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One of the species that I've developed most in my fantasy world of Furtasia, is a wolf-like people I call 'Thladirans'. They're built off of wolf-like races that I usually played many years ago when I played role-playing games. I developed a culture for them, their own pantheon of deities, and even the rudiments of a Thladiran language.

Since I bought an adoptable from Jayla Blue that nicely fits one of these Thladiran deities, it sparked the thought that I would eventually get some artwork of all of them, and to post some information on them.

The Thladiran Pantheon There is no universal, central, organized church of the Thladiran gods, however there are a number of sects and orders devoted to a particular deity or to just a few. Each temple, monastery, abbey, nunnery, etc. operates more or less independently of the others, and seeks only to serve the community in which it operates. The leaders of the temples gather about once every ten years to discuss theology, dogma, and interpretations of holy texts. In typical Thladiran fashion, this is all very democratic.

Though there are many Thladirans who do not actively worship any of the gods, most do believe that they are the creations of Thladir. Unlike many other religions, this belief does not breed arrogance or conceit in the Thladirans; thinking that they are the chosen of the one true god. Thladirans readily accept that there are other deities besides their own, and that other races may be the creations of those other deities. This is evidenced in the worship of Gerrala, a Mervla goddess who is in the Thladiran pantheon, yet is recognized as not being a creation of Thladir, or his father, Kothnar.

Thladirans are not discouraged from worshiping other deities, though clergy are expected to be faithful only to Thladir's pantheon. Thladirans who do pray to other gods are advised to pay equal homage to their own pantheon, however.

Thladirans and Chafelans (coyote-like cousins of Thladirans, who worship the same gods under slightly different names and myths) make up the majority of the followers. The pantheon also has followers among other Elevated Races, as well as some groups of Orcs who live in close proximity to Thladirans and Chafelans.

The holy books of the Thladiran religion include the Zerzhanu Auwran, The Song Of Gods, an epic poem detailing the Thladiran creation myth, Thladir's first war with Draknar, and the establishment of His kingdom and laws. In addition to this, each individual deity has their own hymnal, which not only records songs of worship and the further adventures of the individual gods, but also details the proper ways in which to perform various rituals and observances of holy days for each deity.

Quote:

_...And so it was that Thladir cast Draknar into the dark depths, banishing the Deceiver from His kingdom. His golden rays shone warmly upon the face of Vamli's earth, and nurtured the sacred woods of Hémli that had sheltered him. His light sparked flame, and His brother, Methor was returned to them.

"Come, my love," He spoke to his bride, and He took Vamli into the bed chamber of His keep.

And the gods made love.

And that winter Vamli bore their daughter and heir, Freyuli, and her white blanket of snow covered the land. The young lord of the sky, Brekmar wept when he saw her beauty, and so came the rains of spring.

But the rains needed somewhere to go, and so did Vamli give birth to Nelklur, the sea. Restless, and tempestuous though the youth was, the ever present song of his waves washing upon the shore gave comfort to his mother as he wandered.

... And so Thladir looked out upon their world from the walls of His keep with His bride. They decided then that it was time to fill the world with children, "For what is a world without a people to feel its sunshine?" asked Thladir.

"What is a world without a people to walk upon the earth and till its soil?" asked Vamli.

"What is a world without a people to warm themselves at the fire?" asked Methor.

"What is a world without a people to sound the horn of the hunt in the deep forests, and fell the dead and rotting timbers?" asked Hémli.

"What is a world without a people to gaze upon the beauty of the snow?" asked Freyuli.

"What is a world without a people to feel the wind and rain upon their faces?" asked Brekmar.

"What is a world without a people to tend to the hearth and cook the feasts?" asked Gerrala.

"What is a world without a people to smell the sea breeze, and hear its song?" asked Nelkur.

But first, the children they put upon the world would need metal.

"Metal to glint in the sunlight," spoke Thladir.

"Metal to till the soil," spoke Vamli.

"Metal to spark the fire," spoke Methor.

"Metal to fell the dead timbers and hunt the stag," spoke Hémli.

"Metal to smelt the glass that keeps out the snow and the wind and the rain when they become too much," spoke Freyuli and Brekmar.

"Metal to hold the fire and the meat upon the hearth," spoke Gerrala.

"Metal to catch the bounty of the sea, and metal to play its song," spoke Nelkur.

And so Thladir and Vamli bore Shafeli, and with the power of Metal they imparted to her the wisdom to use it. And so was the world ready to be peopled."_

-The Song Of The Gods

Thladir (The Bright) - Thladir is the lord of the sun, and the eternal warrior. Thladir is married to Vamli, a nature/earth goddess, and the goddess of fertility. Through their union, they produce almost all of the other gods, and supposedly the Thladiran race. Therefore Thladir also represents the fatherhood. Thladir's arch enemy is Draknar The Deceiver, the god of death, darkness, and evil. With his sword of light, Thladir defeated Draknar, and banished him to the land of the damned.

Vamli (The Mother) - Vamli is the goddess of the earth and fertility, and by extension farming and the harvest. She is mother to almost all of the other gods, and supposedly the Thladiran race. Vamli represents mothers and motherhood.

Methor (The Black-Furred) - Methor is the Thladiran god of fire. He is also the brother of Thladir and stood at his brother's side, with a flaming mace, during Thladir's war with Draknar. For this reason, Methor also represents brotherhood and guardians. Methor is always depicted as having black fur, stained from the soot of his fires. It was believed that Thladirans with black fur were conceived by Thladir and his bride, Vamli, to honor Thladir's brother, Methor.

Gerrala (The Hearth-Fire) - Gerrala is the Thladiran goddess of the hearth, the home, cooking and meal preparation, and home-making. Despite being a goddess to the Thladirans, she is actually a Mervla (the bear-people of Furtasia), and her name follows Mervla naming-conventions. Gerrala is the bride of Methor, and so represents the Thladiran tradition of the non-breeding adults of a Thladiran pack sometimes taking non-Thladirans as mates, since the chance of successfully conceiving hybrid offspring is so infinitesimally small. She is the patron goddess to such spouses, and the spouses of non-breeding pack members in general. Though Vamli is the goddess of mothers and motherhood, Gerrala also serves as a secondary protector-goddess to children and of child-care, because being the goddess of the hearth, by extension, Gerrala represents warmth, comfort, and safety.

Hémli (The Huntress) - Hémli is goddess of the forest and hunters. She is also the sister of Vamli, and represents sisters and sisterhood. During Thladir's war with Draknar, Thladir was wounded through Draknar's treachery. Hémli sheltered him for a time in her sacred forest, protecting him with her bow as she healed Thladir's wounds. She therefore also represents healers and physicians.

Freyuli (The Beautiful) - Freyuli is the goddess of the snow and wintry weather. She is the first child of Thladir and Vamli and their heir, and represents all primary daughters. Her beauty was legendary, like freshly fallen snow, and for this reason Brekmar, the god of the sky, fell in love with her and became her husband. Freyuli therefore also represents love, beauty, and brides. Freyuli is traditionally depicted as having white fur, like the snow, and golden hair, like the rays of her father. It was believed that Thladir and Vamli conceived white furred Thladirans in order to honor Freyuli.

Brekmar (The Thunderer) - Brekmar is lord of the sky, the winds, and the rains. He watches over the lands and strikes down the unjust with his spears of lightning, warning them to hide first with a clap of thunder. As a judge figure, his image has been traditionally used in Thladiran courts and by Thladiran peace officers. His name is also invoked in the Thladiran language in order to attest to one's truthfulness; the phrase, "May Brekmar strike me down if I lie," is used to swear one's truthfulness. When Thladir and Vamli laid Freyuli upon the lands, Brekmar fell in love with her immediately and became her husband, and the primary son of Thladir and Vamli. Brekmar therefore represents all primary sons.

Nelkur (The Wanderer) - Nelkur is the Thladiran lord of the sea, who gave ancient Thladirans music from the sounds of the oceans. He was the second child produced from Thladir and Vamli's marriage, and represents all secondary sons. He patrolled the dark depths of the oceans with his mighty battle axe, ready to do battle with the minions of Draknar.

Shafeli (The Wise) - Shafeli is the third child of Thladir and Vamli. She was given the domain of metals to rule by her parents. She then taught the Thladirans of metal, and how to work it. Shafeli represents all secondary daughters, teachers, and wisdom.

Kothnar (The Timeless) - Kothnar is the father of Thladir, Methor, and the universe itself. He is the embodiment of time, eternity, and the shepherd of souls, whom he guides to his wife, Januli, the goddess of the heavens. He is also represents grandfathers, the elderly, age, and wisdom. He is usually depicted as an elderly Thladiran with long hair, gone white with age, and walking with the aid of a shepherd's staff.

Januli (Starfire, Soulfire, The Shining One) - Januli is Kothnar's wife, and mother to Thladir, Methor, and all of creation. She is the goddess of the heavens, the night sky, and the final resting place of souls. She is the embodiment of peace and serenity. Januli also represents grandmothers. While she is the grandmother of the gods, Januli is usually depicted as a beautiful, black-furred Thladiran woman in her prime, with long, black hair. Her jet-black fur is patterned with sparkling, luminous stars.

Draknar (The Deceiver) - Draknar is the arch enemy of Thladir and his family. He is the lord of darkness, death, destruction, and all that is evil. He continually seeks to trick the other gods and usurp Thladir's throne. Thladir defeated Draknar once and banished him to the nether realms.

Serrenar (The Covetous) - Servant of Draknar, Serrenar is desperately in love with Hémli who rejects him. Serrenar's lust allowed Draknar to corrupt him with promises that he would give Hémli to Serrenar when he defeats Thladir. Serrenar goes around cloaked because his fur is falling out due to Draknar's corruption. He is also accused of having many dalliances with mortals, devils, daemons, and others, which also creates the impression that his fur loss is due to syphilis.

Ya'Ipe (The Mad) - A Gnoll godling, servant of Draknar, his name follows Gnoll naming conventions. Ya'Ipe is completely psychotic and totally, stark-raving-mad. He causes pain, destruction, death and chaos simply because it entertains him. He would be ecstatic to see the world descend into a state of hell-on-Earth. Ya'Ipe serves Draknar with a mixture of fear, reverence, and jealousy. He is both terrified and awed by Draknar's power and cruelty. He both covets Draknar's power, yet at the same time knows he is no where near as clever as Draknar (or even Serrenar, with whom he bickers and teases constantly) to wield such power effectively. He is therefore content to serve Draknar, who finds errands for Ya'Ipe to perform that give him ample opportunity to indulge his sick, cruel, and psychotic urges.

Ritali - Goddess of Thieves, she is not evil, merely selfish and greedy. Yet she is also happy-go-lucky, adventurous, and she merely commits property crime, and does not condone killing. She is trying to reform her ways, because she deeply loves Nelkur, but he and his parents fear she could be corrupted by Draknar.

Pemar - Minor God of stone, and precious gemstones. He is mainly a servant of Vamli, and though he is repentant, he was once tricked by Draknar because of his greed.

Gruundaag - An Orc battle god and mercenary for hire among the various deities. Though he has always fought honorably and is not truly evil, he worries Thladir, in that he does not openly oppose Draknar, and he may be open to corruption. Gruundaag does not like Ya'Ipe, because he fights without honor.

Auwli - Minor Goddess of the moon, she is the shield maiden and companion of Hémli, and usually assumed to be Hémli's lesbian mate. Auwli's beauty is second only to Freyuli's. She is depicted as having silvery-tinged snow-white fur, long, raven-black hair, and misty-gray eyes. She represents compassion, gentleness, mercy, and humility.

The Noiyan (The Nine Sisters) - Some clans of Canari (those that inhabit mostly Thladiran territory) worship the Thladiran pantheon, and though they worship all of the other Thladiran deities in a limited fashion, their primary deities are the Nine Sisters. These goddesses of nature and healing are usually only incorporated in Canari beliefs, and are not usually a part of the pantheon recognized by Thladirans and Chafelans. These teenage, virgin, maiden goddesses are supposedly the immaculately-conceived daughters of Hémli and Auwli. They wander the forests and meadows (much like the Canari themselves) living in harmony with nature. They are often depicted as being ethereal and only perceivable in a somewhat dream-like state; just on the edge of perception and reality.

Simbor - Simbor is a minor god (in some traditions a half-mortal demi-god). He is cup-bearer to Thladir, and represents the dawn. He is usually depicted as having red-tinged fur, and long, bright, red-orange hair. He is not a creation of Thladir or Kothnar, and his origins are somewhat vague. He only appears briefly in the Zerzhanu Auwran (The Song of the Gods) at the celebratory feast of Thladir's victory over Draknar, and as an ancillary character in some of the tales recounted in Thladir's Hymnal.