Religion & Belief

Asuryan

The Phoenix King

Deity of the High and Sea Elves

• Alignment: Good.

Description

Asuryan is the oldest and greatest of the gods of the Asur, and it is from him that they derive their name and it is his plan that they believe they follow. He is the god of rebirth, renewal and new beginnings, as well as judge of the gods and patron of the Elven race, observing the world from his diamond throne. He is depicted as an elf lord seated upon a scintillating diamond throne of marvellous intricacy. He always wears a mask, one half black and the other white to represent the balance he advocates, He also wears a cloak of beautiful white feathers not unlike the one worn by the Phoenix Kings of Ulthuan and carries a sceptre of his mastery. This figure's face is never depicted. Asuryan also appears as a phoenix or a great eagle.

It might seem strange to outsiders that a race so long lived as the elves would revere a deity of rebirth, but that comes of a shallow understanding of the minds and ways of the elves, who see their long lives as a continual series of rebirths and recognize a constant need for renewal to achieve balance and prevent stagnation. The difficulty of these two principles for the elves and their importance to remaining sane for hundreds of years ensure his role in the Elven pantheon. He represents perseverance and continuing to grow (be reborn) through adversity (seen as a death of the old self). As the phoenix is consumed in its own flames, so it grows whole and new again.

Asuryan is regarded as the king of the Elven pantheon, with Lileath as the queen. He is the vigilant, paternal defender of their ‘children’ the elves, so he is also something of a war god, albeit not as important in that role as Khaela Mensha Khaine.

He judges the mind of each Phoenix King as he enters the Sacred Flame, deciding whether the Elf comes out of the flame unscathed.

Symbol

Asuryan has many symbols, as can be expected from his Elven followers. His primary symbols are the everburning pyramid, the phoenix and the Eye of Asuryan, a stylized eye with radiating lines. The mystic Eye of Asuryan represents eternity and renewal. Others include the sacred white flame in his main shrine, which has never gone out. His priests wear white, the color of purity and death in conjunction with red, gold and yellow in symbolism of life and fire. Their vestments are trimmed in scarlet and white feathers.

Area of Worship & Temples

Asuryan is worshipped throughout Ulthuan’s kingdoms, especially the mercantile center of Lothern and in Caledor. His greatest shrine (indeed, usually considered the most magnificent temple to any deity in the world) is upon the Isle of Flame in the Inner Sea, south of the Isle of the Dead and due north of Lothern. Nearly all of his shrines are white pyramids in this grand temple's likeness. This island temple is protected by the silent ranks of the Phoenix Guard. Runes, glyphs and reliefs invariably adorn the interiors. The Phoenix King of Ulthuan is crowned at the great island pyramid during a weeklong ceremony after the previous king has been dead for one year. Smaller shrines to Asuryan can also be found in the Loren Forest, and ancient ruined temples can be found in other parts of the Old World.

Friends & Enemies

The cult of Asuryan is friendly with most of the Elven pantheon, though links with Khaine are often strained. Of course his greatest foe is the Chaos god Slaanesh, who is so intimately tied to the moral weaknesses of the Elven race and who so nearly brought them to destruction.

Holy Days

The Equinoxes and the Solstices are the primary holy days to Asuryan. The first days of the seasons, particularly of the Season of Rain (being the first day of the Elven year), are also sacred.

Cult Requirements

The cult of Asuryan is open to all adult Elves. There are a few Men among his followers of late though never as Clerics. This last has largely come to pass through the instrumentality of Gunderit.

Strictures

None, but his followers must oppose Chaos and its myriad servants.

Spells

Clerics of Asuryan can use all Petty Magick and Battle Magick, as well as one fire-related Elemental spell per level. The Clerics and Daemons of Asuryan are presumed to be of the High College, though some few of them lean towards the Bright College instead. See the author’s article on the Colors of Magick for more details.

Skills

One of the following skills may be taken per level, with the normal experience costs applying fully: Astronomy, Divination, Palmistry, Sixth Sense, Daemon Lore, Heal Wounds or Rune Lore.

Trials

Trials set by the Phoenix almost invariably involve the preservation of the beleaguered Elven race in the face of chaos or their fallen brethren. Of course, the trial will be commensurate with the priest’s ability.

Blessings

Favored tests are Fear, Terror and Disease, as well as the skills listed above.

(Sources for this page: Hal's older writings, then mixed with references from WFB 5th edition and criticalhit.org.)

Elf Pantheon

Details on the other deities worshiped by the Asur and Druchii can be found here.