Rencal Kei-Rhai
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Rencal Kei-Rhai

The Great Creator, The Iron Emperor, The Divine Father of Creation, The Negotiator
Deities Illiadian Deities Major Illiadian Deities
"Rencal, The Great Creator", in Standard Illiadian. The main Illiadian deity of creation, head of the Illiadian pantheon and creator of the Illiadian universe. Rencal is also known as the Iron Emperor, Holy Father and the Grand Sculptor by the Illiadian Races, depending on how he's worshipped. He's considered to be a very loving deity, who is very adept in the arts of creation and diplomacy. In religious texts, Rencal is most commonly depicted in the form of a Ree-Mai, as they are considered to be based on his own self-image. However, he also frequently takes on the form of an Erian Mikaru. Sometimes he, and his sister Merikira te Ruvea, are depicted at the same time in religious art that focuses on unity with the Dorro.

Like all deities of Illiad, Rencal is depicted as a benevolent and mighty being, but still flawed. In fact, like all the religions of Illiad, Rencalists embrace the imperfections of their god, as it humanizes him, and they feel that it brings them closer to him as their protector and creator. Almost all deities on Illiad are depicted as very much like mortals in their outlook on life and morality; and this seems to be due to first-hand experiences of them, due to many stories of them living amongst Illiadians.

As recently as 5000 years ago, which wasn't that long ago in the opinion of the surviving ancient Illiadians that originally settled in Sancstoryl, as well as those handful of them who still are alive today, Rencal fell in love with a Tayan Mikaru woman and had a Half-Deity child with her while disguised as a fellow mortal/karrin. Said child was called Kashi Arrasse, the Silver Prince, who became a hero after uniting Illiad during a very turbulent time, and became canonized as a saint. Quite a few of the original settlers to Sancstoryl even were alive when this happened.

It's worth noting though that the relationship with the Mikaru woman didn't last, and their divine relationship broke appart as she couldn't, in her words, "love the god she worshipped her entire life as her "Holy Father" the same way as a husband". Ever since this revelation, depicting Rencal as a hopeless, tragic romantic has been a popular subject in Illiadian religious art.

Rencal is known as a caring, creative, fatherly deity with a love for the natural world and keeping his "children", whether by blood or by choice, safe.


The basic tenets of the Rencalist faiths:

- The natural world around you is a gift to you, my children. Treat it with respect and reverence.
- Be kind to those around you, and kindness shall come to you. Be the light to those in the darkness.
- Do no harm to your brothers and sisters, and strive to resolve conflicts with words rather than with blades and spears. But do not shy away to defend yourself and those close to you, should violence find its way to you.
- The world was my canvas, and now it is yours. Create, my children, and do so not just to benefit yourself, but those around you.


Rencal's Divine Domains - Explained

Light - Rencal is generally considered a Lightbringer, who brought light into the newborn Illiadian universe in the form of Stars and the Illiadian sun when he conceived it, as well as a foil to Sh'ther Kei-Sihr, the Illiadian deity of Shadow. Many texts about Rencal speak of divine radiance.

Forge - Rencal's role as Illiad's main deity of creation also makes him the patron over the act of creating things through artistic and artisanal means. Most notably, Rencal's also known as the "Grand Sculptor" and, most notably by more desert- or mountain-dwelling Mikaru and Ree-Mai who tend to work with metals, as the "Great Artisan" or "The Worldsmith".

Peace - Ever since Illiad has started to make contact with other worlds, like Sancstoryl, so did Illiad's deities. Rencal is generally believed to make contracts with the deities of other worlds that allow people from other worlds protection on Illiad, while Illiadians meanwhile would be protected on other worlds. It's also notable that one of Rencal's first acts as a deity after creating the Illiadian universe was teaching the People of Illiad how to work together and live in peace with each other.

Life - As a deity of creation, Rencal is also a deity whose domain is the creation of Life, as he created all living creatures on Illiad himself.

Nature - Despite also being a deity of the Forge, closely associated with Civilization, Rencal is also a Nature-Deity simply due to the fact that he also created all of the Illiadian natural world. One of Rencal's biggest commandments is "The World around you is a gift to you. Treat it with respect and reverence." The main difference between Ree-Mai Tribal Rencalism and Mikaruian Reformed Rencalism is disagreements on how to do just that; Mikaru and Arrash generally build around nature or with respect to nature, while Ree-Mai tend to try to live as part of nature; though this is not a hard rule.

Order - As the Iron Emperor of the deities of Illiad, Rencal is tasked with keeping the Illiadian universe in order, so that everything works like how it's supposed to work. While comparatively hands-off for a deity, he does manage most of the things within The Marble Cathedral and tend to step in when Chaos and Despair reign supreme on Illiad.

March 14th, 2023 November 9th, 2023