The Nivi
Appearing about 43 million years ago, the Fasul, or the Kivian, gods quickly divided into two Pantheons, the Onu and the Nivi. Forever warring between each other, the gods also battled the dragynkind and the race of giants that inhabited Thrael, defeating them and setting themselves to reign supreme.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 their 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.
