Deities

Deities are not individuals; they are amalgamations of similar tenets and ideals given form by those that worship them. They're capable of providing 'tools' to those in the Material Plane, but they're not capable of directly doing your work. Deities will rarely communicate with mortals directly, instead opting to impart dreams, visions, feelings, and inspirations. Because of this method of indirect servitude, it is highly unlikely a deity will personally smite you down if you were actively performing horrible, in their view, deeds. However, they could easily coerce an agent of change aligned with them to come and smite you down.

There are thousands upon thousands of lesser deities, all of which have at least some form of affiliation with a major deity. These deities represent every individual aspect of the Material Plane, and different cultures have different lesser deities they may worship. A coastal civilization has no need for a lesser deity of life-saving oases, therefore, they would have so little power that they wouldn't exist.

Coetus Prima
The Coetus Prima is the most commonly-regarded collection of deities, recognized nearly universally. Different cultures have different interpretations of these deities, with some regarding just this core pantheon as-is, and with others having beliefs consisting of hundreds of branching deities encompassing nearly every aspect of the Material Plane. Usually, only cult-minded folk regard only one singular deity as "true".

The following interpretations of the Coetus Prima are the ones most recognized by Humans residing in Central Vuskan, in and around the region of Lethelin.

Sarenrae, Goddess of Life and Light
Alignment: Neutral Good

Worshipers: Healers, Farmers, Philanthropists, Redeemed Evil-doers

Portfolio: The Sun, Redemption, Honesty, Healing, Light, General "Good"

Domains: Life, Light, Protection

Favored Weapon: Rapier

Contact: Solitary prayer

Symbols: Most things sun-related

Regions/Races: Generally prominent

Notes: Typically depicted as a fairly attractive woman draped in very light, flowing violet robes. Appearance changes depending on location/culture.

Aurem, Deity of the Moon and the Natural Cycle
Alignment: True Neutral

Worshipers: Shamans, Hunters of Undead

Portfolio: The Moon, Eventually Dying, Not Being Undead

Domains: Life, Nature, Moon

Favored Weapon: Scimitar

Contact: Isolated repose amongst nature

Symbols: Most things moon-related

Regions/Races: Generally prominent

Notes: Seen as a luminescent, lithe, androgynous figure adorned in endlessly flowing liquid silver.

Kanisah, Goddess of Trickery and Persuasion
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Worshipers: Thieves, Swindlers, Pranksters

Portfolio: Trickery, Fast-talk

Domains: Trickery, Love

Favored Weapon: Stiletto

Contact: Conversation, as if with someone over your shoulder

Symbols: Game Birds

Regions/Races: Generally prominent

Notes: Represented as a young woman wearing black, feathered clothing, with an expressive face mask resembling a magpie. Typically depicted as a love interest of Lendel.

Tymora, Goddess of Fortune
Alignment: Chaotic Good

Worshipers: Optimists, Traders, Gamblers, Workers, Desperate Folk

Portfolio: Fortune, Luck, Hopeful Futures

Domains: Trickery

Favored Weapon: Halberd

Contact: Solitary Prayer

Symbols: Small pyramid-shaped baubles made of precious metals

Regions/Races: Originally primarily Tieflings; spread to other races and regions

Notes: Depicted as an adult woman, nude save for pure golden drapings.

Londren, Deity of Perseverance
Alignment: Neutral Good

Worshipers: Laborers, Builders, City Planners, Explorers, Colonizers

Portfolio: Progress, Tradition, Social and Civil Reform, Uprisings

Domains: Protection, Life

Favored Weapon: War Pick

Contact: Isolated prayer during the repose of civil deeds

Symbols: Raised fists clutching tools relevant to profession

Regions/Races: Generally prominent, especially in urban centers

Notes: Depicted as an extraordinarily common looking individual, with multiple depictions based on the area. Always depicted as strong, with one missing arm.

Gheda, Deity of Justice
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Worshipers: Judges, Guards, Royalty, Grudge-bearers, Vigilantes

Portfolio: Conquest, Upholding of Law, Rightful Vengeance

Domains: Protection, War, Life

Favored Weapon: Bastard Sword

Contact: Isolated prayer in times of strife

Symbols: Two equal pendulum-like weights handing off the hilt of a sword

Regions/Races: Common among all races, with depictions wildly varying depending on moral code

Notes: Varies extremely. Always androgynous, with more conquest-centric societies seeing them as a ruthless warrior whereas most Human societies see them as a blind judge.

Eïam, God of Undeath
Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshipers: Murderers, Sadists, Misanthropists, Liches, Vampires, Evil Immortals

Portfolio: Murder, Pain, Undeath, Disease

Domains: Death, Grave, Blood

Favored Weapon: Serrated Daggers

Contact: Ritual Sacrifice

Symbols: Deep scars running the length of a limb

Regions/Races: Recognized everywhere, even as evil by generally evil societies, save for cultists.

Notes: Shown as a shambling being of rotted flesh, vaguely resembling a deeply mutilated bloodless male corpse.

Albedo, Alveda, and Alrita, Goddesses of Death, Souls, and Blood
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Worshipers: Most people that hope to make the best of life prior to inevitable death, those that recognize the importance of death

Portfolio: Death, Souls, Blood

Domains: Life, Moon, Death, Grave, Blood

Favored Weapon: Scythes, Sickles

Contact: Incense-assisted private prayer in expansive, empty places

Symbols: Albino Birds, Corvids

Regions/Races: Generally prominent.

Notes: Sister goddesses of Death, Souls, and Blood, respectively. They are those that allow living beings to partake in life on the Material Plane. Seen as heavily armored warriors when seen by those that have lived evil lives, and as draped in silks and silver jewelries by moral folk. Albedo is the middle sister with infinite black hair, Alveda is the eldest sister with white hair, and Alrita is the youngest sister with crimson hair.

Alsamin, Deity of War
Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Worshipers: Soldiers, Duelists, Competitive/Honorable Combatants or Competitors

Portfolio: Mass Conflict, Organized Duels, Competitive Sports, Combative Mercy

Domains: War, Forge, Protection

Favored Weapon: Javelins, Flails

Contact: Outward cries during battle

Symbols: A single scarred eye

Regions/Races: Generally prominent, with an emphasis on societies bound by competitive honor, such as Goliaths and Ruri.

Notes: Depicted as an androgynous figure formed of smoke or dust, with two luminous eyes, the right of which is scarred over and dull.

Thraellan, God of Conquest
Alignment: Lawful Evil

Worshipers: Colonizers, Generals, Fascists

Portfolio: Conquest, Forceful Claim, Political Genocide

Domains: War

Favored Weapon: Glaive

Contact: Silent prayer, typically immediately prior to escalating a conflict

Symbols: A clenched upward-facing hand holding multiple blood-stained chains of gold and silver

Regions/Races: Conquest-minded societies.

Notes: Depicted as a man clad entirely in battered armor, with every feature obscured.

Hathen, God of Civilization and Trade
Alignment: True Neutral

Worshipers: Farmers, Civilized Societies, Carpenters, Merchants

Portfolio: Building, Creation, Invention, Scientific Progress, Alchemy, Farming, Trade/Commerce, Clockwork, Dark Powder

Domains: Forge, Knowledge

Favored Weapon: Whatever’s ‘modern’ (was crossbows, then repeating crossbows, and now firearms)

Contact: Through work, typically in the form of bursts of inspiration

Symbols: The top half of a rising sun, with a setting moon separated by a horizontal line beneath

Regions/Races: Primarily Human, but prominent wherever cities can be found.

Notes: Depicted as an elderly but fit male in whatever is the most ‘current’ clothing. Always shown in some form of eyewear.

Kiera, Goddess of Love and Lust
Alignment: Chaotic Good

Worshipers: Lovers, Those that value connections, Families, Folks That Like To Fuck

Portfolio: Love, Lust, Sex, Family, Interpersonal Connections

Domains: Life, Trickery, Love

Favored Weapon: Sabre

Contact: Private prayer with incense and dim lighting near the end of day, in a calm environment

Symbols: Two interwoven bands, flowing white clothing, hearts

Regions/Races: Prominent everywhere, particularly among races that have recreational sex.

Notes: Depicted as a young and freckled Human woman with short hair and flowing white robes beneath a white leather corset. Though always referred to as a woman, shapeshifting is a major theme of hers.

Lendel, God of Illusion
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Worshipers: Charlatans, Con Artists, Performers, Illusion Mages, Alchemists, Thieves

Portfolio: Planned Deceit, Games of Wit, Illusions, Hallucinations

Domains: Trickery, Arcana

Favored Weapon: Anything well-concealed

Contact: Tarot-like cards with isolated prayer

Symbols: An eye that is both open and shut (eyelashes on bottom, downward arc, circle above) o)k

Regions/Races: Generally prominent

Notes: Depicted as a cloaked man wearing a feathered tricorne, with a mask that eternally shifts between the visages of various animals. Typically depicted as a love interest of Kanisah.

Illahan, God of Nature
Alignment: True Neutral

Worshipers: Druids, Naturalists, Non-Urban Societies, Anti-Expansionists, Apothecaries

Portfolio: Natural Environments, Peaceful Isolation, Fey Connections, Natural Vigor, Biology, Chemical Alchemy

Domains: Life, Nature

Favored Weapon: Walking Staff

Contact: Isolated prayer in an area of untouched natural greatness, in any form

Symbols: A thin sprig of sage

Regions/Races: Generally prominent.

Notes: Shown as a young travelling woman wearing many layers of tattered cloaks, always with weathered features. Carries a walking staff with various bundles of local common flora bound to it.

Soma, Goddess of Magic and Knowledge
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Worshipers: Heirophants, Wizards, Sorcerers, Sketchy Librarians, Liches

Portfolio: Weave-based Casting, Learned Magic, Hidden Knowledge, Forbidden Texts

Domains: Arcana, Knowledge

Favored Weapon: Evocation Magic

Contact: Private prayer with incense and rising sunlight in the dead of morning, alone

Symbols: A striken-through checkmark

Regions/Races: In and around major mage colleges, such as Falaise.

Notes: Depicted as an adult woman dressed in silks criss-crossing between all warm colors towards their top half, all cold colors towards their bottom half, and a hood of greys. Masked with a featureless mask bearing her symbol.

Talon, Deity of the Elements
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Worshipers: Scared Sailors, Worried Travelers, Folks that Don't Want to Die to Weather, Folks that Want Weather to Kill People, Farmers

Portfolio: Rain, storms, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.

Domains: Nature, Tempest

Favored Weapon: Falchion

Contact: Private prayer with a burned natural offering

Symbols: A necklace of raindrops with a small iron chain

Regions/Races: Generally prominent; everyone's affected by weather (except Drow, maybe).

Notes: A mysterious figure dressed in a full-length tattered white cloak that shimmers a dark blue in certain lights/angles. Seems to have animal-like vertical ears under the cloak. Could possibly just be a cloak. Some sailors swear they see a similar figure walking on the water before lethal storms.

Anodyne, Goddess of the Sea
Alignment: Neutral Good

Worshipers: Sailors, Explorers, Travelers, Settlers

Portfolio: Sprawling Life, Vast Expanses, Golden Hours and other forms of natural silence-based beauty

Domains: Life, Nature

Favored Weapon: Straight Saber

Contact: Silent prayer during an aforementioned time of natural beauty, sunrise being the most common

Symbols: Three stars above a small, nondescript diamond shape

Regions/Races: Generally prominent, landlocked as a deity of expanses, and seafarers as a deity of the sea.

Notes: Shown as a half-woman, half-beast depending on the region (half scorpion in deserts, mermaid in seas, etc.)

The Twin Spirits, Deities of the Seasons-
Alignment: True Neutral

Worshipers:

Portfolio:

Domains: Tempest, Nature

Favored Weapon:

Contact:

Symbols:

Regions/Races:

Riven, Deity of Festivity and Joy-
Alignment: Neutral Good

Worshipers:

Portfolio:

Domains: Love, Life, Light

Favored Weapon:

Contact:

Symbols:

Regions/Races:

Glasya, Goddess of Peace, Daughter of Asmodeus
Alignment: Neutral Good

Worshipers: Pacifists, Philanthropists, Moral Leaders, Personal Reformists

Portfolio: Pacifism, Philanthropy, Morality, Peaceful Retribution

Domains: Life, Knowledge

Favored Weapon: Plain wooden mace

Contact: Dreams

Symbols: An outstretched hand with a simple star hovering above it

Regions/Races: Generally prominent.

Notes: Shown as a young, tired woman with a pleasant demeanor. Always dressed in white robes with an emerald trim. Wears a constant smile, however slight it may be.

Leira, Goddess of Time and Planes
Alignment: True Neutral

Worshipers: Wizards, Plane-travelers, Pragmatic Nihilists

Portfolio: Time, Entropy, Interplanar Travel, Ceaseless Cycles

Domains: Arcana, Knowledge

Favored Weapon: Longbow

Contact: Waterside meditative ritual

Symbols: Two downward-facing arrows, one shorter than the other, connected at their base

Regions/Races: Generally prominent.

Notes: Seen as a cold, emotionless woman in the exact middle of her life. Carries a bow used to execute those attempting to stick around longer than allowed, with arrows tied by strings to every plane, demiplane, and pocket dimension. Depicted as cruel among those that fear death, and as a guiding force by those that have come to terms with it.

Gaghiel, the Lady of Arms, Daughter of Belial
Alignment: Lawful Evil

Worshipers: Cultists, Seekers of Rapid Power, War-Harbingers, Misanthropists

Portfolio: Mass Bloodshed, Weaponry

Domains: Death, War, Forge

Favored Weapon: Anything

Contact: Animal sacrifice with a blood-drawn glyph

Symbols: Ibex skull

Regions/Races: Somewhat esoteric; those that study The Nine Hells are usually the ones that know about her.

Notes: Depicted as a woman wearing a red dress, a metal corset, feathered bicep-length gloves, and with the head of an ibex skull. Frequently bargains with those in power to cause mass conflict, thus reaping souls.

Sylvethris, Deity of the Fey
Alignment: Chaotic Good

Worshipers: Naturists, Fey, Farmers, Explorers

Portfolio: Fey, Wild Nature, Elves, That Which Is Natural

Domains: Life, Trickery, Nature

Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff

Contact: Isolated commune through various nature-based rituals in areas of rampant growth along Ley-lines

Symbols: Four jagged wings in a >< formation

Regions/Races: Elves, primarily, with occasional worship from other nature-minded folk.

Notes: Depicted as a constantly-shifting entity resembling an Elf. Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes neither. Always draped in a cloak of willow.

Ateliette, the Abyssal
Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Worshipers: Cultists, Insane Individuals, Those Seeking Violent Revenge

Portfolio: The Abyss

Domains: Death

Favored Weapon: Pike

Contact: Sacrificial ritual of live blood and bone

Symbols: A jagged, amorphous maw

Regions/Races: Generally feared, considered the chaotic variant of modern-day Satan.

Notes: Depicted as a black amorphous mass of teeth and eyes, ever-writhing

Disgrace, Herald of the Abyss
Alignment: Neutral Evil

Worshipers: Same as Ateliette

Portfolio: "Bridging the gap" between the Hells and the Abyss

Domains: Death, Trickery

Favored Weapon: Baghnahks (Punch Daggers)

Contact: Lesser sacrifice

Symbols: A featureless black mask

Regions/Races: Generally feared.

Notes: Depicted as Ateliette’s ‘ambassador’ to the Material Plane. Abnormally capable of traversing planar gaps. Shown as a black-leather-clad Human male with a featureless vantablack face. Occasionally takes a more humanoid form, resembling a pallid human male with a large amount of black dreadlocks, dressed in fine black regal clothing.

Bahamut, Draconic God of Good
Alignment: Lawful Good

Worshipers: Most individuals that seek personal goodness

Portfolio: Similar to Gheda, with a focus on unerring good

Domains: Life, War, Protection

Favored Weapon: Single-bladed Greataxe

Contact: Personal prayer similar to modern religion

Symbols: Singular metallic dragon’s head, usually facing left

Regions/Races: Recognized everywhere, with an emphasis on Dragonborne.

Notes: Always depicted as a metallic dragon, primarily platinum but varies based on society. Sorta like how “God” is seen nowadays. Sometimes anthropomorphized as a well-built adult male.

Tiamat, Draconic Goddess of Evil, Keeper of the First Layer
Alignment: Lawful Evil

Worshipers: Cults, Seekers of Power, Corrupt Political Figures, Slaverunners

Portfolio: Sacrifice, Bargains for Power, Trading of Sovereign Souls

Domains: Trickery, War

Favored Weapon: Serrated Flamberge-type Blades

Contact: Ritual

Symbols: Star formed of five chromatic dragon heads.

Regions/Races: Recognized everywhere.

Notes: Shown as a five-headed chromatic dragon. Seen kinda like how modern-day “Satan” is. Sometimes anthropomorphized as a lithe, sneering adult woman. Some civilizations see her as a deity of justice.

Kieros, Keeper of the Damned
Alignment: Lawful Good

Worshipers: Those that value law above all, those that value fair punishment, those that seek objective evaluation

Portfolio: Punishment for Crimes, Determining Morality, Condemnation

Domains: Grave, War, Moon

Favored Weapon: Greataxe

Contact: Typically only once in a devout follower’s life through private prayer

Symbols: The Brand of Planes (shown on Shanoa/Ceridia’s biceps)

Regions/Races: Generally prominent.

Notes: On a natural death, you commune with the Al- sisters. After that commune, you are confronted by Kieros, who determines where your sovereign soul is sent. Seen as a male the size of a giant, draped in tattered black cloths.

The Nine Hells
Comprised of nine infinite planes, each with their own absolute ruler. Occupied by Fiends known as Devils. The rulers and layers of the Nine Hells are as follows:

(all rulers are typically Lawful Evil, as are the Nine Hells as a whole)

The Abyss
Comprised of 666 infinite planes, each with their own ruler (or rulers struggling for power). Occupied by Fiends known as Demons.

Lords of the Abyss, such as Baphomet, each seek sovereign souls in their own way to bolster their own ranks, but that which benefits the Abyss also tends to benefit each individual plane. The 666th plane consists entirely of Ateliette, an unendingly large outerplanar creature. Disgrace serves as Ateliette's herald to the other layers.