Wardrobe

Villager: He Who Came Before

-never make another shiftie again because talos on a pogo stick I friggin hate this paintie right now
-MAKE ANOTHER GODDAMN PAINTIE BECAUSE I FUCKED THE FIRST ONE UP GODDAMNIT

While He Who Came Before certainly used to avoid the sentient mortal species in the past, it appears that thousands of years have at the very least lessened his fears of people. He is often sighted by lone travelers lost in ancient forests that have stood almost as long as he has, and some report being led out of the woods (or at least to a path) by the skittish god.

He is still far from the friendly and outgoing creature he once was, but those who still remember him are relieved that he is making a effort to be seen once more.

He used to be a kind god. If you called him, he would come to visit. If you wanted healing, he would help.

But now he is broken. A wild shadow hiding from voices, fleeing from those who worship him, who revere him as a god. Death does not come quickly to those who need it.

It was all their fault. The monastery the strangers created was not a place of compassion and peace, as they claimed. It was evil, seething with prejudice and arrogance. I only regret that I could not see it before they took him. The strangers in the monastery Called him under the guise of friendship, and they forced him into chains. None could reach him when the strangers dragged him to the depths of that place of evil. Not even I could force open the gates that they held shut with their foul magic. They banned his name from being spoken, and killed those who dared to defy them.

I could not stop it.

Villages were slaughtered and burned, individuals of all the races of man were enslaved. My own people were driven to exile, forced to hide in forests unfamiliar and hostile. And throughout all this, they held him captive. Unspeakable acts, defiling his godhood and the sacred duties he carried out, were committed in that prison, while outside of it they destroyed his shrines and hunted down the shamans that worshipped him. I could have stopped it, but instead I was selfish and defended only my own people from the wrath of these strangers. When it ended, my people were all that was left.

The tribes of man were gone.

The wise beasts of the forest were gone.

The lands that were once full of life were dead, for that prison’s foul magic had seeped into the ground and corrupted everything it touched.

Even the jailers in the monastery were gone.

There was nothing I could do to save the lands we used to roam.

I’m sorry, my brother, for I have failed you.



Notes:
- Also called The Nameless One. Can be called Teeno for short (which tbh is why I gave him that name)
- Likes tea (especially peppermint tea) and lightly toasted english muffins with jelly
- Likes just about every type of jam and jelly. Has a rather large hoard of them in his den.
- Enjoys reading folklore, myths, and fables. He finds the inaccuracies hilarious.
- Likes music with flutes or banjos. Can sing several drinking songs to annoy the shit out of people.
- An Ancient God, like The Father of Wolves. Teeno is the Ancient God of Death and Pestilence, though he was also associated with Healing and Life, as the two things often went hand-in-hand in the ancient times.
- The size of a large Doberman, but if he is startled his floof will stand on end and then he looks massive. And adorable.
- The red mist coming from his eyes is very glowy, shimmerey, and serves zero purpose. Unless 'scaring the bejeesus out of folks and making him needlessly intimidating' counts as a purpose. In which case, yes it has a purpose.
- Will ride The Father of Wolves like he’s a horse. The Wolf Father doesn’t seem to mind
- He likes animals, and animals like him. It is thought that his existence is maintained by the animals and beasts of the world, since he is an Ancient God who is often forgotten by all but the most learned religious scholars. It certainly would make sense, given his primeval origins and position as one of the first gods in existence.
- Collects feathers and seashells. He finds them incredibly interesting, as he lives in areas where seashells are not found unless they're bought from a caravan. He also finds the ability of flight, as well as all the different colors and types of birds, to be endlessly fascinating.
- The bracelets were gifts from the Sand God. They cover scars that the shorter fur on his wrists doesn’t cover.
- Often makes small squeaks and trills when happy. It is unknown how he speaks, but many speculate he uses telepathy since his mask doesn’t move when he speaks.
- Sounds like a thirteen year old boy.
- Has three tails, and opposable thumbs on his front paws. He is quadrupedal, but can stand on his hind legs for short periods of time. The middle tail is the longest.
-Has retractable claws on all four feet. Mostly because I can't draw a decent set of claws to save my life.
- A mashup of an old sphinx character and a god of disease whose name I forgot. I needed someone to share a sad mood with, and Teeno happened.
- Technically is a part of Scorpio, Connor, and Xiraa’s world, but I really don’t want to think up of a bunch of ancient gods all the time so sometimes he’ll pop up in other headworlds of mine.