Cinoas

Cinoas has the head of a great man with the body of a horse and the hooves of a goat. His straight black hair extends well down his back like the mane of a horse, while his curly beard is most definitely human. His equine body is blood-red with his goat feet creating the effect of dusty white boots. Atop his head he wears a crown of ivy to pronounce him the master of all beasts. When on the hunt he favors a curved bow and boar spear as the only weapons necessary. When shown in the guise of a true man he is strongly built with a broad chest and thick legs.

Cinoas is the master of the beasts, the plains walker, and the herd keeper. He holds dominion over the animals, herds, and packs that wander the world. The errie sound of his bagpipes can be heard echoing across the plains and dancing among the mountains.

The clerics of Cinoas are a loose group with no formal structure. Instead, each seeks the wisdom of Cinoas in their own way, following the words he sends in the action of his charges. Most clerics will wander for most of their life before settling down and building a temple or shrine to the god that sated their wanderlust and gifted them with the world. Some clerics do try to gather converts and erect large temples, but most build simple shrines and take upon themselves the job of herder or caretaker.

Most of the Temples to Cinoas are constructed on open ground outside of the city where they keep a small herd of horses, goats, or sheep to serve as dinners and the occasional sacrifice. They tend to be simple circular structures of wood or stone open to the sky. On the north face will be a statue of Cinoas with the sacrificing stone at his feet.

Those temples that are inside of the cities will be walled buildings typically two stories tall with a large stable off one side. The lower floor serves as a meeting area and place where the clerics can feed the hungry. While the upper floor are for worshippers to receive the blessing of Cinoas.

The small shrines and holy areas usually only have a single statue overlooking a stone disk where the sacrifice can be kept. There is usually a feed basket kept full by the local cleric so that any beasts of burden can be cared for properly.

His symbol is a stylized red horse rearing on a field of brown with a dark green embattlement across the top. Followers have also been known to use a boar's head, great spear, or sheaf of arrows in place of the horse — depending on what deed they are performing upon his behalf.

Herders, horsemen, hunters, and others that have come to rely on animals as food or beasts of burden often make sacrifices and pay heed to the words of Cinoas. Those he favors with his good fortune will find the blessings upon their house increased a hundred fold. Sacrifices of good meat and the occasional gift of strong drink will put a worshipper well on the path to earning Cinoas' blessing. Those that ignore him and beat their animals will find he can be a most dangerous foe as well.

However, few are the men and women that choose to become his clerics. To those that have forsaken their lives to follow him, Cinoas pays little heed compared to the other gods. He cares little for temples built and statues erected in his honor, preferring instead that he can find a strong drink, good company, and young lass to toss around. Because of this, many of his clerics that he favors the most do not go about converting people to his cause; instead they lead the lives of a wandering freebooter that owes allegiance to no man.

Cinoas has few rituals, other than the most simplistic, that can draw his attention.

This is one of the only rituals still practiced by the clerics. The night before the Great Hunt, the hunters must spend in worship for the lives they will take in the morning. If the words please Cinoas the hunt will be bountiful and the accidents few. If the hunter is not truly penant then Cinoas has been known to turn the tables and make them the prey to another hunter. His gray wolves are best known for punishing the wicked.

It is rare for Cinoas to come into conflict with the other gods for he prefers to spend his time alone or hunting with his wolves. However, he is well known for his great temper and unforgivable nature for those that turn on him. There was a well respected storyteller known for his love of music and wine named Jorenias. Cinoas challenged Lylidas to a music contest, with Jorenias serving as the judge. When Jorenias chose Lylidas' wood pipes as superior, Cinoas turned him into a donkey for the insult. Taking pity on him, Lylidas gave him the ability to speak and a never ending trough of the finest wine.