The Elysiaran Pantheon

The Elysiaran pantheon is the main pantheon on the world of Elysiar and it consists of thirty-one deities.

History

With the occurrence of the Big Bang and the creation of the universe, so came with it five deities, representing primordial forces of the universe: Eventa, the Goddess of Time, Life, and Death; Uranus, God of Elemental Air and Chaos; Gaia, Goddess of Elemental Earth and Good; Surtr, God of Elemental Fire and Evil; Ymir, God of Elemental Water and Law. The elemental gods came to be known as “The Primordials”. Each of the Primordials created a bit of the universe. Eventually, Eventa tasked the Angels with creating sentient life in the virgin universe.

Eventually, the gods decided to leave the prime material plane and create domains for themselves, thus the outer planes were created, and, later, the inner planes.

Vydana was born to Gaia and Uranus shortly after they created their realm, Olympus. Vydana then created the First World, and with it, the enigmatic Fey.

While most of the Primordials kept their own realms separate, so they may experiment on their own, in the astral sea, Ymir created a great tree, Yggdrasil, the World’s Tree and let the tree grow into other realms to ease planar travel. Through wars and destruction, the tree was pruned, and limbs destroyed, so that it only touched nine points of the multiverse:

• Asgard, a peak of Heaven
• Vanaheim, a refuge on Nirvana
• Alfheim, a great forest on Elysium
• Midgard, or the Prime Material Plane
• Jotunheim, a frigid waste between the Planes of Air and Water
• Muspelheim, a volcanic lava field on the Plane of Fire
• Svartalfheim, a vast subterranean layer of Hades
• Niflheim or Purgatory
• Nidavellir, a large network of caverns on the Plane of Earth

Ymir claimed Jotunheim as his domain populated it with the first giants, he then gave Asgard, Vanaheim, and Nidavellir to his children, the Asgardians, the Vanir or Agathion, and the Dwarves, respectively. Vydana was inspired by the dwarves, so she asked Ymir to grant her Alfheim for her children, so they may tend the great forest; Ymir granted her request, and Vydana created the Elves and Alfheim began to become known as Arvandor.

Intrigued by possibilities, Surtr seized Muspelheim from Ymir and with its fires forged his own brood, the orcs to whom he gave his old domain in Hades, Acheron. However, Surtr would soon find that his seizing Muspelheim was a trap, and Ymir sealed him within his new fiery domain.

As Eventa’s creations evolved, they started working together to survive; and the smartest among them made tools, allowing them to thrive. These tool makers eventually formed societies and civilizations that had a variety of ideas, formerly unknown to the Gods. The Gods took on what they could, but rapid growth of ideas was too much. Eventually, great mortals ascended through the faith of their peers, and the sacrifice of their lives.

Ascension

Throughout the course of Earth’s history other deities came about, they are often the children of the major deities. For example, the Titans of Greek Mythology are the children of Uranus and Gaia (aka Uranus and Gaia respectively). However, in the Elysiar Pantheon, only Vydana was born a deity, for the Primordials were not born so much as created from the primordial essence of the universe. The rest of the gods ascended to godhood, and, with the exception of Asmodeus, Lamashtu, and Nocticula, it is always a god ascending a mortal to divinity.

Only thirteen gods may ascend mortals to godhood: The Primordials, as they were created from, and thus possess, the primordial power of creation; Vydana, the daughter of two of the Primordials, and thus inherited the power of creation through them; Asmodeus, Lamashtu and Nocticula, who were outsiders that learned to syphon the power of creation and gain ascension through that; and the five Ancients (Elys, Selena, Mylara, Nieyr, and Zolena), who were granted the power by Eventa so that the balance of good, evil, law, and chaos would be balanced.

Aside from the attunement to the power of creation, there is no real power difference between these thirteen and the other gods; at the end of the day, any god is a supreme being of ultimate divine power. That being said, the power of creation gives them a sixth domain and a seventh and eighth subdomain. Because of this attunement to creation possessed by these thirteen, many of the newer gods see themselves as being inferior to the Nine, and, while the deities of Law fell in with this, as they believe in these strict hierarchies, the gods of Chaos, and even the gods who are neutral on that scale, see no such distinction.

Deific Factionalism

Much like mortals, the gods are subject to factionalism, forming their own groups and alliances within the pantheon. The most prominent factions (and the ones largely observed by mortals as well) are:

• The Celestial Council: a congregation of the thirteen gods of good as well as Breana, Naheia, Nocticula, and Roemis, who sit as observer as they align themselves closely with the gods of good. This is less a faction and more a deliberative body and a way for the gods of good to work out their differences and adjudicate their disagreements.
• The Primordials: More of a classification than a faction, the Primordials consist of Eventa, Gaia, Surtr, Uranus, and Ymir, the first deities.
• The Elysian Powers: The alliance maintained between the gods Selena, Zolena (Nightmother), Adia, Adon, Ydona, Narrena, Naheia, and Nocticula. This is one of the most powerful factions among the gods and is widely observed by the followers of these gods. The Harpers and the Order of Assassins, with only a few exceptions, follow the Elysian Powers.
• The Pact of Destruction: A strenuous alliance maintained between Surtr, Zolena (Queen of Darkness), and Nythis. While this alliance is observed by the followers of these gods, it is even more strenuous than the alliance between the three gods.
• The Celestine Compact: The alliance of Alene, Elys, Khaldir, Aslan, and Breana. The Compact as a group serves as the patrons of most knightly orders.
• The Shepards of the Dead: A group consisting of Breana, Clydon, Eventa, and Naheia and their agreement of civility among themselves and their followers when it comes to the act of killing and death. This agreement is the reason that Breana, Eventa, and Naheia allow for neutral assassins. This agreement also forbids brutality in killing among their followers.
• The Infernal Powers: An alliance between Asmodeus, Devona, and Rhuxaros. As a faction aligned to Order, they forbid fighting amongst their followers with only a handful of exceptions, namely, to remove a weak leader who brings down the entire alliance, something also allowed by each faith individually.
• The Godclaw: This is not a true faction, but a sub-pantheon worshipped by the Hellknight Order of the Godclaw. The pantheon is composed of five deities:
  • Alene, who represents the Order’s ideal of offensive combat.
  • Asmodeus, who represents mastery of strategy.
  • Breana, who represents mastery of discipline.
  • Khaldir, who serves as the pantheon’s lawkeeper.
  • Ymir, who serves as the Order’s ideal of defensive combat.

Exalted Beings

Beneath the gods are a group known as “exalted beings” these are the select few that truly embody the will of a god. There are five kinds of exalted beings of different levels of power, in descending order: divine heralds, demigods, lesser powers, mortal heralds, and chosen. Divine heralds, mortal heralds, and chosen all directly serve a deity; a deity may have one divine herald and one mortal herald but can have any number of chosen.

Chosen

The chosen of a deity are their most trusted servants, taking orders only from the god’s heralds or the god themselves. Among the faithful of a god, the word of a chosen stands above all, even the highest of the clergy. Chosen gain immense powers to befit their station. Most gods limit themselves to three or four, but Zolena (both aspects) and Selena famously have more

Mortal Heralds

A mortal herald is the highest among a god’s chosen; their hand in the material plane. Even more so than the chosen, mortal heralds are the embodiment of a god’s will upon the material plane. Mortal heralds gain even more immense powers, on top of those granted to the chosen.

Most gods do not select a mortal herald until they need one, as the herald is granted a fraction of their divine essence to maintain a constant connection to their god and to call their god to the material plane. Across history, there have only been a handful of them, most ascending to divinity themselves when their task is complete, or they die. The gods Adon, Alene, and Nythis are three such examples. As the time for the Final Battle approaches, more and more gods have been selecting a mortal herald from among their chosen in order to represent them in the battle.

Lesser Powers

The Lesser Powers are the highest of outsiders and are effectively demigods in their own right. This category is filled by Archangels, Archdevils, Demon Lords, Empyreal Lords, the Four Horsemen, the Monad, Protean Lords, and Psychopomp Ushers. Most lawful and many neutral outsider lords serve a god directly, in fact, only the Protean Lords, Four Horsemen, and Demon Lords do not. Unlike other outsiders, the Outsider Lords may be worshiped and will grant spells to their followers.

Demigods

Demigods are entities who are closer to godhood than the lesser powers, and may be worshipped in their own right, but they are not quite a full deity. Examples of these would be the Norse or Olympian pantheons.

Divine Heralds

A divine herald is the highest champion of a god. Each god has a singular divine herald, chosen from the ranks of their legions of outsiders, or, rarely, a subservient god. These beings are imbued with immense power and can exert their deity’s will over any of their deity’s followers. Additionally, any outsider loyal to that deity will follow the divine herald’s orders without question, with only the deity themselves able to countermand it. Divine Heralds are either a lesser power, a demigod, or another deity.

Members

Adia, the Dreamweaver
Adia is the Chaotic Good goddess of Dreams, Travellers, Exploration, and Luck.

Adon, the Tyrantsbane
Adon is the Chaotic Good god of Endurance, Freedom, Martyrs, and Perseverance.

Alene, the Lady of Justice
Alene is the Lawful Good goddess of Justice, Just Wars, and Righteousness.

Aslan, the Lord of Lords
Aslan is the Neutral Good god of Honor, Nobility, and Loyalty. He is also the patron of good beasts.

Asmodeus, the Prince of Hell
Asmodeus is the Lawful Evil god of Tyranny, Slavery, Pride, and Contracts.

Breana, the Vigilante Goddess
Breana is the Lawful Neutral goddess of Assassins and Poetic Justice.

Clydon, the Lord of Battles
Clydon is the Neutral god of War, Strength and Strategy.

Devona, the Mistress of Disease
Devona is the Neutral Evil goddess of Blight, Disease and Poison.

Eius, the Wise One
Eius is the Neutral god of Inspiration, Knowledge, and Learning.

Elys, the Dawnfather
Elys is the Lawful Good god of the Sun, Healing, Summer, and Redemption. Together with Nieyr, he is also the patron of men and masculinity.

Eventa, the Keeper of the Wheel
Eventa is the Neutral goddess of Life and Death, Time, and Fate.

Gaia, the Earthmother
Gaia is the Neutral Good goddess of Earth, Agriculture, and Spring.

Ixtarr, the Prince of Lies
Ixtarr is the Chaotic Evil god of Anarchy, Lies, Murder, and Strife.

Khaldir, the Vigilant Protector
Khaldir is the Lawful Good god of Civilization, Guardians, and Law. He is also the patron of Humans.

Lamashtu, the Mother of Monsters
Lamashtu is the Chaotic Evil goddess of Madness, Monsters, and Nightmares. She is also the patron of evil beasts.

Mylara, the Mother of Magic
Mylara is the Neutral Good goddess of Magic, Mysteries, and the One Power alongside Nieyr. Together with Selena, she is also the patron of women and femininity.

Naheia, the Scorned Lady
Naheia is the Chaotic Neutral goddess of Trickery, Vengeance, and Victimhood.

Narrena, the Lady of Love
Narrena is the Chaotic Good goddess of Art, Beauty, Love, and Passsion.

Nieyr, the Father of Magic
Nieyr is the Neutral Good god of Magic, Mysteries, and the One Power alongside Mylara. Together with Elys, he is the patron of men and masculinity.

Nocticula, the Redeemer Queen
Nocticula is the Chaotic Neutral goddess of Artists, Exiles, and Midnight. She is the patron of tieflings and dark elves.

Nythis, the Lord of the Dead
Nythis is the Chaotic Evil god of Abominations, Necromancy, and the Undead.

Rhuxaros, the Black Lord
Rhuxaros is the Lawful Evil god of Fear, Hatred, Oppression, and Betrayal.

Roemis, the Lord of Invention
Roemis is the Lawful Neutral god of Commerce, Crafting, and Invention.

Selena, the Moonmother
Selena is the Chaotic Good goddess of the Moon and Stars, Creativity, Compassion, and the Tides. Together with Mylara, she is also the patron of women and femininity.

Surtr, the Lord of Flames
Surtr is the Neutral Evil god of Catastrophe, Destruction, Fire, and Wrath. He is also the patron of Orcs.

Uranus, the Skyfather
Uranus is the Chaotic Neutral god of Air, Autumn, and the Wilderness.

Voenar, the Prince of Thieves
Voenar is the Chaotic Neutral god of Shadows, Spies, and Thieves.

Vydana, the Maiden of the Forests
Vydana is the Neutral Good goddess of Fey, Forests, and Forest Creatures. She is also the patron of Elves and Gnomes.

Ydona, the Joybringer
Ydona is the Chaotic Good goddess of Festivals, Happiness, Joy, and Liberty. She is also the patron of Halflings.

Ymir, the Lord of Winter
Ymir is the Lawful Neutral god of Cold, Water, and Winter. He is also the patron of Dwarves and Giants.

Zolena, the Queen of Darkness
Zolena is the Neutral Evil goddess of Darkness, Loss, Night, and the Void.

Zolena, the Nightmother
Zolena is the Neutral Good goddess of Darkness, Night, Secrets, and the Void.