Veles, Serpent of the Underworld
Veles is a god of earth, cattle, and the underworld, often taking a dragon-serpent form. He battles the thunder god Perun across the World Tree, stealing cattle and bringing storms.
Story beats
- 1) Veles guards the roots of the cosmic tree, ruling riches, herds, and the dead.
- 2) He slithers upward to steal Perun’s cattle or wife; thunderbolts pursue him down.
- 3) Their yearly duel brings storms and rain, restoring order when Veles yields.
- 4) Oath-breakers fear Veles, who binds them with sickness or serpents.
Context & symbolism
Veles represents chthonic wealth and chaos, necessary foil to Perun’s sky order. The cattle-stealing cycle mirrors seasonal rains and agricultural renewal.
As patron of poets and magic, he shows the underworld’s link to knowledge and artistry.
Motifs
- Serpent/dragon adversary
- Storm cycles as divine battles
- Cattle/wealth guardianship
- Oath enforcement through illness
Use it in play
- Invoke Veles for wealth magic—pay with an oath you must keep.
- Join or interrupt the storm duel to sway weather.
- Negotiate safe passage through underworld rivers he oversees.
- Free stolen herds to break a drought curse.
Comparative threads
- Serpent rivals: Thor vs. Jörmungandr, Indra vs. Vritra.
- Wealth-underworld links: Hades’ riches, dwarven hoards.
Hooks and campaign seeds
- Perun’s lightning struck a village; reconcile with Veles to stop collateral damage.
- An oath-swearing ceremony requires Veles’s coil—secure it from the root caves.
- Poets lose inspiration; retrieve Veles’s harp from Perun’s loft.