Worldbuilding: Myths of Draconiquity, Part I - The Goblin King

 

The Goblin King

Myths of Draconiquity, Part I

The origins of the archfey known as The Goblin King usually refer to his time as an old mage's servant. Some say the mage plucked him from the Fey Realm to do his bidding, while others claim that the mage created him; the very first of his species. Most storytellers will agree that the archfey was at first simply known as “Goblin”. The old mage would teach magic them magic to perform menial tasks. Eventually, "Goblin" outlived their use, and had to escape before the old mage used them as a component for some spell.  

Alone in the wild, "Goblin" often felt lonely and would play tricks on others to gain their attention, but he was always met with hostility. When his tricks almost cost him his life, "Goblin" opted to instead offer his services, like cleaning a room or the dishes, tending to a garden, or knitting a blanket; He would ask for goods in exchange, like being able to sleep in a hidden corner of the same house, or food to sustain himself. This approach was much more successful. When "Goblin" finished the last task he would perform for any individual, he would always ask for an article of clothing in return. 

After being in many households, Goblin felt like he wanted a family of his own. He used his knowledge of  his old master's magics and conjured three friends: a Goblin in his own image that he could play with, a Hobgoblin that was capable of defending them, and a Bugbear with many skills to help him go anywhere. These three friends would eventually become the patriarchs of their respective goblinoid lines; Many regard the Goblin King as the progenitor of all goblinkind for this reason.

Nobody is clear on how the Goblin King became an archfey and gained his title. Some speculate that he gains this status from the crown he wears, and anyone who steals it could gain the same. This speculation has led some to believe that the Goblin King is simply a title that is passed to the goblin that wears the crown.

Regardless of how he gained his power, the Goblin King is widely known as the protector of his kin. He dedicates himself to maintaining his position of power so that his goblins can fall back on him. He does this by making deals with others, tricking them if they break the rules of a deal. Sometimes he will court another archfey if the pairing would benefit his own.

For hundreds of years, goblins have found themselves moving from the Goblin King's realm into the civilized areas of the Material Plane. Nowadays, it is typical for goblins to come from families that have had nothing to do with their ancestral home in the Fey Realm. These modern goblins regard the Goblin King as a figure of myth.

Worldbuilding: Pantheon of Draconiquity, Part VIII - Judgement

    

Zalaurix, Lady of Judgement

The Pantheon of Draconiquity, Part VIII

Motif: A Dragon

Spiritual Weapon: A horn trumpet that conjures divine fire

Domains: Dragon, Order, Peace

Core Beliefs: 

• Remember the past and account for your actions
• Forgive your sins and seek redemption

Zalaurix is the deity of closure and renewal. She is known as the goddess of dragons, as she is always depicted as one, often fully covered in either black, gold, or platinum scales.

In addition, Zalaurix is known for uttering the Laws of Dragonkind, which are as follows: 

1. Dragons shall not worship Mortal gods
2. Mortals shall not enslave Dragons
3. Dragons shall not interfere with the politics of Mortals

Followers

Naturally, as the goddess of dragons, Zalaurix's followers are mainly composed of dragons. This is especially true, due to the fact that the Laws of Dragonkind forbids all manner of dragons from worshipping any deity besides the Lord of Judgement. Dragons will usually refuse to offer prayer to any other god, and it is folly to ask them to do so. 

However, dragons do not worship Zalaurix in the traditional sense; Instead of idolizing her, dragons instead regard Zalaurix as a mentor figure, or an old and trusted friend.

Zalaurix also has followers among the humanoid races, and they are known as Renewed. Most of these followers are people who believe that their lives have been changed by the better thanks to dragonkind, and simply aim to extend their gratitude. A few of these Renewed are aspiring Dragoons, and train in the martial and magical arts to hopefully join their ranks one day.

Rites

The rites of Zalaurix that are practiced by his dragon worshippers are largely unknown; though some have speculated that it involves some form of meditation and self-reflection.

Among the Renewed, their rituals often involve meditation and introspection, as the god of closure and renewal encourages his followers to reflect on their past and forgive themselves for their misdeeds. These rituals may include purification rites, where followers cleanse themselves of negative energy or harmful influences, and renewal ceremonies, where they seek to renew their spirit and start anew. These ceremonies may involve the lighting of candles, the recitation of prayers, or the drinking of special potions made from herbs and other ingredients associated with rebirth.

Unlike the other deities, Zalaurix does not need require prayer as payment or toll in exchange for services in any way. 

Temples

The temples of Zalaurix are often grand and awe-inspiring, befitting a god of dragons. In the past, dragons preferred to keep their faith to themselves; As a result, their temples can be found in remote locations, built into mountains, caves, or other natural formations, and are typically adorned with sculptures, murals, and other artwork depicting dragons in various forms. These temples are enormous in size, big enough to fit several large dragons. Inside, the temples may be illuminated with torches or magical fires, casting flickering light on the walls and ceiling.

After the founding of the Draconic Consociation, it was eventually agreed that temples of Zalaurix be built inside humanoid cities, despite the protests from the more conservative side of the Consociation. These temples would serve as enclaves for the Order of Dragoons, and they would also serve as hubs for Renewed volunteers to help the cause, as well as the nearby community. These temples may be built with a focus on public areas, such as gardens or courtyards, where followers can gather for communal activities or social gatherings. 

Organizations

Draconic Consociation

This organization is founded on the mutual cooperation between dragons and humanoids, and it is chiefly responsible for enforcing the Laws of Dragonkind. This partnership is responsible for forming the Order of Dragoons, an order in which dragons and highly trained individuals, including dragon-riding knights and mages that excel in the draconic arts, work in close cooperation to execute the will of the Draconic Consociation.

Seekers of Deliverance

Also simply known as "Seekers", there are a few mortals who claim that an impending doom is coming upon the world soon, and that Zalaurix will save those that atone for all their sins and fully dedicate their lives to the Lord of Judgement. These Seekers have built small temples or shrines in a few cities that yet to be claimed by the Renewed. They claim to offer Zalaurix's salvation in exchange for tribute.

Their practices run largely in opposition to the beliefs of the Renewed, and hostilities between these two groups are common.

Worldbuilding: Pantheon of Draconiquity, Part V - The Magician

   

Gaedric, Lord of Innovation

The Pantheon of Draconiquity, Part V

Motif: A finger pointing upwards.

Spiritual Weapon: A Hammer

Domains: Creation, Forge, Artifice, Rune 

Core Beliefs: 

• Convert your dreams from abstract to concrete.
• Share your fortune with those who seek their own, and you may benefit in return.

Gaedric is the god of creation and commerce. He watches over those seeking to make their ideas a reality. He is usually depicted as a fox, guiding humanoids in the middle of a creative activity, like writing or smithing. This fox is sometimes seen holding one of the fabled Gaedran Relics, for which Gaedric is famously known for: A chalice, a staff, a sword, and a pentacle.

Followers

Devout worshippers of Gaedric are known as Manifesters. Their spellcasters are masters of conjuration and enchantment magic. Mages that specialize in the crafting of magic items often lean towards seeking his blessings. Some individuals that seek to invest their wealth in upcoming small businesses with the hopes to receive a return, also decide to join the clergy of Gaedric.

Rites

Clerics of Gaedric offer resources for those looking to realize new ideas. These ideas could range from something as small as a house remodelation, to more ambitious things, like starting a new business. In return, they seek a return with interest from the benefit of the success of those they invest in, as well as their commitment for prayers over a long period of time.

For example, a man seeking to have his own farm might ask the local Manifesters to invest in him. He might be required to live in their temple for some time, dedicating his life to praying to Gaedric and performing duties given to him by the clergy. After he's served for enough time, he is rewarded with enough coin to buy cattle and a farmhouse. Gaedric would then be expected to return for praying sessions in a monthly basis, bringing with him a small share of the earnings he has made. If the man marries and has chidren, he is also expected to bring them over. Once the man's debt is paid in full, he is free to choose not to come to the temple for prayer; though it might be in his best interest to continue, if his business does well enough for him to invest in someone else.

Temples

Where there is civilization, there will most likely be a temple to Gaedric. These temples are often large enough to house a host of followers; most of these being up-and-coming entrepreneurs serving their time in order for the temple's clerics to lend them their resources.

Besides their well known process for investment, many temples offer consulting services; for a donation to the temple, they can offer their advice to solve a particular problem in someone's business, or even refer them to an expert under the temple's network.

Because the work of Manifesters is such an enterprise, clerics of Gaedric do not tend to build shrines, as they are not big enough for them to do the good work of the Innovator. However, it's common to see small shrines of Gaedric inside the personal space of hustlers with many ambitions.

Organizations

Ortis Company of Innovation

Named after a legendary paragon of Gaedric, this company specializes in the creation, sales, and distribution of magic items. This, coupled with their resources and influence has turned them into a world-class arms dealer.

In cities, their workshops are often extensions to existing temples of Gaedric, though cases where an enclave of the Ortis Company resides without a nearby Gaedric temple are not unheard of. Their operations are similar to the temples' in regards to investing in others, though they focus on fostering magical advancements, and they mostly only invest in things that they believe can be mass produced. 

The company is also known to have an invested interest in the discovery of ancient artifacts; chief among these being the Gaedran Relics, an effort that has forced the Order of Orm to clash with the Ortis Company.

Guild of the Black Fox

There are those who believe that Gaedric's teachings did not intend for the blatant and sometimes corrupt amount of capitalism that can be seen in their modern temples. This secretive guild is composed of con men and thieves with arcane talents. The members of this guild work in the shadows, making sure that the dealings that happen inside the temples of Gaedric are honest and fair.