Belief is a complicated affair in the lands of Arcania. The primary religion of the continent is Crodism, monotheistic worship of the creator deity Crod, and this religion is heavily enshrined in culture, law, and politics. The Crodholic Church opposes all public worship of other deities, deeming it heresy. But Crod does not answer prayers, and so instead the people sometimes turn their worship to a loose pantheon known as the Old Gods, whispering prayers to any of a multitude of deities covering a myriad of divine domains, all while the militant knights of the church are out of earshot. The Old Gods are many, comprised of: ancient pre-Crod deities, gods and goddesses of other lands, and newer gods who have only recently risen to power (making the term "Old Gods" a technical misnomer as an umbrella term for deities who are not Crod). The relationship between Arcanians and religion is further complicated by the fact that a portion of the western continent swarms with very real demons from a very real Hell. Crodism recognises a few other deities, although it presumes Crod is more powerful than these other divine figures. But the church recognises the power of Xar, the god of evil and ruler of Hell. With demons and spell-casting priests of Xar and demon-bound warlocks wreaking havoc across the land for centuries, it is difficult for people of any religion to dispute the potency and reality of evil Xar. Other prominent "Old Gods" include Oma, the world mother, and her three daughters: Solara, goddess of light; Vitae, goddess of life; and Wyldrin, goddess of the wild. Deus is an ancient god of storms. Justicles is the god of law, and his brother Jerkus is the master of trickery. Akashia is the goddess of knowledge, dwelling in the Astral Realm of thought. Mordiguez is the lord of the dead who shepherds freshly deceased souls from an initial stay in Purgatory on to their designated afterlife. Magicles is the god of magic, a mortal ascended after stealing the secrets of the arcane from the elves. Triamatar, the god of war, answers the prayers of those who would wage battle, whether they are just or not. Monstrous Murmadon is the god of the tempestuous seas. Other belief systems outside of theism include the mystical teachings of druidry, the nature worship and totemism of the barbarians, and the varied spiritual beliefs of philosopher monks living in monasteries that dot the countryside. Hidden cults speak the names of insane eldritch things that exist beyond space and time. Some few humans even worship the gods of other species: dworjin, elvari, gnome, or homeling deities. These four species each have tight pantheons of gods who command their own portfolios and mythologies.