Nepheris

Sometimes referred to as “The Bound,” Nepheris is both a servant to the other gods and the abiding prince of contracts and negotiations. In service to the Pantheon, Nepheris is the God who abides of the proceedings of the Mortal world. He delivers Divine messages to Mortals and, equally frequently, makes sure that the Gods hear the prayers of their followers–even those Layfolk who are not Devout.

Nepheris, at least superficially, is neutral. He serves two things: the Pantheon and the Mortal Realm. Unlike the other Gods, he does not think Blessings are a privilege, but instead his contractual duty. For this reason, Mortals often view him favorably. However, Nepheris is not singularly goodly: he keeps his allegiances to himself and has been known to counsel criminals and the most devious of Heretics.

Nepheris rarely takes sides: indeed, it is said that he has even negotiated with Heretics. For this reasons, he has no real physical power among the Pantheon, but his social capital is extensive. He has one of the most numerous bodies of followers for this reason and greatly appeals to Layfolk. Of the gods, the least is known about Nepheris’s own predilections and personalities, and it is said he alights almost as frequently as Kasamei.

While Beodhen may be the King of the Gods, Nepheris, in many ways, is the Prince. Like Beodhen, he is descended from Faeris’lyr, an elder God who first introduced Divine sovereignty and, in many ways, the age of the Pantheon. While Nepheris may self-deprecatingly present his own power, it is well known that to be in Nepheris’s favor is to stand well among the Gods.

The Devout of Nepheris

Nepheris accepts followers of all walks of life: the poorest urchin and the wealthiest politician can both find equal quarter under his favor. However, Nepheris universally values a keen wit and a sense of purpose: while many of the most brilliant minds in the realm follow Nepheris, he is equally comfortable with those of somewhat more average aspiration who, nonetheless, present surprising cleverness.

Due to his purview, Nepheris is often the patron God of civil servants, lawyers, domestic workers, and others who occupy a role in service to others. Most diplomats follow Nepheris, and many noble houses who pride themselves on peacekeeping have followed him for generations. However, tacticians and strategist–even those of warlike disposition–are among his most powerful followers.

Above all, Nepheris favors rational, calm people. While he finds delight in those given to bouts of passion, he moreso considers those able to have a level conversation, regardless of circumstances, to be the most valuable of followers and friends.

Nepheris and the Layfolk

Above all other gods excepting maybe Kasamei, Nepheris is beloved by the Layfolk. Compared to the other Gods, Nepheris’s purview is well-understood, and his actions are easily appreciated in the Mortal world.

Beyond this, Nepheris is known to alight to Circadia frequently. Nepheris keeps his relationships with Mortals (mostly) to himself. However, he is known to have many friends and allies–some of whom know him as a God–within the Mortal realm.

Beodhen is known for his torrid love affairs that have devastated dynasties. Nepheris is known for equally frequent romances that, while they lack the pomp and circumstance of his brother’s, have nonetheless shaped the landscape of the Mortal Realm. Over the centuries, Nepheris has been protective of his lovers–he knows the pangs of jealousy. Like his brother Beodhen, Nepheris has some offspring and family lines that boast his blood. However, he has not been nearly as prolific as his sibling.

Costuming and Appearance

If Beodhen’s Devout are united by splendor, Nepheris’s are marked by elegance. Unlike followers of Beodhen, Nepheris’s followers do not overly prioritize sumptuous luxury, but instead have a mind towards practical and simple, albeit beautiful, clothing. Nepheris followers often wear carefully tailored garments, favoring blue, black, and white accented by silver jewelry and accessories. Nepheris followers take great pride in their appearance: while they wear a wide range of styles, they make sure to manifest as comely servants of their God. Afterall, Nepheris is widely considered the quiet romantic hero, and his followers enjoy serving the God whom they consider the most handsome. (This, of course, riles Devout of Steramestei and Beodhen, both of whom widely esteem their own Gods as the most beautiful.)

Many Nepheris followers will wear simple silver chains around their necks, indicating how Nepheris is contractually binding to the Pantheon itself. Similarly, Nepheris Devout will wear silver circlets to indicate their own esteemed place among the Devout.

The Blessed

The followers Blessed by Nepheris often develop streaks and veins of silver and/or sapphire over their body. Very rarely, indicating Nepheris’s own lineage, they will sprout small horns and fangs, though it is rumored that these Blessed are (perhaps unfortunately) marked by Nepheris and Beodhen’s aunt Verine, the disgraced Goddess nevertheless reminding Gods and Mortals alike of her former place within the Pantheon.