Pantheon
The Gods of Sperodin
Overview of Sperodic gods
All the gods of Sperodin that are worshipped by it's people have not been since the dawn of the plane. Truth is only one of the gods predate Sperodin. From that one god was birthed four gods post creation. Then the four birthed the many and that is the base layout of the three tiers of the Sperodin gods. Lets go a little deeper and dive into the three tiers.
Tier One: The Primordial
The first Tier of gods or god to look at when considering the pantheon of Sperodin is the primordial being. The one who dwelled before the beginning and predate Sperodin. This Primordial Being gave birth to three sons and one daughter. Gave birth may not be the correct term as the sons and daughter were more created by the primordial alone .
Tier Two: The First Born
The Three Sons and Single Daughter of the Primordial fill the ranks of the second tier of gods. These are revered by most cultures as the prime gods of the plane as the third tier are considered lesser and the first a mystery. Tier two, the First Born are the ruling gods. Their downfall is their existence is a soap opra as the three brother fight for the love of the sister. All three of them have had children born from the sister and these children make the third tier of the gods.
Tier Three: Seed of the Three
The Third Tier of Sperodic gods are the Seed of the three. Or the children that were fathered by the three sons of the Primordial. Many see this class of gods as lesser than the tiers above. This tier though is the tier that most often messes in mortal affairs as Tier Two is wrapped up in their love square and tier one most times remains unmoved.
The Rivaled and The Limited
The gods of Sperodin are not all-powerful & all-knowing. Are they all-seeing? Maybe?. What is accepted as truth is the Pantheon of is limited. Granted the limit of their power far exceeds the capcity of man. Additionally there are forces that have the potential of rivaling the pantheon. Some would even say there are powers that exceed the force of the pantheons. Some of these powers are referred to as demons and devils. What seperates the pantheon from these dark forces merely comes down to the fact that the pantheon is what is excepted and the others are what is shunned.
Pre-Sperodin
Before Sperodin was created and served as the Prime Material Plane there were two Prime Material Planes before it. These two planes were brought to ruin and chaos. The term Primordial derives from a god-tier being that existed prior to Sperodin. It is uncertain at what point Primordials were forged. It is known though, a primordial predates the plane. It is said that in the Primordial Tongue Sperodin means "Hope."
The Primordial
The one before the beginning
Akyiska
Askyiska is the eldest of all the gods. Some say Askyiska is no god but the primordial energy that fuels reality. Askyiska is said to be genderless and bodiless, though she is most often referred to as a "she". For the most part, when considering the gods most do not consider Akyiska, for in a certain sense she is removed from the affairs of the pantheon. Only in crucial moments does Askyiska appears and when the primordial essences speaks the rest of the pantheon bends. It is said that Askyiska birthed the major four gods, the First Born of the gods into existence by simply willing it to be.
The Crowned Gods
Amongst the ranks of the Gods it is the First Born of the Primordial Askyiska that sits above the rest. Askyiska is certainly the strongest and wisest. For the most part though she plays a small roll in the story of Sperodin. She backs off as her first born children take the reigns and govern the land.
The First Born
The Four Birthed by Primordial Will
Haillathena
The First Born. The Mother of all things. The goddess of life.
Haillathena, also known as Thena is referred to as the mother god. Of the first born gods she is the only of the female gender. All of the minor gods that followed the First Born gods were born of Haillathena's womb with one of the other three first born gods providing the seed. It is said she gave three children to AllLight, Two to Thorag and eight to Xeus.
It is said at one time she loved all three of the major gods but ultimately it is Xeus she finds herself compelled too. It is debated on if this compelling nature is of love or bonds. The heart of Haillathena looks past flaws and is tender and full of care and mercy. She is the example of a mother.
As for the reasoning of her having two names, the shortening of Haillathena to Thena is done by some to show less honor to her as she is many times overlooked by Alllight, Thorag and Xeus who endlessly seek to get the upper hand on each other. This is a game she does not partake in. She has no desire to put herself above them. Though the claim she is less because of their conflict against each other may prove foolish as she is often the root of their conflict. It is she they war over.
It is said she is a prize like none other. The sound of her voice can calm a raging storm. Her beauty unmatched and unchalleged. When a mortal lay their eyes upon her it is said to stun them in their tracks and take away their very breath. Anyone would covet to have her.
The Divine Soap Opra
They say the Crowned Gods are suppose to govern Sperodin. At times though they do very little governing as the become wrapped around a Divine Soap Opra. Xeus loves Haillathena. Haillathena has given herself though to all of the first born and children have been born from them all. Xeus can never forgive his brothers. His hatred for AllLight runs deep as AllLight stole the right of giving Haillathena her first child from him. AllLight in frustration has given up his seat in the Divine Plane and exiled himself. If he can't have Haillatha he wants no part of his siblings. Thorag is in the middle trying to make peace but even with his peace mentality he has fallen to the tempation of Haillathena and is responsible for two of her sons.
AllLight
The Light of Sperodin. The God of Light. The Hope in the Darkness.
Alllight is revered amongst humanity. He is seen by the majority as the greatest light given to man. It is said he gave up his seat on the divine plane to defend humanity. However despite the hope he gives, many will not acknowledge him. Acknowledgment of Alllight is a rejection of Xeus and the Divine Order as Alllight and Xeus are direct rivals.
Their rivalry began when Alllight bore Haillathena her first child. This enraged Xeus as he loves Haillathena more than anything. Though Xeus has given Haillathena more than double the amount of children Alllight has, Xeus will never forgive Alllight as he is responsible for the first seed.
The followers of Alllight are seen as the embodiment of good. At the same time they are cast aside from the primary religious order and not acknowledged.
Thorag
The Anvil of Sperodin. The God of Creation. One with the Rock of the Earth.
Thorag is seen as the god that governs creation and the plane of Sperodin its self. They say not only does he govern creation but he is one with the creation he governs. Some say when you hold a rock in your hand, it is Thorag himself you hold in your hand.
The heart of Thorag is bent on the betterment of the material plane. Many of the gods fight for positioning amongst the ranks of the gods for petty and prideful stakes. Thorag's fight is always for the material plane.
Bringer of the End to a Millennial
Before Askyiska gave birth to her children she had established the plane of Sperodin. The Elves claim there was an age before the birth of Aksyiska's Children. They say they were created before her children and thus some believe they are more the children of Askyiska than the actual Pantheon. The Age before the Pantheon they call "The Millennial of the Mithral Sea."
They say Sperodin had an under-water like effect to everything. Instead of being under water though the plane was consumed in an Ethernal-Like Sea that was plagued with Mithral Dust. In the midst of the Mithral Sea there was islands of land, islands of water, island of fire and other various elements.
When Thorag was birthed it is said he brought an end to the Mithral Sea as he tamed the elements and buried the sacred Mithral of the Elves deep in the earth. Thorag transformed Sperodin from its wild and magical state into what it is today. To the Elves, Thorag is the ender of worlds and the breaker of beauty.
Xeus
The God of Death. The King of the Gods
Kings are to be feared. There is no King that should be feared more than the King of the Gods. He sits above law and order. He simply is. Many have challenged him over the years. None have been able to get the upper hand on him.
Some mortals see him as evil as when one meets death it is the hand of Xeus that snatches them from the mortal plane. There is a cycle to all things though. Death is not evil. Death is order. Death is natural. It is neither good or evil.
Like Xeus, it simply is.
King, Death, Good & Evil
With a quick glance at the Pantheon of Sperodin there may be some confusion regarding Xeus. He is the King of the gods and also the god of Death. Some may look at this and think this is a horror story with a god of death being King of the gods? Some may think because of this the pantheon of Sperodin is evil. This is not the case. Xeus may be the god of Death but this does not control his alignment! In a sense he has no alignment. In a sense none of the gods have an alignment.
Alignment is an aspect that is made by mortals to understand the world around them from their finite perspectives. The gods operate on an entirely different axis from the mortal men of Sperodin. To the gods Sperodin is a game.
The pieces of a game may think the players of the game are evil because of the events within the game. The game does not reflect the true heart of the players though. There is a disconnect when it comes to the pieces understanding the alignment of the players.
The Seed of AllLight
The Children of Haillathena born through the seed of AllLight
The Gods of Anarchy
There is a Divine Order and Structure to the Pantheon of Sperodin that governs over the material plane of Sperodin. This order and structure does not go unchallenged though. There is great resistance to the order from the order itself.
Some would say the resistance to the order begins at the very top as the eldest of the gods, Askyiska in many ways totally ignores Sperodin. Dig a little deeper though and look at the first born of the Sperodic Gods and you see the exile of AllLight. Many would say though that this isnt a statement of Anarchy but one of love.
If you look even further though there comes a spot that the anarachy and challenging of the order can not be denied. This particular spot is the very children of the Exiled AllLight.
All three of his Children challenge the order of everything. They do not oppose the order. They do not oppose the rule of Xeus. However they do not sit in silence. It is at the hands change is often made in Sperodin.
Many who would speak in opposition of Xeus' rule would be met with a swift blade but the dominion that the children of AllLight hold are all spots of great power. If any of them were to lash out at Xeus it would create great problems for him. Due to the strength of the Children of AllLight it creates a stalemate between them and Xeus. Both sides hating the other but unable to act on the hatred.
Worship of the Exiled
Across Sperodin the Worship of AllLight is illegal. This is do to AllLight abandoning his spot on the Plane of the Gods. While worship of AllLight is illegal it stops almost no one from turning to him when faced with darkness. Additionally even though AllLight Worship is illegal, in locations that the children of AllLight are highly worship you will also find stronger and accepted worship of AllLight publicly. The illegalness of AllLight Worship is maybe the least enforced divine law across Sperodin and is more purposed to merley feed the ego of Xeus.
Tarriona
The goddess of Magic. The Arcane Heartbeat and the First born of Haillathena.
Tarriona is the goddess of the Arcane. She is the first born of Haillathena and is considered the strongest of the gods born of Haillathena. Possibly even the strongest of all the Sperodic Gods. On top of these honorifics there is a massive black mark against her. At least in the eyes of Xeus the King of the Gods. Other than AllLight, the Father of Tarriona, there is no one Xeus hates more than Tarriona. Xeus' love for Haillathena is unmatched and He can never say He gave Haillathena her first child because that honor goes to Tarriona.
It is said Tarriona is the goddess of the Arcane. Some even claim she is the Arcane. She is the Arcane heart beat that flows through Sperodin. They say she is the spark to all things. She is in every fount of Arcane Energy present. When one taps into the Arcane, it is not a mysterious energy they tap into but the very soul of a god.
It is said Tarriona is the uncontested strongest of the children of Haillathena. Some say Tarriona could even stand against the First Four gods with no limit to her strength. Some say she could even rival Askyiska. Scholars debate such topics and wonder which god would win against which god in fights. Tarriona often finds incredible love in these pointless debates. They say everytime an arcane spell is cast, the caster is tapping into the very heart of Tarriona and she grows ever more powerful in that moment.
Scholars Theorize of a Coming War in the Heavens
Over her existence Tarriona has grown paranoid as her power grows. This concern is rooted in the fact she knows she is hated by Xeus. The same Scholars who debate which god would win against which god in a fight also speculate that one day a war will brake in the heavens above with the children of Xeus standing behind Xeus and the children of AllLight standing behind AllLight. The Children of Xeus may far outnumber the children of AllLight but the force of Tarriona is the wildcard that nulifies the ranks of the Children of Xeus.
Ignisa
The Tempest goddess. The Untamable. The Uncontrollable.
Ignisa is referred to as the Tempest goddess. The goddess of wind, water, oceans, waves, rain, thunder, lightning and weather. The three children of Alllight and are often seen as rebellious when it comes to their nature. This is in part because of the exile of their father, but Ignisa is by far the most untamable and uncontrollable of the three. She marches to her own drum and like the weather absolutely beyond control.
As the goddess of wind, water, oceans, waves, rain, thunder, lightning and weather she touches everything. Places touched by water, places touched by rivers, lakes and oceans are totally consumed by Ignisa. There is no place one can go to escape Ignisa on Sperodin. You may be able to hide away in a cave where the wind doesn't reach or maybe you flee to the depths of the underdark but the moment you step onto the surface, she is there and will consume.
Island Worshippers
Across the plane of Sperodin Ignisa is worshipped. In Island cultures though Ignisa is elevated to incredible heights. In some Island Cultures Ignisa is actually the only god reverred and honored.
As a child of AllLight Ignisa is a good hearted and good aligned god. Despite this truth, some Island cultures see the wrath of a storm and skew the truth of the way of Ignisa out of ignorance.
Many Viking cultures give themselves to Ignisa. In their eyes they do her will. This notion is ignorance though. The try to embody the storm when the tempest goddess is far more than a storm.
Where Land Kisses the Sea
Often times lovers see the ocean shore as a beautiful romantic location. Legends say the shores were orignally all mountains and there was a great divide between land and sea. However Ignisa the god of the sea and Esgrossa the god of the land and nature fell in love. As a result of their love the Mountain boundaries were shattered and made beautiful. Now the ocean shore is the beautiful romantic place we know.
Esgrossa
The goddess of Nature. The giver of Breath to all that Breathe.
Esgrossa is the goddess of Nature. Like her father the Esgrossa is seen as good of heart. If Esgrossa was ever to turn on humanity she could end all life on land and there is nothing anyone could do as it is from Nature comes from. With this noted it is Esgrossa that gives breath to sustain all. It is Esgrossa that allows all to exist. She alone could will death to every soul in Sperodin.
Fabric of Reality
The three children of AllLight are at times referred to as the fabric of reality. Tarriona the fabric of magic, Ignisa the fabric of the sea and weather and then there is Esgrossa, the fabric of the very land on the material plane.
The Seed of Thorag
The Children of Haillathena born through the seed of Thorag
The Divine Judges
In the same sense that Esgrossa sees the actual plane of Sperodin as apart of her domain right but sons of Thorag see Sperodin as apart of their domain right. Additionally the Sons of Sperodin see themselves as the judges of Sperodin. Early into their existence they held a frame work that judged from good vs evil. They quickly realized though what they labeled as evil in the eyes of the evil doer the evil was often justified. They then shifted their mindset from good vs evil to a mindset of law vs chaos as the standard of what is right and wrong.
These Divine Judges may see Sperodin as apart of their domain right just like Esgrossa sees it as her domain right but there is a big difference in what they claim as their right. This big difference sparks a huge question. That question is, "What is Sperodin?" Esgrossa claims right by the actual land itself. On the other hand the Son of Thorag claim right by the people. So what is Sperodin? Is it land? Or is it a people?
Rowheem
The God of Order. The Establisher of Law. The Scale of Justice.
Rowheen is the embodiment of Law and the twin brother of Verndire. He is Law in its purest form. Neither good nor evil. He places Law above the bends of good and evil. Laws are the order that frame society. Laws are the means in which we aim for a higher standard and a better way.
Verndire
The God of Protection. The God of Unrelenting and Unbending Honor.
Verndire is embodiment of chaos and the twin brother of Rowheem. Just as Rowheem is Law in its purest form, Verndire is Chaos in it’s purest form. Also like Rowheem, Verndire is neither good nor evil. Instead he places Chaos above the bends of good and evil. Some may she this chaotic nature as a bend of evil, Verndire would teach that there are times when the greatest threat to one is being bound by order. Verndire would teach that Order is the bars slavery that nearly all cling too. To destroy the bars restraining a slave is not an evil act. Verndire's Chaos frame set is not one of Anarchy but one that says sometimes order breeds emptiness and slavery. Freedom is freedom but freedom is not a tool of death but a tool of protection.
Law vs Chaos
The Sons of Thorag are seen as the Divine Judges of Sperodin. As they judge they judge through a framework bent on securing Sperodin. It is not the actual land they seek to secure. Instead it is the people. The judges differ on ideas but they both agree that Sperodin is not a place but a people.
They may agree that Sperodin is a people but beyond that in many ways they are polar opposites. One sees order as the end all be all and the other chaos as the end all be all. Despite their differences though they stand united. Two sides of one coin.
To some the bonds of the unity between these brothers make no sense but they flow as a united machine. It would be the side of order that establishes a great kingdom. It would be the side of chaos that blows on the hypocrisy within the established kingdom to secure its legacy.
The Chaos contests the order. Without the contesting the order becomes poisoned. The two flow together in a river that secures the land. If the river was ever split the water would be tainted.
The Seed of Xeus
The Children of Haillathena born through the seed of Xeus
Hathamora
The goddess of the Grave. The Sickle of Xeus. First seed of Xeus
Hathamora is the first born daughter of Xeus and Thena. She is considered to be the most loyal divine entity pledged to Xeus. She governs over what is left of a soul when life is stripped of them. It is her sickle that reaps a soul from one realm and to another. She is the favorite child of Xeus.
The Splintered Sphere of War
When you examine the Pantheon of Sperodin you may see that each god has a sphere they govern. Compare these spheres to the domain options in fifth edition, each sphere is covered.
Example if you desired to play agrave cleric you would be a follower of Hathamora. You want to play a nature domain cleric then you are a follower of Esgrossa. Additionally there are various pocket realms within the multiverse of sperodin. One such pocket realm is the realm of the divine city. Furthermore within the pocket realm of the divine city there are sub-pocket realms that belong to each of the domains.
The Sub-Pocket Realm of the domain of war is specially unique. It is unique in the facet that it is shattered into four sub-pockets over the one sub-pocket of the other domains. It is uncertain why this is. Many link it to the fact that there are four gods of war and it is believed that some how the divine soul is tapped to the divine domain. It is almost as if the domain and the god are one. With this in perspective it is as if it is not the domain that is broken but the god?
Rovena
Goddess of War. The Sword of Death and Life
One of four gods of war. Daughter of Xeus and Thena. Each of the four gods of war have a different focus in their governing over war. The focus of Rovena is the focus of the Sword. It is said every time a Sword is swung Rovena is present. If a day ever came that swords were no longer needed Rovena would cease to be.
Hydora
Goddess of War. The Shield of Death and Life
One of four gods of war. Daughter of Xeus and Thena. Each of the four gods of war have a different focus in their governing over war. The focus of Hydora is the focus of the Shield. It is said a Sword only hits it mark when Hydora wills it so. Every time a blade misses its target, it misses because of the shield of Hydora.
Fryada
Goddess of War. The Fire of Death and Life
One of four gods of war. Daughter of Xeus and Thena. Each of the four gods of war have a different focus in their governing over war. The focus of Fryada is the focus of the Fire. There are times the way of the sword will never strike because the conflict between Rovena and Hydora creates a stalemate. However there are many ways for warfare to find its wound. Fryada is the fire that will find a way when there is no way. She is the Fire that consumes. Nothing is consumed against her will.
Korena
Goddess of War. The Wheel of Death and Life
One of four gods of war. Daughter of Xeus and Thena. Each of the four gods of war have a different focus in their governing over war. The focus of Korena is the focus of the Wheel. Kingdoms grow and flourish. They prosper and wealth builds. As in all things there are cycles and in the cycles of kingdoms and civilization there comes a time when the wheel of war will plow. Korena seeks those ready to be plowed. There is a wheel that can't be stopped.
Gods of War, Gods of Politics
the gods of war serving under their father, the god of death, the king of the gods may be the most influential gods within the pantheon of Sperodin. The reason for this is the gods of war are incredibly invested within the politics of the world. The path of the world is determined most times by the course of the gods of war. There is little change within the world that they are not involved in. They are responsible for most of the most influential pivoting points through history.
Additionally adding to their influence the gods of war are probably the quickest of gods to interact with a mortal follower. Most gods will not directly interact with their followers. The gods war have no shame regarding this manner.
Demigod of war
regarding the gods directly interacting with their followers, the interaction of gods with mortals that has had the biggest ripple effect is when the gods of war became responsible for a demigod of war.
In year 333 AOM there was a village in Whitasayosian that was raided and brought to ruin. The surviors were rounded up and burnt alive as an offering to the gods of war. In the mix of the people being burnt alive was a woman named Brianna Parvineum. Brianna would meet her end in this moment. Her end though would see a new beginning.
Because she was an offering to the gods of war instead of her soul being harvested by the god of the grave, it went to the gods of war. There the gods of war found a great pleasure in Brianna. The exact details of what took place are uncertain. What is known is her sould was returned to Sperodin.
From the ashes she would rise. Not only did she rise but she was with child. Nine months later Dynamos Parvineum Emperious was born. By the age of 14 he was leading his people. At 16 he had tamed a dragon. By 17 he had united his province. By 18 he had an empire of 5 provinces and by 28 he would control the entire north of mainland Sperodin.
The Splintered Sphere of Trickery
in the same sense of the Sub-Realm of War and Domain Sphere of War is splintered, so is the Sub-Realm and Domain of Trickery. Likewise there is the same number of gods of Trickery as there are sub-realms of Trickery. This leads further more to the speculation that the life sould of the gods and the sub-realm are one in the same. However, something is different about the Sub-Realm of Trickery than the Sub-Realm of War. There are random moments in time when the three Sub-Realms of Trickery merge into one. This on top of the fact that there have been times through history when the three gods of trickery have been depicted as a three headed tribunal being have lead to many theories among priests. ultimately though it is mere speculation.
Masks of Trickery
While the Gods of the Sperodin Pantheon bare Holy symbols, the majority bare only one. The God's of Trickery however have multiple. They are primaryly knowl for the various circle in a triangle in a circle in a triangle in a circle symbol. They additionally have masks Symbols. Hahntayick the striaght face mask. Kallentayick the smiling mask and Nullentayick the sad mask.
Gift to the Gnome King
Through the History of Sperodin the gods have been known at times to gift powerful relics to their followers. The most famous of these divine Relics was one the gods of Trickery gifted to a gnome king. The Relic was a Tarasque in a bottle. The gnomes still possess this relic to this day and use it as a threat to prevent anyone or anything from striking against them.
Hahntayick
God of Trickery. The Balancing Voice of Madness.
One of three gods of trickery. Son of Xeus and Thena. The Three gods of Trickery work together balancing existence. Some would view the nature of the gods of trickery as evil, however that is not the case. Separately the three have a different bend but together they create a neutral aspect in a balancing scale. Many times trickery is needed in balance as we often see only what we want to see. Sometimes we can only see truth if we are tricked into embracing it. Hahntayick is the eldest of the three gods of trickery and is considered to be the purest form of nutrality when it comes to being a voice of trickery.
Kallentayick
God of Trickery. The Light in the Madness
Kallentayick is considered to have a bend of good and in an effort of balancing existence he endlessly fights for what is good. Not only for justice but in an attempt of bringing the Darkness openly to the light.
Nullentayick
God of Trickery. The Shadow in the Madness
Nullentayick is considered to have a bend of evil. In his efforts of balancing life he endlessly seeks to poison the good by distorting the darkness and making it appear as light.