How Do Mortals Regard The Powers?

Mortals regard Powers as they do in most worlds: with reverence, awe, fear, attempts at placation, and so on. In the Flanaess, however, special factors are at work after the wars. The following is true for the nonevil lands of the central Flanaess:

First, there is a general increase in prayer, reverence, and all forms of devotion to Powers. In uncertain times, mortals turn to the great ones for succor, protection, and reassurance. Clerics and priests are widely respected and are given more offerings by even the poorest of their flocks. General superstitiousness is a by-product of all this.

Second, there are changes in patterns of worship. Mortals most often revere Powers who have everyday affairs of mortals as central concerns—deities of nature, children, health, community, and the like are more widely revered than those of philosophy, arcane knowledge, and ethics. But on Oerth, Powers of war, healing, protection, strength, endurance, and revenge are increasingly turned to for succor. Many people who before the war would have given small offerings to the goddess Beory (nature, Oerth Mother) or Rao (peace and serenity) now turn to a deity such as Trithereon (liberty and retribution), Heironeous (justice and valor), or the rising cult of Mayaheine (protection and endurance) instead. There is also an increasing tendency to appease, if not actually revere, deities of fate such as Istus, and deities of luck such as Ralishaz. Of course, this is less true of wise folk and specialists who might revere a Power of magic, metalworking, or similar niche.

Demihumans are another matter, although deities such as Clangeddin Silverbeard, the dwarven god of battle, have not lost followers in times of conflict. Arvoreen the halfling defender Power receives many offerings and prayers these days.

Demihuman Powers are addressed following the Powers of humanity (who may well have some demihuman worshipers).