Religion in Goaz

In 4005, worship of Emperor Malavash became the official religion of the Gozric Empire. All organized religious sects were required to acknowledge Malavash's divinity or face persecution. Most Gozrics eagerly accepted the new rules, but few abandoned their old religious traditions, opting instead to simply add their revered god-king to their pre-existing pantheons.

## Pantheon Worship

While most Gozrics worship a polytheistic pantheon of deities, individuals tend to have a favored god or "patron" depending on their profession, race and personality. A goblin surgeon, for example might favor Norin, god of health and healers, while still praying annually to Lykara for a bountiful harvest. The gods inhabited the terrestrial plane during the Immortal Age, ruling directly over their worshipers until departing for other worlds some 4,000 years ago. Since then their willingness and/or ability to intercede in the affairs of mortals has become comparably limited, typically entrusting a select few of their most devout worshipers to act as intermediaries on their behalf.

Orcish and Goblin pantheons dominate religious life throughout the empire, even among less populous races, although a few pegan deities still hold a great deal of influence.

### Goblin Pantheon

* **Lykara**. Matriarch goddess of goblinkind. Goddess of the sun, rivers, rain, agriculture. Administers the changing of the seasons.
* **Kord.** God of the sea and sky, wind and thunder. Lover of Lykra.
* **Mish.** God of nature and hunters. Wise and reclusive. Son of Lykara and Kord.
* **Orex.** God of war and warriors. Honorable and courageous. Favored by hobgoblins. Son of Lykara and Kord.
* **Lijon.** God of battles and soldiers. A wild, combative reveler. Favored by common goblins. Orex's twin.
* **Byard.** God of thieves, tricksters and rogues. A cunning, rebellious renegade. Son of Lykara and Kord.
* **Norin.** God of health and healers, scholars and inventors. A brilliant academic. Youngest child of Lykara and Kord.
* **Neela.** Goddess of death and the moon. Lykara's twin, often depicted a conjoined back-to-back.

### Orcish Pantheon

* **Abolesh.** The Warlord. Ruler of the gods. Wise and all-powerful arbiter of martial conflict. Symbol is a bear.
* **Lor.** The General. Goddess of tactics and strategems. Wife of Abolesh. Symbol is an eagle.
* **Iok.** The Champion. Greatest warrior of the gods. Wild and fearless in battle. Fights with a Maul. Symbol is a bull.
* **Bronk.** The shieldbearer. Unrelenting and heavily armored. Wields a massive spiked shield and halberd. Symbol is a tortoise.
* **Brava.** The spearmaiden. Swift and agile. Focused and collected in combat. Symbol is a lioness.
* **Zaka.** The archer. Cunning and evasive. Symbol is a frog.
* **Siva.** The healer. A battlefield medic who tends to the wounded and escorts the dead to the afterlife. Symbol is a crow.
* **Pennok.** The quartermaster. A crippled smith. Crafts weapons and armor for the gods. Oversees supply chains. Symbol is a crab.
* **Kuron.** The blood-drinker. An ancient, pre-gozric deity worshiped only by a few isolated tribes. A jealous, enigmatic god who demands undivided worship from his followers. Symbol is a fly.

## Spiritualism

Spiritualism is an ancient religious tradition that has become increasingly popular in recent centuries. Adherents believe that all things, living and non-living, are connected through the weave. They seek communion with the invisible spirits of the natural world, praying to them for help, thanksgiving or simple companionship.

## Draconism

The lizardfolk and kobolds of the northern Yukshu Mountains generally spurn the gods of the outer realms in favor of terrestrial idols. For centuries they worshiped the red dragon Kayo, but when Malavash slew him in 3999, they were forced to seek a new patron. Many turned to worshipping Malavash himself, while others went in search of Kayo's siblings, hoping one of them would take his place.