Gods of Light

The gods of light are one of three pantheons acknowledged by the New Faith of Earth. They are said to embody good, idealistic domains, and are the gods encouraged to be worshipped by the Church of Light. Their clerics are often granted spells that heal and protect allies, and many of them act as patrons to various paladins.
The gods of light reside in Heaven, a paradise dimension said to float in a sea of clouds, bathed in soothing perpetual sunlight. Those who serve a god of light well in life, or those who pray to multiple gods and live virtuously, are rewarded with their afterlives being spent in Heaven.
Despite all the lovely rhetoric, though, not all is tranquil in paradise. It is divided into three loose factions, and all gods are expected to join one, and only one.

Edenites

The Edenites are those gods who believe that goodness is the first priority, and all else follows from good. They believe that by leading by example, mortals will naturally follow suit. They make up the largest faction in Heaven and are led by Yawey, the strongest of Earth's gods.

Nirvanans

The Nirvanans believe that goodness must be voluntary, and that forced virtue is no true virtue. These gods hold themselves to high standards and, while they strongly recommend goodness, they ultimately do not force their wills upon others. They are loosely led by Nikolas, though his code of conduct is what he holds himself and his worshippers to, not his fellow gods.

Olympians

The Olympians believe that an ordered society is necessary for goodness to flourish. While freedom and liberty are nice-sounding, in reality, people will degenerate into wicked beasts if society's rules aren't enforced. They have a set of rules they expect all people, and all gods, to abide by, though they do not have the force needed to impose their benevolent rule. Initially ruled by Jupiter, he was ousted from leadership in favor of the god Oden.

Djinn

Lesser Djinn

Frenlizan

Species / Sex: Holy Angel ♂
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: True Eden
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Mercy, Retribution
Divine Casters: Ex-Vicars, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Dark
Portfolio: Angel of Yawey that gives tasks to the penitent

Greater Djinn

Thyorm

Species / Sex: Holy Angel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Officially sanctioned but secretly not tolerated
Sacred Realm: Isle of Tiwaz
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Justice, Order, Retribution
Divine Casters: Ex-Vicars, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Holy, Silver
Portfolio: Agent of justice and investigation in service to the goddess Sentir

Gods

Minor Gods

Barakiel

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Purerime Glacier
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Good, Order, Planning, Stoicism, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Silver, White
Portfolio: Temperance, self-control, moderation, and purity

Gabriel

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Lake Tiwaz
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Justice, Mercy, Nobility, Order, Stoicism
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Holy, Platinum, Silver
Portfolio: Humility, modesty, honesty, and sanctity

Jegudial

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Virginwood
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Good, Mercy, Order, Peace, Stoicism
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Silver, White
Portfolio: Chastity, fidelity, and innocence

Lesser Gods

Gluskab

Species / Sex: Elysian ♂
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Nanabohzan Plains
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Glory, Good, Heroism, Protection, Stoicism, War
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Gold, White
Portfolio: Protection, mortals, self-sacrifice, and defender of Heaven

Hemdial

Species / Sex: Kami ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Hemenburg Keep
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Good, Light, Nobility, Order, Protection, War
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Crimson, Gold, Platinum, Silver, White
Portfolio: Sanctuary, safe passage, guidance, and warden of Hell

Mikael

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Cloudfire Citadel
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Community, Good, Mercy, Stoicism, Suffering, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: White
Portfolio: Patience, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy

Rafael

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Legacy Keep
Divine Faction: Nirvanans
Divine Domains: Community, Good, Love, Mercy, Planning, Trade
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Rose, White
Portfolio: Compassion, friendship, and fraternal love

Sentir

Species / Sex: Shen ♀
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Officially sanctioned but secretly not tolerated
Sacred Realm:
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Community, Good, Justice, Mercy, Retribution, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Holy, White
Portfolio: Just retribution and the falsely accused and convicted

Sialtial

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Isle of Tiwaz
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Community, Knowledge, Stoicism, Suffering, Trade, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Palladium
Portfolio: Charity, education, mentoring, and sacrifice

Yurial

Species / Sex: Archangel ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Platinum Library
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Dream, Passion, Planning, Secrets, Stoicism, Strength
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Templars, Valkyries, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: None
Portfolio: Diligence, persistence, hope, and curiosity

Intermediate Gods

Amatera

Species / Sex: Kami ♀
Alignment: True Neutral
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Mount Sol
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Animal, Gravity, Life, Light, Repose, Sky, Sun
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Exorcists, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Seers, Valkyries, Vikings, Wild Pontiffs, Witches
Nature Mentor: Yes
Sacred Oaths: None
Portfolio: The sun, stars, and light

Apollos

Species / Sex: Shen ♂
Alignment: Chaotic Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Faneus City
Divine Faction: Nirvanans
Divine Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good, Liberty, Passion, Peace, Sound
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Rectors, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Brass, Bronze, White
Portfolio: Art, music, and entertainment

Baldur

Species / Sex: Shen ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Officially sanctioned but secretly not tolerated
Sacred Realm: Tiwaz Citadel
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Good, Justice, Knowledge, Order, Protection, Retribution, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Rectors, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Gold, Holy, Palladium, Silver, White
Portfolio: Justice, honor, truth, and detectives

Dsadertu

Species / Sex: Numenian ♀
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Starlight Manor
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Charm, Community, Mercy, Peace, Planning, Trade, Travel
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Rectors
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: None
Portfolio: Diplomacy, mediation, and ceremonies

Juna

Species / Sex: Shen ♀
Alignment: Lawful Evil
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Olympus Plateau
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Community, Family, Love, Order, Passion, Stoicism, Tyranny
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Diabolists, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Iron, Silver
Portfolio: Women, femininity, motherhood, sisterhood, and tradition

Jupiter

Species / Sex: Shen ♂
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Mount Olympus
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Family, Heroism, Lightning, Lust, Protection, Stoicism, Sky
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Gold
Portfolio: Men, masculinity, fatherhood, brotherhood, and patriarchy

Juventia

Species / Sex: Shen ♀
Alignment: Chaotic Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: New Argos
Divine Faction: Nirvanans
Divine Domains: Chaos, Dream, Family, Good, Love, Magic, Passion
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Exorcists, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Rectors, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Brass, Rose, White
Portfolio: Youth, innocent hope, children, and children’s love

Nikolas

Species / Sex: Elysian ♂
Alignment: Lawful Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Lysia Vale
Divine Faction: Nirvanans
Divine Domains: Dream, Family, Good, Justice, Secrets, Trade, Winter
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oirans, Oracles, Rectors, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Holy, White
Portfolio: Gifts, impartial judgment, and wishes, and leader of the Nirvanans

Oden

Species / Sex: Shen ♂
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Valhalla
Divine Faction: Olympians
Divine Domains: Heroism, Nobility, Order, Planning, Protection, War, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Crimson, Gold, Platinum, Silver
Portfolio: Wisdom, lordship, nobility, defense, and leader of the Olympians

Greater Gods

Aumea

Species / Sex: Shen ♀
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Earthsleap
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Community, Family, Good, Life, Love, Ocean, Planning, Wisdom
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Rose, White
Portfolio: Procreation, fertility, and childbirth

Lusira

Species / Sex: Shen ♀
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: Last Sanctuary
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Dragon, Good, Healing, Knowledge, Life, Magic, Mercy, Protection
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Deliverers, Divine Curates, Duelists, Ecclesitheurges, Exorcists, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Oracles, Rectors, Templars, Valkyries, Vicars, Vikings
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: Gold, Hospitaler, Palladium, White
Portfolio: Healing and medicine, and one of the dragon gods

Yawey

Species / Sex: Shen ♂
Alignment: Neutral Good
League Sanction: Sanctioned
Sacred Realm: True Eden
Divine Faction: Edenites
Divine Domains: Community, Creation, Destruction, Good, Healing, Light, Mercy, Tyranny
Divine Casters: Chaplains, Divine Curates, Divine Partisans, Ecclesitheurges, Ex-Vicars, Friars, Inquisitors, Minstrels, Vicars
Nature Mentor: No
Sacred Oaths: White
Portfolio: Goodness, virtue, faith, and redemption, leader of the Edenites and king of Heaven

Mythology & Lore

In the beginning, the universe was a condensed mass of pure energy. The divines, originating from a place beyond space and before time, chose to utilize this energy, and so created the universe. At first, the divines worked together in harmony as they constructed reality, transforming the raw energies of creation into matter, and creating the laws of physics.
As the universe began to cool and matter could collect into stars and planets, almost all of the divines began seeding various planets with life and spreading out across the nascent universe. These once-formless beings took on forms the mortals of their chosen worlds would be able to comprehend and sought to guide them along their journey towards enlightenment and prosperity. They even shared some of their divine might with their mortal children, granting them souls. These beings would become what we now know as gods.
However, five of the divines chose not to share their divinity with mortals. These five beings would become what we know as the Titans: Alphus, the strongest of them all who seized control of reality, though chose not to use his powers against his fellow titans or the gods. He was the architect of mortal souls but ultimately was unwilling to share his divinity with his creations.
Second was Megomus the destroyer, who sought to bring reality to ruin. He believed creation was a mistake, and began a crusade of destruction, but was stopped by Alphus, who valued reality too highly to sit by and let it be destroyed. He flung the slain Megomus' corpse into the nether realm, where it festered, eventually becoming the Abyss.
Third was Melodia, titan of harmony and balance, who decreed after Megomus' death that mana was too abundant, and that it would allow the divines to too easily endanger creation. She restricted its flow, but bereft of mana, the gods were no longer able to directly intervene in mortal affairs. Only Alphus, who had created a body for himself from a star, was able to remain in the material universe.
Fourth was Avruin, the mad titan of chaos. Avruin afflicted many mortals with the psychic gene before Melodia's decree and has been responsible for the creation of some of the worst monsters the universe has ever known. Yet he acts without reason, performing atrocities without any cause save the sake of it. Yet sometimes his actions, by design or by chance, help more than hurt.
Finally, the youngest titan, Zaraz, the titan of law, order, and control, began his crusade to conquer the universe. He created the Juncture, a hive-minded military force that swept across Andromeda, killing or enslaving all who they fell upon.
While all this was happening, Earth was coming into its own, guided by the Old Gods. As Humans were granted free will, their darker impulses created a multitude of demons, though their better natures also created benevolent totems and benign kirins. While most of these spirits would languish in mediocrity, a few would rise, feeding on souls and on each other, becoming powerful djinn.
Seeing the Juncture as a threat to chaos, Avruin chose to manipulate a race of aliens. This race, known only as the Testers, created the ultimate monsters: the abhorrent Psyonics, whose blood is addictive, and whose hearts know only hate and avarice. Though they were able to force back the Juncture, the Forces of Chaos are no better than those they were created to fight. As soon as the Juncture was pushed back, they turned on their creators, enslaving or killing all but one of them.
Zaraz's forces began to enter the Milky Way, and one of the first worlds to fall was Laxra. Though many of their gods were slain or forcibly absorbed into the Juncture, the Zalamandi's faith in their gods was strong. They had used science to grant their gods perfect avatars, so they might once again walk the material world, though this technology was lost along with their homeworld. Because of their faith, their gods were able to help them escape their doom.
The Psyonics, meanwhile, invaded the world of Harmis Prime. Its people, the Paragons, had not forgotten their gods, and two among them were raised into divinity to ready them to flee the coming onslaught. These two young gods, Kreen and Dsadertu, guided and protected their people, as they set out into the stars to find a new world to call home.
Avruin also managed to circumvent Melodia's decree, causing a cataclysmic event known as the Deluge of Ruin to inundate at least two planets with the primal power of chaos. The first was a world called Mozulguat, whose people had abandoned their gods completely, and became twisted by the power of chaos, transforming into the Mimics.
Earth was next. Earth's people, too, were choosing to forget their gods. Most of the old gods had fallen into myth or were forgotten completely, with only Yawey, the oldest and mightiest of Earth's gods, still being prayed to with any regularity. When the Deluge struck Earth, Yawey's strength, all but lost due to secularism, immorality, and atheistic dogma, was too weak to help his children. And so in desperation, he beseeched Melodia for succor. Much to his surprise, she agreed to help Earth, having seen what the Deluge did to Mozulgaut. She guided the last of the Testers, along with their Cyclopes servants, to Earth, where they erected the ten Mana Temples. Upon their completion, the Zalamandi arrived on Earth, guided by their faith in the gods, and just in time.
The intervention of Melodia caused Zaraz and Avruin to turn their gazes upon Earth, and they sent their forces here. For centuries, Earth fought a bitter war against them, only holding out because of the two factions hating each other more than Earth's people. As the war began to look its bleakest, the Paragons arrived. With their help, a plan was formed to use a chaos weapon against both chaos and order. The Great Scion, Michael Cheng, the elder brother of the future goddess of humans, Annach, activated the weapon, knowing it would require his life to fully utilize it. With his sacrifice, the Cosmic Wardens, Laxranian gods bestowed some of Melodia's power to protect the mana temples, were able to create the Veil of Bulwark, a spell that drove out the forces of order and chaos, and would bar their path should they try and return. Melodia agreed to bless this Veil, so long as the Great Scion remained in her realm, and so long as Earth would embrace harmony and balance.
The mana temples enshrouded Earth with mana, allowing the gods to once again interact with reality. Humanity, along with their posthuman descendants, began returning to faith, even reinvigorating many dying and nearly-forgotten old gods. However, during the Titanic Wars, many powerful and malevolent djinn managed to gain a following. Some of these beings, either through sheer faith or by devouring and impersonating older, true gods, attained divinity in their own rights. Sadly, a very Human failing was the tendency to misunderstand or purposefully misinterpret divine guidance and use it to justify war and hate. To prevent this from happening, the New Faith would be formalized. Those gods who now remained, save for the Cosmic Wardens, would organize themselves into two pantheons, one of goodness, light, and virtue, and another of evil, darkness, and sin. This would both control the increasing number of demonic spirits, now at risk of entering reality, as well as maintain balance between good and evil. However, some of the gods found their domains, whether original or newly acquired, did not fit neatly into this dichotomy. And so, a third pantheon would be created, one that acted as an in-between, one of amorality, twilight, and neutrality.
Furthermore, the afterlife, ravaged as much as the material world, was remade to better suit the new resurgence of faith. Mortal souls would, unless something wicked interfered, arrive in Purgatory upon death, and await judgment in the Black City. After about ten days, they would appear before a divine council to be judged by either their god, or by the god of their species if they had no god or were rejected by their god. After being judged, the mortal soul would go to its designated afterlife, either in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. After its time (either a reward or punishment) in the afterlife was deemed long enough, the soul would be reborn with no memories of its former life unless the mortal's god thought they were too valuable to not keep in their divine realm.
Sadly, though, even the gods can bicker and fight. Whether due to simple disagreements or malicious intent, not all is as harmonic in the afterlife as it should be. Each of the three pantheons have their own agendas and the intention to impose them on the others. Even within a pantheon discord exists, and a very real fear is that Melodia has begun to run out of patience with Earth, both its mortal and divine denizens. The Cosmic Wardens warn that the Veil of Bulwark is weakening, for Melodia is no longer invested in maintaining it, and the Great Scion cannot sustain it on his own for much longer.

Divine Origins

Most of the gods of light are Old Gods, deities taken from Earth's older religions. Most were originally from the Evrupa region, due to Evrupan mythology spreading wide and its recordings surviving intact after the Deluge of Ruin, though some old gods from other regions are also found within the New Faith. Aside from those, alien gods, primarily the dragon gods of Laxra, are also found in the pantheons, though the few gods of Harmis Prime are also present.

Tenets of Faith

Those who follow the Church of Light believe that people should strive to become more virtuous and hold up the gods of light as exemplars of what they should be.

Granted Divine Powers

Gods can grant their clergy the ability to cast spells and perform miraculous abilities, though it takes years before a mortal is ready to harness them. Because of the risk of being leeched off of by renegade clerics, gods will not bestow their powers upon a mortal until he has demonstrated sufficient faith.

Divine Species

True Gods

Archangels
Elysians
Kami
Numenians
Shen

Djinn-Level Deities

(Holy) Angels

Information

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Capital

New Vatika

Government System

Theocracy