Nordling Pantheon

Nordlings, the native humans of Pydwell, believe in a vast **pantheon** of numerous gods, goddesses, mystical powers and local forces, as well as human Prophets and Saints. Their religion is not as organized as the Empyrean Church, Church of the Great Sun or Lŷrian Flame – it lacks one head above the whole cult, instead being centered around regional hierarchs, archpriests of given deities and charismatic leaders such as Grandmasters of knightly orders and self-proclaimed Prophets. Settled priests usually follow a single deity but acknowledge and respect others, while the wandering ones tend to invoke all the gods. It should be noted that while most of one deity's followers believe in the existence of another one, they do not necessarily worship the latter in the same way as the primary one. All followers and priests, however, espouse belief in the two nordling afterlives: Valagard, home of valorant souls, and Helgard, home of ordinary and dishonourable souls.

The nordling pantheon is dominant in Sinder, Norgard, the Archipelago, Wesaxe and parts of Bohaem.

## Deities

### Dagon

The god of oceans, seas, storms and marine organisms, Dagon is represented as a ferocious, bad-tempered sea monster that feasts on innocent maidens as tribute. He is described as a half whale, half serpent of gargantuan size that dwells in the farthest depths of the sea.

### Hræsvelgr

The nordling goddess of death, peace and birds of prey, Hræsvelgr is the ruler and overseer of Helgard, the nordling afterlife home to ordinary and dishonourable souls. She takes the form of a gargantuan eagle.

### Týr

   The nordling god of warfare, might, honour and heroes, Týr is the godly aspect of the mortal Dragonlord Thanel, founder of the Kingdom of the Archipelago and beloved hero of mankind who wielded Himinsverd during the Starscourge. A dragon tamer and rider, Thanel united the clans of the Archipelago into a single kingdom, providing the rest of Pydwell a united front against Aarzal and his dragon legions. Upon the war's end, Thanel ruled as a peaceful, merciful king that would never hesitate to take up the sword and wage war if his people were threatened. When he finally passed he was unanimously apotheosized as the war god Týr by the priests of the nordling pantheon; as the god of warfare and heroes, he rules over Valagard, the nordling heroic afterlife. He is the only mortal to ascend to godhood rather than sainthood.

### Volos

The nordling god of fire, earthquakes and natural disasters.

## Saints

### Saint Ædonn

Known in life as Wren the Undying, Ædonn of the Lakes was a beachwalker who lived in the Age of Madness. The child of the Lady of the Lake, he was raised as a half-elf and left his village to avoid persecution and death. On his journey across Pydwell, he encountered Ilona Hadra of Avarlell and treasure hunter Dell Diggle, and together they became the Rune Hunters, charged with finding and safeguarding the Great Runes. When the Hunters became divided, Wren joined forces with Sivard Aulfhedinn to reclaim Chel, and the pair became close friends. When Sivard fell from grace and became Gekydo, Wren sacrificed himself to drag the Dead King onto the Beach, where they both remain. In the ninth age, Wren is known as Ædonn of the Lakes, a saintly figure that banishes nightmares from mortal dreams.

### Saint Cyrus

Gregory Cyrus of House Keys was a noble of the Bohaemian royal court that provided both food and naval aid to Bohaem during the famine of the Second Northern War. His charitable efforts were rewarded with his House's home city of Lŷr.

### Saint Theresa

Theresa I Pentegast, later called the Lioness, was the first Queen of Bohaem, having come to power by overthrowing her cruel husband Godwyn III. A mighty warrior and military commander, Theresa was the first Bohaemian monarch in centuries to claim the throne of the Drakengard Empire, a claim she defended during the Second Northern War of the fourth age. Under her rule, Bohaem occupied the contested duchy of Vladland and expanded southwards into Dol Kowal, taking the western pass from Tarv. Despite her belief in the Lŷrian Flame, she went to great lengths to ensure religious freedom throughout Bohaem, especially for the nordling pantheon; thus she was canonised as Saint Theresa.

## Other Entities

### Wild Lords

#### Lady of the Lake

The Lady of the Lake, keeper of Death, is the only Wild Lord that is widely worshipped by non-wildlings. She is generally considered the guardian of the Rune of Death and bestower of the sword Himinsverd, which she only grants to heroes she deems worthy.

#### Radagon, Lord of Wolves

The Lord of Wolves is worshipped by skogarmaors, wildlings native to the Archipelago. They often sacrifice wolves, drink their blood and eat their organs in his honor.