Diion

Description

Diion is a legendary reptilian deity in the lore of Midora, revered as the first god to emerge in the world and the patron deity of the Nagan Empire. He is depicted as a massive, radiant axolotl with scales of every hue in the rainbow, each shimmering and glittering in the sunlight. His eyes are said to hold the depth of infinite wisdom and knowledge.

In early Nagan art and sculpture, Diion is often shown coiled around a Tree of Knowledge or a sigil of imperial power, symbolizing his role as both a bringer of enlightenment and a foundation of the Empire’s prosperity.

History

Creation and Early Worship

According to ancient tradition, Diion shaped the face of Midora itself—the lands, seas, and skies—and bestowed upon every creature its unique gifts and abilities. To the earliest inhabitants, he was a bringer of wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity. As the first god, his benevolence and power made him the central figure of the Nagan people’s spiritual life. His blessings were believed to bring wealth, victory in war, and good fortune in all endeavors.

The Betrayal of the Third Age

By the end of the Third Age, Emperor Shido Nagamotto Min grew envious of Diion’s influence over the people. Seeking to seize that divine power for himself, the Emperor lured Diion to the Imperial Garden under the pretense of honoring him. Once there, Diion was betrayed and imprisoned in a hidden chamber beneath the garden.

During his captivity, Diion, though filled with despair, refused to succumb to hopelessness. From his own flesh, he shaped five demi-gods—Liao, Nori, Laaos, Takata, and Gao—each embodying an aspect of his divine essence. These demi-gods became the new pantheon of the Nagan Empire, and their worship spread rapidly.

The Long Imprisonment

For centuries, Diion remained sealed away. Though diminished in direct influence, his guidance flowed through the demi-gods, and many still held faith that he would one day be freed. His story became a cautionary tale, warning of the perils of greed and ambition, while also serving as a beacon of hope and renewal.

Release in the Fourth Age

In the year 912 of the Fourth Age, a group of adventurers discovered a massive, mysterious key that led them to the Imperial Garden’s hidden chamber. Upon freeing Diion, they were met not with wrath but with gratitude. Remarkably, Diion bore no ill will toward those who had once betrayed him.

Choosing not to resume his role as a central deity, Diion instead became a solitary observer—detached yet benevolent—continuing to influence the world indirectly through his demi-gods. His release sent waves of awe and hope through the Nagan Empire, and the tale of the adventurers’ bravery became a legend in its own right.

Personality

Diion is wise, patient, and profoundly introspective. While once an active patron and shaper of the world, his long imprisonment instilled in him a sense of detachment from mortal politics and ambitions. Though he remains benevolent, he values the lessons of hardship and change, preferring to act as a guiding presence rather than a direct ruler. Forgiveness, even toward betrayal, defines his current philosophy.

Worshipers

In his early worship, Diion was central to Nagan religious life. Priests and scholars dedicated themselves to his teachings, and his image was a symbol of imperial authority. After his imprisonment and the rise of The Five, his worship diminished, with reverence shifting toward the five new deities.

Only small sects and wandering sages maintain dedicated worship of Diion, often seeing him as a figure of spiritual enlightenment rather than divine intervention. His release in the Fourth Age reignited quiet but passionate devotion among certain circles, though he himself does not seek organized worship.

Among these lingering devotees are two particularly elusive sects:

1. Faceless Emissaries – A mysterious and enigmatic order known primarily within the Nagan Empire. They are scattered groups of wandering bards who convey their faith through performance—songs, shows, and cryptic plays meant to foretell impending change. Gifted with shapeshifting, the Emissaries conceal their true identities, blending seamlessly into the societies they pass through. Their numbers are unknown, their influence immeasurable, and their messages intentionally vague. To some, they are harbingers of doom; to others, cryptic heralds of Diion’s enduring wisdom. Their devotion to Diion is absolute, as they see themselves as his living messengers, tasked with translating the cycles of time and season into performance and prophecy.
   
   
2. The Jaga – A far smaller and far darker sect, feared for their ruthlessness. Their single obsession lies with the Tree of Knowledge, the divine symbol most often associated with Diion. The Jaga hunt and eliminate anyone who claims knowledge of the Tree’s secrets, leaving behind a trail of blood and terror. It remains unclear whether their violence stems from devotion—protecting the Tree’s location—or selfish ambition, seeking to uncover its power for themselves. Regardless, they are whispered of as cultists, zealots, and assassins, their true allegiance and purpose forever cloaked in ambiguity.

Abilities

• Primordial Creation: Shaped the physical world and imbued its creatures with their defining traits.
  
• Divine Fleshcraft: From his own body, created the five demi-gods of the Nagan pantheon.
  
• Benevolent Influence: Maintains a spiritual connection with the demi-gods, subtly guiding their domains.
  
• Serpentine Wisdom: Possesses unmatched insight into the cycles of life, change, and renewal.

Possessions / Relics

• The Tree of Knowledge: A mythical, sacred tree often depicted in association with Diion, believed to represent the source of wisdom in Midora.
  
• The Imperial Garden Chamber: Once his prison, now a hallowed site known to contain remnants of Diion’s divine essence.
  
• Scales of Radiance: Fragments of his rainbow-colored scales, said to grant visions of truth and clarity to those who possess them.

Legacy

The myth of Diion remains one of the most enduring stories in Nagan history. His betrayal is remembered as a warning against overreaching ambition, while his creation of the demi-gods during captivity is hailed as a testament to resilience and creativity in the face of despair.

Following his release, the Nagan Empire entered a quiet cultural renaissance, with scholars, poets, and theologians drawing on his example to inspire reform, unity, and a return to moral governance. His choice to forgive and withdraw from mortal politics became a philosophical cornerstone for several spiritual movements, emphasizing balance, wisdom, and the acceptance of change.

In the eyes of the people, Diion’s enduring legacy is not his power, but his grace—a god who shaped the world, was betrayed by it, and yet chose compassion over vengeance.