The Dawn Pantheon
The Dawn Pantheon is a loose group of deities primarily worshipped by humans and the other peoples who were integrated into the societies under the rule of the Cidian Empire. While the worship of these deities was not officially recognized by the Empire, it did spread the faith of its followers throughout its territory. Once the collapse of the Empire occurred, many former empirical lands and rulership began to turn toward the gods, growing the pantheons popularity to its glory today.
The main body of the pantheon consists of the eleven neutral and good deities who promote civilization and its overall survival. Nine other deities are also classified under the pantheon's dominion, however are often scorned and made examples of for their evil and selfish goals.
Good-Aligned Deities:
- Avandra, goddess of luck and change
- Bahamut, god of justice and nobility
- Corellon, god of spring, magic, and the arts
- Moradin, god of creation
- Pelor, god of summer, the sun, and agriculture
- Sehanine, goddess of autumn and the moon
- Erathis, goddess of civilization and invention
- Ioun, goddess of knowledge
- Kord, god of strength and storms
- Melora, goddess of wilderness and the sea
- Raven Queen, goddess of winter and death
- Asmodeus, god of tyranny
- Bane, god of war and conquest
- Gruumsh, god of destruction
- Lolth, goddess of spiders and lies
- Tharisdun, god of madness
- Tiamat, goddess of wealth, greed, and vengeance
- Torog, god of the Underdark
- Vecna, god of evil secrets
- Zehir, god of darkness and poison
Divine Origins
The Dawn Pantheon dates back to the time during the Cidian Empire's reign, where those not fortunate enough to obtain arcane abilities looked to guidance from higher powers. In these early years, these minor cults worshipped a few of the Dawn Pantheon deities known today, including Avandra, Erathis, Ioun, Kord, Melora, and Pelor. Compared to today, these smaller cults were more isolated and fractured from one another, sometimes viewing others as threats or competition. Over time, as other cultures began to influence the human dominated society, new deities also became more commonplace amongst the people, including Bahamut, Corellon, Moradin, the Raven Queen, and Sehanine, thereby rounding out the rest of the Pantheon worshipped today.
Amongst these good or neutral aligned powers, evil deities were also worshipped or believed to have existed, although only as whispers in the general public and warned against by the clergy. Thus, the deities of Asmodeus, Bane, Gruumsh, Lolth, Tharizdun, Tiamat, Torog, and Zehir came into the lore spread amongst the people. Later, after the arch-lich Vecna ascended to godhood, he too was added to this list of higher powers to be wary of.
The Pantheon was spread throughout the Empire as it continued to expand over its mass of territories. After the Unraveling, many folk believed that it was a sign by the Gods of arcane magics place in the world. A warning of its corrupting nature and the dangers it brings. To bring piece to the minds of the populace, the new rulers of the lands began to make religious worship more commonplace, erecting mass temples in the honor of the deities. Partially this was a political ploy to keep the people happy, but it was also an attempt to appease whatever higher powers that did exist to ensure favorability. Now in many former Empire colonies across the world, the Dawn Pantheon and its clergy watch over the people, helping to stand guard against the evils of the world, and act as a counterbalance to those who wish to pursue arcane magics.
Cosmological Views
In the beginning, there was no world, only the churning, singular plane of the Eternal Chaos. The four elements raged against one another, clashing for dominance at every moment, as the Primordial titans grasp for power. Wild magic surges erupted sporadically across the desolate landscape, raising the armies of elemental underlings the Primordials slung at one another.
This changed when the deities arrived into the realm, baring witness to the potential of such a space. They battled the primordial titans over the fate of their new world. The deities found triumph after dealing great blows to their enemies, leaving the titans to slink back to the depth which they came, in hopes of one day finding revenge against these new beings.
The deities went quick to work, laying out their master plan for the new world they envisioned. First, they created four elemental shards, as a mechanism of controlling, to some degree, the Eternal Chaos. The shards, once implanted into the astral plane, began drawing their focused element towards its power, establishing the elemental ring known today to surround the prime material - the Elemental Chaos.
Once the Elemental Chaos was fixed, they drew upon the remnant matter to craft the world known today. Carving the continents, filing the oceans, setting the winds, and stirring the fires of change beneath. They shaped the mountains, rivers, plains, and sky. They subdued the erratic wild magic, creating the latus structure known today as The Weave. Finally, sowing the forests and field with life, allowing flowers to blossom, leaves to flourish, and animals to run. Laying the ground work for their master creations to come.
Their final creations were the various humanoid species witnessed today. The deities blessed their creations with free will to explore and make creations of their own. Thus, Tuwanet was create.
