TORA
DANYA
MYTHOLOGY
What follows is a cursory peek at Old Ladinian mysticism.
Ladinia’s ancient religion was centered around concepts of dualism and balance.
The cosmology begins with an eternal being called Eya. Seen as the ultimate dichotomy between Order and Chaos, Eya was often referred to as “The Dual Entity,” two opposing forces in one body, locked in perfect balance. This was the template for much of Ladinian mysticism. According to ancient mystics, one half of a duality cannot exist without the other to define it. Therefore, imbalance was regarded as the path to destruction.
-The Fundamental Deities-
While Eya was described as deaf, dumb, and blind, it still sought meaning for its existence; therefore, it spawned six entities to represent the most fundamental forces of the young cosmos.
Janis, God of Fate – Fickle but wise god determined to bring purpose to the cosmos. Closely linked with .Eya, he was the first to discover a way to commune with Eya.
Doth, The Great Creator - A hermaphroditic entity who has the ability to generate defined matter in bursts of creative force. Cannot absorb matter, so he/she must receive first from N’tuga.
N'tuga, The Grand Destroyer – A genderless entity who has the ability to absorb matter and pass it to Doth for reuse
Loria, Goddess of Light – The presence of energy in the cosmos. She can shape and direct the movement of all energy.
Kurakesh, God of Darkness – The absence of energy. He can absorb the influence of Loria into himself, and must maintain a careful balance with her.
Lanadain, Goddess of Balance – Created to ensure harmony between counterpart forces, even as Janis ensures conflict and movement between them. Highly influential in Ladinia, still popular in some establishments of Tora Danya.
Ancients believed the Fundamental Deities were spawned in the above order. The “fate” represented by Janis is understood as the natural attraction and conflict between opposing forces, and the need for purpose. The cycle is completed by Lanadain, who brings balance back to each dichotomy, or counterpart pair. The pairs in the middle, Light/Dark and Creation/Destruction, are also inseparable counterparts. Doth and N’tuga are considered representatives of matter and its absence; Loria and Kurakesh are considered representatives of energy and its absence.
The Ebbanduli
The Chaos Demons, also called the Demons of Creation, are considered a fundamental force. They were created when Roan (see below) attempted to overthrow Eya and control the cosmos. By imprisoning the Gods in stasis, he rendered them powerless to do their jobs. For Lanadain, this meant she was unable to preserve balance. Due to Roan’s actions, the Chaos within Eya threatened to overpower Order, and a captive Lanadain was unable to right the imbalance. By the time she was freed and able to correct the imbalance, the build-up of chaotic energy within Eya had released to spawn fifty demons, who were intent on devouring the universe. They were eventually corralled by Nira and imprisoned in the center of the universe.
-The Next Generation-
The Fundamental Deities took it upon themselves to continue creating in the name of Eya. They birthed the following entities:
Lessa, Goddess of Life – A gentle goddess who commands the lifeforce of the universe, which flows in every living creature.
Lune, God of Time – Arranges and manages loops and lines in the timestream.
Aidra, Mother Earth – The personification of the physical plane, upon which and flesh and spirit mingle freely, along with most dichotomies.
Anarr, Father Sky – A personification of the space that surrounds the physical plane, protecting the land.
Nira, Goddess of Strife – A beautiful but iron-willed Goddess who believes in growth through struggle and experience. Has displayed the ability to become The Divine Fury, the personification of Wrath. During these times, she exhibits terrifying power. After using this form to defeat the Ebbanduli, she vowed never to use it again. No other gods possess a similar power. Nira married Amakar after his defeat of Roan and became recognized as Queen of the Erythira family.
Tora, Goddess of Hope – A devastatingly beautiful goddess who brought hope and inspiration to all, Tora was important to Ladinia, and to the gods themselves. Like her mother, she was said to have a unique ability: the power to affect changes, or “wishes” upon reality itself. The power was latent and could only be triggered while asleep or in times of great duress. Tora vanished near the end of the First Age (FA), just before the fall of Ladinia, and is presumed dead. Her disappearance was marked by a tremor in the physical plane and coincided with both the fall of Ladinia and the apparent withdrawal of the gods. She is presumed dead, and worship of her is mostly at an end, but Tora Danyans still revere her name as a guiding light
Rotanus, God of Despair – Tora’s counterpart, who struggled eternally with feelings of anguish and the desire to end his existence. It is said that he is the only living creature ever to look into the heart of Eya, and that the experience drove him mad.
Lessa paired with Lune, giving birth to the Erythira, or the Gods of Spirit. After the reordering of the universe, following the attack of the Ebbanduli, Aidra and Anarr were created to give definition to the physical plane. They joined to give birth to the Konalira, or the Gods of Nature.
Tora and Rotanus were intended to be a third pair of astral lovers, counterparts who represented the balance between emotions. Things did not go as planned.
-The Erythira: Lords of the Soul-
Lessa - See above.
Lune - See above.
Debenos, God of Death – The first child of Lessa and Lune, the result of time upon life.
Amakar, God of the Mind and Soul – A heroic god with powerful psychic abilities. Became known as King of the Erythira family. Known for playing the main role in defeating Roan.
Elenkara, Goddess of Love – A beautiful, though promiscuous, goddess meant to personify the force of love. Known for her ill-advised trysts.
Roan, God of Malice – A petulant childlike deity responsible for nearly overthrowing creation. Has sat in chains since his defeat thousands of years ago but continues to spread his influence.
Children of Nira and Amakar
Phases of the Soul
These four represent different phases of the soul. Mostly forgotten in Tora Danya, this quartet was vital to the lives and ambitions of ancient Ladinians.
Sepro, God of Change – Represents the will to change and grow. Identified in primitive cultures by the sign of the Serpent.
Enen, Goddess of Home and Hearth – She who blesses the home. Represents the desire to remain stable and safe.
Daimon, God of Travel, the Messenger God – Represents the need to travel and learn.
Shani, Goddess of Victory – Represents the need to achieve one’s goals.
From a tryst between Debenos and Elenkara
Zorus, God of Courage – Powerful and handsome, Ladinians invoked his name before undertaking difficult tasks.
Karnus, God of Fear – Karnus was known to lurk in the dark and twist the emotions of mortals. Far from evil, he was nevertheless a cold experimenter.
-The Konalira: Gods of Nature-
Aidra, Mother Earth – See above.
Anarr, Father Sky – See above.
Elementals
Kole, God of Water – Strapping and bold, this god remains popular in Tora Danya, especially in communities dependent on lakes and oceans.
Colondra, Goddess of Fire – A close companion of Kole. Mortals revere her for bringing light and warmth, but she must be respected, for her fury is said to be one of the most destructive forces in the cosmos.
Endrolian, God of Rock and Metal – Has the ability to move and shape the land around him. His sigil is often seen in the workshops of blacksmiths and stoneworkers.
Tala, Goddess of the Winds – Graceful and carefree, Tala is said to be young and naïve but capable of great power.
Wilderness Gods
Satryn, Goddess of the Wilderness – Psychically linked with the wilderness and its wildlife. Satryn worship is mostly gone from Tora Danya, but worshippers still practice in the vast wildlands of the deep south.
Laghn, God of Spring and Rebirth – Once the God of the Living Land, Laghn required a counterpart force to balance his influence, lest the land become overgrown and perish. Exists for six months out of the year.
Alameng, God of Autumn and Harvest – Counterpart aspect of Laghn, created to balance nature by bringing death to an overgrown land. Exists for six months each year.
Fire and Water:
Cimenie, Goddess of Summer – Daughter of Kole and Colondra. she who loves the sunny fields and flowering trees. Wife of Laghn.
Eliana, Goddess of Winter – Daughter of Kole and Colondra. Pale and brooding goddess who loves icicles and snowy forests. Wife of Alameng.
In addition, Doth and N’tuga created the Sun and the Moon to shine over the physical world.
Rena, Goddess of The Sun – Personification/custodian of the sun. Highly influential in Ladinia, her name remains popular for girls in Tora Danya.
Ranaad, God of the Moon – Personification/custodian of the moon. Also highly influential in Ladinia. In modern times, not as popular as his sister, but some devotees remain.
-The Cross-Generation-
Several gods were the product of unions between members of opposite families. The results vary wildly from extreme order and purity to utter chaos and evil.
Mimevak, God of Battle – Favored grandson of Nira. A martial force known to train worthy military leaders. Loves the thrill of combat but prefers level-headed military action. Revered by soldiers all over Ladinia and survives into Tora Danyan consciousness.
Arza, God of Anger, Rage – Grandson of Nira. Wayward brother of Mimevak known to become drunk on blood and battle. A lover of chaos. His followers, the Stoneforged, believed in dominance of the strong over the weak and possession by force. Aza is largely forgotten by Tora Danya, and the Stoneforged reformed shortly after its rise.
Ophelius, God of Peace – Son of Marith and Zorus. Originally born to temper Mimevak and Aza, he was a favorite of diplomats, merchants, and envoys.
Onomeia, Goddess of Disease – Daughter of Sepro and Satryn. Nihilistic offspring of Sepro and Satryn, she delights in death and non-being.
Helena, Goddess of Health – Long-surviving goddess born to oppose Onomeia, created when Sepro sacrificed a portion of his soul to stop his evil daughter. She is still invoked by healers of Tora Danya. (Time and Tide note: Jonah Godfrey, though a healer, was not fond of religion and purposely steered Leah away from such habits).
Gods of Art and Mortal Creativity
Bys, God of Music - Formed from the notes in the air as mortal made song and given form by Amakar.
Betoquin, God of Wine, Jest, and Celebration – Son of Bys and Jeina. Short, round-faced cherub frequently seen at celebrations. The ulterior goal of many Ladinian festivals was to attract him. The best parties were said to “summon Bys.”
Verinoe, Goddess of Art, Literature, Poetry – Daughter of Bys and Elenakara. Quiet, though intelligent, goddess responsible for inspiring poets, writers, and artists to create. Also responsible for chronicling the Gods’ personal history.
Nydur, God of Discord – Son of Elenkara and Rotanus. Sometimes good, sometimes evil, Nydur is a dichotomy unto himself. As famous for his dastardly plots as for his clever solutions.
From a tryst between Elenakara and Kole
Jeina, Goddess of Pleasure - Twin of Peila, she and her sister have a complex, intertwining relationship and often switch roles.
Peila, Goddess of Pain – See Jeina. Early Ladinians thought Peila to be evil, but her true role transcends any such concepts.