Conflicts Between the Gods

The most powerful gods of Illica find themselves locked in a constant battle against their opposite. As long as one does not triumph over the other, balance is maintained. If one of them ever does triumph over the other, the results would change the world forever. Below is a rundown of these great conflicts, the themes of which underpin much of the smaller conflicts throughout Illica, whether it be between lesser deities, or people fighting for their faith.

Prime Conflicts

Erathis and Thrazidun

First up we have the Goddess of Law, Erathis. She is known for Civilization, invention, laws, history, and mastery of skill. Her partner is the dreaded Tharizdun, The God of Chaos. He is known for Annihilation, insanity, the apocalypse, and entropy. He is one of the many causes of a chaos magic birth defect. The two are destined forever to serve as the dam and rapid waterway. Chaos is powerful, and he will not rest until the cosmos is in ruin. If there ever comes a day where Erathis can hold him back no longer, the ensuing tide would threaten to consume all things.

Pelor and Zehir

Pelor is the God of Good and Light. He is known for dawn, the sun, summer, harvests, agriculture, compassion, mercy, and renewal. His counterpart is the Goddess of Evil, Zehir. She is known for darkness, snakes, poison, sacrifices, disease, and curses. Most hatred and malice in the world can be traced back to her. These two fight their battle not on the physical planes of Illica, but in the minds of Illica's people. Zehir has a way of infesting her victims minds, pushing out all thoughts of warmth, love, and happiness. It is Pelor's job to rekindle the flame and make sure one's inner light is never fully extinguished.

The Raven Queen

The lovely mistress of Neutrality, the Raven Queen, is known for Death, life, dying, the departed, funerals, fate, winter, and dreams. She is ever-ominous and never direct, a hidden force that keeps balance on Illica. She fights against perversions of life and death, such as the undead. She also works to carry the souls of the living from the material plane to their next home after death, wherever it may be. Because more people die than she is able to get to, she has put a small amount of power into 9 different women who were once mortal. They serve both as guides to the afterlife and as warriors against those who corrupt the cycle of life and death.

Lesser Deities

Ioun and Kord

First, we have Ioun (LN), the Goddess of Knowledge, skill, prophecy, tactics, study of magic, libraries, books, sages, and alchemy. Her counter is Kord (CN), the God of Storms, strength, athletics, competition, thunder, and battlefield prowess. Their relationship is more playful, at least in a cosmic sense. They fight indirectly, mostly by trying to best each other at their own games. They visit mortals disguised as one another, attempting to convince people that their counterparts approach to conflict is superior. Whether the studious and strategic approach of Ioun wins, or the brute force and intimidation of Kord perseveres, these two gods continue to play their game, never satisfied with their results.

Moridain and Torog

Next, we have more neutral deities. The first of this pair is Moridain (NG), God of Dwarves, creation, smiting, metalwork, stonecraft, and artisans. His counterpart is Torog (NE), God of the Underdark, imprisonment, jailers, torturers, suffering, and caverns. Their pairing is much more important to the balance of the world, for it is their conflict that keeps what is in the Underdark sealed away from the surface world. But those that dig too deep, such as the dwarves of old, cause rifts in the cosmic structure of the planes. The horrors of the Underdark keep them repelled, but too much tampering threatens to release those horrors to the surface.

Corelleon and Gruumsh

Now, for the gods of chaos. Corelleon (CG) is the Goddess of Fey magic, spring, beauty, renewal, birth, and fey creatures. Her counterpart is the Goddess Gruumsh (CE), patron of Orcs, barbarians, savages, bloodshed, carnage, destruction, and pillaging. Their pairing is also odd. Gruumsh only wants blood and destruction, skulls crunching beneath boots, fire, and ash. Corelleon, on the other hand, is mischievous and regal. She records events into song and sings them for all of the 7-heavens to hear. She ALWAYS makes sure to include how Gruumsh faltered on the field and how the battle was saved by her 2nd in command. Gruumsh, being and Goddess of hate and malice, hears the song and takes it seriously, and has that person tortured for 100 years as punishment before drinking their essence. This is Corelleon's tricky way of keeping Gruumsh at bay without ever directly inciting conflict, a fight that she would surely lose if it ever came down to it.

Bahamut and Tiamat

Finally, there's Bahamut (LG), God of creation, laws, justice, honor, paladins, protection of the weak, protection, and nobility, along with his counterpart, Tiamat (LE), Goddess of creation, Wealth, avarice, envy, sorrow, chromatic dragons, dark secrets, and blackmail. Their pair is much more tragic, and they rarely come into contact with one and another. Long ago, they were both platinum dragons and parts of the same whole. But dark thoughts crept into Tiamat's mind, and those thoughts manifested as new dragon heads. Her color changed from Platinum to 5 shades of chromatic. Bahamut tried to help her, but their arguments shaped the planes and the cosmos due to their destructive nature. After more fighting, Tiamat decided she no longer needed or wanted Bahamut, and she created her own children, sacrificing most of her power to do so. Bahamut, defeated, did the same, sacrificing most of his power to make sure that he still had some influence over the continents they had accidentally created. His love for Tiamat and her love for him, no matter how lost it might be, was and is still there throughout Illica. Now, the two of them serve as sages for their more powerful counterparts. The Prime Deities will come to them for advice and counsel when needed. Bahamut still wishes to restore her, and Tiamat still wishes ruin on him, a balanced tragedy that helped create all things.