Yu-Kargzant is the highest and most noble god of Pent, but few Pentans are permitted to worship him directly. He is the True Sun, the Great Stallion, who brings light and purity to the world. He touched the earth only twice before he died, and after he was returned from the Underworld, he has never touched it again.
Yu-Kargzant was the greatest of all of the gods, created by the Great Blue Sky and the Wide Brown Earth to stand between them as king stallion. His worship divides his existence into three stages. Yu-Kargzant the Young rules over the Sun Age, before the Pentans were one people. He establishes the duties of the gods and the ways in which people survive and eat. Yu-Kargzant the Stallion rules over the early Storm Age before OdChigan, his youngest son, is slain by West King Wind, and he is a mighty and unstoppable warrior but his rule is short. The Stallion is stricken with grief when his youngest son is killed and tears himself apart, entering the Underworld and causing the Darkness. Yu-Kargzant Eternal has returned, appointing Kargzant as his khan and ruling distantly from the upper world.
This is, of course, the extremely truncated version. Yu-Kargzant has several sons with his wife, Galana Horsequeen. Some are important gods in their own right, while others are supporters of their father or Kargzant. Others are parts of Yu-Kargzant that survived while his soul descended to the Underworld. Eventually, West King Wind realized his crime and brought Yu-Kargzant back to the living world, making a sometimes uneasy peace between them as the Sky Horse returned to light the world.
Only the purest and strictest can worship Yu-Kargzant directly, a task left to the Pure Horse Tribes, who maintain the strictest following of the laws of purity. No one else can send their prayers high enough into the sky.
Sheng Seleris will eventually ascend as the Celestial Emperor, becoming a god in his own right and also Yu-Kargzant Imperial, ruling directly.
Yu-Kargzant is the Stallion of the Sun, the True Sun and the Source of All Life. However, he is not the ruler of the Herd directly. He is beloved and respected by all other gods, but designates the task of rule to Kargzant the Khan. In this way he is the Granter of Rule, the Bringer of Order and Waymaker, who taught everyone how to live. The Pure Horse Tribes are his hereditary priesthood, required to follow stricter laws than any other Pentans yet unable to rule themselves.
Yu-Kargzant is always portrayed either as a man of gold or a golden horse. Yu-Kargzant’s horse aspect does not change regardless of which life stage he is in. It is pure gold, with a mane and tail of fire, and its hooves never touch the ground. Except when raising the Pillars, Yu-Kargzant’s human aspect is always depicted either mounted on his horse aspect or seated on a floating divan. He has hair of gold and red eyes.
Yu-Kargzant the Young has a moustache but no beard, dresses in garments of shining gold but little embroidery, and wears a bow but no arrows.
Yu-Kargzant the Stallion has a moustache and beard, bears a spear, a bow and arrows of shining light, and wears garments of gold with red embroidery.
Yu-Kargzant Eternal has a long beard streaked with red. He carries no weapon, and he dresses in plain simplicity, wearing monastic robes of white. He wears a golden ring and a golden headband.
In the years after Sheng Seleris ascends as Celestial Emperor, he will become Yu-Kargzant Imperial, and all depictions of the divine Sheng are depictions of Yu-Kargzant as well for this reason.
Yu-Kargzant owns the Sky Rune. It is the only thing which unites all of his aspects. In his Young aspect, he is associated with the Life Rune as bringer of food and the life-giving sun. In his Stallion aspect, he is associated with the Death rune, both as a mighty warrior and because he dies and enters the Underworld. In his Eternal aspect, he is associated with the Stasis rune, as the pure and unchanging teacher. Yu-Kargzant Imperial will be associated with the Mastery rune.
FIRE: Initiates of Yu-Kargzant can make the broadest possible use of its power, for it is the core of Yu-Kargzant. An incomplete list of abilities used through the Sky Rune by Yu-Kargzant’s initiates include: burn trolls, blind foes with great light, ride and command horses or birds, bring light, improve their fighting with spear or bow, invoke magical flame from their weapon, prevent ritual defilement, resist temptation, rise into the air, or summon and command lesser Sky gods. All aspects of Yu-Kargzant bear the Sky Rune, but those who focus on it use the name Yu-Kargzant In Glory. Those with a strong affinity for this rune are honest, pure, and loyal.
LIFE: Initiates of Yu-Kargzant wield Life in the understanding of Yu-Kargzant’s life-giving warmth and mastery of food. However, he is not the source of the Life rune directly, but rather the evoker of Life from its source, the Earth. An incomplete list of abilities Yu-Kargzant initiates have been known to use their Life Rune for includes: make plants grow, hunt for food, strengthen herd animals, ease birth pains, purge disease or herd blight, bless herds, awaken Earth or Plant beings (but not command them), and purify tainted food. The Life Rune aspect of Yu-Kargzant is Yu-Kargzant the Young, and those with a strong affinity for this rune are kind, generous, and gracious.
DEATH: Initiates of Yu-Kargzant wield Death both as a weapon and as a part of their being. Yu-Kargzant knew Death intimately, for he killed and he died and he returned from it. He is not the source of Death, but it lives within him. An incomplete list of abilities Yu-Kargzant initiates have been known to use their Death Rune for includes: improving fighting with any weapon, striking foes down from afar, destroying impure things, returning from death, cursing Darkness foes, causing grief or fear, entering the Underworld, and blotting out the name of enemies. The Death rune aspect of Yu-Kargzant is Yu-Kargzant the Stallion, and those with a strong affinity for this rune are proud, melancholic, and vicious.
STASIS: Initiates of Yu-Kargzant use the Stasis Rune as a tool of divine Order and the proper way of acting. They teach people the ways of ritual pruity and the correct action in life, advising and teaching others as Yu-Kargzant advises and teaches Kargzant. Yu-Kargzant Initiates have been known, among other things, to use the Stasis Rune to: calm anger, calm wind, drive away clouds or floods, extinguish wildfires, protect the young or weak, sing, slow foes, know how to purify things, advise others on correct action, and remember lineages. The Stasis Rune aspect of Yu-Kargzant is Yu-Kargzant Eternal, and those with a strong affinity with thise rune are traditional, precise, and inflexible.
MASTERY: Initiates of Yu-Kargzant will use the Mastery Rune through Sheng Seleris’ cult directly, as there has never been a Celestial Emperor other than Sheng Seleris as yet, and so no initiate has followed the path of Yu-Kargzant Imperial as his successor.
Yu-Kargzant is in conflict with the runes of Chaos, Darkness, Moon and Disorder.
All other gods of the Herd (and indeed, all other sky gods, even outsiders) respect and honor Yu-Kargzant. He offers them the kindness, guidance and grace accorded to them in turn. His favor is contested for by his sons, and Yu-Kargzant treats this with the pride a father should. He is closest with Kargzant, his khan, who leads the Herd in his stead while Yu-Kargzant contemplates the universe and directs the order of the world as a whole. The Four Winds have made peace with Yu-Kargzant and serve him loyally, but often chafe under the rule of Kargzant.
Yu-Kargzant’s wife is Galana Horsequeen, who runs his household and his camp. He has no other lovers, and they share in all things. She bows to his authority and that of Kargzant alone.
Yu-Kargzant’s enemies are those who reject the order of the world he laid down. Not all of the Winds agreed with West King Wind’s decision to make peace with Yu-Kargzant, and many of them still count themselves among as enemies, as do the gods of Darkness, who fear and hate his light. The Moons by and large are also enemies, for they are obsessed with change for its own sake and deny the eternal order that is Yu-Kargzant’s way. The Pure Horse Tribes are commanded to remind the followers of other gods of the Herd of the correct traditions when they err, to always oppose the forces of Darkness, and to oppose the Moons.
The Pure Horse Tribes make up, as a whole, the cult of Yu-Kargzant. Each tribe maintains itself independently of the others, however, with their own priests and their own mobile temples. The first thing any Pure Horse Tribe does when it settles at a campsite is to set up the Yu-Kargzant Temple Yurt. Each tribe is led by the eldest and most respected priest of Yu-Kargzant, referred to as their Sun Lama. When Sun Lamas disagree, however, there is no means of determining rank except the favor of the High Khan of Kargzant. This has led to fierce doctrinal conflicts between tribes, especially when there is no High Khan, as is often the case. Worshippers can worship in the temple of any Pure Horse Tribe, but political disputes can interfere with this, and conflict between Pure Horse Tribes over sacred sites is relatively common.
Priests of Yu-Kargzant are known as Sun Teachers, with the high priest (and chieftain) of the tribe being their Sun Lama. Sun Teachers and Sun Lamas wear bright orange or gold to honor Yu-Kargzant, and adorn their horses with gold. They care for the Temple Yurt, which must be set up at the highest point anywhere they make camp. (As much of Pent is flat, this is a matter of perspective.) Sun Teachers can easily be distinguished by their garb, which is almost ostentatiously simple robes, always finely made and embroided with gold thread.
All men born into a Pure Horse Tribe are priests of Yu-Kargzant by default, and they must actively choose to leave. Male slaves of the tribe may only become priests if they are Gelded and adopted into the tribe, and any children they may have had before doing so do not inherit the right. Women may never be initiates or priests of Yu-Kargzant. Priests of Yu-Kargzant are forbidden to eat any meat of herd beast except horse, any meat of prey animals slain by things other than arrows or birds, and any tuber, as the sun does not touch these. They may only marry women of Galana Horsequeen. There are many other purity laws they must follow that do not apply to other Pentans.
All places which the sun touches are holy to Yu-Kargzant. However, the holiest sites of Yu-Kargzant are the high hills and buttes of the plains, which are closest to the sun. Several of these places are home to permanent temple-monasteries, usually populated by Pure Horse Tribe priests who disagreed with their tribe’s Sun Lama and chose to retreat to meditative seclusion. These temples do not have any direct political power, but they are considered sacrosanct by all Pentans, and to harm a monastic Sun Teacher is one of the most shocking and blasphemous acts possible. The holiest such site is Pole Star Mountain, a remnant of the Pillar of Yu-Kargzant.
Yu-Kargzant has four holy days each year. On Freezeday of Disorder of Sea Season, Yu-Kargzant returned from the Underworld. This marks the warming of the land and return of light. It is a time of great celebration and the sacrifice of pure butter and fine horses to welcome Yu-Kargzant home.
The High Holy Day of Yu-Kargzant, Enlightenment Day, takes place on Fire Day of Harmony Week of Fire Season. It was on this day that Yu-Kargzant first emerged to the world and brought light to all things, and it was on this day that he appointed Kargzant as his khan and retired to the upper world. It is a day of peace and contemplation, on which labor is forbidden and all people are intended to meditate on their place in the world.
Ash Day mourns the death of Yu-Kargzant, on Fire Day of Death Week of Storm Season. All people are rendered ritually impure on this day, as the death of Yu-Kargzant darkened all things. Priests of Yu-Kargzant paint themselves in ash and wear special sackcloth garments for a full week. As the sun sets on Ash Day, each Pure Horse Tribe holds a grand funeral, burning a great sacrifice to speed Yu-Kargzant’s return and eating a mourning feast.
Herd Day, on Fireday, Stasis Week of Earth Season, elebrates the marriage of Yu- Kargzant and Galana. It is the most boisterous day of Yu-Kargzant, celebrated with horse races and archery contests. It is the favored day for weddings among Pure Horse Tribes, which often perform large, multi-family marriage ceremonies overseen by the Sun Lama. By the standards of other celebratory feasts of the Pentans, it is restrained, however, with no wrestling contests and strict rules on acceptable behavior, as only those in a state of purity may attend the festival.
Ceremonies of Yu-Kargzant involve fires made on elevated platforms, mirrors and the ritual use of bows, along with play of the morin khuur. All sacrifices begin with ghee, the holy clarified butter that is the purest gift. Most also include sacrifice of horses and the burning of wheat, barley and sunflower seeds, none of which may be touched by tools made from bone or bronze.
All initiates of Yu-Kargzant must be male and must be born to a Pure Horse Tribe or be a gelded adoptee.
All initiates of Yu-Kargzant must possess an affinity with the Sky Rune. However, he may be approached through any of his runes except Mastery. All men of the Pure Horse Tribe are initiated to Yu-Kargzant unless they lack the Sky Rune. These children are instead offered to other allied tribes for adoption.
Initiates are forbidden from violating the Pure Horse Laws, the special purity taboos that apply only to the priestood of Yu-Kargzant. They must spend a significant amount of time on worship and offering sacrifice to Yu-Kargzant, honoring him in the name of all Pentans. They are required to take part in any ritual another Pentan tribe requires of them unless that tribe is an enemy or the ritual violates the Pure Horse Laws or the Law of Yu-Kargzant. Only the tribe’s Sun Lama can overrule a Sun Teacher on such decisions. Initiates must own a horse and a bow and are expected to fight as part of the Riders of the tribe.
There are many subcults of Yu-Kargzant, but many are very small and consist of heroic ancestors of the Pure Horse Tribe in question who have been adopted as servants and riders of Yu-Kargzant. These tend to provide a single specific ability within one of the Runes of Yu-Kargzant, and narrators are encouraged to be creative. However, several subcults are more prominent, important or widespread among the Pure Horse Tribes and Pure Horse monasteries.
SuHoraos (STASIS): Some refer to this as Yu-Kargzant the Musician, for Yu-Kargzant invented the morin khuur, the so-called horse-fiddle. However, most agree that this is Yu-Kargzant’s son, SuHoraos the Beautiful, who was given the Harmonious Morin Khuur to care for and developed the technique of the Circular Breath for singing. He teaches music to the world and brings great joy. He offers the ability to use the Stasis Rune to calm emotions or stir thoughts through music and provides the Song of Laughter Feat.
Goldraiser (LIFE): Also known as Yu-Kargzant the Hunter. Goldraiser is the son of Yu-Kargzant who best learned how to bring food. He shines with a brilliant light that drives crops and grass to push themselves further towards the sky, and his arrows fly ever true. He offers the ability to use the Life Rune to perform falconry or to capture or kill prey animals. He also offers the Bow of Dominion Feat.
ArZaz (DEATH): Also called Yu-Kargzant the Vengeful. ArZaz is the Khan of the Certami and Yu-Kargzant’s youngest brother. ArZaz is a defender of the weak and a punisher of evil, the banner bearer and wielder of the Skybreaker, Yu-Kargzant’s terrifying mace. While in his own home, the Sky World, ArZaz is a gentle and kind god, he is called to the Lower World only in his wrathful aspect. Thus he allows the Death Rune to be used to defend the weak and to punish lawbreakers. He gives acccess to the Skybreaker Feat.
OdChigin (FIRE BEAST): OdChigin was the beloved youngest son of Yu-Kargzant, the colt who was slain by West King Wind and drove Yu-Kargzant to tear himself apart in grief. Now returned to life, OdChigin is also sometimes called Yu-Kargzant the Colt, and he represents the horse powers of Yu-Kargzant. He offers access to the Beast Rune for magic related to horses, and allows the Sky Rune to be used to bless and train horses. He also offers the Youngest Son Feat, for he is the greatest example of the Youngest Son.
A Yu-Kargzant initiate may utterly dedicate himself and become a devotee. This is most common among Sun Lamas and monks, who often have neither the time nor desire to focus on any god but the most high. They must renounce initiate status in any other divine cult, and they may belong to only one subcult of Yu-Kargzant. they must have 11W in one of the Runes of Yu-Kargzant, and are subject to the usual rules for Devotees.
They are deeply respected and granted a sacred name, which is added onto their normal name. These names have long lineages, and only one person can bear a specific sacred name at a time, for they are the reincarnation of the last bearer, returned from the household of Yu-Kargzant to show others the correct behavior. Devotees are known generally by the title of Sky Rider.
Song of Laughter (STASIS): Through the Circular Breath, SuHoraos could sing two tones at once, and through the morin khuur that Yu-Kargzant gave him, he could produce all notes. No matter who he played for, he could bring joy and fascination. All who hear him play cannot help but smile and be filled with joy and peace, listening without causing trouble.
Bow of Dominion (FIRE): Yu-Kargzant invented the bow as an expression of his power, bringing his light and flame to his enemies without needing to sully himself by touching them. But it need not only kill, for it also expresses the mastery Yu-Kargzant possesses over the entire sky. Those foes who are marked by Goldraiser’s unerring shots or Yu-Kargzant’s own bright rays are denied access to the sky. This power can drive off false suns, angry winds and even lying moons, forcing them to the earth in a crash and rendering them unable to flee.
Skybreaker (FIRE): Yu-Kargzant has not wielded the Skybreaker since his return from the Underworld, passing it to ArZaz instead to defend the Certami. However, it is a terrifying weapon, for it purifies all it strikes by burning away all that is impure. Whatever it strikes shatters into pieces, with the impurities burning away in a flash. Even the great Star Riders fear the Skybreaker and will move to avoid it, for it is the weapon of anger and authority.
Youngest Son (FIRE): The Youngest Son supports his elders in all things. OdChigin exemplified this, and for this he was Yu-Kargzant’s favorite child. OdChigin never took first in any contest with his brothers. Instead, he would always place just after the worst of his brothers, who found they would perform far better than they had expected. When they listened to OdChigin’s advice, they excelled at their duties. When they took his help, the work was done in half the time. OdChigin was never a leader, but he made those who led him better by supporting and advising them.
Yu-Kargzant is the great master of the sky, and he may command any Sky god. Most such beings never leave the sky world, much as Yu-Kargzant does not, for it is a more pure and holy place than the impure earth. Typically, they only emerge when summoned. Of these, the most common are the Certami and the Furies.
Certami are also known as the Golden Ones, the Sky People or the Lux. They are the people of Yu-Kargzant’s younger brother, ArZaz, and look like winged riders clad in gold or winged golden horses. Most are simply people in the Sky World, but those summoned to the lower world are generally warriors, armored with fiery spears, maces or bows.
The Furies are the chief agents of Yu-Kargzant’s wrath. They are the wedding gift to Yu-Kargzant from Gor Gorma, sister of Galana Horsequeen. Yu-Kargzant would not have accepted this gift if he could see the Furies, but he could not, for they are visible only to those who break the sacred laws of Yu-Kargzant. They are monstrous and terrible beings, but they are bound by the great god’s justice.
The Furies target those Pure Horse Tribe initiates who violate the Pure Horse Laws in matters that do not involve simple ritual purity cleansing. If such a criminal repents of his crimes and attempts to make redress, the punishment visited will often be lessened or stayed, though any crime which merits exile from the tribe will still result in that exile. Crimes which were not entirely the fault of the criminal are still punished, but the Furies never order exile for such crimes.