The Versai

 

Most religious traditions on Tear hold that each of the five Siblings has an alter-ego; a dark aspect of their personality that is typically also personified as a divine entity. These are known as the Versai, which means 'the inverted'.

While the Siblings themselves are represented by Vehira's moons, the Versai are represented as the dark sides of those moons. Notably, because they are considered to be mirror images, inversions or shadows of their respective Siblings, they are often suggested to be unknown to either Vehira (who cannot see reflections) or Azane (who cannot see shadows). Thus, in the mischevious politics of the gods, the Versai are often troublemakers, conspiring against their Sibling counterparts, or even directly working at cross-purposes to Vehira, Azane or both. In some religious sects, different Versai are sometimes considered to be Infernals.

In religions descended from the Ancient Gnomic traditions regardless of the foundational creation myth or of the status of Vehira, Azane, Azimzilit or the Siblings, the Versai are almost universally held to have been created by Azimzilit - even after the creation of mortals.

The legend goes that following the creation of mortals, the world of Tear became pregnant with their fears, doubts and insecurities. One night, by the light of the fires Obrum had lit for the mortals, Azimzilit saw these weaknesses reflected in the Sea of Azane as shadows on the moons of Vehira. Knowing that Vehira could not see them (because they were reflections), and Azane could not see them (because they were shadows) Azimzilit took it upon themself to rein in these Versai, lest they run free among the mortals and destroy all of creation.

Azimzilit stole the birthing rituals from Lisaea and one by one brought forth the Versai from the womb of the world, carried them to the heavens and bound them each to their respective Sibling. Said to be cursed with the weaknesses of their strengths, the Siblings would forever spread the influence of their own corrupting aspects wherever they did their work.

Golmongarion the Reaper

Lisaea, the Goddess of Life, and her inversion Golmongarion, God of Death, together represent the eternal, unbreakable cycle of life, death and renewal. Many who worship one also worship the other, though direct worship of Golmongarion alone is culturally discouraged for being gloomy and distasteful.

Beyond the risque worship Golmongarion, there are also those who worship Golmongarion directly for sinister reasons; such as necromancers in search of dark powers or those who would wish to extend their reach beyond the threshold of death. Some cults count Golmongarion among the Infernals, or conflate him with Mol-Imit the Infernal Queen of the Damned, though most religious scholars rightful point out how deranged and flawed this position is; Golmongarion is a link in the chain of life, while Mol-Imit seeks to break the chains entirely. Golmongarion is scary to children and a constant reminder of our mortality; Mol-Imit is an unspeakable, blasphemous abomination.

Lobok the Covetous

Lobok is the most handsome of all the gods, even more beautiful than his inversion, Xiophoene, the Goddess of Love. He is the purest embodiment of physical beauty, and any who gaze directly upon him immediately forget all other loves forever. Seeing him in a mirror, however, has quite the opposite effect; his reflection is hideous, evoking in the eye of the viewer the most wretched image their heart and mind can muster. Sadly, unlike Vehira who cannot see reflections, Lobok can only see reflections. He is therefore cursed to view the world through his hand mirror, always looking over his own shoulder to the past, and forever cursed to see his own reflection, which to him is seen as more odious and repugnant than any Infernal.

This terrible curse has left Lobok obsessed with lust, spite and envy. He is jealous of his own inversion Xiophoene for her beauty (even though he is more beautiful) and he is disgusted by his repulsiveness (which is an illusion). Thus, Lobok constantly surrounds himself with sycophants (which is easy), and conspires to manipulate the Siblings and the other Versai to exalt and honor him with praise, adulation and constant gifts.

Scilisanthes the Destroyer

Some traditions consider Scilisanthes to be an Infernal, but whether she is an Infernal or a Versai, she is universally held to be the Goddess of War. She is treacherous, and she aspires to sow conflict between Obrum and Alcinette. It was Scilisanthes who stole the first fire from Obrum and gave it to mortals to sow conflict between them, and it was her who taught them how to use it as a weapon to undo Obrum's works. It is also her who seduced Alcinette, the wife of Obrum, to drive a wedge between them and to provoke rage and jealousy in Alcinette. Scilisanthes knows that if Alcinette can be corrupted and her power turned toward the undoing of society war will be unleashed and her own power will rise, elevating her above the Siblings and the other Versai.

Sixthos the Vainglorious

Where Alcinette is the goddess of community and shared endeavour, her inversion, Sixthos, is the god of individuality and personal accomplishment. While not a god of war, he loves battle, with its freedom from contraint and potential for glory. Sixthos proclaims himself the God of The Free in the lowest sense, in that he stands for freedom from responsibility to others, freedom from obligation or duty, and freedom from any social, moral, or ethical expectation, constraint or contract.

Despite his egocentrism, Sixthos is generally upheld as the God of Revelry and the Lord of the Party. The dark side of the moon Alcinette is said to be an ocean of pure liquor from which Sixthos ensures no cup is ever empty. Toasts made when raising a glass always invoke his name, and a shrine will be mounted in his honour whenever a party is held. Most inns have a shrine to him in the entry next to the guest ledger and it is appropriate to light a candle to him and leave a coin when checking in.

Uleila the Silent

Uleila is the inversion of Iodrux, and the goddess of whispers and lies. Her domains is over secrets, falsehoods and deceptions, and as such, even her identity is a bit of an enigma. Some religious traditions hold Uleila to be an Infernal, commonly conflating her with Shishish, suggesting they are the same entity or holding that Uleila as she presents among the Versai is merely Shisish in disguise.

Despite these sinister associations, Uleila is also associated with weaving, and so claims weavers, tailors, and indeed most workers in the clothing and textile industries as her worshippers. In these circles, there is nothing at all sinister about Uleila or her worship, and many a textile shop, tailor, weaver or fuller will have a shrine to Uleila in their shop. Journalists also take her as their patroness, and by association, so do confidence artists, writers, grifters, spies, and other professional 'story-tellers'.

Uleila is said to be the mother of the Mistikak; her three daughters by Iodrux who keep all the mystical and occult knowledge of magic.