Aspects of the Divine

Divine Aspects are a class of powerful celestial beings associated with the nine primary divine domains (see below). The manifestation and duration of an Aspect varies, and though Aspects are occasionally known to be non-hostile, those with a proclivity for destruction can leave a swath of wreckage in their path that can persist for decades. As typhoons and earthquakes are natural disasters, Aspects harken divine disaster. Aspects are relatively little-studied, but one thing is clear: despite their divine associations, Divine Aspects are neither gods, nor are they under the domain of any known deity. They are unbound, and often disliked by those divine beings who seek to bring control and order to their wanton chaos.
In the rare and disastrous event that an Aspect is engaged in battle their tremendous power shakes the earth around them, the air is electrified with surging arcane energies, and opposition are turned to ash and bones. Fortunately, openly hostile Aspects very rarely manifest within villages and cities. Only three Aspects have been slain in recorded history and they, alongside other noteworthy manifestations, are noted here. Also included are some commonalities in appearance and behaviour for each class of Divine Aspect.

Spontaneous Manifestation

An Aspect's occurrence is triggered by powerful or abundant associations to their divine domain in a localized region. An Aspect of War may manifest at the clash of two great armies, while the world’s greatest libraries often host an Aspect of Knowledge or Arcana which may delight in devouring (sometimes literally) the knowledge contained in the old tomes. As quickly as a Divine Aspect can manifest, one can vanish with nary a trace if its trigger is destroyed, removed or otherwise changed. When the clash of armies has ended, or the library fallen, the Aspect dwindles into nothingness.
Notably, an Aspect is not one specific creature, rather they constitute a class of creatures (some scholars claim Aspects are an entire species). There may be numerous, Aspects of Death or Trickery, for example, fading into and out of existence for minutes, hours or days at a time.

Behaviour & Alignment

An Aspect is neither good nor evil; such creatures are far removed from typical attitudes and morality of mortalkind, and considered wholly neutral. In general, Aspects evade cordial conversation with mortals, often keeping to themselves or avoided by mortals themselves for (healthy) fear of their power (Aspects of Knowledge are a notable exception to this; they are known to be talkative, as divine phenomena go).

Types of Aspects

Arcana

Perhaps the most variable of Aspects in appearance and behaviour. Aspects of Arcana range from faceless, sentient storms of magic to humanoid forms of crackling arcane energies. Commonly found in large libraries stocked with magical scrolls and tomes where they feed on latent magic and return it to their environment in the form of wild magic fields.

Appearances

Unknown period. An Aspect of Arcana masqueraded as Grand Scholar of the Wikken Library until its death by assassination. The assassin wielded an anti-magic dagger that proved potent enough to destroy the Scholar. The explosion that followed reduced the Southeast corner of the library, the books therein, and the assassin himself to a strange, shimmering ash which was later collected and locked away for fear of its unknown properties.

303rd year of the Second Age: an Aspect of Arcana appeared in a Hobgoblin stronghold in Nuriliath. The being was destroyed by Magus Enesha and the arcane destruction following its death obliterated the stronghold and mountaintop in equal measure.

303rd year of the Second Age: a second Aspect of Arcana appeared at a ruptured Leyline taking the form of a great serpent. After the Leyline was restored, the Aspect faded to nothingness.

Knowledge & Trickery

Included here are both Aspects of Knowledge and Trickery, as they are easily mistaken for one another.
Among the most… unorthodox of Aspect varieties, these beings often manifest during times of intense political strife when knowledge is most powerful. While most Aspects refrain from speech, Aspects of Knowledge delight in conversation and the sharing of tales, while Aspects of Trickery savor (and propagate) the deception and dishonesty that plagues noble courts throughout the realms.
Key distinctions between Aspects of Knowledge and Trickery can be found in their hostile methods. Left hungry, an Aspect of Knowledge will steal memories and secrets from those around it, while an Aspect of Trickery will create or expand their web of lies.

Life

Appearing during or immediately following times of great crisis when life is cherished the most. An Aspect of Life will likely take the false form of other celestials; devas, quetzlcoatls or unicorns. To date, no hostile Aspects of Life have been recorded.

Light

There are no recorded instances of an Aspect of Light manifesting on the material plane.

Nature

Few ever see Aspects of Nature. These beings tend to prefer isolation and wild, untapped lands far removed from civilization. On occasion record of horse hooves or paw prints three or four times as large as normal are discovered by trackers. Some druidic circles undertake spirit walks with Aspects of Nature as part of religious rites.
The frequency of Aspects of Nature is said to increase further from civilization, where primeval forests stand tall and unmolested.

Appearances

Unknown appearance. A great white elk often appears at the side of Thilirien, Queen of the Arborean Elves. This elk holds exceptional druidic power and is generally presumed to be an Aspect of Nature.

Tempest

Perhaps the most common of Aspects, brought forth by particularly devastating hurricanes or earthquakes. An Aspect of Tempest often manifests as an immense elemental and grants direction and purpose to a storm, enhancing its destruction immensely and reveling in the destructive chaos

Cap'n Brutus was a great beast of a man, fearless as they come. I'd seen him stare down ogres, illithids, dragons. The man could not be shaken. Our ship was caught in a bad storm one eve and Brutus urged us to reach the eye where the winds be calmer, so we could wait out the storm. Well, we arrived, and ol' Brutus gave a good look about us. That monster was tall as a mountain. Bigger 'an a mountain! And mighty angry to boot. When the storm itself stared back at us... well I ain't never seen someone jump ship so quick.
- Thrain Folkwind, former sailor aboard the Widow's Wail.

War

Should any class of Aspect be considered evil, it would be the Aspects of War. These monstrosities appear when armies clash and commonly take the shape of a colossal golem laying waste to either side in equal (and immense) measure.
Some claim to have slain Aspects of War, but in truth, none of have been truly bested in battle. When the clash of armies subsides, the Aspect's power dwindles, until its lifeless shell crashes to the bloodsoaked earth.
was an Aspect of War, at nigh-immeasurable cost. A colossus of animated armor, surrounding a shifting, shapeless form of red lightning was felled at the clash between House Hemsford and House Argent. The Hemsford forces had expected to ride to their own defeat against the Argents' great army, but when the Aspect of War carved swath after swath of Argent men down the Hemsford’s claimed victory easily, even claiming the Aspect’s helmet as a trophy which now sits in their great hall, despite never engaging it themselves.Aspect of Death Following the clash of the Hemsford and Argent Houses, a shapeless black smoke searched the battlefield, claiming the souls of the dead and dying for itself. Fear of these creatures often prevents the victor from claiming their dead following a battle.

Death

Where War is found, Death follows. Following a clash of armies, or the countless loss of life in face of a great tragedy, an Aspect of Death manifests to claim the souls of the dead and dying. Aspects of Death almost always take the same shape: a humanoid skull shrouded in robes of black smoke that creeps over fields of the dead.