To mortals, the term '
God' can mean a great many things - the simple folk of a remote town may consider the old water elemental as the god or spirit of the lake. Researchers at an arcane college would understand that it is one of many such elementals. A demonic cult might worship a powerful archfiend as a god.
Gods in Nailara walk the earth, and the planes. Many can be found, spoken to, bargained with, and even killed. Some hold unimaginable power, power enough to level cities with the snap of their fingers. The most powerful are the
Ancient Ones who are said to have created the very universe itself, and many of its oldest inhabitants. Unfortunately for mortals, almost non interact with mortals in any meaningful fashion. Put simply, mortals are less than nothing in comparison to whatever motivates them.
Clerics
Because of all of this, 'cleric' is a special term in the setting. One does not simply worship a god and receive powers without ever interacting with them. In many ways, clerics are similar to warlocks of Wizards of the Coast lore - they have interacted with a god in some way. Both found an arrangement that worked - in some cases, it can be as simple as spreading their faith. For more organized religions, this may manifest as a vision or dream. Lesser gods may have directly spoken with a mortal and granted them power in exchange for aid.
The powers of a cleric can be vastly different depending on a god. A god of warfare may simply grant his clerics great skill in battle - which could be displayed as fighter levels. Others may impart a great understanding of the arcane - wizard levels. Whatever form the powers take, anyone who has received powers from a god is a cleric. Simple priests may use magic to replicate some of the powers of the cleric class, but they may never become true clerics.
Religion
Religion in Nailara is complex. There is no simple answer for who to worship - or whether to worship at all. These gods are known, and present - is it safe to throw your fate into their hands, to be caught up in whatever game of chess they are playing?
Some people of Nailara simply pay homage to the gods that have the largest effect on their lives. The townsfolk may give simple gifts to the spirit of the lake as worship, in hopes that the peace between them will continue. They have little expectation of the spirit giving in return, or for the salvation of their souls. It is simply the thing to do when a powerful creature is near.
For others, prayer to the most powerful gods is what they crave. They hope to be seen, to be granted some boon that will aid them. Some gods promise that they will protect the souls of these mortals when they pass on.
Some do not pray at all. The gods may be powerful, but they are fickle, and rare to help mortals. Why be drawn into a war between gods? Whatever the fate the unknown brings, it must be preferable to being tortured by demons for worshipping the wrong god.
When a creature dies, whether mortal or god, their soul is released. This wayward soul can take many paths, but ultimately all souls will eventually go on to the afterlife. What happens then is still unknown.
Before a soul passes on to the afterlife, it is sometimes claimed by a god. Some gods draw in the souls of their most devout worshippers, transforming them into a divine servant, or simply allowing them to continue to exist as a part of their menagerie. Other, more malevolent gods in the Abyss claim violent, angry souls to use to forge their demonic armies.
The methods by which a soul is claimed vary from god to god. Often the soul of a powerful individual may be claimed by multiple gods, who fight over its use.
