Simorism

Simorism, not to be confused with the Cult of Simori, is a polytheistic religion that is largely celebrated in Crowen, regardless of race, class, gender, nationality, or occupation. Consisting of 14 major deities, these gods and goddesses have been known to take an active role in the events of the continent.

### Naming and Terminology

Simorism gets its name from the Goddess Simori, who created the universe and the space in which Crowen now resides. Those who practice Simorism are known as Simorinites, or Simites.

### Sacred Locations

Each of the fourteen deities has a location on the continent that serves as a beacon for their followers, a place where one may expect to feel the presence of the heavens and immortals.

* Simori: On the highest peaks of Crowen, in Torevir, there is an administration complex dedicated to the all powerful worship of Simori, where many go to train for a lifetime, remaining upon the peaks.
* Phene: Far under the sea between the main Continent of Crowen and the many Islands to the East lies a sunken temple. Long ago, this was once an island dedicated to Phene, however she sunk the entire landmass when she was displeased and has remained there since.
* Proibs: Along the eastern plains in the shadow of the Zokarian peaks there exsists a small grove and farm that he has remained hidden in, never seen since he left so long ago except for his goblinoid creations.
* Eldsta: A music shop, at the junction of the Ao Ven and Glois'cha in Chinythe serves as the location for Eldsta, the surrounding community dedicated to bringing more music into the world and is home to some of the best schools and monastaries in the fields of instruments and discipline. This has given the Gisite region a strong reputation.
* Axneus: In Nasato, the Grand Axni, her high priest, claims that she lives among the people and as such is seen more of having a network of shrines all over the nation and throughout the world.
* Tarace:

### History

Long ago, Simori created the Universe, the Heavens, and the Void. She did this for reasons unknown to the mortal world, but over millennia several theories have gained prominence, with a large one being that she was simply bored. She then gave birth to her daughter, Phene, who when understanding magic and reality, created the oceans that filled the void, now named in respect to the Goddess. Creating not only the oceans, but those things within the oceans, Phene followed her mothers guidance and the two worked together for eons before the arrival of Simori's second offspring, a son, Proibs. Proibs upon his own understanding of reality and science, created the landmass of Crowen, forcing it from the ocean floor to break the surface. He then created basic mammals, birds, and reptiles in which to populate the landmass, which impressed and was approved by Simori to remain. The three of them remained alone, working to further build the fledgling world.

Simori decided to populate her sons creation in her likeness, and such formed from stardust and voidspace, the Primordial Elf. Prided by their sorcerery, these High Elves came to find many homes on the continent. Some, taking on the heritage and skills of the land learned it's druidic secrets from Proibs, becoming the Wood Elves. Others, prayed to the divine, to Phene for power and fertility, serving clerical roles in the quest of prosperity, some evolving to best remain in the sea. Many of the Primordial elves eventually began to change too, distancing them from the all-mighties, but still maintaining that they were the Elves upon High, superior to their kin.

After some time, the balance in the world began to tip and spiral into chaos and darkness as elves that had gone into the deepest darkness of the woods, finding the malicious chaotic underdark and becoming corrupted by it. To relieve the pressures that were quickly affecting and corrupting SImori, Phene and Proibs came together and brought forth Eldsta, who created the first music in the world and in so brought a new form of magic, of inspiration onto Crowen. His self discipline aided in training hardened warriors to combat the evils of the world, and his creativity brought forth the existence of dragons. Now with Bards, Monks, and great winged steeds to fight the horrors of the underdark, the world began to return to its balanced state. The very forces of nature came to life in this era, Fae emerging among the Elves.

Unfortunately as war was fought across the land, it caused great pain to Proibs, who in his state created a new Goddess, Ciktia to aid the efforts of the gods. This action, however, angered Simori, seeing it as great disrespect for her overall creation and banished Proibs to live on his creation and to never return to her presence. She all but had him killed, if it had not been for the soothing voice of Eldsta. Cast to the surface, Proibs created a new life in Goblinoids to separate himself from the elves he so hated.
Ciktia quickly aided the land and the celestial with her work and tools, creating wonders for both Deities and mortals alike. Simori's Staff, having been broken in the banishment of Proibs, was repaired by Ciktia as one of her first acts of apology. She created a race of her own to assist in the creation of such large projects of mountains and natural barriers, the Dwarves, and filled them with such raw, barbarian power to accomplish their battlements and goals. Balance and peace returned to the world, as did a new form of magic in the context of Zen, and in this relaxation Eldsta and Ciktia came together and created Axneus, who took flight and became a favorite of Simori, bringing the creation of winged Aasimars to the plane. These creations held the law and order as conflict settled, the continent divided and more fertile than before with its deep ridges and tall peaks, water filling the scars from the ancient war.

Axneus took her first lover in Eldsta, who gave her twins to glorify the realms, these being Idione of Darkness and Oano of Light, who brought into the world mortality, and thus death spread across the continent, claiming millions who had lived past now normalized lifespans, ending the suffering of so many who had fought valiantly and now no longer could aid the land. Idione kept a watchful eye on the cracks into the other realms, stealthily removing problems before they arrived onto the continent where her sister had created humanity, setting them upon the shores to reclaim and balance the land. Encountering the Elves, halflings came to be as Oano combined the races, creating more life everywhere she walked.

At this same time, Ciktia created new life upon the continent, and in the introduction of all this demise it was corrupted, resulting in Tarace. This beast of a deity disgusted the rest of the pantheon, and while most understood this was not the intention of Ciktia, Simori cast her down to the world with Proibs, but still allowed her to visit annually on the festival days in thanks for her continued work. Shackled to her forge beneath the mountain, Ciktia remains even now, in slavery to Simori until Tarace has been removed from the realm permanently. Tarace rampaged, taking Axneus for his own and corrupting life as he came across it. Elves, changed by his power gave rise to Orcs, and the offspring of this foul monster and Axneus were that of demons, devils, corrupting all those they encountered with pacts. The gods, coming together trapped Taarace on his island with the help of a planetary alignment of realms, while Axneus in the same night gave birth to Xor, who brought forth new forms of Magic and stabilized the energy on the continent, ensuring the difference between Heaven and Crowen, Crowen and Hell.

Studying the craft around him, this great Wizard conjured genies and gnomes to aid in his pursuit of magic, searching for ways to help the family and to eventually end the life of his father.

As Xor aided with the balance around the world and reintroduced the concept of Zen, prosperity continued to grow and blossom. In this period of Zen, Idione, Xor, Axneus, and Tarace met together and from this moment created Sheani Bulimi, the deity destined to bring in a new world after the end of the world. Fighting Tarace and weakening him, her trainees spread all over the continent, erdicating the monsters now plaguing life. Seeing that the world needed more assistance to aid in the balance and to restore Zen, Sheani gave birth to three children in quick succession, starting with Nington a skilled tracker and ranged marksman, then Fjolnir a brilliant intellect and strategist, and finally Elieu. These deities now rule on Crowen and in Heaven, in the seas and in the magic.

### Pantheon

Simori: All Mother, Creator of the Universe, Goddess of Life, Patron of Sorcerers, Creator of Elves

Phene: Goddess of the Seas and Oceans, Goddess of Spiritual Healing, Patron of Clerics

Proibs: God of the Land, the Creator of the Continent, Patron of Druids, Creator of Goblinoids

Eldsta: God of Music and Balance, Patron of Monks and Bards, Creator of Dragons and Fae

Ciktia: Goddess of Smiths and Miners, Goddess of Work and Toil, Patron of Barbarians, Creator of Dwarves

Axneus: Goddess of Fertility and Oaths, Goddess of Family and Protection, Patron of Paladins, Creator of Aasimar

Tarace: God of Monsters and Beasts, Lord of Sin and Terror, Patron of Warlocks, Gatekeeper to Hell, Creator of Fiends and Hybroids

Idione: Goddess of Death and Murder, Governess of Transistions, Patron of Rogues, Creator of Necromancy

Oano: Goddess of Mortal Life and Creation, Goddess of Physical Healing, Patron of Clerics, Creator of Halflings and Humans

Xor: Deity of Magic, Lordx of Corruption, Patron of Wizardry, Creator of Gnomes and Genies

Sheani: Deity of War and Justice, Pillar of Glory, Patron of Paladins and Fighters

Nington: Deity of Hunting and Adventures, Patron of Rangers and Blood Hunters

Fjolnir: Deity of Wisdom and Learning, Patron of Artificers

Elieu: Deity of Festivals and Fertility, Deus of Inebriation, Patron of Barbarians