Thoughts (Pantheon)

> *Note: This is player-created lore. It applies primarily to the goliath tribes created by the same player, but you're free to use it as you please. Ping @NicoAkira on the Discord if you have questions.*
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These beliefs were ascribed to primarily by the goliath tribes of the Avakal Mountains, although word of them may have spread elsewhere.

## Cycle of Existence

There is considered to be a cosmic cycle of existence and nonexistence. Existence began when the first Thought occurred; the Thought of Existence. This Thought is and occurred to the only thing that is: the Divine. At the moment of its inception, the Thought, being everything, acted upon itself and created existence.

Because existence is obviously, inherently different from nonexistence, there became a divide between what now existed and what created it. This second is generally what's referred to by the term, "the Divine," the part of the Divine that is only the Divine and inherently aware of that, although that term technically applies to everything at once.

Following the Thought of Existence, there was the Thought of Life. Because there was once nothing and now, with existence, there was something, there had been a change. The Thought of Life is what gave existence the ability to change on its own, independent of the rest of the Divine, further separating the two.

Next were the Thoughts of Free Will and Logic. Free Will gave the creations individuality and separate consciousness. Logic provided a framework that might guide these new, individual, thinking beings.

The last Thoughts were born of the creations themselves, and they are the Thoughts of War, Grief, and Deceit. These final Thoughts, however, are not so terrible as they might seem, for it was eventually discovered they were misnamed and are, more truthfully, the Thoughts of Conflict, Emotion, and Morality. Even so, conflict may be looked down upon until it's realized that a conflict of opinions can lead to revelations that wouldn't otherwise occur, and thus should be welcome for the opportunity of learning.

What has a beginning will have an end. Eventually, all of existence shall rejoin the Divine in nonexistence, and, eventually, the cycle will begin anew. What we experience as life is nothing more than a play of consciousness, a momentary distraction from the infinite. Those who follow the Thoughts believe they should make the most of their time in this form, to experience everything it might offer and to further themselves along their spiritual path, towards the time when they might truly rejoin the Divine.

## Reincarnation

Existence itself is not the only thing that sees a cycle. The soul is considered to be the most important part of a person, and all living things are considered to have one. A single soul will go through many incarnations within this existence, and comparatively few of them will be as humanoids. Thus, a humanoid incarnation is considered a special thing, when a person has the faculties and resources to consciously affect their progress on their spiritual path.

## Spiritual Path

It's believed that since everything came from the Divine, it will eventually return to the Divine. An individual's path diverges at the point of creation and it is up to the individual to eventually come to the full, true realization of their own intrinsic nature as the Divine and so rejoin the Divine.

Summoned spirits (familiars and steeds, for example) are generally considered to be nearing the end of their journey, living in partial realization, and they may have partial or even complete recollection of previous incarnations, including previous summons.

## First Thought

The Thoughts are often given some personification and worshiped as gods.

### Ankri, the Thought of Existence

The First Thought, and representing all of the Divine, is called Ankri. Ankri is also referred to as the Mother Goddess, or simply the Mother. She is associated with the soul and creation, and may be considered of chaotic neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Light. As the Mother, the Creator, Ankri brought light into the world. This represents her most motherly aspect.

Tempest. Creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin: change. This represents the chaotic nature of creation.

Forge. Any craftsmen, smiths included, might look to Ankri for inspiration in creative pursuits. She is not considered to be strongly related to this domain, however.

### Khalini

> *O, Khalini, deathless one, Lady of the Afterlife, Watcher of us all, take this soul beside as we sunder all its ties. We release the spirit from our world and return it to your care.*
> - Prayer for the dead
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When the First Thought occurred and existence began, the Divine was unavoidably split into this new existence and what was still the Divine in its original form. Khalini is the name given to the pure Divine, and she is to whom all will return. She is also called the Watchful One, the Lady Khalini, or simply the Lady. She is associated with the mind, death, and the afterlife, and may be considered of lawful neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Death. Khalini is the Keeper of the Dead; she is the one who guards the way between life and death. She's specifically associated with death by natural causes.

Grave. Khalini is also master of the afterlife, guiding those who have farther to go in the mortal realm to their next incarnation and receiving those who have completed their journey into the Divine.

Knowledge. Khalini is the aspect of the Mother associated with the mind.

### Shivali

Shivali is the name given to the Divine as existence. She is also called the Slumbering One, for existence has yet to wake to the realization that it is one with the Divine. This waking and final realization will be one and the same with the final return to the Divine and the end of the current cycle of existence. Shivali is associated with the body and physical reality and may be considered of neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Forge. Craftsmen and any who work with their hands may look to Shivali in thanks for the physical material or to bless what they make of it. Such is not common, however.

Shivali is not prayed to often and has no strong domain as she's considered "absent," or, perhaps more properly, "dormant"—she slumbers as creation itself.

## Second Thoughts

### Dreyani, the Thought of Life

Dreyani is also referred to as the Bestower or Creator of Life, the Protector, or the Eldest. She is associated with life of all forms and may be considered of chaotic good alignment.

#### Domains

Life. As the Thought of Life, it's only natural Dreyani would hold this domain.

Protection. Seen as the most compassionate of the Thoughts, Dreyani is often looked to for protection.

Nature. It's important to note that while Dreyani is the origin of life, she has nothing to do with sentience. Rather, while many consider her as though she filled that role, she's more closely associated with non-sentient life.

### Riask, the Thought of Logic

Riask and Viskrema together are known as the Twins. Riask is associated with reason, logic, and learning, and may be considered of lawful neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Order. As the Thought of Reason and Logic, this domain easily follows.

Knowledge. Self-explanatory for a god of learning.

Arcana. Riask does not hold this domain alone; rather, he and Viskrema hold it together, as magic is, essentially, when learning and action are taken together.

### Viskrema, the Thought of Free Will

Viskrema and Riask together are known as the Twins. Viskrema is associated with free will, individuality, and action, and may be considered of chaotic neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Tempest. Viskrema is considered to hold this domain as it represents the chaos and unpredictability that free will brings.

Luck. She holds this domain for similar reasons, although her association with it isn't considered particularly strong.

Arcana. Viskrema does not hold this domain alone; rather, she and Riask hold it together, as magic is, essentially, when learning and action are taken together.

## Third Thoughts

### Tembor, the Thought of Conflict

> *O, Tembor, deathless one, Eagle of War, guide my hand, lend your strength to my blows, reveal to me the plans of my enemies that I may crush them where they stand.*
> - A warrior's prayer
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Originally called the Thought of War, Tembor is also known as the Golden Eagle and the Harbinger. He is associated with war and conflict of all sorts and may be considered of chaotic neutral alignment.

#### Domains

War. Tembor is the Thought of Conflict, the extreme of which is war.

Death. Tembor is associated with unnatural death, with the act of killing, and those who are killed.

Knowledge. Although not immediately apparent, Tembor is also associated with learning; specifically, learning through debate or conflict.

### Suda, the Thought of Emotion

Originally called the Thought of Grief, Suda is also known as the Weeping Woman and She Who Remains. She is associated with grief and emotion of all sorts, as well as memory. She may be considered of chaotic neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Tempest. While she has more to do with this domain in the metaphorical sense than the physical one, it isn't uncommon (in most any system of belief) for physical calamities to be blamed on the emotions of the gods.

Grave. With domain over both emotion and memory, Suda is looked to by those who remain. She's associated with mourning and the memory of the dead.

### Miris, the Thought of Morality

> *O, Miris, deathless one, Masked One, shield my intentions from view. May your cloak settle about my shoulders, may you, in all your knowledge, guide me safely through the shadows.*
> *O, youngest of the Thoughts, reveal to me your knowledge, show me who deceives me, reveal to me the truth.*
> *O, Honorborn, she who rules this world, bestower of nobility, creator of ignominy, grant me glory on this day, raise my name to immortality, and shield my name from stain.*
> - Prayer(s) to Miris
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Originally called the Thought of Deceit, Miris is also known as the Masked One and the Honorborn. As the Masked One, she is more closely associated with deceit and untruths, while in her aspect as the Honorborn, she is associated with honor, for the option of deceit creates the opportunity for honor. She may be considered of neutral alignment.

#### Domains

Trickery. Self-explanatory for a god of deceit.

Luck. Miris is often seen as fickle in her favor, although this has more to do with perception and less with reality. She prefers to maintain an air of mystery, however, and so does nothing to officially dispel the notion.

Order. As the Honorborn, she maintains a strict code, as do her followers. The specifics of her code are up for debate, as might be inferred from her association with the Luck domain, but it's there nonetheless; the code(s) of her followers are their best interpretations thereof.

## Relation to Other Gods

Followers of the Thoughts don't hold their gods to be separate from others', but instead believe all gods to be different aspects of the same Divine, just as the Thoughts are viewed as different aspects of it. By addressing the Divine by a particular name, with the belief behind such address that one is reaching out to a particular being/sort of being, one calls forth the Divine in that aspect and may well receive a reply appropriate to such a being.