Telophus

Lord of Crops and the Seasons

Lesser God

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Domains: Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water

Symbol: Raining cloud partially obscuring a radiant sun

Garb: Green and earth tone woolen robes and vestments

Favored Weapons: Sickle or scythe Form of Worship and Holidays: Harvest and planting celebrations as well as special devotions at the first frost and the first thaw.

Typical Worshippers: Farmers and halflings, some druids revering his natural cycle aspect

This Hyperborean god is the embodiment of the uncaring, changing seasons. He is prayed to not so much to bring good crops, but to be convinced to hold off the early frost or bring the spring thaw. He requires appeasement and devoted following, being known to test his followers’ faithfulness and resolve when it suits him. Telophus and Freya are natural antagonists, between his uncaring detachment and her personal interest in the well-being of her faithful. This translates into occasional confrontations and difficulties between the moribund priesthood of the Lord of Crops and Seasons and the fiery devotees of Freya.

Telophus has long been credited with bringing the orderly advance of the seasons for planting, growing, reaping, and storing. Farmers almost universally propitiate this god, though interestingly, as a primarily neutral deity; the bounty of this process is often accredited to Ceres or Freya, whereas Telophus seems simply to be more concerned that the natural processes continue as they should. The lawful aspect of his nature reflects this adherence to the strict natural cycles of day and night, sun and storm, and the endless revolution of the seasons. One result of this detached view of the process is that some strange druidic cults of Telophus have emerged over the centuries that take a distinctly anti-civilization view. Whether this more-malicious interpretation of his faith is bothersome to the deity is unclear, as he has never commented to his priesthood on it in one way or the other.