#dvcrp

The Four Faced Deity and The Creation Myth Long before the first human stepped foot on land on the Tarin continent, there was Agnos — the forces of nature, both perceived and invisible, that twist and roil through the world of Centra. These forces are neither good nor evil, but neutral and necessary to maintain balance. Agnos existed alone until that balance began to spin out of control, and from the depths of its confusion spawned four beings: Lume, who embodied life and death; Phyr, who embodied creation and destruction; Kode, who embodied luck and misfortune; Vell, who embodied magic and mundane. They arose to share Agnos’ burden, and contained Agnos’ anguish in a true form — a beastly form as wild and wonderful as the forces themselves. Together, the four faithful and the bound forces of nature restored our world’s balance and created humanity to contain its overflowing power. For centuries they observed, never directly interfering with the lives unfolding around them. Over time, however, humanity grew too populous to avoid, and the four faithful merged together to ascend to a plane of divinity where they could continue to watch and listen to the world below. Agnos remained behind, embedded in every part of the world, always pushing and pulling to maintain the balance.

THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM The primary religion in Centra is known as the Tetran Faith, so named for the Four-faced Deity created when the four divine beings – Lume, Phyr, Kode, and Vell – merged together to ascend to a new plane and bequeath the world to humanity. In the Tetran faith, Agnos is acknowledged as a natural force, but is not worshipped alongside the deity. Some on Tarin identify as Agnites, or believers who place the worship of Agnos above the worship of the Four, although it's not considered heresy to believe so, it's not a recognized organization and does not operate with temples and clerics like the Tetran faith does. The Tetran Faith works within society, widespread in their influence and assistance. Any town of reasonable size will have a Tetran Temple and dedicated clerics in it's service and it has its hand in the economic and political landscape of Tarin as a way to balance the scales between the different countries and act as neutral ground, especially so in Sancta City, where the head of the Tetran Faith, known as the Archon, is seated and rules.

MAGIC There are five types of magic in Centra: Agnosean magic, or wild magic; Lumen magic; Phyrian magic; Kodean magic; and Vellan magic. Magic is used in forms spells by mages, people who are born with the ability to use magic by way of spellcasting. Agnosean magic. Most commonly called wild magic, this type of magic can be used without spells by pulling in magic energy and releasing it. However, without learning skills or spells that enable a mage to control and direct that magical power, it can be wildly unpredictable, like attempting to interact with a wild animal and overuse wild magic usually end up suffering from physical damage or mental fatigue due to the chaotic process and outcomes.

Lumen magic. This type of magic applies to spells that influence life and death – such as magic involving living biological matter, including humans, animals, and plants; healing, necrosis (to a degree); plant growth and manipulation, etcetera.