Lost Gods

"I swear by all the lost gods, whoever they may be."

The Lost Gods are a pantheon of deities currently being rediscovered throughout Rathnir. While their origins are unverifiable, they seem to have originated from the nomadic Najer culture, then forgotten as the nomads settled in villages.

Currently, seven deities have been confirmed and named. Several others are theorized and are being researched.

The Lost Gods symbolize those who were lost in certain places, allowing them to guide you whenever you are there.

Organization and nature
So far, research has indicated that there were two major groups of deities historically venerated by the Najer. The first group governs physical things, such as the sky, heat, and sand. The second group governs metaphysical concepts such as death and dreams. Each group contains six gods. Each god has an object (token) and a virtue associated with them. Both of these are often deeply symbolic, tying in with not only each other, but with the symbols and virtues of other gods.

Each god is thought to be an embodied force, a manifestation of the world. Although they are often ascribed with human features such as bodies, genders, and personalities, most Najer scholars and theologians agree that they have no concrete form.

Menkauhor - God of Sand
Menkauhor, known also as the "Buried Bells," was the first god to have been rediscovered. The discovery of an ancient temple dedicated to him, known today as Najera'jad Temple, first kickstarted the Najer cultural renaissance in 1 AB. His token is a pair of bells. Many Najer villages have a pair of bells as a homage to this deity. The left one is chimed at births (life), and the right is chimed at funerals. (death)

He is commonly associated with renewal, symbolized through sand. The constantly shifting and resetting sand dunes bring to mind an infinite capacity to reset and rebuild. This also strongly associated with the Najer epithet "we remain," a traditional phrase used in the face of hardship.

Menkauhor aids those who have lost sight of their foundation, those who have forgotten their past, and those who wander.

Proverbs
There are two known proverbs referencing this deity, found inscribed in the temple at Najera'jad.
 * "Men, kings, and even gods may fall, but you shall rise again."
 * Written in response to when tragedy befalls someone.
 * "The Bell tolls for thee - the bell tolls for me."
 * Written to convey the passage of generations; The young surviving their ancestors.

Incomplete
There are also two incomplete sayings, obscured by the passage of time
 * "The sands spill away, and reveal a brand new day. One of miracles and whose bell rings for its"
 * "But for those guard the nest, Shall soon come their eternal So with eyes set on a setting sun, they hear a tolling duties"

Ajvudah - God of Heat
Ajvudah was the second god rediscovered. The unearthing of Nahrayn led to many artifacts and documents related to this god being made public, around 39 AB. Her token is a lantern. Lanterns, particularly soul Lanterns, are often arranged around significant sites, temples, and memorials as a homage to Ajvudah.

She is primarily associated with endurance and vitality. Life in the desert is difficult, and this god is sometimes looked upon negatively for this reason. However, Ajvudah represents the negative and positive aspects of heat, promoting a capacity to survive and overcome challenges.

Ajvudah aids those who have lost their strength, the sick, and those who are weak.

Gafa - God of Water
Gafa was the third god rediscovered. Residents of Sigtuna discovered the Vernadamal Cenote, thought to be a holy site to this god. Her token is a sea lantern, which are sometimes placed around oases as a homage to Gafa.

This god is strongly associated with peace. The symbolic sharing of water between Najer is significant because of the value and scarcity of water in the desert. Due to various conflicts over water throughout the long history of the Najer, many Najer revere Gafa to promote peace and understanding. A common phrase in the Najer language, translated as "Gafa bless you," is used in reference to warmongers.

Gafa aids those who are lost in imperialistic, bigoted, or greedy desires.

Taramsej - God of Stone
Taramsej was among the group of gods discovered by the cracking of the ancient Najer script. Research done by Najer scholars unlocked the secrets of many old documents, revealing this gods name and symbols. His symbol is a diamond. Diamond tools and adornments were commonly placed around significant sites, but over the centuries these have all been stolen or destroyed.

This god is linked with industry. Stone and other minerals take effort to obtain, and the desire to obtain these things is a driving force behind the desire to progress as a society, build cities, and become prosperous.

Taramsej aids those who have become lost in laziness or carelessness, and the impassioned.

Duyani - God of Flora
Duyani was among the group of gods discovered by the cracking of the ancient Najer script. Research done by Najer scholars unlocked the secrets of many old documents, revealing this gods name and symbols. Her symbol is sunflowers, specifically the desert dandelion, which is a type of sunflower. This dandelion is an important symbol for many Najer that connects the various gods together, and is the national flower of the Emirate of Najer.

This god has many associations, including plantlife, creation, and beauty. Flowers in particular symbolize expressions of aesthetic, color, and passion. These connections tie the Najer love of life to their deep respect for nature. Duyani is commonly venerated at festivals, celebrations, and other lively events.

Duyani aids those who lack willpower or inspiration, as well as those who love nature.

Koshaf - God of Sky
Koshaf was among the group of gods discovered by the cracking of the ancient Najer script. Research done by Najer scholars unlocked the secrets of many old documents, revealing this gods name and symbols. Although the least-understood god, his symbol is the quill pen (or feathers in general).

This god is associated with prediction, foresight, knowledge, and innovation. The sky can foretell many natural phenomenon, and holds the keys to many secrets. While the sand represents remembering what was, the sky represents finding something new.

Koshaf aids those who lack knowledge.

Metaphysical group
This group is much less well-understood, and is still being researched.