Deities

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There are fifteen "greater" deities that watch over Amlöst, with several demigods that serve them, and then there are the Titans after the demigods, followed by spirits.

I've been to libraries where adventurers who have written books say they've spoken to others who have been to other planes with worlds a lot like ours. In these worlds, there are all sorts of gods, some of which interact with mortals on a regular basis. Of course, the people from these worlds do an awful lot of talking about "orcs" and tall forest-elves... There's even a cute story I heard about some world where mortals drop gods like flies!

But whatever. I'm here to talk about the gods that I know of, and those are the ones of Amlöst.

Who are they?
People speak of "elder races" with longing in their voices. Well, the gods are older than even the earliest of elder races, and if you were to give their race a prefix - like "elder race" - I'd say that your best bet would be to call them a creator race. They shaped the cosmos in their image.

Where do they come from?
One of the big questions is where the gods came from, and there are so many theories about this that it can get positively dizzying. Some say that the gods always were, while others say that they came into the nothingness around our worlds from other worlds and created everything. The most commonly accepted theory is that some great creator deity willed them into existence. Some new theories posit that these gods are all a singular being, and the "gods" as we know them are all facets of it. Others still hold that the gods are projections of the universe's will... I could go on all day, but believe me when I say that there is proof to support their existence.

Durist: Durist is the God commonly attributed to dwarves, and a real jovial fellow. He and Listria are friends, as both appreciate the written word. Durist is fond of crafts and singing, and commonly revered by enthusiasts of one of the two.

Durist is regardless represented by a music note on a leaf. Etlae: Etlae is the Goddess who created the elves, who call themselves "Cenetlae", or "Children of the Goddess". It is believed that she created the Cenetlae to help her in her fight to maintain balance in the cosmos. So she and her children are usually at odds with Mel-Tak and his ilk. She is allies with Quenequia and Riknaan.
 * Durist is Neutral.

Etlae's symbol is a disc with calm waters and an island on the horizon. Listria: Listria is the Goddess of Knowledge, and revered by anybody who loves the written word or knowledge -- bards, sages, scribes... She is immensely popular in Padan and Thu Vara. She does not seem to like Meamia, and their priests often war. Her allies include Danabris and Durist, as well as Quenequia.

Both she and Meamia seem to be the ones responsible for answering prayers that ask questions of the gods in general -- ask a question of Danabris, you get an answer from Danabris; ask a question of Mel-Tak, you get an answer from Mel-Tak; ask no one in particular, then you get an answer from Listria or any other number of beings who happen to be listening.

Her symbol is a quill; any bird's feather will do, though owls are preferred.

Riknaan: Riknaan is a God associated with warfare. He despises his brother Mel-Tak, and expects his followers to help him and Etlae in their fight against him. Paladins are usually pretty big on his dogma.
 * Listria is Neutral.
 * Riknaan is Lawful.

Zelea: Zelea is the Goddess associated with friendship and love. Her cult tends to be full of younger people, usually wistful...shame they don't hear about the vow of chastity and a vegetarian diet until it's too late (harpies exempt from both).It's said that harpies and nymphs take their image from her. She is certainly revered by harpies as their creator, and some intelligent birds claim to like her as well.

Zelea's symbol is a stylized heart with wings sprouting out of it.
 * Zelea is Neutral.

Gods of Darkness
Alerion: Alerion is a wrathful deity, and revels in destruction and acts of vengeance, no matter how petty. The more wrathful kinds of daemons in the World Below are said to be his offspring with a Titaness. He seems to get a rush out of seeing people angry, at least according to some of his priests.

Prayers of wrath are answered by him. Hurios: Hurios is a god of thieves and hunting, as well as of civilization. He is credited with teaching many mortals how to build houses and hunt. The two aren't on the friendliest of terms, that's for sure.
 * Alerion is Chaotic.

Hurios' symbol is a disc with a footprint and a broken arrow in its center. Meamia: Meamia is a goddess of seducers and liars in general. Unlike Hurios, she is more popular among thieves and less-than-kind mages. She and her servants love to spread misinformation, so naturally she and Listria will scramble to answer prayers that ask questions of the gods.
 * Hurios is Chaotic.

Meamia's symbol is a pair of smiling, red lips with a silver tongue. ...grey is an acceptable substitute for silver. Mel-Tak: Mel-Tak is a god of chaos and warfare. He and his allies try to see to chaos prevailing over order in the cosmos. While Etlae represents tactical warfare and Riknaan represents honor, Mel-Tak represents manslaughter, pure and simple. His cult favors sacrifices and purifications by fire.
 * Meamia is Neutral.

Mel-Tak's symbol is a burned and bloodied fang. Quenequia: Quenequia is a grieving goddess, said to weep for those who fall or suffer. She, Etlae, Zelea, and the Gods of Death are on good terms with one another. She guides those whose times have "finally come" to Algam's halls.
 * Mel-Tak is Chaotic.

Quenequia's holy symbol is an eye ringed with tears.
 * Quenequia is Neutral.

Gods of Magic
Danabris: Danabris is the God of White Magic. He is seen as the one who watches over magic-users who are more or less indisposed to goodness. He has been known to send familiars to mages who summon them.

In his mortal years, he was a Master Arcanist in Thu Vara.

Danabris' symbol is a strange cat's head with four ears, one row behind the other. Viphia: Viphia is the Goddess of Black Magic. She is seen as the one who watches over magic-users who are more or less indisposed to evil. She is responsible for leading daemons called by the appropriate spells to the mortals who called them.
 * Danabris is Lawful.

In her mortal years, she was a Master Arcanist in Thu Vara.

Viphia's symbol is a red hand with a white eye in its center.
 * Viphia is Chaotic.

Gods of Life and Death
Algam: Algam is the Goddess of Death and Rebirth, and makes her abode in a cavernous crypt where the dead and those awaiting ressurection are sent. It is her duty to declare the final destinations of the dead, and to send the dead who have been given new leases on life back into their bodies. She is also able to take the true names from mortals, preventing them from dying. This has happened only a couple of times, to my knowledge. It is also worth mentioning that she permits the presence of some undead, so long as they do not cause any problems.

Algam has a sect in her cult known as "Death Hunters". These are men and women who seek out the undead who cause problems in the mortal world, from rogue skeletons to liches.

Her symbol is a mound on a field, with grey skies. This symbol is used for her and her subordinate gods, Pharyngia of the Healing Hands and Herpisore of the Foul Kiss. Herpisore: Herpisore is a disgusting god of diseases, and is sometimes credited with creating some of the more unpleasant oozes. Whatever the case, his interests run counter to Pharyngia's, so they often go head to head with each other. So while Pharyngia works to lighten Algam's burden, Herpisore works to increase it. Many sentient undead worship him. Pharyngia: Pharyngia is the Goddess of Healing. She is commonly associated with life, but from what I undestand, all gods can give and take that with more or less equal measure. Pharyngia just has the fun job of keeping life intact in mortal and immortal life forms alike, until further notice, so she's responsible for lightening Algam's burden. Naturally, she and Herpisore, god of disease and decay, fight often.
 * Algam is Neutral.
 * Herpisore is Chaotic.

She is frequently invoked in ressurection and healing prayers.
 * Pharyngia is Lawful.

Fallen Gods
To my knowledge, the gods can not die. I at least hope not. Apparently, however, they can be stripped of their power. This has happened only once. To my knowledge.

Xeton: To the best of my knowledge, Xeton was a god of dreams and magic, and of fate. He was said to be ambivalent towards mortals at the best of times, and at the worst of times interested. His actions made magic disreputable for quite a while, and dreams and fate things to fear rather than embrace.

As the story goes the three Fates, sisters who served him, walked the world with mortals. One of these Fates, Present, became fond of a mortal. These Fates were just as prone to irrationality as their master, and the one who fell in love was considered the worst of the three. Using her lover as a puppet, the Fate of the Present performed many actions that greatly disrupted the works of the gods, and even awoke a sleeping Titan. As punishment for not keeping his eye on his servants, Xeton was stripped of his power and cast adrift in the cosmos; the Fates and the mortal man were sentenced to eternal service under the gods.

Now, Fate and Dreams have their essences spread about the cosmos, and Magic is mostly the domain of the two gods of it named after he fell.
 * Xeton was Chaotic.

Demigods
Many demigods were once mortal, but given a special place alongside the gods. Most were born of the union of a Titan and a mortal, though some are born of mortals and gods.

Aerlyn the Gatherer: Aerlyn the Gatherer was an elf a long time ago, who went on journeys in the name of Etlae. Her last journey saw her go to the World of Air, and never return.

She usually answers prayers made by travellers and thieves. Elitianna: Elitianna is said to be the daughter of Riknaan, and is commonly prayed to by women who take up the adventuring profession. Paladins serve her. Zraphis: Zraphis is an elven demigod and like Aerlyn, once mortal. He was an assassin in life, and now acts as a hit-man for the gods.
 * Aerlyn the Gatherer is Neutral.
 * Elitianna is Lawful.

He usually answers to prayers related to elves and murder.
 * Zraphis is Chaotic.

Titans
The Titans are said to be the first race ever created, and were the children of the demigoddess Zaedanna. Many of them have less than comforting forms, but most like to take more or less human forms when interacting with mortals. Some scholars claim that humans are descended from them.

Amaz: Amaz is a Titaness worshipped by the Themisyrans, and responsible for the seas. She is seen as the creator of merfolk, and accepts only female priests.

She appears as a woman with glistening silvery skin and black eyes, with hair the color and consistency of sea-foam. Her attire is made out of sea shells and plants, and she carries a trident with her. Amu (Amu-Ra/Amu-Net): Amu is a hawk-headed Titan who is said to be charged with seeing to the Sun. Astrologers worship it. While commonly thought of as a male Titan by the name of Amu-Ra, it has been known to appear as a female known as Amu-Net; which one came first is unknown, and further complicating matters is the fact that some believe the two are married!
 * Amaz is Lawful.

Amu-Ra...or Amu-Net appears as a man or woman with copper skin and the head of a hawk. It wears a shendyt, which is a skirt worn by warriors in Thu Vara. Anu: Anu is a Titan with the head of a jackal, who is revered as a god of death and justice in Thu Vara. He keeps the gates to Algam's Halls, and speaks on Algam's behalf in Thu Vara.
 * Amu is Lawful.

Anu is commonly seen as a powerfully built man with the head of a jackal and skin the color of burnished copper, who carries scales with him. Sometimes, he takes the form of a jackal. Asar: Asar, also known as "Osiris" and a bunch of other names, is a Titan who is loyal to Algam. He welcomes the dead into her Halls upon their arrival. Strangely enough, he is also a friend of Listria's and has been known to treat great artists to feasts!
 * Any is Neutral.

Asar appears as a slender, green-skinned man with a wrapped beard, armed with a crook and flail. Aurgel Mir: Aurgel Mir was the Titan credited with creating the most giants, and is sometimes said to have been able to spawn them with a thought. Some sources say that he is the son of Dallanna and Sturlaag. Whatever the case, he met his end at the hands of King Vodanaz and his brothers shortly after they crossed into Asgardia.
 * Asar is Lawful.

In any case, Aurgel Mir is known as "Ymir" by his followers, and was thought to look like a colossal man. Dallanna: Dallanna is a Titaness associated with fertility in both plants and animals, as well as health. Midwives and physicians are some of her favored followers, though she is also thought of as a protector of the home, and revered as such. Her husband is Sturlaag, though they are famous for their extramarital affairs, some of which have produced heroes and heroines. Druids and friendlier giants also revere her.
 * Aurgel Mir was Chaotic.

Dallanna appears as a shapely woman, whose appearance varies by the season: in the Springtime she wears green garments decorated with leaves, in the Summer her skin is tanned, in the Fall she is paler and wears browns and reds, and in the Winter she wears whites. Hair also varies by season.

Some artists like to portray her as being heavily pregnant, which is how she got her nickname of "Ever-Gravid". She also seems to be depicted as being either beautiful or ugly, young or old. Layacon: Layacon is a Titan who betrayed his kind for a place at Alerion's side when he saw that his own was beginning to lose. He is said to be the progenitor of werewolves, and has a son named "Garm" that slew King Vodanaz of Asgardia. Believe it or not, he is called "Good Dog" by dwarves.
 * Dallanna is Chaotic.

Layacon is said to appear as a short man with the features of a wolf. His baying is said to attract wolves, while his mere gaze is able to induce lycanthropy in mortals. Who influences other therianthropes is not known by me. Prym: According to "The Wanderer", Prym was a Titan or like being who comforted him after his exile.
 * Layacon is Chaotic.

Those who saw Eardstapa's burial said that "Prym" looked like any other man, but kingly and surrounded by white lights. Eardstapa himself said that he carried a sword of fire and could manifest "beautiful wings as those of a dove". Pt'a: Pt'a is one of the Titanesses who did not rebel with the rest of her kind against the gods. She serves Algam in her Halls, and aids Pharyngia in bringing life back to the dead.
 * Prym is Lawful.

Pt'a appears as a woman with pale skin who carries a large ankh and wears a skullcap on her bald head. Sob'ek: Sobek was an evil Titan thought of as being the one to start the rebellion against the gods. He is one of few Titans to have actually died, and was impaled upon a mountain rock by Aurgel Mir. His blood is said to issue from a mountain near Eardstapa's End where it empties into a sea. Some dragons worship him, and dinosaurs are said to live near the river known as "Sobek's Emptiness". Thu Varan warriors still show him some respect, and credit his spirit with having taught them the art of wrestling.
 * Pt'a is Lawful.

Sobek appeared as a man with the head of a crocodile, with muscles that he was apparently able to crush rocks with. Of course, he could also appear as a regular crocodile. Sturlaag: Sturlaag is a Titan associated with fertility in both plants and animals, as well as strength. He is usually revered by men and competitors. His wife is Dallanna, but the two of them don't seem to spend as much time together as they do with whatever moves...at least, in myths. Druids and friendlier giants also revere him.
 * Sobek was Chaotic.

Sturlaag appears as a powerfully built man with a head of rich hair. The rest of him is covered with hair, too. When he chooses to dress, he wears the hides of animals he has killed. Contrary to popular belief, his "manliness" has repelled as many men and women as it has attracted.

Like his wife, Sturlaag is depicted by artists as being handsome or foul, young or old. Many artists like to portray him as being very well-endowed, in the masculine sense of the term. Suurt: Suurt was one of the allies of Aurgelmir, who followed him to Asgardia. He is a fiery being, and commonly referred to as the "Fire Giant". His last known home was in the great volcano known as Mount Muspell. Ubasti: Seen as the protector of lives, women, and cats, Ubasti is very popular with anybody who shares her interests. She is friends with Durist and her mother Zaedanna, and sometimes called upon in Thu Varan festivals. Sentient cats and therianthropes who turn into cat-like creatures worship her.
 * Sturlaag is Chaotic.
 * Suurt is Chaotic.
 * Ubasti is Neutral.

Immortals
Immortals are - or were - mortals who proved themselves to the gods. While not demigods, they are as close as mortals can ever hope to get. Many serve the gods and goddesses as mortal emissaries of higher status than even the mightiest priests and priestesses.