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Elfstone Campaign Setting: Religion & Pantheon |
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By: Arjan Wardekker Religious life is an important element in the Elfstone Campaign Setting. Its Pantheon includes many deities, with various agenda's. Deities are organized around the setting's seven elements, forming seven "Wings": air, water, fire, earth, positive energy, negative energy, and k'zarr (the latter being related to power and magic). They often take an active stance in the world and their influence is visible. Many deities often walk around, in Avatar-forms, on the planet and they frequently associate with all races. Consequently, practically everyone believes in their existance, but some groups choose not to worship any, e.g. because they see them as "mere" higher beings or do not wish to take part in the games of the divine. Those who do worship the gods, do so in many different ways. The present pages describe the deities themselves, and the most common views on who they are. However, specific regions, churches, religious organisations, tribes, cults, etc. may have different views on their god. Deities can alter the appearance of their Avatar form at will and into anything they like, but do have distinct preferences, especially regarding their race. Elfstone's supreme deity is named The Creator. This deity does not visibly interact with the universe, does not grant spells, and is worshipped by very few people. Many believe that he has departed after creating the universe, although this is incorrect (see Divine Metaphysics & Creation). One rank below The Creator is the Upper Pantheon, a collection of greater deities, one for each element and a "chief god". This chief god, Levi, is equal in power to the other Upper Pantheon deities and serves as a moderator rather than a ruler. The greater deities deal with the world mainly in abstract terms, serving their element and having no alignment towards good/evil and law/chaos. They are less inclined to interfere in person than the lower deities. The Lower Pantheon assists the Upper in taking care of the world. It consists of intermediate and lesser deities (in practice, the difference between these two power levels is not that large), which have more specific agenda's in the world. Many demigods exist as well, serving the Lower Pantheon on specific tasks. Many of these gods are former mortals or immortals who have been rewarded by their deity for heroic acts or other services. They are paid hommage by e.g. specific professional guilds, countries or cities, tribes, or cults. The Pantheon is organised as a somewhat burocratic hierarchy. Lower deities report to the higher ones. As actions with large impacts involve a great deal of debate and hassle in this system, deities are somewhat self-limited in what they can and will do to further their agendas. Their centre of activity is a demiplane named "The Olympeak", which serves as a hub of portals to deities' personal realms and to the world of Alcarin. The Olympeak's worldly connection is a small classic Greek style temple on the summit of a large and remote mountain, located far north of the empire of Vilya. A wide stairway ascends from the base of the mountain to the temple. This access point to the realm of mortals was originally created to allow pilgrims to venture to their deities in person, should they be willing to embark on the extensive journey to such a remote location.
Note for Dungeons & Dragons: The deities: The Creator Upper Pantheon (8 gods):
Lower Pantheon (43 gods):
D&D-Elfstone Deity Table:
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