MESTRIUS, KING OF THE GODS / PADDY CONSIDINE
♛ Domains: Order, Creation, Authority, The Heavens
♛ Relationships: Amestris (sister), Damaspia (wife), Darius, Xerxes (sons), Cambyses (brother-in-law), Cyrus, Lucius (nephews), Artaynte, Alya, Phaedra, Roya (nieces)
forged light from the void / created the universe
a god of stern presence - his authority is rarely questioned outright but often resented in secret
his sister gave things their names, but HE gave things their rules: the cycles of the seasons, the measure of time, the path of the stars
he is both revered as creator and feared as a tyrant
very inflexible!!! he is a guardian of ~balance~ but, as such, a stickler for the rules he created
usually depicted as a figure clad in robes of starlight with a crown that resembles a burning sign
symbols: a blazing sun, a crown of flames, scales of justice
mortals rarely imagine him laughing
mestrius loves his sons (especially xerxes, who has always been dutiful) but while he feels sorrow for him, he refuses to undo the curse!
he tolerates Cambyses' children, but he does not respect them as he thinks that they are frivolous and destructive
he has higher regard for amestis's daughters and would have liked to have seen darius marry Phaedra
he is an authorization who expects unquestioning loyalty!!! to cross him is to court ruin
some myths suggest he feels guilt for creating such a flawed universe, but he would never admit to this!
ordinary folk respect him, but he is not beloved! he is honored out of duty and fear and not affection
his feast day is "The Day of Order" which is basically Astairan "New Years Day" when it is customary for new laws to be decreed and old debts settled
XERXES, GOD OF WINTER AND SHEPHERD OF SOULS / HENRY CAVILL
♛ Domains: Winter, Ice, Passage Between Worlds, Burden & Duty
♛ Relationships: Mestrius (father), Damaspia (mother), Darius (brother) Amestris (aunt), Cambyses (uncle), Cyrus, Lucius, Artaynte, Alya, Phaedra, Roya (cousins), Brigit Malconaire (interest)
where darius burned with restless fire, xerxes is steady, cool, and watchful
a son who often lived in his brother’s shadow, but who embodied patience and loyalty.
when darius descended into the underworld against Mestrius’ command, it was xerxes who tried to stop him -- but he was too late
as punishment, he was bound to the fate of darius’ curse: unable to return to heaven until darius repents
xerxes’ role is to shepherd mortal souls to their fates ... not to the peace they deserve, but to the cursed realm his brother has made
even now, xerxes loves his brother!
xerxes is steadfast, melancholic, merciful, and haunted
shrines to xerxes are often found in graveyards, where offerings of snow, white flowers, and carved ice are left o ease a soul's passage
his symbols are his horse, a frost-covered lantern, snowflakes
his feast day is The Silent Eve -- which is held in deepest winter, when all fires are extinguished for one night to honor the stillness of death and the god who guides it
Also, he plays a significant role in Imbolc -- which is the coldest night of the year and the one winter night he is allowed shelter from the cold winter nights
DARIUS, GOD OF DEATH AND THE UNDERWORLD / MATT SMITH
♛ Domains: Death, The Underworld, Autumn, Fire, Ambition
♛ Relationships: Mestrius (father), Damaspia (mother), Xerxes (brother) Amestris (aunt), Cambyses (uncle), Cyrus, Lucius, Artaynte, Alya, Roya (cousins), Phaedra (cousin/interest)
from the beginning, darius longed not to serve but to rule
he was hungry for something that was his own
his father forbade the gods from entering the underworld as that was the place where souls were meant to rest eternally -- but darius descended anyway
by going there, however, he cursed the land, himself, and his brother for trying to stop him
darius is now barred from heaven until he repents
yet even cursed, Darius does not relent -- he plots to raise an army of monsters and claim his father’s throne.
Phaedra was once promised to him, but his curse destroyed their bond
he pretends not to care, but the truth is she is the only being he ever truly loved, and he will never forgive himself for losing her!
darius is feared more than worshipped and his cults are often forbidden, yet there are some who call upon him for vengeance and strength (usually offering blood or fire in exchange)
when mortals pray to him, they pray he keeps his monsters below earth / pray for him to return to heaven and free the underworld from his grasp (this *shockingly!* does not work)
ambitious, proud, charismatic, tragic
symbols: obsidian blade, burning crown, black fire
His feast day is The Emberlight -- held at the end of autumn, fires are lit across villages not to honor him, but to ward him off. Fires are lit as a reminder that his flames cannot reach the living world
