# GODS AND RELIGION

The pantheon known to the humans of Cerilia is not the same pantheon recognized by the ancient tribes who came to Cerilia before the War of Shadow. The old gods gave up their existences in order to destroy their evil brother Azrai at Mount Deismaar. Their essences imbued hundreds of champions and common soldiers with the beginning of Cerilia’s bloodlines, and have shaped history ever since. More importantly, those mortal champions closest to the old gods inherited the portfolio and powers of their patrons, rising to the heavens in a glorious divine ascension.

   At first, the new gods worked closely together, but as centuries passed, rivalries and arguments have divided the Cerilian pantheon. Wars and feuds between their mortal followers have naturally ensued, and the powers work continually to increase the prestige and well-being of their worshippers.
    
   Despite these rifts, all the gods of the new pantheon have held fast to one firm pact: Never again shall the gods battle each other in physical form.
     
   The new powers are known by different names in different parts of Cerilia. Most are worshiped in one aspect or another in several of Cerilia’s cultures. For example, Sera is the heiress of the old goddess Brenna, the patron of the Brechts, but she is also revered in Anuire as Sarimie, and in Khinasi as Sarma.
    
   It’s important to note that the temples of these gods are not unified. At least ten different faiths devoted to Haelyn exist in Anuire alone, and the rivalry is sometimes fierce.
    
## HAELYN

Lord of Noble War, Lawmaker, Patron of Anuire

**Khinasi:** Halaia

**Rjurik:** Holn

**Alignment:** Lawful Good

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any

**Areas of Concern:** War, Leadership

**Symbol:** Sword and sunburst

**Domains:** War, Life

---   
Haelyn is the ruler of the gods, the lord of courage, justice, chivalry, and the patron of kings and warriors. In his mortal life, Haelyn was the leader of the Anuireans, the brother of Roele, and the half-brother of Raesene. He was the champion of the old god Anduiras at Deismaar, and he inherited his patron’s powers.
* **Haelyn’s Priesthood. **Priests of Haelyn are the most powerful clergy in the Anuirean lands. Traditionally, they are advisers to kings and guardians of the investiture of regency. Large temples are often bases for legions of temple soldiers led by paladins.

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## ERIK
Old Father of the Forests, Patron of the Rjurik

**Anuire:** Aeric

**Vosgaard:** Iraikhan

**Alignment:** Neutral

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any neutral

**Areas of Concern:** Forests, hunting

**Symbol:** Oak Tree

**Domains:** Nature, Druids.

---
Erik is the guardian of the wilderness, the protector of the forest, and the patron of Cerilia’s animals. He does not oppose human logging and hunting, but it is his law that no one shall take more than he needs or more than the land can bear to lose. Erik was aRjuven warrior in the entourage of Reynir at Mount Deismaar, and he still considers the Rjurik to be his people.
* **Erik’s Priesthood.** Erik’s priests are druids with a few unique abilities. They band together in organizations known as circles. Most Rjuriks consider the druidic faith of Erik to be the only religion worth following, and scattered circles of druids dwell in the forests of Anuire and Vosgaard.

## CUIRAECEN
Stormlord, God of Battle, Haelyn’s Champion

**Khinasi:** Khirdai

**Rjurik:** Kirken

**Brechtur:** Kirche

**Alignment:** Chaotic Good

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any nonlawful

**Areas of Concern:** Battle, Storms

**Symbol:** Sword and lightning

**Domains:** War, Tempest

---
Cuiraecen (koo-RAY-eh-ken) is the god of storms and conflict, but he is perceived as a force for change and good rather than destruction. He is the son of Haelyn and the sea-goddess Nesirie, and was not present at Deismaar. Cuiraecen is the patron of young and reckless warriors everywhere who plunge boldly into battle in search of personal glory and honor.
* **Cuiraecen’s Priesthood.** Cuiraecen’s temple is important in Anuire but is relatively small elsewhere. The faith is popular among soldiers and powerful orders of militant knights  emplar can command hundreds of elite fighting men.

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## NESIRIE
Goddess of the Sea, Lady of Mourning

**Khinasi:** Nasri

**Rjurik:** Narikja

**Brechtur:** Neira

**Alignment:** Neutral good

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any

**Areas of Concern: **The seas, grief

**Symbol:** Wave and trident

**Domains:** Life, Tempest

---
Nesirie (neh-SEE-ree-eh) is the patroness of mariners and explorers. Nesirie inherited Masela’s power after that goddess perished, but their people - the Masetians - passed into history in a few short centuries following the War of Shadow. Nesirie mourns for them still, and any who know grief call on her. She is the wife of Haelyn.
* **Nesirie’s Priesthood.** Nesirie’s faith is a minor one, but it is popular with folk who live on or near the sea as well as individuals who feel they’ve suffered great losses in life. Few of Nesirie’s priests are interested in political power. Nesirie’s paladins are always female.

## RUORNIL
The Moon God, the Silver Prince

**Khinasi:** Rilni

**Rjurik:** Lirorn

**Vosgaard:** Lirovka

**Alignment:** Neutral

**Worshipers Alignment: **Any

**Areas of Concern:** Night, moon, magic

**Symbol:** Crescent moon

**Domains:** Knowledge, Arcana

---
Ruornil is the god of magic - the guardian of the world’s arcane forces and places of mystical power. Ruornil was an Anuirean who followed the old god of magic, Vorynn, after Azrai swayed the Vos away from Vorynn. When Vorynn perished at Deismaar, Ruornil inherited his power. All Cerilian mages acknowledge Ruornil’s power, even if they do not worship him.
* **Ruornil’s Priesthood.** Woodsmen, astrologers, and wizards revere Ruornil, but few priests of this reclusive power exist. His temples are usually places of enchantment hidden in the forests and dells of the Cerilian wilderness, but in Anuire, a few temples take interest in political power and concerns.

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## SERA
Lady of Fortune, Goddess of Wealth

**Anuire:** Sarimie

**Khinasi: **Sarma

**Vosgaard:** Lirovka

**Alignment:** Chaotic neutral

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any

**Areas of Concern:** Wealth, luck

**Symbol:** Scales

**Domains:** Trickery, Knowledge

---
Sera is the inheritor of Brenna’s power, an has assumed the old goddess’s role as the patroness of the Brecht people. She is the wife of Ruornil and the goddess of commerce, wealth, and both good and ill fortune. Sera embodies the adage that a man makes his own luck; she rewards diligence and hard work, but she occasionally smiles on the fool.
* **Sera’s Priesthood.** Sera is revered by all merchants, rogues, and gamblers. Any who call on Lady Luck are actually invoking Sera’s name. Her temples are the most important in Brechtur, but the Brechts aren’t very religious. Sera’s priests often double as officials of commerce and trade.

## AVANI
Goddess of the Sun, Lady of Reason

**Anuire:** Avanalae

**Brechtur:** Lana

**Rjurik:** Vani

**Alignment:** Lawful neutral

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any

**Areas of Concern:** Sun, reason, magic

**Symbol:** Setting sun

**Domains:** Light, Knowledge

---
Avani is the wife of Erik, the matron of the Basarji, and the successor of the old goddess Basaia. At Deismaar, her new-found powers helped to put the forces of evil to flight. Avani is now the sun goddess and lady of reason and logic, the counterpart to the mysterious moon god Ruornil.
* **Avani’s Priesthood.** Avani’s temple is predominant in Khinasi and very important in Anuire. Her priests are sages, scholars, and teachers; a temple of Avani resembles a university or library.

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## ELOELE
Goddess of Night, Sister of Thieves

**Brechtur:** Ela

**Vosgaard:** Elyal

**Worshipers Alignment: **Chaotic neutral (evil)

**WAL:** Any nonlawful

**Areas of Concern:** Night, darkness, thieves

**Symbol:** Dagger

**Domains:** Trickery

---
Eloele (eh-LOW-eh-lay) is the daughter of Sera and Ruronil. She was born in the early centuries following Deismaar and became the lady of thieves, deceit, and stealth. She is generally not a malicious power, but she is capricious and selfish; she loves to embarrass or trick their enemies, sometimes with lethal results.
* **Eloele’s Priesthood.** Few honest folk worship Eloele, but every rogue knows of the Sister of Thieves and seeks her blessing before setting to work. Only a few small shrines are scattered through the larger cities of Anuire and Brechtur, but a society of female warriors among the Vos reveres her as their secret leader.

## LAERME
Goddess of Fire, Beauty, and Art

**Khinasi:** Leira

**Rjurik:** Lara

**Vosgaard:** Ayairda

**Alignment:** Chaotic good

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any nonevil

**Areas of Concern:** Fire, love, art

**Symbol:** Harp and flame

**Domains:** Light, Life

---
The daughter of Eirk and Avani, Laerme appeared in the years after Deismaar. She is a fiery goddess of beauty and love and patroness of the arts. She is not jealous or vain, and freely rewards any who create beauty regardless of whether they worship her. However, Laerme can be moved to heated anger by any who deny love or who delight in destroying things of beauty.
* **Laerme’s Priesthood.** Few temples are devoted to Laerme’s worship, but may people who worship other gods call on her for help in matters of romance. Her priests tend to be wandering courtiers and advisers and are likely to ally themselves with established temples.

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## KRIESHA
The Ice Lady, the Winter Witch

**Rjurik:** Karesha

**Brechtur: **Kriestal

**Alignment: **Lawful evil

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any nongood

**Areas of Concern:** Winter, monsters

**Symbol:** White hand

**Domains:** Nature, Tempest

---
When Azrai was destroyed at Mount Deismaar, his champions ascended to claim his position. Kriesha was a Vos high priestess who absorbed the portfolios of cruelty, despair, and cold. Along with Belinik, she is the guardian of the Vos. Kriesha stands for strength through hardship and tests the Vos with harsh winters and savage conflict to weed out the weak.
* **Kriesha’s Priesthood.** Kriesha isn’t openly worshipped outside of Vosgaard, although the Rjuriks and Brechts know and fear her. Among the Vos, her priests are always women; they command great influence in Vos society and use their powers to test the strength of the Vos warriors.

## BELINIK
Prince of Terror, Lord of Strife

**Brechtur:** Alenecht

**Alignment:** Chaotic evil

**Worshipers Alignment:** Any nonlawful

**Areas of Concern:** Battle, feuds, fear

**Symbol:** Crossed axes

**Domains:** War, Death

---
Belinik was the chosen champion of Azrai and the warrior-king who led the Vos into the War of Shadow at the dark lord’s command. Much of Azrai’s raw power descended to Belinik at Mount Deismaar, elevating the brutal tyrant to the ranks of godhood. Belinik embodies the Vos belief that might makes right; those who follow him believe that strength and savagery are all a true warrior needs.
* **Belinik’s Priesthood.** Belinik is revered by all Vos warriors, and his priests command great influence in Vosgaard. It’s not unusual for priests to instigate blood-feuds or wars between Vos clans in order to please Belinik. A priest of Belinik can never back down from a battle and must demonstrate that he is fit to serve his god by showing strength and bloodlust.

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## AZARIEL
Angel of Darkness, Fallen Prince, Lord of Lies


**Alignment:** Neutral evil

**Worshippers alignment:** Any evil

**Areas of Concern:** Corruption

**Symbol:** Black feathered wings

**Domains:** Trickery, Death

---
Azariel was once a Solar bound to Anduiras, but he fell from grace out of envy for Haelyn’s ascension to godhood. He acquired godly powers thanks to the joined efforts of Belinik and Kriesha, who empowered him to earn an ally against the other Powers. He burn with envy and rage directed at Haelyn and his priests.
* **Azariel’s Priesthood.** Priests of Azariel hide among other priesthoods, often pretending to be priests of Healyn. They seek to corrupt the innocent and pure, and turn them to the worship of their dark god.

## OTHER POWERS OF CERILIA
The pantheon of the young gods is recognized across the continent, but the human powers are not the only gods known to the people of Cerilia. Goblins, orogs, gnolls, and other creatures each worship their own powers. The awnsheghlien are even said to secretly swear allegiance to another power even greater than themselves.

### Moradin (Knowledge, War)
Moradin is the legendary creator of the dwarves and the chief deity of a mysterious pantheon of dwarven gods. The dwarves don’t speak of their beliefs to nondwarves and hold their religious observances only in the sanctuary of their hidden fortress cities. In fact, the name of Moradin is known outside dwarven halls only because the dwarves call on him for aid in their battle-cries.

### Kartathok (War)
Kartathok is the lord and patron of goblin-kind in Cerilia, and like Moradin, he is the head of an entire pantheon of goblin gods. The goblins aren’t exactly cautious about concealing the secrets of their religions, but few outside observers have the patience or stomach to learn more than the surface details of goblin beliefs. Priests and shamans play a very important role in goblin society and often serve as leaders to goblin warriors.

### The Cold Rider (Death)
No one denies that a power of darkness is at work in the Shadow World, but the nature of this creature is unclear at best. Mages familiar with the Shadow World refer to this power as the Cold Rider, and attribute the restless dead and dangerous spirits of this sinister realm to his dire enchantments. Some people believe the Cold Rider is an awnshegh, while others aver that he is a god spawned by Azrai’s destruction.

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### Powers of Darkness (varies)
Several of Cerilia’s darker races have sought patronage from unique demon lords. These include Yeenoghu, the lord of gnolls; Baphomet, the lord of minotaurs; and Kostchtchie, patron of the ice giants. Monstrous shamans from these races exist, but are extremely rare. Torazan, the orog deity, is believed to be a demon as well.

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