Types of Higher Powers

Though mortals of Errindia can, individually or collectively, wield great power, they are not the most powerful beings in the realms. There are beings whose magical prowess, influence and lifespans far exceed what can usually be attained by any mortal. In special circumstance, however, these beings may share a fragment of their power with a mortal in order to better enact their will on the Planes. These beings of Higher Power can be broadly categorized as one of the following.

Deities

Deities are divine beings, meaning their power is entirely derived through belief and worship and it shrinks or grows with the size and fervor of their following. Though the commonly held belief is that deities are responsible for the creation of mortals, the opposite is true; most deities first arose from mortal belief and awe in aspects of their lives, while a select few were born as mortals and, through various means, gained such influence they achieved godhood. Each Deity has a particular field or specialty which they oversee, known as their "portfolio." Their portfolio can be further summarized as dealing with certain Divine Domains. These portfolios include broad facets of existence such as Love, Justice, Change and Magic.
Each Deity may have several different monikers, which sometimes refer to particular Aspects. An Aspect arises when there are opposing interpretations of the Deity's portfolio, and is a specific presentation or avatar of the deity representing the less common interpretation. Aspects operate independently of each other and the Deity from which they derive, though a Deity is always aware of the thoughts and actions of their Aspects. A Deity and their Aspects can manifest avatars on the Outer Planes (though they can never appear together) but are often limited in their ability to physically manifest outside of their own realms. When an avatar manifests, it becomes vulnerable to destruction (though their immense power makes their destruction unlikely). However, destruction of an avatar only temporarily prevents its ability to manifest and influence the world; given time, it will inevitably reappear. Only another Deity is capable of harming a Deity's true divine essence, thereby "killing" the god, but this has not happened since The Divine Wars before which there were dozens more gods than those known today.

Immortals

Immortals are not divine beings and do not draw their power from worship, though they have similar levels of power and are sometimes worshipped. Archdevils, Archdemons, and Archfey are considered Immortals, along with some other beings such as The Wind Dukes of Aaqaa. Like deities, Immortals do not die natural deaths and most are millennia old. Unlike deities, Immortals can still be killed or destroyed even by mortals, but few beings would ever try due to their power and influence in the world; the death of even a despicable Archdemon could have widespread consequences for all realms of existence.

Fallen Deities

If a Deity ceases to be worshipped or is "killed" by another divine being, they do not entirely cease to exist but instead become a Fallen Deity. These beings are shadows of their former selves, incapable of manifesting avatars and only capable of the subtlest of influence on mortals. As such, they rarely have followers and do not grant powers. It is impossible to say how many Fallen Deities exist since most of them are forgotten, having fallen during the Divine Wars. However, any that are discovered may be restored to power through intense rituals and awesome displays of devotion. There is only one instance of this occurring in known history.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine