The Athmore Pantheon

The Faith of Athmorea (known colloquially as the Athmore Pantheon) is the ancient state religion of the long fallen Athmorean Civilization that existed in what is present-day Northwind. Now in a state of resurgence due to the evangelical ruler of the region called John De Burgh, the relevance of the faith's many monasteries and international pockets of faithful has become apparent. Iron Gate is the religious capital of the faith, with many of the religion's sacred buildings and institutions being brought back to life. Cities and settlements widely adhering to the faith exist everywhere in Northwind, and even as far north as Wrencrest in the Witherlands. 
== The Faith of Athmorea ==
=== Core Tenets ===
The principle teaching of the Athmorean Clergy is that all human-beings are all inherently divine creatures. Ancient legend explains that the Great God Paranir set the wheels of the universe in motion many millions of years ago, and in his infinite power and wisdom, grew lonely. God sacrificed much of its divine power in the creation of conscious beings so they could share and enjoy the existence of the universe. Within each human being is a certain amount of divinity sacrificed to them by God for them to either expand upon, or leave to vanish from their souls. It is taught that when this God delivered upon his first followers instructions for how to lead life, he came under the name "Paranir". Paranir is simply the word in old-tongue for God, so whether this is where the term actually originated from or if it was simply taken and adopted by Athmoreans is up for debate.
Building a very close relationship with the Gods is considered a necessity. There is no stigma around who can enter temples, or when a person is qualified to do so. Even the most impious heretic is capable of reconciling their misdeeds and recreating their divinity. Because humans are divine, certain "rights" are conferred upon them. It would be considered impious for an adherent of the Athmorean Pantheon to unfairly or cruelly treat a comrade, or accuse them of a crime without evidence. It would similarly be impious for any member of the clergy or Athmorean state to deny a lawful adherent of the faith their ability to worship the Gods or strip a man in good standing with the faith of their honor and due respect in consideration of their divine nature. Constructing almost human relationships with the Gods is also common cultural practice, as all of the Gods except Paranir were once mortals. Even Paranir, in many legends, appeared in physical manifestations to communicate his desires to the earliest of human civilizations.
Each God of the Pantheon was once a mortal being, and the Faith of Athmorea teaches that it is possible for any man or woman to ascend to godhood under the condition that they live a life so meritable that their inner divinity ascends them to the hallowed halls following their deaths. Depending on how pious an individual is throughout their lifetime, their divinity may carry them to differing levels of salvation. The Hallowed Halls is designed to be an eternal reflection of the life a person lived. On the contrary, if a person leads an impious or evil life, they will not be taken to an underworld; rather, their divinity and their soul disintegrate and bring them to a state of eternal nothingness. As a result, the faith's most central practical tenet is engaging in behavior society deems as "divine" or "of merit". This is ever present in the fact that all of the Gods are representative of things Athmorean society would deem as honorable and worthy of replication. There are no Gods of societal unpleasantries, like thievery, trickery, manipulation, deceit, etc.
During the vast majority of the Faith of Athmorea's prominence, it coincided with the Athmorean Empire as the state religion. The leaders of the Faith, known as the "Eptarchs" also served simultaneously as the head of the Athmorean state. This was meant to combine the laws of the faith and the laws of the land into one. Due to this, the Faith of Athmorea strongly professes that its adherents view society as the ultimate recipient of their service. The ultra-wealthy are often frowned upon, being viewed as individuals who saw the depth of their pockets as more valuable than the divinity of their soul or the general well being of the pious society they served.
The Athmorean Faith places extraordinary emphasis on warrior-prowess, especially on men. Many of the Gods depicted as males served as warriors defending their faith. This is not to say that it is an inherently male-preferential system. Men and women are viewed as very different in the faith, but very equal in terms of potential merit. Up to this point, the amount of mortal men and women who have ascended to godhood are split five even. Many scholars incorrectly interpret this to mean that the balance must be even, it is simply a coincidence that it is so. Women are allowed and even encourage to serve in the clergy and in political offices. In fact, women are often seen as more pure of heart, which makes them ideal in society for high positions in the clergy and why many of Eptarchs have been female.
There was a time where Athmoreans could have been considered an ethnic group. During the Age of Magic, there was a considerable amount of ethnic cohesion in what was the Athmorean Empire. However, because of the tenet that all humans are inherently divine, Athmoreans never considered themselves a people by blood. Blood did not cause a person to be Athmorean, their state of belief did. Because of this thinking, the Athmorean ethnicity became interconnected with many others the moment that ethnicities became diasporic following the end of the Age of Magic. This is not to say that Athmoreans are not a prejudiced group. In its recent resurgence, they've taken on a special disliking towards the Southern Pantheon due to their perceived aggressions on native soil, and their blatant confinement of divine peoples to social castes preventing them from maximizing their divinity.
=== History ===
=== The Age of Myth ===
Disclaimer:
The Age of Myth is what Athmorean Chroniclers point to as the foundation of the faith and of all civilizations of mankind. The historical validity of these teachings are a matter of intense debate among the wise of Marin. Just because it is written does not mean it happened in the way that it was described, or that it even happened at all.
The Faith of Athmorea began, in its primordial form, with the oldest of written records in the old-tongue. According to legend, the God Paranir eventually grew tired of sitting alone in his infinite power and wisdom, deciding to establish the known universe and all mortal beings within it. Before this endeavor, Paranir controlled unlimited dominion over the empty universe it lived in. Afterwards, much of its power was relinquished; transformed into the unexplainable phenomenon of human consciousness.
Ancient chroniclers wrote that the land of creation was harsh and barren, devoid of pleasantries. Many times, Paranir appeared before the masses and discussed with them its desire to test the fabric of its creations before entrusting them with a land befitting of their divinity. For many generations, humans birthed their young and raised them in these extremely harsh conditions. The human species grew to be hardy, coming to construct ordered tribes known as Primarchies. After being displeased with the human's apparent nature of fighting amongst themselves, Paranir voiced a final command to the strongest and most revered Primarch, Cedrik, to lead mankind elsewhere and establish the eternal kingdom. (In the ancient old-tongue chronicles, the word used to refer to the kingdom was "Athmor" which now roughly translates to "realm.") Paranir warned Cedrik that the journey would be filled with perils, and there would be many dangers awaiting them at their destination. It also informed Cedrik that the goal was to test the power and merit of their creation.
Cedrik and his legion arrived somewhere on the eastern coast of Marin, reportedly greeted by extremely thick forests and immediately hostile native fauna. Chroniclers wrote that despite how far around Cedrik ordered his longboats to scout, they only reported a coast lined by that same thick forest. Making their way through a variety of unfamiliar biomes, many of the human settlers immediately succumbed to illnesses. Many more died by the nightly hunt of animals depicted as monsters and demons in ancient tapestries. In these same records, settlers referred to this land as "Atmos Destri" which roughly translates to "Far Gone."
The tenacity of the human settlers prevailed, and after seven weeks they were rewarded by a shockingly different scene. Unlike their homeland, this region was covered in lush greens, dotted with hills, and lined with rivers. Paranir had kept its promise in rewarding Cedrik and mankind with a merrier land after demonstrating their prowess. It was on this terrain that Cedrik ordered the construction of Athmorea.
Athmorea as a city sprang into a period of expansion with the advent of Marinese agriculture. The land provided for the ability to sustain crops and build permanent settlements, which was extremely difficult for the grizzled hunters that comprised of mankind to grow accustomed to. With Cedrik reigning over the settlement's growth, he tasked lesser Primarchs with taking their tribes in all directions, scouting out what had just become their new homeland. Some came back with reports of great mountains that broke into the clouds, others reported forests, and many other stories for what surrounded their frontier. All the while, the growing settlement incurred a reaction by the native Mire population. Writings teach that interactions between Mires and Men were initially peaceful, but grew hostile with the growing human dominion. 
Athmorea developed and expanded, including sets of stone fortifications intended to repel mire attacks. Over Cedrik's forty-year dominion, he oversaw the construction of something resembling a city-state. (Of course, it is not historically accurate to say that Athmorea reached this point under Cedrik's reign, this is a point of legend. This likely occurred under the purview of dozens of rulers.) At this point, the native population solely worshipped Paranir. However, through the prophecies and teachings of Cedrik, the intricacies of the faith began to develop. Churches were seen as vital institutions, dedicated to the worship of Paranir and the message of God's first "chosen one." This spirit culminated in a legendary battle with between mankind and the Mires, where Cedrik gave his life to secure a victory and permanently repel the threat. It is said that at the place of his death, two mountains sprung to represent the relationship between his mortal nature and the state of divinity within him. This is the Athmorean explanation for the existence of the Twin Peaks. This is the story of Cedrik, the mythical founder of human civilization and the first mortal to ascend to Godhood. Myth prescribes that following his death, the other Primarchs convened to elect a new leader. This would become tradition for future Athmorean civilizations and monastic orders
Following Cedrik, Athmorea grew for a period of several hundred years. Populations of man became diasporic, settling varying regions of their new continent. The title of "Eptarch" was derived to note the most senior of the civilization's leaders, who was given infinite control over the growing realm and the faith. The city itself mythically began its journey to becoming what is today - a civilization of massive proportions. 
During the Age of Myth, another mortal god rose. Quifendatur, who's name in life has been lost to time, began organizing an army of the faithful. It was he that did away with the concept of a group of unified tribes, instead professing that society ought to be run as one unilateral agency of worshipping men of merit. His followers, known as the Paladins, were the pinnacle of Athmorean evangelical culture. They served at this time as the first standing army of the civilization, leading its frontiers and conquests into unknown territories, establishing small villages and towns across the lands they mapped. Quifendatur became a revered figure of Athmorea when he prevented the Dragon conquest of their realm, culminating in the battle of the Bulwark where he and his forces entered and slayed the last of the beasts. Instead of taking the Eptarch's throne, Quifendatur opted to develop the Bulwark into the primary military installation of the realm, serving for the rest of his life as the protector of its lands. 
=== The Age of Magic ===
The Age of Magic has no definitive start date relating to the Faith of Athmorea, but it is often regarded as the bridge between myth and history. 
== Gods of Athmorea ==
=== Paranir ===
Creator of the universe and all things within it and outside it. Always has existed and always will. The Creator sacrificed great quantity of its divine power to create human life, therefore making all human beings intrinsically divine. Those exemplary mortals that trough their deeds become worthy of apostheosis will be conferred ascended into godhood. Paranir's essence is what makes the athmorean faith into The Truth.
=== Cedrik ===
First mortal to ascend to godhood and mythical founder of the first human civilization in Marin. According to legend, he laid the foundations for the city of Irongate and by extension Northwind and Athmore's civilization as we know it. Referred to by the adherents of the faith as the first King of Man. Often associated as the patron god of order, civilization, construction, and moral constitution. Lived roughly two thousand years ago.
=== Quifendatur ===
Founding father of the Athmorean Paladins and second one to enter the hallowed halls of the pantheon. This legendary warrior hero who led waves of his ancient paladins against the hordes of elves, dragons, and native populations that threatened to harm the newly formed Athmorean civilization. Patron god of warriors, power, strength, and willpower. 
=== Iaris ===
The third mortal to join the pantheon did so by accomplishing the feat of growing the Silver Plains using her legendary magic. Legend has it that she turned down the throne of the Eptarch to serve the realm humbly among the peasantry. Wall Iaris in Iron Gate is named for her. Patron god of the harvest, humility, servitude, and magic.
=== Oaldin ===
The god to which Irongate's second wall owes its name is known as the “prophet God” for his founding of several still widespread Athmorean Monastic Orders. Founded the Order of the Hallowed Gods, among others. Oaldin also introduced the Athmorean faith as far south as the Sun Gate and as far north as Wrencrest. Known as the patron god of piety, religious orders, faith, and similar virtues.
=== Ihdros ===
First and only Eptarch known to have ascended to godhood. Ihdros was responsible for modernizing many of Old Athmore’s archaic systems and infrastructure. Mainly credited with ushering the era of the Northwind Empire which departed from the Hyperian Age (or Age of Myth), making it much more politically oriented. Patron Goddess of progress, arts, intelligence. The last of Irongate's walls is named after her.
=== Erenia ===
Sixth mortal to ascend to godhood, third female. Notably led the Athmorean Armies to defeat the First Uprising of the Northern Wind. As the story goes, after capturing the leader of the uprising, she was able to peacefully rehabilitate the revolutionaries as citizens of the Empire with little bloodshed. Later married the brother of the leader of the uprising and reconciled the conflict completely. Patron Goddess of diplomats, peace, the family, and compassion,
=== Savdum ===
Is belived to have led the mythical return of Athmorean war prisoners from beyond the Sun Gate during the zenith of the Empire's power. Traditionally accepted as the individual who established Northwind’s southernmost frontier at the Sun Gate. Typically credited with the construction of the North Road, which sprung the inception of the realm’s modern roads system. Patron God of change, new beginnings, freedom, and merchants. 
=== Ihtrix ===
Also known as the Seer and the Exodite, Ihtrix is said to have forseen the Age of Night. Dreading the long night to come, she urged her people to leave Northwind behind in what is now known as the Athmorean Diaspora.
Those who beleived her left everything behind but would eventually recieve new lives in faraway lands. In contrast, all those who were too attached to their decadent lifes in the empire or were too blind to see the signs of the upcoming darkness would suffer for their hubris. They would be fated to spend their last days as slaves to the Blood Lords, while their descendants would live like cattle for generations.
The Diaspora marks the separation of the two branches of the Athmorean faith. The Exiles would be all those who followed the godess in her long and uncertain journey, while the Redeemed would be the rest. The majority of Athmoreans are thus Redeemed, as those are the ones who descend from the population that stayed in Northwind.
=== Udall ===
For most of the Age of Night, the children of those who refused the Truth of Ihtrix would live in the long darkness of terror and fatalism. But the Athmorean Pantheon is about overcoming hardship, not being guilty for the sins of one's ancestors.
And so Udall arose from the people to end the Blood Lords and their draconic rule, and to undo the blasphemous additions the vampires had made to the Pantheon of Athmore. The honor and dignity of Northwind's people was reclaimed, allowing the Eptarchs to briefly reign once again. Unfortunately, this new champion of Paranir sacrificed himself in battle to slay the leader of the abominations, and was thus elevated to the Pantheon in the aftermath of his revolution.
Despite his nature as a warrior-god, he is seen as the patron of forgiveness, redemption, repentance, and the concept of restoration.
=== False Gods ===
The following were introduced by the Blood Lords accross the centuries and removed by Udall sometime around the final days of the Age of Magic, when the Northwind Empire collapsed.
==== Sybaris ====
The serpentine god of the a decadent cult which rose to prominence during the Age of Night, but fell alongside the Athmore Pantheon and is now beleived to be extinct.
==== The Thorn Prophet ====
Do you know who this is? If so, fear not to tread.
==== The First Prince ====
Vampire ruler self-proclaimed as an undying god. Udall ended the Nightstalker's blasphemy along with his life.
== Creating Athmorean characters ==
This is a list of the minimum requirements needed to create a character that professes the athmorean faith