The world is cruel, but if you work together you can make it better for everyone.
Alethos is the god of cooperation and justice, of peace and community, of law and order. They favor the caretaker and the diplomat, the constable and the judge, the monarch and the peasant. They believe in doing the right thing, in working together*,* in following the rules — even if it costs you something to do so, because if making a small sacrifice makes the world better, then that’s worth the price. They believe that simply because a perfect world is impossible to achieve doesn’t mean that it’s not worth striving for, together.
They know that sometimes it isn’t possible to follow these tenets without huge sacrifices, and they have seen the brutal consequences of taking these ideals to their extreme, or imposing them upon people by force. The Alethian creed is not a set of strict dictates on how you must behave, or a set of punishments for breaking its rules; rather, it is a gentle guiding hand, with forgiveness freely granted to those who mend their ways and divine grace given to those who follow the path of Peace in both thought and action.
Vadesh, the Radiant, patron Saint of Harmony and Community, who blesses those who seek to bring people together, granting them patience and grace so that communities might thrive and prosper.
Nbatu, the Hero, patron Saint of Honor and Justice, who watches over those who seek to right the wrongs of the world and those who stand firm in their convictions, no matter the cost.
Elemi, the Binder, patron Saint of Law and Judgement, who watches over those who maintain the laws and customs of the land and stand guard against the chaos of anarchy.
Baellin, the Councilor, patron Saint of Power and Sovereignty, who teaches the minds and guards the hearts of those who rule or would seek to rule over others.
Rahama, the Guide, Saint of Messengers and Travelers, who protects those who wander and travel and watches over messengers and diplomats.
The Alethian virtues are thus: work together to make the world brighter and ease each others’ burdens; always do the right thing, even if it’s difficult or painful; and never give up hope or allow those around you to fall into despair. A true follower of Alethos acts as a beacon for those around them, guiding their fellows towards a brighter future by showing what is possible when everyone works together and does the right thing.
A burden shared is a burden eased, and a journey taken together makes the road pass more swiftly. Working with other people lets you achieve things that you flatly could not on your own, and if everyone helps each other when they’re able all of our lives are made better for it. Even when you can’t be sure that someone will return the favor, it’s worth it to offer a helping hand whenever you can, simply because it makes that person’s life better and the world that tiniest bit brighter.
Do the right thing, even if it is the hardest thing you have ever done. Virtue is not something that is achieved by simply doing things that are easy — it is the conscious choice to do what you believe to be the right thing, even if doing so has a cost to it. Alethos teaches that there may be many different interpretations of what is “righteous” in a given situation, but that there must never be a question of whether or not to act in pursuit of the good. Similarly, they teach that good folk must never stand by while evil is perpetrated — the righteous course must always be to oppose evil, wherever and whenever it is found.
Never give up. Never believe that the world is rotten and worthless, that you or anyone else is beyond redemption, that evil’s victory is inevitable. Hope is a flame to keep you warm, a blade to cut through your fears, a beacon shining against the darkest night. Hold to your hope that things will grow brighter in time, and share it with those around you, so that you might all make that hope into a reality. Without hope, there is no point to trying; so long as you keep hope alive, there will always be a better future worth striving for.
The Alethian sins are thus: to let selfishness drive a wedge between yourself and those around you; to be cruel, inflicting unnecessary pain upon others; and to kill those who might still be redeemed.
It is entirely appropriate to prioritize your own needs, but do not let that turn into selfishness. Do what you can to act in the interests of those around you, as well as yourself. Find the path that benefits everyone, even if it’s not the path that benefits you the most. Selfishness on one person’s part turns the entire community against each other, as each person seeks to make sure that nobody else takes what they need — but if everyone works together and nobody takes more than their share, the community prospers in harmony. Do not let your self-interest drive you to become estranged from those around you.
Pain is a part of life, but that does not mean that it is a good thing. Pain inflicted upon others for sport or enjoyment, or even as a means to an end, is an evil that Alethos will not accept. Cruelty of any sort, whether physical or emotional, is a dagger aimed at the heart of the bonds between good folk. Standing by and letting cruelty or pain happen is its own kind of sin, as well — never allow others to suffer when you can put a stop to it.
Death is the ending of a story, the end of any chance at something positive arising from that soul. Some souls are beyond redemption, or are so intent on causing pain or death that they must be stopped, even if it means their death. When that is not the case, however, always err on the side of mercy. Never kill those who might yet be redeemed, if you can avoid it. Save those who you can, so that they might have a chance to find the light and leave the darkness behind them.
Alethos is depicted in artwork as a distinctly inhuman being, with skin the color and texture of white marble, a corona of golden flames instead of hair surrounding their head, and a featureless face without eyes, mouth, nose, or ears. Mystics of the Bright God say that this is Alethos’ true form, or as close to it as mortals can perceive, with the scars left by Helikhar’s ministrations made manifest as the inhuman aspects of their divine visage.
In person, on the rare occasions when Alethos is able to manifest and speak directly to mortals, they appear as a normal mortal, with none of the inhuman features depicted in their artwork. They tend to wear the robes of Alethian clergy, usually fashioned of humble materials rather than anything rich or gaudy. They are said to have a warm and open demeanor, both sympathetic and stern as necessary to help guide their followers to remain steadfast and continue on the path of virtue. Many of the accounts of Alethos’ personal visitations record that the person only realized they’d been speaking with Alethos themself after the fact, as the Bright God seems to prefer to offer advice and encouragement without making a big fuss out of their own divinity.
The only exception to this is when they must remonstrate with a noble or ruler who has, for whatever reason, upset them sufficiently that they decide that a personal appearance is both warranted and worth the effort of bridging the gap between Nirvana and Mundus. They often begin such a visit in the guise of a humble priest, offering advice and stern warnings. If they are spurned or ignored (as has happened in every such case recorded, to their frustration) they transform into a radiant vision of divine majesty, to ensure that their message and disappointment in the ruler is taken to heart.
Alethos’ personality is a mix of stern military commander, caring manager, and loving parental figure. They cut their teeth in leadership by ruling over part of Helikhar’s dystopian empire before the Godswar, and learned well the lessons of what worked and what didn’t in terms of helping the people they lead work together towards a common goal. They care deeply about their people, want to know as much about their lives as possible, and do whatever they can to inspire them and motivate them through positive reinforcement and hope for a better world. They often act like a distant parental figure in their followers’ lives, offering encouragement and advice when and where they can, and putting their faith in their followers to make the right choices for themselves.
However, Alethos is also no stranger to discipline or stern warnings, and are not afraid of being harsh in their criticisms and condemnations if they’ve become convinced that such things are what’s necessary to help a follower return to the path of virtue. They don’t like being a disciplinarian, and much prefer to use gentler methods of encouragement, but they know that sometimes a strong hand is necessary to guide mortals back to the light.
Alethos’ goal is simple: they want every mortal to lead happy and fulfilled lives as part of a stable and peaceful community. They know full well that that goal is unattainable in the world that exists, and they have no intention of forcing the world and the mortals within it to match their vision. Nonetheless, they still work to help their followers attain that vision of perfection, no matter how incrementally they progress towards it. They view law, justice, and leadership as critical parts of maintaining stability in the mortal world, and communication, community, and hope as vital to making sure that as many people are allowed to thrive as possible. They want to inspire mortals to work together and make the world a better place for everyone, and are saddened when selfishness and short-sightedness inevitably causes strife and pain.
Prayers to Alethos are either personal ones, spoken only yourself and Alethos to hear, or communal ones, sung or chanted by an entire congregation at once.
Personal prayers to Alethos consist of holding your hands in front of your chest, one hand in a fist and placed in the palm of the other, with the open hand’s fingers pointing upwards, and speaking the prayer. Ideally they are performed in front of a light source such as a hearthfire, lantern, or the sun. It’s traditional for Alethos’ faithful to offer a prayer at sunrise, asking for Alethos’ blessing upon the day’s labors, but personal prayers can be made at any time when someone needs guidance from the Bright God. Alethos does not reach down and fix problems in response to prayers, but they are happy to offer hints or peace of mind to those who seek to follow the path of righteousness and hope.