#menphia

Past version + a ver. with evil Shad. Man Shad has changed lol.

I got lazy with Kul’zak’s design. Was sick of drawing armour.

I tried to think up of headcanon lore for them but I don’t have much.

Irene the Matron

Goddess of light, health/healing, life, fertility, abundance, peace and motherhood

Region: Ru’aun, Phoenix Drop

Symbols: The purple spring leaf and unicorns

Song inspiration: “Thought I would be satisfied seeing you content at the other side. But somehow I thought these crazy thoughts that I deserve to be loved, I deserve to know love, we deserve to live in love. I wish there's no end to our time together.”

- Bulbel, Mili

“I’ll take your hand and guide you through all the steps one takes to move on to a place, a world unseen to us all. But it’s okay, we’ll be together, my friend.”

- What Will You Leave Behind (End Titles), Maude Plante-Husaruk & Max LL

“Though I’m about to wreck, you still have your life ahead. All things that lose their way can find it again. There is no inertia in the ocean.”

- Adrift, Stray Gods

Shad the destroyer

God of the Nether, shadows, destruction, death and vengeance

Region: Nether, Falcon Claw

Symbols: Red spears and the wolf

Song inspiration: “There was a boy who shared your bones, your eager blood, your affinity for love. He had it all in his hands and he watched it all turn to sand.”

-Holy the Sea, Forgive Durden

”Could this be the day I have waited for when all my hard work doesn't go ignored? Maybe she was right, they will realize I can change the world, open up their eyes. They know I am more than some eager blood. Not some average bones, I believe in love. I just want to prove I deserve this gift. I will change this world, maybe this is it.”

-Life Is Looking Up, Forgive Durden

“The mind plays tricks, you are confused. The man you seek is long gone, dead and cold, a story told by those he trusted, those he loved, and those who then moved on.”

- I Know Those Eyes / This Man Is Dead, Brandi Burkhardt & Thomas Borchert

“Watch out for the wicked ones who call themselves beloved ones.”

-Holy the Sea, Forgive Durden

”You're a fool to think this princess could ever really love a couple of poor boys like us.”

-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden

He and Irene were created as opposites, representing the two sides of the moon. Where there is light, there is darkness. They both need each other to exist but they can never truly love each other.

They basically have Celestia and Luna’s story. Shad hated how Irene was so much more loved. He hated how she bloomed with her divine powers while he thought they were a curse. Because of them, the villagers saw him as a monster. He was tied to the darkness against his will. But just like a moth to the light, he could not look away from her.

“The moon will sing a song for me. I loved you like the sun.”

He thought that by joining the Divine Warriors he’d finally be seen as a hero, that he’d be recognized for his actions. But Irene was always number one. With that resentment already growing, the Divine Warriors betraying him was the thing that unleashed all his rage. He became the Shadow Lord and created the Shadow Knights to kill Irene.

Falconclaw was probably the only village that didn’t see him as an evil divinity (aka worshiping Shad the destroyer and not the Shadow Lord).

On that note, Shad probably hated to be called “the Destroyer”, reinforcing his image as “the bad one”. But he accepted the relic for Irene. “I will make this curse my blessing.”

Esmund the Protector

The only one who doesn’t have an FFXIV equivalent.

God of mountains, ice, guards, law, order and miners

Region: O’khasis

Symbols: The Violet sword and the bear

Song inspiration: “I’m sure that she would care to hear your argument as to how your presence is the reason she is sick. But I suppose it’s in vain, since her life is ending when I thrust this blade into her heart a-thumping.”

-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden

(Except Esmund would stab Shad, not Irene)

“Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.”

-Fix You, Cody Fry

He fucking hates Shad. He copes by saying it’s because he’s evil but he just wants Irene to love him.

Enki the Keeper

God of time, nature, wisdom, knowledge, moon and arcana (magic)

Region: Gal’ruk

Symbols: The blue hourglass and the owl

Song inspiration: “The mountains seceded, the light and dark depleted. We lost Adakias, but regained our science. Our world was finally reunited. So this is my cue, of where to leave you. Now it's your story to retell and pass on because an idea is only relevant if it's being thought upon. So remember, never surrender ‘cause the unrelenting constancy of love and hope will rescue and restore you from any scope.”

-The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden

“The rest is up to you to do with what you’ll do, to learn and love and laugh ‘til the cycle circles back. I’ll just separate, weigh anchor, disengage, divide and disappear, and see you in the mirror.”

- Genesis, Forgive Durden & Casey Crescenzo

“You really are the chosen one, the calculated sacrifice. Please listen to my last words before I fade away. This is my gift to you: Live for your love every day. Please don't let your tired heart stop beating.”

- The End and the Beginning, Forgive Durden

Enki was also jealous of Irene’s love for Shad but he didn’t feel good betraying Shad. His death was his repayment for what he did.

Kul’zak the Wanderer

God of the stars, wind, wanderers -wandering merchants, bards, rogues, travellers, drifters, …-, freedom and prosperity/money

Symbols: the green walking stick and the elk

Region: Tech’ens

<< Part 1 Part 3 >>

It’s not exactly the vibe that I was going for but it’s the best I can do

RELIC HOLDERS - KATELYN

I’m back and writing this on the bus so apologies if there’s any typos!!

Let us begin…

Katelyn here is Slovakian, her native language is Slovak and her second is English. Whilst she was born in Ru’uan I have considered that the general Idea of “ñthe country Slovak to be within another region of sorts.

Katelyn holds Menphia’s relic, already with fire powers from her time as a jury member she fits the concept of the “Fury” well. I have a lot to speak about when it comes to Menphia as the Divine Warriors somewhat changed conceptually.

Katelyn has full control of the weather (though right now it’s very easily swung by her emotions at any moment). I believe she also has the ability of increased strength but I’ve yet to play around with this.

She’s passionate. She’s also one of the two holders who hasnt absorbed her relic. The thought of it makes her absolutely anxious and sick with worries- see here I have it so that upon absorbing the relic you become immortal and can only be slaughtered by other relic holders.

As of where she’s at in this rewrite upon receiving and using the relic - she is the leader of the Dragon Ward and is happily in a committed relationship with Travis.

She considers Garroth as a brother of hers, they escaped O’khasis together in my rewrite and thus she’s a little protective over him as she knows exactly what he’s been through.

The scar across her mouth was given to her by zane whilst she was in the jury.

~~~

HI OKAY THSTS ALL TODAY

i probably have more to say but I’m incredibly travel sick and I need to get off my phone </3 I hope you all enjoyed nonetheless

SO having a character that is a follower of Menphia has resulted in me making a religion from scratch SO HERE IS THE MAIN POINTS OF THE RELIGION FOR THOSE INTERESTED! (Like most of my lore posts, feel free to use. Sharing is caring and all.)

The Temple of Menphia is a religion that focuses battle and justice, with the defining feature being the "Fury of the Righteous". I based a lot of the principles off of Sikhism and partially from the DC Amazonian's. Essentially, based it off of religious warriors. (seriously though, look up Sikhism. Super fascinating)

The temples were established by Menphia as her own way to combat shadow knights. Warriors with a strong sense of justice who are able to combat the rage of shadow knights and channel their own. It is much more difficult for a person who is in control of their emotions to be corrupted than someone dealing with religious shame. Equality and social justice are incredibly important aspects.

An important aspect of the temple of Menphia is injustice collecting. Think of them similar to bounty hunters and cops. Most temples act as a form of Judge, Jury, and Executioner, with locals coming to them with issues and the temples acting as a way to solve problems. Essentially, if a villager cannot get their lords to act on a crime, a temple priest will delegate it instead.

Temples also handle a lot of lord corruption as well. An example of this is a farmers daughter who was the mistress of a lord ending up dead. The farmer asked the temple to investigate, believing it was fowl play. One of the judges (a temple priest who is more skilled with words than battle) investigated and after finding out a Lord was he one who killed her, dispatched justice accordingly.

Unlike the Church of Irene, the Temple of Menphia is incredibly separate from politics. For they need to in order to treat everyone fairly. This also means that Temple Warrior won't join in on a war unless the know that the side they are fighting on is correct. They are for the people, not for a nation.

The temple of Menphia is very open to sex and violence. Menphia was the Divine Warrior of Fury and Passion, so as long as it can resemble a fight, you are set. It is also why tattoos are a part of the religion, it is withstanding pain and coming out on top.

Now onto some flaws about the religion. While being a very open religion, it is very difficult to join a temple. For temple members require years upon years of training, unlike the Irene church. The Temple of Irene is also a temple that isn't really that knowlegeable about science, math, or magicks. They are essentially a church of Lawyers and Warriors, they are focused on social issues and justice. They are taught to read though, but aren't taught many languages beyond Havasi (The Tu'la langauge)

A lot of Menphia followers have an extreme prejudice against shadow knights. When many of the temple warriors have been taught how to kill them since the age of 4, it leads to prejudice. The temple doesn't really do guest well either, they will nurse you back to health but claiming sanctuary isn't really a thing unless you are in genuine unfair danger.

Aphtober #3

Divine

I'm not really a fan of how this one turned out tbh, it was a bit rushed. And I really don't like Menphia's design, but dw, I'll come up with something better for her eventually.

Originally, the boys were supposed to be in the background as well, but I just couldn't bring myself to finish them this time </3

this is TECHNICALLY a late aphtober day 21 - LOYAL

so Menphia it is :)