Dermand is the Dusk Father, the god of sunset, blood, fire, war, and vampires. His most common worshippers are the viaquia, but he has an astonishing variety in many places, and though some consider him an evil god, many of his worshippers do not fit that description. He is locked in an implacable war with Sarastaa, whom he finds as annoying as many other races find Sarastaa's missionaries.
Origins: Dermand, like the other gods, seems to have been dreamt into being. And the god has never claimed any other origin for himself. He has a reputation as someone more concerned about the future than the past.
Major Myths: Dermand's fondness for music is a well-noted and puzzling trait of his. He was apparently first drawn to the viaquia because of their beautiful singing, and loved them before he became their god. He will sometimes appear, in one avatar form or another, at the fire of a talented singer and listen without moving, then leave whatever the singer most needs at the moment. Money or a weapon are common gifts.
Dermand is also known as the Lord of the Covenant, and perhaps the best-known myth about him is connected with this title. After the viaquia had been changed by the magic of their alalori cousins into their present form, they were able to fly and drink blood, and speak to and control vampires. Dermand struck up the Convenant with them, which gives a good portion of his power to every viaquia at sunset for one hour, in exchange for some of them serving as his clerics. This arrangement has remained stable for millions of years.
Dermand also supposedly interfered in the War of the Falling against the silverini, rescuing a priest of his whom he had cursed but who had redeemed himself. For this, he was stripped of divine power and exiled to the Oblivion for one year, but survived and returned to join the other gods.
Dermand also will sometimes appear to individuals or members of his chosen people in the midst of battle, a wild viaquia who laughs and moves about far more quickly than he should be able to. Such a manifestation is unpredictable, but it has saved many lives.
Physical Details: Dermand has never been known to take over any Elwen body to be his avatar. He creates his own: a tall viaquia with dark purple skin and hair. He would look relatively normal if not for his darkflame eyes, and the aura of wild power about him. He carries a long, light sword that demonstrates the unusual power of coiling like a whip, and even if he appears at some other time of day, the colors of the sky in the immediate area mimic the color of sunset.
Dermand also often rides the light of the sunset, and is said to delight in terrifying praying alalori by briefly forming the image of a warrior with sword raised, about to cut them down, above their heads.
In cases where he does not physically appear, he may send whirling notes of a song to cheer the heart, or send vampires to the aid of a faithful worshipper.
Tenets of Worship: In many ways, Dermand's code of principles coincides with the Elwen one, which may explain the reason he is worshipped by many Elwen warriors who do not participate in his bloodier rituals. He favors pride and courage, and values freedom. Thus, viaquia warriors will not surrender save to an opponent who is clearly superior to them in skill, and then they will throw down their weapons and demand to be slain with a single blow through the heart.
Dermand also encourages his worshippers to watch the sunset each night, and to speak prayers to him while infused with his power under the bloody light. Sometimes his followers chant a counterprayer at dawn.
Warriors who worship him call to him for aid in battle, and Dermand is most likely to come to him there. Often, these warriors are not part of any established church, but have converted of their own initiative.
Priests, especially viaquia, in the more formal churches honor vampires and seek to protect them from those who would destroy them. They also perform frequent bloody sacrifices, of animals or other intelligent beings, and seek to enter fey moods for great slaughter. Above all, they love the beauty of the sunset and value greatly clothes and other materials that mimic it.
One unusual feature of Dermand's worship is that the god sometimes reaches out to mortals himself, rather than relying on his clerics to effect conversions. He usually does this by charming the heart of someone who likes to watch the sunset, and then appearing in avatar form, or enchanted, beautiful dreams.
Major Worship Centers: Dermand is worshipped wherever there are viaquia: in the Vantel-Realm and the Dusksong Meadows, in the cities of Alell and Valconn, and all points in between. Not all viaquia worship him or act as clerics, but all of them love the sunset and drink blood, which Dermand seems content to count as enough.
Sunset-loving individuals and warriors who worship him are everywhere, often scattered. Besides the viaquia, the largest organized contigent of Dermand worshippers is probably among the curalli in Fhevu, who look to him partially for help in surving among many other hostile races.
Other Names: Lord of the Convenant, Lord of the Sunset, Lord of Battle, Purple Singer, Sunset's Harpist.
Major Symbols: The setting sun, a torch, a viaquia's hand, a drop of blood, a vampire's fang (unusual outside the Vantel-Realm), an eveningsong tree (unknown outside Alell).
Relations with Other Powers: Dermand opposes Sarastaa and his worshippers with his mere existence, and with open and endless war. Otherwise, he is withdrawn from most contacts with the other gods. There is some evidence that he considers himself above them.
