the_faiths_of_baltia

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the_faiths_of_baltia [2023/01/15 13:08] – shtothe_faiths_of_baltia [2023/01/28 10:32] (current) – shto
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 ==== The Army ==== ==== The Army ====
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 +
 +{{ :the_army.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Army  |
 +|  **Name:**|Many  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Honorable warfare; chivalry  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|Three interlocked shields; the crescent moon  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Army is the god of honorable warfare and chivalry, defining for mortals what true and honorable battle should be, and acting as patron god of soldiers. Its first member was a capable female dragonborn commander from before the Cataclysm by the name of Luna. The Army is the god of honorable warfare and chivalry, defining for mortals what true and honorable battle should be, and acting as patron god of soldiers. Its first member was a capable female dragonborn commander from before the Cataclysm by the name of Luna.
  
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 ==== The Admiral ==== ==== The Admiral ====
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 +{{ :the_admiral.png?direct&150 |}}
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 +|  **Title:**|The Admiral  |
 +|  **Name:**|Tordek Torrun  |
 +|  **Domain:**|The sea; sailing; artillery  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|Crossed cannons; ocean waves  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Admiral is the patron god of sailors, holding the domains of the sea and sailing, as well as naval warfare and artillery. Once known as Tordek Torrun, he served as the admiral of a navy belonging to a nation destroyed shortly before the Cataclysm, who joined the Heroes to continue fighting for his people. The Admiral is the patron god of sailors, holding the domains of the sea and sailing, as well as naval warfare and artillery. Once known as Tordek Torrun, he served as the admiral of a navy belonging to a nation destroyed shortly before the Cataclysm, who joined the Heroes to continue fighting for his people.
  
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 ==== The Maker ==== ==== The Maker ====
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 +{{ :the_maker.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Maker  |
 +|  **Name:**|Arthur Dryanni  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Crafting; technology  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A gear; a hammer  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 During the Cataclysm, the Heroes found themselves allied with the artificer Arthur Dryanni. His grand ideas proved immensely useful to their goals, and as a result, the Heroes of the Cataclysm elevated him to Godhood after their victory. He became the god of crafting and technology, and is the god of choice for those who craft items of any kind. During the Cataclysm, the Heroes found themselves allied with the artificer Arthur Dryanni. His grand ideas proved immensely useful to their goals, and as a result, the Heroes of the Cataclysm elevated him to Godhood after their victory. He became the god of crafting and technology, and is the god of choice for those who craft items of any kind.
  
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 ==== The Sentinel ==== ==== The Sentinel ====
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 +{{ :the_sentinel.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Sentinel  |
 +|  **Name:**|Santiago  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Order; law  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A pentagram; square shackles  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The construct god of Order and Law, the Sentinel acts as the enforcer of divine rule. He was a construct found and repaired by the Heroes of the Cataclysm, and served them with such dedication and loyalty that he was elevated to godhood after the Cataclysm. The construct god of Order and Law, the Sentinel acts as the enforcer of divine rule. He was a construct found and repaired by the Heroes of the Cataclysm, and served them with such dedication and loyalty that he was elevated to godhood after the Cataclysm.
  
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 ==== The Balancer ==== ==== The Balancer ====
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 +{{ :the_balancer.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Balancer  |
 +|  **Name:**|Methricus Fairdawn  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Balance  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A pointed tower; 4 snakes in an ouroboros  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Balancer was once better known as Methricus Fairdawn, a minor elven noble and capable wizard. Following the Cataclysm, he would ascend to godhood and devote himself to curbing the excesses of his fellow gods and mediating issues between them. He is also the guardian of Forgotten Chorus, and views the containment of that force as his most important responsibility. The Balancer was once better known as Methricus Fairdawn, a minor elven noble and capable wizard. Following the Cataclysm, he would ascend to godhood and devote himself to curbing the excesses of his fellow gods and mediating issues between them. He is also the guardian of Forgotten Chorus, and views the containment of that force as his most important responsibility.
  
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 ==== The Inciter ==== ==== The Inciter ====
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 +{{ :the_inciter.png?direct&150 |}}
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 +|  **Title:**|The Inciter  |
 +|  **Name:**|Unknown  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Revolution; uprisings  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A raised fist; a flaming crown  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Inciter was the patron of one of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, who was granted divinity at her request. His primary interest is in preventing the stagnation of the world by invoking constant change, for better or worse, so as to force the world to adapt and evolve. As such, he is known as the god of Revolution and Uprisings. The Inciter was the patron of one of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, who was granted divinity at her request. His primary interest is in preventing the stagnation of the world by invoking constant change, for better or worse, so as to force the world to adapt and evolve. As such, he is known as the god of Revolution and Uprisings.
  
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 ==== The Merchant ==== ==== The Merchant ====
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 +{{ :the_merchant.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Merchant  |
 +|  **Name:**|Constantine Aurelius  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Death; commerce; deception  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|Coins; skulls  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Merchant was a necromancer by the name of Constantine Aurelius, who ruled a nation that existed in the time just prior to the Cataclysm. He provided invaluable service to the Heroes of the Cataclysm, despite some minor conflict between them. He is the god of death and commerce, as well as deception. Those who have seen him and returned from the dead claim he always has a large and intelligent bear by his side. The Merchant was a necromancer by the name of Constantine Aurelius, who ruled a nation that existed in the time just prior to the Cataclysm. He provided invaluable service to the Heroes of the Cataclysm, despite some minor conflict between them. He is the god of death and commerce, as well as deception. Those who have seen him and returned from the dead claim he always has a large and intelligent bear by his side.
  
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 ==== The Gambler ==== ==== The Gambler ====
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 +{{ :the_gambler.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Gambler  |
 +|  **Name:**|Vicril Eboncross  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Chance; gambling; piracy  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|Dice; gambling chips  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 The Gambler is among the oldest of the Old Gods, having been born as Vicril Eboncross over a thousand years before the Cataclysm. He was a notorious pirate with a gambling addiction for much of his life, and thus he has taken on the domains of chance, gambling, and piracy. However, after several years of activity, he became far less prominent as his addiction consumed him. This has continued after his ascent to godhood, and he's typically viewed as one of the least active gods because of it. The Gambler is among the oldest of the Old Gods, having been born as Vicril Eboncross over a thousand years before the Cataclysm. He was a notorious pirate with a gambling addiction for much of his life, and thus he has taken on the domains of chance, gambling, and piracy. However, after several years of activity, he became far less prominent as his addiction consumed him. This has continued after his ascent to godhood, and he's typically viewed as one of the least active gods because of it.
  
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 ==== The Capitalist ==== ==== The Capitalist ====
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 +{{ :the_capitalist.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Capitalist  |
 +|  **Name:**|Arkay Paust  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Capitalism; selfishness  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A backwards letter K connected to the letter R; mountain lions  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +The most controversial of the Old Gods, the Capitalist was a Hero of the Cataclysm by the name of of Arkay Paust. A high elf druid, he eventually found his calling in the free market, and became increasingly devoted to the accumulation of wealth. This has only intensified as he achieved divinity, and his most devoted followers have a similar reputation.
 +
 +=== Distinctions of Elves ===
 +Initially, it was believed that the Balancer was a high elf and the Capitalist was a wood elf, but sources were unclear and unreliable in this regard. This was primarily due to the fact that the Capitalist remained entirely in animal form as a mortal, while the Balancer spent an expended period of time away from the other Heroes of the Cataclysm.
 +
 +To resolve this, historians spoke with the sole surviving individual who had known the Heroes in person: the adopted son of Arkay Paust. When his son was asked if Arkay was a high elf, his child indicated that the Capitalist was "the highest elf he knew", and thus the record was corrected. Following this, elves as a race took on the formal name of Arkaydians.
 +
 +=== Serve Thyself ===
 +Those who worship the Capitalist are expected to pursue profit and their own self-interests above all else, even to the detriment of those closest to them. Over the centuries since the Cataclysm, his followers have gotten very good at doing so while maintaining the appearance of earnestness and kindness. It is very easy to find an individual who distrusts the ver Paust family or an open worshiper of the Capitalist, but it is often difficult to find an individual that holds proof of any meaningful wrongdoing.
 +
 +Worshipers of the Capitalist typically try not to reveal their selection in deity, as it marks them as an individual who is not to be trusted, especially to other devotees who may then view them as competition. The few that do reveal their choice work diligently to maintain a sterling reputation.
 +
 +=== A Nonstop Party Cruise ===
 +During the Song of Rage, the Capitalist fought in support of the Nameless One. This further cemented his status as a pariah amongst the gods, and allegedly only the Balancer maintains good terms with him to this day.
 +
 +Since then, he has typically isolated himself to a luxury cruiseliner which hosts a nonstop party, referred to as the Arkaydian Jubilee. All beings, even fiends, may pay a premium to spend time relaxing in safety among the ship and indulging in their preferred vices.
 +
 ===== The New Gods ===== ===== The New Gods =====
 +The New Gods emerged roughly 700 years after the Cataclysm, the first of which was Idakor. He was followed by the terrible Nameless One, and both gods created lieutenants to serve them in the resulting conflict that left the world once again in peril.
 +
 ==== Idakor ==== ==== Idakor ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :idakor.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Creator  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Idakor  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Good; creation; life  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|The Idakor Crucifix  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Idakor is the god of ultimate good, one of unparalleled compassion and understanding for all beings. He first emerged shortly before the Cataclysm rocked the world to its core, and he was thought to have suffered the fate of the Gods of this time. That was, until the works of the First Prophet were discovered once more. Like a beacon for him, Idakor returned once these works were discovered again, and has spread his message of peace ever since. 
 + 
 +=== The Church of Idakor === 
 +The Church of Idakor is the world's largest religious institution, having been allocated a significant amount of land within the Holy Solarian Empire. It is deeply rooted within the politics of the nation, and some are concerned that it has lost sight of its true mission due to its political entanglements. 
 + 
 +However, the Favored Soul of Idakor is always the Patriarch or Matriarch of the church. The common folk believe that, despite the failings of mortals and the lagging bureaucracy of the Church, the Favored Soul will be able to steer the ship true and ensure it never falls into corruption. 
 + 
 +=== Love thy Neighbor === 
 +Idakor preaches love and tolerance for all beings. He asks his followers to show compassion in all they do, put themselves in the shoes of others, and advocate for that which alleviates or prevents the suffering of others. He even asks that compassion be shown toward the evil and cruel, giving them chances to atone and show remorse for their actions, and guiding them to realize the error of their ways. 
 + 
 +His kindness is so great, he is unable to bring harm to other creatures directly, even to ones so vile as the Nameless One. For that reason, he was forced to create his subservient New Gods, who acted on his behalf during the Song of Rage. It's said that he weeps for all creatures that cannot be turned to the side of good. 
 + 
 +=== The Infinite Garden === 
 +Idakor resides in the Infinite Garden, where those that worship him may find eternal peace. Idakor is unique among the gods in that he is the only one which offers his worshipers an alternative to reincarnation or servitude; those that have proven themselves to be kindhearted and compassionate are welcomed into the Garden. 
 + 
 +The Infinite Garden is a paradise, where the souls of the dead may find true peace. It is understood to be utopian, with the every need of its residents tended to so as to ensure their comfort and inner harmony. Most lay worshipers of Idakor seek to enter the garden, with most lacking the strength to be more useful to him as an Angel. 
 ==== Gadriel ==== ==== Gadriel ====
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 +
 +{{ :gadriel.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **Title:**|The Dog of Justice  |
 +|  **Name:**|Gadriel  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Justice; protection; war  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A sword with scales built into the guard  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +With Idakor unable to harm even those that must be stopped, he created Gadriel to act as the militant arm of Good. Typically represented with a Dog, Gadriel is relentless in his pursuit of evil, and those who refuse to abandon their nefarious ways are quickly put to the sword.
 +
 +=== A God of Action ===
 +Those who worship Gadriel typically have the highest profile of those who serve the Upper Three. They are the knights and crusaders donned in glinting plate armor, who come with the head of an evil dragon to parade around the town it had harassed for months. As such, it likely has the highest numbers of those who worship Idakor's children, though its role should not be overestimated. Indeed, it can also be harmful in some ways.
 +
 +Those who worship Gadriel most vehemently are at risk of becoming that which they seek to destroy. Many lesser evils are subjective, and there have been incidents where those who were truly faithful to Gadriel have given out divine punishment for what could be called minor offenses due to their zeal to purge evil, or have seen themselves fall after their crusade forced them into increasingly questionable acts.
 +
 +=== Enforce Justice ===
 +Gadriel demands those who worship him to constantly seek out new evils to destroy, in the most appropriate way. The most obvious implication is the hunting of murderers and monsters, eradicating them with prejudice and fervor. However, Gadriel seeks to punish all crime. Those who commit lesser crimes like theft can likewise find themselves to be the target of a worshiper of Gadriel, though typically the punishment is far less severe.
 +
 +Most worshipers of Gadriel are warriors in some form or another, for this reason. Even if they do not seek out the most vile creatures to slay, the ability to defend oneself is typically useful when attempting to reveal criminals and bring them to justice. In either case, they are typically the most high profile servants of the Upper Three.
 +
 +=== The Roaming Warband ===
 +Gadriel himself leads a warband in the afterlife, composed of tens of thousands of his angels, which constantly roams in search of evil. This primarily leaves him on the perimeter of the Planes of Fire, where he is most likely to catch fiends attempting to sneak out of their permitted areas. Many smaller bands are located elsewhere, of course, to catch those who believe it safe by being distant from Gadriel himself.
 +
 +If a particularly powerful threat is found, Gadriel will happily march directly toward it. There have been no shortage of greater demons or devils who have emerged outside their domain and attempted to form their own kingdom in the Afterworld, only for Gadriel to appear and bring them to ruin.
 +
 ==== Sachiel ==== ==== Sachiel ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :sachiel.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Cat of Truth  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Sachiel  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Truth; reason  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|The eye of a cat  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Sachiel was created by Idakor to serve as his eyes, as he could not bring himself to look upon the destruction to life caused by his rival, and to act as the information arm of his servants. Sachiel the Cat is concerned only with uncovering truth, be it lost to time or hidden by deception. 
 + 
 +=== Ultimate Arbiters === 
 +There are a number of professions that can benefit from those who have devoted their lives to truth. One will find that many Solarian judges claim to be devout worshipers of Sachiel, whether true or not, with other worshipers taking on roles as librarians or detectives. Many are spies as well, wishing to uncover things hidden by enemy nations. 
 + 
 +Those who become Seekers of Sachiel are prized internationally, as the commitment needed to become one all but promises a judge who cannot be corrupted and is skilled in the determination of truth. International courts are often headed by a Seeker of Sachiel or a council of them, for this reason. 
 + 
 +=== Seek Truth === 
 +Worshipers of Sachiel are driven by the singular desire to uncover truth wherever it may be hidden. The form this may take is, of course, up to the individual worshiper. However, when truth is found, it must generally be shared so that it may not be lost again. Spies must report to their government, judges must announce verdicts, and archeologists must publish their findings. To fail to do so is usually heresy, as it means it's possible that the truth will once again be hidden. However, it's not unreasonable to believe that some information is too dangerous to be spread. 
 + 
 +This need to reveal the secrets of the world has led to the urban legend that they are not able to lie, which many a prisoner can tell you is quite false, as they are not so foolish as to adhere to the truth at the detriment of themselves and their goals. But they are generally quite honest and forthcoming when no reason to be the contrary exists. Indeed, many visitors find they have no concerns divulging personal information and discussing topics that many would consider taboo normally. 
 + 
 +=== The Last Library === 
 +Sachiel resides in an enormous tower in the afterworld, filled to the brim with books and paper scraps, known as the Last Library. She and her angels spend their time meticulously reading and organizing all information that a worshiper of Sachiel has even known. It's said that within this library rests every spell to have existed and every secret that could not be shared. 
 + 
 +Of course, access to this information is quite restricted, with some areas restricted to only Sachiel herself. Some call this hypocritical. They are perhaps not wrong, but some scraps of knowledge have the potential to cause untold ruin in the wrong hands, and it appears even the god of Truth hides some things. 
 ==== Kasdiel ==== ==== Kasdiel ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :kasdiel.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Octopus of Freedom  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Kasdiel  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Freedom; empathy  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|An octopus with arms reaching down  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Kasdiel was the last of the Upper Three created by Idakor, typically shown in the form of an Octopus, primarily to act as a monitor of his own faithful. Idakor understood how "necessary sacrifices" could be made in the war with the Nameless One, leaving those who could not protect themselves to die in the name of ultimate victory at any cost, or oppressing them to fuel the greater war machine. This was not acceptable to him, and so he created one final servant who would be the champion to those. 
 + 
 +=== A New Purpose === 
 +Originally, Kasdiel and his servants were merely there to prevent the forces of good from exceeding their authority in the name of ultimate victory, and to ensure the individual was always kept in mind. However, this made him uniquely suited to a secondary role: cooperation with evil. With his unique desire to protect the individual, he could easily understand the needs of fiends and other evil beings. While Kasdiel and his followers cannot excuse what they have done, he will work with such being if it means preventing greater suffering. 
 + 
 +As such, Kasdiel and his worshipers are uniquely placed to understand and cooperate with evil. While Gadriel purges evil, there are a not insignificant number of former villains who were "tricked" away from the path by clever worshipers of Kasdiel, ones who presented a new path of self satisfaction that would actually lead them away from the darkness that consumed them. 
 + 
 +=== Preserve Freedom === 
 +Above all, Kasdiel demands that freedoms be maintained. To him, a regime that ignores its people and uses them only as a resource is equally deplorable regardless the intentions of its ruler. To this end, his followers are constantly seeking out those who are suffering cruelly at the hands of their government, and seeks to alleviate their pain by whatever means possible. This may or may not be accepted with open arms by the rulers of the government in question. 
 + 
 +Solaria has been able to exist for as long as it has partially due to the efforts of Kasdiel's faithful. They constantly and vigilantly seek corruption and oppression, and improve the lives of the common citizen in most every case. Even in Umbria they've helped to improve the quality of life for the denizens of the dark continent, though many find that quite challenging. 
 + 
 +=== The Traveler's Tavern === 
 +Kasdiel is said to own an infinite tavern where all are welcome, so long as they remain peaceful. He and his angels cater to the guests, speaking with them as equals and helping their patrons to overcome their disagreements. Even fiends are granted safety within the confines of his domain, and many find themselves happily in Kasdiel's service sometime after. Kasdiel is more than happy to redirect the power of these fiends toward more wholesome activities. 
 + 
 +Where exactly the Traveler's Tavern is, however, is more of a question. It appears that it is house within its own demiplane, but it is uniquely able to appear in multiple places. According to the limited available accounts, the entrance to the tavern appears to those escaping oppression. 
 ==== Euries ==== ==== Euries ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :euries.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Wasp of Tyranny  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Euries  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Tyranny; law; order  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|A six-pronged crest within a hexagon  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Euries the Wasp was created by the Nameless One to organize his forces and maintain his holdings, something his rage would not allow him to do. She completed this task efficiently, creating a well-oiled machine that outpaced the forces of good in most every capacity, though those under her control found themselves exploited ruthlessly. She would ultimately betray the Nameless One, and now forever duels with Vacal to hone her skills. 
 + 
 +=== Order Over All === 
 +Euries is one of the Lower Three, typically considered to be a god of evil, but this is not fully accurate. Rather, she is a god of Order at its most oppressive; fascism incarnate. To her, there is nothing more beautiful than a collection of beings coming together to form a single entity even at the detriment of the individual. To her, the rights of the individual are meaningless, as the survival of the whole is inherently to the greatest benefit of all its members. 
 + 
 +This mindset was most readily adopted by the original colonists of Umbria. The harsh weather and harsher creatures of the southern continent required cooperation above anything the colonists had previously known in order for their settlements to survive. Euries is the most worshiped god there, for that reason. 
 + 
 +=== Tyranny of Order === 
 +Those who worship Euries devote themselves to maintaining order, with minimal regard for the individual. To the faithful of Euries, the individual simply cannot see the greater picture, and will let their individual needs take priority over the needs of their neighbors, and this inevitably leads to anarchy and suffering. Those with greater understanding must make the decisions, and the individuals must obey these decisions. 
 + 
 +This is not to say that worshipers of Euries are averse to change or demand a monarch. Most understand that the needs of a state and its people as a whole change over time, and that some individuals may have insights that others did not consider. What matters to them is only the effectiveness of the government in question. Can it meet the collective needs of its citizens, whatever that may be? 
 + 
 +=== The Great Hive === 
 +Euries resides within the Black Gate, in an area known as the Great Hive. This is a utopia by the standards of Euries' followers. A society perfectly regimented and under the control of Euries herself, led as a single cohesive unit of dark angels. All parts of the hive feed into one another, with weapons delivered the moment they're needed to soldiers perfectly in time for combat. Of course, those who reside in the hive have little self determination, with all efforts directed to combat with Vacal. 
 + 
 +Most of the Great Hive are warriors, who are directed into the region known as the Maze of Aeons in perfect unity. 
 ==== Ahris ==== ==== Ahris ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :ahris.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Snake of Secrets  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Ahris  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Secrets; deception  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|A snake made of smoke  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Ahris was made by the Nameless One to act with subtlety, something that the evil god could was incapable of, and to gather information for his purposes. Ahris the Snake would prove quite effective at the job, playing friends and foe alike against one another to gain every scrap of intelligence that she could. She would eventually use the experience to betray the Nameless One. 
 + 
 +=== The Snakes === 
 +The most well-known information brokers in the world are individuals referred to as the Snakes. These worshipers of Ahris are uniquely skilled in the art of information gathering, and can hold the secrets of nations in their hands. They trade secrets willingly, typically in exchange for ones they find to be of equal or greater worth. Each holds domain over a settlement, and a snake is expressly forbidden from operating within the territory of another. 
 + 
 +Those who cannot become Snakes will still typically find themselves in similar roles. They are often mercenary spies, eager to infiltrate an organization if only to learn the secrets it holds and to sell them off. Most worshipers do so secretly, however, lest they reveal themselves as information hunters to those with something to hide. 
 + 
 +=== Gather Secrets === 
 +Ahris demands her followers horde secrets greedily, and to extract from them every advantage. Information is power in its purest form, so believe the worshipers of Ahris, and so holding a monopoly on as much of it as possible grants the holder untold power. Indeed, having a dirty secret to hold over the head of a governor would make one far more powerful than that governor, and this is something the devout of Ahris know very well. 
 + 
 +Of course, they are happy to trade information when it suits them, with the Snakes specializing in such. However, the truly most powerful worshipers of Ahris likely are not even known as such. They may be anyone who has accumulated secrets, which they use to manipulate events in their favor. In a way, it is more terrifying than anything Euries or Vacal are capable of. 
 + 
 +=== The Maze of Aeons === 
 +The Black Gate holds the Maze of Aeons, the convoluted and incomprehensible dominion of Ahris. The Maze serves primarily as the battleground between the forces of Euries and Vacal, where the angels of the two gods do constant battle. Ahris and her angels serve to increase the challenge for both sides, manipulating the paths and the terrain to make it difficult for one side to land the finishing blow, or to prevent reinforcements from arriving. 
 + 
 +This is to hone the skills of both armies, which Ahris deems vital to her own survival. Ahris is not a physically capable god, and so she may only survive a threat by manipulating events. Should the Nameless One return or some other force attack her, she would need to rely on the Armies of her sibling gods, and so she ensures they forever improve. 
 ==== Vacal ==== ==== Vacal ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :vacal.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Bear of War  | 
 +|  **Name:**|Vacal  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|War; violence; passion  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|A three-armed bear  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +Vacal is the final of the Nameless One's cursed creations, typically known as the Bear of War. He was created to act as a raider, entering the lands held by the forces of good. There, he would take that which would benefit the Nameless One and to destroy anything that would not. He is the most bloodthirsty of all the gods, sufficient to inspire fear in even greater demons, and this bloodlust was eventually turned against his master. 
 + 
 +=== Violence Given Form === 
 +Vacal is the progenitor of all Vacalians. Vacalians are beings born only to those who have taken from others sufficiently to gain the notice of the raging god. Serial killers, notorious bandits, and master thieves are often alarmed to find their children grey-skinned with black eyes, and with an unnaturally malicious and aggressive nature. 
 + 
 +Some suggest that this is a warning to those who embrace Vacal's teachings without giving him proper reverence, with the god taking part of the offspring's soul to show his superiority over the parent, and leaving only his own essence behind. Others claim it is a gift, granted by Vacal in recognition of the parent's successes. 
 + 
 +=== Take Everything === 
 +Vacal demands his followers surrender to their most base desires, which almost always boil down to the desire to take whatever you desire from others. If you wish for anything, be it food or wealth or power, it is the nature of things that it must be taken from another. To eat, you must take the life of an animal. To be rich, you must take wealth from those who have it. To gain power, you must take power away from others. 
 + 
 +Vacal has the strength where he rarely must rely on subtlety, but that is not to say he rejects those means entirely - Vacal calls his followers to take what they wish in the quickest and most direct way. While this frequently means resorting to violence, Vacal does not oppose the use of more subversive means if those are the only way to proceed. This also means that alliances are not heretical to him, as mutual benefit is possible, but he has no pity for those who allow themselves to be defeated due to reliance on such relationships. 
 + 
 +=== The Shifting Warplanes === 
 +Vacal resides within the Black Gate, in the area known as the Shifting Warplanes. It is a chaotic mass of violence and theft, where fortunes are gained as quickly as wounds, and lost shortly thereafter. The angels of Vacal move more or less without direction, often fighting one another or Vacal himself. At their own discretion, they may find their way into the Maze of Aeons, where they do battle with the followers of Euries, gaining pride and favor from Vacal with each victory. 
 ==== The Nameless One ==== ==== The Nameless One ====
-=== Headline === +<WRAP right box 20%> 
-=== Headline === + 
-=== Headline ===+{{ :the_nameless_one.png?direct&150 |}} 
 + 
 +|  **Title:**|The Destroyer  | 
 +|  **Name:**|The Nameless One  | 
 +|  **Domain:**|Evil; destruction; death  | 
 +|  **Symbol:**|A ring of purple on a black disc  | 
 + 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +When or why the Nameless One came into existence is a mystery that is unknown to the world at large. However, this nightmarish being emerged shortly after the return of Idakor, and immediately set about destroying all it could. It was defeated after its children, the Lower Three, betrayed it. However, being too powerful to simply eradicate, it was broken into three pieces with each fragment given to each of the Lower Three. It remains a prisoner of its children to this day. 
 + 
 +=== Hate Incarnate === 
 +The Nameless One is a being of single-minded hatred for all things, and the end of all things is its ultimate goal. It seeks destruction on a scale unimaginable, the extinguishing of all life. This destruction is for its own purpose; there is no greater goal at play. The Nameless One simply despises all things with such passion that in cannot tolerate the continued existence of reality itself. 
 + 
 +Its true name is unknown, hidden by the victorious gods to prevent its worship. The name of a deity can grant it power, allowing the faithful to strengthen it and to invoke its name to allow it their sight. Despite this, the power of the Nameless One has never diminished, and has only increased as time goes on. How this is the case is a terrifying mystery. 
 + 
 +=== Doctrine of Destruction === 
 +The Nameless One has very few followers, for obvious reasons. It despises mortals as much as anything else, and even were it able to gift them with a fragment of its power, it likely would sooner end their lives. Additionally, there are few people so nihilistic that they wish to worship something that only represents the end of all things. Still, some crazed fools do worship the Nameless One. 
 + 
 +Such individuals typically bathe themselves in destruction, bringing the end to things simply for the sake of such. Pointless murder and arson are well-known to these cultists. The most devoted of them search for ways to release their evil god, but thankfully there is little evidence that even the slightest progress has been made in that regard. 
 + 
 +=== The Shards === 
 +The Nameless One was split into thirds, with each part of it sealed away in a crystal prison that is held by a separate member of the Lower Three. They control their shards with the understanding that should their creator emerge once again, they will be the first to suffer its wrath, and their brutality and fear ensures that the shards are guarded as closely as one can imagine. 
 + 
 +The Nameless One has no angels, nor would it take any, and so it sits in isolation for eternity. Allegedly, it is able to see the afterworld from its prison deliberately, so that it may only watch as the things it hates so very much exist despite its best efforts. 
 ===== Other Faiths ===== ===== Other Faiths =====
 +While the vast majority of individuals worship the Old and New Gods, there are additional religions within the world that those who reject the standard pantheons may worship. The vast majority of these are inconsequential, with only a handful of adherents.
 +
 +However, a number of these faiths have gained sufficient traction for them to become known internationally. These additional belief structures are typically regarded with equal parts skepticism and curiosity by most, though some are far more malevolent than others.
 +
 ==== The Forgotten Chorus ==== ==== The Forgotten Chorus ====
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 +
 +{{ :chorus.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **God(s):**|The Forgotten Chorus  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Justice; revenge  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|Black and white; balanced scales  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +The Forgotten Chorus is not deity in any traditional sense but is instead the most powerful demon to ever exist, a collection of souls so vast and unfathomable that some believe there may be a greater number of souls within the Chorus than outside of it. Despite nearly destroying the world during the Cataclysm, some have found themselves worshiping the being. Most notably is the nation of Church, which assigns the Chorus as its official deity.
 +
 +=== An Unknown Enemy ===
 +It is unknown where or how the Forgotten Chorus was created. Some argue it came from a world much like our own located elsewhere within the Outside, and traveled to our world seeking to feed upon mortals. Others suggest it was always lurking somewhere, waiting for conditions to be perfect for its assault.
 +
 +Regardless of the how and why behind it, the arrival of the Chorus signified the beginning of the Cataclysm, as the gods of the era died and the world transformed and cracked under its strength. However, it was not at its full strength at that time, and the Heroes of the Cataclysm were able to seal it away within a might prison where it still resides.
 +
 +=== Seeking Freedom ===
 +The sole directive of the nation of Church, and any others foolish enough to worship the Forgotten Chorus, is to free it from its prison. This prison is a crystal miles across, reinforced by the Chorus' own power, and guarded by the Balancer at the height of the Spireshard. Worshippers of the Chorus believe, incorrectly, that the Chorus did not truly seek to destroy the world but to instead remake it without the pain and struggles that mortals know today.
 +
 +Thankfully, with the exception of Church itself, there are few fools who worship the Chorus. Those devoted to the Old Gods are careful to destroy these few deranged followers where they are found, to prevent their ideas from spreading to those gullible enough to fall for these lies.
 +
 ==== The Void Lords ==== ==== The Void Lords ====
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 +
 +{{ :void_lords.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **God(s):**|The Void Lords  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Numerous  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A 12-pointed star; the color associated with each Magnate  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +The Void Lords are not deities in the traditional sense, though they are worshiped as such in Metropolis. They reside within the Void, an enigmatic plane of entropy and inversion that is utterly devoid of anything at all. Yet still this emptiness holds beings which are able to influence our world, despite failing to exist in any way we can see. Their goals and motives are similarly inscrutable, if they have any at all.
 +
 +=== The Magnates ===
 +There are 12 Void Lords we are aware of, and we only know them due to the existence of their Magnates. Each one holds power over a specific "domain" which it grants to its Magnate, who becomes a mortal embodiment of this domain. Why the Void Lords do so is unknown, as the Magnates claim they receive no direction from any being on how to use their abilities.
 +
 +Each Magnate is associated with a color, and their eyes perpetually glow this color to demonstrate their power. Additionally, each claims leadership over an organization of those that they have granted their power to.
 +
 +=== Supplicants ===
 +Each Magnate can bestow the power they have been granted to individuals known as Supplicants. In exchange for continued service, these Supplicants serve the will of their Magnate, and do as they are commanded. These abilities can be revoked with a mere thought, and so Supplicants are required to obey or lose their abilities.
 +
 +=== Origins ===
 +It is said that, in order to defeat the Forgotten Chorus, the Heroes of the Cataclysm made a pact with an inscrutable being. In exchange for its service against the threat, the being demanded from the Heroes 12 firstborn children. The heroes agreed, the lives of 12 beings being so insignificant compared to the fate of the world that the decision was clear.
 +
 +However, these 12 firstborn children did not vanish or die. As it would be learned, this being was some manifestation of the Void Lords themselves, and as the Cataclysm came to its end, the children offered to them became the first Magnates.
 +
 +=== Worship in Metropolis ===
 +The Magnates would come together to found the nation of Metropolis, with the official religion of the nation being the reverence of the Void Lords, and it is only in this nation that the Void Lords have what could be considered worshipers. Though even here, this worship is atypical.
 +
 +The citizens of Metropolis do not worship the Void Lords as traditional deities. Instead, they respect the beings that have granted them a higher quality of life than they would have otherwise enjoyed, and likewise show reverence to the servants of these higher powers.
 +
 +=== No Life Beyond Death ===
 +Unlike the Gods, who promise life after death in some capacity, the Void Lords make no such offer. Those who devote themselves to the Void Lords by becoming a Supplicant receive no afterlife. They are typically believed to have been consumed by the Void Lords, granted a more peaceful and elevated life in exchange for the power granted to them.
 +
 +Most in Metropolis consider this to be a blessing. While it means an end to existence as they know it, those who cease to exist are granted a measure of peace. While those who worship the Old or New Gods will continue to live on, these limitless lives could be ones of torment if their souls are taken by fiends.
 +
 ==== The Cult of Markun ==== ==== The Cult of Markun ====
 +<WRAP right box 20%>
 +
 +{{ :markun.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **God(s):**|Markun  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Conquest; prosperity; peace  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A snake-like dragon  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +An offshoot of the Old Gods, the Cult of Markun is a faith that controls the nation of Egron. Noting that the Old Gods are all mortals who ascended to Godhood, it believes that it can likewise elevate its emperor to the same status with enough time.
 +
 +Believers of this faith claim that the emperor of Egron is always the reincarnated spirit of an ancient emperor by the name of Markun. This emperor allegedly united the world in the times before the Cataclysm, ushering in a golden age of peace and prosperity. If elevated to godhood, the faithful believe he will once again unite the world.
 +
 +=== Rebirth and Acquisition ===
 +Through means that are not publicly known, the Church of Egron claims to have determined a way to find the soul of Markun once it has gone through the cycle of rebirth and rejoined the world of mortals. Once this soul has been reborn, the church seeks out the child containing it.
 +
 +Through whatever means necessary, this child will be returned to Egron. This is typically (though not always) agreed to by the parent of the child, as few can reject an offer to ensure their child a life of comfort. The family is typically allowed to relocate to Egron as well, and will receive a healthy allowance, though they rarely will see their child again.
 +
 +=== Cumulative Power ===
 +With each reincarnation, the soul of Markun is said to get stronger. This is both from the worship of the citizens of Egron, who devote their lives to granting their power to him, and from rigorous training intended to strengthen his soul.
 +
 +However, if the Emperor has benefited much from this power, he has yet to display it. Skeptics of the faith note that the emperor has yet to take any meaningful action, and argue that there is little proof that each emperor really is the reincarnation of Markun.
 +
 +The faithful, however, simply believe that displays of power are counterproductive. If Markun were to act to unite the world before his victory was assured, there is a chance he would fail in his task of bringing peace to all. Therefore, they patiently worship their rising God, knowing that the world will eventually see the truth.
 +
 ==== The State ==== ==== The State ====
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 +
 +{{ :asr.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **God(s):**|The State  |
 +|  **Domain:**|The functions of a nation  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|The crest of the Aconian Free State  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +As the nation of the Aconian Socialist Republic fought for its independence against the Aconian Free State, a curious thing happened. Its citizens and soldiers began to rely on the state in much the same way they would a god, and eventually, they were able to gain power from it.
 +
 +=== The State that is a God ===
 +Scholars have come to learn that, because many of its citizens place their faith in their new government in much the way a normal individual would worship a deity, citizens of the Aconian Socialist Republic have inadvertently raised it to the status of a lesser deity. As a result, the state fields a host of clerics and paladins who directly worship it, and who can cast spells and use abilities that only those fueled by divine magic can.
 +
 +=== Secular Rites ===
 +As the lines between Church and State have blurred within the Aconian Socialist Republic, so to have the rites that people conduct. Most respects that individuals pay to their god-state are under a veneer of secularism, and would not be seen as traditional religious practices.
 +
 +For example, the religious sermons common in most of the world have little place within the Socialist state. Instead, councils are formed by state workers who guide communities on public work projects. Instead of cloistered scholars studying religious texts, bureaucrats perform paperwork and debate political theory.
 +
 ==== The Envoy ==== ==== The Envoy ====
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 +
 +{{ :envoy.png?direct&150 |}}
 +
 +|  **God(s):**|The Envoy  |
 +|  **Domain:**|Insanity; distortion of reality  |
 +|  **Symbol:**|A circle with three triangles pointed outward  |
 +
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +Recently, a powerful cult has emerged that claims to worship a being known as the Envoy. This cult believes that this being is attempting to enter the world of mortals from the Outside, and once it is able to do so, it will reshape the world and elevate its followers to positions of rule.
 +
 +=== Purge the Meek ===
 +Worshipers of the Envoy claim it will kill most mortal beings in the world, as well as the gods that reign from the Afterworld now. This is believed to be a good thing, a cleansing that will revitalize the world and allow for its development into something new and great.
 +
 +To cultists of the envoy, the Old and New Gods have failed the world. Baltia has only become more dangerous and bloody as the centuries have passed, and action is needed before the situation deteriorates further.
  
 +=== Rulebreaking Magics ===
 +While their doctrine is questionable, the powers granted by the Envoy to its faithful are genuine. Those who worship the Envoy or who have made pacts with it have gained abilities that are impossible to most. Summoning creatures from beyond reality, pulling creatures into their clutches as they teleport, and distorting the very concept of mortality.
  • the_faiths_of_baltia.1673806135.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2023/01/15 13:08
  • by shto