Bowynn Gods: Daeth

Bowynn Gods: Jakk

Jakk    (Ja-k)   In of the many types of Kii. Jakk are diminutive kii of autumn. It is said they make their homes in gourds and in their vines. They are said to have deep red hair and wear black clothing. Jakk are most prominent during the Kykora or Samhain holiday.  During this time, they take pleasure in jumping over candles that are lit in pumpkins. The role of Jakk is that of ripening of gourds and late harvested food. They are drawn to decorated gourds, and if hung in the house and pleasing to the Jakk, they will bless the home.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Myst

QUESTION: What exactly is a "Myst"?

ANSWER: "Myst" is the Bowynn word for "Witch" and other names for those that practice the arts. These is not gender difference. Male or Female, they are all Mysts. Crafters and casters of spells and other esoteric talents that fall within the profession.

BOWYNN GODS: TARM

Tarm  (Tarm)  Tarm is the Mammont [Mammoth] god of invention. Tarm and the other mammoth gods were created by Brea and her siblings, along with all animals and humans.

     In the early days when the Giants ruled the world, Tarm was the giant of the winds and winter season. He brought on this season to let the earth rest and fertilize itself. This he did with Brea, his mother. But when the younger gods took over and the brothers of the winds were born, Tarm stepped down from this role, even though Tarm will accompany the god Arn in the winter. Tarm however remained with the Akua because he was a most wise god and would create inventions for the gods and later, he spent the Seven Sacred days with the first tribes and creating items they would need to survive. These inventions were items like brooms, rakes, hand mills and many other items needed to get by every day. Tarm is also the bestower of wisdom to create and discover, so Tarm’s role as a god is still vital.

     Tarm is seen as an older god, grandfatherly, with wild long grey hair. His clothes are simple, earthly colored traveling robes and a wood staff in hand. In his totem form he is seen as a burly mammoth. All items are sacred and offered to Tarm.  Also gifted to Tarm is bowls of milk and woven fans, as well as votive images of mammoths.

Bowynn Gods: The Hlenn

Hlenn  (Hlen)  The Hlenn are one of the most popular of the Kii. They are much like their American/European Elven cousins and Nymphs. They are human in size and look most like mortal folk in all respects, but they are thin in nature and have long-ish ears and doe-like facial features, particularly the eyes. These Hlenn are said to be the champions and guardians of all woodlands. The know instantly when a leaf falls and withers and when a fern stalk breaks through the ground. They are very untrusting and cautious of mortal man. But there are tales of some Hlenn, male and female, that have fallen for mortals as well. However, it must be remembered that while the Hlenn looks like mortals in many ways and live like them, they are spirits and need to be respected as so. Bowynn folk will not enter a woodland nor leave it without leaving a respectable gift to the Hlenn,

Bowynn Gods: The Maukol

Maukol  (Maw-khol)  The Maukol are the diminutive Kii (spirits) of the autumn harvest. Small in size, they will travel with the goddesses Kora and Deanna and bring the fruits of the land to ripen and the leaves to change their color. The Maukoll are said to have autumn-colored wings that are in the shape of tree leaves. These Kii hold a great importance and in the autumn images of them are made and hung from wreaths and garlands and about the home. It is a hope that these images will draw the Maukol to their homes and grant abundance of harvest and a gentle autumn.

Bowynn Gods: Lyann

Lyan  (Ly-an)  Lyan is the Bowynn god of the eastern providences and the east wind. He is one of the 4 wind gods, brother to Arn, Summon and Ryan.

Lyan is the god the delivers the moist gentle and scented rains and winds that often come in the spring and Springtime flowers. His winds blow away the last remnants of winter, allowing flower to grow. Appropriately, Lyan fell for the goddess of the springtime season and eventually wed her. Their sacred divine wedding falls on Ky'Quilla. Together, Lyan and Quilla reside in the far eastern lands. And together both appear on the first day of spring with Lyan leading his beloved.      Lyan is seen as a young man, barely out of his teenage years with wavy red flowing hair. He is seen in his divine form with bird wings. His garments are of reds, greens and/or yellow, often a long flowing loosely, that's falling off his shoulder and in his hand a flute and on his side a drinking horn. When not in his godly form, he will appear as a Robin, a bird that is Lyan's totem.

     Sacred gifts and offerings to Arn often consist of milk, fresh water and votives of robins, feathers and spring flowers.

Bowynn Gods: Drudenn

Drudenn  (Droo-den)  Drudenn is the Bowynn God who is the protector and guardian of domestic animals, guardian of barns and stables and guardian of pets. He is also the god that guards the stables of the gods and is the only key holder to the doors of Alaway; the hall which the gods feast in at night. Drudenn is the only one that allows access into the Great Hall and in that aspect, he can be considered a guardian of home as well. Though to be precise, he is more to be that guardian to the door of such places as court and council houses. In some respects, he is also considered "the opener of ways".

     Drudenn is a young god, the son of Anhur and Rhya. As such he was given the task of guarding Anhurs magnificent gryphons. This later became engrossed 100-fold when Morrighynn asked him to tend to her 30 white horses. Eventually he became the tender of all the sacred steeds of the gods. That is minus those of Duannat and under the sea. Because of this Drudenn learned the speech of animals and can communicate with all of the animals on earth. His 7 sacred days with mortals was spent teaching mankind how to tend and domesticate certain wildlife; milking cows, riding horses and teaching dogs and cats how to work with humans. This led to Drudenn teaching the first tribes of people to speak with all wildlife. Sadly, mankind abused this gift and Drudenn had to silence the ability.

Despite these arborist tasks, Drudenn is most happy in tending to the needs of domestic animals. Infact, he prefers the company of animals over people, sleeping in stables and pastures.

     Drudenn often walks amongst folk as a young hand, not too young as to be immature and yet not to old. His garments seem simple and almost peasant-like, but hardly dirty or like rags. on his belt hands the great keys that open and lock the doors of Alaway. At times, he will be seen riding his own horse or gryphon. Sacred offerings to Drudenn often appear in the form of milk, butter, bread, water, votive clay animals, seed and tiny bundles of hay. Not to mention the general form of incense. Plaques with the image of Drudenn are hung in barns and stables as well carved on the outside of doors to court houses and houses of law.

BOWYNN GODS: TREYA

Treya  (Trae-ah)  Goddess of sunset and dusk. She is the daughter of Shayla and Saul and sister of Enya. Aside from the goddess of these two periods of time, she is also the goddess if the evening frost. In her roles, she is the messenger of the celestial gods and goddesses; waking them up so they can fulfill their roles and duties. She is the herald of the dusk, painting the skies vibrant colors during these time periods. As a goddess of the evening, she also coats the ground with evening frost, so to lull the earth to sleep for the night.

     There are no sacred stories of Treya, as her role is fixed and too important to stray from, for her to be partaking in the deeds and dealings of gods and men.

     Treya is seen as a glorious young woman, often winged and clad in a gown and hladd of hues the colors of a sunset - purples, yellows, red and gold. Her hair is said to be red and long and eyes of a sunset. In hand she is often depicted with a pitcher which her evening frost is stored. Her brow bears a circlet with a gem in it, representing the Evening Star, Venus. Her totem animal is the Firefly or Lightning Bug, which she will at times take the form of. Other times she is said to have a circlet of Fire-Flys about her brow, much like Moryghynn and Mystara. For Treya, there is a special offering prepared with is that of a holy meal “Matenerm.” These are plates of food offered at sunset hours. Other scared gifts to Treya are tea libations, small lanterns, honey, flowers, and votive images of fireflies.

Bowynn Gods: Bryathenaea

Bryathenaea (Bry-a-then-naya)  Brianthenaea is the great Bowynn patroness goddess. She is the great protector of all things and all Bowynn people. Though armored with shield, she is not a war goddess nor wager of trouble in any way, shape nor form. She is the type of woman that will protect her children and lead them on the righht course. She is the goddess of wisdom as well. Briathenaea is the daughter of Anhur and Rhya.

     It was Briathenaea that is said to have shielded the first tribes of mortals on the Great Migration from the south into Europe, shielding them also from the burning sun with a shield that was gifted to her by the god Gondor. Upon reaching Europe across the Bosphorus, Brianthenaea brought the people into a valley that had a bounty of apple trees to eat, drink, build and craft from. When the tribes settled in Europe, Briathenaea stayed with them for 7 days. In that time, she showed them the art of growing orchards and how to make things from its leaves, roots, flowers and wood. In that same wood she also created the first Bowynn alphabet, showing them how to write and read, make paper, books and scrolls. To date, a Bowynn Coden is only made of paper made from apple trees and its coover made from the wood. Only ink from its leaves can be used. For the people she created the hoe, spade/shovel, fork, rope and axe. On the last night Briathenaea told the tribes of mortals that she had to leave but if ever they were in need of her to look into the eyes of an owl and they would know she is there. For the owl is her most scared animal and the form she takes the form of most.

      When war loomed over the first tribes Briathenaea brought forth a great herd of horses for them to use in battle against the Southern Nation armies. The goddess quickly came and protected the women, children and homes with her shield. Today every Bowynn home has a shrine or even an altar to Bryathenaea. She is the very core and symbol of the Bowynn.

     Though Briathenaea is a goddess that neither wed nor gave birth, many swear that her stature is of a full mature woman. The people are her family. Briathenaea is said to have crow-black hair that is wavy and pulled back. Her eyes or that of forest green and her skin tanned. Her garment is said to be the color of sage-green and/or green in general. Over her dress she wears a long leather hladd that is well decorated. Some images have her holding an apple seed in her hand or cutting of an apple tree.  Often seen with Briathenaea is a barn owl, one of the rare owls that lives closest with people and yet still at a distance. Other times Briathenaea presents herself directly. Farms and orchards are blessed in her name yearly, along with the god Amaetheon and Deanna,

Sacred to the goddess are the gifts of Votive Owls, Apples, Apple wood, Books and Scrolls and Runes. Farm implements are sometimes also offered to her.

Embroidered bookmark of Briathenaea with Io and Kalma - Created by Rose Everett 1999

BOWYNN GODS: PHOENIX

Possession of goddesses with Phoenix at the end

Phoenix  (Fee-niks)  In the Bowynn Tradition, Phoenix is the daughter created by Bia. Sister to Brea, Unthar, Summon. She is the very element of Fire and one of the great creatrix. Phoenix is the goddess of fire, volcanoes, earthquakes, flame, warmth of light and smoke. She is not just the destructive side of these attributes but the nurturing side as well. She warms people in the winter and from destruction comes life anew, She is the baker of pottery, melter of sand to make glass and metals, the heat and flame of the hearth.

     When the gods created mankind from earth, it was Phoenix that baked the clay that was used to form mankind, there-by not only giving mankind skin, but gave each one a heart of passion and love. And she assures us that from death, we are reborn again. Not because we are to learn life's lessons but to embrace all that life has to offer that is wonderful. She is one of the great 7 that form the symbolism of the septagram. During the time of the great 7 Sacred Days, Phoenix gave mankind the knowledge of fire, How to make it, contain it, how to avoid and respect it, how to tame it and use it for our advantage.

     Phoenix is seen as a motherly figure of deep red hair and dress. She bears a golden circlet on her head as well. Not a fearful figure but a warm embracing goddess. Other times she is seen as a great red phoenix bird. Sacred to Phoenix is images of phoenix birds and a candle flame. These are the most common gifts given to the goddess but any image of birds or fire is welcome to the goddess.