Prime Hieron

The Prime Hieron, revered across T'bet Dal, are intrinsically linked to aspects of existence called dominions. They manifest their will through Avatars and Exemplars - consenting hosts and chosen champions who carry their divine influence across the mortal realms. A god's power ebbs and flows with the prominence of their dominion, rendering them potent yet fundamentally unstable.

Dominions

Each god is intrinsically linked to their dominions. This dominion is typically an aspect of existence that resonates with their nature. For instance, a god holding dominion over war would find their power waxing and waning with the tides of conflict. Their strength is inherently tied to the prevalence of their dominion in the world; peace diminishes them, while strife empowers them.
The balance of power within every god is a delicate affair. A single god can hold sway over multiple aspects as part of their dominion, but this amalgamation comes with a cost: the more aspects they hold sway over, the greater the strain on their essence, leading to a steep increase in instability.

Emotional Symbiosis

Emotional aspects are highly sought after by the gods. When linked to a primal emotion, one can form a deeper connection with worshippers. For example, when someone is happy, they fuel (and can be fueled by) Veveri, the goddess of joy.

Interaction with the Material Plane

The gods cannot naturally affect the physical realm. Instead, they use Avatars and Exemplars to exert their influence directly. These Avatars are not puppets, but willing vessels that consent to host a god's essence. Meanwhile, exemplars can be more numerous 'divine soldiers' of a god's will.

Avatars

When a god inhabits an Avatar, the host is endowed with an array of divine characteristics, but only as much as the vessel can endure.
Consent is a cornerstone of this bond; a god cannot inhabit a vessel that has not willingly offered itself. The gods may exhibit preferences for certain vessels; some choose only the most devout followers, while others might look for hosts with particular traits that resonate with their dominion.
The duration of possession varies. Some gods maintain a perennial bond with a single Avatar, fostering a shared existence across centuries. In contrast, others may transiently occupy a series of hosts.
Still, maintaining such a connection is taxing on the god, and poses certain risks that their divine forms do not. It is thought that the only way to permanently harm a god is while they possess a host.
Unlike Exemplars, who retain their autonomy, Avatars surrender their free will to accommodate the god's consciousness. The god's objectives, desires, and priorities overwhelm those of the host.
When a god chooses to leave a vessel, or is expelled from one, the mortal dies.

Exemplars

An exemplar is a god's chosen champion.
An exemplar gains capabilities reflective of the god's dominions. An exemplar of Xenen might become a peerless warrior, with a lust for carnal pleasures. Meanwhile, an exemplar of Concifere may be content to read for millennia on end, memorizing entire libraries.
This power is not without peril. The power imbued into an exemplar is regulated - too much, and the vessel could be destroyed. The god must calibrate the energy transfer meticulously. An ordinary exemplar's soul can only withstand a small fraction of their power for long periods but have been known to be capable of wielding great strength for shorter periods.

Worship

The gods of the Prime Hieron are known, though not necessarily worshipped, throughout almost all civilizations that reside on T'bet Dal. Their effects are observable and quantifiable, so atheism as a concept does not deny the existence of supreme beings, but their divinity.

The gods "feed" on prayers like they are some form of arcane nourishment. Acts of intense worship, such as sacrifice, provide far more sustenance than a basic daily prayer.
That said, worship doesn't enhance their power; it sustains them, much like water to a plant. They cannot survive without it.

The Widespread Gods of T'bet Dal

The Lesser Hieron

There are many lesser gods that hold much smaller, minor dominions. For example, Gheu is the god of fermentation. They may have temples throughout the world, but they are not widespread enough to exert their wills in a manner nearly as influential as the gods of the Prime Hieron.

History

After the fall of The Antaeran Empire, religious freedom was reinstated in much of Iave.
This resulted in a great revival of the gods that the people's ancestors had covertly passed down. As such, there seem to be many different names and interpretations for beings that seem to be very similar.
For example, if you were to ask different cultures who the "God of War" was, you may hear the names Y'astyr, Mars, or Ares.

Type

Religious, Pantheon