The God-King

 

The Kingdom of Dulsanius worships one primary god:  Reese, the Bull of Heaven.  Dulsanians aren't monotheists.  They believe other gods exist -- they're just infinitely inferior to Reese, and most are unworthy of worship.

Reese is power, pure and simple.  What he wishes, happens.  None can oppose him.  He cares nothing for "right" or "wrong", "good" or "evil."  Nothing is unclean to him, not even necromancy.  He is supremely capricious.  What pleases him one day may enrage him the next.  It's best not to pray to him, unless you are a priest, for Reese hates being pesterd by lower creatures.

How, then, does a Dulsanian avoid angering the Voice of Thunder?  He obeys the God-King.

The God-King is the ruler of the Kingdom of Dulsanius.  He is Reese's mortal representative and a spark of the All-Powerful resides within him.  He speaks with Reese's voice;  his will is Reese's will.  This connection allows the God-King to shield the nation from Reese's wrath.  He knows what will anger Reese, for it angers him too.  And thus the God-King can destroy any irritations before they annoy the Most High.

But what if the God-King fails to carry out Reese's will?  What if he himself angers the Bull of Heaven?  The Dulsanian answer is simple:  he dies.  Few God-Kings perish of old age;  most are assassinated by a relative (usually a son) who then proclaims himself the true God-King.  Dulsanians do not consider assassination improper.  If the God-King enjoys Reese's favor, none can harm him.

Representations:  None.  Reese is never depicted.  Instead, Dulsanian religious art focuses on his sign (the lightning bolt) and his servants (griffons).  A few Rostillan theologians suggest that Reese is a very malign face of Legis.  Dulsanians find this suggestion hilarious.  They refer to Legis as "Reese Do-pesht", which means "Castrated Reese";  they consider Legis an effeminate and impotent deity, the type of watered-down godling that foreigners bend knee to.

 

There are only two other deities that enjoy any worship in Dulsanius.  The first is Reese's wife.  She has no name;  she's simply called the Weeping Woman.  Unlike Reese, she loves and pities mortals.  When their suffering becomes too great, her tears fall and bring the rain.  (Dulsanius is a very dry land;  water is sacred to them.)  Sometimes, if need is great, she will petition her husband on a mortal's behalf.  Therefore those seeking aid pray to her, rather than Reese.

The Weeping Woman's temples are always centered around a pool, waterfall, or stream.  Like Reese, she is never directly depicted.  Her symbol is the rain-drop, and her messenger the heron.

 

The last Dulsanian god is Pazzur, Lord of Plagues.  Depicted as a human with a vulture's head, Pazzur brings the terrible plagues that ravage Dulsanius in its long, hot summers.  Few people truly worship him;  they offer him gifts to avert his wrath.  Rostillan theologians say that Pazzur is not truly a god.  He's a demon, a nefas addition to Dulsanius' religion.  Some Rostillan texts speak of him being one of the "Hands" that serve the Sleeping God.