The Major Gods
Also known as the Ten, the Anointed Ones, the Divines, and the Graced.
Eldione
Goddess of Life and Death
Epithets: the Elder God, the First One, the Creator, the Kindly One
Symbols: primarily lotuses and the Phoenix.
Colors: Green and Blue
Eldione is the eldest of the Gods - she created the planet, the grass and trees, the sun and moon, the seas and all the animals and humans that roamed it. From her came all life and to her all life returns. Her priests have powers over nature and healing - though this power is much stronger than most initially believe. Capable of changing their form and communing with the wind and trees, of healing the gravely wounded and smiting the undead.
High Priestess: Arasinya Silverwood
Eldione only has four Priests (including the High Priestess) the rest of her devotees do not receive her powers.
Qasoi
God of War, Combat and the Military
Epithets: the Vehement One, the Bloodied One, the Baleful God, Lord of Blades
Symbols: Blood, wolves, he is usually depicted with an ax or a sword - rarely a spear or bow.
Colors: Red and Silver
Qasoi is a vicious and ambitious God. Headstrong and gungho. He walks head first into bloodbaths and encourages his priests to do the same - warriors pray to him before battle and the military venerates him with glee. His priests are capable of incredible feats of strength and stamina.
High Priest:
Emjir
God of Funerals and the Unwell
Epithets: the Cold One, the Solemn God
Symbols: Funerary clothes and coffin-tapestries, bats and coyotes.
Colors: Silver and Black
Emjir is a solemn God - those who are sick and dying pray to him for deliverance and safe arrival to Eldione. His priests prepare the dead for burial and ensure they do not rise as undead, they also have strength against the undead - able to smite them like no other. They have some healing magic - but it is not as strong as Eldione's priests.
High Priest:
Vivna
Goddess of Love, Sex, Marriage, Pleasure, Mothers and Children.
Epithets: The Salacious One, the All-Lover, the Heavenly
Symbols: Lilies, doves, unicorns, as well as magnolia trees.
Colors: Pink, red, black.
Vivna is a licentious sort, she mingles with humans and all her priests are her descendants or children - she is the patron of sex workers and protects them from harm. She is capricious but not uncaring and is known to adore children and frequently gives blessings to those she deems worthy. Her priests excel at divining emotions and intent, and are known to be exceptional sexual partners.
High Priest:
Agrasil
God of the Ostracized
Epithets: the Mournful, Peacemaker, the Loyal One
Symbols: White ribbons, a single coin, snakes.
Colors: White and Grey
Agrasil protects the downtrodden and offers them salvation through piety. Benevolent and generous with his attention - his priests are forbidden from doing any harm even in self defense and must willingly give even their last shred of clothing or their last coin if someone is in need. In return they have protective magic and warding abilities beyond compare.
High Priestess:
Ekius
God of Music, Revelry, Poetry, Wine and Merriment
Epithets: The Musician, the Giver of Joy, Master of Ceremonies, the Frenzied One
Symbols: Roses, Musical instruments - especially the lyre and flutes, goats,
Colors: Crimson and Gold
A jovial God who all bards and entertainers pray to - all festivals that involve mischief and merrymaking are in his honor. He is known to give his gift quite freely, those who are talented in music or dancing or storytelling have him to thank. His priests are able to feel the emotions of others and know how to make them happy, even if it requires overriding their feelings.
High Priestess:
Okone
Goddess of Thieves, Travelers and Criminals
Epithets: The Wily One, the Trickster, the Pretender, the Guile One
Symbols: Foxes, walking stick, loon, panthers
Colors: Black and dark grays and blues.
Okone dwells in the crossroads and shadows - assassins, thieves, runaways and shady figures pray to her for guidance. She is secretive and elusive, and rarely answers the prayers of her followers but when she does they receive clarity beyond any. Her priests have the ability to see and target the weak points of anything - be it a living creature of a support column.
High Priestess:
Cita
Goddess of Wisdom, Education, Strategy and the Arts - protector of virgin women and female warriors as well.
Epithets: The One Who Knows, the Mighty, The Wool-Spinner, The Wise and Gray-Eyed, the Venerable, the Righteous, the Ever-Maiden
Symbols: the spear, owls, scrolls and pens, the hippocervus
Colors: Silver and Grey
Cita protects educational institutions and is a patron of scholars and those who seek knowledge. She was known to have been even more beautiful than Vivna but disfigured herself to discourage the men who kept pursuing her for her beauty. She is also a war goddess, particularly of strategy. Her priests are capable of exceptional magical talent and have fantastic memories, though they can be a bit socially awkward.
High Priest:
Jyrsoi
Goddess of Plenty, the Harvest and the Seasons
Epithets: The Fruit-Bringer, the Mother, the Mild One
Symbols: Grain, the cornucopia, mules and oxen, sickle
Colors: Brown and Black
Originally a very minor goddess who through devout worship gained fame and notoriety. She brings good harvest or poor - and is responsible for the wheel of the year as well as the weather to some degree. Though ultimately Eldione has final say, Jyrsoi is less preoccupied with the tasks of being an Elder God and can more freely involve herself with humans. Her priests can predict many things - including whether a harvest will succeed or fail.
High Priestess:
Tovrin
The God of Law, Civilization and Justice
Epithets: The Justicar, the Equitable One, He Who Weighs the Scales
Symbols: scales, black ribbons, sparrows
Colors: Black, Grey and White
Known as the son of Cita in some circles - he is responsible for civil society and order, he is the patron of lawyers and lawmen and executioners pray to him that they don't execute an innocent person. He is known to be blind. His priests has strong intuition and can occasionally have premonitions of the future and past when they touch an object or person.
High Priest:
The Minor Gods
Less well known or just local and specialized deities, none have any major shrines nor do they have an organized priesthood. They very rarely give gifts of power.
Kantira
Goddess of Mercy
She is clemency - she forgives sinners if they repent, and sometimes if they don't. Benevolent and all-loving. She is frequently invoked, often in exasperation "Kantira's mercy!" is quite the popular phrase.
Sou
God of Time and History
He is sometimes the father of Jyrsoi - and represents the passing of time, he is largely ambivalent to mortals.
The Lady of Wild Things
Goddess of the Hunt and Wild
She was one of the eldest gods - created near the beginning by Eldione to travel and commune with nature, and she found she liked that. She does not interact with mortals much anymore, but in the beginning she taught them to hunt, how to use an animal, how to identify plants and survive. As such she is highly venerated by the People of Esterwyn and those who live away from civilization, but she has no temples or shrines in her name and her true name has long since been forgotten.
Miora
Goddess of Misfortune and Misery - patron of rape survivors and punisher of rapists.
A relatively obscure goddess with a devout and secretive cult - she is depicted as always weeping and when she in mentioned it is usually only as the mother of Hitarius through her violation by Qasoi. Her cult is known to hunt down and kill rapists and initiate rape survivors into their ranks, they also murder those who evade justice.
Hitarius
God of Blood, Fury and Torture
The son of Qasoi and Miora, he is a vicious warlike God who represents fighting against established systems and those stronger than yourself. He loathes his father for what he did to his mother.
Aeyar
God of Water
One of the eldest gods - created near the beginning by Eldione to look after the oceans, lakes and streams. He is temperamental and moody and it shows in how quick the seas change. He is prayed to by sailors and is said to bring the fish to their nets.
Rillu
Goddess of Animal Husbandry
A minor goddess in Norley worshiped by those who tend animals, she is said to have taught people how to tame and domesticate all the animals that are frequently used - horses, pigs, cows, dogs.
Shogalyt
God of Blood and Heritage, also Esterwyn history, marriages and the clan system.
A minor god in Esterwyn - he taught their shamans how to keep track of lineage and the art of blood rituals (important for marriage ceremonies). He is also a god of storytelling as all Esterwyn history and traditions are oral.
Hephiosse
God of the Hearth and Home
A minor God in the Edge who is said to live in every fire kept - citizens put small statuettes of him to invoke his protection of their home.
Vyziet
Goddess of Health, Sanitation and Medicine
A minor goddess in the Edge who taught their doctors how to save patients more effectively - and gave them the knowledge to advance their practice and applications of medicine. Even to refine herbs into their more potent components as pharmaceuticals. She is believed to be a daughter of Cita..
Ersi
Goddess of Insanity, Mental Health, and Duality
A goddess who represents both aiding the mentally ill and harming people, she is the epitome of a duality. People invoke her to ward off stress and tension and also to bring havoc upon their enemies.
Phoenix
A genderless being of destructive power, created by Eldione eon ago to raze Karnath to the ground for the folly of her creations. Eventually, driven by their prayers and her remorse she descended to speak to her monstrous creation - though it had grown too spiteful and enraged to be reasoned with. So she taught the Karnathi how to contain it and by channeling her divine energy the Phoenix was bound - where and how it was bound is lost to the ages - though Eldione warned that the Phoenix could not be kept forever and would one day escape and even she would be unable to bring it to heel. So Karnath bides its time either the Phoenix finds its peace or it finishes what it had begun.
ELEVATED MORTALS
Mortal creatures that have some form of worship associated with them.
Inaintet
The First Dragon
Worshiped almost exclusively by dragon cultists - Inaintet is believed to be the mother of the dragonbirds by the Phoenix. She was fierce and rewarded strength, wise and rewarded persistence. She was eventually slain after years of ravaging Karnath for a slight that has long since been forgotten - her bones were gathered by devotees and made into a temple dedicated to her and her kind.
Lys
Priestess of Eldione
A historical figure of great renown, never brought to the status of godhood but highly revered. Her history and the revival of Eldione worship are greatly intertwined.
Also known as the Ten, the Anointed Ones, the Divines, and the Graced.
Eldione
Goddess of Life and Death
Epithets: the Elder God, the First One, the Creator, the Kindly One
Symbols: primarily lotuses and the Phoenix.
Colors: Green and Blue
Eldione is the eldest of the Gods - she created the planet, the grass and trees, the sun and moon, the seas and all the animals and humans that roamed it. From her came all life and to her all life returns. Her priests have powers over nature and healing - though this power is much stronger than most initially believe. Capable of changing their form and communing with the wind and trees, of healing the gravely wounded and smiting the undead.
High Priestess: Arasinya Silverwood
Eldione only has four Priests (including the High Priestess) the rest of her devotees do not receive her powers.
Qasoi
God of War, Combat and the Military
Epithets: the Vehement One, the Bloodied One, the Baleful God, Lord of Blades
Symbols: Blood, wolves, he is usually depicted with an ax or a sword - rarely a spear or bow.
Colors: Red and Silver
Qasoi is a vicious and ambitious God. Headstrong and gungho. He walks head first into bloodbaths and encourages his priests to do the same - warriors pray to him before battle and the military venerates him with glee. His priests are capable of incredible feats of strength and stamina.
High Priest:
Emjir
God of Funerals and the Unwell
Epithets: the Cold One, the Solemn God
Symbols: Funerary clothes and coffin-tapestries, bats and coyotes.
Colors: Silver and Black
Emjir is a solemn God - those who are sick and dying pray to him for deliverance and safe arrival to Eldione. His priests prepare the dead for burial and ensure they do not rise as undead, they also have strength against the undead - able to smite them like no other. They have some healing magic - but it is not as strong as Eldione's priests.
High Priest:
Vivna
Goddess of Love, Sex, Marriage, Pleasure, Mothers and Children.
Epithets: The Salacious One, the All-Lover, the Heavenly
Symbols: Lilies, doves, unicorns, as well as magnolia trees.
Colors: Pink, red, black.
Vivna is a licentious sort, she mingles with humans and all her priests are her descendants or children - she is the patron of sex workers and protects them from harm. She is capricious but not uncaring and is known to adore children and frequently gives blessings to those she deems worthy. Her priests excel at divining emotions and intent, and are known to be exceptional sexual partners.
High Priest:
Agrasil
God of the Ostracized
Epithets: the Mournful, Peacemaker, the Loyal One
Symbols: White ribbons, a single coin, snakes.
Colors: White and Grey
Agrasil protects the downtrodden and offers them salvation through piety. Benevolent and generous with his attention - his priests are forbidden from doing any harm even in self defense and must willingly give even their last shred of clothing or their last coin if someone is in need. In return they have protective magic and warding abilities beyond compare.
High Priestess:
Ekius
God of Music, Revelry, Poetry, Wine and Merriment
Epithets: The Musician, the Giver of Joy, Master of Ceremonies, the Frenzied One
Symbols: Roses, Musical instruments - especially the lyre and flutes, goats,
Colors: Crimson and Gold
A jovial God who all bards and entertainers pray to - all festivals that involve mischief and merrymaking are in his honor. He is known to give his gift quite freely, those who are talented in music or dancing or storytelling have him to thank. His priests are able to feel the emotions of others and know how to make them happy, even if it requires overriding their feelings.
High Priestess:
Okone
Goddess of Thieves, Travelers and Criminals
Epithets: The Wily One, the Trickster, the Pretender, the Guile One
Symbols: Foxes, walking stick, loon, panthers
Colors: Black and dark grays and blues.
Okone dwells in the crossroads and shadows - assassins, thieves, runaways and shady figures pray to her for guidance. She is secretive and elusive, and rarely answers the prayers of her followers but when she does they receive clarity beyond any. Her priests have the ability to see and target the weak points of anything - be it a living creature of a support column.
High Priestess:
Cita
Goddess of Wisdom, Education, Strategy and the Arts - protector of virgin women and female warriors as well.
Epithets: The One Who Knows, the Mighty, The Wool-Spinner, The Wise and Gray-Eyed, the Venerable, the Righteous, the Ever-Maiden
Symbols: the spear, owls, scrolls and pens, the hippocervus
Colors: Silver and Grey
Cita protects educational institutions and is a patron of scholars and those who seek knowledge. She was known to have been even more beautiful than Vivna but disfigured herself to discourage the men who kept pursuing her for her beauty. She is also a war goddess, particularly of strategy. Her priests are capable of exceptional magical talent and have fantastic memories, though they can be a bit socially awkward.
High Priest:
Jyrsoi
Goddess of Plenty, the Harvest and the Seasons
Epithets: The Fruit-Bringer, the Mother, the Mild One
Symbols: Grain, the cornucopia, mules and oxen, sickle
Colors: Brown and Black
Originally a very minor goddess who through devout worship gained fame and notoriety. She brings good harvest or poor - and is responsible for the wheel of the year as well as the weather to some degree. Though ultimately Eldione has final say, Jyrsoi is less preoccupied with the tasks of being an Elder God and can more freely involve herself with humans. Her priests can predict many things - including whether a harvest will succeed or fail.
High Priestess:
Tovrin
The God of Law, Civilization and Justice
Epithets: The Justicar, the Equitable One, He Who Weighs the Scales
Symbols: scales, black ribbons, sparrows
Colors: Black, Grey and White
Known as the son of Cita in some circles - he is responsible for civil society and order, he is the patron of lawyers and lawmen and executioners pray to him that they don't execute an innocent person. He is known to be blind. His priests has strong intuition and can occasionally have premonitions of the future and past when they touch an object or person.
High Priest:
The Minor Gods
Less well known or just local and specialized deities, none have any major shrines nor do they have an organized priesthood. They very rarely give gifts of power.
Kantira
Goddess of Mercy
She is clemency - she forgives sinners if they repent, and sometimes if they don't. Benevolent and all-loving. She is frequently invoked, often in exasperation "Kantira's mercy!" is quite the popular phrase.
Sou
God of Time and History
He is sometimes the father of Jyrsoi - and represents the passing of time, he is largely ambivalent to mortals.
The Lady of Wild Things
Goddess of the Hunt and Wild
She was one of the eldest gods - created near the beginning by Eldione to travel and commune with nature, and she found she liked that. She does not interact with mortals much anymore, but in the beginning she taught them to hunt, how to use an animal, how to identify plants and survive. As such she is highly venerated by the People of Esterwyn and those who live away from civilization, but she has no temples or shrines in her name and her true name has long since been forgotten.
Miora
Goddess of Misfortune and Misery - patron of rape survivors and punisher of rapists.
A relatively obscure goddess with a devout and secretive cult - she is depicted as always weeping and when she in mentioned it is usually only as the mother of Hitarius through her violation by Qasoi. Her cult is known to hunt down and kill rapists and initiate rape survivors into their ranks, they also murder those who evade justice.
Hitarius
God of Blood, Fury and Torture
The son of Qasoi and Miora, he is a vicious warlike God who represents fighting against established systems and those stronger than yourself. He loathes his father for what he did to his mother.
Aeyar
God of Water
One of the eldest gods - created near the beginning by Eldione to look after the oceans, lakes and streams. He is temperamental and moody and it shows in how quick the seas change. He is prayed to by sailors and is said to bring the fish to their nets.
Rillu
Goddess of Animal Husbandry
A minor goddess in Norley worshiped by those who tend animals, she is said to have taught people how to tame and domesticate all the animals that are frequently used - horses, pigs, cows, dogs.
Shogalyt
God of Blood and Heritage, also Esterwyn history, marriages and the clan system.
A minor god in Esterwyn - he taught their shamans how to keep track of lineage and the art of blood rituals (important for marriage ceremonies). He is also a god of storytelling as all Esterwyn history and traditions are oral.
Hephiosse
God of the Hearth and Home
A minor God in the Edge who is said to live in every fire kept - citizens put small statuettes of him to invoke his protection of their home.
Vyziet
Goddess of Health, Sanitation and Medicine
A minor goddess in the Edge who taught their doctors how to save patients more effectively - and gave them the knowledge to advance their practice and applications of medicine. Even to refine herbs into their more potent components as pharmaceuticals. She is believed to be a daughter of Cita..
Ersi
Goddess of Insanity, Mental Health, and Duality
A goddess who represents both aiding the mentally ill and harming people, she is the epitome of a duality. People invoke her to ward off stress and tension and also to bring havoc upon their enemies.
Phoenix
A genderless being of destructive power, created by Eldione eon ago to raze Karnath to the ground for the folly of her creations. Eventually, driven by their prayers and her remorse she descended to speak to her monstrous creation - though it had grown too spiteful and enraged to be reasoned with. So she taught the Karnathi how to contain it and by channeling her divine energy the Phoenix was bound - where and how it was bound is lost to the ages - though Eldione warned that the Phoenix could not be kept forever and would one day escape and even she would be unable to bring it to heel. So Karnath bides its time either the Phoenix finds its peace or it finishes what it had begun.
ELEVATED MORTALS
Mortal creatures that have some form of worship associated with them.
Inaintet
The First Dragon
Worshiped almost exclusively by dragon cultists - Inaintet is believed to be the mother of the dragonbirds by the Phoenix. She was fierce and rewarded strength, wise and rewarded persistence. She was eventually slain after years of ravaging Karnath for a slight that has long since been forgotten - her bones were gathered by devotees and made into a temple dedicated to her and her kind.
Lys
Priestess of Eldione
A historical figure of great renown, never brought to the status of godhood but highly revered. Her history and the revival of Eldione worship are greatly intertwined.