Agrik: Lord of the Four Horsemen, Master of the V’hir, Immortal Warlord of Balgashang, Breeder of Plague, Squalor and Decay, The Reasonless Reaper, Tyrant of the Foul Chamber, He Who Knows the Ten Thousand Ways

  The amoral First God of primal fire is commonly called Manrasusha, he who cleanses and destroys, kills and comforts. Early dogma saw Agrik as his servant who nurtured and appeased him through sacrifice. Many of Agrik’s followers believe that his coming to an understanding with Manrasusha saved Kelestia.

  The ineluctable nature of the First Gods inevitably led to a divergence of metaphysical views and a confusion of identity between Agrik and Manrasusha. How the notion arose that Manrasusha required the blood of mortals is a mystery. Considering the general indifference of the First Gods, it is likely that mortal sacrifice is to sate the thirst of Agrik.

  Agrik is most commonly portrayed as a mighty humanoid figure shrouded in crimson flame, with leathery, scalloped wings, cloven hooves and razor sharp claws. Two claws were severed from his left hand by the goddess Larani in an ancient dispute. Agrik will never forget this indignity. Only the terms of the Concordat of the Illimitable Tome deter him from seeking revenge. Some believe that he will eventually attempt to assassinate the goddess regardless of the consequences. The enmity carries over to the mortal followers of both deities.

  There is little other record of active hostility between Agrik and other members of the Kethiran Pantheon. Only the followers of Larani are singled out for special attention. Otherwise, Agrikans loot, pillage, ravage and torture without discrimination.

  Agrik is one of the greatest warriors of the gods, although he is known for his unchivalrous methods. His favourite weapons are Gashang the ‘Emperor of Flame’, his flaming mace capable of inflicting ‘the myriad voices of pain’, and Sycanus, the sickle with which he cuts the hearts and souls of men from their bodies. He also owns Armahnh, a great whip with which he strikes the ground with the sound of thunder.

  Agrik’s Alignment: Neutral Evil

  Cleric’s Alignment: Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil

  Favoured Weapons: Footman’s or Horseman’s Mace, Sickle, Whip

Halea: The Empress of Opulence, The Queen of Pleasures and Self-Fulfilment, The Maker of Bargains, Guardian of the Treasure Hoards of Heaven, Enslaver of Hearts and Loins, Mistress of the Stolen Moment Forever Lost, Unchaste Lady of the Ten Forgotten Acts and the Ten Times Ten Secret Arts, Golden Temptress of the Crimson Chamber

  The Queen of Pleasures is commonly portrayed as a perfectly proportioned, sensuously lithesome, human female. Her true form is so beautiful as to drive men mad with passion. Halea has many aspects, among them the innocent and helpless ‘maiden’, the worldly sophisticate and the canny usurer. But she is more than a symbol for sensuality, although she is often perceived as little more than this by ignorant outsiders. Non-adherents have a tendency to perceive Halea as a goddess of little wisdom, and her church a shallow and spiritually bankrupt institution, but the goddess is the shrewdest of schemers, one who sometimes hides behind a facade of naivete.

  Halea is deemed an easy deity to worship, for she demands no conventional morality of her adherents and is willing to bargain for her favours. The highest ethic for a Halean is fealty to the goddess. Traditional concepts of social evil, right and wrong, have little bearing.

  Halea’s Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

  Cleric’s Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Whip, Sap

Ilvir: Master of Araka-Kalai, Brooder in the Blasted Plains, The Serpent that Dwells Below, Accursed Lord of the Barren Cycle, Prince of the Fatherless Multitude, Craven Lord of Sterile Lands

  Ilvir is often considered a relatively minor deity, some deny his godhead and call him a demigod or demon. The fact that he resides so close to his mortal adherents compensates for his lack of strength, but he is still one of the least commonly worshipped deities of Tellene. The Brooder’s powers are, however, beyond mortal comprehension.

  Ilvir is a shapechanger, taking whatever form suits him at the moment. Hence, his adherents tend to represent him by symbols. His favourite shape is said to be that of the Serpent, a great gelatinous worm able to exude appendages or create organs at will. Serpentine forms figure prominentl in Ilviran religious art.

  Ilvir is a relatively peacable and introspective god. He rarely interferes with the activities of other deities, or their adherents, and seems satisfied with the experiments on lifeforms for which he is best known. Ilvir does not demand any particular morality from his adherents; his ethical code seems to be centred on self-preservation. His worshippers range from good to evil.

  The religion of Ilvir is shrouded in so much mysticism that many claim that even its clerics have no idea of what is going on. When the deity or his followers exert themselves in Tellenic society, they do so in as subtle and indirect manner as possible.

  Ilvir’s Alignment: True Neutral

  Cleric’s Alignment: Chaotic Neutral, True Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Quarterstaff, Sap

Larani: Shieldmaiden of the Worthy Cause, Guardian of Dolithor, Protector of the Brave, Lady of Paladins, the Unwilling Warrior

  Larani is the benevolent goddess of chivalry and battle, the reluctant warrior. Her followers claim she is the greatest of the trinity of war gods, but she is more constrained by honour and conscience than either Agrik or Sarajin. This is a weakness, since Larani will not strike without warning nor without cause. It is also a strength since Laranians do not forget whose side they are on.

  Larani appears most often as a tall maiden clad in a white gown with red trim. About her waist and head are circlets of silver; she is fair of face and strong, although she may not show her power. This is the aspect of the Lady of Paladins, one whom it is an honour to serve and protect, the guardian of knightly virtue, the warrior’s lady, the ultimate object of chaste and courtly love. The Lady of Paladins is symbolic of worthwhile aspects of feudalism, duty to one’s superiors and inferiors, striving to attain the unattainable, worth goal, the quest to excel.

  When Larani loses her patience with her enemies or lapsed adherents, she assumes the aspect of the ‘Terrible Lady of the Flowing Red’, and is ready to do battle, no longer is she the protected; she becomes the Protector and does battle on her own behalf. As the Lady of Red, she wears Angcaradina, her blood-red mail. She also bears Hyvrik, her red and white checkered shield, and Avarkiel, the Sword that Strikes True, which is also called ‘Oathbinder’ and ‘Herald of the End of Life’.

  There is considerable enmity between Larani and Agrik, the evil god of war. Larani once wounded Agrik in battle, severing two claws from his left hand. Some theologians believe that Agrik will eventually attempt to murder Larani regardless of the consequences. This hostility is reflected in the mortal churches of both deities.

  Larani’s Alignment: Lawful Good

  Cleric’s Alignment: Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Longsword

Morgath: Tormentor of the Unlamented Dead, Master of the Principle of Evil, Lord of the Gulmorvrin of the Black Pit, Wielder of the Shadow of Incarnate Evil, Wreaker of Chaos

  Morgath is the master of chaos and evil. Of all the Gods he is the quickest to anger and the most prone to violence and insanity. He is a lord of retribution, but cares nothing for justice, and is said to have an abiding hatred for all things fair and noble. When Morgath appears to men, it is usually in some ethereal form, since his true shape is unendurable to mortals. He is never portrayed directly, but is symbolized by the Durangash, a black circle (or orb) on a square field of brown. Morgath is best known to non-adherents as the master of the undead Gulmorvrin.

  It is impossible for a mortal to understand the attitudes of the Lord of Chaos. Many of his followers are content simply to fear, respect and appease him; few could be said to love or admire the god. Mortals generally deal with the Lord of Chaos through his semi-divine underlings.

  Morgat’s Alignment: Chaotic Evil

  Cleric’s Alignment: Chaotic Evil

  Favoured Weapons: Dagger

Naveh: Lord of the Pitch Shadows, Master of Deceit and Evil Dreams, Lord of the Last Illusion, The Merchant of Death, The Unseen Lifter of Lives, Trancer the Cat, Wealth’s Worry

  Naveh is probably the most merciless of all the gods. Although some claim that ‘honour’ for Morgath, Naveh seems to be motivated by cold and remorseless intelligence rather than by violent insanity. More than any other, he is the god of darkness, and is often worshipped by thieves and assassins. He is sometimes called the Thief of Heaven, and is deemed a doer of the impossible and a master of lies and deception.

  Best known as the bringer of nightmares, Naveh is often called the Lifter of Lives because he is associated with untimely and inexplicable death. The motives of Naveh are impossible for mortals to understand, and sometimes seem contradictory.

  Naveh’s Alignment: Lawful Evil

  Cleric’s Alignment: Lawful Evil

  Favoured Weapons: Dagger, Shortsword

Peoni: The Restorer, Bringer of the Life Renewed, Maker of Balms, Lady of Truth, The Everliving Daughter of White Virtue, Guardian of the Meek, Lady of Industrious Labours and the Ripe Harvest, Confidant of Lovers

  Peoni is the kindest and most gentle of the gods. She will accept any with an honest heart into her fold. She loves the scholarly who use their knowledge in service to others, the poor, the meek, the innocent and the powerless, the hard working and those who love with true love. She is the patron goddess of healing and agriculture, and is closely associated with the turning of the seasons. She demands that her followers be gentle and kind, but is forgiving of those who transgress.

  Peoni is often represented as a young girl with hands worn red from her labours, and is symbolized by spring flowers or by the fruits of agriculture. It is said that she prefers white flowers and that the daisy is her favourite. Often she is given the aspect of the earth mother, a nursing mother of indeterminate age, or a woman about to nurture a variety of creatures.

  Peoni’s Alignment: Neutral Good

  Cleric’s Alignment: Neutral Good

  Favoured Weapons: Quarterstaff, Sickle

Sarajin: King of the Icy Wind, Lord of the Perilous Quest and Wielder of the Blooded Axe, Master of Frosty Climes, the Grey Slayer

  Sarajin is a god of battlelust, requiring fearlessness and bravado of his adherents. He loves the ‘sport’ of war, and takes great pleasure in watching, and even participating in, large battles. The only virtue universally admired by adherents of Sarajin is courage. Sarajin is often viewed as the patron god of the Fhokki.

  Sarajin is usually portrayed as a giant, yellow-haired, bearded warrior clad in furs and leather, who rides across the snowy wastes in his sled, Shalka. He bears Fakang, his great double-bladed axe, which is able to split a mountain or cause storms or earthquakes.

  Sarajin’s Alignment: Chaotic Good

  Cleric’s Alignment: Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Great Axe

Save-K’nor: Lord of Puzzles, Conundrums and Mazes, Sage of the Gods, Lord of Jesters, Mixer of Potions, Knower of Many Things, Keeper of the Var-Hyvrak, The Lost Guide

  Save-K’nor is most commonly depicted as the Lost Guide, an aged sage bearing Uhla, the lantern that gives no light, and is symbolic of the interminable nature of the quest for knowledge and the futility of the search for absolute truth. His other aspects include Redira the whimsical, and sometimes musical jester, and Omono, the beggar who seeks enlightenment, but receives only common alms.

  Adherents of the church have no particular moral bent beyond loyalty to the church and its objectives. However, belief in on ordered society seems to preclude evil or chaotic behaviour, and the occasional need to take ruthless action is repugnant to selfless persons.

  Save-K’nor’s Alignment: Lawful Neutral

  Cleric’s Alignment: Lawful Neutral, True Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Quarterstaff

Siem: Master of the Lords of Dream, Bringer of Meritoious Dreams and Blessed Forgetfulness, Lord of the Starlit and Thrice-blessed Realm, King of the Uttermost West, Master of the Sundered Ones in Exile, Spirit of the Mist, the Never-changing Lord of the Azure Bowl

  The Lord of the Starlit Realm most often appears as an elven lord garbed in a mantle of flowing green and silver, a wreath of stars upon his head. His face and body bear no clue of age, but his eyes project wisdom, and his aura projects confused feelings of strength and longing. Siem is surrounded by an air of sadness, of ‘otherwhereness’; in this, he is much like his special folk, the elves.

  The King of the Uttermost West is the eldest of the lesser gods, and probably the wisest. Certainly, he is the greatest power to perceive the future, and his is the closest affinity with time itself. Siem is patient above all others, one who is prepared to wait. It is said that Siem was first offered, but refused, the guardianship of the Illimitable Tome, nominating Save-K’nor in his stead.

  To most, Siem is known for the sending of pleasant and oracular dreams, and for the gift of forgetfulness, the salve of unpleasant memories. His actions are subtle, but in the long run effective, more apt to confuse than harm.

  Siem’s Alignment: Neutral Good

  Cleric’s Alignment: Neutral Good, True Neutral

  Favoured Weapons: Composite Long or Short bow, Long or Short bow, Long or Short sword