Gods

The term “god” is one that conjures up, for many in Terovin, a powerful entity beyond their comprehension.   Whether they are infinitely powerful aeons capable of altering history on a whim, or servants of their followers that are empowered by their faith, this collective helps shape the views of many cultures and may act in the interest of those that follow them.

Some entities, such as very old dragons, are considered “gods,” though in truth this speaks to the relative concept of power as a means of divinity. To that end, a dragon such as Qinlong may actually be more powerful than a true god.

True Gods are represented by those that were born in their divine state.  False Gods are those that eventually gained divinity through some action.  There are countless lesser gods, such as those that the Kyn worship though the distinction between them and powerful spirits is difficult to determine.

# Primal Gods

The primal gods are seen less as “sentient entities” than they are forces of nature.  They are the source from which two sources flow: chaos and order.  As such, they are immensely powerful and have access to realms of understanding few can comprehend or even begin to imagine.  That said, they do at times by legend’s tale act through a person or people to achieve some unknowable goal.

## Creation

### Terovar

* **Titles:** The Creator
* **Alignment:** Law
* **Realm:** The Beyond
* **Domain:** Animal, Community, Earth, Glory, Law, Water, Good, Protection
* **Favored Weapon:** Morningstar
* **Synopsis:** Often represented as a masculine figure upon a throne, Terovar is blinded in all incarnations and his hands are bound: indicating that law is a servant to none save the duty that has seen it to its present place.  Those that have delved into the cosmos says that Terovar is more a warm feeling, enveloping the spirit and creating strength where it grows.  When a person feels a warm feeling for doing what is right, perhaps this is Terovar’s blessing?

## Destruction

### Shar’Negrath

* **Titles:** The Destroyer
* **Alignment:** Chaos
* **Realm:** The Beyond
* **Domain:** Vermin, Erosion, Air, Death, Chaos, Madness, Evil, Destruction
* **Favored Weapon:**
* **Synopsis:** As there is creation, so too is there destruction.  Shar’Negrath is represented by cults as a woman surrounded by tentacles that escape from her every orifice.  But this woman is no more representative of the creature that consumes all life than an echo represents the creature that first created the sound.  Whatever it is, it is constantly consuming and those gifted with madness believe they hear her voice guiding them into a world they cannot fathom.

# True Gods

## Divine Gods

Primal Gods maintain four domains due to their strength.  Other than Beoth, however, they rarely interact with mortal races.

### Rezzar

* **Titles:** Lord of the Fallen
* **Alignment:** Lawful Evil
* **Realm:** The Sorrow
* **Worshippers:** Dowei’i, Drow
* **Domain:** Evil, Death, Darkness, Law
* **Favored Weapon:** Spear
* **Synopsis:** The husband of Anysa, Rezzar represents the inevitability of Death.  Though considered evil due to his nature of taking, he holds no particular delight in the execution of life.  In fact, the Sorrow is as much his prison as it is his domain, for he must always witness the demise of that which he loves.

### Anysa

* **Titles:** Lady of the Hearth
* **Alignment:** Lawful Good
* **Realm:** The Sorrow
* **Worshippers:** Novans
* **Domain:** Good, Healing, Light, Law
* **Favored Weapon:** Whip
* **Synopsis:** The wife of Rezzar, Anysa represents the inevitability of Life.  She is a beautiful goddess that has taken on a matronly aspect in many regions.  Though not directly worshipped, few despise her presence.  Much like Rezzar, she is filled with sorrow for she knows that though she loves all of her children, she must one day watch them perish.

### Nepi

* **Titles:** The Nefarious Lad
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Neutral
* **Realms:** Fated Bliss
* **Worshippers:** Zethari, Nirvana, Drow, Sylph
* **Domain:** Luck, Liberation, Trickery, Travel
* **Favored Weapon:** Dagger
* **Synopsis:** A twin to Diam, Nepi is marked by his inability to take nearly anything seriously.  A hedonistic god, he wanders about the Fated Bliss and slips into the mortal realm on occasion.  He delights in gambling and will risk a great deal on relatively little if a wager is made. He is the lover of Azil the Tempest, making him at times a love rival of his half-sister, Beoth.

### Diam

* **Titles:** The Dutiful Son
* **Alignment:** Lawful Neutral
* **Realms:** The Decision
* **Worshippers:** Zethari, Dwarves, Volanti
* **Domain:** Nobility, Knowledge, Good, Community
* **Favored Weapon:** Mace
* **Synopsis:** The younger twin to Nepi, Diam is everything that his brother is not: serious, withdrawn, and generally determined in all matters he engages in.  Located within the realm of finality and decision, he rarely interacts with mortal affairs directly though is a sign of what hard work will accomplish in his steadfast and measured manner.

### Beoth

* **Titles:** The Fostered Maiden
* **Alignment:** True Neutral
* **Realms:** The Mortal Realm
* **Worshippers:** Half-Orcs, Sylph
* **Domain:** Community, Repose, Travel, Strength
* **Favored Weapon:** Staff
* **Synopsis:** Anysa’s daughter by an unknown father, she has been cast free by the Sorrow by her father’s derision.  Beoth wanders Terovin, it is said, in many guises.  She always seeks to offer others aid by first forcing them to aid themselves.  Some believe that she guided the Half-Orcs to Beoth, which was named in her wake.  She is the only divine god known to directly influence mortal races.  She is a sometimes lover of Azil the Tempest, making her an occasional love rival to her half-brother, Nepi.

## Elemental Gods

The elemental gods gave life to Terovin, it is said.  A burning ball of flame as it was, Atesh was quieted by Ajani which created Agora’s realm of earth.  To spread life, Azil was required though in doing so he restored Atesh to being.  Their cycle is eternal.

The Djinn trace their lineage to one of these four gods, making the Sylph essentially the grandchildren of gods.

### Atesh

* **Titles:** The Burning
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil
* **Realms:** The Flaming Nightmare
* **Worshippers:** Goblins, Or’Kati
* **Domain:** Fire, Evil, Destruction
* **Favored Weapon:** Sword
* **Synopsis:**  It is believed that Atesh may be the first elemental god, created when Terovin began to spin.  As such, his realm was the most expansive before others appeared.  Like the flame he is kept in check by others, but if allowed to roam will quickly spread his fervor and passion to many, engulfing them in the glow of his power.

### Ajani

* **Titles: T**he Lifebringer
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Good
* **Realms:** The Blissful Depths
* **Worshippers:** Zubians, Nirvans, Volanti
* **Domain:** Water, Good, Healing
* **Favored Weapon:** Spear
* **Synopsis:** Ajani is a loving goddess, maternal to those that are without the ability to sustain themselves.  She is worshipped often alongside Anysa, who is viewed as either her sister or closest friend.  Unlike Anysa though, Ajani will at times go beyond the limits of reason to aid others: a flood that may wipe out many, but feed future generations.

### Agora

* **Titles:** The Steadfast
* **Alignment:** True Neutral
* **Realms:** The Crag
* **Worshippers:** Dwarves, Bastii, Bumi
* **Domain:** Earth, Law, Plant
* **Favored Weapon:** Axe
* **Synopsis:** Agora is a determined follower of the path before her.  Certain once she has made up her mind, she is surprisingly seen as an enemy of Diam because the two had one fundamental disagreement that neither could reconcile.  Despite this, she encourages no war.

### Azil

* **Titles:** The Tempest
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Neutral
* **Realms:** The Tempest
* **Worshippers:** Zatheri, Sylph
* **Domain:** Air, Weather, Trickery
* **Favored Weapon:** Sling
* **Synopsis:** Azil is the youngest of the elemental gods, but the one most often in the realm of mortals.  He is favored by all navigational and seafaring people who have come to praise him for his strength and fear his mercurial nature.  He is a rival and occasional lover of Nepi and Beoth.

## Fallen Gods

There are those among the gods that have fallen as a result of some great offense to powers beyond even their understanding.  These gods retain their power, but are forced into the mortal world without the ability to resume their place in another realm.  This makes them potentially susceptible to mortal influences and it has been said, may even cause some to forget their divinity over time.

### Ishtana

* **Titles:** The Wanton Whisper
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Neutral
* **Realms:** Renounced.
* **Worshippers:** Ishtar
* **Domain:** Lust, Arson, Memory
* **Favored Weapon:** Dagger
* **Synopsis:** Ishtana is said to reside in the city of the same name.  She is the progenitor of the Ishtar.  How she came to lose her divinity is not understood.  She is noted to have been one of the most beautiful goddesses, with a body that combined serpentine grace and elven poise.

### Selach

* **Titles:** Protector of the Deeps
* **Alignment:** Lawful Neutral
* **Realms:** Renounced.
* **Worshippers:** Zadim
* **Domain:** Oceans, Love, Solitude
* **Favored Weapon:** Trident
* **Synopsis:** Selach is the king of Zadim, found within Fathom.  He is the only god to have a known physical location, and seems indifferent to what this may mean for others. Having sacrificed his position for love, he now protects the results of that love.  He is a loving, though overprotective father.

# False Gods

## Exalted Beings

The exalted beings are mortals that gained divinity through their great acts, or favor from an extant god.  Though they are not true gods, they are powerful and rival some born into divinity.  They tend to be opposed to Wild Gods, who also gained divinity but use it to oppress others.

### Kang’mora

* **Titles:** The Huntress
* **Alignment:** Lawful Neutral
* **Realms:** The Sprawling Divide
* **Worshippers:** Bumi, Novans
* **Domain:** Law, Travel
* **Favored Weapon:** Bow
* **Synopsis:** Kang’mora is often represented as an elven woman accompanied by a great hawk named Zols.  She is an expert marksman and guides those lost upon a path toward safety, so long as they remain true in their stride.

### Aurin

* **Titles:** The Brilliant
* **Alignment:** Neutral Good
* **Realms:** The Heavenly Gate
* **Worshippers:** Kyn, Tavians, Volanti, Zubians
* **Domain:** Sun, Light
* **Favored Weapon:** Polearm
* **Synopsis:** Aurin is depicted as a human of uncertain gender, though blonde hair is almost always representative of their presence.  Aurin is believed to determine who is worthy of entering heavenly realms.

### Freijla

* **Titles:** The Fierce
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Good
* **Realms:** Liberty’s Stand
* **Worshippers:** Bastii, Kyn
* **Domain:** Liberation, Strength
* **Favored Weapon:** Spear and shield.
* **Synopsis:** A towering woman wielding a spear and shield, Freijla stands as the guardian of justice in the realm.  She is possessed of numerous arms, each of which may help those suffering grip the chains of oppression and break themselves free.

### Gerech

* **Titles:** The Diviner
* **Alignment:** Lawful Good
* **Realms:** The Sorrow
* **Worshippers:** Volanti, Tavians, Dowei’i, Dwarves
* **Domain:** Life and Death
* **Favored Weapon:** Mace
* **Synopsis:** An aged dwarf, Gerech holds a tome of deeds that allows him to judge someone’s life and determine the time of their death.  He is the only being that was not of the Sorrow known to enter it, though he has been eternally burdened with old age for the knowledge of what he has seen.

### Vojna

* **Titles:** The Warbringer
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil
* **Realms:** Carnage
* **Worshippers:** Or’Kati, Sirvan
* **Domain:** War, Strength
* **Favored Weapon:** Greataxe
* **Synopsis:** Vojna was a powerful warrior in life that sought death wherever she went. It is believed that she slew a fallen god and ate its flesh, becoming a god herself in the process.  She is seen as a villain by many, though her strength is unquestionable.

### Saint Chronika

* **Titles:** The Sainted Blade
* **Alignment:** Lawful Good
* **Realms:** The Hall of Heroes
* **Worshippers:** Paladins, those dedicated to good works.
* **Domain:** Glory, Good
* **Favored Weapon:** Greatsword
* **Synopsis:** Chronika’s ascension marked the end of the Dread Tumult, many believe.  A warrior in her own right, she sacrificed herself so that others might live and in doing so, rose to the heavens as a champion of mankind. She is represented as a paladin, wielding a blessed greatsword.

She is the patron of Lymora, where she gave her life.

## Wild Gods

Wild Gods are extremely old creatures that have gained godhood.  Unlike other gods, rather than maintain multiple domains they access all sub-domains within a domain equally.

### Dryss

* **Titles:** The God-Queen
* **Alignment:** Neutral Evil
* **Realms:** The Dark Web
* **Worshippers:** Drow, Dowei’i
* **Domain:** Evil
* **Favored Weapon:** Net
* **Synopsis:** Dryss is the foundation upon which Drow society is built.  It is not known if she is an arachnoid like creature, or simply an immense spider.  Only those that have spoken to her gain true names, such as B’q’rka, and only those that have proven themselves are given this chance.  If she is even aware of the Drow as a greater extension of her power is uncertain, though she does feed on those loyal to her.

### Salah

* **Titles:** The Grand Serpent
* **Alignment:** Neutral Evil
* **Realms:** The Depths
* **Worshippers:** Hari, Dowei’i
* **Domain:** Trickery
* **Favored Weapon:** Whip
* **Synopsis:** An immense snake that slumbers beneath Syv Nova, or so it is believed, Salah’s voice enters the minds of his devotees and he promises them power in exchange for their faith.  He is a trickster by nature and those that follow him gain in agile minds, but suffer the consequence of his greed.

### Qinlong

* **Titles:** The Slumbering Dragon
* **Alignment:** True Neutral
* **Realms:** The Celestial Crossing
* **Worshippers:** Syn
* **Domain:** Repose
* **Favored Weapon:** Guandao
* **Synopsis:** The eldest of dragons, Qinlong slumbers within the celestial realm.  His dreams it is said are what create the souls of the Syn people.  He remained absent from the fall of the empire, and some believe he died as a result as his old age without the worship of the Eternal Empire caused him to collapse upon himself.

### Ruwe

* **Titles:** The Hungerer
* **Alignment:** True Neutral
* **Realms:** The Wet Death
* **Worshippers:** Zubians, Dowei’i, Zatheri
* **Domain:** Protection
* **Favored Weapon:** Spear
* **Synopsis:** A giant crocodile, Ruwe slumbers at the bottom of the River Zubia, it is believed.  He was the first spirit that the Zubians worshipped and grew fat from their sacrifices.  It is believed Ajani keeps him at rest, so that he does not feed on her children.

### Makaze

* **Titles:** Goddess of Wrath
* **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil
* **Realms:** The Sea of Dragons
* **Worshippers:** Kyn
* **Domain:** Air Domain
* **Favored Weapon:** Longbow
* **Synopsis:** Makaze is represented as a noblewoman of Kyn ancestry.  She races about the Sea of Dragons, stirring up the sea and slaughtering those that would invade Kyn.  In exchange for this protection, she expects a sacrifice which comes in the form of a willing participate in a ritual once a year.  A single soul to spare thousands.