The Domovoi Pantheon

Of all the people of northern wastes none are more zealous and barbaric than the Domovoi. The Domovoi tribes live their entire lives in response to the eight winds of chaos which they believe represents the will of the dark gods. As the winds constantly change, the Domovoi must be able to relocate in-kind. Therefore these people are almost entirely nomadic hunter-gatherers, except for those privileged enough to reside in the only permanent city of the Domovoi, Novgorod. Novgorod sits in the very centre of the tribes’ lands and is the seat for their ruling body, the council of eight, also known as the Domovoi pantheon.

The council of eight actually consists of nine members. There are the eight elders and the Tsar of the Domovoi, a former elder, master of Novgorod and ultimate ruler of the eight tribes. Each of the eight elders is the leader of a separate tribe and is responsible for ruling all the lands in a given direction from the capital. If the winds blow in the direction of their lands then the gods favour them and it is their immediate responsibility to expand their borders and raise icons of devotion.

It is usually left to the champion of the chosen elder to lead the armies during these times of expansion unless a war is being fought, in which case the elder himself will lead the war-host. These champions of the elders are advisers to the council of eight, and upon the death or elevation of their master to Tsar, they will one day become an elder of the Domovoi Pantheon.

Their nomadic lifestyle means that when the armies of the Domovoi march to war it is to the sound of thousands of thundering hooves as they use their mastery of horsemanship to deadly effect. Following the tides of cavalry come the swarms of barbaric tribesman covered in woad and the pelts of nightmarish beasts and fallen foes, ready to rip their foe limb from limb whilst screaming praises to their dark masters.

The Current Tsar:

Tsar Koschei the Deathless (E)

The Council of Eight:

1. Elder Perun Darkhand (NW)

2. Elder Hors the Violent (W)

3. Elder Dažbog (SE)

4. Elder Stribozh Daemon-tongue (N)

5. Elder Simargl (NE)

6. Elder Gamayun (E)

7. Elder Alkonost the All-seeing (S)

8. Elder Mokosh the Flayed (SW)

Champions of the Eight:

1. Ister (NW)

2. Tyras (W)

3. Borysthenes (SE)

4. Gerros (N)

5. Tanais (NE)

6. Hypanis (E)

7. Kalanchak (S)

8. Hypakyris (SW)