Not only do the four main races of Aether have their own cultures and histories, but their own religions as well. The following deities are among the most important, though it is recommended that you read the "religion" sections under each race for more information.
Aidoneus: The god of death and funeral rites among the Empyreans.
Apollo: Empyreal god of light, healing, civilized life, and magic.
Atar: Varati "god-king" of fire, warfare, and immortality.
Divanus: Empyreal god of gateways, beginnings, and communication.
Ferrin: The "trickster" or beast-god of the Sylvans and graisha.
Graiae: Empyreal/Sylvan goddesses of the moon, seasons, and fate.
Kronian: Also known as Zeus Jupiter; supreme Empyreal sky-god.
Liu: Sylvan god of music, dancing, and patron of bards.
Nokomis: Only one of the many names for the Sylvan "Mother goddess."
Onatha: Sylvan goddess of agriculture and the harvest.
Pasiphae: Atlantean goddess of the moon, tides, and the sea.
Quirinus: God of warfare among the Empyreans.
Sedna: Goddess of water and sea-animals among the Sylvans.
Tirawa: The "Great Spirit" or sky-god of the Sylvans.
Tohil: Sylvan god of the arts among the settled tribes.
Tritonia: Empyreal ancestral goddess of justice, wisdom, and warfare.
Tupuran: The god of death and sorcery among the Sylvans.
Tyche: The Empyreal goddess of chance and good fortune.
Ushas: Varati goddess of the dawn, and mother of Khalid Atar.
Although the Empyreans have no concept of heaven or hell, they do believe in an afterlife. According to them, a person's soul is immortal -- so long as their progeny continue to honor and remember them. In turn, the disembodied spirits watch over their offspring down through the generations, and a House's number of "guardian spirits" is as much a sign of wealth and prosperity as any material possessions.
Aidoneus is the patron of these intangible spirits -- the god of death and funeral rites. He is honored whenever there is a death in the household, so that he might help the souls of the deceased through their transition. Sometimes he may be pleaded with to spare the life of a loved one, although death is not necessarily something to be feared among the Empyreans. To them, it is not an end, but merely a new stage of existence.
While he is not perceived as an evil or vindictive god, he is stern and forbidding; with broad wings as dark as ash and piercing, smoke-colored eyes. Mourners wear grey robes in his honor.
While the Kronian (or Zeus Jupiter) may be the most revered and powerful of the Empyreal gods, Apollo runs a close second. Like most Empyreal deities, he was once a living person who achieved godhood after his death. In life, he was known as Phoebus Apollo Acesian; and both the House of Acesius and its members are still under his protection. Like most of the oldest Houses, Acesius can trace its lineage back nearly two thousand years, to the "Golden Age" of ancient Greece. There, Apollo was worshipped at Delphi, and that is where the mage academy on Aether got its name. He was one of its original founders, and many still view him as the greatest avatar that ever lived.
He was also responsible for empowering Civitas Dei so that it might float among the clouds. Before his death, he poured the last of his power into that Empyreal city, and it still floats to this day. Apollo has consequently been worshipped as the god of civilized life, magic, healing, and light. His symbol, and that of the Acesian House, is a golden disc representing the sun.
Khalid Atar, whose name means "Neverending Fire," is the supreme deity among the Varati. And unlike the other gods and goddesses represented here, he is not merely a personification or long-dead ancestor, but a living, breathing being. He is immortal, and is both monarch and god to his people.
According to legend, Atar was the offspring of the god of light (Ashur Masad), and the goddess of dawn (Ushas). They had given him a body of flesh and blood so that he might live among his people and lead them to glory. For the Varati were not meant to dwell beneath the ground; instead they were driven there by the Empyreans, and only by conquering them will the Varati be able to reclaim their rightful place among the heavens.
Symbolic of his true heritage as a son of Light, Atar has broad wings like those of the Empyreans. But while theirs are usually white, his are black -- and will apparently remain so until the day he and his people have conquered their enemies. Once the Empyreans are defeated and the Varati have claimed supreme dominance, Atar will shed his mortal guise and become a true God of Light; powerful enough to banish all false deities.
Until that day, he is still human, and his immortality must be renewed periodically. Like the mythical Phoenix, Atar undergoes a false "death" and resurrection every few hundred years. He goes into seclusion for a time, and when he returns, his vigor and youth are restored. In fact, he is even powerful enough to pass this longevity onto his most faithful of followers, in a special ritual of which only a few are privy to.
Aside from his immortality, Atar also has power over flame, and is a living embodiment of its light and warmth. Therefore, fire is his symbol, and eternal flames are nourished within temples sacred to him.
Known as the god of gateways, communication, and beginnings, Divanus has a more obscure origin than the other Empyreal ancestor-gods. He is the only major god in their pantheon not associated with a particular House or family. Some speculate that he was never one of their ancestors at all, but is a deity in the more common sense--perhaps a holdover from some more ancient religion. But he is no less honored because of it. His dual faces often preside over entrances, arches, and grand gateways; one facing the new destination, the other viewing the previous.
Considered the wisest of all Empyreal gods for his ability to see both the future and the past at once, Empyreans often seek his aid when beginning a journey, starting a business, or undertaking any new endeavor. Because of his association with gateways, he also came to represent a connection to the outside world, as well as trade and communication. Sometimes he is also called "Deus Fidius," which means hospitality, and Empyreans often use the phrase "Fides, Fidius, Sancus" in public or private transactions, which translates as an oath of good faith and hospitality.
Alternately described as having the head of a fox, coyote, or wolf, Ferrin is a popular deity among the Sylvans. He may have existed at one point, but stories about him were embellished and expanded until it became difficult to tell truth from fiction, much like tales of Earth's Robin Hood or Davy Crockett. Even other races have spun stories about him, though all are not as flattering as Sylvan accounts (read the Myth of the Graisha).
As one of the shapeshifting graisha, Ferrin is the lord of the wild and protector of all the beasts of the forest. Hunters beseech him to make their bows and spears aim true, for he is the one who decides who will go home empty-handed, and who will feast. Yet he is also a trickster-god--often outwitting his adversaries in Sylvan legends. According to one tale, he stole fire from the Varati to bring to his people, and was dubbed "Firefox" after the orange glow of the flames. But the mischievous aspects that liken him to Earth's Br'er Rabbit and Reynard the Fox are tempered by a fierce protectiveness for his domain, and one had best take care not to risk his wrath.
"The three who are one, the one who is three." The Graiae are three goddesses who personify such things as the phases of the moon, fertility, the seasons, and fate. They are also known as "the Sisters," the "Grey Women," or the Fates. Though largely Empyreal in origin, many Sylvans pay homage to them as well, because of their similarities to some of their own deities (see Nokomis, Onatha, and Sedna for more information).
Based on Greek mythology, Celtic, and Druidic beliefs, some of the goddesses they resemble are Persephone, Artemis, Hecate, Demeter, Eostre, and the Morrigan. Like these legendary goddesses, they can be either nurturing or destructive, and are both respected and feared by their followers.
Cynthia:
She is the first; the maiden. She appears as a young woman with silver eyes and hair, clad in a dress of white doeskin and wielding a bow. She embodies spring, youth, and the crescent moon when it is waxing. Wild and carefree, she is both a huntress and a protector of all wild creatures, much like Artemis from Greek legend. She also has certain similarities to the Sylvan goddess, Sedna, such as her capricious nature and protective attitude toward wild creatures. Those who slay her beasts without good cause risk her wrath, and she is typically the avenger of wrongdoing. Her symbol is a white hawk.
Cybele:
She is the second; the mother. She can appear either as a pregnant woman or one who has recently given birth, with a child at her breast. Her hair is a deep auburn, the color of leaves in autumn ... or of dried blood. She represents fertility, harvest, and the moon when it has reached full. The Sylvans liken her to both Onatha and Nokomis from their own pantheon because of her association with nature and agriculture.
Her nature is a dual one, for she can be gentle and nurturing one moment, and cold and indifferent the next. She typically assumes the role of the Judge; it is she who passes sentence upon those unfortunate enough to cross the Sisters or neglect their laws. Her symbol is an owl.
Crataeis:
She is the third and last; the crone. She appears as a gaunt old woman with black hair and eyes, and a face stark as a skull's. The Sylvans sometimes associate her with their goddess, Nokomis -- also called "Grandmother," for her relationship to nature and the duality of creation and destruction. To Empyreans, she symbolizes winter, death, and the waning of the moon. Some would say she is merciless, like the cruel winter storms, but she can also bring peace. She is the most feared of the three, as a bringer of death; but her touch can be gentle, and her appearance welcome, for those too heavily burdened with life and age. She is the unresting one; the one who will not stop until justice has been done. Her symbol is the raven.
More commonly known as Zeus Jupiter, or Jove, the Kronian is the supreme god of the Empyreal pantheon, and one of their greatest emperors. He lived over two thousand years ago, and was the basis for many of Earth's tales of classical mythology. The stories have been embellished over time, and perhaps neither Earth legends nor the generously exaggerated Empyreal tales give an accurate account of the man himself, yet the legacy he left behind still endures. The House of Jove continues to reside near the top of the Empyreal noble hierarchy, and the tradition of choosing an emperor with elemental powers over the wind and storms is still practiced.
Depicted as a stern, powerful-looking Empyrean, the Kronian is seen as the Father of the gods, as well as the Empyre. It was he who first brought the Empyreans to glory, and their goal is to one day reach that "Golden Age" again. His symbol is an eagle, wings outspread, with a lightning bolt gripped between its talons.
Unlike most Sylvan deities, Liu Talesinger may have been a living person at one point, whose fame reached a legendary status until he was deified by the later generations. He is the master of bards; the god of music, dancing, and storytelling. Like the mythical Muses from Greek earth-lore, he inspires musicians and tale-weavers in their craft, and a Sylvan bard might whisper a short prayer or make some offering before commencing their song.
Although Sylvans make no images or icons of their deities, they do describe Liu as a young man, handsome and slender, with rust-red curls and a voice sweeter than birdsong. His music was so powerful and moving that even the beasts of the forest would stop to listen -- predator and prey alike. His traditional instrument was a set of pipes, or "syrinx." His symbol is the nightingale.
She has had many names, some of the most common being Akna, Atira, Crataeis, Eithinoha, and Nokomis, but most Sylvans know her simply as either "Earth Mother," or "Grandmother." Of all their deities, she is probably the most important, for she is the goddess of nature, fertility, growth, and life itself. All children of the earth are her children, and she provides them with food, clothing, and resources just as any mother would.
Like a mother, she should be respected, yet some of her children have forgotten where they came from and do not revere the earth. By disrupting the harmony of nature, they harm the Earth Mother, and in time she may retaliate by punishing her children. Like nature, she has two sides, and can be as unforgiving and merciless as she is generous and nurturing. The Sylvans strive to maintain the balance, and consider themselves the "caretakers" of the earth. They take nothing without giving something in return, and some of the other races might do well to follow their example.
Although similar to the Sylvan "Mother Goddess," Nokomis, in that she is a goddess of agriculture and the harvest, Onatha maintains her own separate identity. For one thing, she is more popular among the "settled" Sylvan tribes -- those tribes that live closer to the outskirts of the forest, practice farming, and live a far less nomadic existence. Onatha is the deity they beseech for fair weather and a bountiful harvest, whereas Nokomis is less a kindly benefactor and more a personified force of nature.
Most Sylvan legends describe her as fair-haired and amply proportioned -- her round hips and breasts symbolizing the plentitude of nature. She is often likened to the goddess, Cybele, and Sylvans even claim that the Graiae of the Empyreans were originally based on a triad of three Sylvan goddesses: Sedna, Onatha, and Nokomis.
For a long time, the Atlanteans were a monotheistic people and worshipped a single goddess, Pasiphae. Only recently has this old religion started to waver, and Atlanteans of younger generations pay homage to the sea itself, rather than its personification. To them, water encompasses all life and binds the world and its creatures together, and their philosophy is one of unity and connection. While this theme had its roots in the worship of Pasiphae, there were other aspects of that religion that were less favorable.
Like many deities, Pasiphae has a darker side, and rumors persist of a time when Atlanteans conducted sacrifices, including human, to ensure her good favor. Yet by most accounts, the practice has long since been abandoned, and only prayers and libations are offered to the mistress of the sea by her modern followers. They describe her as dark-haired, with eyes as deep and blue as the sea, and a long, serpentine tail like the mermaids of Earth-lore.
Mars Aquilla Quirinus was the first captain of the Praetorian guard, and when he was finally killed in battle, he was later deified and came to be associated with the military and warfare in general. The Empyreans worship him as a god of war, and he is especially revered by the caste he helped to create, the Praetorians. In fact, their military training still includes many of the theories and techniques he originally employed.
Proud, disciplined, austere, commanding, patriotic, and a ferocious in battle, Quirinus embodies all the qualities a Praetor strives to achieve, and his symbol is a hawk swooping in for the kill, with a spear clutched between its talons.
Living near the ocean as they do, the Sylvans get much of their food and supplies from the sea. But between poor weather, interference from the city's fishing boats, and meager catches, this is not always an easy task. So the Sylvans turn to a higher authority--their goddess of the sea and aquatic life, Sedna.
Like the sea, she can be capricious or even downright malevolent--her changeable moods explaining the sudden storms that spring up without warning. But she also has a gentler side, and can provide a Sylvan tribe with enough seafood, oil, fat, shells, bones, and hides to last the harshest winter. In an effort to stay on the willful goddess' good side, Sylvans pay homage to her through songs and stories, and always make sure to seek her favor before fishing, sailing, or bringing in their nets.
While Nokomis presides over the earth, Tirawa's domain is the sky, and Sylvans often call him either "Sky Father," or "Great Spirit." In legend, he and Nokomis were formed out of chaos, and their coupling produced all life--including each race, the animals of sky, earth, and water, and all vegetation. He is more remote than Nokomis, however, playing less of a part in the rearing of his "children" and preferring to watch over them from afar. But he can still be called upon for aid, and his disapproval is still something to be feared, for it causes the ominous rumbling of thunder and the torrential downpours of rain. To ease Tirawa's anger, the Sylvans will often dance and sing, for they believe this amuses and placates him, and if they are lucky, the rain will abate and the storm will pass.
Like Onatha, Tohil is more popular among the "settled" Sylvan tribes, where life is a little more stable and individuals have more time to devote to the arts. It is this area which Tohil presides over, for he is the god of weaving, painting, carving, and general craftsmanship. Although Sylvans do not typically build permanent structures, they do create pottery, paintings, clothing, and other decorative items--some of which are sold or traded within Haven. Not only that, but Sylvans exchange gifts for many of their ceremonies and rituals--including births and weddings--and most of these gifts are handmade. Tohil is the god Sylvans call upon when they wish to make a particularly beautiful or inspirational item, and talented Sylvan artists are said to be blessed by him. He is described as young and handsome, wearing finely-made clothes and carrying tools with which to carve or paint.
Like most Empyreal deities, Tritonia was once flesh-and-blood, then deified after her death. She lived toward the end of the "Golden Age," and was one of the few women to ever have a place in the Aegis--the core of Empyreal government. Famed in life for her wise counsel, in death she came to embody justice and wisdom, and still presides over trials and council meetings in spirit if not in body.
Born Pallas Athena Tritonia, she rose to the head of her House; a difficult feat for a woman in a largely patriarchal society. She never married, for to do so would mean relinquishing control over House Tritonis, and now her chastity is as much admired as her wisdom. Not only that, but she managed to prove herself in warfare by leading her own soldiers into battle and coming out victorious. Since then, women have been allowed into the Praetorian caste, though surely without Tritonia's precedent the notion would be unthinkable. House Tritonis still flourishes, and both its symbol and that of its patron goddess is a grey owl -- wisdom mixed with predatory cunning.
To the Sylvans, both death and magic are an accepted part of life rather than something to be feared or rejected. Yet there is a mystery to them, and the god, Tupuran, embodies that mixture of wariness and allure, for he is both fearsome and benevolent; compassionate and destructive.
This connection between death and magic may stem from the fact that shamans are considered "travelers" between worlds; they can traverse the realm of spirits as easily as they do the material one, and some can even see and converse with the dead. They can heal the sick, or negotiate with the spirits to spare a life. They are usually in charge of funeral rites.
Also, while the primary shamans are typically female, the god of magic is male, and shamans are regarded as his priestesses, or "brides." In becoming shamans, they dedicate themselves to this god and his craft, and usually do not marry (though mating is still acceptable). Male shamans, if they are talented enough, are believed to possess part of the spirit of Tupuran, and may even be addressed by that name as a gesture of respect.
Though considered a minor goddess by the Empyreans, Tyche is unique in that she is popular outside that society as well. She represents luck and good fortune, and the lower and middle classes of Haven hold her in high regard. Mongrels, outcasts, rogues, merchants, traders, and travelers all pay homage to this winged deity in the hopes of gaining her favor. But luck is a capricious thing, and Tyche is no different. On a whim, she can grant wealth, prosperity, health, safety, and comfort--and on another whim, she can take it all away. Yet despite her changeable nature, her followers remain loyal, and she may be one of the most widely worshipped deities in all of Aether.
Carefree and willful, Tyche is difficult to appease--no one ever knows just what will please her. She is described as a lovely, slender young Empyrean with white wings and bright clothing; the rainbow is her symbol.
Although the Varati are, for the most part, a monotheistic people who worship Khalid Atar as both their god and king, many of them pay homage to his mother, as well. Ushas, the "Lady of the Dawn," is especially revered by Varati women, to whom she is a patroness of motherhood, child-bearing, fertility, and femininity. The "Ushasti," a special sect within Varati culture, keep her worship alive, and are said to practice magical and mystical arts in her name.
Legend describes her as the consort of Ashur Masad, the god of the sun, and that together, they conceived Khalid Atar -- a god cloaked in mortal form. Some stories say that she has been known to take on a human guise as well, and descend to the mortal plane to aid her son in times of need. She is said to be as beautiful as her namesake, although renditions of her vary from the dusky-skinned, exotic appearance of her son's people, to an ethereal creature composed of light. She is merciful, nurturing, and compassionate, yet darker tales hint that she can be as terrifying as her offspring, and will not hesitate to defend those she favors.
