Northlands Pantheon
The stern gods of the Northlands of Elaysm are forbidding, bloody, grim, and dangerous—to outsiders. Northern humans, smallfolk, and gaians take joy in the delights of gods that call them to excellence, that invite great boasts and greater deeds, and that laugh louder than thunder.
Piety in the Northlands is a curious thing. Although the gods have their share of true believers, most people regard the gods as unruly kings rather than divine beings: powerful and dangerous if crossed, helpful when bribed or flattered, and thankfully easy to appease with tribute. Blood is the usual sacrifice. Goats, cattle, or horses suffice most of the time, but it’s not uncommon for mortalkind to go beneath the knife when dire portents and evil occurrences demand a response.
Each god prefers offerings delivered in a particular way: Wotan demands sacrifices are hung and pierced by spears, while Baldur’s offerings are burned and Thor prefers heads bashed in with a sacred hammer. Druids, oracles, and even witches are all common classifications for priests, while full-time clerics in the southern style are a relative rarity, treated more as favored champions than clergy. Most priests also pursue another role, from jarl or captain to soothsayer, hunter, or smith. Worship isn’t something to be kept separate from everyday life; it takes place in feasting halls and forges, on battlefields and the swaying decks of longships. The North hosts few dedicated temples not because Northlanders are impious, but because they consider it fruitless to try to contain their gods. They’ve better things to do than visit you, so it’s best to call on them in the places where they like to walk.
Few Northlanders devote themselves to a single deity. Most acknowledge all gods as powerful and best not angered. Although most people have a deity or two that’s close to their heart, it’s not uncommon for Northlanders to call upon local gods when traveling, abandoning them with equal casualness when they move on.
Alignment: Neutral good
Domains: Life, Light
Prime Deity: Thera
Symbol: A gem-encrusted silver chalice
Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Comparable To: Freya in Lados, Ishtar in the Atlantean Pantheon, Lada in Endhome, and Lachesis in the High Houses.
Baldur is famed for his incredible beauty. It is said that mortal women cannot look upon him without being enchanted. He appears as a handsome well-dressed human with golden hair and a neatly-trimmed beard. He enjoys basking in the grace bestowed by his followers, and is often accompanied by an entourage of women. He has no ulterior motives in his actions, always speaking and acting honestly. Baldur is as wise as he is handsome. He often seeks to reward those who do good deeds. Baldur's followers believe that creating objects of beauty brings one closer to divinity. The gods serve as ideal representation of artistic expression, and should be revered as such. His followers also believe that one should accept fate with laughter and a smile. This tendency to believe that fate cannot be changed and should be accepted is popularly held by followers of the Northern pantheon. Priests of Baldur tend to have exceptional beauty, and are often skilled artists. They dress in fine but understated clothing. Their duties include sharing works of art with talented individuals, in the hopes of inspiring future great artworks. They also serve by counseling for the bereaved. Baldur's temples are always beautifully designed. They possess a simple, understated elegance. These temples are decorated with great artworks, including carvings and paintings. Smallfolk architects and craftsmen are often involved in their construction, and temples to Baldur are more common where gnomes live. These temples contain workshops where the clergy and visitors may create works of art and hope to receive inspiration from Baldur. Visitors sometimes report being overwhelmed by the grace and beauty of his temples. Like most of the few temples to the Northern gods, Baldur's temples are also well fortified. Temples of Baldur often host performances by skalds—bards—including particularly famous poets.
Alignment: Neutral good
Domains: Nature, Seasons
Prime Deity: Gaia
Symbol: A bronze and emerald chalice in front of a laurel wreath
Favored Weapon: Sickle (Freyr bastard sword (Freyja)
Comparable To: Telophus in Lados; Tarhun in the Altantean pantheon; Porevit & Yarila in the elven pantheon; Masaru in the High Houses.
Freyr and Freyja are twins, children of the Vanir (the Northlander word for elves) who now dwell among the Aesir (the Northlander word for humans). Technically hostages exchanged after the Vanir War, they’re now considered part of the family and sit in the highest councils of Asgard. They taught the gods witchcraft and were the divine sponsors of Njord the Sea Master. Freyr and Freyja are gods of the old elven religion that has adapted better than most to the new ways. Freyr bestows peace and pleasure on mortals, a protector of farmers and a foe to fire giants and flames that destroy farmsteads and fields. Freyja is a skilled witch, so beautiful she cries golden tears. She wears the necklace of the Brisings, an unmatched piece of jewelry she purchased at great cost. Freyja is also the patron of shield maidens. Both adventurous deities have seen their share of battles. Like Wotan, they gather fallen warriors to form an army with which the Vanir will fight beside the Aesir at Ragnarok. Elves, the elfmarked, farmers, and hunters are all followers of Freyr and Freyja. The twin gods are wildly popular in the Northlands and in the Naledi Empire. The sacred books of Freyr and Freyja are all written in Elvish or the Northern Tongue. One is called the Coming of the Green Gods, the other is Wisdom of the Vanir. The North supports hundreds of shrines to the twin gods, deep in forest clearings or in shallow caverns, especially those containing springs or rivers. The largest stone temple of the faith is in the town of Bjeornheim, the Temple of the Hive and Flower. This sweet-smelling temple’s priests include a few bearfolk as well as humans.
Alignment: Neutral
Domains: Arcana, Death
Prime Deity: Gaia
Symbol: A serpent eating its own tail in lemniscate form.
Favored Weapon: Battleaxe
Comparable To: Kamien in Lados; Tiamat in the Atlantean pantheon.
The Great Serpent is the embodiment of worldly things, strength and rage, wisdom and water, earth and blood and death. The Serpent is entirely unconcerned with an afterlife, but instead focused on the natural world and its various scaly and non‑scaly children. Some claim he is one of Loki’s children, but this is likely another one of Loki’s tall tales. Sailors who claim to have seen the flanks of Jormungandr describe the god as a wall of mossy, scaly flesh encircling the oceans. Beyond his bulk lies the Void filled with stars and darkness. Giants and dragons are the primary followers of the World Serpent, though some smallfolk, humans, and kobolds also acknowledge him. Jormungandr is a reminder of the short lives and paltry significance of most mortal lives. As a result, few care to worship the Great Serpent. Most of his followers are dour stoics or frenzied believers who live life to the fullest, since the afterlife is uncertain at best. Certain druid cults follow the Serpent of Wisdom, and cults devoted to the Void and outer darkness claim a dark and apocalyptic version of the Great Serpent as their patron. Some believe that Jormungandr taught the Northern and Southern tongues to the giants and the dragons, respectively. If any original books of his teachings survive, they are rare and known only to a few. Whispers claim that one such volume exists, called the Forked-Tongue Prophecies or sometimes the Circled Tongue. It is said to grant power over serpents, drakes, and dragons, and to foretell the end of all things. Jormungandr has few great shrines and famous priests, though many caves serve as his holy sites, especially those containing streams or springs. Some dragons and giants claim the title of high priest, but Jormungandr seems not to care. The Portal of the Void in Harkesh claims the honor of the god’s most prominent shrine. Its high priest, Yavuz al‑Prezhan, is one of the few who performs rites specifically to honor Jormungandr. Dragons seem keen on these rites, which involve kobold and dragonkin sacrifices. A less prominent but nevertheless important shrine to the Serpent stands in the Naledi Empire, at Bad Solitz in the private sanctuary of the vann Rottsten family at the Tourmaline Palace. Jormungandr is largely disinterested in other faiths, and they likewise ignore the Serpent Father. The great exception is Thor and his mask or brother Perun, both mortal enemies of the Great Serpent. The dragon gods acknowledge Jormungandr but do little to aid or hinder him. Some prophecies of the Dragon Empire explicitly call on the authority of “the Five Dragon Gods,” while others refer only to “the Four Great Patron Gods of the Empire.” For worshippers, Jormangandr has the following wisdom: Your time is short, and all things end. Make your mark on the world, show mercy or cruelty, but prepare yourself for the end of all things. Ensure that the ley lines run smooth, that magic remains strong, and the world will live longer. If you corrupt the ley lines and walk with dark gods, you hasten the hour of apocalypse.
Alignment: Chaotic neutral
Domains: Travel, Trickery
Prime Deity: Alizaxis
Symbol: Twin serpents
Favored Weapon: Net
Comparable To: Set in the Atlantean pantheon; Marena in Endhome; Nethus in the Seven Cities region; Ludz in the High Houses.
What’s known and rumored about Loki is surely only the tip of the iceberg compared to what’s hidden behind misdirection and lies. You’ll never hear the same story of his origin twice, and that’s the way he likes it. Loki is a trickster and an instigator. He brings change—often dangerous change—but also helps the gods escape the trouble he causes. In a world dominated by the strong and forthright, he embodies the talents that Northlanders overlook: cleverness, stealth, and guile. Many liken Loki to a fire—useful, bright, and alluring but also unpredictable, uncontrollable, and potentially deadly. Like a flame he can suddenly shift from small and harmless to large and dangerous. He’s a renowned shapeshifter even among the gods and has sired numerous monsters, including the wolf Fenris, his half-dead daughter Hel, and (allegedly) the World Serpent. Loki’s fate is a dark one. Driven by jealousy, he will kill Baldur and his monstrous children will bring about the twilight of the gods. These deeds might be in the future, but they cannot be forgiven or forgotten, even before they have come to pass. Some say the suspicion of the gods and the scorn of mortals will drive him from mischief to evil, whereas others claim that Loki was wickedness incarnate from the start. The truth—like so much more about him—will probably never be known. Clever warriors and cooks, mischief-makers and the wise, all sorts worship Loki and thank him for the gift of fire and knowledge . . . but all know his dark side as well. Fisherfolk are especially fond of him, since the net is said to be Loki’s invention. Most of Loki’s followers are monsters or scoundrels of some kind. He’s worshipped by those who consort with monsters and those about to commit acts of treachery or cunning. Few dare to call upon him, since his divine “help” causes more trouble than it solves. His priests keep no books; they pass along his faith through the spoken word. Loki has almost no temples, though in a sense he has thousands, since some might worship him at every fire. Loki is blood-brother of Wotan and a common companion to Thor, and the jester of the gods. They are family, and often allies. Yet he continually provokes the Aesir and finds himself unwelcome in Valhalla—at least until his cunning is needed once more. His primary friends are often disreputable gods: Boreas, the Hunter, Chernobog, and Sarastra consort with him and sometimes aid his plots. Sif, Baldur, and Freyr and Freya all have a distinctly antagonistic view of Loki, and the feeling is mutual.
Alignment: Lawful good
Domains: Forge, Law
Prime Deity: Fatima
Symbol: A brace of arrows
Favored Weapon: Longbow
Comparable To: Ceres(Foerdewaith) in Lados; Kishar in the Atlantean pantheon; Holda in the elvish pantheon; Ceres (Seven Cities) in the Seven Cities region of Elaysm; Benten in the Emerald Empire; Lenore in the High Houses.
Sif is the gold-keeping, arrow-shooting, ale-brewing wife of Thor, the equal of any man and better than most. She is the good mother and friend of the faithful. Married and unmarried women comprise most of Sif’s followers, though archers, farmers, and gold-seeking dwarves all maintain varying degrees of fondness for her as well. All female warriors give Sif her due as leader of the valkyries and shield maidens. Her priests keep no books. Sif’s greatest shrine is the wooden church of Jarlshallen, a small village on a mountaintop of Vidim . Her shield maidens gather there each year for blessings, and the valkyries bless the men and women who come to her each spring before the raiding season and each fall before the giants come down from the ice and mountains. Her priestesses include prophets and oracles. She is known as Grajava the Shield Maiden among the smallfolk and Skadi among the giants. Sif is on excellent terms with followers of Thor, Lada, and Svarog. She is the unwavering enemy of Boreas, Chernobog, and Marena. Sif teaches her followers to be fierce and be faithful, and fight for what you believe in. Learn the bow and axe and spear as a warrior, or raise children to be strong and true, and do either or both with your whole heart. Stand strong in the summer and learn to bend in the winter storm. Strike down evil and practice your own excellence without ever insulting another’s skill.
Alignment: Chaotic good
Domains: Tempest, War
Prime Deity: Fatima
Symbol: The hammer Mjolnir
Favored Weapon: Warhammer
Comparable To: Muir in Lados; Perun in Endhome; Khespotan in the Dragon Empire; Bishamon in the Emerald Empire.
Wotan’s eldest and boldest son, Thor is the champion of man and dwarf. Riding out in search of glory on a chariot pulled by tireless celestial goats, hammer at his side, he is the adventurer of Asgard and the eternal foe of giants, trolls, and other monsters. Thor is typically depicted as a large man with a wild red mane and beard, filled with daring courage and none too bright. Countless godlings and ancient spirits fell beneath his hammer, and to this day Northern monsters and especially giants fear and hate him. The dwarves are wary of Thor, for although he created them alongside Volund, he also smote their halls when they dared to favor the smith god over him. Reaver dwarves invoke him both as creator and for vengeance and retribution. Reaver dwarves and Northlanders worship Thor as the god of war and raiding, of thunder and glory. As a great defender of the North and a good husband to his divine wife Sif, he is widely revered by elders, wives, and villagers, not just those who go a-viking. His hammer is the symbol of strength and thunder, fertility, and protection from the supernatural. Everyone from raiders to farmers make offerings to Thor. Warriors look to him for strength and bravery, while peaceful folk display his hammer to ward off trolls and keep danger from their doors. Its touch blesses newborns with strength, secures marriage vows, and drives back undead. His strength is both physical and spiritual. The followers of Thor have no sacred books, though his songs and chants are common and widely known. The Ironcrags and the North hold the greatest shrines to Thor, especially in Wintersheim, Tanserhall, and the Shrine of Golden Hammers in Thunder Mountain. The greatest priest of Thor is Ulfrich Thorson (CG male dwarf), of the dwarven Order of the Thunderer in Thunder Mountain. Thor is the eternal enemy of Chernobog, Vardesain, and Boreas, and all the dark gods of the giants and the south. His allies are Sif, Wotan, and Baldur. Loki is his half-brother, and yet Thor finds him vexing as often as not. Thor’s worshippers invoke him with deeds, not words. They shout his name during battles and duels, and as a challenge to monsters in the wild. His temples are battlefields new and old, where worshippers seal oaths of brotherhood with runes of painted blood and the sacrifice of bears and oxen. Followers must emulate his deeds of strength and bravery, never fearing death or evading an honorable challenge. To fall bravely in battle is the perfect end for them—the Thunderer has little love for those who live to see a “straw death,” meaning a death from sickness or old age, on the comfort of a straw mattress instead of in the iron and blood of battle.
Alignment: Lawful neutral
Domains: Grave, Knowledge
Prime Deity: Oros
Symbol: The World Tree
Favored Weapon: Spear
Comparable To: Mitra in Lados; Mithra in the Atlantean pantheon; Khors in Endhome, Valeresh in the elven pantheon; Aten in the Scorched Lands.
Thor and Baldur might be more beloved by the people, but Wotan stands head and shoulders above his kin in power. He is the creator who carved up the body of the first giant to make the world; he is the magician who stole runes and charms from the unknown Void. He rewards the heroic dead with a place at his table and is the patron of proud and ruthless kings. Ravens fly across the world to bring him news and rumors, and from his enchanted throne he can spy upon all creation. He plucked out his own eye in return for wisdom, and when that wasn’t enough he hung himself upon the Tree of Worlds, stealing secrets from the Void beyond existence. His name is a kenning for wisdom, poetry, and the kingly arts of war. Wotan embodies the virtues of a strong king—foresighted and wise, ruthless toward his enemies but generous to followers, master of magic and lord of war. He is the god of strife, chieftains, and kings, master of runes and stealer of wisdom. He slew Aurgelmir the first giant and so earned the enmity of all giantkind. Their continuing battles have been largely one-sided; Wotan’s superior cunning and wisdom ensure he triumphs time and time again. Despite such virtues, Wotan’s followers are relatively few. Wotan is dour and his gifts carry a price; he is most beloved by the few jarls, wizards, and graybeards who value wisdom. Young warriors and maidens see no value in such a grandfatherly figure. Among dwarves, the worship of Wotan the All-Father represents a step in life, beyond callow youth and into maturity and middle age. Older men and dwarves proclaim their loyalty at his shrines and feed his ravens bread, but some women revere Wotan as well, for the swift news his ravens bring or for the power of rune magic. In addition, Wotan has many followers among the huginn (ravenfolk). They see him as the greatest of figures, for his servants are feathered and wise, and Wotan is as wily as every huginn wishes to be. Wotan's symbols are many, including the world tree Yggdrasil, the single eye, and the runes. Sometimes ravens and wolves (his favored animals) are taken as his sign as well. His holy writings are exclusively in the Northern Tongue, and include the Well of Mimir, the Tree of Knowledge, and the scroll called the Secret Runes. Writing is his his favored form of recording wisdom; he expects all his followers to be literate. The greatest shrine of Wotan is in the dwarven hall of Stannasgard, where the chanting of the rune chorus never ceases and the altar fires burn in his honor. The kings and captains of the dwarven reavers are Wotan’s priests or at least his devoted worshippers. The greatest of his current high priests is Brökk Kolisen, a black-bearded man who was orphaned and raised among the dwarves, loved and respected for his understanding of their ways. Wotan is a solitary god and rarely venerated outside the Northlands and the Ironcrags, although he is popular among the Bemmean mages for his connection to lore and magic. Wotan’s priests are enemies of Sarastra, the goddess of night and magic. Wotan’s son Loki is his primary antagonist in the North, though Wotan’s priests also keep watch against the forces of dark gods such as Mammon, the Goat of the Woods, the White Goddess, and the derro goddess Addrikah, the Mother of Madness. Wotan demands that his mortal servants embody the qualities for which he’s famous, so most of them are jarls and kings. Warriors pray to him, hoping to earn luck and victory in battle, or if defeat is fated then to attract the attention of his valkyries and a place in Valhalla. Wotan demands his followers be canny in judgment, skilled in poetry, and quick to lead men into honorable battle. Cowards and fools find no sympathy from the Rune God.
Baldur
God of Beauty; Bright Son; Baldr
Status: Lesser GodAlignment: Neutral good
Domains: Life, Light
Prime Deity: Thera
Symbol: A gem-encrusted silver chalice
Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Comparable To: Freya in Lados, Ishtar in the Atlantean Pantheon, Lada in Endhome, and Lachesis in the High Houses.
Baldur is famed for his incredible beauty. It is said that mortal women cannot look upon him without being enchanted. He appears as a handsome well-dressed human with golden hair and a neatly-trimmed beard. He enjoys basking in the grace bestowed by his followers, and is often accompanied by an entourage of women. He has no ulterior motives in his actions, always speaking and acting honestly. Baldur is as wise as he is handsome. He often seeks to reward those who do good deeds. Baldur's followers believe that creating objects of beauty brings one closer to divinity. The gods serve as ideal representation of artistic expression, and should be revered as such. His followers also believe that one should accept fate with laughter and a smile. This tendency to believe that fate cannot be changed and should be accepted is popularly held by followers of the Northern pantheon. Priests of Baldur tend to have exceptional beauty, and are often skilled artists. They dress in fine but understated clothing. Their duties include sharing works of art with talented individuals, in the hopes of inspiring future great artworks. They also serve by counseling for the bereaved. Baldur's temples are always beautifully designed. They possess a simple, understated elegance. These temples are decorated with great artworks, including carvings and paintings. Smallfolk architects and craftsmen are often involved in their construction, and temples to Baldur are more common where gnomes live. These temples contain workshops where the clergy and visitors may create works of art and hope to receive inspiration from Baldur. Visitors sometimes report being overwhelmed by the grace and beauty of his temples. Like most of the few temples to the Northern gods, Baldur's temples are also well fortified. Temples of Baldur often host performances by skalds—bards—including particularly famous poets.
Freyr & Freyja
Twin Gods of Passion, Fertiliy, Magic, and the Living World; Lord and Lady of the Vanir; the Twins of Wine
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Neutral good
Domains: Nature, Seasons
Prime Deity: Gaia
Symbol: A bronze and emerald chalice in front of a laurel wreath
Favored Weapon: Sickle (Freyr bastard sword (Freyja)
Comparable To: Telophus in Lados; Tarhun in the Altantean pantheon; Porevit & Yarila in the elven pantheon; Masaru in the High Houses.
Freyr and Freyja are twins, children of the Vanir (the Northlander word for elves) who now dwell among the Aesir (the Northlander word for humans). Technically hostages exchanged after the Vanir War, they’re now considered part of the family and sit in the highest councils of Asgard. They taught the gods witchcraft and were the divine sponsors of Njord the Sea Master. Freyr and Freyja are gods of the old elven religion that has adapted better than most to the new ways. Freyr bestows peace and pleasure on mortals, a protector of farmers and a foe to fire giants and flames that destroy farmsteads and fields. Freyja is a skilled witch, so beautiful she cries golden tears. She wears the necklace of the Brisings, an unmatched piece of jewelry she purchased at great cost. Freyja is also the patron of shield maidens. Both adventurous deities have seen their share of battles. Like Wotan, they gather fallen warriors to form an army with which the Vanir will fight beside the Aesir at Ragnarok. Elves, the elfmarked, farmers, and hunters are all followers of Freyr and Freyja. The twin gods are wildly popular in the Northlands and in the Naledi Empire. The sacred books of Freyr and Freyja are all written in Elvish or the Northern Tongue. One is called the Coming of the Green Gods, the other is Wisdom of the Vanir. The North supports hundreds of shrines to the twin gods, deep in forest clearings or in shallow caverns, especially those containing springs or rivers. The largest stone temple of the faith is in the town of Bjeornheim, the Temple of the Hive and Flower. This sweet-smelling temple’s priests include a few bearfolk as well as humans.
Jormungandr
God of the Earth and Waters; Creator of Torar; Father of Serpents; Lord of Oceans; Emperor of Earthquakes; Patron of Giants and Dragons; Voice of Distant Stars
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Neutral
Domains: Arcana, Death
Prime Deity: Gaia
Symbol: A serpent eating its own tail in lemniscate form.
Favored Weapon: Battleaxe
Comparable To: Kamien in Lados; Tiamat in the Atlantean pantheon.
The Great Serpent is the embodiment of worldly things, strength and rage, wisdom and water, earth and blood and death. The Serpent is entirely unconcerned with an afterlife, but instead focused on the natural world and its various scaly and non‑scaly children. Some claim he is one of Loki’s children, but this is likely another one of Loki’s tall tales. Sailors who claim to have seen the flanks of Jormungandr describe the god as a wall of mossy, scaly flesh encircling the oceans. Beyond his bulk lies the Void filled with stars and darkness. Giants and dragons are the primary followers of the World Serpent, though some smallfolk, humans, and kobolds also acknowledge him. Jormungandr is a reminder of the short lives and paltry significance of most mortal lives. As a result, few care to worship the Great Serpent. Most of his followers are dour stoics or frenzied believers who live life to the fullest, since the afterlife is uncertain at best. Certain druid cults follow the Serpent of Wisdom, and cults devoted to the Void and outer darkness claim a dark and apocalyptic version of the Great Serpent as their patron. Some believe that Jormungandr taught the Northern and Southern tongues to the giants and the dragons, respectively. If any original books of his teachings survive, they are rare and known only to a few. Whispers claim that one such volume exists, called the Forked-Tongue Prophecies or sometimes the Circled Tongue. It is said to grant power over serpents, drakes, and dragons, and to foretell the end of all things. Jormungandr has few great shrines and famous priests, though many caves serve as his holy sites, especially those containing streams or springs. Some dragons and giants claim the title of high priest, but Jormungandr seems not to care. The Portal of the Void in Harkesh claims the honor of the god’s most prominent shrine. Its high priest, Yavuz al‑Prezhan, is one of the few who performs rites specifically to honor Jormungandr. Dragons seem keen on these rites, which involve kobold and dragonkin sacrifices. A less prominent but nevertheless important shrine to the Serpent stands in the Naledi Empire, at Bad Solitz in the private sanctuary of the vann Rottsten family at the Tourmaline Palace. Jormungandr is largely disinterested in other faiths, and they likewise ignore the Serpent Father. The great exception is Thor and his mask or brother Perun, both mortal enemies of the Great Serpent. The dragon gods acknowledge Jormungandr but do little to aid or hinder him. Some prophecies of the Dragon Empire explicitly call on the authority of “the Five Dragon Gods,” while others refer only to “the Four Great Patron Gods of the Empire.” For worshippers, Jormangandr has the following wisdom: Your time is short, and all things end. Make your mark on the world, show mercy or cruelty, but prepare yourself for the end of all things. Ensure that the ley lines run smooth, that magic remains strong, and the world will live longer. If you corrupt the ley lines and walk with dark gods, you hasten the hour of apocalypse.
Loki
Shapeshifting God of Cunning, Mischief, and Malice; Lord of Deception; Patron of Thieves; Father of Fenris and Jormungandr
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Chaotic neutral
Domains: Travel, Trickery
Prime Deity: Alizaxis
Symbol: Twin serpents
Favored Weapon: Net
Comparable To: Set in the Atlantean pantheon; Marena in Endhome; Nethus in the Seven Cities region; Ludz in the High Houses.
What’s known and rumored about Loki is surely only the tip of the iceberg compared to what’s hidden behind misdirection and lies. You’ll never hear the same story of his origin twice, and that’s the way he likes it. Loki is a trickster and an instigator. He brings change—often dangerous change—but also helps the gods escape the trouble he causes. In a world dominated by the strong and forthright, he embodies the talents that Northlanders overlook: cleverness, stealth, and guile. Many liken Loki to a fire—useful, bright, and alluring but also unpredictable, uncontrollable, and potentially deadly. Like a flame he can suddenly shift from small and harmless to large and dangerous. He’s a renowned shapeshifter even among the gods and has sired numerous monsters, including the wolf Fenris, his half-dead daughter Hel, and (allegedly) the World Serpent. Loki’s fate is a dark one. Driven by jealousy, he will kill Baldur and his monstrous children will bring about the twilight of the gods. These deeds might be in the future, but they cannot be forgiven or forgotten, even before they have come to pass. Some say the suspicion of the gods and the scorn of mortals will drive him from mischief to evil, whereas others claim that Loki was wickedness incarnate from the start. The truth—like so much more about him—will probably never be known. Clever warriors and cooks, mischief-makers and the wise, all sorts worship Loki and thank him for the gift of fire and knowledge . . . but all know his dark side as well. Fisherfolk are especially fond of him, since the net is said to be Loki’s invention. Most of Loki’s followers are monsters or scoundrels of some kind. He’s worshipped by those who consort with monsters and those about to commit acts of treachery or cunning. Few dare to call upon him, since his divine “help” causes more trouble than it solves. His priests keep no books; they pass along his faith through the spoken word. Loki has almost no temples, though in a sense he has thousands, since some might worship him at every fire. Loki is blood-brother of Wotan and a common companion to Thor, and the jester of the gods. They are family, and often allies. Yet he continually provokes the Aesir and finds himself unwelcome in Valhalla—at least until his cunning is needed once more. His primary friends are often disreputable gods: Boreas, the Hunter, Chernobog, and Sarastra consort with him and sometimes aid his plots. Sif, Baldur, and Freyr and Freya all have a distinctly antagonistic view of Loki, and the feeling is mutual.
Sif
The Sword Maiden; Goddess of Family and Marriage; Mistress of Valkyries; Wife to Thor; Patron of Women Warriors and Archers
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Lawful good
Domains: Forge, Law
Prime Deity: Fatima
Symbol: A brace of arrows
Favored Weapon: Longbow
Comparable To: Ceres(Foerdewaith) in Lados; Kishar in the Atlantean pantheon; Holda in the elvish pantheon; Ceres (Seven Cities) in the Seven Cities region of Elaysm; Benten in the Emerald Empire; Lenore in the High Houses.
Sif is the gold-keeping, arrow-shooting, ale-brewing wife of Thor, the equal of any man and better than most. She is the good mother and friend of the faithful. Married and unmarried women comprise most of Sif’s followers, though archers, farmers, and gold-seeking dwarves all maintain varying degrees of fondness for her as well. All female warriors give Sif her due as leader of the valkyries and shield maidens. Her priests keep no books. Sif’s greatest shrine is the wooden church of Jarlshallen, a small village on a mountaintop of Vidim . Her shield maidens gather there each year for blessings, and the valkyries bless the men and women who come to her each spring before the raiding season and each fall before the giants come down from the ice and mountains. Her priestesses include prophets and oracles. She is known as Grajava the Shield Maiden among the smallfolk and Skadi among the giants. Sif is on excellent terms with followers of Thor, Lada, and Svarog. She is the unwavering enemy of Boreas, Chernobog, and Marena. Sif teaches her followers to be fierce and be faithful, and fight for what you believe in. Learn the bow and axe and spear as a warrior, or raise children to be strong and true, and do either or both with your whole heart. Stand strong in the summer and learn to bend in the winter storm. Strike down evil and practice your own excellence without ever insulting another’s skill.
Thor
The Thunderer; God of Lightning, War, and Strength; Slayer of Monsters and Protector of Mortals; Hisband of Sif; Patron of the Northlands
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Chaotic good
Domains: Tempest, War
Prime Deity: Fatima
Symbol: The hammer Mjolnir
Favored Weapon: Warhammer
Comparable To: Muir in Lados; Perun in Endhome; Khespotan in the Dragon Empire; Bishamon in the Emerald Empire.
Wotan’s eldest and boldest son, Thor is the champion of man and dwarf. Riding out in search of glory on a chariot pulled by tireless celestial goats, hammer at his side, he is the adventurer of Asgard and the eternal foe of giants, trolls, and other monsters. Thor is typically depicted as a large man with a wild red mane and beard, filled with daring courage and none too bright. Countless godlings and ancient spirits fell beneath his hammer, and to this day Northern monsters and especially giants fear and hate him. The dwarves are wary of Thor, for although he created them alongside Volund, he also smote their halls when they dared to favor the smith god over him. Reaver dwarves invoke him both as creator and for vengeance and retribution. Reaver dwarves and Northlanders worship Thor as the god of war and raiding, of thunder and glory. As a great defender of the North and a good husband to his divine wife Sif, he is widely revered by elders, wives, and villagers, not just those who go a-viking. His hammer is the symbol of strength and thunder, fertility, and protection from the supernatural. Everyone from raiders to farmers make offerings to Thor. Warriors look to him for strength and bravery, while peaceful folk display his hammer to ward off trolls and keep danger from their doors. Its touch blesses newborns with strength, secures marriage vows, and drives back undead. His strength is both physical and spiritual. The followers of Thor have no sacred books, though his songs and chants are common and widely known. The Ironcrags and the North hold the greatest shrines to Thor, especially in Wintersheim, Tanserhall, and the Shrine of Golden Hammers in Thunder Mountain. The greatest priest of Thor is Ulfrich Thorson (CG male dwarf), of the dwarven Order of the Thunderer in Thunder Mountain. Thor is the eternal enemy of Chernobog, Vardesain, and Boreas, and all the dark gods of the giants and the south. His allies are Sif, Wotan, and Baldur. Loki is his half-brother, and yet Thor finds him vexing as often as not. Thor’s worshippers invoke him with deeds, not words. They shout his name during battles and duels, and as a challenge to monsters in the wild. His temples are battlefields new and old, where worshippers seal oaths of brotherhood with runes of painted blood and the sacrifice of bears and oxen. Followers must emulate his deeds of strength and bravery, never fearing death or evading an honorable challenge. To fall bravely in battle is the perfect end for them—the Thunderer has little love for those who live to see a “straw death,” meaning a death from sickness or old age, on the comfort of a straw mattress instead of in the iron and blood of battle.
Wotan
All Father; Rune Master; God of the Tree and Raven; God of Strife; King of Asgard and Lord of Valhalla; Patron of Kings and Wizards; Shaman of the Gods
Status: Lesser GodsAlignment: Lawful neutral
Domains: Grave, Knowledge
Prime Deity: Oros
Symbol: The World Tree
Favored Weapon: Spear
Comparable To: Mitra in Lados; Mithra in the Atlantean pantheon; Khors in Endhome, Valeresh in the elven pantheon; Aten in the Scorched Lands.
Thor and Baldur might be more beloved by the people, but Wotan stands head and shoulders above his kin in power. He is the creator who carved up the body of the first giant to make the world; he is the magician who stole runes and charms from the unknown Void. He rewards the heroic dead with a place at his table and is the patron of proud and ruthless kings. Ravens fly across the world to bring him news and rumors, and from his enchanted throne he can spy upon all creation. He plucked out his own eye in return for wisdom, and when that wasn’t enough he hung himself upon the Tree of Worlds, stealing secrets from the Void beyond existence. His name is a kenning for wisdom, poetry, and the kingly arts of war. Wotan embodies the virtues of a strong king—foresighted and wise, ruthless toward his enemies but generous to followers, master of magic and lord of war. He is the god of strife, chieftains, and kings, master of runes and stealer of wisdom. He slew Aurgelmir the first giant and so earned the enmity of all giantkind. Their continuing battles have been largely one-sided; Wotan’s superior cunning and wisdom ensure he triumphs time and time again. Despite such virtues, Wotan’s followers are relatively few. Wotan is dour and his gifts carry a price; he is most beloved by the few jarls, wizards, and graybeards who value wisdom. Young warriors and maidens see no value in such a grandfatherly figure. Among dwarves, the worship of Wotan the All-Father represents a step in life, beyond callow youth and into maturity and middle age. Older men and dwarves proclaim their loyalty at his shrines and feed his ravens bread, but some women revere Wotan as well, for the swift news his ravens bring or for the power of rune magic. In addition, Wotan has many followers among the huginn (ravenfolk). They see him as the greatest of figures, for his servants are feathered and wise, and Wotan is as wily as every huginn wishes to be. Wotan's symbols are many, including the world tree Yggdrasil, the single eye, and the runes. Sometimes ravens and wolves (his favored animals) are taken as his sign as well. His holy writings are exclusively in the Northern Tongue, and include the Well of Mimir, the Tree of Knowledge, and the scroll called the Secret Runes. Writing is his his favored form of recording wisdom; he expects all his followers to be literate. The greatest shrine of Wotan is in the dwarven hall of Stannasgard, where the chanting of the rune chorus never ceases and the altar fires burn in his honor. The kings and captains of the dwarven reavers are Wotan’s priests or at least his devoted worshippers. The greatest of his current high priests is Brökk Kolisen, a black-bearded man who was orphaned and raised among the dwarves, loved and respected for his understanding of their ways. Wotan is a solitary god and rarely venerated outside the Northlands and the Ironcrags, although he is popular among the Bemmean mages for his connection to lore and magic. Wotan’s priests are enemies of Sarastra, the goddess of night and magic. Wotan’s son Loki is his primary antagonist in the North, though Wotan’s priests also keep watch against the forces of dark gods such as Mammon, the Goat of the Woods, the White Goddess, and the derro goddess Addrikah, the Mother of Madness. Wotan demands that his mortal servants embody the qualities for which he’s famous, so most of them are jarls and kings. Warriors pray to him, hoping to earn luck and victory in battle, or if defeat is fated then to attract the attention of his valkyries and a place in Valhalla. Wotan demands his followers be canny in judgment, skilled in poetry, and quick to lead men into honorable battle. Cowards and fools find no sympathy from the Rune God.
Structure
Wotan is the leader of the Northlands pantheon, though Thor is the patron god of the Northlanders themselves.
Founding Date
21801 A.E.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Location
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