Chapter VIII: Religion & Belief — g ods of The e mpIre —
E ach God is known by a variety of names and symbols. The following section describes the most common understanding of each deity, but these will vary from place to place. Devout characters, such as Priests, may like to display the symbol of their favoured Gods, and would certainly strive to keep the strictures of their chosen patron. To break these would incur heavenly wrath, and would require at least a good firm bagging to make amends.
the enemy of undeath in all its forms, for the creation of the undead is a raid on his domain. He is also the God of dreams and portents. He oversees dreamers’ wanderings in the dream lands, which border the realm of the dead, and sends portents to visionaries and the mad. Morr is said to be Verena’s husband, and in many tales, he seeks her counsel. Symbol
m anann God of the Sea
Feared and venerated by sailors and coastal folk, Manann is lord of the seas and the creatures within them.
The most common symbols of Morr are the black rose, the raven and the stone portal. His Priests wear black, hooded robes, without any
He controls tides and currents and is as unpredictable as the sea itself. He is as well known for wrath as mirth. The offspring of Taal and Rhya, he is usually portrayed as a huge bare-chested merman, wearing a spiked crown of black iron and flowing seaweed. He also takes the form of a whirlpool or waterspout, or a huge sea monster. Symbol Manann is most commonly represented by an abstract wave design, a symbol he shares with several lesser water deities. His five-pointed crown is also a common symbol, as are the trident and the stylized albatross. His Priests normally wear robes of greenish blue or bluish grey, sometimes trimmed with a wave pattern in blue on white. Area of Worship Manann is worshipped chiefly by those who depend on the sea: sailors, fisher folk, and the like. It is customary for people about to embark on a sea voyage to make a small sacrifice to him in the hope of a good crossing. He is also worshipped by the pirates of Sartosa and other places, who see him as a ferocious and warlike deity, quick to attack those who trespass in his watery domain. Temperament Like Taal, his father, Manann is indifferent to mortal cares. Unlike Taal, Manann seems to take pleasure in his indifference. Some sages of Verena interpret this as a species of evil, but Manann’s Priests dismiss this notion as shortsighted. They believe their God’s indifference and capriciousness have some ultimate design that only a divine perspective can discern. Strictures Most of the strictures imposed on followers of Manann are simply formalized versions of superstitions commonly held by sailors. Whistling while aboard ship is forbidden, for example, as is starting a voyage on the thirteenth day of the month or killing an albatross. m orr God of Death and Dreams Morr is the God of Death and the ruler of the underworld. He is normally depicted as a tall man of aristocratic bearing, with a detached, slightly brooding aspect. The souls of the dead belong to him, and he makes sure they are guided safely to his dark realm. He is
symbols or adornment. Area of Worship
Morr is known throughout the Old World. He is not an everyday God; he is worshipped mainly by the bereaved, who offer up prayers and sacrifices in the hope that their departed will reach his kingdom safely and prosper there. Interpreters of dreams and those who wish to be free of nightmares also invoke him. In addition, many Amethyst Wizards consider Morr to be their patron. Temperament On the surface, Morr seems an indifferent God, pulling all of the living into his domains, but his Priests know that, at heart, he is a God of grace, for he protects dreamers and the dead, securing them in his kingdoms. His opposition to necromancy and his provision of portents are both signs of his grace. Strictures Priests of Morr are charged with care of the dead. They are tasked with the following: • Observe all the rites of funeral and wake. • Oppose necromancers and the undead whenever and wherever they are encountered. • Be respectful and considerate of the dead and their families. • Pay heed to your dreams. m yrmIdIa Goddess of War Her statues are on nearly every street corner in the cities of Tilea and Estalia. Her name is invoked by the people of the South as a ward against everything from illness to death at the hands of Beastmen. As devout as the people of the Empire are in their love of Sigmar, it is almost subdued when compared to the wild and devoted love of the Southern people of Tilea and Estalia for their lady, their champion, their Goddess, Myrmidia. Myrmidia’s role in the pantheon is subject to debate—and passionate argument—across the Old World. In the Empire, scholars believe she was a mortal hero who rose in either Tilea or Estalia and protected those people against invasion from the
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