Gods

Gods are beings which have a fully Divine nature. Though not Fae, they often have a strong connection to the Blazing World and typically reside there.

## Divinity

"Divinity" is both a state (that of being Divine, or in other words, of a greater-than-mortal nature) and a force (the inscrutable energy that grants Gods their power). Divinity is a mysterious force at best, and the Gods are typically loathe to discuss it with mortals in any detail. But creatures who are Divine typically boast in-born powers that make them equal or superior to most superhumans. Divine powers are *not* magical in nature, but rather a separate force which may appear superficially similar.

Divine powers typically increase with worship, though this is more true for full-blooded Gods than other Divine beings. When Gods are forgotten by mortals, they typically lose Divine power until they may eventually "starve" for lack of worship and die. Other than this sad fate, however, Gods typically cannot die or be destroyed, even by other Divine beings.

Gods are generally born as the result of a union between two existing Gods, though they may form spontaneously if enough mortals' superstitions lead them to fashion new myths to worship. A mortal may also become a god if they are the object of significant worship, though the early stages of this process typically draws the wrath of existing Gods who seek to prevent the ascension of a new upstart Divinity.

## Non-Gods and Divinity

There are several types of beings which are not Gods but still have a claim to Divine status. These typically fall into the following categories:

* **Demigods** are typically the offspring of Gods and mortals, though not always. A Demigod's power is far less than that of a full-blooded God, however, they often have no restrictions on their actions which allow them far greater freedom to affect the world. Demigods are usually mortal (though often with impressively long lifespans) and boast superhuman powers reflective of their divine parent's nature. Hellion is a Demigod, though her parents were an unknown God and the sea-monster Scylla rather than a god and a human.
* **Mythical Monsters** are creatures that typically derive from a divine myth. They gain their Divinity either by sharing an origin with a God or Gods, such as the Birds of Ares, or by being widely worshiped or feared by mortals, such as the Krakens. These beasts vary wildly in shape, power, and temperament, though they are almost always reclusive and hostile to mortals. Cerberus is an example of a Mythical Monster, having been created by Hades to serve as his guard dog.
* **Chosen of the Gods** are mortals who have been granted a small measure of Divine power. They may act as champions or High Priests for their patrons, carrying out the wishes of the Gods. Typically their power can be revoked if they fall from their master's favor, though this is not always a straightforward process. The Atlantean was a Chosen of the Gods, having served as Hades' herald for several years.
* **Fae Lords** are beings who rule over sections of the Blazing World. Typically they are bound to their realms, unable to leave it except under very specific circumstances, and withering away quickly if they do. However, within their realms they have powers rivaling those of full-blooded Gods, and require very little worship to sustain their immense Divine power. Hazel Clay, the Lady of Lead, is a Fae Lord and rules over the sinister Deadlands.
* **Angels and Demons** are beings of pure Divinity, though they are not Gods themselves. These beings are typically created by Gods to act as servants and imbued with a sliver of Divine power upon creation, though they may be worshiped in their own right (this is more typical for well-known demons). The strongest Angels and Demons rival the Gods both in their powers and in their limitations; they must often be invited into the world by mortals through prayer and sacrifice.

## Artifacts of the Gods

Special objects can be imbued with Divinity, granting Divine power to the mortals who carry them. This can be as straightforward as a God creating an artifact to give to a favored servant, or it can be the result of an object gaining divine status due to interactions with divine beings. A sword used to slay a Mythical Monster, for example, may spontaneously gain Divine power when covered in the creature's blood.

The most well-known divine objects on Earth were, until recently, the Herald Stones created by the Greek pantheon to elevate their mortal champions. These included the Moonstone (Artemis), the Bloodstone (Ares), the Mindstone (Athena), and the Shadestone (Hades). All of these were eventually destroyed, but they had given immense power to their wielders in the execution of the various Gods' whims.

The Endstone is wielded by Mentat, who is technically the herald of Terminus, Roman God of Boundaries. Unlike the Greek pantheon, Terminus makes few demands on his herald.

## Known Divinities

The number of Divine beings in the universe is hard to calculate, as they vary wildly in nature and are typically reclusive. Some known Divinities are:

* Lord Donn, Celtic God of Dead Gods
* Ares, Greek God of War
* Athena, Greek Goddess of Cities and Wisdom
* Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt
* Hades, Greek God of Wealth and the Dead
* Terminus, Roman God of Roads, Barriers, Boundaries, and Endings
* The Lead Lord, ruler of the Deadlands (a position currently held by Hazel)
* God-Queen Thracia, alien ruler of the Lustrian Star Empire