The Twelve and You: A Discussion

[Mercurias]

[align=center]The Twelve[/align]

[align=center]

 

 

[align=left]So I've been hunting through the forums for a while now looking for information on the gods, and eventually I've branched out in order to try and get a more full understanding of the Twelve and what it means to worship them in modern Eorzea.

 

In character, religion is often a divisive topic. Many, many characters will build up their own versions of their respective gods simply due to there being little in the way of Lore to work with, and then when people meet there can be a scramble to define and reason and whatnot so that people sometimes simply avoid the topic in roleplay altogether, while others will leap headfirst into Atheism...Which is really sort of a Garlean concept in a lot of ways.

 

Anyway, I've found some good info on the boards, as well as in other online sources, and I'd like to go ahead and try to toss together something fairly comprehensive.

 

I'll start off with some links to the FFXIV Gamerscape wiki, both because it's their info (and thus they deserve full credit) and so that I can condense this post a bit.

 

 

Althyk, The Keeper

 

Althyk is the surveyor of change and space, and god of time. He commands the element of earth and is associated with the twelfth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Althyk is the father of Azeyma and Menphina, and elder brother to Nymeia. He is most often depicted as an austere emperor wielding a mythril greataxe. His symbol is the hourglass.

Despite being a god of such magnitude, I'm actually having a hard time finding information on this guy other than the Gamerscape Wiki link. There's a song called "In the Arms of Althyk" in the FFXIV: Before Meteor album, if that's anything, but it's more of a sleepy-time version of the victory music. There is also a quest item in Eastern Thanalan known as Althyk's Lavender.

 

Being the god of time, Althyk would likely be a favorite of Historians and Diviners or Fortune Tellers.

 

 

Nymeia, the Spinner

 

Nymeia is the watcher of celestial bodies and goddess of fate. She commands the element of water and is associated with the fourth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Nymeia is the youngest sister of Althyk, and master of Rhalgr. She is most often depicted as a weaver donning a hite, silken veil. Her symbol is the spinning wheel.

Nymeia is the goddess of fate, and this means that, on the other side of the coin, she's also the goddess of luck to gamblers, the ambitious, and risk-takers. She's said to have a fickle personality, as befits a "Lady Luck" goddess. Another interpretation that one can find very easily is that of the Morai in Greek mythology, or the Norns of Norse Mythology who govern destiny, life, and death.

 

There is a crafting item called the Nymeia Lily which is said to be her favored flower.

 

 

Rhalgr, The Destroyer

 

Rhalgr, breaker of worlds, is the god of destruction and guardian deity of the now-fallen nation of Ala Mhigo. He commands the element of lightning and is associated with the eighth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Rhalgr is the father of both Byregot and Halone, and serves as attendant to Nymeia. He is most often depicted as a magus carrying a staff of bronze. His symbol is the streaking meteor.

 

As the patron diety of Ala Mhigo whose symbol is so very reminiscent of the Calamity, Rhalgr's worship has been under sharp decline. He is very obviously based on gods of destruction who cleanse the world again to make way for new beginnings, as can be seen by being the father of Byregot, the Builder of new things. Being the father of Halone is a rather obvious allusion to the destruction brought about by war, and the inevitability of destruction coming to all is evident in his place as Nymeia's attendant.

 

Thaliak, The Scholar

 

Thaliak, ruler of rivers and wisdom, and god of knowledge, is the guardian deity of Sharlayan. He commands the element of water and is associated with the third moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Thaliak is the father of Llymlaen, and the teacher of Byregot. He is most often depicted as a reserved scholar holding an ashen staff. His symbol is the scroll.

 

I find it interesting that the god with command over water is Thaliak rather than Llymlaen. His domain over Sharlayan can't really be commented on, since the city-state is located on another continent and we don't have access to it at this time. Louisoix was supposedly a devotee of Thaliak. His status as the god of rivers could easily be an allusion to the fact that many civilizations have built themselves on or near waterways.

 

 

Azeyma, The Warden

 

Azeyma is keeper of the sun and goddess of inquiry. She commands the element of fire and is associated with the ninth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Azeyma is the daughter of Althyk, and the elder sister of Menphina. She is most often depicted as a noble lady holding a golden fan. Her symbol is the radiant sun.

 

Azeyma is heavily worshiped by Miqo'te Seekers of the Sun, which puts me in mind of the phrase "Curiosity killed the cat." Being the goddess of Inquiry, seekers of truth would also flock to her (investigators would want to shine Azeyma's light down upon the truth, after all), which is supported by her pairing as the divine lover of Thaliak. There was a quest line involving her followers in 1.0. As half of the traditional Sun/Moon pairing and the daughter of time, she is placed about as neatly as you could imagine.

 

 

Menphina, The Lover

 

Menphina is keeper of the moon and the goddess of love. She commands the element of ice and is associated with the second moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Menphina is the sister of Azeyma, and the divine lover of Oschon. She is most often depicted as a maid carrying a round skillet. Her symbol is the full moon.

 

Traditionally worshipped by the Miqo'te Keepers of the Moon. Menphina is an interesting pairing to me as the goddess of Love with dominion over ice, as love stories ice tend towards the tragically romantic, with one of the pair locked away or dead and encased in ice forever unless something Fairy Tale happens and true love's kiss saves the day. Lovers would, of course, pray to her, as would lonely hearts and out-of-work wedding planners.

 

As the moon goddess, she is also sister to Azeyma, the sun, and daughter to Althyk, time. Dalamund used to be referred to as Menphina's Hound before it was sent crashing to the ground during the Calamity.

 

 

Oschon, The Wanderer

 

Oschon is the ruler of the mountains and god of travelers and vagrants. He commands the element of wind and is associated with the sixth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Oschon is the brother of Nald'thal, and the close companion of Halone. He is most often depicted as a carefree ranger wielding a bow of yew. His symbol is the walking stick.

 

Oschon, the god of travel, is a popular one with Adventurers. The old civilization of Nym, which floated over the land, considered him to be a patron deity and even built the Wanderer's Palace in his honor.

 

He is the divine lover of Menphina, which can imply the romanticism of the lone wanderer sort, and he is also brother to Nald'thal, who holds dominion over death and implies the inherent danger to those Oschon looks after. In the God's Grip of Lower La Noscea there is a lighthouse called Oschon's Torch, and after God's Grip was split from the mainland during the Calamity, a bridge called Oschon's Embrace was built to link back to it.

 

Oschon is also considered by the Miner's Guild to be their patron, and they associate him with continental drift.

 

 

Nald'thal, The Traders

 

Nald'thal, overseer of the underworld and god of commerce, is the guardian deity of Ul'dah. He commands the element of fire and is associated with the tenth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Nald'thal is the single manifestation of the deific twins Nald and Thal. He is most often depicted as a discerning merchant holding a balance. His symbol is the cowry, an ancient shell currency.

 

 

Halone, The Fury

 

Halone, mover of glaciers and goddess of war, is the guardian deity of Ishgard. She commands the element of ice and is associated with the first moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Halone is the daughter of Rhalgr, and a bitter rival of Nophica. She is most often depicted as a relentless warrioress armed with a bronze greatshield. Her symbol is the three spears.

 

 

Byregot, The Builder

 

Byregot is the purveyor of architecture and industry, and the god of the arts. He commands the element of lightning and is associated with the seventh moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Byregot is the elder brother of Halone, and pupil of Thaliak. He is most often depicted as an ardent smith with a two-headed hammer. His symbol is the hand.

 

 

Nophica, The Matron

 

Nophica, tender of soils and harvests, and goddess of abundance, is the guardian deity of Gridania. She commands the element of earth and is associated with the eleventh moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Nophica is the daughter of Azeyma, and the younger sister of Llymlaen. She is most often depicted as a jubilant farmer holding and scythe of steel. Her symbol is the spring leaf.

 

 

Llymlaen, The Navigator

 

Llymlaen, watcher of the seas and goddess of navigation, is the guardian deity of Limsa Lominsa. She commands the element of wind and is associated with the fifth moon of the Eorzean Calendar. Llymlaen is the daughter of Thaliak, and the elder sister of Nophica. She is most often depicted as a strong fisherwoman wielding a long-bladed harpoon. Her symbol is the wave.

 

___________________________________________________________

 

This is just a start, of course, and I've run out of time at the moment to finish putting up all of what I've seen so far, but I plan on editing this post and putting in everything I can find in the game and outside of it. While I do so, if you have any lore-based insight that isn't covered here, PLEASE post it.

 

For the moment, I strongly encourage lore-only facets rather than in-character created theologies because that's what I'm trying to build a resource for. I mean no disrespect towards your storytelling and appreciate your understanding.

[/align]

[/align]