The Pantheon of Gods is more or less universally worshipped across all people of Iroxzya. There are thirteen gods counting the Master of All, Narreme Awakening. Narreme, also referred to as Grandfather Time and NA, cares nothing for the world of men and does not answer prayers (except maybe the prayers of gods).

The remaining twelve deities are broken into two more groups: The Elemental Binders and the Ancient Titans. A third group, simply known as the Ancient Fallen are listed simply for reference. The Elemental Binders forged the Ancient Fallen, a pantheon of gods lost from memory sometime before the Dwarvern Assault. The Ancient Titans are the eight remaining deities, and they are the children of the Ancient Fallen. This makes the Ancient Titans significantly "younger" than the Elemental Binders.

Each faith tells it a little bit differently, but they all share a similar enough creation mythology that it has become common knowledge. In the beginning there was only time. Then the elements of Air, Earth, Water, and Fire converged. The eesulting planar catastrophe created the world. The Elementals, now infused with their own divine power came together to create twenty. This is the Time of Ink.

During the Time of Ink, sentient species learned to walk upright. They began to create language. Soon everything else followed.

The Dwarvern Assault marks the last mention of the Elementals' children. They begin to be recognized as the Ancient Fallen or simply the Fallen. For the next 1200 years faith was replaced by dwarvern tyranny. During the time of dwarvern rule Iroxzya went through a long dark age. Most species were enslaved by dwarves and kept in underground cities. But a few remained on the surface and fighting, namely the Orakku, Elves, and Giants. Even the oldest texts and most wizened scholars have nothing on the gods during these times. It was a godless world.

Narreme Awakening. 669 years ago, the first humans broke through the mountain ciy of Reggnolp, northern fortress of the dwarf empire, and gateway to the underdark. The humans were led by Ivodon the Prophet, an eightyseven year old blind man. As the prophet spoke of the twelve, twelve champions stepped forward. These twelve, known as the Saints of Iroxzya, lead the humans across the land. Along with humanity came a renewed spark. Eventually the surface dwellers defeated the dwarves.

The oldest religious text dates back to NA 77, and are a heavily guarded artifact in the Temple of Red, deep in the center of the Heartwood Forest, in the elven capitol of Legendhold, within the Murdokanese Empire. Most priests, regardless of faith, make the pilgramage at least once in their lives.

The Four Elemental Binders are Thundarya (Water), Argyn (Air), Pyrakus (Fire), and Terrandrya (Earth). The elemental gods are very old and very powerful. Over the centuries the magic of both Divine and Arcane has mixed. This makes the elemental gods extremely popular among sorcerers.

All of the elemental gods are neutrally aligned. Most priests tend to be neutral as well, but elemental clerics are known to come in the good and evil varieties. Somewhat surprisingly, elemental clerics rarely cross paths on the law and chaos scale. Followers tend to come from a variety of alignments. All alignments have at one time or another been represented by the Elemental Binders.

ARGYN



Portfolio:
Favored Weapon: Crossbow (Any)
Alignments:
Domains: Air, Weather, Chaos, & Luck
Rituals & Holidays:

PYRAKUS



Portfolio:
Favored Weapon: Burn Stick
Alignments:
Domains: Fire, Healing, Destruction, & Protection
Rituals & Holidays:

TERRANDRYA



Portfolio:
Favored Weapon: Warhammer
Alignments:
Domains: Earth, Artifice, Plant, & Animal
Rituals & Holidays:

THUNDARYA



Portfolio:
Favored Weapon: Trident
Alignments:
Domains: Water, Strength, Travel, & Healing
Rituals & Holidays:
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:45, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

The Ancient Titans are the grand children of the Elemental Binders according to modern mythology. They are powerful alien beings who frequent the mortal world a lot more often than their grand parents. That said, nobody but the truly insane claims to have met a deity. They work in mysterious ways, through omens and symbols. The Titans are still largely neutral in their alignments due to their peculiar insight into the cosmos, but they often favor law or chaos, good or evil. Unlike the Elemental gods, Titan priests rarely openly feud with members of their own faith. Most of the time followers have an alignment similar to their local clerics.

A common misconception about the Ancient Titans is that they are equally opposed by another. This error is due almost exclusively to the bards in Highmonte, who portray the gods as sitting in a round table. Scholars glare at the artistic freedom because it often also insinuates connections with real world consequences.

SUNAVITRA



Other Names: The Red Lady, Mistress Morning
Portfolio: Sunavitra is the Sun Goddess. She is quite possibly the most common of the deities because her namesake, the sun, takes up a third of the daytime sky as a constant reminder she is watching. Sunavitra represents the best of intelligent life and the constant need for improvement. She also represents the promise of tomorrow if the world was just a little better now. Sunavitra brings out the best in people. Her followers are usually of a good alignment and hold optimistic views.

While Sunavitra is not directly opposed to any of the other gods, she does target the undead mercilessly. This puts Sunavitrians and Hexikussians on (usually) respectable terms since they share the same foe. Followers of Sunavitra, Cano, and Mykexicus are often heavily involved with charity work and are regularly seen in the same circles.
Favored Weapon: Spear (Any)
Alignments: Neutral Good
--Clerics may be True Neutral, Lawful Good, Chaotic Good, and Neutral Good
Domains: Sun, Nobility, Glory, & Good
Rituals & Holidays:

CANO



Other Names: The Peacegiver, The Healing Hands, The White Eagle
Portfolio: Cano is the god of Life & Civilization.
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Alignments: Lawful Neutral
--Clerics may be Lawful Neutral, Lawful Good, Neutral Good, or True Neutral.
Domains: Healing, Law, Community, & Knowledge
Rituals & Holidays:

HEXIKKUS



Other Names: He Who Laughs Last
Portfolio: Hexikkus is the God of Death. And as the god of death, Hexikkus's religion is one of the most misunderstood. Most sentient beings fear death to some degree. Naturally these people tend to feel the same way about clerics preaching about death. At best it is a morbid fascination. This is where Hexikkus becomes a different type of god. Clerics are often adventurers. Few people are crazy enough to intentionally do a dangerous job trying to keep others (trying to get themselves killed) from dying. To the followers of Hexikkus, death is a natural part of life. Death needs life in order to keep going.
Favored Weapon: Great Axe
Alignments: True Neutral
--Clerics may be any neutral alignment. Followers come from all alignments.
Domains: Death, Protection, Community, & Magic
Rituals & Holidays:

VYPHOBOSYA



Other Names: The Grip
Portfolio: Vyphobosya is the Goddess of Fear. She is a greater power, and is widely accepted as one of the most powerful divine beings since no sentient creature is absolutely fearless. Vyphobosya crosses all racial, gender, and and class lines. The richest queen, the lowliest slave, the fiercest warrior, and the most apathetic murder hobo can all fall victim to The Grip.

Vyphobosya's followers (and especially the clergy) are very skilled at manipulation and theatrics. Threats, be they bluffs or intimidation, subtle or overt are the cornerstones of the faith. Force and it's use is the currency the clergy use to barter with. Vyphobosya is obviously feared by her followers, but the wise respect her and understand the valuable lessons she teaches. Bad things happen to those who allow themselves to be ruled by fear. This dual way of thinking is how priests and priestesses maintain control. They don't allow fear to rule them, but they have no problem using it to rule others. Lesser minds see the clergy as bullies, and many are due to the convenience of intimidation, but true masters of the faith are subtle and serene. The young snake may be brightly colored to attract attention to itself in order to score easy prey. But the cunning old snake lies invisible in the corner waiting for somebody to carelessly come and step on it's tail...
Favored Weapon(s): Cahulaks, Razor Whip, & Machete
Alignments: Neutral Evil
--Clerics are usually evil, but they may also be of any neutral alignment.
Domains: Evil (Evil clerics only), Darkness, Knowledge, & Magic
Rituals & Holidays: Full moons are seen as sacred nights due to people seeming to act strangely for no apparent reason. The Standing Ground ritual is an important process and marked date for individual followers. A priest or priestess and usually a single subordinate and anywhere from three to ten followers take an initiate out to face a confessed worst fear. The initiate is hounded and tormented, heckled and bullied by the followers until they stand and confront their fear with calmness and serenity. Upon overcoming their fear, the initiate is recognized as a member of the flock. Membership usually includes a tattoo of Vyphobosya's symbol on the inner left wrist, but it is not uncommon to be placed on the neck below the left ear, just above the groin, below the naval, or on the left shoulder. Defacing, covering, or making Vyphobosya's tattoo share space with other markings is grounds for immediate excommunication. An individual's failure to overcome their personal fear in the Standing Ground ritual denies said individual the right to hospitality from the church.

While followers of Vyphobosya are not foolish enough to forbid retreat or a tactical withdraw from an unwinnable situation, open cowardice or failure to land a blow (be it a stinging insult or an actual physical attack) in a fight IS prohibited. Cowards are denied temple privileges until they complete the following: The Long Night; Followers of Vyphobosya must spend ten nights sleeping under the stars, in the nude, subject to the elements (within an individual priest or priestess's reasonable expectations). Then they must make the Long Walk, fasting with no food or water to purify body and mind, circling the nearest temple or shrine for the entire day (until the next dawn) getting no closer than 100 paces. Then finally, the coward must perform the ritual of humility where they fall to their knees before every ranking member of the clergy (at any given temple or shrine) and beg for penance. Penance is usually a tithe (rarely more than 10% or 10gp, but it has been known to be higher), and some service to the priest or priestess. Finally, before being permitted back on holy ground, the coward must once again perform the Standing Ground ritual. A second offense is also usually accompanied by a brand or flogging (though being covered in honey and chicken feathers is also common) and a march of shame down the nearest settlement's longest road in view of the public. There are very, very seldom three chances at redemption. A third offense is likely to involve excommunication.

Common greetings among the faithful are, "Darkness sees all" and "Lurk in Shadows." "Kiss Midnight" is a common curse. Members of the clergy are often polyamorous, since jealousy and fear of spousal abandonment is quite common in relationships. Clergy also often operate as explorers and adventurers since the unknown and lack of understanding is also a regular driving force behind fear. Vyphobosya's faithful come from all walks of life, are of all ages, and can have any sort of moral compass. Most have a strong sense of individuality or neutrality, and are rarely seen as "good" but they are just as likely to be agents of law and order as they are champions of chaos. The priests and priestesses more times than not develop evil auras after subjecting themselves to years of service.

RZHAKSESE



Other Names:
Portfolio: Rzhaksese is the God of War
Favored Weapon: Gladius
Alignments: Chaotic Neutral
--
Domains: War, Destruction, Chaos, & Luck
Rituals & Holidays:

FIONDRYA



Other Names:
Portfolio: Fiondrya is the Goddess of the Hunt
Favored Weapon(s): Javelin & Boomerang
Alignments: True Neutral
--Clerics can be any good or neutral alignment. They may also be neutral evil.
Domains: Animal, Strength, Glory, & Travel
Rituals & Holidays:

MYKEXICUS



Other Names:
Portfolio: MyKexicus is the God of Prosperity, Wealth, and Growth. He is also seen as the God of the Harvest by proxy.
Favored Weapon: Hand Axe
Alignments: Neutral Good
--Clerics may be any neutral or good alignment.
Domains: Nobility, Community, Good (good clerics only), & Plant
Rituals & Holidays

ROSANDRYA



Other Names:
Portfolio: Rosandrya is the Goddess of Art, Creativity, and Passion.
Favored Weapon: Nunchucks
Alignments: Chaotic Neutral
--Clerics must be chaotic.
Domains: Charm, Chaos, Artifice, & Magic
Rituals & Holidays:
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:29, Sun 06 Feb 2022.