Vaskr

Vaskr is the member of the Trinity concerned with the protection of the nation of Emberglow and its people.

He is depicted two-headed, with one head looking towards either Candlewood (in pre-kingdom statues) or Goldenreach (in most modern statues), and the other looking outwards, towards the nearest border. Ever vigilant, he holds a raised shield in one hand and a raised sword in the other.

His name was originally pronounced /'vɑːskr̥/, but /'vɑːskrə/ and /'vɑːsk/ are now more common (the latter particularly in the north). Poetically, his name has one syllable, and is considered to rhyme with /ɑːsk/ as in 'mask').

Overview
Vaskr was a god the Men who became the Embari brought with them, a protector of their nation. It was determined that Vaskr was the same being as Varniel, the god the Elves believed kept intruders out of Embar.

Vaskr's chief concerns are: 'Internal threat' includes anything from a pickpocket to a vampire overlord; anyone who means harm to Emberglow, its peace or its prosperity.
 * The protection of Emberglow's borders from external threats;
 * The protection of the Embari from internal theats.

Priesthood
Among Men, the most common priests of Vaskr are the so-called Paladins of the Order of Vaskr. They are the closest thing Emberglow has to a standing army, and high-ranking city guards are also required to belong to this Order. They are Vaskr's mortal agents, and they walk a difficult path, for although they are empowered to kill with godly gifts of power, they may not kill with impunity. The law of Emberglow requires that instead, criminals are brought for trial by their lord, at which point they are either set to labouring, or become priests of the Shepherdess.

Dwarves usually only have priests of Tyria, however one order among them serves and derives its power from Vaskr; the Executors. These dwarves hunt criminals who escape justice in the Dwarfholds, and are usually of the Inquisitor class, travelling in secret while hunting their prey. Inquisitors are priests as well as hunters, however, and for those who are not of a priestly persuasion, the Ranger class empowers an Executor with some divine gifts.

Among Elves and Half-Elves, the guardians of the forest are not priests of Vaskr but agents of him, and derive powers from him nonetheless. They are of the Ranger class.

Alignment and Domains
Vaskr encourages order, honour, truthfulness and valour. He is of the lawful good alignment, since he reveres those who acknowledge legitimate and virtuous authority.

Like the other gods in the Trinity, Vaskr rules over the domain of Good. He also rules the domains of Law, Nobility, Protection, Strength and War.