Zahd

“Don’t fuck with Zahd.” -Taznikanze saying

Zahd is the Taznikanze God of War and the Seas, and primary deity in the Taznikanze religion of Aesimond. Because he was responsible for the storms, the three Taznikanze gods were sometimes invoked as “Storm, earth, and fire.” (Heldrasil is Goddess of Love and the Earth, while Umon, the creator god, is associated with fire due to its use making tools.) He’s a bit of an asshole.

Why You Don’t Fuck With Zahd

Zahd has a reputation in the stories of doing things in the most baleful and terrible way possible. When the Guftensis Empire gave aid to his enemies, the Reklar, Zahd retaliated by turning their cities into salt. He devoured every child under the age of three in the Magistracy of Habar (near modern-day Olivawk). He is a cruel god who had to be appeased, lest you be the one to befall his wrath. Those who found favor with Zahd would find favorable sailing winds, and victory on the battlefield. Zahd also has two magical weapons: the Hammer of Sebedor and Donghar. The Hammer is a massive weapon capable of producing an earthquake with its impact on the ground. Donghar, the Lance of Zahd, shoots lightning. Zahd does not have enchanted armor, however, or armor of any kind; in true Taznikanze fashion, he fights totally nude, to show his contempt for his enemy’s ability to harm him.

Relations with other Gods

Zahd is married to Heldrasil, Taznikanze Goddess of Love and the Earth. Although he chafes at the marriage, even he is not immune to love and lust; the Taznikanze developed a surprisingly sophisticated system describing a wide variety of nautical and geological conditions based on what sex act the two gods were performing. Nonetheless, Zahd had numerous dalliances with mortal women; the Valkyries were the offspring of these affairs. Zahd would typically task the Valkyries to do things that he wanted to get done, from goals ranging from guiding wayward travelers to capturing a pet Zevin. Zahd’s other servitors were the Ojean, powerful whalelike creatures that patrolled the oceans. Believed now perhaps to be master psionists, the Ojean were harbingers of Zahd’s will. Umon, the Taznikanze God of Creation, sort of did his own thing, and Zahd didn’t pay him (or her) much attention because Umon’s insane anyway. Zahd’s relationships with Gods outside of the Taznikanze pantheon are the subject of pure speculation. Many are curious as to what, if any, relationship there is between Zahd and Rainere.

Magical Stuff

Zahd had a variety of magical items and possessions. Most famously these included his two weapons: Donghar, a lance capable of shooting lightning, and the Hammer of Sebedor, capable of causing earthquakes. He also had an eight-legged horse, Fjolmod, who could travel great speeds and distances; an enchanted flying longship, Haakonsvald; an endless stein of beer (a gift from his wife), and a pet boar who could be slaughtered each day only to come back to life the next. Of course, he had no magical armor; in true Taznikanze style, Zahd fought totally naked, to show his enemies that he could not be harmed. (Which works out pretty well, actually, if you're a God.)

Priesthood and Ceremony

The de facto priest of Zahd was the Hauptmann, the captain of a ship. The act of christening a vessel by smashing an alcoholic beverage across the bow began as a tribute to Zahd, and this ceremony persists even today. Most modern Tasnican sea (and space) captains will offer up a little prayer to Zahd whenever their ship leaves port. Dueling’s elaborate ritual also invoked the name of Zahd. Belgememnon tried to replace dueling with trial by Tribunals that took place “under the protection of Zahd.” (A phrase which was later replaced with “in accordance with the Code of Belgememnon.)