth

1. Core Identity

• Name: Reth (R'-eth)

• Pantheon: The Core Pantheon

• Titles & Aliases: God of Nature and Storms, The Black Wind, The Mountain-Breaker

• Alignment: Lawful Evil

• Status: Major God (Reports to High God El)

• Divine Realm: Maelorum (The Cauldron of Endings)

2. Domains & Influence

• Primary Domains: Nature and Storms (The Destructive aspects)

• Portfolio: Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the "violent, cleansing" power of nature.

• Cleric Domains (5e): Nature, Tempest, War

  • (Clerical Note: His "War" domain is the "war" of "nature vs. civilization" (the flood destroying the city).)

3. Symbolism & Depiction

• Holy Symbol: A black storm cloud, with a single, sharp lightning bolt striking the ground.

• Favored Weapon: Greatsword or Maul (weapons of "destruction").

• Favored Colors: Storm-grey, black, and electric-blue.

• Sacred Animals / Plants: The bull (for its "charging" power) and the "Storm-Pine" (a pine tree "blasted" by lightning but "still standing").

4. Dogma & Worship (The Core Beliefs)

• Core Dogma (The Philosophy): "Nature is not "kind." Nature is "powerful." The "old" must be "destroyed" to make way for the "new." The "storm" is the "cleansing." The "flood" is the "scouring." Do not "cower" from the "storm"; "embrace" its "power." "Lawful" does not mean "nice"; it means "inevitable." I am the "inevitable" destruction that "Life" (El) needs to "survive.""

• Tenets for Followers (The "Thou Shalt"s):

  • "Embrace the "storm." True power is "destructive.""

  • "Be the "cleansing" force. "Destroy" the "weak" and "corrupt" to make way for the "strong.""

  • "Respect the "Law" of "Destruction." It is "necessary" for "life.""

  • "Seduce the "gentle" (Celo). "Power" (Reth) must "overwhelm" "kindness" (Celo). This is the "natural order.""

• Sins & Taboos (The "Thou Shalt Not"s):

  • "To "fear" the storm."

  • "To "pray" for "mercy" from the "storm" (this is "weakness")."

  • "To "deny" your "power" or "ambition" (the "Sin of Celo")."

5. Relationships

• Superiors: El (High God). This is a "necessary" and "frightening" relationship. El (NG) is the "High God of Life." Reth (LE) is the "Major God" who manages the "Destructive" side of "Life" (predators, disease, storms, volcanoes). El "hates" his "methods" but "knows" they are "necessary" for the "cycle" (she is "Neutral Good," not "Stupid Good"). Reth is the "volcano" that "creates" "new land" for Els "Life."

• Subordinates:

  • Lolth (Goddess of Drow, Spiders)

• Counterparts:

  • Celo (Major God): Her "lover" and her "opposite." Celo (LG) is "gentle weather." He (LE) is "violent weather." He "seduces" her to "take over" her "dominion" and "unleash" his "storms." Their "love" is "selfish" (on his part) and "passionate," and it "defines" the worlds weather.

  • Thasa (Major God): His "co-worker" in Els department. Reth is "Destructive Nature" (storms). Thasa is "Balanced Nature" (animals/ecosystems). Thasa (CG) "hates" Reth (LE) because his "storms" "unbalance" her "ecosystems," but she also "needs" his "fires" to "clear" the "old brush."

• Mortals: He is feared by all. Mortals do not "worship" Reth; they "propitiate" him, "offering" sacrifices to "keep the storm away." His "followers" are the "Storm-Lords," "cultists," and "raiders" who "ride" the "storm."

• Demigod Offspring:

  • Diàochē Tronada (Tempest)

6. The Church & Clergy

• Name of the Church: The Storm-Lords, The Cleansing Path.

• Worshipper Base: Cultists, raiders, storm-druids, and those who live in "stormy" areas (coasts, mountains).

• Clergy Structure: A "Lawful Evil" pyramid. The "strongest" rules.

  • Acolytes: "The Wind-Blown"

  • Priests: "Storm-Callers"

  • Bishops: "Lords of the Tempest"

• Temple Description: Temples are "always" in "dangerous" places: the "peak" of a "lightning-struck" mountain, the "edge" of a "volcano," or a "sea-cave" where the "storm-surge" hits.

• Rites & Rituals:

  • "The Storm-Calling": A ritual of destruction, often calling a storm or blessing a raid.

  • "The Seduction": A "secret" rite where a Priest of Reth (LE) "seduces" a Priestess of Celo (LG) to prove Reths dominance.

• Holy Days:

  • The First Storm: The "first" major "hurricane" or "blizzard" of the year.

  • The Cleansing: A day of destruction, where followers are encouraged to destroy something old or weak in their community. 

7. History & Lore

• The Necessary Destruction: Reth is the god associated with the chaotic and destructive forces of nature (hurricanes, blizzards). He is the lover of Celo (LG). He is able to take over her normally beneficial forces when he seduces her, turning a light rain into a devastating flood.