The Old Gods

The Old Gods, also known as the Forebearers, and the True Gods of the Old Faith, are a collection of thirteen (sometimes fourteen) incredibly powerful Primal Dragons that are believed to have once ruled the mortal plane. Their exact identities and histories vary between various religions, but all are in agreement that at one point, the Old Gods disappeared from the Mortal Plane and have not been directly seen in many centuries. They are believed to be the forbearers of the dragons seen in the wild today. They are worshipped by the dragonborn of the Bryonian Empire, who believe them to be the true gods and creators of the world, kept away from their creations by the treacherous covenant of the Archangels and the "false god" humans call their Maker.
Though exact descriptions and names vary, the following thirteen are most consistently mentioned as being part of the Old Gods:

• Armaros, "The Duality". The two-headed dragon, two entities sharing the same body. God of life, death, health, disease, medicine, and mortality. The patron of doctors and morticians. 

• Vhaidra, "The Swift Justice". The swift sword of justice, goddess of the law, justice, charity, luck, government, rightful vengeance, retribution, and punishment. The patron of kings and tyrants alike. Also the agent of the Old Gods, descending upon those who have wronged them to deliver swift justice.

• Wyldarrl, "The Keeper of Chains". God of contracts, bonds, and the sun; patron of merchants and artisans; depicted as a golden dragon perched upon a pile of golden coins, a scroll clutched in his claws. He is believed to have written the covenants that bind all the natural laws to their place, as well as those that bind the Old Gods and all lesser deities to their places in the natural order, preventing them from destroying the world in their petty squabbling.

• Selune, "The Shimmering". The youngest of the Old Gods, as well as the smallest and easiest to overlook. She is the goddess of the moon, night, dawn and dusk, the sender of pleasant dreams, and herder of lost souls. Believed to be the intermediary and peacekeeper among other Old Gods.

• Barachiel, "The Discord". God of madness, self-indulgence, internal understanding, the arts, music, and passion. He is the patron of bards and entertainers, depicted as a brilliant red dragon.

• Philia, "The Hearth". Goddess of beauty, love, fertility, protection from harm, and family. The patron of women, especially mothers, and keepers of the home. 

• Camael, "The Resplendent". God of the hunt, sports, war, victory, and honorable battle. Patron of huntsmen and warriors.

• Kokabiel, "The Sprout". God of the sky, lightning, storms, animals, and plants. Patron of farmers, ranchers, and all those who work with the land. Believed to be the progenitor of druids and the origin of their Source.

• Tamiel, "The Storm". God of the earth, minerals, metals, and the forge. Patron of miners and blacksmiths.

• Etro, "The Ethereal". Goddess of time, fate, memory, mirages, choices, and the circle of life. Patron of mystics and seers, believed to occasionally bestow her 'chosen' with wisdom through visions.

• Mwynn, "The Unknowable". Goddess of wisdom, the search for knowledge, memory, understanding, dreams, and nightmares. Patron of scholars and seekers of truth. 

• Hydaelinn, "The Shadowcast". God of shadows, discord, freedom, breaking of chains, and disorder. Patron of assassins and thieves. Constantly at odds with Vhaidra.

• Midgardsommar, "The Origin". God of magic, power, glory, untapped potential, and inner strength. Patron of mages and those who study the arcane. For his uncontrollable power, imprisoned by the other Old Gods in a different domain, from where his magical energy seeps into the mortal world.

Notably, Gwareth is not considered to be an Old God by the dragonborn, despite being venerated and worshipped by them. Instead, they are considered to be a harbinger of the Ultimate End, a part of a being much older and more mysterious than even the Old Gods themselves. It is unknown what this entity is, except that it is as old as the world itself and slumbers until the day that all life ends. Described as a magnificent black-and-white dragon with golden eyes, Gwareth is also called 'the End', as the only ones who witness their splendor are those that are about to perish in glorious battle. As a result, dragonborn consider there to be no greater honor than to meet them in their final hour.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Alternative Names

the Forebearers, the True Gods of the Old Faith

Divines

• Vhaidra, the Swift Justice
• Wyldarrl, the Keeper of Chains