Gods

Gods

"In the beginning, the four formed a circle. One Pulled, One Pushed, one Ripped, one Joined. And So, our world was born."

   -The Dance of the Deities - Chapter 1, Verse 5.

General

"Mystical phenomena such as Rifts and magic were originally attributed to gods and with the study of aether technology, the Aether Researchers have been able to prove how magic works and reacts on a technical level. It was belief of the churches and temples that powerful entities are the cause of these reactions. In Arkrath, there can be a bit of a debate among the religious communities of how many gods there actually are and which ones contribute to the world at large. There may be countless smaller deities or they are just different names for the major ones recognized."

- Copy of a transcript lost in the collapse Shakar

Currently, there are 4 major deities: The Sower of Seeds, The Devourer, The Trickster, and the Traveler

Sower of Seeds

• The Sower of Seeds. AKA Creator, Sower of Seeds is Life. It creates new magic/Aether and is the thought of expansion, could also be the idea of necromancy where life entered a deceased vessel.
  • Symbols- Sun, Dawn, Tree of Life
  • Colors- Green and Yellow
  • Dogma- Spreading of Life, Proliferation of Aether, Growth, Rebirth
  • Domains- The Sun, Light, Life, Aether, Creation
  • Typical worshipers- Those that wish to be more kind and benevolent to those in need. Many farmers and healers tend to worship the Sower as the bringer of life, however, some view the Sower of Seeds as a force of rebirth, such as Necromancers and Liches

The Devourer

• The Devourer. AKA The Maw, The Void, The Eater, eats up excess magic/aether
  • Symbols- Six Pointed Maw “Lamprey”, Empty Circle
  • Colors- Black and White
  • Dogma- Ending of Life, Destruction of Aether, Cleansing, Removal
  • Domains- Darkness, Death, Destruction, Corruption
  • Typical Worshipers- Those that want the power to bring an the end to all things or their own conflicts. While worship is often viewed with distaste, there are some that view the Devourer as a Great Cleanser, one which brings about change and renewal.

The Trickster

• The Trickster. AKA The Fool, is the random entropy of the world, they are luck and chance as one. They see these concentrations of magic and pull on them to create rifts.
  • Symbols- Broken/Tipped Scales, Masks
  • Colors- No set colors. Bright and garish within shrines
  • Dogma- Upsetting of Balance, Being Contrary, Opening Rifts
  • Domains- Trickery, Stealth, Chaos, Change, Rifts
  • Typical Worshipers- Those that are free-spirited and openly welcome that chaos that is change, but is often at odds with organized society. Often mistaken as “evil” or "malevolent" by more closed minded people.

The Traveler

• The Traveler. AKA The Protector or Guide, is the act of order, altruism, and protection. They guide and protect the Material Plane by connecting the rifts to help stave off the Devourer. They are the reason why no one can get lost in time and space. Enables and monitors rift travel. Arkrath is a plane of special import to the Traveler, as its unique special nature allows rift travel more freely than any of the other planes.
  • Symbols- Winding Road, Flying Birds, Large Gate
  • Colors- Blues and Browns
  • Dogma- Keeping Order Between Realms, Keeping Realms Contained
  • Domains- Order, Travel, Rifts, The Planes
  • Typical Worshipers- Those that wish to protect and guide others, while some find the traveler as a vagabond of sorts. Not diametrically opposed to the trickster, but often at odds when trying to keep order between realms.

The Dance of the Deities

Theocratic scholars and religious leaders believe that magic/the universe is cyclical and balanced. The most common of these is the formation of the Rifts. Sower of Seeds expands the Aether, The Trickster pulls the concentrations to make rifts, Traveler connects rifts to make the path safe, Devourer eats the excess energy that leaks through to slowly close the rift, and since there is less Aether the Sower of Seeds begins the cycle anew.

Much debate surrounding this one phenomena and many others is a common topic of peaceful discussion amongst scholars and theologists alike.