Exploring the Halls of Arden Vul: Deities

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The Archontean Pantheons[edit]

There were twelve original gods of Archontos, with the earliest written reference to one of them dating to 1218 SP (sine pacti, ‘without the compact’, before the Compact of Ennius). Certainly, all of the Twelve were acknowledged by c.500 SP, and thus they were the gods whom the Archonteans brought with them in the period of imperial expansion.

During this period, the Twelve each boasted broad portfolios of ‘expertise’. This made syncretism not only possible but common during the Archontean expansion: it was easy enough for the Archonteans to see in some foreign god a particular ‘aspect’ of one of the Twelve. For instance, Sekhmet came to be understood as an aspect of Wadjet, with special influence on fire and warfare. Of course, whether or not such foreign gods were distinct entities or merely aspects of the Twelve was, of course, a hotly debated theological point. Some modern theologians blame this flexible and accepting approach for the gradual decline of the Twelve; these critics suggest that by claiming to encompass all things, the Twelve lost their uniqueness and thus their appeal to the broader populace.

For whatever reason, worship of the Twelve had become ossified and ritualized by the time of the War of Sortians and Theosophs. By 1855 AEP (nearly 1200 years ago), the imperial government decided to officially link itself to a new slate of deities, ones whose divine support promised to revive the empire. The new pantheon centered around ten very powerful deities (“the Ten”) who were served by seventeen (or more) lesser gods. Theological cynics could and did note that many of these ‘new’ gods resembled the most popular of the ‘aspects’ of the old pantheon, but the official position is that the Ten are distinct from the Twelve. In the present, worship of the old gods is rare; some of the Twelve are forgotten, and at least one (Horus) is presumed ‘dead’. The Ten and the Seventeen have clearly replaced them. For the past 500 years, the emperor has also been the subject of a cult; the theology of this is a bit fuzzy, and ‘worship’ of the emperor is primarily understood as a measure of loyalty more than anything else.

Note: the Archonteans remain accepting of foreign gods; it is not at all uncommon to find temples or shrines to the Wiskin and Thorcin pantheons existing alongside those of their Archontean rivals within the communities of the Empire. The same, however, is not true beyond the borders of the empire; shrines and temples to the Ten are unwelcome outside the imperial boundaries.

The Ten[edit]

Greater Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Ardenia Tessaeron (F) Lawful, Good Wisdom, battle tactics, invention, justice Owl; spear
Crestion (M) Chaotic, Good Poetry, music, the arts, creative impulses, selfishness Lyre, cluster of wild berries; bow
Debellaton (M) Lawful, Evil Death, might, order through might, sacrifice Skull, scythe, black disk; flail
Demma (F) Good Fertility, crops, households, childbirth, magic A seed; flail
Heschius Ban (M) Evil, Lawful Triumph, water, inevitability, power, magic Shackles, a green oval; flail
Lucreon (M) Lawful Profit, amassing wealth, negotiation, merchants, impartiality A gold coin; hammer
Lysseon (M) Chaotic Wine, indulgence, madness, rage, creativity A bunch of grapes; flail, sickle
Mitra (M) Lawful, Good Justice, contracts, omniscience, defender, oaths, humanitarian impulses Scales of justice, lions, flames; long sword
Thelis (F) Good Love, desire, aspiration, planning Diamond; sword
Tychias (F) Neutral, Chaotic Luck, fate, wealth, ‘the Lady of Thieves’ Crimson coin; dagger, staff

The Seventeen[edit]

Lesser Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Aranyania (F) Neutral Woodlands, nature, growing things, time, balance Oak leaf; longbow
Atashak (M) Lawful, Evil Fire, the sun, inevitable destruction, battle, sacrifice Burning torch; battle axe
Banion (M) Chaotic Decision-making, trickery, deceit (the twin of Yanion) An idealized face, half white and half black, with red eyes; dagger
Basileus (M) Lawful The Emperor Laurel wreath; mace
Bisor (M) Lawful, Good The household, security, lineage Blue key; staff
Chibalba (M) Neutral The underworld, slow death, savage beauty, Lord of Caves Barred gate; scythe
Diktynna (F) Chaotic Hunting, the chase in all forms, the moon A horn, a brown satchel; bows, hunting spears
Ellion (F) Chaotic The night, the moon, uncertainty, financial ventures Blindfolds, stilts; dagger, crossbow
Envalios (M) Chaotic Battle, mercenaries, fire as pitiless destruction Crow; battle axe
Kaerion (M/F) Lawful The (genderless) Lord of Time, endlessness, prophecy, creation Hourglass; staff
Lyncion (M) Evil Secrets, magic, demons, hidden knowledge, power A blue eye; dagger
Melkarton (M) Good The sea, travel, merchants, fair dealing Manta ray; long sword
Nicetoreon (F) Neutral Judgment, the afterlife, passage of souls, earning merit A lead weight, a small figurine representing the soul; mace
Qandisi (F) Chaotic, Evil The Sloe-Eyed Lady of Lust, the Dancing Maiden of Chaos, lust, control, sex Human image with breasts and phallus; whip
Rudiana (F) Chaotic, Evil Battle, berserkers, unrestrained violence Red teardrop; axe
Treshub (M) Chaotic, Evil Storms, the sky, lightning, fertility Lightning bolt; spear
Yanion (F) Lawful Medicine, thresholds, decisions (twin to Banion) A half-empty vial; club

The Twelve[edit]

Old Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Anubis (M) Lawful neutral Burial, guidance (both of the souls of the dead and of travelers) Jackal; staff, dagger
Besa (F) Chaotic evil Potency, pleasure, violence, hedonism Phallus, green eye; phallic mace
Horus (M) Neutral good Sky, sun, right behavior Solar disk, hawk; mace
Isis (F), Lawful good Fidelity, motherhood, mercy, magic Ankh; staff
Jael (F) Neutral evil The moon, nighttime, secrecy, lawlessness, vengeance Quarter moon; dagger
Osiris (M) Neutral The afterlife, death, justice, punishment Feather; staff
Ptah (M) Lawful, Good Creator of the universe through thought, wisdom, craftsmen, harvests A level, pencil, or plumb line; bow and arrow
Seker (M) Lawful, Good Creation, fertility, crafting, the sun A golden seed; spear, flail
Set (M) Lawful, Evil Power, knowledge, domination, judgment, vengeance, serpents Whirlwind, Set animal, jackal, red-headed man; was stick, spear
Thoth (M) Lawful neutral Knowledge, judging, magic, secrecy and gnosis Ibis, baboon arcane symbols; staff
Tiamat (F) Neutral, Evil Wealth, selfishness, conquest, queen of dragons Rainbow; spear
Wadjet (F) Lawful, Neutral Protection, warfare, snakes and lizards A lidless snake’s eye, a hooded cobra; toothed club

Imperial Goblin Deities[edit]

The goblins of the Archontean Empire have a fairly limited pantheon of traditional goblin deities and are often found worshipping human ones.

Lesser Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Dapp Sapfinder (M) Neutral Mountain forests, growth, fertility, animals Raccoon; spear
Glum Gaping-Maw (M) Evil, Chaotic Consumption, avarice, destruction Fanged, gaping mouth; mace
Grindledor (M) Lawful, Evil Creation, might, judging. The Creator Three concentric circles, a clenched fist; whip
Jacko the Frowner (M) Evil Entropy, revenge, sorrow. Twin to Jeska Black anvil split in two; war hammer
Jeska Pouchlifter (F) Chaotic, Good Luck, trickery, crafting. Twin to Jacko Gold coin; hand axe


Halfling Deities[edit]

The small folk have a fairly limited pantheon of deities, and often worship human ones.

Lesser Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Alder Lightfingers (F) Chaotic Stealth, thievery, wanderlust, adventure Footprint; sling
Griffo the Roarer (M) Chaotic, Good Feasting, drinking, oratory, parties, prosperity Foaming mug; sword
Hamson Greenfinger (M) Lawful, Good Fields, fertility, security, harvest Pipe-weed leaf; pole-arms
Rowan Fairbrow (F) Good Security, protection, love A red apple; spear


The Thorcin Pantheon[edit]

The Thorcinga have a remarkably diverse pantheon. If Father Utar is the technical head of the pantheon, he is in fact often an object of ridicule for the failure of his schemes.

Greater Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Apenn (M) Chaotic, Good Good fortune, wine, agriculture, revelry. Represents life of the vine from first tender shoots to death in winter Wine cup; sickle, staff
Croul (M) Evil Mountains, snow, pitiless striving. The Lord of Peaks, the Cold Warrior. Famously uncaring. N/A; axe
Fenth (M) Lawful, Evil Forests, nature, harshness. Lord of The Trees, First Seed. Brother of Utar. Acorn; bow
Ghareela (F) Evil, Chaotic Anarchy, destruction, chaos; hermaphroditic; the Destroyer, the Dark Mother, Lady of Blood. Skeletal finger, hooded figure; bows, acid
Ghureena (F) Lawful, Good Life, growth, productivity, order. Toad-headed opposite of Ghareela Toad; club
Laraveen (F) Lawful Wisdom, war, planning, construction Framing square; spear
Mishpral (F) Lawful Health, healing An open hand; spear
Sherlosh (M) Chaotic Seas and oceans, fishing Net, fishing hook; trident
Shimra (F) Good, Lawful The hearth, kitchens, mothers, infants. Wife of Utar Cooking pot; knife
Utar (M) Neutral Knowledge, wisdom, schemes, oratory, justice, ingenuity, questioning authority. Father Utar, Lord of the Eyes Jeweled eye; short sword
Thefila (F) Lawful, Good Marriage, respect and fidelity, hearth, family Tear-drop earring; staff
Lesser Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Ethrik (F) Chaotic Love, sensuality and passion, beauty, seduction and carnal desire. The eternal adulteress without spite. Daughter of Utar and Shimra, twin of Shapral. Figs; dagger
Nitheral (F) Lawful, Neutral Forests, nature, hidden paths and secrets; Pitiless Lady of the Hunt, Wild Daughter, Finder of Tracks. Daughter of Fenth, and more popular than him. A large canine tooth; bow
Pertiora (F) Chaotic, Evil The Seas. The Bitch of the Sea, who preys on impious sailors Octopus; spear
Phreena (F) Lawful, Neutral Fate, lost causes, slaves, the destitute Potsherd with a black dot on it; staff, club
Shapral (M) Chaotic Thieves, the night, adventure, warfare. Son of Utar and Shimra, twin to Ethrik. Coil of rope; long sword
Thrufor (M) Chaotic, Good Travel, trade, the disabled. Clubfooted. Generic smiling face, sandal; ironshod staff

The Wiskin Pantheon[edit]

The Wiskinga inhabit the frozen north of glaciers, mountains, and snow-covered fields. The Wiskinga believe their gods inhabit an enchanted valley high up in the mountains above Westholm.

Greater Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Bragi (M) Good Poetry, music, persuasion, beauty A bagpipe; staff
Freya (F) Good Beauty, love (esp. unrequited), sadness, wealth Strand of yellow hair; sword
Frigg (F) Lawful, Good The household, motherhood, spinning Distaff; staff
Hafgufa (F) Chaotic, Evil The Seas, relentlessness, implacability, the Red Whale Red whale; trident
Heimdall (M) Lawful Watchmen, fidelity, stamina, defense Blindfold; halberd
Jormungundir (M/F) Evil Destruction, sabotage, planning and undermining endeavors, snakes Ouroboros; flail
Loki (M) Chaotic Plots, trickery, crafts, invention Fish; dagger
Odin (M) Good, Lawful War, justice, prophecy, inspiration, the All-Father Raven; spear
Thor (M) Good War, battle, storms Hammer; war hammer
Lesser Gods
God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Fenrir (F/M) Chaotic, Evil Hunger, chaos, destruction, wolves Wolf ’s pawprint; axe
Gna (F) Neutral Travel, messages, speed Brass arrow; arrows
Snotra (M) Lawful Hospitality, noble behavior, speech Songbird; sword
Surt (M) Evil, Lawful Fire, caves, smithing Pair of glowing red eyes; hammer, two-handed sword
Ymir (M) Chaotic, Evil Strength, endurance, giants; All-Father of Giants Red handprint; maul


People of Stone Deity[edit]

The People of Stone venerate a single creator god, Zodarrim, the All Father, Shaper of Stone, First Tapper, Giver of Gifts, Lord of Battle.

God Alignment Areas of Influence Symbol(s) and Weapon(s)
Zodarrim Lawful Creation, battle, stone-work, crafting, fertility A stone chip, hammer; war hammer


The Sylvari[edit]

The sylvari do not worship deities per se. They believe that creation was wrought by Valborian, who created Gildorin out of pure magic, and who subsequently shaped the hundred First Elves to be Gildorin’s companions. All subsequent elves are thus Valborian’s children, and while they know they will return to Valborian some day, they do not actively construct cults, temples, priesthoods, and so forth. The Sylvari revere nature, and acknowledge the role that Aranyania plays in human cosmogony; but again, they do not ‘worship’ her per se.