Seven Saints

### Symbol

A longsword, with a unique element based on the specific deity worshipped or atop a seven-pointed star if all seven are held in equal regard.

## Game Rules (d20)

### Domains

Good, Law, and Protection, plus two additional domains per deity

## Summary/Background

Embodying virtue and sacrifice, the Seven Saints are more formally known as the Seven Saints of Righteousness or, less commonly, Hinora’s Justice.  All of them ascended mortals and redeemed sinners, the Seven Saints are the youngest of the major deities of Seedorus who rose to acclaim and divinity for halting the machinations of the Ashen Blades in 2688 DY.  Acting as guardians of Coznakk and champions of valor who stood fast against an unholy union of demon princes at Hinorot, Setosh blessed the seven with their own divinity when even the certainty of death did not deter the dying seven.  Radiating holy power with Setosh's blessing and no longer hopelessly outmatched, the Seven Saints rose and smote the surprised demons, destroying them utterly and permanently.  After resurrecting all who stood with them at Hinorot, the Seven Saints vowed to defend Seedorus to the end and to bring a golden age through righteous virtue, and their worship spread like wildfire throughout Coznakk.

Unlike most religions, the church of the Seven Saints hold all seven component deities as equals, a single polytheistic faith within the henotheistic Many Divines and the greater Pantheon. Followers of the Seven Saints tend towards focusing their reverence on a single deity as a champion of their ideals, but offer praise and adoration for the other six as well. The Seven Saints are, in alphabetical order:

* Asirin the Chanter
* Ganoxyz the Pilgrim
* Herusa the Shield Maiden
* Irok the Judge
* Korion the Stormbolt
* Laritus the Purifier
* Sina the Scrollblade

## Unique Worshiper Options (d20)

Divine Blessing feats are a special category of powerful feats that reflect the unique abilities granted by deities in pursuit of their portfolios and agendas.  Only a divine spellcaster or a character with a Paladin or Antipaladin Aura can take a Divine Blessing feat, and they must worship the indicated deity and remain in good standing with their faith in order to use the feat’s benefits. Once a character has obtained a Divine Blessing feat with one deity, they cannot gain a Divine Blessing from any other deity without converting to the new faith. A character who converts to another religion must retrain the feat as normal and does not typically get to replace it otherwise.

Each of the Seven Saints have their own unique options, available to those who devote themselves to that member deity above all others. See each individual deity's page for further details.

## Deity Description

Each of the Seven Saints are unique individuals with their own goals, motivations, and personalities, but work together for the promotion of righteousness and justice.

### Relations with the Many Divines

The Seven Saints were instrumental in the creation of the Church of the Many Divines, and though older deities were initially skeptical of the idea the destruction wrought by Arakaena through the Durau in the early days of the War of the Underworld quickly convinced them it was a good idea. While the Many Divines had long cooperated on many matters of importance to their individual agendas, creating an organization was something foreign to those born to divinity, as was the idea of answering to others of equal stature instead of Setosh alone. The Seven Saints, however, were intimately familiar with the process and its benefits, and quickly rallied the Church of the Many Divines into a formidable organization to oppose Arakaena and other evils of divine or near-divine power, along with their mortal followers and zealots. This skill quickly led the Seven Saints to find favor within the Many Divines, and the other member deities greatly respect the Seven Saints, if not admire them for their conviction. Osae and Litheryn are particularly grateful to the Seven Saints, as the assistance of the Church of the Many Divines may very well have saved the Sylvani from extinction, and assist the younger Ascended with counsel of their own experiences as former mortals themselves.

### Relations with the Gray Faiths

The Seven Saints are regarded with cautious approval by the disciples of Chronis, but for the most part are viewed with suspicion and disdain by most members of the Gray Faiths. Unhappy with the formation and meteoric rise of the Church of the Many Divines, the Gray Faiths tend to view the Seven Saints as upstarts at best and usurpers seeking to overthrow them at worst. Most Gray Faiths make little distinction between the Seven Saints and the Church of the Many Divines and frequently treat them both as potential threats rather than potential allies.

### Relations with the Dark Pantheons

Unsurprisingly, the Seven Saints are viewed as implacable enemies by the members of the Dark Pantheon, and the Seven Saints make no effort to hide their own steadfast opposition to the Dark Pantheon themselves. The Seven Saints consider the entirety of the Dark Pantheon as a blight to be excised from Creation, and the feeling is mutual.

### Relations with Other Pantheons

Of all the deities of the Many Divines, the Seven Saints provoke the most ire from the majority of the Fey Courts. Viewing the Fey as fickle and possessing agendas not always compatible with peace and justice for mortalkind, the Seven Saints refuse to compromise their convictions to suit the rulers of the Fey Courts, a fact that irritates the most powerful Fey who view the Seven Saints as nothing more than temperamental children. Nevertheless, the Seven Saints do enjoy a cordial relation with the Court of Flowers, albeit with the help of intermediaries such as Osae. The more chaotic and/or evil Fey of other Courts are viewed by the Seven Saints as little different from demons or other similarly-wicked beings, enraging such dark Fey despite the accuracy of the perception.

As the main drivers of the Church of the Many Divines and their continued persistence in uprooting and dismantling the Old Ways, the Seven Saints are not held in particularly high regard by many Druids, but the Seven Saints actually admire followers of the Path of Rejuvenation and the Path of Order even if the feeling isn't always mutual. Druids do grudgingly acknowledge that the Seven Saints are among the few divine advocates for coexistence between Path Druidism and the Pantheon, but Old Way Druids view the Seven Saints as absolute threats if not enemies.

In the Demonic Pantheon, however, the Seven Saints produce the most volatile reaction, as the Seven Saints have slain no less than thirty of their number, three of them in the Divine Battle of Hinorot that resulted in the Seven Saints' apotheosis. Realizing that individually they stand no chance against the united might of the Seven Saints, the Demonic Pantheon overwhelmingly both loathes the Seven and fear them, as they would literally rather die than cooperate with other demons to destroy such hated foes. Of the most prominent current members of the Demonic Pantheon, only Rakah does not fear the Seven Saints, but she also does not view them as adversaries worthy of her attention, either. As the Seven Saints continue to find victory against the rulers of the Demonic Realms, however, the possibility that a group of Demon Princes and Demon Princesses may find the stomach to suffer an alliance long enough to truly challenge the Seven Saints only grows. A few mad prophets claim that when the Seven Saints are confronted by such an unholy alliance, Creation itself will meet its end.

## Notable Historic Events

* 7 Sowmonth 2688 DY - The Seven Saints are killed, resurrected, and ascend to divinity in the Divine Battle of Hinorot, where they subsequently struck down the Demon Princes Azraxan, Erkath, and their sister/lover, the Demon Princess Gellnamaz.
* 2825 DY - The Seven Saints convince the Many Divines to formally create and support the Church of the Many Divines. The Seven Saints quickly take charge in encouraging the Church's growth.
* 3329 DY - After the murder of Arakaena in late 3328 DY and Setosh's command to cease the Exalted Crusade to purge the Durau and recall the High Templars, the Seven Saints unsuccessfully petition Setosh to permit the Church of the Many Divines to remain as peacekeepers in occupied Durau territory of the Underworld.
* 3350 DY - The Seven Saints spearhead the divine decree permitting the Church of the Many Divines to create the Divine Inquisition after the Many Divines formally (but not unanimously) agree to encourage their followers down such a path.
* 3378 DY - The Seven Saints are forbidden by Setosh from pursuing war directly against the Scarlet Queen after Nakan-Ur's brief conquest of Phitan. Incensed by the desecration of the City of Light, the Seven Saints unhappily comply, but lend their blessing to Zakiel as the Archangel took vigil over the cleansing and reconstruction of the ancient city.
* 3864 DY - Setosh's death in The Godfall triggers the Succession War. While the Seven Saints unanimously agree they are not worthy of taking the vacant throne, they are adamant that the throne must belong to one of the Many Divines in the end and thus fight to lay claim to its mantle for safekeeping.