Gods of Forsia

Rolsom Bastionkeep, Librarian Marshal of the Allspire

Gods and Religion of Forsia
While the peoples and races of Forsia worship many gods, goddesses, and other powerful beings, a pantheon, known as the nine-fold, is recognized across the whole world as the most powerful and most worthy of worship and prayer. These gods Forsians turn to first when they are in greatest need. Even the smallest and most remotest of villages will have at least a chapel dedicated to the entire pantheon. However, settlements, regions, nations, even races regardless of size claim a special strong relationship with one god or goddess in particular. Some even claim that a group of gods protects them, due to their exceptional (Sommenland), indispensible (Emeraldguard), transcendental (Abkhazia), or divinely favored status (Al Easif).
The following are gods and goddesses that make up the nine-fold. With the exception of a single set of triplets, they are all believed to have been born as twins or mated pairs. As such, they are complementary, opposed, or lovers— sometimes all three at once.
Pair 1: These two gods were the first to be born and are siblings, and created fey/sylvan creatures, including elves.
Forsi, is the mischievous Goddess of Mysteries, Intuition, and Fortune. Her symbol is a woman’s face with three eyes. She has her hand at her temple, two eye closed as if in concentration, and a third eye opened ablaze in purple flame. She is the patron of seers, prophets, psions, and oracles. She is CN.
Eurphon, is the illusive God of the Arts and Magic. He chooses whom is gifted with the power of the arts and magic. His symbol is a male body sheathed in blue and green flame. He is the patron of all artists, including bards, and all who wield magic. He is a CG god.
Pair 2: This pair of gods were the next to be born and they are complementary siblings. With Forsi and Euron, these gods and goddesses, created all of the universe, and gave birth to the gods and goddess below.
Arsque, is the God of Crafting and Invention. His symbol is a hammer shaping a sword on an anvil with sparks flying. He is the patron of dwarves, smiths, carpenters, mechanics, and other trades people. He is NG.
Nothi, is the Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge, and the Aged. Her symbol is a gleaming alabaster tower on a hill with the rising sun and moons behind it. She is the patron of all sages, academics and teachers. She is a LG goddess.
Pair 3: Gods of Love and Justice: These two gods are lovers and considered to be divine examples of heterosexual love. They are an argumentative couple and said to have created humans.
Rohas is the God of Love, Pleasure, and the Youth. He is the patron of prostitutes, pornographers, lovers, spouses, brewers, vitners, distillers, and chefs. His symbol is a phallic rod sheathed in light. He is CN
Sentis is the Goddess of Reason, Justice, and Hardships. Her symbol is a pair of disembodied hands and an eye. The hands hold a balancing scale and rays emanate from the eye. She is the patron of lawyers and judges, and the poor or oppressed. She is LN.
Pair 4 (triplets): These are the only set of triplets and are somewhat opposed gods. While they do not hate each other, they are also not warm friends.
Samhain is the God of Agriculture. His symbol is a health of grain, a sheath of hops, and plow. He is the patron of farmers, lumberjacks, and bakers. He is LN.
Ubriel is the Goddess of Cities and Commerce. Her symbol is a lighthouse with its beams shining over a city harbor. She is the patron of bankers, merchants, and city dwellers and rulers. She is LG
Astar is the Goddess of Beasts, and Wilderness. Her symbol is an elk stag resting beneath a giant oak tree. She is the patron of hunters, rangers, gnomes, wood elves, and all beasts. She is CG
Pair 5: These gods are nature gods. They are lovers and considered an example of homosexual love
Tarsimir is the God of Earth and Mountains His symbol is clouds and a flock of birds over a mountain. He is the patron of desert elves, caravanseri, travellers, and mountain dwellers and mountaineers. He is N.
Salidir is the God of Sea and Storms. His symbol is a lightening bolt and a tsunami wave. He is the patron of Minotaurs, sailors, fishermen, and aviators. He is CN.
Pair 6: These gods are opposites and mortal enemies continuously at war.
Beltan is the God of Sun, Light and Truth. Beltan's domain also includes the day, summer, and fire. His symbol is a burning sun housed within a lantern. He is the patron god of dragons, dragonborn, and kobolds. He is NG.
Czaris is the Goddess of Winter, the Moons, and Stars. Her symbol is the two moons in crescent with constellation She is the patron goddess of lycanthropes, orcs and goblins. She is NE
Pair 7: These are the most feared gods by Forsians. Only the most desperate and depraved seek their aid.
Illyth is the Goddess of Secrets, Deception, and Rebellion. She has no symbol for those who follow her only do so in secret. She is the patron goddess of hags, demons, spies, criminals, and thieves. She is CE
Phanos, God of Revenge, Murder, and Defeat. Forsian only turn to this god when they have little to lose for Phanos extracts a high price for granting his petitioners wishes. He is the patron god for revenants, assassins, executioners, gnolls, and shapeshifters. He is NE. His symbol is a corpse lying face down with an arrow and a sword in its back.
Pair 8: This pair of gods are primarily responsible for war.
Tolt is the noble god of War, Chivalry, and the Nobility. He rules over just righteous warfare, and is the patron of those who rule or lead, His symbol is a tower and walls that are crumbling with bodies falling out of the tower. He is the patron of many fighters and warriors. He is LG.
Rael is the Hotheaded God of War, Dogma, Tyranny, and Slavery. He rules over the dark side of war. His symbol is of a manacle and chains. He is the patron of vampires, devils, and despots. He is LE.
Pair 9: Gods of Death and Disease
Sibilyth is the Goddess of Birth, Death, and Healing. Her symbol is a skeleton holding a newborn babe. She is the patron of healers, morticians, mothers, and children. She is NG.
Berus, God of the Underworld, Pestilences, and Disease. He is the patron of necromancers, undertakers, and he rules the nine hells. His symbol is a cave entrance from which a locust horde is flying out. He is a NE god.
The Penumbra
In addition, to the Nine-fold, there is a second older pantheon of which few Forsians are aware. Collectively, these are known as the Penumbra for they and their adherents remain in the shadow of our reality and the nine-fold which rules Forsia.
These gods are collectively known by other names, most frequently as the Primordial Ones, the Elder or Fathering Gods. They, according to lore, were the first gods whose deaths gave rise to the Nine-fold. For the clergy and educated Forsian who know of them, they are viewed (and depictred in high art) as representing the subconscious, feared, or base aspects of sentient life forms. It is currently unknown how many of the elder ones existed However, it is rumored that among these deities were gods and goddesses whose domains include oblivion, entropy, varying forms of consciousness, insanity, and time.
The gods that are currently known include:
Alztheal, God/Goddess of Chaos and Order
Alztheal was a genderless god who was the first to be born and helped humans to force the elder gods into their exile or death.¹ It is from Alztheal that all of creation has sprung, including the gods and goddess that follow. Their symbol is a brilliant star encircled by a dark maelstrom. They are believed to be chaotic but it is unknown whether they are good, evil, or neutral. Archeologists have uncovered evidence that extinct races and ancient religions have not agreed whether this god, or any of the other penumbra, still exist. However, the greatest argument across religions of ancient time was whether Alztheal, in particular, continues to exist with the nine-fold gods as an expression of it, or died to give birth to them. (i.e. the nine-pointed nova).
Igtyx, the God of Dreams and Nightmares
Igtyx is known as the Great Slumberer and ruled over the subconscious and the dreams or nightmares that his mind spawned. In art, he is depicted as a humanoid with a head of a stallion, three eyes, and a smoldering fiery mane slumbering upright on his throne. It is believed that he is a chaotic god. It is disputed whether this god is good, evil, or neutral.

¹ There is disagreement among the texts as to whether these gods died; were murdered; exiled to a different plane of existence; imprisoned somewhere on, in, or beneath Forsia; or are slumbering until they sweep aside the corruptness of this world and usher in a new one.