# Faith and Religion
Religion is a matter of faith. It is an attempt of mortals to understand the transcendental, the things the lie beyond the confines of mortal perception or reason. It is that attempt to reach beyond the bounds of the possible, and the belief that there is something to reach for, that makes religion meaningful. It is strength of that reach that grants power to the faithful, and allows some to channel the power they call divine.
>[!notes]
>The gist of this section should be about how religions are not about literal gods answering prayers and granting powers to the obedient. Divine power comes from faith, and faith defies observation, reason and rational assessment. A god that appears in front of you cannot, by definition be "supernatural."
>
>All the faiths of Temnia are equally "right" in the none of them are provable, and all of them provide meaning to those who believe in them. Religion is not Gods, it's faith. Divination is not some cosmic library research service, it is someone interpreting the signs and omens they see.
**What is divination?**
Divination is the caster
**What is detect good or evil actually detecting?**
A divine caster would see detect good as the ability to see the touch of the divine upon a person, the color of their soul or some similar sign and interpreting the presence as a sign of favor from their deity. Similarly, detect evil would show the touch of corruption, or some adversarial counter-deity upon them.
# Human Religion
Human religions tend more towards the evangelical, and thus have much larger followings than the more ethnocentric faiths of other humanoid races. The largest of these religions are the worship of Amangyr, the Senarian Gods, the Court of Heaven and Olidarianism. Worship of Artreya is confined to the Varyag people.
## Amangyr
Amangyr is a Monotheistic god whose worship originated of with the Yagmaran people, who are now divided into the Varyag and the Miryag. The religions of Amangyr has broken down into a number of rival denominations, each placing different emphasis on the various figures in the Amangyran canon.
The Miryag people and the Varyag people have a directly opposed religious view, each seeing their patron god as a deceiver and destroyer.
### Duliaic Denominations
- Annis Dayrin
- Apostles
- Hevara
- Unthar Karrak
- Companions
- Toman Atvar
- Founding Elders
- Esta Merlani
- Ryhnnis Polimon
- Prophets of Amangyr
- Descendants of Rhynnis
### Latriatic Denominations
Amannar (Koronin)
Aman (Senarian)
Orc?
## Senarian Gods
The human nations of Antaris share a polytheistic religion centered around six gods sundered from a single divine whole. The Senarian Gods are worshiped as a group, rather than having individual churches centered around individual gods.
### Zoskar, the Warrior
- LG
- “The Warrior” - Likely the leader of the group.
- Maybe represented with four-arms?
- Domains: War, Strength, Nobility, Glory
- Air?
### Sanya, the Maker
- NG
- “The Craftsman” - Basically, anyone who makes things, whether it’s food or swords or clothing is doing so as part of a community, and to protect their fellows. There’s also a ‘hearth and home’ element to it all.
- Symbolized by the hammer, needle, cleaver and torch.
- Artifice, Community, Protection
- Fire?
### Burthu, the Troubadour
- CN
- “The Troubadour” - A two-faced god.
- By day, he’s the wandering minstrel traveling from place to place, singing songs and reciting poetry.
- By night, he’s the one escorting the dead to the land of eternal rest and safety. There’s a reason one does not travel at night. There’s also a reason that you don’t challenge the reaper to a fiddle contest.
- In addition to being the psychopomp, he’s also a messenger deity.
- Poetry, music, and writing are the ways that we communicate with the dead.
- Charm, Repose, Rune, Travel, Liberation
- Earth?
### Nizeri, the Sage
- LN
- “The Sage” - While much of the knowledge thing can be covered by the Troubadour, the Sage is much more about acquiring and consolidating knowledge, gaining insight through observation, and exercising sound judgment. Alchemy and Arcane Magic are the purview of the Sage as well.
- Knowledge, Magic
- Water?
### Nakanaka, the Power
- NN
- “The Power” - Unlike the four listed above, the Power is a representation of natural phenomenon, rather than the aspects of humanity. The power is basically the mistress of the Elements. She is represented as two beings (siblings?), but always together.
- The four were granted a boon of earth, water, fire and air form the Power, but the Power has dominion over it.
- Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Weather, Sun
### Kemba, the Life
- NG
- “Life” - Like the Power, Life is the representation of a natural phenomenon. Life is a fertility spirit who is responsible for the life of plants, animals and people. Depicted as a shapeshifter and possibly in a relationship with the Power?
- Animal, Scalykind, Healing
### The Adversary
- NE
- An all-around “Dark One” that no one worships, but who represents everything bad.
- Darkness, Death, Void, Trickery, Madness, Destruction
- Might be seen as the “rightful” ruler of mankind, but gets tricked into having to wait until people die to rule them.
- Maybe they lead a “wild hunt” that keeps the dead who do not ascribe to the Senerians?
- Also is connected to an old lady who is responsible for caring for “unbaptized” children?
## Olidarism
Tyrhennians subscribe to something of an anti-relgion in Olidarism. Olidarius was a revolutionary and martyr who brought magic to humans of Corsu, and lead the overthrow of the Urian Overlords. Their religion is secular, evangelical, humanist, and deeply racist.
His lessons and legacy were recorded and disseminated by ten followers.
- Cartasis: The Selfless Servant
- Sarnia: The Illuminated Philanthrope
- Namarus: The Courteous Beggar
- Breatis: The Diligent Worker
- Temnastes: The Appraising Preserver
- Varrus: The Purposeful Uniter
- Garindis: The Vigilant Defender
- Ilaria: The Robust Paragon
- Boreanis: The Patient Philosopher
## Artrya
The ethnic religion of the Varyag people, Artrya is a god of wind, sea and fortune in three aspects. The Varyag believe that they belong to a covenant that binds them to the seas in exchange for their freedom from the destructive clutches of the adversarial Angiuere (or Amangyr, as the Miryag refer to him).
Unlike Amangyr, Artrya is not an evangelical god. It is possible for a Miryag to renounce their faith and convert to the covenant, but the faith makes no promise of redemption for such a person... nor is it clear that Arytria would extend their protection to someone who had already broken the covenant. Outsiders can join the clans, and their children (specifically anyone born to a Varyag woman) are bound by the covenant.
### Marlena & Ireche
Marlena is the enforcer face of Artrya. Goddess of cruses, ill-fortune, storms, and wife of the tempest. Those who stray from the covenant face her wrath, as do those would would seek to harm the Varyag. She's also jealous, and those who ask for the blessings of Varda or Freji often are answered with the wrath of Marlena.
### Varda & Tumna
Varda is the sage face of Artrya. Goddess of wisdom, judgment and reflection, and wife of the calm. Varda maybe involved in chance, but just as likely randomness is providence. Her wisdom is simply beyond the ken of mere mortals.
### Freji & Mordi
Freji is the loving face of Artrya. Goddess of good-fortune, luck, swift seas, and wife of the trade winds. Freji rewards those who abide by the covenant, and who have good character... but absolutely disdains those who court her favor. Asking for gifts is the quickest way to have them dry up.
## Immoral Emperor / Court of Heaven
The idea of an immortal emperor is pretty well universal in the southern continent of Quan Shu. But the idea that the Immortal Emperor is the man currently running the Yen'haxi Dominion is specific to that empire. Narim Tzin does have powerful artefacts and has lived for thousands of years, but whether this is mortal magic or true divinity is unclear.
The court of heaven is an amalgamation of the religous traditions of the various cultural mythologies of Quan Shu, roughly categorized in a post-hoc fashion by generations of storytelling, conquest and cultural drift.
*********
The immortal emperor
Ten Nua was the first giant / god, and was born in the cosmic egg within the primordial nothing. For 20,000 years he stirred and he groaned, and each time he did the sky grew 10 feet taller, and the earth grew 10 feet deeper. Ten Nua was not immortal, and eventually he died, and from his death came all things.
- His eyes are the sun and moon
- His breath is the wind
- His blood the rivers
- Teeth / bones became metals
- His body the mountains
- His hairs the plants
- The mites of his body the animals.
>[!quote]
>There were two immortals that have always existed: Xang and Xun. They presented duality and balance.
>
>Xun created humans out of the earth of the land. Wearying of creating people, she instead decided to let them create themselves.
>
>Xang saw these people, and was impressed with what he saw, but dismayed at their fragility. He decided that they'd all break if left on their own, and decided to create a child with one of the humans. The mother was mortal, but chosen by Xun.
>
>This child would become the Immortal Emperor. Xang charged the Immortal Emperor with demonstrating his worthiness to rule. With the guidance of his (unnamed) mother, the Immortal Emperor grew up compassionate, wise, sage and skillful. He eventually mastered the first magic, crafted the Pearl of Creation, Scepter of Authority and Fan of Harmony. Doing so he was granted the throne of heaven for all time. The Immortal Emperor decided to take his symbol and authority, and bestow them on the masters, giving them rulership of the earth, and he took rulership over the heaven.
>Dragon
>Phoenix
>Artefacts:
>- Robe - Control over the elements
>- Throne -
>- Pearl of Creation
>- Scepter of Authority
>- Fan of Harmony
Three pure ones:
- past, present, future
- celestial (chi), earth/life (Qi), underworld (ki)
First there was one (void), then one created two (yin-yang) and two created three (the inteplay between yin-and-yang), and the three created "the 10,000 things."
- Present created not present, which created both past and future.
- Underworld created overworld, and overworld created heaven and earth.
### Master of Heaven (Pearl of Creation), Celestial Chi, Gold/Yellow(Green)
- Source of all truth, as the sun is the source of all light
- Chi controls the planets, stars, constellations, sun and moon.
- It is the force of creation (time, gravity, force, etc?) and of universal love (luck?).
- The heaven of the sky (astral?)
- Pearl of Creation is what created the universe in the first phase
- Represented by Gold (or Jade) and the color Yellow (or Green)
### Master of Self (Scepter of Authority), Life Qi, Silver/Blue
- Qi controls the power of all life (life/death, creation/entropy)
- The heaven of the earth (ethereal, purgatory?)
- Scepter of Authority is what spirited Yin from Yang
- Represented by Silver and the color Blue
### Master of Earth (Fan of Harmony), Elemental Ki, Copper/Red
- Ki controls the elemental powers.
- The heaven of the underworld (shadow, hell?)
- Fan of Harmony symbolizes the harmony of the elements, the spread of the cosmic order to all corners, and the end of the era of creation.
- Represented by copper and the color Red
One of the many things that the Master of Heavens created was the great cosmic egg Tem Nu. From Tem Nu, the material world was formed.
The court of heaven was on of the 10,000 things created, and one of those of the court of heaven was Xun Nao, wife of Xhao Kuan. Xun Nao created humans from the clay of the earth, and quite pleased with her creations. But, they were fragile things, and would break at a moments notice (when it gets to cold, or trampled by a rhinocerous, or simply left out for 100 years). She created a dozen different forms (the demihumans), but all eventually broke. She wearied of creating new replacements, and gave them the ability to create themselves, but this didn't solve the fragility issue. Xhao Kuan decided to help out, and said that if the people had a leader to guide and protect them, they could avoid breaking quite so fast.
So, Xun Nao picked out her favorite woman among her creations, and Xhao Kun got her with child. This child would become the immortal emperor. With the guidance of his unnamed mother, the Immortal Emperor grew up skillful, strong, compassionate, sage and wise. He was roamed the world for 20,000 years protecting people, slaying monsters, entreating with immortals, and wandering the corners of the earth showing everyone how amazing he was.
The people were so impressed with him that they wanted to make him their ruler, and while the emperor declined a couple of times, he eventually understood that rulership was his duty.
The emperor spent the next 20,000 years trying the reshape the world and making thing generally better for people. The immortals, by and large, were not interested in helping people because there was no connection between heaven and earth. The immortal emperor did amazing things, but could not undo the suffering of people, he could only help when he could, where he was. So, he decided to journey into the mountains and endure 3,000 trials to master the powers of Chi, Ki and eventually Qi.
When he finished his trials, the Lord of Uncreation had amassed an army of monsters and demons, and they were laying siege to heaven. The immortal emperor used his mastery of Qi to ascend into heaven and join the battle. There the immortals quickly saw how formidable he was, and the emperor soon lead the host of heaven against the demonic host. While the Lord of Uncreation and the Immortal Emperor were of similar strength, the immortal emperor's compassion and wisdom were enough to give him the edge in the struggle, and the forces of heaven prevailed.
The court of heaven was so grateful that they proclaimed that he should be enthroned has the emperor of heaven. The immortal emperor cited his duty to earth as a reason to decline, but Xhao Kun abdicated his celestial throne, and the three masters, granted him the three artefacts of rulership. Symbols of their station, and his position as their official assistant.
- The pearl of creation that Master of Heaven used to create the cosmos
- The scepter of authority that the Master of Self used to separated Yin from Yang
- The fan of harmony that the Master of Earth used to balance the elements
>[!quote]
>The six immortalities
>1. Inherent immortality (being an immortal being; ascendance)
>2. Eternal Youth (agelessness, consumed the peach of immortality)
>3. No fated death (Infinite lifespan; erased name from ledger of dead)
>4. Regenerative immortality (cut off head, head grows new body; drank the wine)
>5. Endurance immortality (cut off head, head still lives; consumed the pill)
>6. Rebirth immortality (what phoenixes do; consumed the ginsing baby fruit)
Consorts:
- West: Wisdom. Immortality / Youth / Life / Longevity. Keeper of elixir of life (orchard of peaches). Destiny, Harmony. Grants immortality and membership into the court of heaven. Life/Death
- South?: Earth, Fertility, Motherhood, Agriculture, Stability of Land. Earth/Heaven
- North?: Water, sailing, fishing, seas/rivers, storms, water voyage/travel. Land/Sea
- East?: Warfare, strength, strategy, protection, and conquest. War/Peace
Children:
- Stars: Art, celestial tapestry (stars)
- Song: Music, compassion, (cultural) history
- Nature: Blooming of flowers, beauty of nature, healing, medicine
- Fertility: Parenthood, children, protecting children and distribution of souls from dead to living.
- Vision: Light? Cures the blind?
Four Heavenly Kings (North, South, East and West) <Law, Evil, Good, Chaos?>
- Leader of the Army of Heaven?
## The Way of Balance and Turmoil
- World of the Living
- World of the Dead
- Living and dead are two worlds connected and balanced, with the souls of the world of the dead powering the world of the living, and the souls of the living powering the world of the dead. The white flame and the black flame are both sacred and important concepts, and the cycle of death and reincarnation, sleep and wakefulness, growth and decay are expressions of the travel between the worlds.
# Elf
## Kemi
### Cualur
### Ethlee
### Duor
### Taure
### Malrityl
# Dwarf
### Gyedah / Sethet
The dwarves existed as being of thought before bodies were made for them. Sethet were the raging passions, Gyedah were the serene observations.
- Dwarves (and all thinking creatures) are beings of three qualities. Passion, Thought, and Essence.
- Passion is the raging storm of desires, urges and needs and that drives us to action.
- Thought is the calm stones of memory, reflection and reason that steer us in a direction.
- Essence is the unifying self that identifies us as everything within and without changes.
- Essence is what makes the Ship of Theseus.
- Gyedah and Sethet are siblings or friends who spread their teachings among the people in the age of the Five Nations.
- Gyedah claims the pair were siblings.
- Sethet claims the pair were friends.
- The pair were acolytes of Inkhara
- Orphans given to the church as children.
- Were discontent with their education.
- Something essential was missing from their understanding of the world
- They meditated for 400 days at the temple, and each had a revelation
- They left the temple separately, becoming wandering teachers.
- All things have always existed, in their perfect form.
- Existence is an aspect of perfection, and thus all things have always existed.
- Dwarves are perfect beings as well, impaired by imperfect perception.
- Either our passions or our desire to excise passion holds us back.
- Our ability to shape our reality proves that we can transcend our imperfections.
- People can ignore or receive pain, regulate their emotions, adapt their senses to their conditions, etc.
- People can change the world around them through their labor, making the world more perfect.
- Our limitations are caused by "the will of discord"
- Imperceptible creature(s) or an unwilled malevolence that feeds on the essence of the humanoids.
- Discord is the source of our passion / doubt (reason)
Gyedah
- All things are understood through thought.
- Noble Truths
- Life is Suffering
- Suffering is Desire
- Greed and Envy (Green)
- Ignorance and Delusion (Blue)
- Hatred and Destruction (Red)
- To end suffering, you must end desire
- To end desire, follow reason.
- Wisdom
- Understanding (Acceptance) (accepting the teachings)
- Intention (committing to cultivating the right attitudes)
- Truth
- Mindfulness (self-awareness)
- Effort (Purity) (ridding oneself of evil)
- Concentration (learn to focus on the methods)
- Nobility
- Speech (Truth) (don't lie or gossip)
- Action (Purity) (don't steal, kill or indulge)
- Livelihood (Justice) (don't exploit others or enable sin)
Sethet
- All things are attained through action
- Life is Suffering
- Suffering is Hunger
- Regret (dwelling on action not taken)
- Indecision (Not knowing what action to take)
- Apathy (Not wanting to put the work in)
- Hunger does not abate
- Ignoring your desires does not end them
- Ignoring your desires does not stop other desires from emerging
- To end hunger, you must take action
- Purpose
- Resolve - Knowing and accepting your passions
- Courage - Doing what needs to be done despite opposition
- Integrity - Not suppressing your self to imitate others
- Vision
- Clarity - Trusting your instincts, and being true to yourself.
- Cunning - Problem solving, and getting around people who oppose you
- Strength
- Connection - Embracing your shared passions / goal with others.
- Resolve - Not procrastinating or dithering over what needs doing
- Dedication - Persevering in the face of obstacles or failure
### Duchar
- First there was Oblivion, then Duchar created all things.
- Duchar created order, and there was chaos
- Duchar created light, and there was darkness
- Duchar created good, and there was evil
- For all things Duchar created, their antithesis was also made, for as was Duchar, so was Bwrynevr
- Duchar created people but gave them a piece of himself.
- Bwrynevr tried to do the same, but being a thing of antithesis, he could only create soulless (undead).
- Note that the soulless are considered to be separate from the deathless.
- Soulless (hollow?) are empty or corrupt things, while deathless are guardian/advisor spirits.
- People are mortal, can reproduce, can make their own decisions.
- Soulless are effectively immortal, but are slaves of Bwrynevr and cannot reproduce... only corrupt the living.
- The capacity to choose is what allows righteousness to ultimately triumph in this world, if all live by the precepts of Duchar.
- Duchar created shapers to help guide his people
- Shapers do the work of Duchar's miracles, but also act as muses to Dwarves.
- Bwrynevr created breakers, who are forces of entropy, erosion and undoing, but also create intrusive thoughts and urges to sin.
-
### Inkhara
Shapers
- Shaper of Wind/Water
- Storm Forge
- Speech/Respitation/Motion?
- Shaper of Life/Death
- Soul Forge
- Destiny?
- Shaper of Earth/Fire
- Earth Forge
- Body
- Elementals are either dwarves trapped into elements by wicked shapers, or the pale imitation of life that the rebel shapers created.
- Inkhara creates the world and all things.
- Being perfect, she creates the platonic ideal of all things.
- Inkhara creates the shapers.
- Shapers go about creating the material world, imitations of those ideal things.
- Each trying to compete for Inkhara's favor
- Petty and jealous of each other, or frustrated that they cannot match the ideal, they vandalize as much as they create.
- They align themselves roughly into six camps, aligning to the elements.
- Inkhara creates dwarves to live in the shapers' imperfectly made world.
- The shapers are flawed because their bodies are immortal, but do not persist after death.
- This makes them heedless and arrogant, but also teaches them that destruction is the end.
- Dwarves are mortal bodied, but immortal souls. They learn and grow, die, but can pass on their lessons to the next generation (either by history or by guiding spirits).
- After learning lessons and contemplating their mistakes in their dead-phase, they get reborn into a new life-phase.
- Shapers, being jealous of Inkhara's new creations, try to wipe out the dwarves, nearly succeeding.
- The two-phased creation explains the difference between the dream dwarves and duergar.
- Inkhara makes another set of dwarves, then seals everyone in their own separate words (the two closest to Inkhara being reserved for the Dwarves).
- Inkhara falls asleep, needing to rest from the effort of separation.
- The dwarves, being cunning and cooperative by nature, manage to bridge the gap between the underworld and overworld.
- Shapers also barge into the world from time to time, settings their creations upon the dwarves and breaking shit up.
# Halfling
## The Old Way
### Alwen
### Warre
### Siriven
### ???
### ???
## The New Way
### Laleeri
# Vaal
## Dragon Gods
The Anthoran clans of Temnia fought a tumultuous civil war for much of the First Age of temnia. Some clans, seeking an advantage over their rival, chose to accept the patronage of the Dragons. Patronage soon turned to domination, and before long the dragonsworn were worshipping the Dragons as gods. Within a few generations, the Dragons had convinced their people that they were born of Dragons, by their divine right they were entitled to dominate the world and rule the lesser races.
### Brik’arsaz
- Male
- NE
- Blue
- Desert
- Storms, sun, weather, thunder
### G’chal’trezk
- Male
- LE
- Green
- Forest
- Plants, poison, drugs
### It’orn Ul’yyk
- Male
- LG
- Silver
- Snow
- Cold, animals, courage, law
### Ok’laxithel
- Female
- CG
- Copper
- Mountains
- Trickery, earth,
### Rak’ar’nazak
- Female
- CE
- Red
- Wastes
- fire, rage, fury, power, evil
### V’kax’kalaccs
- Hermaphroditic
- N
- Amethyst
- Ocean
- peace, knowledge, community
### Yuar’ev Q’nz
- Female
- NG
- Gold
- Plaines
- Wisdom, good
### Other Dragon Gods
- Zar'tharax
-
## Tyrmaria
Tyrmaria is goddess of the Anthoran clans. Creator and protector, Tyrmaria is beleived to have died in the great cataclysm, and the Vaal eagerly await her return.
She is characterized by a series of deaths and rebirths, as all things must die and all things are born anew. Sometimes she is reborn on a short-term basis as an avatar, others she is fully reborn in a new different form, though always as an chimeric abomination. The avatars and aspects typically conform to a shape recognizable to one of the clans.
Her time in the world of the dead does not diminish her divine providence, nor does it free her children from seeking her resurrection.
# Koth
The Koth are creatures of the Wyldwood, and their religion centers largely around the cycle of life and natural phenomena.
## Syluria
A network of all things living in harmony, the Sylurian is a literal force of nature. Those who know and do not quite understand it think of it as the will of the planet, but that assumes a central guiding intelligence whereas the Sylurian is more of a hivemind. All natural things are part of the Sylurian, even those that actively ignore it and work to disrupt harmony. The most harmonious of creatures simply are, and do not bring destruction to themselves, others or the world in which they live.
>All living things exert a will of their own, even the plants and soil of the earth. Many faiths of Temnia venerate nature, or the earth, or the practice of agriculture, or other observed phenomena of the plantlife around them… but these practices are centered on an anthropomorphic idea of “the will” of nature, or some avatar thereof. It’s not surprising, really. Humanoids see floral monsters and plant creatures, and assume that those are the most powerful forms of plantlife in evidence... And a “god” of plantlife must be a similar (if more much more powerful) version of that.
>
>But that is not the true will of the plantlife. The will of the grasses and trees is much less… animalistic. Each blade of grass, each vine and sapling, each bush a tree have their own independent (if imperceptible) will, and that will forms a collective with all other forms of life that are attuned to it. This collective will can be felt by any living thing, if it just made itself receptive to it. The Fey (who by their nature are much better suited to attune with it) have a word for this collective will of the plants. To them it is known as Syluria.
>
>Some few mortals have made the effort to listen for the Whispers of Syluria, but most find it difficult to quiet their animal minds and find the whispers to be drowned out by the shouting impulses of “ideas” and “concepts” and “feelings” that tend to define anthropomorphic thought patterns. Yet those who succeed in hearing the Whispers of Syluria often see the wisdom in its will, and will act in accordance to it as best they can.
>
>The notions of “worship” and “congregation” are intrinsically antithetical to the nature of Syluria, so it is not a faith, and none have found a way to draw power from Syluria (and such a thing is likely impossible), but those who follow “the way of the whisper” will occasionally find each other and work towards a common goal. The more urgently Syluria whispers, the more who can hear them, and the more who heed them… though typically grouping together sapient minds hinders the hearing. Most who follow the way of the whisper tends to live solitary lives for this reason.
## Cambrian
The Cambrian is a collective feral urge that calls out to all things that move upon the world. It is the "call of the wild" that lays behind even the most sedate and civilized of creatures. While it is an inherently destructive force, those who worship it see it as a necessary aspect of the circle of life (the prey feeding the predator), or a inescapable consequence of mortality (kill or be killed, dog eat dog).
## Mysticism
## Gnome Spiritualism
# Karonin
## Karonin Pantheon
The gods of the Karonin people of the Western Continent.
One of the factions would worship the main sovreign gods (plus the main divines), while others would see Maanar as the "new king god" and the others as equal lesser aspects. A third would have a doomsday scenario of the Primorial's return and the fall of the gods, leading to the inheritor as the one remaining god.
### Primordial Gods
The Primordial Gods are the creation of Padira, natural embodiments of the elements. Wild and unruly by nature, their place within the cosmic order was subjugation at the hands of the Sovereign Gods. These powers did not accept their fate, and cause all matter of calamity in their defeat.
- Hemothel of Earth
- Defeated by Untinel.
- Turned the beasts of the earth feral, destroying the natural harmony of life. Sets predator against prey, and animal against civilization.
- Created hunger, disease and sickness.
- Zizanzu of the Sky
- Defeated by Akutar.
- Created storms and drought.
- Survived, and later manages to steal the y
- The scroll is taken back by
- Levian of the Deep
- Defeated (contained) by Pasamudra
- Release later as a means of dealing with Maanar
- Gave birth to the Archfiends, the progenitor of all Monsters
- The Beast, Turask
- The Dragon, Tiamat
- The Serpent, Hanaga
- The Shifter, Shuma
- The Colossus, Eota
- The Deep One, Katul
- The Night Walker, Shaed
- The Corpse-Eater, Agul
- The Crawling Horror, Shiloth
- ?
- ?
- Shalibet of the Flame
- Defeated by Suryutur
- Burned down the wall between life and death
- Extinguished the day, forcing Suryutur to patrol the sky. (He flies on Shalibet's wings)
### Celestial Gods
- Radtha
- Created the heavens, separated light from dark, order from chaos. Set forth the Cosmic Order (in the Edict of Heaven).
- Plucked four fingers (or shed four drops of blood, or something), and with them created the Sovereign Gods.
- Set the Scroll upon the unnamed earth, and challenged his creations to claim the scroll for themselves.
- Coupled with Padira, they created all the plants and beasts.
- Does not accept worshippers, but is the source of Divine Right.
- Padira
- Created the world, seperated fire from water, earth from air, and in doing so created the four primordial beasts. Coupled with Radtha, they created all the plants and animals.
### Sovereign Gods
The Sovereign Gods are the parents of the Divine, and rule one of the four courts of Divinity. The four were responsible for defeating the primordial powers, and claiming the Edict of Heaven, which Akutar currently holds.
- Akutar
- Considered the King of the Gods, and holder of the Edict of Heaven.
- Rules the Domain of the Sky
- North
- God of Air, Storms, and Wind
- Utinel - Earth
- Bride of Akutar
- Rules the Domain of the Earth
- South
- Goddess of Fertility, Health, Food
- Creator of Humanity
- Suryutur
- Consort of Utinel
- Rules the Domain of the Sun
- East
- God of Truth, Justice, Duty, Vigilance (the Watcher?)
- Flies about on the wings of Shalibet
- Pasamudra
- Consort of Akutar
- Rules the Domain of the Seas
- West
- Goddess of Waters, Writing, Wisdom / Trickery, Craft, Magic?
- Shapeshifter, and is portrayed as both Male and Female, though mostly female.
- Created humanity as a means of getting the gods work done for them.
- Humans are crafted of pieces of the primordial, which is why they are wicked, but blessed by the Gods, which is why they are good.
- Humans need earth (food), air, water and fire to live, because it restores the pieces of their primordial self.
### Divine Gods
The Divine Gods are the rulers of the mortal realms, and the arbiters of destiny as lain out by the Sovereign Gods. As they are responsible for meting out the fortunes of persons, they tend to receive the most prayers from people.
- Court of Air/Water (Eagle)
- [[Salie]]
- Travel, Journeys, Exploration
- Former goddess of Home/Hearth
- Married to Alman
- Tashyar and Alman got together
- Tahyar threatened to murder Salie for her (for power or out of jealousy)
- Salie chose to wander rather than risk Tashyar's wrath.
- [[Mororo]]
- Daughter of Salie / Sybel
- Goddess of Clouds and Rainfall
- Gifted a rainbow cloak by Adon
- [[Sendak]]
- God of the Wild Places
- Mean guy, not terribly interested in protecting people from the wild.
- Holds himself separate from the Gods
- [[Beast Lords]]
- Endowed by Sedak with the rulership of their kind.
- Talking animals, symbolic of their domains
- Galan the Bull
- Ruler of the Herbavores
- Symbol of Strength
- Babum the Lion
- Ruler of the Predators
- Symbol of Courage
- Malek the Eagle
- Ruler of the Birds
- Symbol of Majesty / Freedom
- Imberul the Wolf
- Ruler of the Night
- Symbol of Loyalty
- Ulenzida the Stallion
- The great mediator?
- Symbol of Cooperation?
- Court of Air/Earth (Lion)
- [[Tashyar]]
- Goddess of War by way of courage, glory and conquest
- Conquered humans
- Participated in the fight against the released primordials
- Goddess of Youth, Beauty, Sex, Diplomacy
- Jealous, cunning and ambitious, she actively has stolen many of the divine orders (portfolios)
- Married off by Akutar to [[Shed]]
- Shed was an ugly, abusive prick. Tashyar wanted out.
- Learned of the Divine Orders (Portfolios) from Padamudra (who wanted to Usurp power from her father Akutar).
- Killed Shed and stole his Death portfolio.
- Killed the Akithet, her daughter by Shed.
- Wants to supplant Akutar for the whole marriage debaucle.
- Learned of the Portfolios from Pasamudra.
- Killed the gods / stole portfolios all the love/beauty/desire
- Adon was defeated in battle, and had his weapons stolen. He was also scarred in the battle.
- Sybel faked her death, but lost her portfolio.
- Mariset negotiated her life in exchange for making Tashyar infertile.
- Tried to conquer the underworld to grab more power, but was unable to beat or seduce Maanar.
- Trying to retreat, Tashyar is judged guilty of hubris by the Judges of Death.
- [[Akutar]] decides to give her parole, but [[Maanar]] demands a replacement in the world of the dead.
- Tashyar offers her Alman, allowing her escape.
- [[Delia]]
- Goddess of Love
- Murdered by Tashyar
- Trapped in the underworld.
- Ratted on Alman's escape from the underworld, causing Maanar to curse him to die whenever he reunites with Tashyar.
- Reunites lovers and families in the afterlife.
- [[Mariset]]
- Goddess of Fertility, Marriage and Child-Rearing
- Bargained with Tashyar to keep her power
- Tashyar can never bear children, but never has to be slowed by motherhood
- Tashyar will have many lovers, but all will lose faith with her.
- Married to Semeth.
- Their children are the Gods of Hearth and Home
- [[Sybel]]
- Goddess of passion and desire
- "Slain" by Tashyar
- Faked her death (hid in the mud?)
- Remains alive / immortal, but with her portfolio owned by Tashyar.
- Mororo never rains on her while she's outdoors.
- [[Adon]]
- God of Art, Music, Dance and Martial Arts
- Tashyar challenged Adon for his weapons, and Adon lost
- Tashyar stole his "Weapons" portfolio and left him with dance/art.
- Made a deal to never raise a weapon in anger in exchange for his life.
- Fire/Earth (Bull)
- [[Alman]]
- Agriculture in Harvest, Plenty, Farming
- Married to [[Tashyar]].
- [[Tashyar]] sold him to [[Maanar]] to escape the underworld. (Their relationship is a bit mercurial.)
- Manages to escape the underworld, thanks to his son being the god of river travel / the psychopomp.
- Whenever he gets free, he seeks out and makes up with Tashyar, then dies again.
- Previously Married to [[Salie]]
- Keru
- God of rivers and travel.
- Psychopomp
- Erman
- God of travel and roads
- Uelmet
- Goddess of hospitality, community, inheritance
- Inherited the Job from his mother, who now travels
- Salidur
- Not a natural child, but a ward of Sendak that Salie adopted after Sybel died.
- Flocks migrate because she is constantly searching for her mother.
- Fircaru
- Goddess of vigiliance and evergreens
- Keeps a constant watch out for her father and he journeys
- [[Semeth]]
- God of Toil, Drudgery, Labor, Strength
- Lord of the Forge
- Married to Mariset. Children are the Gods of Hearth and Home.
- [[Anazar]]
- God of Shepherds, flock tenders, peace, humility
- [[Nabara]]
- Goddess of carpentry, shelter, indoor chores
- [[Aseid]]
- Goddess of seeding, farm work, gardens
- [[Kapet]]
- God of butchery and meats
- Fire/Water (Stallion)
- [[Unsu]]
- Goddess of War by way of Tactics and Courage
- Uden
- God of the Hunt, stealth, silence and traversing wild places
- Pals with [[Imberuk]], Kunatash's pet wolf / king of the wolves
- Ulenzida the Stallion
- Unsu needed a means of moving his armies on the battlefield.
- He went to Sendak, who said that the animals would have to answer for themselves.
- Either
- Unsu coupled with Galan
- Unsu gathered a token from each
- Galan's strength
- Babum's courage
- Malek's speed
- Kanar's Endurance (or wisdom or hide?)
- Ulenzida the Stallion was born, and is the father of horses.
- [[Shed]]
- God of Violent Death and Pain
- Ugly to behold
- Married to Tashyar
- Murdered by Tashyarz
- Trapped in the Underworld, he torments the wicked.
- Akithet (Daughter of Shed/Tashyar)
- Goddess of Conquest / Slaughter
- Killed and eaten by Tashyar
- Responsible for spoiling/decay?
- [[Aruus]]
- God of truth, heroism and the dawn
- Herald of Suryutur
- [[Tingail]]
- God of life, luck and libation
- Pathologically attracted to humans
- Father of the great healers
- Water/Earth (Wolf)
- [[Ergash]]
- Goddess of "fated" death
- Humans got too numerous and destructive for the Gods' tastes
- Akutar commanded a flood to wash the humans into the sea, so they were Padamudra's problem.
- Ergash had an idea. Why not just "unmake" the humans? Maybe after a set period of time, so they could fulfil a purpose and create a new generation?
- Flood happens (because it was decreed), but instead of washing them into the sea, the people just died.
- Ergash was tasked with the whole "death" thing, and keeping the souls of the dead until they were fashion anew.
- Partner and friend of Seth
- When Ergash learned of what Shed had done to Tashysar, she tore off her face, so that her beauty could add to Tashyar's.
- This is why death is scary, and one would prefer to die gloriously.
- [[Kunatash]]
- God / Goddess of the Moon, sleep, dreams and hidden truths/mystery
- Is sometimes rendered as twins (Kuna et Ash) and sometimes as a single entity with two aspects.
- Married to Unsu
- [[Orak]]
- God of prophecy and poetry
- Father of the Seven Sages
- One of two messengerstt of the Gods
- [[Shemath]]
- God of scribes, archivists, literacy and ancestors
- The accountant and scribe of the gods
- Writes down everything people have done, and recites their deeds for the judges of the dead.
- [[Alagi]]
- Goddess of justice,
- Mother of mercy
- Executioner of the gods
- [[Famesh]] -
- Agriculture in Drought, Famine, Blight
- He protects the farms and land from outsiderst
- When there's no outside force to defend against, he rages against his own.
- Capricious and Impulsive
- War in strength and resolve
- Consort of death
- Spends half his time in tryst with Maanar. When Maanar sleeps, he leaves to rampage.
- This relationship is what allows River to aid Alman in escaping the world of the Dead each spring.
- [[Maanar]]
- God of Kings (the people who rule) and Rulership
- Not to be confused with Radtha, who is the God of Kingship/Divine Order)
- Took humans as consorts, creating Tutelary God and the Noble bloodlines.
- Created by Akutar as a way of one-upping Pasamudra and her creation of humanity.
- Became the Champion of the Gods, perhaps too powerful a creation?
- Pasamudra had a way of stopping him: Have Akutar release Levian from bondage.
- Levian, furious at her capture (and the death of her consort?) creates 11 great beasts, and flooding the world over.
- When the Beasts of Levian attacked, the world was flooded, and the Gods were on the brink of destruction. The Gods armed Maanar and sent him to battle on their behalf.
- The only way to beat the beasts was to lure them to the underworld, where nothing could escape. But Maanar was trapped there, too.
- Maanar becomes the king of the underworld, but is bound to remain there.
- As king of the underworld, fulfils his prophesied role of "Ruler of All Humanity"
### Noble Gods
Noble Gods are the immortal children of Gods and men.
The children of Maanar and founders of the great cities of the first age. The monarchs of the region claim that their lines trace back to these founder gods of civilization. Each of the Noble Gods has an animal or magical beast (known as a "Noble Beast") associated with it, and the rulers can tap into their patron monster's abilities in some way.
Theses gods also rule on the matters of the underworld, determining the fates of the dead, and deciding when their parole is due. Those deemed unworthy are simply incinerated to ash after years of punishment.
Tutelary Gods
- Atan
-
- Adenim
- Builder king
- Commerce / Trading
- Objectivist?
- Nezereba
- Conquerer King
- May have lost his kingdom, only to come back and reclaim it under an assumed name?
- Erabam
- Wisdom / Law
- The (First?) Wise King
- Idoen
- The Barbarian King
- Friend/Rival of Ameshgal
- Ameshgal
- The Hero King
- Tried to find the secret of immortality from Thuelano
- Consort of Tashyar?
- Slew (or defeated) Tarask
- Keeper of the Six Swords?
- Seven Sages, teachers of Magic to the mortals
- [[Tolem]]
- Astronomy / Astrology
- [[Zoroa]]
- Botany / Naturalism
- [[Vantil]] (Necromancy)
- Knows the ways of immortality
- Has travelled the underworld
- History / Heraldry
- [[Lahmar]]
- Mathematics / Linguistics
- [[Uriku]]
- Anatomy / Medicine
- [[Alrig]]
- Transmutation
- Chemistry / Alchemy
- [[Erlin]] (Universal)
- Physics / Architecture
- Great Healers/Lords of Life
- Aziman
- Gambling
- Habu
- Alcohol
- Namatu
- Alchemy
- Cleanliness
- Sursis
- Sport
- Ninshag
- Insects
- Sheban
- Food/Cooking
- Achet
- Perfumes and scents
- Thuelano - Survivor of the Great Cataclysm. Won immortality for having survived,
- Guardians of the Underworld
- Children of Maanar and Delia
- Keeper of the Dead / Damnation
- Sin (Either as a single entity or 5 siblings)
- Destruction
- Deception
- Larceny
- Blasphemy
- Betrayal
- Guard the Gates of the Underworld
## Varasatva (the Inheritor)
Recontextualizes the Karonin Pantheon as a group of "flawed gods." The inheritor was born human and thus is invested into humanity, unlike the selfish / vain / indifferent gods. While Varasatva is a benevolent god, she is not perfect (just doing her best) so sometimes bad things happen.
# Gyth
## Supreme Intelligence
##
# Other
## Ancient Corsu
Either not worshipped, or perhaps a parallel of the Bash totems. There's an element of their worship in Ychithia and perhaps in Shelitash.
- Curiandes - God of the sea / water / death / death
- ??? courted by both Curiandes and Ychitos
- Curiandes is older, and was the rightful king of the Gods.
- He offered to cede the throne to Ychitos in exchange for ????'s hand in marriage.
- Ychithos agreed, but regretted the decision. Eventually started seeing her on the sly.
- Curiandes found out, and demanded the throne.
- They decided on a rotation of throne
- Spring/Summer are ruled by Ychitos
- Fall/Winter are ruled by Curiandes
- Ychitos - Goddess of the sky / air / storms / life
- ???
- Sacaramonos - God of earth, stone
- Pyramanthia - Goddess of sun, fire and light
- Ekenedes - Cleansing / Health
- Ulanea, Araenos, Paeres
- Sister Gods of Spiritual, Carnal and Parental love (former born from the sea, later two born of two other gods)
- Uriet - Goddess of Wisdom and Marriage
- Medar - God of Wrath and generally heroic figure
- Sagget (sa-JET) - God of Mercy
- Sggkryn - God of the Hunt, Tracking, Travel, Archery
- ??? - God of War (Tactics, Heroism, Glory)
- ??? - God of War (Fear, Discord, Pain, Slaughter)
- ???????? - God of Joy - Has three children (?,?,?)
- ???????? - Goddess of Beauty?
- Courted by both Life and Death.
- Death was the elder and was due to be the king of the gods.
- Death agrees to step down as the king of the gods in return for ????????’s hand in marriage.
- Life agrees, but has buyer’s remorse, and so every winter he travels to the underworld to be ????????’s consort, while Death rules the overland.
- A “death of the Gods” scenario killed off the gods to have them be replaced by a monotheistic deity of the half-elves creation.
Layout
Universal Faiths
Olidarianism
Supreme Intelligence
Senarian
Amangyr
Inheritor?
Sylurian
Ethnic Faiths
Human
Maar Leyna
Cymbrian Totemic
Koronin Pantheon
The Court of Heaven
The Way of Two Worlds
Gods of Old Corsu
Dwarf
Duchar, the Savior
Inkhara, the Creator
Adversary is a conception of Tyrmaria?
Adversary is a conception of Elemental Powers?
Gyedah / Sethet (Gods of the Duerghar)
Ylvani
Cualur
Taure
Ethele
Unified Worship (non-Ylvani)
Halflings
The Old Way
The New Way