Editing Exploring the Halls of Arden Vul: Deities

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=The Archontean Pantheons=
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==

{|
|+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==
{|
|+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
|-
| '''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, Chaotic
| Love, desire, aspiration, planning
| Diamond; sword
|-
| '''Tychias''' (F)
| Neutral, Chaotic
| Luck, fate, wealth, ‘the Lady of Thieves’
| Crimson coin; dagger, staff
|}

==The Twelve==

{|
|+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=
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=
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=
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=
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=
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=
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.