Mod

Intermediate Deity

At A Glance
Alias: Rocksmasher, The Unconquered, The Bloody Axe Symbol:            A black greataxe Home Plane:        The Battlehall Alignment:         Neutral Good Portfolio:         War, courage, strength, competition Worshippers:       Athletes, warriors, barbarians Cleric Alignments: CG, LG, NG Domains:            Destruction, Good, Strength, War Favored Weapon:    Greataxe

History
Born during the Second Age, as a result of a tryst between Kivi and Tuli, Mod inherited his father's strength and his mother's fiery nature. The strongest of all the gods, he stands firm against the forces of evil and corruption, often leading battles against the various evil gods. His greatest foe is actually Hemlig, as Mod's honest nature and straightforward ways are a direct conflict with Hemlig's secretive and sinister methods. He also despises the evil primordials, particularly Sslira*, who steals strength for her own twisted designs, and Korinthar*, for his ongoing war against Tuli. Though Mod and Korinthar* have never met in battle, the Rocksmasher looks forward to the day where his axe, Vuori, severs Korinthar*'s head from his body. On the material plane, he appears as a tall human warrior of impressive physical stature, carrying Vuori. Often he and Lognare adventure together, with the latter's wit aiding Mod's physical strength. Having inherited his mother's fiery heart, he often has liaisons with beautiful humans, elves, or other beings, with the children born of such unions often going on to be great heroes.

Dogma
Mod enjoys all sorts of athletic pursuits, and encourages his followers to do likewise. He often promotes non-lethal contests and duels (such as jousting) to solve conflicts, both from among his followers and between nations as well. He is a firm believer in the strong leading the weak, and bravery is the greatest attribute you can possess. Cowardice is not to be tolerated, and when one must fight, one should not hesitate.

Clergy and Temples
Mod's clerics and paladins are expected to be warriors, leading by example as they live a strong and righteous life. Valuing strength but not domination as Forstorelse might, Mod's church promotes various wrestling and gladiatorial combats, including jousting and other tournaments to help settle issues between various nobles and rulers of nations. Few would doubt their fitness, and those that do often find themselves challenged and (more often than not) beaten down for their skeptical nature. Often they will go to great lengths to prove their bravery and prowess, though they do acknowledge the difference between difficult and suicidal challenges. In addition to the Silver Axe, his order of paladins, he has an order of monks as well, the Strength of the Mountain. Offshoots of Kivi's monkly order, these monks believe in physical strength and fitness to achieve true enlightenment, and often co-exist easily enough with Kivi's monks, inspiring several vigorous debates, both verbal and physical.

Mod is not one to have secretive cults or hidden agendas. Indeed, his worship is very active among the Pantheistic Church, and throughout the Empire as a whole. However, he has been working with Kukka and her Missionaries. After seeing how the more savage humanoid races respond to raw might and strength, Kukka asked Mod for his assistance, which he was only too happy to provide the Wildflower. Often the Missionaries now travel with a cleric or paladin of Mod, who bests the chieftain or shaman of the tribe through physical strength to show that the gifts of Mod are greater than the abilities the primordial dragons grant. Though still a work in progress, some success has been had among the lizardfolk and other neutral races.