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The Old Gods______________________________________________________
These
are the divine beings native to Autica, either created by Mot, or
intrinsic to it's very being, they are some of the most powerful
entities on the planet, rivaled only by the New Gods. Nothing better
represents Autica's struggle between the natural world and the march of
progress better than these colossal beings.
Behemoth________________________________
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"I have never before seen an island move with such grace."
-Captain Gail of the Pirate Ship, the Bleeding Mary.
Other Names: Seashaper, Elfbringer, The Living Island.
Domains: Life, Nature, Tempest.
Creator of the Elves, the Living Island swims the seas of Autica. An ancient, colossal whale, he was raised to godhood by Mot, and his size has increased ever since. Around his massive body, an entire ecosystem finds shelter from the open sea. A rainbow of fish, plants and other wildlife are a part of his bulk.
A peaceful god, Behemoth encourages patience above all else in his followers, and encourages them to seek balance in all things. To cultivate their strength, but to use it with wisdom to protect those who need it, and to never strike in blind fury, for the consequences may be dire.
Behemoth has first hand experience with this. When Roc was struck down, Behemoth responded in anger, and in doing so changed the face of Autica entirely. Ever since, he has regretted the action and the destruction he caused.
Many Elven monasteries follow the teachings of Behemoth, and they make up his largest following. The monks of these holy places spend their entire lives training, working towards perfection and balance in Behemoths name. They also serve as communal centres for the city-ships built around them, and most High Elven households hold Behemoth as their primary worship. As the God of the sea, sailors will offer prayers to Behemoth before departure, no matter who they worship at home.
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Bellini_________________________________
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"Fear
the fog that hangs over the field of war, for in it walks the Grey.
He'll take your soul and eat your memories. Deal not with the Walker,
for his bargains are not fair. Leave Bellini to his work, or become part
of it."
- Cautionary prayer.
Other Names: The Grey, the Walker, the Soul-Eater.
Alignment: Neutral Evil.
Domains: Death, War.
Abruptly
created when Ish was divivded, Bellini holds domain over the spirits of
the dead. The ethereal plane is his home, where he hoards the souls of
those who pass. His pale, elongated body can be seen walking the fields
of large scale catastrophes, battles, accidents. Anywhere death is
widespread, he walks among those passed devouring his fill, before they
pass into his domain.
Worship,
or even mention of Bellini is incredibly taboo, even amongst those who
regularly deal in Necromancy. He is a jealous God, and any who dabble in
his realm often find themselves a part of it.
One
cult does follow him religiously. Calling themselves Devourers, they
use Bellini's power to sow death and manipulate the spirits of the
slain. They are attracted to the same sites as Bellini, but often on
smaller scales. He preaches the spread of Death, believing physical
bodies to be impurities to be cleansed.Bellini is often the center of tales and superstitions that pass through cultural boundaries. No race is free from the fear of this spectre, and many common folk seek to ward their lives at every pass against the threat of the Grey.
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Benedictum______________________________________________
"The
sky streaked fire, and split asunder. Out walked a giant of light and
fury, and so Benedictum was born, from the ashes of the young, naive
Mot."
Excerpt from Account of the Battle of the Split, by Andias Merch
Other Names: Mot (Deceased), King of Kings, the Creator.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral.
Domains: Life, Light, War.
The
remnant of Mot, who created the world, is found in Benedictum. He came
into being when Mot first strode onto the mortal plane, becoming
Benedictum in the process. He ruled over Autica directly for nearly
three and a half thousand years, in a period known as the Golden
Tyranny, when Benedictum and his legions of angels kept the peace
between the Old and New Gods with an iron fist.
No
longer does Benedictum rule from his shining city. Betrayed by a
coalition of the Gods, he was struck down after his fight to repel
Ygg-Nu-Dratl, impaled on the glittering spires of Lumin. As his body
regenerates, it leaks the divine energy of creation into the very fibers
of Autica's being.
Among
the mortal races, there is little love lost for Benedictum. Those
birthed by the Old Gods mourn the passing of Mot, but the tyrannical
rule of Benedictum left wounds too recent to heal. His angels still
guard the spires of Lumin, waiting for the day when he is able to resume
his rule. Those who do follow Benedictum are taught to praise the light
of the sun, and banish creatures of the dark. To foster peace between
the divine factions, and to severely punish those who would break his
laws.
One
faction of humans still actively, and loudly, worships Benedictum.
Descendents of Jebenius, the Rising Dawn evangelists preach the coming
return of the Creator, and seek to draw more of their kin away from the
New Gods.
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"And he placed the new moon upon the sky, so that their dance would better reflect his self, for Coyote has two eyes, not one."
-Excerpt from the folk tale, "How Coyote made the Moons."
Other Names: The Trickster, Shapestealer.
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Domains: Knowledge, Trickery.
An accidental creation during the rising of the Old Gods, Coyote is a thorn in the side of all established pantheons. Indefatigably, he searches out new and interesting magical secrets and spells. While his natural form is that of a coyote, fur intelaced with bright colours that shift constantly, he regularly shapeshifts into a myriad of forms to walk among the mortals, gathering secrets of all kinds, from lover's nighttime trysts to political scandals that could topple kingdoms, he gobbles it all with a ravenous hunger for mischief.
Those who follow Coyote are often tricksters themselves, gamblers and illusionists. He values the search for secrets more than anything, and his followers are encouraged to share any anomalies they find with him. He is not a violent god, and prefers to charm or outwit those who oppose his quest, and he expects his followers to do the same. That said, he is not above acts of aggression to secure or protect important artifacts.
Coyote has no established church, but those who need luck on their side often offer prayer to him before their acts, whether a battle, or a simple roll of the dice.
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Ishtu_______________________________________
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"Do not fear my little children. Your body will return to the earth, and nourish my forest. This is not the end for you, but merely a transiton."
-Ishtu
Other Names: The Lost God, Queen of Decay.
Alignment: Neutral.
Domains: Death, Life, Nature.
When
Ish was rent in two during the Battle of the Split, Ishtu was born with
domain over the processes of physical death. Spirited away to Weawica
by Ysengrim, her intially weak frame was nurtured by the Drow. She now
holds keep in a grand temple on her frozen continent, teaching the Drow
of the full circle of life.
Followers
of Ishtu do not see death as evil, instead viewing it as a natural part
of life. They do not fear death, but do not cause it unnecessarily.
Great respect is given to those who practice the Necromantic arts, but
only those who do not deal in matters of spirit. For the spirits of the
dead are the domain of Ishtu's other half, and infringing on his
territory is a dangerous game.
Ishtu's
followers extend over Autica, performing rituals for the deceased, and
comforting their families. People view her worshipers with a cautious
eye, for their appearance is generally an omen of poor fortune, but
their comings and goings are respected. It is considered bad luck to
interfere with the business of one of her priests.
The
largest church dedicated to Ishtu exists on Weawica in the Drow's
capital, where she lives. The Drow's culture revolves around her
teachings, and they are often the most fanatical of her followers.
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Oldenkeeper Ysengrim__________________________
"The domain of the Oldenkeeper makes the blistering deserts of the halflings, or the birdmen's frigid isles seem positively welcoming. Never before have I felt so assaulted after making landfall. We were forced to abandon camp mere hours after setting foot on that damn isle."
-Excerpt from The Travel Journal of Arthur Wells 2453 GT.
Other Names: The Greenwarden, Great Elk.
Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Life, Nature, Tempest.
The creator of the dwarves, and ruler of the Deep Wilds broods deep within his domain, dealing little with the world outside his borders, and even less with the dwarfs, who he views as a failed creation after they succumbed to their lust for the earth and it's precious metals.
Ysengrim is an unique combination of beast and bark, originally an elk, Mot fused him with the ancient trees of his home, creating a being belonging neither to the flora nor the fauna, but somewhere in between. It is difficult to tell where his enormous body ends, and the surrounding forest begins, but in the center of his massive bulk sits, distinctively, the head of the elk he was made from. His antlers have grown throughout the centuries, and they twist and turn through his warped branches, giving him a wild crown.
While his gruff countenance, and apathy towards the mortal races leaves him with few true worshipers, those who do are instructed to honor and defend the natural world at all costs, to cherish wild life, and to destroy undead and other aberrations wherever they occur.
The Oldenkeeper is commonly worshiped only by druids and select clerics with a love for the natural world. The odd dwarf still holding to the old ways will offer prayer to the Greenwarden, but he pays little heed to his disappointing children.
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