OF Gods and Religion

The gods are unable to play an active role in the day to day affairs of Erehwon, instead they are forced to act though intermediaries-their various clergies and priesthoods. Unlike on some world's, the avatars of the gods are unable to walk amongst their followers and cannot directly influence the course of affairs on the planet. This does not mean that the gods have no interest in the goings on of their followers, far from it in fact. However, few if any gods are able to manifest their physical forms on the surface of the planet so they are forced to battle each other through their champions and followers instead. For this reason religion and the acquisition of additional followers is of paramount importance to most gods for only through the acquiring of more followers can their power and influence grow in Erehwon.

It is said that at in eons past the gods could walk upon the surface world and that in at least two or three occasions mortals became so powerful that they were able to advance beyond the temporal realm and achieved the mantle of godhood. However, following the destruction unleashed by the Kinslayer Wars the gods were somehow forbidden direct access to the mortal world. During the final confrontation in this epic war the greatest god of evil, Orcus, was said to have been slain by the hand of the elven king Elquin Goldencrown and this action somehow forced the other gods to be banished from the realm of mortals as well.

Each race has its own pantheon(s) of gods who oversee and protect them. These beings are in some ways as fickle and temperamental as children but in others are far beyond the means of mortals to understand. Almost all races tell tales of the deeds of their gods as though the gods were themselves once mortals, and who knows perhaps they were. The sagas are often complex and tell the deeds of a particular pantheon and their dealings with the gods of the other races as well as of rivalries between the gods within the same pantheon. Oftentimes these sagas pit the gods of one particular pantheon against the gods of another, but sometimes in the stories the gods of several religions unite to face the gods of another faction- such as happened in the Kinslayer Wars. The sagas may go a small way towards understanding the machinations of these carefree, fickle and incomprehensible creatures.

It seems that eternal struggle of the gods of good versus those of evil is perhaps at very heart of the world of Erehwon and this godly contest for the planet's very soul is the fuel that keeps the world turning. For although the power of gods- good and evil- waxes and wanes no one pantheon or ideological force- law, chaos, good or evil- has yet to triumph in the battle and managed to completely dominate the world.

Several of the human cultures worship pantheons that are very similar to gods worshipped in ages past on our own earth and the demi-human pantheons too are similar to those found on other planets as well. It is therefore speculated that the gods, and their struggle for supremacy in Erehwon, are perhaps part of a wider cosmic struggle, a struggle between for the very universe itself and that the gods themselves wage this war across the cosmos and on innumerable planets and worlds. Of course this is pure conjecture. But it may go some way towards explaining why the gods of the Earth's Norse and Celtic mythologies are found in Erehwon.

The human religions of Eehwon are loosely based and adapted from both the Celtic and Germanic/Norse Pantheons. Why make up a completely knew set of gods when there are so many real world examples from which to choose? As well as these two major pantheons a third god, known as The Source is widely venerated by humans, and appears to be coming into ascendancy.

The demi-human and humanoid gods are based upon those found in the AD&D tomes- Unearth Arcana, Best of Dragon Volume III, Demihuman Deities, as well as the various other 1st & 2nd Edition handbooks and source books, and are pretty much unchanged from their standard forms.

Religions

Most religions an polytheistic, that is they accept and acknowledge the existence of many gods. However, although they accept the existence of many gods within their particular pantheon this does not mean that they always acknowledge or accept the gods of a rival religion.

Clerics and priests must be specialty priests; they accept that there are a number of gods within their pantheon but a priest must dedicate their life to following, and serving, the wishes of one particular deity within the pantheon.

The only Monotheistic religion in Erehwon, is that of the Source. However, even the Source is aided by a number of lesser beings knowns as Saints who help him with various aspects of daily life.

The Druthni/ Drakkar Pantheon

• Woden, God of Prophecy, War, Knowledge
• Donar, God of Thunder,
• Bragi: God of Poetry, Song, Mischief
• Frey: God of fertility, rain, peace, joy, happiness
• Freyr: Goddess of Love, passion
• Heimdall: God of Dawn Light, Guardians
• Hel: Goddess of the Underworld, Death
• Nerthus: The Earth Goddess
• Tyr, God of War

The Dwarven Pantheon

• Moradin, The Soul-Forger

• Abbathor, Great Master of Greed

• Berronar, Mother of Safety, Truth and Home

• Clanggedin Silverbeard, The Father of Battle

• Dumathoin, Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountains

• Vergadain, God of wealth and Luck

The Elven Pantheon

• Corellon Larethian, Creator of the Elves
• Aerdrie Faenya, Goddess of Air and Weather
• Erevan Ilesere, God of Mischief and Change
• Hanali Celanil, Goddess of Romantic Love and Beauty
• Labelas Enoreth, God of Longevity
• Rillifane Rallathil, The Leaflord, Lord of the Woodelves
• Solonor Thelandira, God of archery and Hunting

The Gnomish Pantheon

• Garl Glittergold, The Protector
• Baervan Wildwanderer, , The Forest Gnome
• Baravar Cloakshadow, Master of Illusion
• Flanal Steelskin, The Forger
• Serojan Earthcaller, God of Earth and Nature
• Urdlen, The Crawler Below

The Skeltic Pantheon

The Skelts of Sharmra have their own pantheon of gods, several of which are widely worshipped throughout Erehwon. Their pantheon is headed by Dagda, the Dozen King.

• Dagda, the Dozen King: God of the Earth, Weather and Crops
• Arawn: God of the Dead
• Belenus: God of Sun and Fire
• Brigit, Goddess of Fire and Poetry
• Diancecht, Physician of the Gods, God of healing
• Epona: Goddess of horses, healing spring, prosperity
• Goibhnie, Blacksmith of the Gods
• Lugh, God of Generalities (crafts and arts, healing, journeys, prophecy)
• Manannan Mac Lir, God of the Sea
• Math Mathonwy, God of Sorcery
• Morrigan: Goddess of War
• Nuada, God of War
• Oghma, The Binder, Patron of Bards (God of Knowledge)
• Silvanus, God of the Forests and Nature

The Source

The God known as The Source has a growing following in Erehwon. It is said that He first appeared in the southern lands now known as Outremer, several hundred years ago, when he appeared to the prophet Talebak. Over the years the converts to this religion have grown in number and now the Church of the Source is one of the most powerful and influential religions in Erehwon.

The Source is revered as the Creator of All Things and as such his followers must renounce all other gods. Source Priests believe that the Source is the only true god and that all other gods are but reflections of one of his many facets. All other faiths are denounced and their followers labelled as heathens, pagans, or heretics. Source Priests have made it made it their duty to convert all non-believers. In a world where other gods DO exist, this can be a very perilous undertaking indeed!

Source Priests preach that Baptism is essential to salvation, and salvation is essential to gain everlasting life after death and thereby avoid eternal torment in the fires of hell. Followers of the Source are taught to embrace the Seven Virtues: Faith, Hope,Charity, Justice, Fortitude, Prudence and Temperance. They are also warned to avoid the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride, Avarice, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy and Sloth.

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This page was last updated on

Wednesday, 10 October 2001