The Northman/Zemylander Pantheon

The assorted faiths of the northeast coast, and several other regions colonized by Northmen are often collectively known as the **Northman Pantheon**, or sometimes also as the **Zemylander Pantheon**, after the culture where it is most powerful and organized.

In terms of organization, each god in the pantheon has its own network of temples and shrines, which are operated by a priesthood that is fairly hierarchical, though the rigidity of the structure varies by god and by region. Often nations will have their own senior priesthood for each god, but in some nations, a particular temple network answers to the authority of senior priests in another nation. In some more primitive cultures, tribal shamans fill the role of priests.

The temples can designate anyone they want as a priest. Typically a certain level of training is involved, and recruits are chosen based on a mix of faith, personality, and relevant abilities (charisma, fighting ability, bureaucratic ability, etc.) Some priests gain divine powers specific to their patron god, but the gods’ rationale for granting certain abilities to certain individuals is mysterious and often seemingly random. Like most gods, the members of the Northman Pantheon don’t communicate directly with followers.

The Northmen aren’t as righteous as the Azanese or certain others. They follow a “might makes right” philosophy that the gods generally help those that help themselves. However, a wide range of behaviors are still taboo like breaking oaths, necromancy and other dark magic, kin-slaying, killing non-combatants and those who have surrendered, and forging pacts with dark entities seen as a threat to the stability of reality. Most Northmen believe in reincarnation except in specific circumstances.

There are over twenty main gods associated with the Northman Pantheon, many of whom bear striking similarities to members of other pantheons. In addition, there are a number of cultural heroes, demons, faerie lords, minor gods, and folklore characters that are associated one or more regional variants of the Northman faiths. The major gods are listed below:

* **The "All-Creator"** – Said to be the creator of the universe. His motives and goals are mysterious, though most believe he takes no direct interest in the mortal world unless something direly effects its stability and integrity. He has few priests, but the more primitive of the Northman cultures like the Alltaf often worship him via shamans. Some shamans believe most other gods are just variants of the All-Creator.
* **Vursid "The Bear"** – The Northman war god. A belligerent god whose tenets encourage smiting evil and resolving disputes via violence. His priests are sometimes integrated into a nation’s standing army, and are typically involved in organizing local militias as well.
* **Mirslava** – The Northman goddess of death and winter. Her priests have a grim reputation for being grave tenders and hunters of the undead, yet they are still among the largest and most organized. Most Zemylander communities have at least one priest who tends the graveyard, and organizes major seasonal festivals, which typically emphasize the harshness of the world, but also the eternal cycle of rebirth.
* **Zolovara** – The Northman goddess of prosperity, wealth, hard work, but also cunning. Although it is said she disapproves of common theft, she is also said to be fine with hereditary wealth, unfair contracts, hard negotiating, and wartime looting. Her temples are wealthy due to all sorts of folk offering small donations in hopes of attracting her favor.
* **Freygga** – The Northman goddess of prophecy, motherhood, beauty, war, cats, and death. There is considerable overlap between her portfolio and those of certain other prominent gods, which can lead to her being powerful in one area, and almost absent in another. The Norskyries are said to be her creation.
* **Legoluboy** – The Northman god of the northern oceans. He is a harsh and cruel god whose priests collect donations from sailors, merchants, fishermen, and others who must throw themselves at his mercy to make a living.
* **Rusalochka** – The Northman goddess of the eastern oceans. She is seen as warmer and friendlier than Legoluboy, though sadly she is only relevant to those with business in the eastern ocean, while most Northmen are based in the northern ocean. Highly relevant to Seagard and some in Tarot though.
* **Soshotnik** – The Northman god of foresters and hunters. Relevant to those who spend a lot of time in the wilderness. His priests see it as part their role to protect wanderers, hunt evil, and maintain the peace between the humans and the fey. Their priesthood is loosely organized and spend most of their time in remote areas.
* **Zverukitel** – The Northman god of beasts. He is seen as the representative of the All-Creator’s more feral creations. His priests aren’t particularly popular outside of certain festivals due to their belief that animal and monster attacks are simply a part of the natural order, but their skill at taming trolls and dangerous animals sometimes come in handy.
* **Aoghm** – The Northman goddess of scholars and magic. She has a somewhat sinister and mysterious reputation. Her priests are mostly found in urban areas where they acquire valuable knowledge they can use to secure wealth or influence, or both.
* **Razvratnik** – The Northman god or goddess of debauchery, art, and the western ocean. His/her gender is ambiguous. Often associated with artists, prostitutes, and drunks. He/she is seen as frivolous by some, but is still popular for his/her many festivals, the organization of which is a key role of his/her priesthood.
* **Gormoniya** – The Northman goddess of harmony. Clearly just the Harmony Goddess. Not as popular as she once was, but still plays a prominent role in several major festivals.
* **Zanzarah** – The Northman god of necromancy. His worship is a major taboo among all Northman cultures, where he is seen as a demonic figure. His followers preach that the natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth can be subverted in favor of a more agreeable one. He is not the only evil god acknowledged in Northman mythology, but most of the others are readily identifiable as major demons known to other cultures by other names.