The Onu
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
