Gods & Religion

In a world where the influence of gods is readily apparent, and directly impacts every-day life, from low to high born, religion in Vayl is less a matter of blind faith as it is a matter of perspective. Religious worship is common, and the gods of this world are often worshipped in groups, based not on moral alignment, but their shared domain of influence. The religious traditions of Aruna tend toward polytheisism. Folk often worship pantheons of gods who share a common domain of influence. An individual may choose a pantheon based on cultural tradition, upbringing, or personal values. Structures, dogma, and ways of life can vary wildly from one pantheon of worship to another.

A god for every matter...

Pantheon churches seek to provide a holistic approach to life, through the lens of one primary element of the world. Each god within a pantheon also oversees a second domain. Thus, through worshipping all the gods of one's chosen pantheon, a devout believer can seek guidance over all aspects of their life. The average worshipper gives each diety precedence or prayer depending on the situation or time of year. For example, in the Church of Light, all members focus their beliefs on the power of light, but may turn to the god of Light and Death to act as a beacon to guide a passed loved one to the afterlife, or to the god of Light and Nature to help the sun to shine generously on the year's harvest. These gods may hold dominion over different aspects of the world, and each is entreated for a different purpose, but their worshippers are all connected by the shared worship of Light as a value.

Favored Dieties

Some believers in a pantheon church may focus their worship on a specific god in the pantheon. This is especially the case with clerics and paladins, who may choose a Favored Diety to commit themselves to. These holy warriors and priests are still members of their domain church, but their particular life philosophy and values can also be influenced by the other domains that their favored diety oversees.

Shared Worship

Each god is a member of two divine pantheons. People who follow different religious pantheons may form bonds with each other because they share a favored diety. For example, two people could worship the god Stormiir, though one is a worshipper of the Forge pantheon while the other worships the Tempest pantheon. Their religious dogma might be vastly different, but they are unified and may find kinship with each other, connected by their favored god. This connection through a shared deity is also seen as a bond between pantheons with even the most divergent of worldviews. Common wisdom insists that even if churches turn against each other for one reason or another, there may still be hope with one deity that is shared between them. This may allow channels of communication and empathy to remain in even the most dire of conflicts.

The Divine Pantheons

Arcana

People who follow the Arcana Pantheon are comfortable around magic as they see it everywhere around them. To these devouts, the arcane is not esoteric knowledge, to be kept in a lost archive or held tight in the grasp of hermits or ancient guardians. Life would not exist without magic, and there is magic to be found in all aspects of the world.

Gods of the Arcana Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Arcana and...

PRIME	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Kas	Totetch	Ystermid	Vorbitos	Akotian

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Erisholdt	Imetsa	Atl'oxtli	The Bahari	Rinth	Bellator

Temples/Holy Orders

The Sanctum Arcana in Cinderhaven

Ranks/Titles

Seeker, High Mage

Death

Those who follow the Death Pantheon…

Gods of the Death Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Death and...

ARCANA	PRIME	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Totetch	Fim	Heriotza	Weuna	Yarasfina

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Ix'Chetl	Rimsherahl	Golfimb	Kalthera	Dryshik	Karnigo

Temples/Holy Orders

The Mortal Gate in Cinderhaven

Ranks/Titles

Bringer

Forge

Those who follow the Forge Pantheon worship acts of creation and innovation…

Gods of the Forge Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of the Forge and...

ARCANA	DEATH	PRIME	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Ystermid	Heriotza	Tem	Cova	Belon

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Ursali	Vatra Pajar	Hersteller	Stormiir	Rylox	Senjata

Temples/Holy Orders

The Divine Foundry in Cinderhaven

Ranks/Titles

Forgemaster, Flamekeeper

Grave

Those who follow the Grave Pantheon…

Gods of the Grave Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Grave and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	PRIME	KNOWLEDGE
Vorbitos	Weuna	Cova	Wea	Yagritta

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Sfarsitul	Shaniir	Onna	Morskog	Fantomei	Huldaja

Temples/Holy Orders

The House of Final Prayer in Cinderhaven

Ranks/Titles

Caretaker, Tender

Knowledge

Those who follow the Knowledge Pantheon believe in the pursuit of knowledge above all things. No knowledge is forbidden; it is only what you do with that knowledge that is good or evil. Worshippers of these dieties acknowledge that no matter how much you learn, you will never know everything, limited by your mortal form. And its only after trancesdance that you can truly know everything.

Gods of the Knowledge Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Knowledge and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	PRIME
Akotian	Yarasfina	Belon	Yegritta	Ixo

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Vindeca	Bahl	Copak	Kepath	Avari	The Kenzurite

Temples/Holy Orders

The Eternal Archive in Cinderhaven

Ranks/Titles

Loremaster, Veritan

Life

The Life domain focuses on the vibrant positive energy, one of the fundamental forces of the universe, that sustains all life. The gods of life promote vitality and health through healing the sick and wounded, caring for those in need, and driving away the forces of death and undeath. Often associated with agricultural deities, sun gods, gods of healing or endurance, and gods of home and community.|(adapted from 5th ed. SRD)

Gods of the Life Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Life and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Erisholdt	Ix'Chetl	Ursali	Sfarsitul	Vindeca

PRIME	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Ura	Deliya	Malikki	Salvamar	Jubian	Opekyl

Temples/Holy Orders

Refuge of the Healing Word, The House of Respite

Ranks/Titles

Chaplan, Healer

Light

Those who follow the Light Pantheon…

Gods of the Light Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Life and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Imetsa	Rimsherahl	Vatra Pajar	Shaniir	Bahl

LIFE	PRIME	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Deliya	Lia	Aedia	Lumturo	Vigheid	Zerstorung

Temples/Holy Orders

The Path of Radiance

Ranks/Titles

High Sol

Nature

Those who follow the Nature Pantheon…

Gods of the Nature Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Nature and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Atl'oxtli	Golfimb	Herstellar	Onna	Copak

LIFE	LIGHT	PRIME	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Malikki	Aedia	Uhn	Quarra	Mashtrim	Sulrayne

Temples/Holy Orders

The Garden Keep

Ranks/Titles

Shepherd

Tempest

Those who follow the Tempest Pantheon revere the terrible power of storms.

Gods of the Tempest Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of the Tempest and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
The Bahari	Kalthera	Stomiir	Morskog	Kepath

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	PRIME	TRICKERY	WAR
Salvamar	Lumturo	Quarra	Isa	Esha'al	Uraka'an

Temples/Holy Orders

The Bastion of the Storm

Ranks/Titles

Stormwright

Trickery

Those who follow the Trickery Pantheon tend toward rebellious and anti-authoritian values. If the world insists on being absurd, why not embrace it? The gods who share this worldview encourage independance, individiualism, and ingenuity. For some, the path of trickery is one of secrecy, ambition, and wickedness, for many gods in this pantheon claim assassins and scoundrels among their flocks. But for many others, embracing the way of trickery can be a way of asserting agency over a world that cares very little for the unfortunate or downtrodden. A way to strike back at a cruel and unforgiving existence, and perhaps create a little joy and mischief along the way.

Gods of the Trickery Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of Trickery and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Rinth	Dryshik	Rylox	Fantomei	Avari

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	PRIME	WAR
Jubian	Vigheid	Mashtrim	Esha'al	Twl	Callidus

Temples/Holy Orders

The Shrine of the Fool

Ranks/Titles

Friends, Craftmasters

War

To follow the War Pantheon is to know that existence is conflict: an eternal struggle between opposing forces. They are the vanguard at the forefront of any conflict, especially those that pit the faithful against the forces of chaos.

Gods of the War Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped for their sway over the domains of War and...

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	GRAVE	KNOWLEDGE
Bolatorr	Karnigo	Senjata	Huldaja	The Kenzurite

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	PRIME
Opekyl	Zerstorung	Sulrayne	Uraka'an	Callidus	Ren

Temples/Holy Orders

The Proving Ground

Ranks/Titles

Triarch, Battlemaster

The Prime Gods

The prime gods are the originators of the world, starting with the great dragon mother, Elumir'Aruna. These gods hold dominion over one core divine domain.

Gods of the prime Pantheon

The following dieties are worshipped as the original forces of...

CREATION
Elumir'Aruna

ARCANA	DEATH	FORGE	PRIME	KNOWLEDGE
Kas	Fim	Tem	Wea	Ixo

LIFE	LIGHT	NATURE	TEMPEST	TRICKERY	WAR
Ura	Lia	Uhn	Isa	Twl	Ren

The Mother Dragon - The Great Dragon Mother, Elumir'aruna, blew fire and breathed into creation, Lia, Light's Embrace. Elumir'aruna laid the egg of the world, and created Nature's Bounty, Uhn, the foundation needed to create life. The Life Seed, Ura, was born and created sentience. Granting those creations curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Ixo, The Knowledge Bringer, was created shaped civilization and taught them to create. Society was brought to new heights with the birth of The HearthForge, Tem. Civilization was then allowed to discover the secrets of The Arcane Eye, Kas, and they used it to expand their potential. As their understanding grew, so did their desire and ambition. Twl, The Everchanging, was born, introducing them to Trickery. Trickery bred with confusion and gave birth to Tempest, Isa, The Oncoming Storm. The resulting chaos, sparked War, and Ren, The Fury came to be. As the first casualty fell, Wea, Shepherd of the Grave, was formed to escort fallen across the veil. Where finally Fim, Death's Keeper, had always been waiting for them in the darkness. And so the cycle is again reborn in the Dragon Mother, and at the end of the wheel of the year, we look to Elumir'Aruna and give thanks.
— Verses of the Creation Myth

The Gods of the Modern Age

Aedia

Goddess of Sunrise

Personified as a pleasant firbolg woman with a shepherd's crook and a lamb. Like many firbolg, Aedia gently guides creatures of nature out of harms way and protects the creatures that can't protect themselves from danger like the sunlight wards off predators in the shadows. Her symbol is a pair of crossed shepherds crooks.

Domains

Light, Nature

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Aedia

a pair of crossed shepherd's crooks

Akotian

The Dragon Mage

The stern god of magic and knowledge. He appears as an intimidating dragonborn in the height of his strength. His coloring shifts according to his moods, and wears a simple blue tunic.

Domains

Arcana, Knowledge

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Akotian

an open book crowned by violet fire

Atl'oxtli

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Arcana, Nature

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Atl'oxtli

TBD

Avari

Mistress of Greed and Secrets

information about the god

Domains

Knowledge, Trickery

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Avari

a spilled coin purse

Bahl

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Light, Knowledge

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Bahl

an eye in an open book

Belon

God of Trade and Wealth

information about the god

Domains

Forge, Knowledge

Also Known As

Also Known As

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Ix'Chetl

TBD

Jubian

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Life, Trickery

Also Known As

The Cup Bearer
Master of Japes
Lord of Wine
Tom Foolery

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Jubian

a slightly-tilted glass of burgundy wine

Kalthera

Goddess of Perseverance

information about the god

Domains

Death, Tempest

Also Known As

The Queen of Frozen Tears
The Eye of the Storm
Auril
Aurillia

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Kalthera

a snowflake within an arrowpoint diamond

Karnigo

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Death, War

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Karnigo

TBD

Kepath

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Knowledge, Tempest

Also Known As

The Wayfinder

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Kepath

a ship at full sail against a field of the deep blue of night

Lumturo

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Light, Tempest

Also Known As

The Storm Drake

Selune The Mother of Wolves

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Light Domain, Twilight Domain, Nature Domain, Oath of Redemption

Holy Symbol of Meridiah

TBD

Morskog

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Grave, Tempest

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Morskog

TBD

Onna

goddess of the final harvest

All things that live eventually die, and the endless cycle of growth, death, and rebirth continues. Onna gives hope to those who have lost a loved one, giving them comfort in the knowledge that they will be reborn again. She is hailed as the bringer of the first blossoms of spring, and the goddess that ushers in the close of the harvest.

Domains

Grave, Nature

Also Known As

Lady of the Good Death

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Onna

a decaying tree with roots that spread as far as its bare branches

Oppekyl

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Life, War

Also Known As

Bahamut
The Platinum Dragon

Also Known As

Also Known As

The Grave Shepherd

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Weuna

TBD

Yarasfina

Wizened Goddess of Destiny

Yarasfina appears as a dwarf crone wearing a crown of stars and thorns over her silvery hair, and her deep purple robe holds the secret desires of her follower’s hearts. It is said if you light a candle under the full moon, and stare into a silver bowl of water, Yarasfina will show you a glimpse of what will be.

Domains

Death, Knowledge

Also Known As

Death that Has Yet to Come
The Banshee
The Weeping Mother
Death's Herald

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Yarasfina

TBD

Yegritta

Goddess of Memorium

information about the god

Domains

Grave, Knowledge

Also Known As

Keeper of Eulogies
The Ode to the Long Dead

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Yegritta

TBD

Ystermid

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Arcana, Forge

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Ystermid

TBD

Zerstorung

Title of God

information about the god

Domains

Light, War

Also Known As

Common Oaths and Cleric Domains

Holy Symbol of Zerstorung

TBD

Divine Pantheons of Vayl

Arcana
Death
Forge
Grave
Knowledge
Life
Light
Nature
Tempest
Trickery
War
The Prime Pantheon

Gods of the Pantheons

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Gods & Religion

A god for every matter...

Favored Dieties

Shared Worship

The Divine Pantheons

Arcana

Gods of the Arcana Pantheon

Kas

Totetch

Ystermid

Vorbitos

Akotian

Erisholdt

Imetsa

Atl'oxtli

The Bahari

Rinth

Bellator

Temples/Holy Orders

Ranks/Titles

Death

Gods of the Death Pantheon

Totetch

Fim

Heriotza

Weuna

Yarasfina

Ix'Chetl

Rimsherahl

Golfimb

Kalthera

Dryshik

Karnigo

Temples/Holy Orders

Ranks/Titles

Forge

Gods of the Forge Pantheon

Ystermid

Heriotza

Tem

Cova

Belon

Ursali

Vatra Pajar

Hersteller

Stormiir

Rylox

Senjata

Temples/Holy Orders

Ranks/Titles

Grave

Gods of the Grave Pantheon

Vorbitos

Weuna

Cova

Wea

Yagritta

Sfarsitul

Shaniir

Onna

Morskog

Fantomei

Huldaja

Temples/Holy Orders

Ranks/Titles

Knowledge

Gods of the Knowledge Pantheon

Akotian

Yarasfina

Belon

Yegritta

Ixo

Vindeca

Bahl

Copak

Kepath

Avari

The Kenzurite

Temples/Holy Orders

Ranks/Titles