The Pantheon
The people of Caeteria worship a pantheon consisting of 29 ‘True’ gods, and a number of minor deities. The gods are divided into a hierarchy of four tiers based on assumed power; The Potter at the top, the ‘First Children’ below him, and the ‘Second Children’ below them, with everyone else making up the lowest tier. Every ‘True’ god has a Grand Temple in Serene Vialgo, where the head of their worshippers - The Grand Priest/Priestess - oversees their worship around the world. The Grand Temples are also the home of the Augurs, the Divine Conduits via which the gods speak to their followers. Each god only ever has one Augur, or so the established religious orders would have people believe. While the centre of each god’s religious power is based in Serene Vialgo, they have temples and shrines all across the world. Even minor deities have sites of worship dedicated to them. There are also other holy sites, such as World’s Peak, the mountain with its peak forever shrouded in the clouds, supposedly the home of the gods.
Cosmological Views
The creation myth of the Pantheon tells that The Potter appeared on a world barren and lifeless. His birth was both joyous and cataclysmic, and physically shattered the continent of Alath. His breath brought life to the world in the form of flora and fauna. He then created his First Children to watch over the world. These First Children created the mortal races, but felt unable to manage them alone, so created a second set of gods, known as the Second Children, to help divide the labour of creation and management.
Worship
The gods of the pantheon are worshipped in strict, temple environments where priests or priestesses lead sermons and rituals for large gatherings of worshippers at once. Whether this is how the gods in tend it to be is unknown, but it is definitely how the religious authorities prefer it. The only real exceptions to this rule are the acts of worship towards The Ferrywoman and The Guard. In these cases, the worship is often more personal, and usually aided by a priest or priestess in an Ancestor Grove.
Priesthood
Each god has three branches of acolytes. The first is the clergy. These priests, priestesses and attendants tend to the temples and holy sites, leading the faithful in holy worship and dictating the will of the gods. The second branch is the Clerics. These pious and devout individuals are imbued with holy power by their god, and stand as beacons of light for all to see, healing the sick and wounded, smiting the enemies of their god, and spreading the word to those who are unenlightened. The third branch is the Paladin Orders. While the orders exist separate from religious hierarchy, each order is dedicated to a god and pledge themselves to fight until their last breath to protect their holy sites and those who pay them homage.
Sects
Like mortals, the gods each have their own personalities and moralities. There are many gods who believe that mortals do not have the power or intelligence to guide their own destinies. These are the gods known as the ‘Black Divinity.’ They are opposed by other gods that believe mortals are more than capable of deciding for themselves. These gods are known as the ‘White Divinity.’ Still, there are other gods who prefer to remain neutral, The Potter being the most famous. The two factions plot and scheme against each other constantly, often dragging mortals and minor deities into their efforts. Yet, despite their internal struggles, all true gods are worthy of a grand temple in Serene Vialgo, although some priesthoods may watch their dark brethren with suspicious eyes.
The White Divinity: The Lord, The Scribe, The Khan, The Courtesan, The Merchant, The Mother, The Judge, The Pathfinder, The Child, The Fisherwoman, The Stag, The Gladiator, The Artist.
The Black Divinity: The Lady, The Alchemist, The Warrior, The Assassin, The Hunter, The Lizard, The Leper
The Neutral Gods: The Potter, The Maiden, The Guard, The Emissary, The Ferrywoman, The Traveller, The Gatekeeper
Founding Date
PR.1
Permeated Organizations
Deities
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