June 5, 2017

God of Magic and Knowledge

The Birth of Iambulus:

When Ranbeltor and Celestian first joined, in the Astral Plane, away from the Dreamwell, they rested. It is said that whilst they rested, Ranbeltor felt a great surge of affection for his new partner, and wished to bestow a gift upon her. Without truly understanding what he was doing, Ranbeltor reached up and plucked several stars from the sky, inadvertently plucking several worlds from their place. Pressing them together, he gifted the now blazing ball of energy to Celestian. Mildly distraught at what he had done, but no less appreciative, Celestian attempted to breathe life into it. The result was Iambulus, the first of their children.

Appearance:

Iambulus is concerned with knowing the universe, knowing its secrets and how it works. Despite being a God however, he does not have a perfect memory. As such, when dealing with mortals, he can often be seen piled high with books and scrolls. His robes, long sleeve trails and all, are filled with endless quills, ink-pots and bits of paper, just in case he should come across some new scrap of knowledge. As knowledge and magic are universal, priests are divided on Iambulus’s actual face with it warping to match the expectations of whoever may see him. Should a mortal see Iambulus in his magical aspect however, they will find something quite different. A shimmering, faceless being within which are the stars themselves, Iambulus as the master of magic is an awe-inspiring being.

Temperament:

As the first of Celestian and Ranbeltor’s children, Iambulus has a certain arrogant air about him. Whilst he is concerned with acquiring a greater understanding of the universe, he is almost always confident that no mortal could assist him in this. As such, any interactions with are likely to be met with indifference or disdain. That said, Iambulus is hardly evil and pleas for help and guidance are often answered. However, woe betide any mortal asking Iambulus for help without having already tried themselves, the God of knowledge does not tolerate laziness. Iambulus in his magical aspect is far more confusing, considering all that surrounds him as simply extensions of himself. When petitioned for aid by magic users, Iambulus has a low chance of offering any assistance as he simply does not understand the concept of other people.

Worship:

Worship of Iambulus is a wide-spread affair. He has, easily, a temple in every major city across Ianis and will occasionally have more than one. These temples are usually sanctuaries devoted to knowledge and the study of magic. In larger cities, such as Fernshire, they also act as places of learning for the populace. His priests will generally dress in plain robes and carry several books with them. The length of a priest’s sleeves is indication of his seniority and knowledge. Priests of Iambulus are well-regarded for their knowledge and the establishment of a temple to Iambulus is seen as something of a step up for any town. When one wishes to pay homage to Iambulus and perhaps receive a gift or favor in return, it is encouraged to burn a piece of original research in his name. Despite Iambulus attempting to explain that he can’t read burned up paper, the practice has persisted.

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