Mara Zhan, land of the "Dark Elves."

Golthuk, The Patient


Golthuk is often seen as the strangest of the Gods by outsiders, as it neither resembles the Dark elves or seems to emulate them. This androgynous God is actually is the patron of slugs, a sacred and powerful animal with which the citys and roads of Mara Zhan are established and colonized. Most slugs are seen not only as loyal beasts of burden, but also builders and crafters, as their secretions and acidic gastric juices often prove essential in the softening and chiseling of stone. While most shriens to Golthuk are prayed at ferevently by builders and architects, the other common adherent to them are adjutants and nobles, who believe that the "Patience of a slug" is key to viewing the long-term instead of the short term.






Malash, First in the Dark


Malash is frequently held as "The First Dark Elf" or "The Eternal Ancestor." His role in mythology is the holy progenitor of the Dark elves, and according to many legends, the first tamer of beasts in the dark, including Galthuk. While Dark Elves frequently worship ancestors in their own bloodline, Malash is viewed as the father of all, regardless of genealogy or name. A common invocation of commoners is "We are all children of Malash," which is often used as a plea towrds nobles to show more kindness to their fellow elves. He is most frequently revered among peasants and explorers, and invoked heavily by those who wish to rebel, either agaisnt authority or tradition.






Vakrin, Queen of Mirth


Vakrin, serves two disparate purposes. She is first a trickster goddess, and most of her myths revolve around cleverness, such as when she stole the moon's smile to make the glowing fungi used in so many lanterns, or when she bottled a mighty leviathan's tears to make the first fishing pond. Her second nature is that of a matrimonial god, and is invoked by lovers and married couples alike, as her childish and playful nature is said to bring joy to marriages and strength to children. It is said that her marriage to Malash was won by a bet, to see who could run across the world first. She won by dying his sandals to a stone before the start of their race, and through this cleverness, took her husband as a prize. To this day, "rigged bets" and "odd jokes" are viewed as common forms of courtship among the Dark Elves. It is also said that Vakrin first brought magic to the Dark Elves by stealing it from the Fae.






Tobin, Walker of the Circle



While Malash is the oldest and foremost, Tobin is depicted as the wisest and eldest of the gods. He is the god of death, the god of rebirth, and the god of Sorcery. It is said that he was the first to die, and that he forsook the immortaliy of the other gods, living in the world after in order to guide those that have died to their next life. In this way, each ancestor to which prayers are offered strengthens another soul to be born in the next life. "Tobin's grace" is a prayer said to the dying and departing, so that if they may not live, they may still find home.






Borynni, The Hungering One



Borynni is often fewed as the "evil" God among the Dark Elves, for it is the spirit of the seas, the god of sinking ships and drowning men. Borynni is viewed in Dark Elf myths as a decieitful and capricious being, come from the depth to and destroy the ambitions of others. Borynni is the Brine that corrodes your foundations, the tide that jostles your ship, and the shaper who cuts stone. "Borynni's Teeth" is slang fo death involving sharp stones, "Borynni's laugh" a euphemism for drowning. While some do pray to the Hungering One, it is usually to direct it's wrath towards others. "Borynni take you" is one of the angriest curses to be uttered in the tongue of the Dark Elves.