Hidden away in a great valley, the mysterious Kari live almost in another world. The Kari have relatively few gods, and these gods take little part in the affairs of Coren, preferring to stay in Renton or wherever they live. The gods of the Kari do not have aspects. There is, for example, no god of fire or god of thunder. There is no god worshipped by fishermen, or by farmers. The gods of the Kari are viewed as humans with god-like powers. They have very few worshipers. The Kari, as mentioned in the section on culture, do not worship gods, except for very specific reasons.
There are even fewer prophets, of course, than worshipers. They care little about their influence over mortal lives. The function of prophets in Karian society is much different than in other societies. They do not try and convert others to worshipping their god, for the gods do not need or even wish worship. They do, however, like to have liaisons to the world of Coren, to help them when their machinations or desires happen to cross paths on Coren.
Exemplars are even rarer than prophets. Each deity will have no more than one exemplar, and most often have no exemplar at all. Exemplars are most likely to worship Nila, less likely, Dariveni, and most unlikely to worship anyone else.
In general, prophets worship deities for the prophet’s good, not the deity's. The prophet has a purpose which he or she believes the deity can help with, and the prophet is willing to give service to the deity in exchange for this aid. This service lasts forever. After prophets are guided to Corentin by Rina, their chosen god personally comes to get them, after a wait that can be a long one. They are brought to Renton, where they serve the deity forever. In Renton, they have lost the immortality granted them in Corentin.
The deities of the Kari are said to have been spewed forth from Firtrendrel, the Destroyer Mountains. Only one deity, Aladaken, daughter of clouds, is not supposed to have been born of this mountain.
Most Karian prophets do not have the power to turn undead. Only prophets and exemplars of Kariten or Nila may choose that specialty.
The Creation of the World
In the days before man the Telarch were upon Coren. These beings could assume any living shape they desired. The ruler of the Telarch, Narnia, was unto a god himself.
In the time of the Foren-Kari, the war of the gods, certain Telarch took the shape of man. When Narnia was killed in battle with Linariteni, the Lord of Disharmony, those Telarch not in Rentin, the home of the gods, were severed from the whole of the Telarch. What form they then had became theirs forever.
Those who were men were fortunate. Their form was not too large to be an easy target. Nor too small, and easily defeated. Nor too ugly, to be feared, or too beautiful, to be hunted, or too weak, or too strong, too ordered, or too chaotic. Theirs was the form that survived the ages to become the Kari today. No other form descended from the Telarch has survived so well.
All living creatures are descendants of the Telarch.
Death and the Afterlife
Every creature has two lives. There is life in Coren, this world, and life in Corentin, the other world. Each world is composed of many levels. In Coren, there is Dreltri, the depths of fire. There is Dori-zan, the subterranean passages of the Earth. There is Iltri, the world of water, Dori-gola, the land beneath the mountains, and Sentari, the world of men. Above even this is Golatri, the world upon the mountains, Aladari, the realm of clouds, and beyond all is Sentri, the hold of the stars.
Every creature is placed upon Coren at some level. It is that creature's destiny to remain at that level for the creature's entire life on Coren. Only the greatest, strongest, and wisest may rise above their allotted level on Coren.
Coren is a wondrous place. It is a world of canyons and mountains, of lush flora and myriad fauna, of deserts of sand, water, and ice, of rivers of water, air, and fire. But for all its beauty, Coren is weak.
The weakness of Coren is selatarka, death. All on Coren die eventually. The newly dead, the riarl, are guided by Rina, the goddess who watches over the riarl, across Lendarn, the final desert, to one of the many levels of Corentin. Where a creature is guided to in Corentin is determined by the creature's actions in Coren. The greater the creature's actions in Coren, the higher it is placed in Corentin.
Once Rina leaves the creature in Corentin, that creature cannot be destroyed by any, not even the gods, on that level or lower. And Corentin is a wondrous place to be. It is all that Coren is and more.
Yet there are those who seek to cross the barriers on Corentin, to even higher levels. These souls give up their invulnerability for the continued trials of mortality. It is possible to gain much and to lose much. The legends tell that Nila and Tanen crossed together all the way to Rentin, to forever battle Vedaks the Wizard in his machinations against all Coren and Rentin.
It is for the attempt at crossing that gods are worshipped in Coren and Corentin. Those who do not plan to cross (the majority of creatures) have no need to worship gods. But no creature has ever crossed without the aid, however indirect, of at least one of the gods in Rentin. Death on a higher level than a creature was placed is permanent. Any who die in Corentin are dead. The endless death, Solatiarn, is forever. Only the bravest and most foolish attempt crossing, and only the wisest, slyest, or strongest succeed.
Sentar Den: The Code of the Peoples
The Sentar Den is the closest to a religious statement the Karians have. It is the philosophy of the Kari stated as simply as possible. Here, then, is the Sentar Den:
Toren ara sevina (“Fate is a many-branched tree”)
Implicit in this statement is the belief that the individual, the group, the nation, and the world can choose its own fate. Every moment has innumerable futures growing off of it, like branches from the trunk of a tree. An entity with intelligence and foresight can see some of these possibilities and choose their own future. There is always a choice.
This statement probably also has connections with Vina Toren, the Tree of Fate, which is used by the Kari to measure the passage of time. For the Kari, time is truly slowing.
Vela sarlaten ara sarlaten (“Your honor belongs to you”)
Here, the word for ‘honor’ is also the word that refers to an entity’s life, and how that life is viewed by others. It refers to the person’s honor, to the way that person’s life has been lived, is being lived, and will be lived. The suffix for ‘belongs to’ encompasses the person’s life up to the present. This embodies the Karian belief that only an individual’s actions now can change that individual’s honor. By the double use of the word ‘sarlaten’—of you—emphasis is placed on the belief that only you can change your honor, for better or for worse. Only you can honor yourself, and only you can dishonor yourself.
Torveagh ara tea (“All are one”)
The ‘all’ in this statement means literally that—all. Every man, woman, and child, every plant, every rock, every star in the sky, is one with everything and everyone else. ‘One’ means one entity. ‘Ara’ means now, in the past, and forever. All those living, dead, and yet to be born are encompassed by this statement.
What an entity does to another entity is done to itself. What someone does to you is done to them. Everything that you do, everything that someone else does, affects you, and affects everybody else.
Wasteland: The 33 levels of Solatiarn
The legends of Renton-arn, the endless wasteland, are few and vague.
According to legend, during the Foren-Kari 33 levels of Corentin were laid waste and cut off from Corentin. Vague myths talk of that war’s dead still roaming the wasteland, ruled by Narniavalatila, the dead incarnation of Narnia. In other myths, all who die in Corentin and Rentin find themselves somewhere on the 33 levels of Renton-arn, there to pass eternity amidst desolation.
Kari: Aladaken
Aladaken is unique among the gods and goddesses of the Kari. She was not spewed forth by the Firtrendrel. She was created by the clouds of Coren, and welcomed the first gods into Coren and Renton. It was she who angered the Firtrendrel into expelling its divine burden.
| Names: | Aladaken |
| Sobriquets: | Daughter of Clouds |
| Symbols: | Woman draped in clouds |
| Status: | Elder Goddess |
| Worshippers: | none |
| Moral Codes: | Good, Chaotic Good, None |
| Prophets: | Chaotic Good |
| Spirits: | Weather, Chaos, Order, Charm |
When she appears on Coren, she appears as a pure white cloud, small or large. All clouds are her domain, and as a cloud she may not be harmed by any normal attacks. Aladaken is always accompanied by intelligent cloud servants. She may speak with any creature whose home is the air or clouds.
When she takes human form, she appears as a beautiful woman draped in clouds and a light blue robe. In this form her body shifts from mist to flesh and back, her robe from sky to cloth. In this form she is a warrior, wielding a magical scimitar. In either form her winds can lift great weights and transport them for miles. Few can withstand the winds of Aladaken.
Worshipers of Aladaken, practically, do not exist. She is the least visible of the Kari gods, and there is no reason to worship her. Prophets of Aladaken are incredibly rare. Unless Aladaken requires something done for her, these prophets can only gain first through fourth level spirits. Higher level spirits are granted only when on a special mission for Aladaken.
Kari: Dariveni
Dariveni appears as a large Djinn. He can form himself into a gigantic whirlwind able to dwarf the tallest towers. He is known for his silence of movement, and can go undetected even by magical wards. Dariveni is often accompanied by Djinn, especially his advisor and friend Moren. Together they roam the planes seeking knowledge.
| Names: | Dariveni |
| Sobriquets: | Dariveni of the Shifting Winds |
| Symbols: | Dust devil blowing a leaf in an endless circle |
| Status: | Demigod |
| Worshippers: | Thieves, Monks, Bards, Revolutionaries |
| Moral Codes: | Good, Chaotic Good, Ordered Good, Chaotic, Ordered |
| Prophets: | Chaotic Good, Ordered Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Protection, Healing, Weather |
Dariveni’s magical knives return to him once thrown, and he can catch them with ease. He is also psychic, controlling telepathic and dimensional powers.
Worshipers of Dariveni tend to be thieves, monks, and bards. His worshipers avoid confrontation and rely on skill and stealth. Prophets of Dariveni seek to help the downtrodden and oppressed beneath the noses of their oppressor. While they prefer not to fight, they are willing to do so, but on their terms. The rare exemplars of the Kari occasionally worship Dariveni.
Kari: Gel Fedenn
Gel Fedenn was a leading member of the Sentar Sentasi who lost his powers in battle with a renegade order. He continued to teach for many years until Linariteni himself came to invade Coren. Gel Fedenn offered his service to Kariten in return for the ability to defeat Linariteni. Kariten returned Gel Fedenn’s psychic ability and gave him the Wand of Purity (Virannos). Gel Fedenn used this artifact to return Linariteni to Renton. Gel Fedenn now serves Kariten as a messenger and warrior.
| Names: | Gel Fedenn |
| Sobriquets: | The Messenger |
| Symbols: | Gleaming star, Crossbow |
| Status: | Hero |
| Worshippers: | Sentar Telasi |
| Moral Codes: | Ordered Good, Good, Ordered |
| Prophets: | Ordered Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Protection |
Gel Fedenn leads a band of Monks from the Sentar Sentasi, and martial artists from the Sentar Telasi. He appears in simple leather armor wielding a crossbow. His sword, Disetti, is a powerful intelligent weapon which assists him in slaying evil. Disetti can cause any it hits to go temporarily insane. It also allows Gel Fedenn to fly, see invisible creatures, hidden or lost items, and secret doors, as well as understand any written language. Gel Fedenn is a powerful psychic with telepathic and corporeal powers.
Kari: Kariten
Kariten is the gardener. He takes care of all plants on Coren, in Corentin, and in Renton. He is aided in each place by dryads, pixies, and sprites. The dryads of Corentin and Renton are Ordered Good, and the pixies and sprites of Corentin and Renton are Chaotic Good. Kariten is always accompanied by hundreds of pixies and sprites.
| Names: | Kariten |
| Sobriquets: | The Gardener |
| Symbols: | Oak leaf |
| Status: | God |
| Worshippers: | Nature lovers, Foresters, Wild woodsmen |
| Moral Codes: | Good, Chaotic Good, Ordered Good |
| Prophets: | Chaotic Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Plants, Earth, Fire, Death |
Kariten may speak with all plants and animals, and all creatures of forests and gardens. His anger can cause any natural plants to wither and die. His favor can cause them to grow to immense sizes. He may command any normal plants, as well as any intelligent plants of a Good moral code.
Kariten appears as a monk wielding a staff. His staff can transform itself into any natural plant upon command.
Worshipers of Kariten are those who wish to expand nature or to be with nature as often as possible. Prophets of Kariten promote forest and plant life, opposing any attempts by civilization to push these back.
Kari: Linariteni
Linariteni exists for destruction. He can destroy any inanimate object in sight merely by willing its destruction. His magical mace destroys everything it touches ,whether he wants it to or not.
| Names: | Linariteni |
| Sobriquets: | Lord of Disharmony, Master of Destruction |
| Symbols: | Fist crushing a disc |
| Status: | God |
| Worshippers: | Arsonists, Artists, Vandals |
| Moral Codes: | Chaotic Evil, Evil, Chaotic |
| Prophets: | Chaotic Evil |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Fire, Earth, Chaos, Death |
Linariteni sows discord and argument wherever he passes. Even the gods argue incessantly in his presence.
Worshipers of Linariteni are those who worship destruction. Prophets of Linariteni seek to destroy, and wreak chaos in Coren.
Narniavalatila
Narniavalatila has no shape of its own, and may take any form. It may transport itself physically or mentally to any place in Renton-Arn, the Wasteland. It is dead and must remain there forever. Renton-Arn is cloaked with despair, and all who enter fall to despair.
| Names: | Narniavalatila, Narnia |
| Sobriquets: | Central One of Nothing, The Eye |
| Symbols: | Empty circle |
| Status: | Demigod |
| Worshippers: | Artists, Nihilists, Philosophers |
| Moral Codes: | Chaotic, Ordered |
| Prophets: | None |
| Spirits: | None |
Worshipers of Narniavalatila have fallen into true despair. Everything ends in permanent death, all will die, and even those in Corentin will be tricked into dying. Prophets of Narniavalatila have no spirits. They seek to prepare themselves for the ultimate doom that must surely face them.
Kari: Nila
Nila was the first Monk of the Sentar Sentasi, trained by Tanen to develop her mind in the same way the Telasi develop the body. She appears as a chain-mailed warrior with a bastard sword, a bandolier of daggers, and a longbow across her back. Her sword is especially baneful to sorcerors and magic-wielding creatures. Nila has psychokinetic and corporeal powers. She has a magical rope. It is 60 feet long, but can enlarge itself to 300 feet and entwine any object.
| Names: | Nila |
| Sobriquets: | Protector, First Psychic |
| Symbols: | Round metal shield with open eye |
| Status: | Demigoddess |
| Worshippers: | Psychics, Sentar Rasi, Sentar Sentasi |
| Moral Codes: | Any Good, Ordered |
| Prophets: | Any Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Sun, Protection, Healing |
Worshipers of Nila protect others or provide for those in need. She is often worshipped by monks and those attempting to cross. Prophets of Nila wish to protect others, often some subset of the Kari population. Exemplars of the Kari are most often worshipers of Nila.
Kari: Rina
Rina guides the dead to their rightful place in Corentin. Her nature is such that anything or anyone that has died cannot attack her. This would even include a god.
| Names: | Rina |
| Sobriquets: | Watcher of the Desert |
| Symbols: | Cloaked figure with staff surrounded by swirling sand |
| Status: | God |
| Worshippers: | Killers and Healers |
| Moral Codes: | Any |
| Prophets: | Any Evil or any Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Healing or Death, Protection, Plant, Animal |
Rina’s gaze can cause blindness. Her walking staff is the artifact Rasaran, a magical staff that speaks and understands any language. Rasaran paralyzes anything Rina hits with it. If she waves it, it can either sleep many creatures or create a blinding sandstorm. If any other than Rina attempts to use the latter powers of Rasaran, they are permanently (but normally) blind. Other gods are usually unwilling to grant their prophets spirits of healing for the purpose of overcoming this blindness.
Worshipers of Rina are extremely rare, and there is no real reason why someone would worship her. Prophets of Rina are just as rare. Prophets of Rina are those who wish to kill, and those who wish to preserve life. This is not merely a predilection to kill or a general helping. The wish to kill is the Prophet’s one lone desire. The wish to preserve life is the Prophet’s one lone desire. All else is put aside in pursuit of this desire.
Kari: Tanen
Tanen was the rebel who, along with Nila, overthrew Vedaks the dictator. Tanen convinced Nila, then a warrior of the Sentar Rasi, to undertake the path of light and found the Sentar Sentasi. Tanen was then a leader in the Sentar Telasi. Tanen and Nila continue to work alongside each other.
| Names: | Tanen |
| Sobriquets: | Rebel, Teacher |
| Symbols: | Arms crossed at wrist in fighting position |
| Status: | Demigod |
| Worshippers: | Warriors, Officers, Rebels, Sentar Telasi, Sentar Sentasi |
| Moral Codes: | Any Good, Ordered |
| Prophets: | Any Good |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Prophecy, Peace, War |
Tanen appears as an unarmed man or as a man armed only with a small stick and a crossbow.
Worshipers of Tanen include those rebelling against tyranny, leaders of men, and teachers. Prophets of Tanen are often those leading fighting orders, or serving as tacticians for other leaders.
Kari: Vedaks
| Names: | Vedaks, Medoxx |
| Sobriquets: | Dictator |
| Symbols: | Iron fist holding a lightning strike, Latin letter “M” |
| Status: | Demigod |
| Worshippers: | Sorcerors, Dictators, Tyrants, Power-hungry |
| Moral Codes: | Evil, Ordered Evil, Ordered |
| Prophets: | Ordered Evil |
| Spirits: | Prophet, Charm, War, Death |
Vedaks appears as a dark-robed sorceror with an iron left hand and a wrought-iron staff in his right. He can understand any language, read any spell, and is permanently protected from Good. An invisible servant accompanies him wherever he travels.
Vedaks’s left hand is the Left Hand of Iron. This replaced his fleshly left hand, which he lost in battle with the demigoddess Nila. An attack by the hand causes a stunning shock to his opponents. Vedaks’s daggers rarely miss, and always return once thrown. His crystal ball can view any place in Coren and all normal planes.
Vedaks’s staff lets him cast many spells at the same time, and his magical wand of lightning shoots devastating bolts of lightning. As a god of magic, he has access to many magic items to assist him and his followers.
Worshipers of Vedaks are those who want to be dictators. Prophets of Vedaks work to put these worshipers in power, or to gain power themselves.
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