Gods
The subject of the Gods is not something that most people worry themselves with. The overwhelming majority of people prefer to live quiet lives, and pray to the gods of the Empire for the things they need, and are far too busy with their daily lives to have time or energy to worry about the matters of the divine. This is as the Empire and Inquisition want it, as knowledge of this kind is very dangerous to have, and serves nothing but sow doubt, which will be exploited by the enemies of the Empire. To some select scholars however, this matter is one of the most interesting topics in existence. In this article will be found a compilation of all current knowledge, given from the Gods about themselves, from the age of the Holy Crusade to now. As a result, no mortal alive can be said to know all this, and it does not all exist in one location.
Gods are extremely powerful beings, that have a unique connection to the Weave, which allows them to interface directly with the domains of the world. The exact nature of this connection is not certain, but it is understood that a God without a domain is non-existent, and domains are incredibly important. When mortals engage in acts relating to a Gods domain, that God gains power directly, and if the mortal does so while worshipping them, the God gains much more power. As a result, Gods grant their favour to mortals whose actions empower them, such as Vitaria, the Goddess of Life, empowering a healer with her divine magic. This exchange was done directly when the Gods inhabited the Material Plane, but after the Divine Seal was put in place, is a broader and more standardised process.
Currently, Vitaria is worshipped far more than any other God, and she not only gains power from every living mortal, but since the vast majority of people are farmers and simple folk, they usually offer daily prayers to her for their health, a bountiful harvest and more. The worship of Gods being standardised helps them extract as much power as possible from their followers, though, Gods can have many Aspects, and be worshipped by very different names with different rituals, but still empowered the same God through the domain. For example, the people of the Jarldom of Värmod worship beings of very different name and nature than the rest of the Empire, but it is understood that the being empowered are the same.
It is generally understood that Gods cannot be created or destroyed and are eternal through time. However, many beings have ascended to a level where they have claimed or created a domain for themselves, and it is also thought by some scholars, that there have been Gods that were destroyed, but when that happened, all evidence and memory of them was instantly wiped from Nainoxia, and it was as though they had never existed. Some have even dared to say that one of the most closely kept secrets of Cognitiosis is a list with the names of all dead Gods, they said it before they were executed for herecy that is.
During the Holy Crusade, the Gods were, Artis, Asmodeus, Cognitiosis, Eilistraee, Gruumsh, Lolth, Luthror, Osryx, Selene, Solis, Ularon, Vindicta, Vitaria, Yiortis and Zaberon. At the time, it was understood that all Gods were equals, and working towards the same goals. Even those with evil or destructive domains had a purpose, and a role to play in their ideal world. In the time after the Holy Crusade, known as the Age of Divinity, when the Gods had conquered the Material Plane, some Gods saw their territories thrive and their people prosper, and others saw their cities crumble and rot. There was still however an idea that they would still all work together to achieve their goals.
All this was destroyed however at the Great Betrayal, when Zaberon, The Beheaded Betrayer attacked Vitaria, Empire Goddess of Life and nearly killed her. The attack was the beginning of a sinister plot by Asmodeus, Lord of Lies, to bring an end to the peace that had led to the exponential growth in the power of some gods, at the expence of others. Vitaria had to fall first, as she had grown so powerful as to rival all other Gods combined. After the battle and scramble for power that insued, the five Empire Gods rose to dominance, and together with others, implemented the The Divine Seal, to ensure that Gods could no longer directly walk the world.
During the time after the Scism, Tiamat, the Dragon Queen enacted her grand ritual to achive Godhood, and acquire the domain of Chromatic Dragons. As an unintended result of unleashing such powerful magics, she also created her nemesis, Bahamut, The Platinum Dragon. Due to the Divine Seal, they were both instantly removed from the Material Plane. The true divinity of these entities is debated, but for all practical purposes they are basically Gods, though they do not usually receive worship from Mortals, nor do they want it.
The last being to ascent to Godhood, Astaroth, the Undying King, was also perhaps the most successful. He managed to secure for himself two domains in his ascension, and during it, he also managed to open multiple portals to the Abyss through Nainoxia. He also successfully managed to somehow evade the The Divine Seal, and stay physically in the Material Plane. How he managed to achieve this is not known, and is the subject of debate by scholars, and inquiry from the Gods themselves. His divinity is also a closely kept secret, and to claim that Astaroth was anything more than a warlord will land anyone in the pyres of the Inquisition. He was banished from the plane by Gondor Lionel, The Omnipaladin, who led his army with the blessing of all five Empire Gods, and founded the Empire.
Gods are extremely powerful beings, that have a unique connection to the Weave, which allows them to interface directly with the domains of the world. The exact nature of this connection is not certain, but it is understood that a God without a domain is non-existent, and domains are incredibly important. When mortals engage in acts relating to a Gods domain, that God gains power directly, and if the mortal does so while worshipping them, the God gains much more power. As a result, Gods grant their favour to mortals whose actions empower them, such as Vitaria, the Goddess of Life, empowering a healer with her divine magic. This exchange was done directly when the Gods inhabited the Material Plane, but after the Divine Seal was put in place, is a broader and more standardised process.
Currently, Vitaria is worshipped far more than any other God, and she not only gains power from every living mortal, but since the vast majority of people are farmers and simple folk, they usually offer daily prayers to her for their health, a bountiful harvest and more. The worship of Gods being standardised helps them extract as much power as possible from their followers, though, Gods can have many Aspects, and be worshipped by very different names with different rituals, but still empowered the same God through the domain. For example, the people of the Jarldom of Värmod worship beings of very different name and nature than the rest of the Empire, but it is understood that the being empowered are the same.
It is generally understood that Gods cannot be created or destroyed and are eternal through time. However, many beings have ascended to a level where they have claimed or created a domain for themselves, and it is also thought by some scholars, that there have been Gods that were destroyed, but when that happened, all evidence and memory of them was instantly wiped from Nainoxia, and it was as though they had never existed. Some have even dared to say that one of the most closely kept secrets of Cognitiosis is a list with the names of all dead Gods, they said it before they were executed for herecy that is.
History of the Gods:
The birth or creation of the Gods is unknown, and they have not told anyone where they came from, or what happened before their arrival on the Material plane. Their arrival, and subsequent conquering of the plane from the Giants, Dragons and Elementals is known as the Holy Crusade. During the Holy Crusade, all Gods fought on the same side, and it was a time of great unity for the divine powers, which has not been seen since.During the Holy Crusade, the Gods were, Artis, Asmodeus, Cognitiosis, Eilistraee, Gruumsh, Lolth, Luthror, Osryx, Selene, Solis, Ularon, Vindicta, Vitaria, Yiortis and Zaberon. At the time, it was understood that all Gods were equals, and working towards the same goals. Even those with evil or destructive domains had a purpose, and a role to play in their ideal world. In the time after the Holy Crusade, known as the Age of Divinity, when the Gods had conquered the Material Plane, some Gods saw their territories thrive and their people prosper, and others saw their cities crumble and rot. There was still however an idea that they would still all work together to achieve their goals.
All this was destroyed however at the Great Betrayal, when Zaberon, The Beheaded Betrayer attacked Vitaria, Empire Goddess of Life and nearly killed her. The attack was the beginning of a sinister plot by Asmodeus, Lord of Lies, to bring an end to the peace that had led to the exponential growth in the power of some gods, at the expence of others. Vitaria had to fall first, as she had grown so powerful as to rival all other Gods combined. After the battle and scramble for power that insued, the five Empire Gods rose to dominance, and together with others, implemented the The Divine Seal, to ensure that Gods could no longer directly walk the world.
During the time after the Scism, Tiamat, the Dragon Queen enacted her grand ritual to achive Godhood, and acquire the domain of Chromatic Dragons. As an unintended result of unleashing such powerful magics, she also created her nemesis, Bahamut, The Platinum Dragon. Due to the Divine Seal, they were both instantly removed from the Material Plane. The true divinity of these entities is debated, but for all practical purposes they are basically Gods, though they do not usually receive worship from Mortals, nor do they want it.
The last being to ascent to Godhood, Astaroth, the Undying King, was also perhaps the most successful. He managed to secure for himself two domains in his ascension, and during it, he also managed to open multiple portals to the Abyss through Nainoxia. He also successfully managed to somehow evade the The Divine Seal, and stay physically in the Material Plane. How he managed to achieve this is not known, and is the subject of debate by scholars, and inquiry from the Gods themselves. His divinity is also a closely kept secret, and to claim that Astaroth was anything more than a warlord will land anyone in the pyres of the Inquisition. He was banished from the plane by Gondor Lionel, The Omnipaladin, who led his army with the blessing of all five Empire Gods, and founded the Empire.
Header Image Art: Critical Role
