The Gods

Nearly all of the humans of Kaleth have faith. Faithlessness (what we would call Agnostic or Atheist) is very rare. Most of the Faithful are true Pantheists who serve all of the gods collectively, reaching out to specific deities as appropriate. When a specific god seems to hold special meaning for someone they may choose to devote themselves to them as a Patron, still honoring the Pantheon as a whole but giving deference to their chosen God.  

Gods of the Pantheon 

NOTE: The "Served by" and "Given offerings" entries are meant to provide examples not to be exclusive lists.

Aledan (War) 

Messengers: Iron skinned swordsmen who wield steel weapons and carry shields that can repel blows from any mundane weapon

Served by soldiers

Given offerings before battle 

Appears a haggard looking man, muscular but with the scars of a veteran. He wears the armor and weapons of a soldier and carries a tattered banner on which is the emblem of chain being broken. Those who stand with him are inspired to greatness. His banner can lead entire armies to victory against oppression.

Arveth (Knowledge, Insight, Wisdom) 

Messengers: Can take the form of black Crows, Serpents or Spiders that can change both size and shape at will and can speak in tongues

Served by scholars and teachers  

Given offerings by those attempting to learn something or solve a problem

Appears to be a traveler of some time - wanderer or even a ship’s captain. Always with red hair and always carrying several bags of scrolls. They have a celestial quill as a familiar that can transcribe anything and even draw whatever images are described to it. They seem absent minded but have forgotten more they know which still leaves more insight than any mortal scholar.

Bihshi (Nature) 

Messengers: Treeants or wooden maidens whose presence causes plants to grow and flowers to bloom and whose voices are both beautiful and terrible

Served by anyone with affinity for the wilds 

Given offerings at the change of season

Usually appears as a tree with golden leaves and yellow fruit. Speaks slowly and deliberately with a disembodied voice on the rare occasion takes notice of anything but the ebb and flow of nature itself. Can summon celestial animals to interact on it’s behalf. Sometimes chooses to assume animal form in which case it is an unusually large and exquisite specimen with golden eyes.

Elmiri (Forge, Fire) 

Messengers: Elementals that can be earth, fire or anything between that can manifest unbreakable obsidian tools as needed

Served by smiths 

Given offerings asking for protection form fire and by smiths beginning a project 

Appears as a woman in heavy plate mail with no helm or gauntlets with a thick belt from which dozens of tools hang. She can conjure any weapon or imbue magic on an existing weapon at will. Mortal weapons shatter if they hit her and her weapons shatter any mortal armor she strikes.

Fane (Trickery) 

Messengers: Phantoms with seductive voices that cannot travel anywhere lit by daylight or white candles

Served by those who hope to benefit from deceit  

Given offerings to ward off lies, liars and cheats

Appears as an attractive man or woman of small stature clad in dark clothes, armored with leather and armed with a host of blades both concealed and obvious. Can become invisible and change their face at will, producing illusions as needed from a velvet bag they won in a game with a Djinn.

Hophestra (Life, Hearth, Revels) 

Messengers: Chonky Dogs and Goats who wear little silver bells around their necks, who smell like fresh bread and whose touch can turn water into mead 

Served by 

Given offerings before hosting a party, before a marriage or when expecting a birth 

Appears as a chubby little man who wears simple undyed robes and carries a drinking gourd from which he can produce any liquid but favors mead which she shares with anyone in his company. He is a merry fellow and is very fond of games. He plays the fool but is transcendentally wise. In his babbling there are insights for those who listen. 

Maldestria (Arcana, Secrets and Mysteries) 

Messengers: "Hollow Adepts" - empty robes with glowing stones floating in the food where the head should be 

Served by mages 

Given offerings by those trying to solve a mystery or who seek protection from magic

Appears to be an ancient robed human carrying a rune staff and a large grimore with a familiar of some kind - usually an owl or cat. The god is actually the familiar. They can read any language and identify any item. They can enchant and disenchant at will. 

Ophar (Death) 

Messengers: A flock of white birds 

Served only by a few priests  

Given offerings to those hoping for a quick painless death for themselves or others

Appears as a young child wearing a simple white shift, carrying a branch from a birch tree. The child has eyes with no pupils and truesight. The touch of the branch means instant death (the child's touch also kills but unlike the painless death offered by the branch it is agonizing). Their smile or laugh restores life to the dead. Their displeasure inflicts undeath.

Rahlkur (Tempest, Seas, Sailing) 

Messengers: powerful tritons who wield tridents with which the can control water, storms, summon lightning, summon and command sea monsters 

Served by sailors and fisherfolk

Given offerings to ward off storms and when beginning a sea voyage

Appears as a giant clad in copper armor, wielding a rune spear. The skies always react to their presence, bringing a storm out of a clear sky in a matter of minutes. Once there is a storm, lighting strikes the spear every round and can be redirected as the god sees fit up to a mile away. They can fly and their words are deafening thunder.

Zaphira (Light, Courage, Truth) 

Messengers: silver dragons who can assume human form but when they do they are clad in silver armor that shines as though reflecting noonday sun

Served by those who seek or defend justice 

Given offerings by those seeking protection from darkness 

Appears as a stunning woman with silver blonde hair clad only in a raiment fashioned from light. She can manifest a shield and spear also made of light at will. No lie can be told in her presence and no illusion can stand. Her touch will purify anyone or anything. Her kiss kills mortals but brings redemption.

The Elder Gods of the Old World 

In the previous age, a different Pantheon was worshipped in most of the world. These "Elder Gods" are still venerated by some of the humans in Kaleth but this tends to be most common in small, remote villages and in Omal. Some scholars believe that at least some of these are the same Gods with different names.  

Father Bedru: Created the heaven and the earth, binding the elements to them. A big man with a big gut. Jolly. Wears a big coat with pockets that contain everything ever made. Carries a mallet and chisel with which he can make anything.

Mother Alumet: Breathed life into the world Bedru created. An older woman with a crown and staff of flowering vines. Celestial birds and beasts follow her everywhere. She sends them on errands to maintain the natural order. The songs she sings cause new life to be born.

Ezien the Grey: Can choose to be young or old and can change to suit his whim. Wears a colorless cloak with a black lining shot with stars. Master of time and destiny. His will can be read in the heavens by those with the skill to divine it. He carries a book in which the day of every mortal birth and death is written.

Ojash and Vakre: The twins. They are a single god with two aspects. Ojash is peace and prosperity. Vakre is need and struggle. They are moody and unpredictable.

Ciorla: Goddess of the Hearth and Hospitality. Frequent host of Ojash. Wears an apron that protects her from all harm. Can produce a mug that she can use to conjure the Nectar of the Divine and a pot that has infinite capacity in which she can cook anything.

‘ol Bastry: The trickster. Can assume any form. Will try to lead mortals away from a righteous life with their lies. When caught a would be victim can always cry out “not today ‘ol Bastry!” and if Bastry is around they must leave for a year and a day.

Nonhumans and Religion

Some nonhumans serve the same gods as the humans but most have their own beliefs.

In brief -

Dwarves: The world was created by ancient nameless elemental spirits we acknowledge and respect but do not worship. Our ancestors watch over, guide and protect us. When we die, if we are worthy we join them. If not we return to the earth to rest.

Elves: Our origins are still debated by even the wisest of us. Current thinking involves a cycle in which all is created, destroyed and ultimately created again. Gods are just another form of life. We are to them as insects are to us. When we die? Nothingness unless our spirits are ensnared by some patron and consigned to some paradise or perdition.

Fey: We are dreamed into existence by mad gods. There are lots of things here folks call gods but so what? Maybe I’m a god! Ever think of that!?! Ha! And when we die - the dream ends. Poof! Bye bye!!

Hearthlanders: Our world is full of wonders. We get to live, learn, love and die. Like the seasons, you know? We all have our time at the dance. What could be better than that? Gods? I mean, sure, there are lots of ‘em but I would rather serve my friends, family and folk. NOTE: The Hearthlanders of Ohira (their homeland) are faithful to the Elder Gods, a tradition some in Kaleth also follow. 

Hellspawn: The gods seldom have mercy or grace to spare someone with infernal parentage. The demon lords claim they created the world. Maybe. Maybe it was the gods. Doesn’t really matter much to mortals. All power games and in the end, if you are lucky enough to avoid their attention you get to die and just be gone.

Uruk: There were gods once. Titans. They created everything. They are dead now. Long gone. These new gods are just the most powerful of us. They claim dominion by the same rules as any warlord. What is death? Stupid question. It is when you die. When you stop living. It is when it is all over - so die well.

Wyldlings: The gods of men are powerful spirits but the spirits of nature are far greater and more present. When we die our spirits return to the universe. We lose who we were but are free to join the infinite. Sometimes we return, reborn as beasts we admired.