Lands of Tyranny
Day 1 of The Philosopher, Year 414
Pann, Twyll
Pann
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Symbol: Fruit Tree
Deity of Nature, of Natural Balance, of Peace, of Harmonious Change
Those who keep to the oldest of tales about the god known as Pann, maintain that he was born before the animals of the wild came into existence. In fact they believe it was Pann who gave animals to the world.
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Pann is deeply associated with the natural world, the association encompassing both the animals and the plants that populate the world, but also the balance among all living creatures and the harmony with the environment in which they live. Harmony that the deity is still eager to ‘gently enforce’ with his corruptive influence through the existence of Fae and other less direct and more subtle ways.
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To the more traditionalist worshippers of Pann, the name Twyll is either unknown or rejected, even if in truth these are the same deities. But this deity has grown a second face within the civilized world. Thus, this God is divided in worship and perception, and it is unclear which version is the true deity.
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To those who know the name Pann, this is a God of balance and harmonious change. It is the natural order of races and animals to live in the world together. For some Fae, especially the herbivorous ones, nothing accentuates the love of Pann more than ‘mischief’, a generic term they use to include things such as playing harmless pranks upon the others in a conscious effort to make themselves look like harmless creatures, hiding their true intentions behind a facade of innocence.
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Being the deity of balance, most followers of this deity are typically begrudged by displays of excess. Especially when it comes in the form of excessive culling of animals, deforestation, or destruction of ecosystems: things that disturb the natural balance are often frowned upon. Also, though more mildly, there is an attitude present that all shall return to Pann. Even the great buildings and constructs of civilization are still part of nature and not against the natural order of things, unless they grow to excess: after all, nothing constructed can withstand nature and time. Differently to the followers of other deities such as Venatus, the followers of Pann indeed believe that it is the inevitability of nature to slowly and peacefully reclaim what was lost. Just as many ruins, now engulfed by moss and vegetation, are scattered across the world tell of what has been regained.
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Beliefs
Pann’s domain stands beside that of Boggereth and in parts opposite to the one of Sylvar in what is the small group of gods considered ‘of nature’.
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While the aspects of Venatus, to only take what is needed, is something that aligns with the teachings of Pann. It is the other aspects of The God of the Hunt that draw fervent disagreement and almost disgust. The value of survival of the fittest and of strength, seen as purely violent and wrongly interpreted by his followers as being the true meaning of nature, Pann’s followers believe in nature as a state of complete peace and harmony between races and all living beings.
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In both interpretations of Pann and Twyll, acts of violence not pertaining to the necessities of life and survival are condemned. Brutality in the form of conflicts, establishing dominance, wars and displays of achieving status as the 'apex' predator are closely associated with Venatus. It is none more shown than by the manifestations of Venatus' challenges in the form of Beastkin.
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Among the followers of Pann it is believed that Venatus created these creatures through murderous corruption as a means to test the races and form the ultimate hunter. These creations are abhorred by worshippers of Pann and Twyll and even more so by the Fae who are often preyed upon by them.
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For these reasons, Pann is often seen and believed to be the most benevolent of the gods of nature, even as far as being proclaimed harmless.
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Pann however is not beyond the need to resort to punishments when something is done to greatly offend him. Stories of people being turned into harmless animals: a prince into a frog; a man into a mouse, are attributed to curses of Pann that usually do not continue with a ‘happy ever after’ as both may end up hunted and eaten.
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The god is even far from being harmless, as Fae, thought to be its followers or even manifestations, are creatures whose sole aim is to reproduce at the expense of other races, forcefully, subtly corrupting them to become their own.
Celebrations, Festivals, and Honors
Fae are not quite civilized enough for festivals as they are often known, but do have common ways of celebrating Pann.
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Lacking a civilized calendar, Pann’s followers, especially Fae, simply note the passing time via the moon. Each time the moon is at its fullest, it has become tradition to give life to the mischievous aspects of the deity. Rather than tending to an altar or dancing around a fire, it is common for worshippers of this god to dedicate the peak of the lunar cycle to pranks and tricks. Largely harmless, though not necessarily for one’s ego, the goal is to cause riotous laughter and perhaps the occasional toothless spook!
Another way that Pann’s followers honor their God, or perhaps simply their primal nature, is with indulgent feasts. Though they will vary based on what animals the worshipper is most kin to, meals shared among friends are of chief importance. It is an easy way to come together, to spread harmony, and is particularly popular among the Fae and especially the Satyrs of Pann.
Twyll
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Symbol: Wheat Wreath
Deity of Nature, of Agriculture & Harvests, of Balance, of Peace.
After the New Gods: Deity of Famines, of Draughts, of Pestilence
The story of how Pann became Twyll is not known to the fae, and may be just that; a story. The mythos intertwines their brother, Ilmarin, and Luxa with the fate of this peaceful deity. It is said that when brought into this word by their father, Balthazar and their mother, Lilith: Pann was the favoured son. Being the eldest and the most benevolent of the two children and so garnered more adoration than Ilmarin. However this alone only spurred on Ilmarin to do more, try more, to not let his will be undone.
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It was not until Luxa found an open ear with Ilmarin was she able to twist and turn his desires his jealousy into a more murderous exhibition. Already determined to exceed Pann, he then turned his focus into removing his brother from thought. The brutality of how this happened differs depending on the cultural origin of who tells the story, but they all end in the same manner. Pann is thought to be killed by Ilmarin.
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A common thread then is that Pann survived his encounter with Ilmarin, and sometime later he returned to the pantheon. But not as Pann. As Twyll. A beautiful younger sister of Ilmarin, one free of the jealousy and ill-will of her brother. Now becoming Twyll, harmony between the siblings blossoms.
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This interpretation of the god however exists mostly among humans and those who believe in the most common story told of The Family of Balthazar, Lilith, Dominium and Twyll.
Beliefs
For the followers of Twyll, it is believed that the death of Pann is what caused winter as a season, and the emergence of Twyll to be when the woodland critters and the plants once again bloom. It is because of this that homage is often paid to Twyll at the rebirth of spring. It is because of the close association of Twyll to the blooming of wild plant life that knowledge of agriculture is believed to have derived from her. And so farmers and gardeners alike offered a share of the fruits for their labours at the end of each harvest season in hopes that the Mother of Harvests would bless their fields for the next harvest.
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​Twyll still maintains a close association with animals, an ‘inherited’ realm from when they were once Pann. While those who worship Twyll associate it mostly with the domesticated or farm animals, the more traditionalist followers associate her with all animals which is more inline with her ‘former’ self, Pann.
However, what Twyll gives they are ordained to take back. Humanity took the gifts she had given them and used them to such great success that harmony among the races was disturbed. Especially with the coming of the New Gods many hundreds of years ago, Twyll’s identity started to slowly change into something less purely benign, being now also known to deliver curses upon crops and upon animals reared to be fed to populations with pestilence and famine as punishment for the disharmony caused, or later on, as punishment for things such as progress and society, or even just for healing the sick or burning the dead instead than leaving them to be eaten by wild beasts.
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The greatest act attributed to Twyll came during the war caused by her father and brother, where she is credited with, The Great Famine that blighted the land of the Empire during the conflict. This was a perfect justification to her full outlawing across the Empire, and nowadays the mere mention of the deity is believed to invite devastation and, within some Imperial Provinces such as Kheman, such utterances can lead to the loss of one's tongue.
Harvest Festival
As with most of the Old Gods, celebrations to Twyll are a thing of the past, though some festivals, such as the Harvest Festival, still remain as part of common folklore, especially in rural villages, though they have lost any direct affiliation with the deity, and are instead often opened or closed with a blessing given by a priestess of Minerva.
Depending on the given region, this is a celebration that typically happens when the main harvest is taken in. During which time communities gather to aid in the preparation of feasts and brewing of many drinks to celebrate successful harvests. Each region has their own unique way to commemorate the festival, each uniquely adorned with their local produce.
Celebrations, Festivals, and Honors
Casual Honours
Conkers, acorns, sunflower seeds and other nuts, pits or germs of plants are sometimes placed above thresholds or on windowsills as a small blessing for one’s household. This is to keep balance in the home; to bring bounty; these are treasures of Twyll, and with them comes that small joy. The chosen seed tends to depend on the region.
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Women and girls often make crowns out of wheat to adorn themselves with as a hobby and pastime - linked to Twyll and their imagery.
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Chefs - or most often, family cooks such as mothers, grandmothers or Elven servants - sometimes have superstitions routed in Twyll. One of these is keeping seeds or herbs in empty pans when they are stored away. If the items go rotten, the cook has neglected their tools for too long, and it’s believed their next dishes will fail - being frowned upon by the deity.
Authors: Hokan, Rashan, LaraFaye_Art (Celebration & Festivals sections), from a concept of Maya and Mojito, some Art (#1 and #2) by Hugh-Gi-Oh!)