Falmus is a deity of cleanliness, hygiene, and purification. He is often depicted as a wise old man, dispensing advice to those in need, and as a fierce warrior battling against the forces of filth and disease.
Falmus's domain encompasses all aspects of hygiene and cleanliness, including personal grooming, household cleaning, and purification rituals.
He is highly revered among his followers for his teachings on the importance of keeping oneself and one's surroundings clean, and for his miraculous powers of purification.
"In cleanliness, we find clarity and peace.To neglect cleanliness is to invite chaos into one's life."
- Elder Amara, Guardian of the Sacred Springs.
Appearance
Falmus might appear differently to different people, but he is always the picture of perfect health and impeccably presented whether in gleaming armour or well pressed and tailored clothes.
He is sometimes shown carrying a basin of water, his most well-known symbol as it harkens back to the origin of his rituals - the cleansing of the face and hands. Other symbols or tokens of Falmus could include stylised brooms, mops, brushes or buckets.
Godhood
In the time after the Cataclysm, when the world was torn asunder, all was chaos and disorder. The land was covered in filth and disease, and the people lived in squalor. Falmus is said to have been born from the rift of the cataclysm itself, a desperate act of creation to provide a source of health and purity in a ravaged world. He traveled across the land, teaching the people the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. He showed them how to purify water and food, and how to keep their homes and bodies clean. He taught them the value of hard work and discipline, and how a clean and healthy lifestyle could lead to a long and prosperous life. As the people began to follow Falmus's teachings, the world slowly transformed. The land became fertile and abundant once more, and the people grew strong and healthy. Disease and filth were banished, and some tales even suggest that Falmus once battled a powerful demon of decay, using his powers to purify the demon's lair and banishing it to the underworld.
Falmus can purify water and food, cure wounds caused by infections and plague. Falmus can restore objects that have been damaged by rust or corrosion. He can clean an area in an instant, something that many housewives wish they had the ability to do!
Falmus is generally well-regarded by other deities associated with health, life, and purity. He is considered a helpful ally to deities of healing and medicine, or as a complementary counterpart to deities of nature or fertility. However, he has clashed frequently with deities of chaos or decay, who see his focus on cleanliness and order as oppressive or restrictive. Falmus has been known to quarrel with deities of trickery or illusion, who may use their powers to create false impressions of cleanliness or health.
Worshippers
Falmus is paid homage and has his name invoked by followers from all walks of life, from common housewives trying to manage a messy household or keep children’s clothes free of holes and stains, Scholars and archivists attempting to preserve valuable artefacts and delicate scrolls from the ravages of time and decay, healers and doctors striving to keep infection and contamination away from their patients, and soldiers struggling to maintain rations, supplies and equipment while out in the field.
Clerics and followers of Falmus may face unique challenges in their quest for cleanliness and purity. For example, they may be tempted to over-sanitize and become germaphobic, leading to social isolation and mental health issues.
They may also face opposition from those who do not prioritize cleanliness, or who see Falmus as an overly strict and judgmental deity.
To prove their devotion, followers of Falmus may undertake quests to clean and purify polluted rivers or contaminated areas, or to assist in healing outbreaks of disease or infection.
Tenets of Faith
Falmus teaches his followers to live hygienically, so as to live longer and not get sick. He detests slimes, mold and other unhygienic organisms, as well as rust and other decay caused by lack of upkeep or maintenance.
He has provided many small rhymes and prompts to remind and encourage people to clean and maintain their possessions and physical hygiene.
Wash tubs dedicated to Falmus could be found in small rooms off of many temples, with acolytes providing bathing and grooming services to the less fortunate.
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