Reth

1. Core Identity

• Name: Reth (R'-eth)

• Pantheon: The Core Pantheon

• Titles & Aliases: Major God, The Raging Storm, The Black Wind, The Mountain-Breaker, The Lord of Tempests, The Lover of Celo

• Gender / Form: Masculine. Reth appears as a wild, powerful, and imposing figure, often a barbarian or giant wreathed in a storm cloud. His eyes crackle with lightning, and his voice is the sound of thunder.

• Alignment: Lawful Evil

• Status: Major God (Reports to El, High God of Life)

• Divine Realm: Maelorum (The Cauldron of Endings)

2. Domains & Influence

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

• Portfolio: Hurricanes, floods, blizzards, volcanoes, earthquakes, and the "lawful" destruction that allows for rebirth.

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

3. Symbolism & Depiction

• Holy Symbol: A swirling black storm cloud, pierced by a single, downward-striking lightning bolt.

• Favored Weapon: Greataxe or Maul (often depicted as being made of "storm-stuff")

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

• Sacred Animals / Plants: Griffons, wild boars, and petrified or lightning-struck trees.

4. Dogma & Worship (The Core Beliefs)

• Core Dogma (The Philosophy): "Destruction is not chaos. It is the lawful, necessary clearing of the old to make way for the new. The forest must burn to be reborn. Be the storm that cannot be stopped, for you are an agent of the inevitable, natural, and lawful cycle."

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

  • "Embrace your power and unleash it. To hold back is a weakness."

  • "Be the agent of change, no matter how violent. The old must be torn down."

  • "Respect the power of the storm. Do not pray for it to stop; pray for the strength to survive it."

  • "Conquer that which is weak. The storm does not spare the frail tree."

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

  • "To show mercy to that which is marked for destruction."

  • "To fear the storm or hide from your own power."

  • "To build when it is time to destroy."

  • "To deny your passions."

5. Relationships

• Superiors: El (High God). Reth is El's "problem child," but a necessary one. El, as the Goddess of Life, accepts Reth as her "Lawful" agent of destruction—the "forest fire" in her department.

• Subordinates:

  • Lolth (Goddess of Drow and Spiders)

• Counterparts:

  • Celo (Major God): His lover and opposite. He is raw, destructive passion; she is gentle, nurturing love. He is in a constant cycle of "seducing" her, which mortals interpret as his storms "overwhelming" her gentle weather.

  • Thasa (Major God): His "co-worker." He is the force of destruction, while Thasa is the balance that comes after.

  • Gruumsh (Ezma's Dept): A powerful ally. They often "ride the storm" together.

• Mortals: Mortals do not worship Reth so much as they propitiate him. They make sacrifices and pray for him to avert his gaze. His followers are barbarian tribes, raiders, and "storm-cults."

• Demigod Offspring:

  • Diàochē Tronada (Tempest)

6. The Church & Clergy

• Name of the Church: The Storm's Eye, The Cult of the Cleansing Flame, Reth's Fury.

• Worshipper Base: Barbarian tribes, raiders, storm-worshippers, and those who believe the world needs to be "cleansed" by force.

• Clergy Structure: A chaotic, power-based structure. The strongest leads. Priests are "Storm-Crows" or "Fury-Bringers" who lead raids and rituals.

• Temple Description: Temples are always in places of raw, natural power: on the peaks of storm-shrouded mountains, at the mouths of active volcanoes, or on rocky coasts battered by waves.

• Rites & Rituals: "The Blood-Thunder" (a ritual of sacrifice and bloodletting during a major storm), "The Seduction" (a prayer for Reth to "conquer" Celo and bring a storm for their enemies).

• Holy Days:

  • The First Thunder: The first major thunderstorm of the spring is a holy day of wild feasting, battle, and destruction.

  • The Day of Ash: A solemn day to mark a past, great destruction (e.g., a volcanic eruption or great flood).

7. History & Lore

• The Seduction of the Storm: The core myth. It is not a "seduction" but a "conquest." His divine right is to be the dominant force, and he takes the power from Celo to unleash his beautiful, destructive storms, which he sees as an act of passionate, divine love.

• The Axe and the Forest: A "Lawful Evil" parable. A weak, sick forest must be burned down. Reth is the wildfire. This is his "cleansing" gift to "El," ensuring the subsequent growth is stronger.