The Father

The Father is the god of fertility, love, and harmony within the Nine Gods of Skyss. As the divine consort of the Mother of All, he played a fundamental role in the population of the world she dreamed into existence. Together they represent a balanced union of creation and social cohesion. After the Mother constructed the mythical longhouse and established the first fields with the assistance of the trolls, she called on the Father to join her. Together, they produced the divine offspring that govern the various aspects of the Skyssian cosmos.

While the Mother provides the raw spark of life and growth, the Father provides the masculine energy of adoration and care. His domain is the blessing of the group, ensuring that individual lives are woven into a supportive collective. He is the architect of social stability, promoting the organisation of people for the greater good. In the first days of the world, he supported his son Fafnir in setting limits on the chaos of Meniaxter, ensuring that the world remained a place where people could thrive in safety rather than falling into solitary destruction. His power is bent on the principle of leaving no one behind, reflecting a commitment to the welfare of the entire family or community.

Followers of the Father are those who seek to build and maintain strong social bonds. This includes not only parents and heads of households who adoringly care for their children and partners, but also any individual involved in founding new settlements or guilds. Because he represents the joining of individuals into supportive groups, he is the primary patron of kings and those who manage the resources of the state.

At a domestic level, he is worshipped by those who wish to maintain affection and order within their group. People who seek to lead with honour and wisdom look to him as their divine example. Those whose work involves the founding of institutions or the administration of justice also seek his blessing to ensure their efforts grow with harmony and stability. His influence is viewed as the glue that binds a household together, mirroring his relationship with the Mother in the first longhouse.

The Mother and the Father are often worshipped jointly, especially by those looking to bear children, men call on the Father to guide them well as fathers, and for the Mother to look favourably on them and guide their lover safely to motherhood. Women also pray to the Father for the father of their children to be guided by him, and for their household to be a harmonious place for their children to be raised.

Ordinary folk celebrate The Father of All through rituals associated with the beginning of family lineages and the founding of new homes. When founding new associations, whether household, boat crew, merchant company or other formal grouping, he is invoked alongside The Mother to bless the union with social standing and peace. A common daily ritual involves the sharing of a meal where the head of the house acknowledges their role in providing the household with its harmony and success.

When a major community building or expansion is finished, it is traditional for the people to offer a prayer of thanks to him, recognising him as the source of the organisation required for such extensive work. Unlike his daughter Aeolf, who is honoured with great fires, his observances are often quieter and more formal, focusing on the preservation of the King's peace and the harmony of the community.

The mystery cult dedicated to The Father of All is known as “The Myriad Faces.” This name comes from the belief that he possesses many different ways of helping his children achieve success through peaceful means. Initiates of this cult are often senior advisors, heralds, or administrators who perform their service within the King's Palace. They study the ancient sagas to learn the arts of leadership and the maintenance of harmony.

Higher levels of initiation involve deep meditation on the “myriad” ways power can be wielded without resorting to the destructive violence of Meniaxter. These initiates are taught that true elevation comes from the careful balancing of societal interests and the rigorous enforcement of just laws. They often serve as the consultants for the Council of Electors when choosing a new monarch, ensuring the process is conducted with appropriate honour and adherence to tradition.

• The Mother: His divine consort and partner in the population of the world.
• Malfin: His eldest daughter, the goddess of darkness.
• Aeolf: His eldest daughter, the goddess of flames.
• Frijdodr: His daughter, the maker goddess of the trolls.
• Kari: His daughter, the goddess of the sea.
• Jorunn: His son, the god of the lost and found.
• Fafnir: His son, the god of justice and equality.
• Meniaxter: His youngest son, whose chaotic power he helped to limit.

• The Continent of Osnines: The land he helped to populate with divine and mortal life.
• Kingdom of Skyss: The heartland of his worship and the seat of his influence.
• King's Palace: The residence of the monarchy he is believed to protect.
• The Longhouse: The mythical first home he shared with the Mother at the beginning of time.

• Heroes: Those of his divine bloodline who seek elevation and the preservation of order.