Deities of the Great Beyond
Standing above mortal comprehension are the gods - those who made us, and those who will one day destroy us. We exist by their power, yet we are free of their wills - a blessing beyond blessings, and one we must hope they never rescind.
The world of Istralar is not alone in the universe, and neither Istralar nor its sister planets are left bereft of monitors and minders. The universe's creators and prime powers, whether they be born as the universe was created or ascended from the ranks of mortals, are the deities. These are beings and forces of varying status and power, with control over every facet of creation, destruction, and everything in-between.
They are able to grant mortals divine magic through various means, and each deity is associated strongly with a plane of existence, an alignment, and several divine domains.
The number of domains a deity has power over is a direct indicator of their status, as well as an indicator of their strongest areas of concern. True gods have five or more domains; demigods typically have four. An entity with less than four domains is not counted in the ranks of gods but may be considered a nascent demigod - creatures with mythic powers are often able to enter this realm as their strength begins to reach that of the gods.
True gods are explicitly forbidden from interfering in mortal affairs as of the First Divine War, with further agreements set in place as of the Arcane Compromise enacted at the end of the Second Divine War.
Despite being unable to interact with mortals directly, it is nonetheless important for deities to offer boons, to show pleasure to those who seek to please them, and to make clear their anger or displeasure with those who would assault their followers.
Seren, notably, has fallen out of favour in Galasthin despite being the original creator of elvenkind due to her self-sacrifice in containing Marvaeth. Her worshippers in Rhaead are instead dedicated to them both in equal measure, seeing the mixture of dark and light as a sign of the union of elves and drow, and her followers in the snow elven tribes remain strictly traditionalist and vocal in their devotion. The goddess herself embraces all these groups despite their differences.
Worship
The relationship between deities and mortals is not a symbiotic one, contrary to common belief - deities do not gain power based on their worshippers, nor do they lose it by falling out of mortal memory. Mortals, however, have much to gain by seeking the favour of deities, and due to the pact prohibiting direct intervention by true gods, deities enjoy using their worshippers to both sow discord and play at heroics.Divine Worship by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Any being with at least one domain is generally able to grant divine magic, the signifier of divine power and the first form of magic that mortals on Istralar were able to access.
However, those nascent deities or mythic beings that have not publicised their powers rarely have worshippers to grant magic to; with greater power comes greater reach, and few mortals would choose to worship a lesser divine figure who could only grant them scraps of power compared to a true deity that could offer them far more.
The powers a deity grants to their followers are typically one of their most important draws for their richer and more powerful (whether politically or more literally) followers; Sothime offers no useful boons for those running a city or fighting in wars, for instance, and often ignores the prayers of their worshippers.
There exist countless stories of religious warfare where a god of war has intruded on the followers of a goddess of nature and paid dearly for it, with the goddess causing nature itself to rise up in defence of her followers; equally, there exist stories of particularly pious worshippers being granted unimaginable boons in times of strife if they call upon their deity.
Mortal worship does take many forms, and very few mortal worshippers will feel the direct touch of their deity - most have servitors to assist in responding to prayers or sending down protections, if they care to do so. This does not stop the proliferation of churches, cults, festivals, or other forms of worship across the many corners of Istralar.
Often two sects that follow the same deity will have strictly opposing views on how their deity should be worshipped; deities rarely indicate which is correct, instead allowing mortals the will to determine what is right for themselves.
World-Cleaving Blade of the Hells by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Font of Divine Power by Hanhula (via Midjourney)
Elements of a Deity's Worship
Every deity, whether they are a true god, a demigod, or something else entirely, has certain divine attributes that relate to their abilities and to how mortals worship them. These are as follows:Areas of Concern
Areas of concern are the deity's portfolio; more specific than domains, they are a summary of everything a deity stands for. For instance, Sinaske's areas of concern are space, exploration, and celestial bodies.Favoured Weapons
A deity's preferred weaponry carries over to their worshippers, with many deities giving particular blessings to followers using their weapon of choice or even teaching their followers specific fighting techniques.For example, Kaian's followers often imitate the thief's prowess with daggers and teleporting strikes.
Divine Servants:
Deities typically have specific species of outsider that serve as their personal servitors, often created from the souls of their most dedicated mortal worshippers. Each deity also has a Herald who serves as their living representative on the Material Plane, and may also have a mortal Champion of the Divine.Sacred Animal:
Deific entities choose sacred animals both as a matter of emblem and as a messenger species, and examples of sacred animal can be found in every temple.Domains and Subdomains
Shards of power, fragments of greatness... The domains of gods are for we mortals to puzzle out and comprehend.A domain or subdomain is considered to be a tangible representation of a deity's area of concerns, distilled into two specific lists for mortal worshippers to draw from. Domains are stronger but more vague representations of power; subdomains are more specific, but often slightly less powerful manifestations. For instance, Sothime, as the deity of emotions and experiences, holds the Madness domain to represent the volatility of mortal experience and the insanity their realm invokes, and Truth as a subdomain of Madness to indicate that they seek the truth of mortal minds.
Domains
Air
Associated with electricity, wind, and mists. Generally possessed by deities and demigods with strong ties to the Plane of Air, such as elemental lords or gods of avian species.
Subdomains
Cloud
Lightning
Wind
Artifice
Associated with creation and artificial restoration.
Subdomains
Alchemy
Construct
Industry
Toil
Trap
Chaos
Representative of primordial chaos & one of four alignment domains used by all chaotic gods.
Subdomains
Azata
Demodand
Demon
Entropy
Protean
Revelry
Riot
Whimsy
Charm
Associated with charisma, enchantment, love, and beauty. Typically a very polarising domain.
Subdomains
Captivation
Love
Lust
Community
Associated with unity, communities, and friendships; most deities with this domain are good-aligned.
Subdomains
Cooperation
Education
Family
Home
Darkness
Associated with literal and metaphorical darkness: with night and shade, with grief and sorrow.
Subdomains
Loss
Moon
Night
Shadow
Death
Associated with death and undeath in all their shades.
Subdomains
Murder
Plague
Psychopomp
Shadow
Undead
Destruction
Associated with destruction in all ways, accidental or with motive. Opposes Artifice.
Subdomains
Catastrophe
Hatred
Rage
Torture
Earth
Associated with earth, metals, stone, gemstones, and acids. Represents both the natural world, and what lies beneath. Often associated with dwarvenkind.
Subdomains
Caves
Metal
Petrification
Radiation
Evil
Representative of deepest evil and one of four alignment domains used by all evil gods.
Subdomains
Cannibalism
Corruption
Daemon
Demodand
Demon
Devil
Fear
Kyton
Plague
Sakhil
Fire
Associated with all forms of fire, whether they be raging infernos, volcanic eruptions, small campfires or cooking stations, or the smoke and embers left afterwards.
Subdomains
Arson
Ash
Smoke
Glory
Associated with glory and triumph, with divine power and heroism. The domain of legends.
Subdomains
Chivalry
Heroism
Honour
Hubris
Legend
Good
Representative of purest good and one of four alignment domains used by all good gods.
Subdomains
Agathion
Archon
Azata
Friendship
Redemption
Healing
Associated with health, healing, and medicine in all its forms; not to be confused with the alchemy domain.
Contrary to popular belief, evil and good deities alike may represent healing.
Subdomains
Medicine
Restoration
Resurrection
Knowledge
Associated with knowledge, research, and information... as well as the mind and the secrets it holds.
Subdomains
Aeon
Education
Espionage
Memory
Thought
Law
Representative of universal law and one of four alignment domains used by all lawful gods.
Subdomains
Archon
Devil
Inevitable
Judgment
Kyton
Legislation
Loyalty
Slavery
Sovereignty
Tyranny
Liberation
Associated with free spirits, freedom, revolution, and direct opposition to oppressors and slavers. Deities of liberation are often involved in clashes, often challenging deities of law despite not specifically opposing one another.
Subdomains
Freedom
Revolution
Self-Realisation
Luck
One of the most significant yet most overlooked domains, luck deities tend to be heavily involved with fate itself. Whether they are favoured or despised varies heavily from culture to culture.
Subdomains
Curse
Fate
Imagination
Madness
Whilst Knowledge is linked to minds, so too is Madness. Deities of this domain stretch the boundaries of reality, knowing the depths to which they may plunge...
Subdomains
Insanity
Nightmare
Truth
Magic
Deities of magic are steeped in magic itself, keyed into the very workings of the world. This is a dangerous domain - one of of power and mysticism.
Subdomains
Alchemy
Arcane
Divine
Rites
Nobility
Associated with nobility and leadership, and the hubris associated with their actions and inaction.
Subdomains
Aristocracy
Hubris
Leadership
Martyr
Plant
Associated with natural plantlife and growth, and often heavily tied to the Earth domain.
Subdomains
Leshy
Decay
Growth
Thorns
Protection
Associated with protection of all sorts: physical defences, mental fortifications, and those who seek to protect others.
Subdomains
Defence
Fortifications
Purity
Solitude
Repose
Associated with peaceful deaths and lengthy rest; vehemently opposed to undeath. Psychopomp demigods either grant Repose or Death.
Subdomains
Ancestors
Psychopomp
Souls
Rune
Associated with the power inherent in writing, and the magic runes of all kinds are able to conjure. Often paired with Knowledge or Magic domains.
Subdomains
Language
Legislation
Wards
Scalykind
Associated with dragons, reptiles, and their poisons and venoms. Most deities in the Draconic Pantheon possess this domain.
Subdomains
Dragon
Saurian
Venom
Strength
Associated with strength in all ways, whether that strength is through physical ability or the strength to continue when times are hard. One of the most varied in application.
Subdomains
Competition
Ferocity
Fist
Resolve
Self-Realisation
Sun
Associated with the sun and with life-giving light; unlike the Fire domain, the Sun domain grants sight and clarity. However, it also represents the dangers of the sun's rays.
Subdomains
Day
Light
Revelation
Thirst
Travel
Associated with travel, exploration, and the experiences had along the way. A favourite of adventurers, traders, pirates, and nomads alike. Good or Neutral deities of travel are well-loved by most mortals; evil deities are feared.
Subdomains
Exploration
Portal
Trade
Trickery
Associated with trickery and deception through illusions, lies, disguises, and infinite other ways to play or deceive. A common domain for fey demigods, and a favourite of thieves and assassins.
Subdomains
Ambush
Deception
Espionage
Greed
Innuendo
Thievery
Void
Associated with the darkness of space and those that live beyond the stars, the Void domain is one that wears its own warning sign. Strange are the deities that dwell in the void of existence.
Subdomains
Dark Tapestry
Isolation
Stars
War
This domain does not only reflect the bloodshed and trauma of the battlefield, but also the tactics used, the rules upheld, and the impact on those caught in War's relentless path.
Subdomains
Blood
Duels
Tactics
Water
Associated with water and ice, but also the way in which water shapes worlds and grants life.
Deities with hold over the Water domain oft bear a strange closeness to life itself - or to death, and the final destination of all souls. Subdomains
Flotsam
Flowing
Ice
Oceans
Rivers
Deities with hold over the Water domain oft bear a strange closeness to life itself - or to death, and the final destination of all souls. Subdomains
Weather
Associated with the many weather patterns that roll across planets and planes.
Those who claim the weather domain either seek to shield their followers from it... or lean into its wild nature.
Subdomains
Monsoon
Seasons
Storms
Subdomains
Behold! The breadth of the universe's powers, contained in these few fragments of divinity. If there are more we do not yet know, then they remain lost to us!
Aeon
Parent Domain(s)
Agathion
Parent Domain(s)
Ambush
Parent Domain(s)
Ancestors
Parent Domain(s)
Arcane
Parent Domain(s)
Aristocracy
Parent Domain(s)
Arson
Parent Domain(s)
Ash
Parent Domain(s)
Blood
Parent Domain(s)
Cannibalism
Parent Domain(s)
Captivation
Parent Domain(s)
Catastrophe
Parent Domain(s)
Caves
Parent Domain(s)
Chivalry
Parent Domain(s)
Cloud
Parent Domain(s)
Competition
Parent Domain(s)
Construct
Parent Domain(s)
Cooperation
Parent Domain(s)
- Community
Corruption
Parent Domain(s)
Curse
Parent Domain(s)
Daemon
Parent Domain(s)
Dark Tapestry
Parent Domain(s)
Day
Parent Domain(s)
Decay
Parent Domain(s)
Deception
Parent Domain(s)
Defence
Parent Domain(s)
Divine
Parent Domain(s)
Dragon
Parent Domain(s)
Duels
Parent Domain(s)
Entropy
Parent Domain(s)
Exploration
Parent Domain(s)
Family
Parent Domain(s)
Fate
Parent Domain(s)
Fear
Parent Domain(s)
Feather
Parent Domain(s)
Ferocity
Parent Domain(s)
Fist
Parent Domain(s)
Flotsam
Parent Domain(s)
Flowing
Parent Domain(s)
Fortifications
Parent Domain(s)
Freedom
Parent Domain(s)
Friendship
Parent Domain(s)
Fur
Parent Domain(s)
Greed
Parent Domain(s)
Growth
Parent Domain(s)
Hatred
Parent Domain(s)
Heroism
Parent Domain(s)
Home
Parent Domain(s)
Honour
Parent Domain(s)
Ice
Parent Domain(s)
Imagination
Parent Domain(s)
Industry
Parent Domain(s)
Inevitable
Parent Domain(s)
Innuendo
Parent Domain(s)
Insanity
Parent Domain(s)
Insect
Parent Domain(s)
Isolation
Parent Domain(s)
Judgment
Parent Domain(s)
Language
Parent Domain(s)
Leadership
Parent Domain(s)
Legend
Parent Domain(s)
Light
Parent Domain(s)
Lightning
Parent Domain(s)
Loss
Parent Domain(s)
Love
Parent Domain(s)
Loyalty
Parent Domain(s)
Lust
Parent Domain(s)
Martyr
Parent Domain(s)
Medicine
Parent Domain(s)
Memory
Parent Domain(s)
Metal
Parent Domain(s)
Monsoon
Parent Domain(s)
Moon
Parent Domain(s)
Murder
Parent Domain(s)
Night
Parent Domain(s)
Nightmare
Parent Domain(s)
Oceans
Parent Domain(s)
Petrification
Parent Domain(s)
Portal
Parent Domain(s)
Protean
Parent Domain(s)
Purity
Parent Domain(s)
Radiation
Parent Domain(s)
Rage
Parent Domain(s)
Redemption
Parent Domain(s)
Resolve
Parent Domain(s)
Restoration
Parent Domain(s)
Resurrection
Parent Domain(s)
Revelation
Parent Domain(s)
Revelry
Parent Domain(s)
Revolution
Parent Domain(s)
Riot
Parent Domain(s)
Rites
Parent Domain(s)
Rivers
Parent Domain(s)
Saurian
Parent Domain(s)
Seasons
Parent Domain(s)
Self-Realisation
Parent Domain(s)
Slavery
Parent Domain(s)
Smoke
Parent Domain(s)
Solitude
Parent Domain(s)
Sovereignty
Parent Domain(s)
Stars
Parent Domain(s)
Souls
Parent Domain(s)
Storms
Parent Domain(s)
Tactics
Parent Domain(s)
Thievery
Parent Domain(s)
Thirst
Parent Domain(s)
Thorns
Parent Domain(s)
Thought
Parent Domain(s)
Toil
Parent Domain(s)
Torture
Parent Domain(s)
Trade
Parent Domain(s)
Trap
Parent Domain(s)
Truth
Parent Domain(s)
Tyranny
Parent Domain(s)
Undead
Parent Domain(s)
Venom
Parent Domain(s)
Wards
Parent Domain(s)
Whimsy
Parent Domain(s)
Wind
Parent Domain(s)
Codex of Deific Beings
As more comes to be understood of the deities of Istralar and beyond, many of whom have chosen Champions already, they will be documented here as a point of reference for all. Until that moment... these pages end with a whisper of what is to come.
Wow it has been a while since I played Pathfinder, but oh wow you have quite an amazing article here. The domains and subdomains, it looks like you have invested a lot of effort into this. It just keeps scrolling down.
Thank you! I initially tried to have them in collapsible sections, but because anchors use | in them, it broke the spoiler... so we're instead left with this! It's very fun, isn't it?
welcome to my signature! check out istralar!