The Pantheon Part 1
Rexen; overgod of the sun (summer, fire, orderly war, lawful)
Rexen was the first and most powerful god to be created, symbolising the sun. Rexen is judicious and lawful, representing the natural order of life. Due to being a sun god, Rexen took on the aspects of summer and sanctified fire. Followers of Rexen invoke him during just wars and believe in orderly and strategic wars aiming to limit civilian deaths.
Rexen takes various forms. When in court at Sunhome, he often appears as a large humanoid with tanned skin and golden hair, dressed in fine white and gold robes. When showing his might, he appears as either a huge ball of fire or a fire-wreathed humanoid. Rexen has a powerful weapon forged by Strid, known as the Sunspear which can summon the power of the sun to blind and burn foes.
Rexen’s plane, Sunelir, consists of mountainous terrain, bathed in glorious sunlight. Golden spires rise above the mountains, the residences of Rexen’s celestial servants.
Rexen’s seat of power is a sprawling castle at the highest peak of the tallest mountain, known as Sunhome. It is a bastion of light, inhabited by Rexen’s most powerful servants.
In the mortal realm, the Church of Rexen is prominent in most countries, the most powerful one being the Rexene Priestdom in Rajana.
Gaia; over primordial of the earth, creator of the planet (warlocks and cleric) chaotic/evil
Gaia was the original powerful being, having created the mortal world and seeding it with life. She became embittered when the mortals began worshipping other things, springing the pantheon into existence. She now represents the twisted form of the natural world with intelligent beasts and monstrosities following her. Her mortal followers consist of a variety of people. Evil clerics and warlocks may follow Gaia for her powerful boons while druids who are frustrated with the many sprawling cities and industry worship her as the true god of the world.
Gaia resides at the centre of the world and has been in a deep sleep since the ending. Her realm is known as the Slumbering Depths and can be reached by travelling through the endless tunnels of the world that eventually reach the centre. As Gaia dreams, she often conjures and manifests new beasts and monsters, who guard her realm or travel the immense tunnel systems, hoping to breach the surface and cause havoc.
No one knows what Gaia actually looks like, with maddened cultists who survived a glimpse of her claiming she is a writhing mass of tree roots, while many of her followers believe her to be a gentle feminine humanoid, much like a nymph or dryad.
Ogon (battle, thrill and grit of battle, bull headed god,) chaotic
Ogon is the god of battle, revelling in bloody combat. He is the god of warriors who live for war. He is a massive bull headed humanoid and is often the patron of minotaurs. Ogon disdains Rexen, having the domain of just and lawful war. He often watches battles that turn into a bloody and disorganised melee, sometimes even causing it. Ogon possesses a double headed greataxe called Foe Render, forged by Strid. Its serrated edges and enhances the wielder the more blood is spilt.
Ogon’s realm is named the Fields of Fury, endless rolling hills that have degenerated into a muddy mess. His realm is filled with his servants who constantly battle each other. Mortal followers of great martial skill go here when they die, if they survive the River Styxx, and can spend their afterlife revelling in combat.
Ogon has no organised following, with his servants often forming bands that venture out in search of glorious battle.
Naur (fire, stole lordship of elemental fire from Gaia, giant fire humanoid, female) chaotic
Naur is the goddess of elemental fire. When the gods came into being, she stole elemental fire from Gaia. Different from Rexen’s divine fire, Naur possesses elemental fire. Elemental fire is natural and arcane. Naur can appear as a woman in flaming plate armour and fiery red hair, sometimes appearing as a fiery, charred humanoid when she loses her temper. Naur’s followers are proud and often arrogant, like their goddess. Many druids, clerics and magic users who have a reverence for fire often join the ranks of her clergy. Naur wields a ring of fire crafted by Strid known as the Glamring. It summones a scimitar of fire in the wielder’s hand.
Naur’s realm is called Naurflon. It is a land in constant autumn, with the trees bursting in hues of red and orange. The sky is a clear sunset orange. Throughout Naurflon are fissures bursting with flame and lava, often destroying her autumnal forests, only for them to quickly grow again.
Naur’s seat of power is Flamespurn, a charred citadel. It is surrounded by a thick autumnal forest, known as the Red Forest. The edges of Naur’s realm are protected by mountain ranges, filled with volcanoes and fissures.
Strid (smithing, stone skinned giant with long knotted beard down to his legs and many arms able to craft weapons and armour) lawful
Strid is the god of smithing, venerated heavily by dwarves and gnomes. Strid has a lot less followers than his fellow gods, yet he is greatly respected by all as he forges items of great power as gifts to his siblings. Strid is humble and a stalwart friend and ally to his fellow gods.
Strid appears as a large stone skinned giant. He has a long knotted beard that reaches his legs and he possesses many arms equipped with golden gauntlets to aid in forging. Strid does not have a full realm to himself like many of the other gods. Instead he has a smaller realm within Sunelir, known as The Bellows. An underground palace with brilliant architecture, Strid forges his artefacts here.
Strid’s followers have established an organisation called the Forgehand. Many smiths and artisans join the ranks of the Forgehand. Priests are competent in both preaching and forging and often sell their creations to fund the church. Goldfist paladins act as the militant arm of the organisation and are often sent out to acquire rare materials to be used in forging magical items.
Tumulus (winter, old white haired man in white robes) chaotic
Tumulus is the god of winter. An aged white haired man in appearance, Tumulus has gaunt pale skin, covered in hooded white robes. Tumulus’ realm is Nixheim. Tumulus has a gnarled white tree branch staff, enchanted by Strid, known as Snow’s Succour. It has great healing properties. A snowy and cold land, Nixheim is in infinite winter. Tumulus has domain over winter and everything that comes with it from hardship and starvation to warm hearths on a snowy night. Tumulus is a gentle being, enjoying the peace and beauty of a snow capped landscape.
His followers have formed the Pale Temple, an order of priests to share Tumulus’ kindness with the world. Their shrines and temples offer alms to the poor and house them when winter comes.
Haudh (death, black robed giant with many skeletal faces) lawful
Haudh is the god of death. A large black robed figure with multiple skeletal faces. Those unlucky enough to catch a glimpse beneath his robe see only more skulls. Haudh wields a skull mace, crafted and enchanted by Strid, named Skullguard. It has the power to destroy undead outright.
Haudh rules over the Underworld and the souls of mortals make their way to his realm via the River Styxx to be judged. Followers of the other gods are sent to their respective realm. Souls that favoured no god stay in the Underworld and are dispersed, having a peaceful afterlife, or can choose to become a Boneguard, having to fight in War of Styxx. Evil souls are imprisoned in the cavernous depths of the Underworld.
However, the souls of mortals are vied for by demons and devils. The Abyssal Planes and Infernus are connected to the River Styxx as well and there is a three way war between the demons, devils and Haudh’s forces. Mortal Souls drifting down the river to the Underworld are fought over and snatched by demons and devils to bring back to their realms. Haudh’s servants, whether skeletal angels or Boneguard, navigate the river to guide souls to the Underworld while fighting both demons and devils.
Mortal followers of Haudh have only recently become an organised group, known as Haudh's Faithful. Before this, they were lone clerics and priests who oversaw graveyards and battled undead. Formed in Necrossan by clerics of Haudh and led by a Relictus priest called Gerentus, they staged an uprising 914 CE to put to rest the undead city. The clerics had worked for years, recruiting faithful servants as well as mercenaries. However, Zenobia and her undead were able to overwhelm the Faithful, who fled the city. Later in 914 CE they split. One group led by a Necrossan-born man named Leronto claimed that Haudh had told him that undead were sacred. They attacked Gerentus, who claimed Leronto was an agent of Zenobia, and almost killed him. Since then, there have been two sects of Haudh’s Faithful. Gerentus’ sect kept their name while Leronto’s followers became known as the Masked Guides. The Masked Guides have the power base in Necrossan, further lending credence to Gerentus’ accusation.