Name: Kyraeos
Titles: The White Wolf, The Traveller, The Lunatic God, Wolf-father, The Lord of Ways.
Gender (if applicable): Male
Patronage: The Moon, Journeys, Rivers, Lunacy and Wolves.
Parentage: None are sure of how Kyraeos came to be. Even he himself doesn't know, or doesn't tell if he does. Some time, early in the stages of the cosmos, before Aroesus rose against Ventu, Kyraeos appeared. Some say he was born of the collective movement of all things. Others say what seems most apparent; that at first, he was not, then he simply... was.
Pantheon/Affiliation: Deity, current Pantheon.
Appearance: Usually, Kyraeos takes the form of a male of indeterminate age. He is quite vain, but in a way that he generally does not show his face. Usually, when he appears, he is cloaked, hiding his face with a mask, seemingly made of porcelain. This mask is a replica of his own face, and is devoid of blemishes, much like his own appearance, humanoid yet inhuman; uncanny and disturbing due to it's text-book perfectness. Despite this perfectness, his visage does not inspire lust or awe: His visage is merely generic, or bland. It is this reason why he wears a mask; the picture is completed by the inanimate features shown on his veil. Kyraeos' mask always veils his eyes in shadow, though they are known, in heights of his emotion, to shine through the dark a bright silver, with pupils like those of a wolf.
Occaisionally, however, Kyraeos will take the form of a wolf. This wolf is unique, even amongst all others, as it has a coat of purest silver, matching it's eyes. This form lacks his near-characteristic bland perfection, seeming like merely any other wolf, albeit one of purely silver colouring.
Centres of Worship/Places of Power:
Most rivers fall under the category of 'places of power', for him, though a special exception is the River Craeos, one of the largest rivers in all of creation. It symbolises the Way, the metaphysical river which Kyraeos calls his, a path through all creation, to those who can access it.
Kyraeos has few temples, usually situated along much-used roads and highways.
The Way is his true seat of power. It represents all journeys, and is a pathway through creation, allowing one to reach near or far. There are various ways to get to the Way, and the places it can take one is only limited by the places to go. The Way takes the form of a grand, wide river, stretching on seemingly for eternity. Every now and then it branches off, arriving at a destination, coinciding with the mortal plane.
The realm around the Way, however, is a featureless plain, covered in mists which obscure vision past a few meters. Whenever anybody, even another God arrives within the Way, Kyraeos will warn them to not stray from the banks. Even he is not guarenteed to be able to find one who does such.
Kyraeos also holds an isle near Krona. This is the closest thing he has to a home.
Servants, Prominent Followers and Worship Base:
In the way of servants, the first and foremost that should be mentioned are the monstrous Wolf-Spirits, known as 'Werewolves'. They are the children of Kyraeos, spawned of his act of defilement of a demigod. These creatures draw power from the moon, connected to Kyraeos as they are, and walk in both in shape of wolf and in shape of man. He may also command the spirits of the Way, though they reside only within the Way.
In the way of prominent followers, Kyraeos only has an order of Warrior-Monks, nomads who wander from place to place, in order to refine their philosophy and preach their moon-worship.
In the way of worship base, Kyraeos is worshipped by nomads, as well as hunter-societies, as the wolf is usually an idol of the hunt. On a smaller scale, he gets worship from any attempting a journey, often from travelling merchants as well, which has brought him into slight conflict with other gods at times.
Psychology:
Kyraeos' state of mind is curious. It isn't set in stone, like most. Rather, it cycles, the moon reflecting his conscience. When the moon hides it's face is when Kyraeos is the most collected, calm, and apathetic. But as the moon shows more and more of itself, so does Kyraeos' emotions. He grows to feel his emotions more intensely, whether they be positive or negative, until at the peak of the lunar cycle, his emotions govern his actions.
When the moon hides itself, Kyraeos is numbed to most things, detached. He stays within the Way, content to mind the great river that is his realm.
When the moon shows it's full glory, Kyraeos indulges himself in what he pleases, whether it be as tame as talking to a companion, or as wild as indulging himself in the bodies of others, consenting or not. His desires are based around his sense of aesthetic, his vanity. He lusts after the perfect human form, be it male or female. He is protective of his children, but not so much of his followers. Those messing with the Way, entering without permission, draw his wrath.
Kyraeos tends towards neutrality, when politics and other gods are concerned. However, he can be swayed, especially on the full moon, if he desires something.
When it comes to conflict, the White Wolf tends to try and avoid it. He is not a god of war, nor battle, nor blood nor metal. This is not to say that he is not formidable. As the patron of wolves, he is able to call upon the savagery and power of said animal. He simply prefers not to.
History:
When creation was simple, when Ventu destroyed as Svanus and Aroesus created, Kyraeos appeared. He was not created, nor was he born, nor was he forged or carved. He merely appeared. This is the first memory Kyraeos claims to have. Movement, journeys. These were his protectorates, his spheres of influence. He was content to watch, as Ventu destroyed and Aroesus created. He was content to watch, as Ventu fell and Aroesus rose. He was not content to be cast out of his reason for existance. It is for this reason he claimed alleigance to Aroesus, bending his knee, so to say. He became a part of Aroesus' Pantheon, and assisted in claiming dominance over the other forces wishing to rule in place of Ventu.
At some point, he sired the wolves, claiming them under his protection, his influence. Soon enough, the Moon, due to it's incessant path across the sky every night, became his also.
The most telling event of Kyraeos' personality is the Defilement of Astacia. Astacia was a demigod, connected to nature, and was beautiful. Some even called her the perfection of the female form, however, she was dedicated to a mortal man, whom she loved with all her heart. He was a soldier, and he went to war. Her heart could not take it, when she heard he was injured gravely, and could not fight any more, and could possibly die within weeks. She had no way to reach him, so she entered the Way, using her parent's power to gain access. As she stood on the banks, Kyraeos was enraptured. She told him her plight, causing jealousy and rage to fill Kyraeos, as it was the full moon. He denied her access to the great river, meaning she had no way to reach her lover. She began to storm off, determined to make her own path through the Way. Kyraeos didn't bother, however, to warn her. He merely followed her progress with a Way spirit. When she was sufficiently lost, far from the banks of the Way, he converged on her. Primal urge overflowing, his mind taken by lust, it was this vile act which spawned the Werewolves. The day after, as Kyraeos realised what he had done, he took pity on Astacia. On the condition that this night was not told of, he would show her the way to her lover.
Nine months later, Astacia gave birth to her child. She called it the soldier's, the soldier believed it was. But it wasn't. The soldier had survived after all, but he was merely unable to fight, or physically work due to his wounds. Astacia knew whose the child was, but could not bear to let it be known. But the soldier found out, due to a certain devious snake, and cast both Astacia and the child out, abusing Astacia. The child reacted to the violence, in the way of wolves to protect their own, but twisted. Rage filled the child, and no longer was the child human. A mix of wolf and man tore through the soldier that day, baptising the first Werewolf in blood.
Relationships:
Astacia (Lust)- Astacia is one of the targets of Kyraeos' lust over the years, though she is the most apparent.