God of Sleep and Dreams

The Birth of Ranbeltor:

Ranbeltor is a subject of much debate amongst both priests and scholars. Namely, whether he is actually a God, or simply a force of the universe made flesh. Born from the dreams of Celestian when she first rested, Ranbeltor’s origin is often debated. The commonly accepted version is that Celestian, dreaming heavily after travelling for so long was greeted by Ranbeltor in her dreams and when she woke, he followed. Some argue that Ranbeltor was born of her dreams, while others argue that Ranbeltor was already waiting for her. With Ranbeltor spending essentially all his time in the Dreamwell, a place where mortals may not tread except in sleep, the truth may never be known.

Appearance:

Ranbeltor, whilst not a visitor of Ianis, does appear to mortals via dreams. All descriptions of him mention a tall, man like figure with skin the colour of night emblazoned with stars. Often clothed in a variety of items, from a simple toga, to nothing at all. Most noticeable about the Gods face however is the permanently closed eyes, as if in a deep sleep. Ranbeltor is the God of dreams however, and that encompasses nightmares. If Ranbeltor visits a mortal’s nightmare, there is no guarantee of morning. Ranbeltor discards his traditional appearance and appears as a fearsome beast shrouded in shadow, lurking just beyond the dreamer’s field of view. It is said that if one is to gaze upon Ranbeltor’s face during a nightmare, Vichma and her secateurs will soon visit.

Temperament:

Ranbeltor is perhaps the most confused of all the Gods. Whether it is the way he is, or his lack of contact with the mortal world, Ranbeltor finds mortals fascinating, confusing and frustrating. Mortals who have encountered Ranbeltor in their dreams, brushed the Dreamwell, and spoke to him all describe a God full of questions. Ranbeltor prolongs a mortals sleep and dream until his curiosity has been satisfied. There have been reports of particularly fervent worshippers falling even further down the Dreamwell and being held for weeks on end by Ranbeltors endless questioning. The God finds himself often wondering about a mortal’s personal life and questions can cover a range of topics, from how a horse and cart function, to the wider role of chair legs. If Ranbeltor is the cause of a nightmare however, he is far less gentle in his questioning. Less concerned with the minutiae of a mortal life and more with their deeper fears, Ranbeltor amidst a nightmare is an experience that few would wish upon their worst enemies.

Worship:

Ranbeltor does not have large temple devoted to him. Rumours abound of course as Ianis is a large land, but noting has ever been found. Rather, Ranbeltor inspires small, dedicated groups of worshippers all over Ianis. These worshippers are convinced that, due to the ambiguous nature of Ranbeltors birth, he is the source of all in the universe. As such, the closer they are, the better. These groups spend their time, for want of a better term, sleeping. Throwing themselves deeper and deeper into the Dreamwell to reach their God. Of course, as all interactions with him are via dreams, these groups are hardly respected academically. Outside of this a simple prayer to Ranbeltor for good dreams is often offered by people, from the highest king to lowest peasant. After all, everyone sleeps.

Ranbeltor’s First Appearance!

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