Deities
This appendix provides lists of known deities in Ancerra. These tables contain a deity’s basic disposition on the cosmos, iconography that their worshipers might use, and the divine icons to which they give you access if you are a cleric who worships that deity.
Major Pantheons
Most of the following pantheons are generally known throughout Ancerra, but some (like the Cyoth) are cryptic and almost entirely unheard of by layperson and scholar alike.
Archfae
While still considered deities, the archfae are notably less powerful than most other deities. The archfae can further be categorized into six Conclaves. These Conclaves all reside in the Everwilds, and an individual archfae might be a member of multiple Conclaves (though this is uncommon). The Conclaves are as follows:
Ashyidir. The fae from the Ashyidir Conclave are prime elemental forces incarnate. They often fight amongst themselves, but do not have any true long-lasting animosity as they recognize that they all need each other and offer something wholly unique to the magibiosphere. Given their understanding of the necessity of all elements, the Ashyidir Conclave is generally lawful and order-oriented.
Leitspina. Incarnations of the six humanoid senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, and instinct. The Leitspina Conclave tends towards chaos, often creating whimsical alliances with the Stravon just to cause trouble.
Pashak. Archfae from the Pashak Conclave are exemplars of the plant kingdom. The Pashak Conclave is fiercely pacifistic and tries to maintain cordiality between all other Courts.
Shibmar. Archfae from the Shibmar Conclave are exemplars of the animal kingdom. While the Shibmar Conclave tends towards maintaining law, they are also usually more aggressive than the Ashyidir.
Stravon. Incarnations of the various primal emotions and combinations thereof. The Wusvarin Court generally acts in chaotic and short-sighted fashion, causing endless frustration for the other courts.
Vertumna. Incarnations of the four seasons, their symbolic representations. The Vertumna Conclave is generally unconcerned with day to day affairs but applies pressure to the cosmic scales when any one deific faction grows too powerful or threatening. They don’t believe in Good or Evil, but just try to keep all planar and deific entities roughly equal in scope of power.
Avardri
The avadri are a race of technological gods, wielding vast cosmic powers through the use of machines and programs that use reality as the hardware and thoughts as software. They often create monuments and supercomputers out of basic materials such as stone to exercise their creative capabilities. They are generally forgotten gods, known (and feared) by the other planar entities but lost to the mainstream historical accounts of many mortals. As such, it is uncommon for humanoid religions on Ancerra to venerate the avadri, though some cults dedicate themselves to them and some religious teachings mention them in apocryphal texts. An avadri might be a Paragon or a Corrupted; these are the two factions of avadri that clashed before the creation of Ancerra in a cosmic war that nearly destroyed reality.
Avatars
Avatars are a small group of fundamental entities that might also be categorized in any of the other major pantheons. They perpetuate a recurring cycle that can lead to the creation or destruction of entire worlds. The most powerful archfae, the leaders of the celestials, and the strongest fiend lords could be considered avatars. There are also a handful of avatars more powerful than all other pantheons. These avatars follow the model of the six creators, rarely involving themselves in direct happenings in the cosmos, instead guiding the other pantheons with a light touch.
Celestials
Celestials are disciplined and structured. They understand the importance of divine law, and typically believe that upholding the cosmic order is their purpose. The Council of Celestials passes dictates that affect every major actor in the planes of existence, and the Celestials expect to be obeyed by other planar entities. In general, celestials are perceived as the arbiters of peace and justice, but the truth is more complicated. Some celestials exploit the cosmic legislative system in order to lord power over their colleagues.
Eldritch
Horrible, twisted creatures from beyond the known planes, in the obscuring mists of the Pale. Eldritch beings appeal to cultists due to their strange powers and the fear that they inspire.
Exiles
Exiles are former celestials. After the Celestial Civil War, the exiles were banished to Inferno, where they quickly became major warlords and power brokers in the hellscape. While the exiles are denounced in mainstream religions, some religious offshoots believe that the exiles were treated unfairly and need to be venerated.
Fiendlords
Before the exiles arrived in Inferno, the fiend lords ran the plane. Beings of brutality and chaos, they wage ongoing war with the exiles. Fiend lords typically have secretive and twisted cult followings.
Cyoth
Beings of absolute and uncaring law, they seek to preserve the existence of spacetime over the existence of life. In certain instances this has led to them carrying out mass exterminations when necessary, and creating entire races when needed. They are even more cryptic and unknowable than the ancient avadri, and virtually no mortal has ever heard of them.
Archfae Deities
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeshir (AY-sheer) | Cultivation, Freedom, Light | Raging fire | She recognizes that time is finite, so you should do what you can while you draw breath. Sometimes that means knocking things down to make something new. |
| Aevis (AY-ves) | Austerity, Freedom, Love | Swirling winds | They are accommodating of many viewpoints, for truth can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. |
| Aya (AY-uh) | Decay, Fate, Serenity | Blanket of ash | She believes that the aftermath of utter annihilation is utterly fascinating, and it is where true growth can occur. |
| Gaarh (GAHRD) | Order, Serenity, Wisdom | Sturdy rock | Actions are dangerous. He believes in careful consideration and deliberation before any significant action. |
| Gaesh (GAYSH) | Light, Wrath, Wisdom | Bubbling lava | He thrives on conflict, seeing it as a chance to prove one’s might and worth. |
| Gaevid (GAY-ved) | Austerity, Fate, Freedom | Shifting sand | She acts as an intermediary, trying to smooth over conflict whenever it might arise. The happier everyone is, the happier she is. |
| Sharyd (SHAHR-ed) | Cultivation, Order, Love | Wet clay | They adore any form of creative outlet, moving from one hobby to another with dizzying speed |
| Sheryn (SHEHR-en) | Freedom, Love, Wrath | Crashing water | She holds a strong will and is incredibly emotional, prone to bouts of rage; however, she also cares for those close to her with unmatched passion. |
| Vishyyr (Vish-EAR) | Austerity, Order, Serenity | Icy glacier | They believe that emotion leads to rash decisions with terrible consequences, and emotion has no place in a mature person. |
| Yasheri (yash-EHR-ei) | Freedom, Hedonism, Love | Exploding steam | Love and pleasure are all that really matter in life. He believes that as long as your actions hurt nobody, do whatever brings you joy. |
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aralunsi (ahr-ahl-UN-see) | Hedonism, Knowledge, Salvation | Tongue | Enjoy the finer things in life, for you will not live forever. He finds great purpose in eating, singing, and conversing. |
| Daropmet (DAHR-oph-met) | Darkness, Knowledge, Wrath | Ear | Be patient and understand what someone else is really trying to say. They are deeply fulfilled through conversation and contemplation. |
| Etaluna (et-ahl-UN-uh) | Fate, Nature, Wisdom | Raised heckles | Sometimes, you just have to trust your gut. She embodies the elusive “sixth sense” and the simple but undeniable feeling when something is wrong. |
| Patyra (pat-EER-uh) | Hedonism, Love, Nature | Hand | They are completely focused on the present. You never know what tomorrow holds, so why bother fretting? |
| Latisk (LAT-isk) | Knowledge, Light, Wisdom | Eye | It’s important to keep your eye on the big picture. He is constantly vigilant and always trying to consider the grand plan. |
| Rosfa (ROSS-fuh) | Salvation, Nature, Serenity | Nose | Sometimes, memory can hold more truth than plain fact. She finds both sentiment and formative experiences to be absolutely foundational to existence. |
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazonia | Cultivation, Hedonism, Light | Jungle tree | If you have in abundance, you ought to share with those less fortunate. |
| Augustan (ah-GUST-un) | Ambition, Salvation, Light | Sequoia | Take measures to ensure that your legacy casts a long shadow, as it is all that will remain of you once you are gone. |
| Brackist (BRACK-ist) | Austerity, Bravery, Freedom | Mangrove | Be open to unexpected circumstances and adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in. |
| Caspit (KAS-pet) | Austerity, Nature, Revenge | Cactus | Be careful with what you have. The glutton will starve first, come the famine. |
| Cedrian (SEHD-ree-un) | Bravery, Salvation, Serenity | Conifer | The hard and cold times in life give context and sweetness to the easy and warm months. |
| Elpad (ELL-pad) | Light, Hedonism, Love | Maple | Merriment, a jovial spirit, and deep friendship are the staples of a life well lived. |
| Junia (JOO-nee-uh) | Cultivation, Love, Serenity | Fern | Tend to your own comfort and needs, and the needs of those you love, provided that you don't hurt others to do it. |
| Okart (OAK-ert) | Bravery, Honor, Redemption | Oak | Take a stand against injustice and shelter the helpless from danger. If you have the means to protect others, and you ignore them, you are worse than a villain. |
| Pecash (PECK-esh) | Cultivation, Salvation, Wisdom | Tree nut | Patience pays. Sometimes, you don't see the fruits of your labor for years or even decades. |
| Relustin (rel-UST-en) | Cultivation, Hedonism, Salvation | Berry bush | Trust the world around you to provide. Sometimes it will give abundantly, sometimes the bare necessities, but always will it give. |
| Wylla (WILL-uh) | Fate, Honor, Order | Birch | Structure, community, and a group mentality give every living thing a greater meaning and purpose. |
| Yvinna (yev-EEN-uh) | Ambition, Decay, Darkness | Nettle | Draw in unsuspecting victims to seek your comfort, then torture them until they beg you to stop. This is power, and it is yours to command if you are willing. |
| Zenir (zen-EER) | Hedonism, Nature, Wrath | Desert grass | Celebrate with abandon when you can, because hardship and war are all too common. |
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al'An (al-AHN) | Knowledge, Light, Wisdom | Giraffe's head | Do not go looking for danger, but always be aware of its reality. Stay vigilant to ensure the safety of those you love. |
| A'rl'ng (AH-ril-ing) | Bravery, Freedom, Honor | Horseshoe | Run wild and live free. Do not let anyone put shackles, real or ideological, on your own untamable spirit. |
| Arych (AHR-yick) | Ambition, Darkness, Revenge | Spider web | There is a scheme devious enough to bring anyone to their knees. Learn these schemes and utilize them, or they will be used against you. |
| Clikkirikkilc (kli-KI-rik-ilk) | Decay, Darkness, Order | Beetle | One must work hard in order to earn any reward. Many hands, however, make such work light, and even enjoyable. |
| Enthri (EHN-three) | Freedom, Knowledge, Wrath | Eagle head in profile | Many opportunities will present themselves to you if you maintain a keen and watchful eye. |
| Gusper (GUS-pehr) | Fate, Freedom, Salvation | Salmon | A simple life is often the most satisying. Go where the current of life takes you, content with your family and your surroundings. |
| Heq (HEK) | Hedonism, Revenge, Wrath | Boar head | Violence is in every creature's nature. Do not shy away from such emotions or the acts that they prompt, for they make you powerful. |
| Immort (em-OORT) | Austerity, Order, Salvation | Turtle shell | Be in no rush. The slow and cautious planner usually succeeds where the frantic worker fails. |
| Khailain (kal-AIN) | Ambition, Decay, Revenge | Cobra head | Always treat others the way they treat you. Assume that everyone is out to manipulate you or get ahead. |
| Kleppar (kleh-PAHR) | Bravery, Freedom, Nature | Squirrel eating a nut | Maintain a balance between present and future. Take pleasure in the present moment, but also prepare for hard seasons that will one day come. |
| Kos | Bravery, Love, Wisdom | Peacock feather | It is right and good to seek status. By appealing to others, they will respect you more. |
| Leshy (LESH-ee) | Cultivation, Knowledge, Nature | Orangutan head | Any discarded detritus might be repurposed into a tool. The things you can create are limited only by your imagination. |
| Lob | Salvation, Light, Love | Holstein cow | Strive for bright, tranquil days. When possible, avoid darkness and conflict of all varieties. |
| Porov (POR-ov) | Austerity, Order, Serenity | Hermit crab | Strong walls, and an insular community, can ward off even grave threats. |
| Pretibyrd (PRET-ee-berd) | Freedom, Light, Love | Chickadee | Song and music have no instrinsic merit, but they provide beauty. That is merit enough. |
| Saurzan (SOAR-zen) | Bravery, Death, Honor | Alligator head | In a world ruled by chaos and cruelty, you either kill or get killed. Do what has to be done. |
| Sekh (SEK) | Freedom, Hedonism, Wrath | Lion's head | Wander the world as far and wide as you can, always seeking new experiences. Embrace every opportunity. |
| Shap'ke (SHAHP-kee) | Darkness, Fate, Revenge | Shark fin | Take advantage of those with less power than you, but do not crush them, lest they stop providing you with endless resources. |
| Stoll | Austerity, Death, Knowledge | Vulture head | Death is inevitable, so make use of this fact. Do not seek out death, do not turn from it, either. Anything can be made useful. |
| Tamat (TAM-aht) | Death, Darkness, Knowledge | Elephant head | Never forget the past, for it is the lessons of the past that we can learn to shape a better future |
| Vele (VEY-ley) | Bravery, Honor, Love | Bear paw | You will, inevitably, be knocked down. When this happens, get back up. You will be stronger for it. |
| Woden (WOE-den) | Fate, Redemption, Wisdom | Crow | Gaze ever into the future, and navigate the waters of life with sage counsel and a level head. |
| Wolven (WOHL-wehn) | Honor, Love, Nature | Wolf paw | Your strength is never greater than when you surrender to others, and your weakness is never stronger than when you rely only on yourself. |
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assi (ass-EE) | Decay, Revenge, Redemption | Humanoid with a donkey's head | He believes that life is a series of miseries, separated by brief moments of annoyance. Might as well make sure everyone knows it. |
| Bline (BLIEN) | Hedonism, Light, Love | Handheld fan | Alternating between joy and disgust, she tries to guide people in her own relatively narrow view of what “good” is and help them avoid “bad”. |
| Caliban (KAHL-ib-ahn) | Decay, Redemption, Wrath | Knotted staff with barnacles on it | Often misunderstood, he inspires fear in all who see his hideous visage. In truth, although he angers quickly, he seeks to protect the misguided and help them see the error in their ways |
| Edmari (ed-MAHR-ee) | Austerity, Serenity, Wrath | Happy and sad masks | Typically agitated and frustrated, he believes that any institution becomes corrupt over time. After a certain point, all orders must be razed and started over. |
| Eyar (EE-yer) | Fate, Serenity, Wisdom | Sleeping pony | Weary at the endless cycle of pain and shattered hopes, she prefers to slumber in melancholy and hope that one day the dreams give way to a brighter reality. |
| Halam (hal-AHM) | Hedonism, Serenity, Wrath | Upraised hand holding a skull | Broody and emotional, he can be prone to manic phases of violent action before returning to his emotional muck. He embodies the tension between a desire for change and the overwhelming weight of said change. |
| Leira (LEY-ruh) | Darkness, Nature, Revenge | Woman's face with a bandage covering her eyes | Alternating between long periods of relaxation and brief phases of panicked alarm, she tries to guide her pupils and her wards away from harm without revealing herself. |
| Oberon (OEB-ehr-ohn) | Darkness, Love, Revenge | Moon | A gloomy lover who feels intense passion for his family and his subjects, he can be unstable and unpredictable force. |
| Puck | Freedom, Salvation, Serenity | Dragonfly | A carefree miscreant more than willing to do the dirty work of any other deity, provided that it won't land him in too much trouble. |
| Rometta (rom-ETT-uh) | Decay, Freedom, Wisdom | Spilled cup | Obsessed with finding love for herself and helping mortals find love, she is usually deeply happy or quite sad - or that strange, sweet mix of both. |
| Titania (ti-TAIN-ee-uh) | Light, Serenity, Redemption | Sun | A pensive and long-term planner, she makes decisions that she believes will benefit the ongoing wellbeing of her family and her subjects, even if those decisions are incredibly mundane. |
| Deity | Icons | Symbolism | Personality, Beliefs, and Tenets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosen (ROES-un) | Cultivation, Love, Nature | Budding flower | She sees beauty in the act of creating and cultivating new life, and in renewing old promises |
| Strack (STRAHK) | Austerity, Darkness, Honor | Snowflake | Hardship gives rise to responsibility. He believes that frugal living is wise, and creatures have the duty to look after one another. |
| Thaund (THAWND) | Cultivation, Hedonism, Wrath | Lightning bolt | He often lives in the moment, without a thought for the next day. Quick to wrath, and equally quick to forgiveness. |
| Wythen (WEI-then) | Decay, Death, Hedonism | Fallen leaf | Make merry, for tomorrow we all will die. She believes in accepting the inevitable, and finding enjoyment in the present. |