Amesha Spentas & High Yazatas

The Seven Amesha Spentas

In Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spentas are seven divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda. In Némand's cosmology, they are the strongest Yazata fragments—aspects of the original Mazda-force that ascended with the Broken Sun's crew to fight on the 9th planet.

Spenta Armaiti (اسپند / اسپندارمذ)

Name in Persian: Esfand, Espand

Domain: Devotion, holy reverence, earth

Symbolism: Represented by soil, agriculture, faithful service

In Némand:

• Fragment Power: Blesses those who serve faithfully. Farmers, servants, soldiers who follow duty with devotion receive her subtle aid.
• Tier: Yazata-class (invocation possible at Tier 3+)
• Practical Effect: Fields blessed by Spenta Armaiti yield 20% more crop. Not dramatic miracle—consistent gentle improvement.
• Invocation: Burning Esfand seeds (wild rue) in traditional ritual. Smoke carries prayer to her fragment.

Asha Vahishta (اردیبهشت / اَشَه)

Name: Asha, Arta, Ordibehesht

Domain: Truth, righteousness, cosmic order, fire

Symbolism: Sacred fire, justice, natural law

In Némand:

• Highest Principle: Asha is fundamental concept—universe has correct order, deviation is evil. Fighting for Asha = aligning with cosmos itself.
• Fragment in Fire: All sacred fires contain Asha fragment. Taftan's Eternal Flame is strongest manifestation.
• Power: Truth-speakers blessed. Liars burned (not literal fire—consciousness burns from internal contradiction).
• Opposite: Druj (The Lie). Entire cosmic war is Asha vs. Druj.

Story Integration: Protagonist's alignment system is literally measuring Asha. Spenta actions = moving toward truth/order. Angra actions = embracing lie/chaos. Final confrontation requires maximum Asha—protagonist must have lived truthfully to channel enough power.

Vohu Manah (بهمن / وهومنو)

Name: Bahman, Vohuman

Domain: Good mind, good purpose, benevolent animals

Symbolism: Cattle, livestock, kind thoughts

In Némand:

• Animal Connection: Protects beneficial animals. Farmers who treat livestock well receive Vohu Manah's blessing.
• Mental Clarity: Invocation clears confusion, grants insight, improves decision-making.

Khshathra Vairya (شهریور / خشاثرا واریا)

Name: Shahrivar

Domain: Desirable dominion, rightful authority, metal/sky

Symbolism: Just rulership, sacred metals, protective sky

In Némand:

• Authority Fragment: Blesses rightful rulers. Tyrants cannot invoke Khshathra—attempting causes backlash.
• Metal Connection: Azhur's Ore itself resonates with Khshathra. Mining/forging invokes his principle.

Haurvatat (خرداد / هیوروتات)

Name: Khordad

Domain: Wholeness, health, water

Symbolism: Healing waters, completeness, integrity

In Némand:

• Healing Fragment: Sacred springs blessed by Haurvatat cure disease.
• Purification: Used against Nasu (corpse demon). Water-based purification rituals channel Haurvatat.
• Related Entities: Tambulak (irrigation helper), Saahebe Aabhaa (water master), various water spirits—all minor Haurvatat fragments.

Ameretat (امرداد / امرتات)

Name: Amordad, Amurdad

Domain: Immortality, plants, eternal life

Symbolism: Vegetation, herbs, medicine

In Némand:

• Plant Growth: Blessed gardens yield medicinal herbs with enhanced properties.
• Longevity: Proper invocation extends life (not dramatically—adds 5-10 years through health, not true immortality).
• Related: Pare Siavoshan (martyr plant), Mehr Giah (mandrake)—both resonant with Ameretat's plant-consciousness.

Greater Yazatas

Mithra (مهر / میترا) - The Covenant Lord

Domain: Contracts, oaths, friendship, sun

Ancient Importance: Mithraism spread throughout Roman Empire. Extremely powerful pre-Zoroastrian and Zoroastrian deity.

In Némand:

• Tier: 5 (one of strongest Yazata fragments remaining)
• Oath Enforcement: Contracts sworn in Mithra's name are magically binding. Breaking them causes physical pain + Spenta alignment loss.
• Solar Connection: Related to sun (but the Broken Sun is IN the sun, so relationship complex). Possibly Mithra and the Broken Sun share solar domain—Mithra is light/warmth, the Broken Sun is core/shield.
• Friendship Magic: Genuine bonds blessed by Mithra become supernaturally strong. Friends can sense each other's danger, share consciousness-energy across distance.

Story Hint: Protagonist swears blood-oath with ally before Mithra shrine. Creates literal magical bond. Later, when ally is captured miles away, protagonist feels it (Peyvand across distance). Can track to rescue. Shows that oaths aren't metaphorical—they're reality-binding.

Verethragna (بهرام / ورثرغنه) - The Victorious

Name: Bahram

Domain: Victory, war, aggressive defense, strength

Ten Forms: Can manifest as wind, bull, horse, camel, boar, youth, raven, ram, buck, warrior. Each form represents different aspect of victory.

In Némand:

• Tier: 5 (extremely powerful in combat)
• Warrior's Patron: Pahlavani masters invoke Verethragna before battle. Grants temporary strength, endurance, courage.
• Ten Forms Mechanic: Advanced invocation (Tier 4+) can call specific form:
  • Bull: Raw strength
  • Horse: Speed
  • Raven: Perception
  • Warrior: Complete combat enhancement
• Danger: Channeling Verethragna is exhausting. Can burn out consciousness if held too long. Emergency power only.

Story Hint: Protagonist cornered, outmatched, about to die. In desperation, invokes Verethragna. Power floods them—temporary Tier +2 boost. Destroys enemies. Afterward: collapsed, consciousness depleted. Mentor explains: "Bahram grants victory, but you pay the price after. Use only when death is certain otherwise." Establishes risk-reward for divine invocation.

Tishtrya (تیر / تیشتر) - Star of Rain

Name: Tir

Domain: Rain, storms, Sirius star, water

Mythology: Battles Apoosh (drought demon) annually. His victory brings rain.

In Némand:

• Tier: 4-5
• Weather Control: Priests can invoke Tishtrya for rain during drought. Requires elaborate ritual, high priest (Tier 4+).
• Eternal Battle: Every year, Tishtrya vs. Apoosh determines rainfall. Humans can tip balance with sacrifice/prayer.

Sraosha (سروش) - The Divine Messenger

Domain: Discipline, obedience, divine word, protection during sleep

Role: Protects righteous during night, carries prayers to higher divine, judges souls at death

In Némand:

• Night Guardian: Spenta-aligned people sleep safer (Sraosha fragment watches). Angra-aligned have nightmares (fragment judges them lacking).
• Prayer Carrier: Sincere prayers reach Yazata fragments through Sraosha's mediation.
• Tier: 4-5

Rashnu (رَشْن) - The Judge

Domain: Justice, fairness, cosmic judgment

Role: Weighs souls at death, maintains cosmic law

In Némand:

• Truth Enforcer: Invoked in trials, oaths, contracts. His presence prevents deception.
• Death Role: When humans die, Rashnu fragment judges soul before journey to 9th planet. Determines whether soul traveled righteously.
• Tier: 5
• Dāvar Connection: The Dāvar law (Judgment) is literally fragment of Rashnu's principle. Mastering Dāvar school means channeling Rashnu's cosmic justice on small scale.

Why Fragments, Not Full Gods?

the Broken Sun's crew ascended to 9th planet to fight Div Lords directly. The FULL manifestations of Amesha Spentas and high Yazatas are there, in eternal combat. What remains on Earth are:

• Echoes: Residual consciousness they left behind
• Invocable Aspects: Humans can call on them, and fragment answers
• Embedded Principles: Their nature woven into reality (Asha in physics, Mithra in contracts, etc.)

This explains why protagonist can invoke Yazata help without full deity appearing. They're accessing principle/fragment, not summoning actual god. Makes divine aid plausible at human scale.

Invocation Mechanics

Requirements for Successful Invocation:

• Tier: Minimum Tier 3 for minor Yazata, Tier 4+ for Amesha Spentas
• Alignment: Must have high Spenta rating. Angra-aligned cannot invoke (prayer blocked)
• Knowledge: Must know proper names, rituals, offerings
• Sincerity: Mechanical invocation fails. Must genuinely embody Yazata's principle (can't invoke Mithra if you break oaths, can't invoke Rashnu if you lie, etc.)
• Cost: Consciousness energy. After invocation, caster depleted (similar to device use). Stronger invocation = greater exhaustion.

Story Applications

Mid-Game Power Scaling: Early game: protagonist uses devices. Mid game: learns Yazata invocation. Late game: combines both. Final battle: maximum device + maximum invocation + personal mastery.

Moral Requirement: Unlike devices (neutral tools), invocation requires virtue. Protagonist cannot shortcut with Angra methods and then invoke Yazata. Must genuinely be worthy. Creates character development pressure: improve morally to access divine power.

Cultural Integration: Zoroastrian priests are NPC experts. Teach invocation techniques. Provide historical context. Bridge between ancient faith and current magic system.