Evil Pantheon

While the primary pantheons of gods represent a balance of necessary forces and concepts, Aeloria also acknowledges the existence of malevolent divine powers. These "Evil Gods" embody the darkest aspects of all races—domination rather than protection, sacrifice rather than healing, destruction without creation. They represent what happens when power becomes divorced from responsibility and divine purpose twists toward selfish ends.

Unlike the outsider entity Yth'Zirath, these dark gods are part of Aeloria's natural order, albeit representing its most destructive and corrupting elements. Their existence is not hidden knowledge but is openly acknowledged, with most civilizations creating laws against their worship and temples of the primary pantheon actively working to counter their influence. Despite this opposition, cults dedicated to these dark powers persist throughout human lands, operating in shadows and remote places.

Scholars debate the origin of these malevolent divinities. Some believe they were once members of the primary pantheon who fell from grace, while others suggest they represent necessary counterbalances—the shadow cast by divine light. Still others propose they formed from the collective darker impulses of humanity itself, given divine form through the power of belief and fear. Whatever their origins, their influence ebbs and flows throughout history, growing stronger in times of war, famine, and social collapse when desperate people become more willing to embrace darker powers.