The Nivi

Of the two patheons, the Nivi is comprised of those deities whose focus is "other" directed and can be said to be unselfish in nature. They appear to hold to moral imperatives and their main goal is the betterment of mankind.

Members include:

Duvan - Considered by his followers (and many other scholars) to be the most intelligent of the gods, Duvan delves into the arts of the mind. Nicknamed The Mage Lord, he considers knowledge, especially knowledge of the arcane arts, to be the best weapon. Very formal and eloquent, his facets sometimes seem aloof, though often their minds are simply on other, higher subjects. His followers include a great variety of scholars, ranging from historians, to architects, to powerful magic users. All are united by the same passion Duvan shares; the quest for knowledge. Often, they are from the upper class, since high education is something only the wealthy can afford. That and their proud, haughty demeanor sometimes alienates them from the rest of society, though it is not always the case. They look down their noses at the followers of Leta and their foolish ways.

Ghent - Criticized for being useless at times, the followers of Ghent are far from what their enemies accuse. Part of this stems from the fact that many of his followers are artists, though Ghent is also the master of any type of craftsman, including blacksmiths and gemcutters. Playwrights, storytellers, and painters all look to Ghent for inspiration, and indeed, it seems though those worshipping Ghent are more productive and inspired, with higher quality work. Bards as a profession are believed to have blossomed under the work of Ghent, though today the two are not necessarily joined. Where the followers of Duvan seek knowledge of books, the followers of Ghent seek knowledge of practical life, and the application of that knowledge to entertain and better society. A type of competitive friendly rival has emerged between the two temples, each seeking to outdo the other with new inventions and innovations.

Jakob - God of the sun, warriors, truth, and justice, Jakob is the patron deity of the imperial family of Kaezar and, thus, has brought heavy influence to that region. Although just, Jakob's followers have a rigid code of honor, bordering on intolerance. They believe that what their god teaches is right, so thus anyone opposing them must be wrong. Wielding flashing steel in one hand, and brandishing "The Law of Jakob" in another, the Jakobian paladins have almost zealous devotion to their faith, dedicated to bringing order and justice to a lawless world. Bitter enemies of the followers of Taqe, they seek to bring light to the shadows and care little for maintaining the balance between good and evil. Divided into two main factions, the Jakobian following does not always see eye to eye. The more moderate members have arisen just recently, preaching a more tolerant view of others, and are looked upon with disdain by those abiding by centuries of rigid tradition. However, many of the people of the realms look on these zealots as fanatics, and ignore or simply humor them.

Lyra - Goddess of love, beauty, and spring, Lyra represents some of the undesirable qualities of passion as well, including broken marriages, uncontrollable lust and narcissism. As fickle as love itself, Lyra is still largely popular in Thrael, though she lacks a large following. She also oversees what are considered many other intensely feminine qualities, including families, the culinary arts, and the hearth. Her followers are often extremely devoted, virtually in love with their goddess. The upper clergy are routinely asked to perform marriage rites and weave spells of fertility around couples. However, competition within the temple is fierce, as Lyra's followers compete for her attention like suitors of a delicate virgin.

Serene - Mother of the Moons, Serene is the goddess that sets Tael, Tempest and Tallow to rise and fall each day, and guides them as they guide the months. Patron of the healing arts, as well, Serene is looked upon as the deity of empathic magic. Nicknamed "The Good Mother, " Serene is the most benevolent of all the gods. Dealing with mortals as her children, she believes it her personal duty to protect them, even from themselves. Typical of such a benevolent attitude, she is blind to her own faults, sometimes smothering the objects of her protection. She also inspires a degree of guilt in those worshipping her, since their attempts to become as benevolent and caring as their patron always fails. Serene also shares the seas with Shaellis, but in an opposite form of the spectrum. While sailors may pray to Shaellis not to capsize their boat, they pray to Serene to keep the waters calm and the wind in their favor as her moons control the tide and currents. More so than other religions, the followers of Serene almost manifest her personality after years of worship. They exhibit the same qualities Serene exudes, and are thought of as the matriarch priestesses of Thrael.

Thine - Symbolized by a flaming phoenix, Thine is the goddess of fire and the magical flux of Thrael. Her belief is that the purifying heat of flame will burn away the evils of the world and the end justifies the means. In addition to fire, she is also the patron of athletes and competition, with the ideology that the burning of the veins is cleansing as well. To many across Thrael, Thine represents the flame of hope and the spirit of vitality and vigor, while also symbolizing the danger of fire. Many myths support the belief that Thine first brought fire to mankind, though other sycophants make the same claim about their gods. Thinish priests are known for the fanatic behavior, often burning themselves to show their devotion and although they do not reveal their rituals to outsiders, severe charring often mars the exposed skin of high priests. Such stories keep the following relatively small, though the suggested power obtained by joining her temple tempts many.

The Onu

In direct opposition to the Nivi Deities, The Onu Pantheon is comprised of those gods whose focus is self directed and can be said to be somewhat disinterested in things that do not directly benefit them. They perceive mankind as a means to their end whose sole purpose is to worship and adore them.

Members of the Onu Pantheon are:

Aorre - The newest of the gods, Aorre was a facet of Lyra, in fact the part of her that was jealousy, hatred and anger. Breaking from the goddess, Aorre became the Ice Maiden, the White Queen, gathering her devotees from those who felt abandoned and forlorn; the ugly and deformed - the lepers and the goblinkind. Aorre's priest are cruel in their hate and distrust of all others and mostly despise the followers of Lyra, charging the goddesses unkind behavior towards their deity to her supporters.

Leta - The goddess of revelry and parties, Leta is the troublemaker of the gods. Her inclination to practical jokes and irresponsibility has earned her the nickname "The Mad Jester." She enjoys taunting the other deities, especially Duvan, who is particularly annoyed with her antics. Though often her games have a hurtful nature, occasionally she promotes merrymaking for the pure benefit of fun. Many festivals and informal dances are held in her name. Sometimes more like a troublesome child, Leta can also be pointedly underhanded and sly when she chooses to be. The followers of Leta are often flighty and active, and detest any form of work. They prefer to celebrate, and will invent their own cause for celebration. They love to cause trouble for ordinary people, and can laugh at the misery of others, treating everything like one large joke.

Shaellis - Known as the The Decrepit Hag, Shaellis is the goddess of depression and despair, as well as the sea and storms. Her basic tenet is that mortality and mankind is fleeting, so why do they even try to make their marks upon the world. Her followers are the Mourners, whose main occupation is to show others the futility of their endeavors and lure them to the suicide that Shaellis' doctrine holds is the divine commitment. No temple of worship to Shaellis has ever been discovered in the mortal realm, lending some credence to the belief that the oceans are her primary concern, although she has many shrines. Some scholars have speculated that temples to her may lie beneath the waves, while others have gone as far to theorize that her entire temple may be the waters themselves. Because of her indifference to the affairs of mortals, Shaellis remains rather aloof from daily life. Although technically a member of the Onu pantheon, she is regarded by nearly all gods as an outsider and rarely deals with the other deities. Her worshippers follow the same basic principle and are not often seen walking the mortal paths.

Taqe - Called The Manipulator, Taqe carries his agenda into the mortal realms as well, where he oversees thieves, assassins, and all manners of covert business. He is ever set on toppling rigid law enforcing societies and is a master of deception and dishonesty. Masters of the shadows, the followers of Taqe eternally war with the righteous paladins of Jakob. The size of the following of Taqe has never been recorded, since those bearing the image of the jackal avoid displaying their homage at all times. Relying more on stealth and a dagger in the back, they utilize Taqe's favor to perfect their craft. It is not sure if Taqe actually has temples dedicated to his worship. Surely nothing has been found and if they exist, his followers have kept them a secret. Some scholars speculate religious contact with Taqe is limited to small gatherings in dark alleys although, again, no hard evidence has ever been found.

Trost - Aptly called "The Worm" by all but his followers, Trost is perhaps the most feared of all the gods. His reputation for spreading all of the greater evils amidst Thrael causes even the bravest to shiver. Plague, Famine, and Rot are three of his favorite toys, which he showers upon mortals at will. Like their deity, followers of Trost are very narrow minded, almost to a point of refusing to accept change, and have stuck to their same tenants and rituals for millennia. Temples to Trost are often under the surface of Thrael, since their god prefers earthen domain of rock. The reputed power of the clergy of Trost is immense. His favor grants power over many forms of disease and, very often, over great magic. However, falling out of favor with Trost imperils not only the body but the soul, and many high priests disappear every year. Many master assassins kneel to Trost for his plague-causing agents and spells, which of course help with their rather discreet business. In turn, they work for him, and as long as they are useful, the bargain is mutually beneficial.

Vaen - Unlike her dark consort Trost, Vaen has adapted to the changing world of Thrael very well, utilizing the growth to further her ends. In her early begins, Vaen was a benevolent goddess, creating the elfin nation and bestowing them with her gifts. But when her children turned from her, her heart hardened and she became a cruel and bitter goddess. Allying herself with the poisonous and despicable creatures of Thrael, she became the deity of spiders, snakes and the creatures of the night, including the undead. However, since the extreme economic growth in the past years, Vaen has moved practically to the forefront of the Onu pantheon, naturally causing jealousy in her counterparts. As the patron of merchants, commerce, and wealth, she has been able to capitalize on the natural greed of mortals. Her seductive offers to increase one's bank account, or help with shady trades has gained her a large following among the upper class. Her followers, the Lash, delight in the torture of themselves as well as others and many times are hidden among the followers of Jakob, working as prosecutors and barristers.

The Eternals

The Comhairle Nefol, Kenzian for "The Eternals", are the embodiment of essential concepts or forces. Except for Beade, the ancient ones are never manifest in the realms. They have no facets of their own and can exist without the worship of mortals. They are the forces at work that the apparent deities rely upon and claim as their domains. They are who they are, for they are the body.

The Immortals are:

Beade - The goddess of Nature, Beade is considered the mother of the planet. She watches over all that is living, and also the forces that affect the planet, such as weather and the seasons. Worship of Beade is usually practiced out of doors and away from centers of population, where her followers can be in tune with nature. As with the rest of the Ancient Ones, Beade plays only a small part in the affairs of mortals, being more focused on the world as a whole. Many rangers worship Beade, and it is widely believed that the entire profession originated from the early druidic practices of the priests of Beade, although the two have now taken separate paths. Lacking the structure of formal temples, many shrines to Beade still exist throughout the realms. Mysterious earthen structures dot the landscape in many areas, remnants of ancient forms of worship. Modern times have found the true followers of Beade retreating further into the forests of Thrael and becoming more reclusive.

Eyssa - Eyssa has the largest following among the gods, and by far the most priests. She sits in the very middle of both pantheons, working to keep the balance of the scale even. Goddess of death, rebirth and everything in the cycle of life, her priests were the first to discover the power of resurrection and are still the dominant religion of restoring life to those who have died. As the sole deity responsible for balancing all of the essential forces in the cosmos, Eyssa is rather schizophrenic and distracted. She often appears to be whimsical and flighty as she tries to keep her attention divided upon all that happens in her domain. While not actively involved in the day-to-day workings of individuals in Thrael, she definitely takes an interest in events or objects that effect the greater workings of the cosmos. In addition to being widely worshipped, Eyssa is also the most recognized of the deities. This is most likely due to her clergy's resurrection capabilities, although followers of other gods have since discovered this ability. It is safe to say that most homes in Thrael will offer up a prayer to Eyssa as well as their patron deity.

Kel - Perhaps with the smallest following of all the gods, Kel is not quite understood by many today. One of the Ancient Ones and thought to be the creator of the universe, his tenets are abstract and hard to comprehend. His temple relies very little on spirituality and more on natural and physical laws. He sees most forms of magic as a weakness and seeks to invent or theorize ways to replace magic. Though most of his followers are brilliant, their technical babble and slightly distracted nature create a wide rift between them and the rest of the populace. They dislike the outdoors, preferring instead to tinker around their strange laboratories performing physical experiments, and trying to create new laws to explain the universe.