Many gods and goddesses walk within the mortal world, they have little to fear but keep their true power hidden, for the greatest enemies of the gods are their own kind.

The first gods upon Calera fed upon worship, they demanded sacrifices in blood and pain, and without remorse they ruled like undying tyrants. This was long ago during the time of the first race and since then those early primal gods have faded into the void and disappeared from all but the oldest of memories. Their power was greater and more accessible millions of years ago, and the first gods were creatures of titanic and almost limitless power. Since that time each race has had their own gods, great beings connected to domains and forces, worshipped for their abilities to somehow make sense of the world and control aspects of creation. But like so much within the world their great power is not truly limitless and they are not immortal and invincible. They have weaknesses and they can be killed, or forgotten by their worshippers or even left to contend with eternity within their void if they no longer have people to worship them at all.
During the age of humanity, there are three major ascendant houses, each with a number of gods and goddesses. Each is a pantheon in its own right with entire families and groups of gods drawn together towards a common goal or the pursuit of power. These three houses have been at war since the dawn of the very first humans and some of the gods are even older than the the houses they serve. A house may have a related central family but they are more than happy to welcome powerful ascendants than arise among mortals in order to grow in strength and power. The ascendants of a house are the most eager to to fight and struggle with the other houses for dominion over the earth. Open war among the houses is not unheard of but also very rare, many gods view the idea as madness and when individual gods clash openly it diminishes their power and creates opportunities for other gods to move in and assert control. Gods are far happier for mortals to do their dirty work for them. For if a god does not hold the sword that slays their rival then they can lay the blame elsewhere and avoid retribution.
Gods and ascendants upon Calera walk among mortals, they do not control realms outside of the physical world and are therefore vulnerable to the schemes and plots of others. Gods will hide their true forms and powers from mortals unless they are secure enough and brave enough to do otherwise. If a god spends enough time in a single area however their powers and control over their aspects can often change and warp the environment in unique and interesting ways, creatings great dark forest of light and or perpetual raging storms.

The gods and ascendants command forces of creation called aspects and they are countless in number. However aspects are not a gods true power, they simply help a god to retain their presence within the world and give them direction and focus. Gods can control multiple aspects but there would seem to be a limit at two or three for most. A single aspect can also be held by a multiple gods and that is certainly true in the age of humanity where gods from different houses claim aspects from one another.

Fallen One

Formuria
Highmount
Nyseion