Pantheon

## The Gods and Goddesses of Solus

The pantheon of Solus is made up of many Gods and Goddesses. They are dedicated to many of the elements of Tyron and hold a special place in the hearts of its inhabitants. Below, you will find a catalog of every God and Goddess that is worshiped within the land, what they represent, artists renditions of them, and their Holy Symbols.

### Bahamut, the Dragon God:

Bahamut is the leader of the Pantheon, and is depicted as a ginormous Platinum Dragon. As a god, he is associated with the pursuit of gaining strength and power through worship and faith, and protecting those who believe in him. His Holy Symbol is typically a carving of a dragon or a dragon head. There is a famous temple devoted to him in Davenport named the *Steps of Faith*.

Bahamut is considered the eldest and first of the gods. Being born out of the primal fire, the origin of life and existence. With great wings he ushered in the creation of Tyron, bending the primal elements of nature to his will. With each he bound, a new god or goddess was born and saw him as the father of all that there is. After reigning in the elements, he created life, and shared this gift with his children. They each put their mark on their creations. Bahamut began with the dragons, creating them in his own image. However, they were not as divine and perfect as the gods, and were vulnerable to feelings of pride and envy. In most stories, it is believed that they destroyed themselves due to their own vices. In Sovngarde, however, they are defeated by the warrior god Kraal. In either interpretation, it is said that Bahamut swore off of creating anything after. Instead choosing to bless the creations of his children.

### Shiva, Goddess of Ice:

Shiva holds sway over the colder regions of the world. Those who follow Shiva typically seek passage through snowstorms, or guidance in travel. She holds dominion over the stars, and is strongly associated with the Moon. In addition, she is also very popular among women and especially the inhabitants of Watcher's Rest. Her holy symbol typically something in the form of a trio of snowflakes, or a diamond shaped star.

Shiva was the second born child of Bahamut after he wrested the primal element of ice. After finding it within the coldest reaches of Tyron, on the farthest pole, he used his mastery of fire to defeat it. Once defeated, he brought the seasons into balance, the world became hospitable. Shiva was born during this time, and had a love for life. She took it upon herself to care for all creations, not just her own but those of her siblings. There is debate, but many would suggest that it was Shiva that created the races of the world. Being shaped in her own image, and her strong nurturing nature. As the legend goes, she was saddened by the fact that the night sky was so cold and black, causing widespread fear amongst her children. With the help of Titan, she fashioned the Celestial Bow and fired arrows of starlight into the sky. Creating the cosmos as we know it.

### Leviathan, Goddess of the Sea:

Said to live in the deepest depths of the darkest part of the ocean, she is said to be the mother of serpents, and the largest of Bahamut's children. Some even say that she can wrap around the entire world from head to tail. Most, if not all, sailors will offer a prayer to her for safe travel on the seas. While mostly holding sway over the oceans, she is also known to be heavily influential in the medical field. With some legends stating that she possesses a venom that can cure any disease, serving as the founding notion for modern medicine. She is represented in the form of a coiled snake/serpent. Leviathan has a large presence in Goldcrest and other coastal cities.

The third born of Bahamut, upon taming the great oceans across Tyron. He dove into the deepest trench and swam for seven days and seven nights, finding the primal element of water. Using the powers of ice, he threatened to freeze the element and its oceans completely if it did not adhere to his will. Upon submitting, Leviathan was born from the trench. Breaking out of the water, reveling in her newfound life, the oceans would forever churn and move after this first impact. Despite her seemingly chaotic nature, she cares greatly for the creatures of the ocean and the cycle of life and death. Even gifting one of her own eyes to a fisherman purely because she knew he was in a time of need.

### Ramuh, God of Storms:

Ramuh commands the skies and storms, and followers pray to him for fair weather. He is very popular in farming communities and agricultural centers. One of the more recent gods adopted into the pantheon, his worship had the side effect of nearly rendering Garuda obsolete. His Holy Symbols usually come in the form of blunt metal rods, and/or a symbol depicting a bolt of lightning.

Being the last child of Bahamut's brood, Ramuh was born when Bahamut conquered the skies and weather created by his other children. Thus, creating an equilibrium that spawned the primal elemental of storm, which gave itself willing to Bahamut. Ramuh came from this element, taking a shape similar to Shiva. He is the one who stands between Shiva and Ifrit, and keeps their elements from coming to blows. In doing so, he creates the weather, storms, rain, clouds, winds, and everything in association with them. While not the most widespread or popular of the gods, Ramuh is held in high regard no matter where you find yourself.

### Garuda, Goddess of Wind:

Goddess who used to hold the place of Ramuh. Once Ramuh became more prevalent across the land, worship of Garuda slowly waned. Her tenants usually involve the exercise of freedom and change, and being as fluid as wind is. However, unlike Ifrit, this is not always chaotic in nature and Garuda strikes a balance between absolute chaos and order. A neutral stance centered on freedom. Most don't typically worship her anymore, but those that do carry symbols of a three-taloned claw.

Garuda was the fifth child of Bahamut, born from the dragon combating and subduing the primal element of wind. Bahamut came across the ginormous whirlwind and was nearly torn from his wings due to the intensity of it. Using the primal element of earth, he planted himself within the land itself and spread his ginormous wings. With a stream a powerful beats, he reversed the direction of the storm, causing it to implode on itself. Using his impossible speed, he snatched the element of wind and bent it to his will. Thus, Garuda came into being. Coming to resemble Bahamut and Shiva alike, taking elements from both of them. Using her powers, she created the currents of wind that flow throughout the land, and the creatures that inhabit them. However, an unintended byproduct of this was her volatile interaction with the other elements. Birthing storms, harsh winds, hurricanes, and tornados. People would often pray to the goddess during these times, knowing that it was not her will to enact these forces upon them.

### Titan, God of Earth and Rock:

Patron God of Dwarves, and Craftsman. Titan is said to have created the land the structure of Hearth Keep itself. Most pray to him to find blessings of wealth in the earth, in addition to stability and a solid foundation in relationships. Titan is usually represented by a forge hammer.

Titan was the fourth child of Bahamut, and born from the primal element of earth. With his great claws, Bahamut rent open the world to reach the element. This chasm, some rumor to be Leviathan's Maw. Whether that is true or not is up to debate, but what is accepted is that after this world shaking conflict, Titan came into being. Seeing that the world was mostly solid, it's earthy rock bland and boring, Titan had the desire to create not only life but non life. With his hands, he crafted jewels and gems for his creations to search for and treasure. Even creating items or things for them and the gods themselves, being the source behind many of the legendary artifacts rumored to exist across Tyron (Walls of Hearth Keep, Celestial Bow, etc.). He carved great ravines, canyons, and sections of land like an artist with a brush. Not only adding more texture, but beauty to the world. Titan is generally regarded as the calmest of all the gods, but some say that when his fury is invoked the world itself shakes.

### Ifrit, God of Fire and Chaos:

While Ifrit is not an evil god, most consider him to be the most "wicked" of the pantheon. Those who follow Ifrit value independence and the ability to change one's circumstances through great effort. Ifrit's symbols come in the form of a symbol of a flame, or a small bundle of sticks.

Being the first born of Bahamut, it is said that the dragon even loves him above all others. Initially, the world was ravaged by waves of primal fire darkening the land and primal ice freezing it. To create balance, Bahamut flew into the largest and most volatile volcano, finding the lair of the primal element of fire. Using his divine powers, he displayed his magnificence and completely enraptured the element. Thus, Ifrit would come into being. Feeling such love for his father that he would make himself nearly identical in every way to him. However, Bahamut frowned upon this, and wished only for Ifrit to pursue his own desires and not be held to his father's standard. The young god, being in such a vulnerable state, took this far too literally. He would warp his own shape to be as different to Bahamut as he possibly could, and created the chaotic races of devils and demons who would fully give themselves to their respective desires. After his sister came into being, Ifrit found himself often at odds with her and the two came to blows often due to their opposing elements. Many a story are written about the respective gods, but one consistency is that it is usually Ifrit that starts the conflict. Despite all this, he is well loved by those who wish to have true independence and make their own fate. It is rumored that Mount Ifrit is named as such because that is where the titular god was born, and the Dawn Forge being one of his creations. There is also much debate, but some say that it was Ifrit who birthed the races of the world into being with primal chaotic fire serving as the heart of these creations. It is used as an explanation as to why intelligent beings can be so radically aligned in both morality and nature.

### Kraal, God of War:

Worshipped heavily in the land of Sovngarde, Kraal was a mortal that ascended to godhood during the course of his life. His worship is recognized by most, but is outlawed in Vaermina. Those who worship Kraal pray for victory in battle and strength during hardships. His Holy Symbol is depicted as a hunting horn, or a sword crossed over a shield.

Kraal is the only god that is not one of Bahamut's children. As the religious texts say, Kraal was born during the ancient conflict between humanity and dragonkind. During which, he achieved many divine-like feats and defeated the first born of the dragons: Galran, the Viscous. A massive black dragon that was said to be the size of a mountain. After smiting the great evil, the dragons were vanquished from the land and eventually died off, never to be seen again. Kraal ushered in what came to be known as the Gilded Age, which fell apart upon his death due to mysterious circumstances. After his death, he was ascended to the Pantheon by the ancient Sovs and it has been that way ever since. His presence being strongly felt throughout Sovngarde, and the surrounding lands. However, after the War of the Wolves (known as the War of Expansion elsewhere), his worship was outlawed in Vaermina.

While you may find those who worship different entities/gods than depicted here, those cases are very fringe and not the norm. Most, if not everyone, you meet in Solus will worship a deity on this pantheon or not worship at all. Many choose to take a vow under these gods and become Paladins and Clerics. These practitioners usually hail from Songarde and Vaermina, as Zestros does not have a strong religious presence. However, that does not mean that one cannot choose to swear an oath in The Triumvirate, it is all up to you. As with faith, sometimes all you need to do is take a leap...

***"Sometimes the only payoff for having any faith, is when it's tested."***

- Ser Ignasse de Versaint - of the Dragon's Tail

## Their Champions, Aspects, and Demigods

Many over millennia have been chosen by the gods and goddesses to achieve a higher goal or perform duties in their name. While mysterious and cryptic, these blessings have served as a call to action for many great heroes over the course of history. Some attain such renown that they become sainted, and are recognized as divine beings after their deaths. Though not all of these individuals have been morally "good" and have committed atrocities in the past, anyone blessed by a higher being is destined to achieve great things. Whether that be terrible or glorious.

There also exists another type of individual, these select beings are thought of to be the offspring of the gods themselves. Referred too often as Demigods or Minor gods. Often boasting incredible power and sway with their divine parent. Many kings, queens, and emperors have claimed to be demigods, but there are a scarce few historic recorded cases of these individuals being legitimate offspring of the gods. Legends tell us that they possess an incredible affinity to their parent and their parent's element in nature. They also all possess a form of innate magic, with many tales of these beings being able to shapeshift and change into other forms. Whether they are truly of divine blood is up to you as an individual to determine. There are many strange and magical things in Solus and Tyron beyond, and it is up to us to decide where we place our beliefs.

Aspects would also fall into this category. These divine beings are sprung from a heightened state of emotions and ego in large swaths of populations/nations. Those that channel these feelings through faith are able to possibly summon an aspect or demigod into the world proper through the use of a Fayth. These beings are usually driven by one purpose or goal, and reflects the state in which they were summoned. Such as an aspect of war being summoned in a time of great conflict and strife. As with the other examples, the existence of such beings are a great danger to the world at large and are subsequently dealt with as quickly as possible, including their worshippers.