Difference between revisions of "Religions"

From Asmythe
Line 275: Line 275:
==Eternals==
==Eternals==
See also: [[Almanac#Cosmology|Cosmology]]
See also: [[Almanac#Cosmology|Cosmology]]
The gods are manifestations of the Forge.


All things spring from the Forge and all things have within them an ember of life. In some things this ember burns more strongly. Eternals are creatures whose ember is very strong. Eternals are the oldest and strongest creatures of the Forge; they are creatures of immensely powerful magic and can often travel freely between the plans. Eternals are beings like Demons, Devils, Angels, Divines, Elementals, Fey, and Dragons who, although very powerful, usually can not bestow powers directly to their followers. Eternals empower their followers by teaching them how to access arcane and divine powers that already existed; in the rare case that an eternal can "lend" a power directly to a follower the power may be taken back or lost at the will of the eternal.
All things spring from the Forge and all things have within them an ember of life. In some things this ember burns more strongly. Eternals are creatures whose ember is very strong. Eternals are the oldest and strongest creatures of the Forge; they are creatures of immensely powerful magic and can often travel freely between the plans. Eternals are beings like Demons, Devils, Angels, Divines, Elementals, Fey, and Dragons who, although very powerful, usually can not bestow powers directly to their followers. Eternals empower their followers by teaching them how to access arcane and divine powers that already existed; in the rare case that an eternal can "lend" a power directly to a follower the power may be taken back or lost at the will of the eternal.

Revision as of 11:19, 21 February 2012

History

The perception of religion in Asmythe has changed over the ages. There are many creatures of immense power who we mortals could, and often have, worshiped as deities.

The First Era

In the first era the races of Asmythe worshiped Ilthids as gods and the Ilthids worshiped the dragons. This live of reverence saturated society; there were no priests or clerics because the gods were ever-present in the lives and minds of the people of Asmythe.

The Second Era

In the second era the Ilthids disappeared and the races of the world gave worship directly to the dragons. In this age temples were created through which the dragon priests became the conduit between the people and the dragons they revered.

The Third Era

Although the dragon priests persisted through the third era their influence waned; the dragon no longer gave power or guidance to their people. In the third era the monotheistic religion of the human empire, The Priests of Sol, gained some popularity but was tempered by the savagery of the goblins and their ancestral gods.

The Current Era

The current era began when the true gods revealed themselves to Asmythe. Worship of the true gods of Asmythe has all but eradicated any other worship, not by decree or destiny but because none can deny the true power of the true gods.

The Gods

Gods are a manifestation of the Forge, given shape by emotion. Priests of the gods gain power when people feel the emotions that the gods embody; clerics and disciples of the gods are devoted to instilling those feelings and emotions in others.

The gods are ethereal and shapeless; they have no physical form or ego of their own but have acquired such by the thoughts and actions of their worshipers. These physical metaphors vary as greatly as the gods themselves; some are human or humanoid, some are animal, some are elemental, and most are a combination of each.

Although gods are universal they tend to attract disciples of a particular race, nation, of disposition. The gods themselves aren't particular about race or nation but the races and nations are particular about their gods. Each nation usually gives patronage to one of the six families of god, the "cosmos". These cosmos are, in turn, aligned against each other.

Note: What most fantasy role-playing games call deities would be considered eternals in Asmythe. The gods of Asmythe are for more primal and abstract.

Deity Alignment Influence
Acedia NN Apathy,Boredom,Depression,Indifference
Ankou CN Despair,Anguish,Dread
Arwenna LG Awe,Wonder
Erida CE Hatred,Loathing,Rage,Fear
Eros CG Passion,Arousal,Desire,Lust
G'Kar LN Disappointment,Annoyance,Frustration
Hotei NG Happiness,Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction
Hybris LN Boldness,Fearlessness,Pride
Irae LE Contempt,Disgust,Pity
Laetitia CG Joy,Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure
Lyssa CN Panic,Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry
Malu LE Shame,Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment
Nedolya NE Sadness,Sorrow,Suffering
Penthos NE Grief,Guilt,Misery
Rus'Ker CE Terror,Shock,Surprise,Horror
Sekhmet NE Anger,Angst,Hostility
Sirona LG Love,Affection,Hope
Vor NG Curiosity,Interest,Excitement
Zelos NN Envy,Jealousy,Shyness,Loneliness

Cosmos

The six families of gods, the Cosmos, are aligned in three oppositions. Gods and clerics of each cosmos are eternally fighting against the gods and clerics of the opposed cosmos. Only Acedia is neutral.

Health vs. Pain
Health Cosmos Pain Cosmos
  • Eros
  • Hotei
  • Laetitia
  • Nedolya
  • Penthos
  • Rus'Ker
Selfless vs. Selfish
Selfless Cosmos Selfish Cosmos
  • Arwenna
  • Vor
  • Sirona
  • Malu
  • Zelos
  • Irae
Fate vs. Fanatic
Fate Cosmos Fanatic Cosmos
  • G'Kar
  • Ankou
  • Lyssa
  • Sekhmet
  • Erida
  • Hybris

Health Cosmos

The gods of the health cosmos are aligned to promote the health, welfare, and propagation of life.

Pain Cosmos

The gods of pain kill and destroy.

Selfless Cosmos

The gods of selflessness are those of nature and learning.

Selfish Cosmos

The goal of the selfish cosmos is personal gain and attainment, often at the expense of others.

Fate Cosmos

The gods of fate believe in the togetherness of the universe, and that individuals have but a small part to play in the whole.

Fanatic Cosmos

Fanatics are dedicated to a single purpose at the expense of all else and, usually, the prosecution of those not aligned to the purpose. The specific purpose varies greatly by god and cleric but is always something "greater" than the clerics themselves.

Descriptions

The driving purpose of each god is to instill specific feelings and emotions in people. The gods gain power from these emotions and use that power to infuse their clerics with supernatural abilities.


Acedia

NN -- Apathy,Boredom,Depression,Indifference

Avatar

Symbol

Ankou

CN -- Despair,Anguish,Dread

Avatar

Symbol

Arwenna

LG -- Awe,Wonder

Arwenna represents the manifestation of magic and the Forge and a connection to the other planes. She is the highest and most pure realization of knowledge and magical prowess.

Avatar -- Arwenna takes the form of a glowing orb of warm light that pierces all shadows and stirs the air with a pleasant spring breeze. This manifestation has no physical form but can be felt with all senses.

Symbol -- Arwenna's symbol is a twelve-point star-burst in gold and silver.

Erida

CE -- Hatred,Loathing,Rage,Fear

Avatar

Symbol

Eros

CG -- Passion,Arousal,Desire,Lust

Avatar

Symbol

G'Kar

LN -- Disappointment,Annoyance,Frustration

Avatar

Symbol

Hotei

NG -- Happiness,Contentment,Gratitude,Satisfaction

Avatar

Symbol

Hybris

LN -- Boldness,Fearlessness,Pride

Avatar

Symbol

Irae

LE -- Contempt,Disgust,Pity

Avatar

Symbol

Laetitia

CG -- Joy,Ecstasy,Euphoria,Pleasure

Avatar

Symbol

Lyssa

CN -- Panic,Anxiety,Hysteria,Worry

Avatar

Symbol

Malu

LE -- Shame,Regret,Remorse,Embarrassment

Avatar

Symbol

Nedolya

NE -- Sadness,Sorrow,Suffering

Avatar -- A frail old hag who lurks in the shadows.

Symbol --

Penthos

NE -- Grief,Guilt,Loneliness,Misery

Avatar

Symbol

Rus'Ker

CE -- Terror,Shock,Surprise,Horror

Rus'Ker is often associated with death and dying, especially in a gruesome and unexpected way. Disciples of Rus'Ker also defile the dead and more than any other priests make use of undead minions.

Avatar -- Rus'Ker takes the form of a hulking skinless golem of bone and muscle. His appearance is horrifying to see with broken bones and torn flesh formed in unnatural ways. He moves supernaturally fast and can change his shape to resemble any creature or person, especially somebody familiar.

Symbol -- Rus'Ker's followers identify themselves with the image of a cracked skull painted red on a black background, the eyes are starbursts of pure white.

Sekhmet

NE -- Anger,Angst,Hostility

Avatar

Symbol

Sirona

LG -- Love,Affection,Hope

Avatar

Symbol

Vor

NG -- Curiosity,Interest,Excitement

Avatar

Symbol

Zelos

NN -- Envy,Jealousy,Shyness

Avatar

Symbol

Eternals

See also: Cosmology

All things spring from the Forge and all things have within them an ember of life. In some things this ember burns more strongly. Eternals are creatures whose ember is very strong. Eternals are the oldest and strongest creatures of the Forge; they are creatures of immensely powerful magic and can often travel freely between the plans. Eternals are beings like Demons, Devils, Angels, Divines, Elementals, Fey, and Dragons who, although very powerful, usually can not bestow powers directly to their followers. Eternals empower their followers by teaching them how to access arcane and divine powers that already existed; in the rare case that an eternal can "lend" a power directly to a follower the power may be taken back or lost at the will of the eternal.

Not all creatures from other planes are eternals; just as not all creatures of Asmythe are dragon or fey so too does each plane have it's own ecosystem with only the strongest worthy of the title "eternal".

Native Eternals

Dragons and Fey are native to the realm of Asmythe.

Celestials

Eternals of the "upper" conceptual planes, the celestials are angels and other beings of light and goodness.

Abyssals

Abyssals are eternals of the "lower" conceptual planes; demons and other beings of darkness and evil.

Elementals

All other eternals are collectively called "elementals" even when they are not strictly creatures of water, fire, shadow, tapioca, etc. The planes are infinite and the creatures of the planes doubly so.