EloriawestGods

There are a few pantheons of gods worshipped in Western Eloria, most notably the Elder Gods and the New Gods. The ancient dualistic religion of the Angel and the Dragon has a cult following and the Four Elemental Lords are worshipped by druids. The Chaos Lords are worshipped by the malevolent goblin tribes, but the practice is dying among many goblins. The gods do not interfere in today's day and age and many people feel disaffected.

The Chaos Lords (Goblin Gods)- These gods were worshipped by the native peoples of Eloria before the Invasion of the First Men. There are five principal deities with dominion over different aspects of reality. Each has its own hierarchy of henchmen and several tribes were devoted to just one deity. They often used demons as their messengers, demand blood sacrifice and other acts of horror among men.
    Mut ("Dark")- A hooded humanoid with long tentacles for arms. She is the symbol of darkness, night and death. She embodies the sea and the storm.
    Char ("Burn")- The Burned One brandishes a fiery torch, for he is the one who brings life to the world and is the essence of fire. His power gives life and disfigures it, for life is tragic and hurtful, just as the light of the sun is for goblins.
    Ephok ("Stone")- The Stone Woman is the source of the earth, fertility, defense and deep caverns. She is the jeweler and the farmer, praised for greed and vanity. She is the strength and endurance of slaves. She is often depicted with a hammer and bears the garb of goblins. It is said her eyes glow like bright rubies.
    Torga ("Pain")- This slim, tall humanoid is no more goblin than he is man, for this horribly ugly god is the embodiment of the pain. He is present all the time, for the travails of this world is of pain. He commonly carries a set of needles and he is also called The Torturer.
    Dagra ("War")- The fifth and youngest Chaos Lord, he is the embodiment of war. His armor is made of the bones of his enemies and his sickle sword is carved from the bones of the earth. His helm is the moon and his feet tred upon the earth in great strides. He is the second most popular god after Char and his festivals often the bloodiest, for goblins fight in his honor.

The Angel and the Dragon- This dualistic religion has touched every corner of the known world and beyond, for it is based on day and night. In Eloria, this religion has a cult following, secret in meeting but always having a hand in every world crisis. These are the guardians of the land and the religion for those who seek balance to their lives. The singular religion of The Angel has taken hold in Dansig, reigning as the national religion for the last two centuries.
Sephra ("The Angel")- This white winged woman bears a spear of flame and the sun for a shield. She is girded for war and is also the author of gentle life. She is the symbol for renewal and is responsible for the sun's light each day. She is the author of reason, philosophy, numbers and alchemy.
Dagus ("The Dragon")- This giant flying serpent is red scaled and embodies strength. His wings spread across the sky bringing the night and his one is the moon, for he lost his left to the Elder Gods. It is said the Dragon gnaws on the bones of the earth, curled around its fiery heart, waiting to fly again when twilight beckons. He is the symbol of raw, primal strength and beguilement. He is responsible for the weather and the hiearchy of power. He is the author of carnivores, magic and mankind.

Eruthial ("The Elder Gods")- The Nine Elder Gods threw down the rule of The Angel and the Dragon, giving freedom to the peoples of the world. They are divided into the nine aspects of the world, each proclaiming dominion over their sphere of influence. These gods are quarrelsome and all vie for the seat of dominion.
    Arutha- The King of the Gods, he is the lord of skies and the teacher of mankind. He instructed the First Men in the fashioning of weapons and armor, warfare and learning. He forged the sun and sets it up in the sky every day to light the way for man. He is hte author of the letter and the society of feudalism. His symbol is the Red Hawk.
    Ishtar- The Lover is a seductress, for she is the symbol of love and all things of the flesh. She is the beauteous enchantress, known for seducing many heroes and ruining kingdoms. She is a fomentor of disaster and the madness of love.
    Ahriman- The Soil God is a harsh taskmaster, for his realm is the fertile fields and the mining of iron from hills. He is responsible for the mountains and the valleys, the field and the crops. He is the brother of Arutha and the main contender for the throne of the gods. He bears a war sword and is the patron of horses.

   Atenia- The Huntress is ever on pursuit of some task. She is the symbol of order and determination, for one needs logic and numbers to accomplish what needs to be done. She is the author of the bow and the queen of the forest.
    Cronus- Time/Death, for he is often dressed in robes and is nothing more but a skeleton of the earth. Inside his eye sockets can be seen the vast cosmos, ready to drink in the souls of those who leave this world. He bears an hourglass, for he is the time watcher and the life taker. Even the gods fear this dread spectre.
    Cyvahr- The Warrior is powerful, often prayed to in times of battle. He formulates battle plans and showers the field with battle lust. He is bloodthirsty and requires much tribute, for he is also the symbol of greed. He commands the sacking of cities, the rape of women and the murder of children. He bears spear, shield and armor, often rides a black horse and is a suitor to Ishtar.

Mithras- The Wizard, he gives magic to the land and is a staunch defender of the world. He is the mediator of the gods and is the son of Arutha. His mind is always working, for he is also the patron of inventors and thieves. He is the symbol of cunning and magic.
Freya- The Wife, she is the symbol of wives and mothers, for she gave the loom to mankind so that men may be warm. She often tempers Arutha's judgement, for she is the kindest of the gods. She loves the people of the world dearly and often intercedes for sinners.
Armaiti- The Daughter, she is the mistress of pranks and also the messenger of the gods. She understands mortals the best for she often disguises herself to visit the people and live among them. She is the protector of inns and travelers.

The New Gods- These fifteen deities appeared from the ships of the south after the fall of Ankheri from the ships of the elves. They are a unified pantheon and are much better suited for worship in the modern age. They do not judge, per se, but act as protectors and personal spiritual advisers. The Church of the New Gods makes no favorites and the Fourteen are always represented together, for the Hidden One is apart from the gods. This religion has taken root in Vandein, Kehman, Khand and Kyria, of which the Cathedral of Holy Mother Astar remains the crowning jewel in the Kyrian kingdom.

Deleros- The Heroic Champion, it is he who welds the New Gods into a cohesive whole with leadership and charisma. He is the knight who wields a black sword into combat and is the patron of adventurers, kings and spies.
    Amena- The Maiden is a symbol of purity and love, the ideal to which women should aspire and men crave. She is the mistress of rivers and forests, the kind places and gentle fields. She is the symbol of the moon and the consort of Deleros.
    Malatar- The Dark Warrior is the antithesis of Deleros, a black night who tempts mankind into evil acts. He serves as the dark side of harmony, the counter balance. While his brother is the bringer of order, Malatar serves as chaos. He has a secret cult and is the fomentor of discord among the gods, but he wishes to usurp Deleros' position as leader, not destroy the world. He wields a burning sword.
   Gahrman- The Old Man of the Sea, he is the patron of sailors and fishermen, for he is the bringer of bounty from the ocean and the terrible storms. He is an old man who is terrible in his anger yet plentiful in his gifts. He wields a green marble staff and a conch shell.

Jagira- The Huntress is the patron of both hunter and prey. She gives mercy to the hunted and bounty to the hunter. She resides in the hearts of everyone in the chase and is said to reside behind the moon, for most hunters search out the night. She wields a black bow.
Eloi- The Wizard is a hooded stranger bearing a staff. He is the teacher of the gods and the writer of runes. It is his enchantments that keep the demon hordes trapped in hell at Deleros' bequest. His sign is the three stars in the Huntress' belt, for he is the suitor of Jagira. He wields ten magical rings.
Perseph- The Merchant is the god of commerce, of orderly systems and hiearchy. He is the god of merchants, nobles and bureaucrats. He is the god of tithes and is also called the Moneychanger. He wields a balance but is also the patron of greed.

Damien- The Sinful Son, he is the fomentor of war and depravity. It is by his hand that cities are sacked and the unfortunate roam the streets. He is the bastard son of Malatar and though he shares many aspects of chaos with his father, he is disdained by the gods, for he wishes to break the world and only sow chaos at the expense of law. He is the patron of outcasts, rebels and thieves. He wields a black trident and his symbol is the crow.
Asephe- The Sky Lady, she is the bringer of rains and storms. She also is the bearer of clear weather and often works with Gahrman and Eloi to bring weather to the world. Her mood changes but in her extremes is a precarious balance found. She is responsible for the seasons and wields a spear of lightning.
Baal- The Earth Lord, he is the god of the soil, giving bounty to the crops and fertility to animals. He is the amorous god who revels in festivals and orgies. he is charged with making the creatures of the world plentiful and the land to remain fertile. He has a high status among the gods, for he is the consort of Holy Mother Astar and the father of Deleros. He wields a red hammer.

   Cyris- The Worker, he is the dutiful laborer of the gods. He is the one who builds houses and tills the land. He is the patron of farmers, carpenters and architects. He wields a harvester's scythe.
    Natali- The Priest, he is the god who brought the truth of the gods to the lands of men. He is the chief of organized religion and instructs the people in how to act. He is the mouthpiece of the gods and the advisor of men. He is the balance by which the good of men's lives are measured. He wields a jeweled miter.
    Lily- The Child, she is the laziest of the gods, reveling in nature and understanding. She is the goddess of free time and relaxation. She gives comfort from pain and is the fomenter of festivals. She wields a variety of potions and poisons.

Astar- The Holy Mother of the Gods, she is the loving mother of Deleros and the consort of Baal. She is the mother of humanity who sprang from her loins, not from coupling with Baal, but at man's own behest to exist. Thus, man is above the animals and were created only by Astar. She gave up her leadership of the gods to Deleros, her favorite son, but remains the main interceder of mankind. She also gave birth to Malatar, who is often the unwitting pawn in her intricate games. Her love is as the ocean, deep and mighty for all of her children.
Usur- The Hidden One, this god is the lord of the unknown and total darkness. He is avoided by most of the gods for he is also the bringer of death. He rules the underworld of the dead and is the patron of dark magic. He often acts as his own entity and is often regarded as an enemy of Astar.

The Elemental Lords- These deities comprise the elements; Air, Earth, Water and Fire. They are the primeval gods of yore who are often given lip service by the masses yet their worship is secure in the many hidden druidic cults in the land. It is by their power that the mighty Ironwood Tree can be shaped for use by elves and men. It is by their leave that the universe continues its sojourn in reality.