The Beings Above: Gods of the Realm

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The Beings Above: Gods of the Realm

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Here we stand upon this realm, united in our quest to bring meaning to a place of nothingness. Though we may sometimes stray from our task, may we never forget our true sworn purpose. -Unknown, Attributed to Io

Gods are revered as the makers and protectors of the world as we see it today. From the highest king to the lowest peasant, everyone sees their work on a daily basis and is reminded of their presence. But most people don't realize the full scope of all that the gods have done in the past. It is rare to see a common person who knows the portfolio of a god they don't worship, and for that same person to even know anything about the Dawn War beyond its name is unheard of.

But you, dear reader, are not of the common folk that simply take the world for granted. You have come here searching for knowledge of those above, and I will be happy to provide. For a price. Ha! No, no, I'm kidding, but that is the first lesson about the gods that many an enterprising schemer has neglected to learn: the gods are not some static concept or ideal. They are people (well, near omnipotent people, but people none the less) just like you or me, and each has their own distinct personality that influences how they deal with mortals. Some of those personalities lead the gods in question to be... less than sympathetic to the causes of mortals, and that's not even mentioning those who only wish to inflict suffering and misery. So if you are to learn one thing from my teachings transcribed here, don't simply assume that the gods are flat unimaginative figures who exist only for the purpose of their portfolio; you'll find out otherwise far too late for it to do any good.

The next lesson you must learn is that there are multiple pantheons of gods. This is a most fascinating phenomenon as the gods did not envision such a system when they first began their work. Instead, pantheons emerged through a combination of most gods being inclined to primarily interact with only a select few other gods and relationships between the worshipers of all the gods involved. While the Draconic Pantheon was named as such because it was primarily worshiped by dragons, the Sovereign Pantheon is named for the constituent's actions to form the pantheon. Regardless of what many a cleric may tell you, no pantheon is 'better' or more powerful than the others. It is merely a means of classification and identification for what would otherwise be an overwhelming subject.

On that note, allow me to begin. Each section will detail a brief history of the pantheon, followed by a description of each god in the pantheon. If a god belongs or once belonged to multiple pantheons, the god will only be described once for the purpose of brevity. The pantheons are sorted in order of their formation.

The Draconic Pantheon
Also known as the First Pantheon, this pantheon has been traditionally held as the first to form (though the validity of that assumption is questionable). Regardless, the pantheon is known to have unofficially formed shortly before the Dawn War due to Io's abstinence from directly interfering with the formation of this world. Io instead preferred to associate with only a handful of gods through which he could ensure that there would be a balance to every god's influence in the world. After the Dawn War, a few of the gods in the pantheon attempted to formalize it for varied reasons, but it was not meant to be. Though all gods that were once a member of the pantheon still technically are, only Bahamut and Tiamat are usually associated with the Draconic Pantheon in present times.

Io (Deceased)
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Balance and Peace
Domain: Unknown

Many consider Io to simultaneously be the most and least powerful god to have ever lived, and I must admit I have a hard time finding fault in that statement. While it is true that Io was an exceptionally powerful god, his portfolio forbade him from ever directly influencing any sort of control. He seemed content to merely provide minor assistance to other gods in the pantheon in order to maintain a balance and order to the reality they were forging. During the Dawn War, Io was one of the first gods to be killed by the raging primordials as they saw Io as the antithesis to the chaos they embodied. Through his death, Bahamut and Tiamat were born, bringing about a force for good and a force for evil as only a god of balance could.

Bahamut
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Justice, Strength, and Protection
Domain: Mount Celestia

Bahamut is the 'child' of Io and the 'brother' of Tiamat. I write those terms loosely because a more accurate term would be 'spawn' and 'spawnmate', but the clergy of Bahamut apparently frowns upon such a choice of words. Regardless, Bahamut and Tiamat are both considered members of the Draconic Pantheon even though Io, the reason for this pantheon existing, was dead before either existed. Bahamut is most known for two things: his desire to protect the weak and helpless, and his complete hatred of his sister. A teacher and a protector, Bahamut is usually seen as the pinnacle of the selfless hero who only wishes to spread the cause of good. Bahamut fits the bill of the idealized servant of the people, but he is unique in that he always strives to teach the weak to not rely upon others but to be able to protect themselves. In this way, a convert of Bahamut may need protection, but a full follower of Bahamut has grown to protect others.

Tiamat
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Greed, Strength, and Conquest
Domain: Unknown

As Bahamut above, Tiamat was created by Io's death and thus shares Bahamut's history. However, it is worth mentioning that it is commonly believed that Bahamut and Tiamat are diametrically opposed aspects of Io's personality. Therefore, Tiamat's existence is somewhat troubling for religious scholars such as myself; it implies some rather unsettling things about Io's existence. But regardless, today she is seen as the god of fulfilled selfish desires. If you feel entitled to something, then Tiamat will encourage you to obtain it by any means necessary. It is not hard to see why Bahamut and Tiamat hate each other.

Mystra (Deceased)
Alignment: Lawful Neural / True Neutral / Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Magic and Fate
Domain: Dweomerheart (Destroyed)

Though the study of Mystra is frowned upon today, the ire her mere mention draws is unwarranted. Originally a good friend of Corellon, Mystra and Corellon designed the original structure by which magic would function in the mortal world. It is said that Corellon made the wonder and innovation present in all aspects of magic, while Mystra designed the form and function of it. If this story is to be believed, then Corellon provided the ideas while Mystra made the rules. Originally a strict adherer to laws, Mystra would only invoke her Fate aspect when absolutely necessary, as the clergy of Ioun states that she 'did not enjoy bragging about what she had planned'. However, after the Dawn War she instead became a neutral god; for what reason, I cannot say. As time went on she became flighty and capricious, and preferred to speak only in riddles.

This did not go unnoticed by those around her, but there was little they could do; her entire realm of Dweomerheart was consumed by blue fire with her inside, burning the entire domain into nothingness and removing her from existence. This was the start of the Spellplague, an event that marked an end to the age of divine limits upon arcane magic. To this day Cyric claims credit for the attack, but he gained little from it beyond the ire of most other gods. Only time will tell the true implications of her death.

Kord
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Competition, Battle, and Prowess
Domain: Mount Celestia

Kord is a god of action, if you hadn't guessed as much from his portfolio. He believes that while words may sometimes be necessary, strength will always be needed to either back up those words or enforce them. He enjoys confronting enemies directly, for only through beating your enemies fairly can you assert your strength. Such a philosophy means that him and his followers tend to be quick to challenge perceived opponents to battle in order to assert their superiority. This has obviously made him less than popular with many a young researcher, but I digress. I must admit that it is something of a mystery as to why he was included in this pantheon, but far be it from me to question the choices of a dead god.

Ioun
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Study, Knowledge, and History
Domain: Hestavar

Perhaps one of the most respected gods, Ioun is also one of the most commonly worshiped. Due to her general and helpful portfolio, most people at the very least revere her. This is in no small part due to the fact that Ioun believes in the collection, recording, and storage of all knowledge regardless of its nature or origin. Therefore, she draws the worship of both good and evil individuals and has an extremely short list of enemies. In fact, her only known enemy is Vecna and his servants, as they make frequent assaults to steal or distort her stored knowledge. This is most likely for the best, as Ioun has never been recorded as directly confronting any adversary in the whole of existence.

The Fey Pantheon
The Fey Pantheon is one of the oldest pantheons in existence, and it is the only one to have successfully retained all of its original members to this day. As the Draconic Pantheon above, the pantheon is named because it was primarily worshiped (and, as I have come to understand, known by) exclusively by the fey races. The pantheon was formed some time before the Dawn War between Corellon, Sehanine, and Lolth because of their shared nickname, the 'playful gods'. Though Corellon occasionally interacted with a few other gods, the three of them (especially Sehanine and Lolth) interacted almost exclusively with only the Fey Pantheon gods. Their bond was shattered, however, when Lolth betrayed Corellon and the two became bitter enemies. To this day the three of them form the Fey Pantheon, with no new additions made (though not for lack of effort on certain other god's parts).

Corellon
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Art, Magic, and Protection
Domain: Arvandor

Corellon is an enigmatic god of great renown. He counts artists, playwrights, wizards, and paladins as only a few of his followers, making his breadth near unmatched amongst the gods. His aspect of Art means that he is one of the most innovative and imaginative of the gods, and he channeled that creativity into helping Mystra design the system by which mortals could access the arcane, his Magic aspect. But his Protection aspect has made him something of a divisive figure on the Astral Sea, as he has many friends and enemies because of it. Gruumsh hates him because Corellon cut out one of Gruumsh's eyes before the Dawn War. Bahamut shares the Protection aspect, and as such the two are very close friends. Tiamat despises Corellon only because he associates with her hated brother. The list continues for quite some time, and I'd rather move beyond the complicated relationships of the gods; I'd hate for this book to become obsolete next year.

Sehanine
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (Unknown, but Inferred)
Portfolio: Dreams, Transcendence, and The Moon
Domain: Arvandor (Occasionally)

While her brother may be naturally enigmatic, Sehanine takes pleasure in cultivating the mystery that surrounds her. As the Mistress of Dreams, Sehanine rarely communicates directly with anyone save her brother. On the rare occasions that she contacts an individual directly, she prefers to do so through dreams and in riddles. This has of course only furthered the mystery. Over the years, she has (perhaps unfairly) gained a reputation as being something of a mixed blessing as many consider all dreams to be sent from her, including nightmares. Since she revels in the multitude of questions that surround her, she has done nothing to dissuade these rumors. I also must note that Sehanine is the god of all therianthropes (if you lack the intellect to grasp that word, think werewolves) though this fact is usually obfuscated by her followers in more civilized lands. The reasons for why such creatures have her favor is completely unknown; I think she did it for the express purpose of making her seem even more incomprehensible to mortals.

Lolth
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Deception, Plots, Betrayal, and Spiders
Domain: Somewhere in the Elemental Chaos

The Spider Queen is perhaps one of the most famous evil gods in existence. She in intriguing to study but also completely reprehensible for that which she encourages her followers to do. In being a god of Plots, Deception, and Betrayal, she counts many a manipulator, spy, and assassin under her thumb; it goes without saying that every member of the Drow race falls into at least one of those three categories. But worshiping Lolth does not even protect you from her machinations, as she enjoys nothing more than seeing one of her followers betray a fellow follower. It's a wonder that Drow society even works at all.

The Warring Pantheon
This pantheon is named as such not for those who originally worshiped it, but instead for the characteristic that all its members share. Formalized during the Dawn War, the Warring Pantheon was comprised of the gods most inclined and proficient in leveraging direct force against their enemies. One of these deities on the battlefield alone was a sight to behold, and two of them was said to be nigh unstoppable. Only once has this pantheon been said to fight as one with all members present, and the legend states that they fought back the entirety of the Elemental Chaos and the Abyss at once. I hope you can see the blatant hyperbole at work here.

Kord and Bahamut were the co-founders of the forerunner of this pantheon. After the successful battle against Mologma the Elder Earth Elemental, they formed a temporary alliance named the Platinum Axe Accord which loosely outlined cooperation between the two deities and their followers. Up until this time such cooperation between gods during the war was unheard of, and the efforts of two deities working in concert yielded far better results than what any one god was accomplishing alone. Word of their success spread, and soon they were joined by Tempus, who reveled in the chance for a 'true' battle against the primordials. Gruumsh and Malar were the two surprising additions to the group, and their admittance is a true testament to the adage of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. When Tempus was replaced by Bane, Bane assumed all that Tempus had once held, including his place in the Warring Pantheon.

Kord

As mentioned previously Kord is a god of action as well as a co-founder of the pantheon. If you weren't expecting him here then you might as well stop reading and give this book back to the intellectual you stole it from.

Bahamut

Sigh. I suppose I must put this in a more simplistic manner. BIG SHINY DRAGON MAKE SMASH SMASH CLUB.

Tempus (Deceased)
Alignment: Neutral
Portfolio: Destruction, Battle, and Honor
Domain: The Eternal Fortress (Reformed into the Black Bastion)

Tempus was a god of honorable conflict. He did not much care for the method of the conflict, who was fighting, or even the reasons for the conflict. The deity simply reveled in fights that were impressive in scope and worthy of his participation. For those confused, Kord is the god of competition to achieve victory; Tempus is the god of fair battle. While one would think that a war between the Astral Sea and the Elemental Chaos would be large enough for him, its original fragmented nature led him to being deeply disappointed with it. Only by joining forces with the Warring Pantheon did he ever feel truly fulfilled in his purpose. However, all of this information comes from clerics of Bahamut and Kord, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

Ultimately Tempus was undone by his indifference to the conflict's nature. One of his greatest generals by the name of Bane masterminded a victory for Tempus' forces by using superior planning and order to triumph over the disorganized primordials. Seeing the great victory, Bane sought to implement such methods into all of Tempus' followers, but Tempus would have none of it. Infuriated, Bane challenged Tempus to a large scale battle with each leading a small army against the other. Tempus agreed, and though the followers of Tempus were much stronger thanks to Tempus' power Bane's followers successfully leveraged what would come to be known as tactics to win the battle.

Bane, triumphant in his victory, approached the Eternal Fortress to finally marry tactics to the way of Tempus. It is worth mentioning that contrary to what many a well meaning cleric might tell you however, Bane did not betray Tempus. When Bane demanded his right to decree that that the way of Tempus would use the tactics of Bane, Tempus did something that not even Bane saw coming. Tempus infused Bane with the entirety of his own power, and then proceeded to kill himself. In this way Bane was elevated to godhood and Tempus removed himself from the astral concert. The reasons for such a move are shrouded in mystery, and I won't speculate in this work.

Bane
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Portfolio: War, Conquest, and Subjugation
Domain: The Black Bastion (Now Chernoggar)

As detailed above, Bane is one of the few gods to have ascended to godhood instead of simply entering existence as one. In life he was a simple soldier who ascended to prominence in the mortal realm through his exemplary leadership in battle. Eventually he caught the attention of Tempus, who saw such an individual as the ideal man to assist in leading his armies in glorious combat. While Bane saw combat as a means, not the goal, leading one of the most powerful armies in existence was an offer he could not refuse. The rest... well, read above.

After his sudden ascension, Bane consolidated all the former followers of Tempus under his rule. He remodeled the Eternal Fortress to his own needs, and he immediately set out instilling complete obedience and order in his followers. He added a strict order to warfare that had previously been unheard of, and as a result his armies saw phenomenal success against all foes. This success did not escape the notice of the Warring Pantheon, and as a result Bane was admitted as the master planner and tactician of the group. This propelled the Warring Pantheon to even greater victories, and as a result Bane came to lead even those deities who were not members of the pantheon. His success culminated in the fully united forces of the divine finally beating the primordials in the last battle of the Dawn War.

However, once peace was declared almost all deities turned away from Bane. They did not care for Bane's stringent order and complete control over their actions, so they returned to their old habits and ways. Bane was dumbfounded by such a revelation, as he had expected to lead the gods until the end of time with his perfect military order. This revelation changed him, as he could not stop thinking of the power the united gods had wielded under his direction. Thus his Subjugation aspect came into being; he would bring the other gods to the prominence they had once known, whether or not they desired it.

Gruumsh
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Aggression, War, and Survival
Domain: Chernoggar

Gruumsh is a simple god with a complicated history. Originally the god of aggression, Gruumsh was the master of direct offensive combat. Few could hope to match his ferocity, and he was nigh unbeatable on the battlefield. But what was and still is his key failing is that he lacks any form of patience. If he is presented with a course of action that will further his goals through direct means, he will usually immediately undertake it. His anger and fury are what make him strong, but they are also the source of all his misery throughout the years.

While Gruumsh has always been aggressive, he was not always blinded by it as he usually is today. When the world was being shaped to the divine's will, Gruumsh wished for a people all his own who would be reflections of him on the mortal world. The result of his wish were orcs, a race that thrived on aggressive combat and their ability to endure. In looking for a place worthy of his creation, Gruumsh found the Feywild, a land filled with magical beasts which could sate his race's desire for conflict. But Corellon did not approve of the brutish orcs, and forbade them entry to the Feywild's lush forests. Consumed by his rage at the arrogance, Gruumsh immediately assaulted Corellon for the right to rule the Feywild. Corellon had seen this as an inevitability, and as a result had developed a defensive fighting style to counter Gruumsh's powerful but predictable offense. Corellon persevered over Gruumsh in the end and cut out one of Gruumsh's eyes to remind him of the price of his aggression.

After the loss Gruumsh was said to never truly live a moment without anger again. During the course of the Dawn War, he joined the Warring Pantheon as a way to channel his anger while gaining powerful allies. It is speculated that he hoped to use the pantheon to conquer the Fey Pantheon once the Dawn War ended, but no true evidence has emerged to support this theory. While he tolerated or, in some cases, even liked the other gods of the pantheon, Gruumsh soon found himself with a new object of his hate: Bane. Bane represented an order to combat that stifled the true aggression and drive that Gruumsh embodied, and as such the two rarely agreed. While direct confrontation never occurred between the two during the war (even when Bane ascended to direct the divine army), their mutual hatred was well known.

With the end of the Dawn War, Gruumsh found himself without an enemy to channel his aggression at on the battlefield. Peace ruled the realms, and no true enemy was within striking distance for him or his followers. So, he did the next best thing: he initiated war with Bane. Of course, the method of the declaration was perhaps the most aggressive in history: Gruumsh slammed his realm of Chernogar into the Black Bastion. This forcible merger of the two domains formed the battlefield upon which Gruumsh and Bane still fight to this day.

Malar
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Wilderness, Beasts, and Hunting
Domain: Unknown

Malar is a god of which there is remarkably little known. It is almost unheard of to see a cleric or temple dedicated to him, and books detailing him are scarce at best. Therefore, most of the information here has been gleaned from other works which mention Malar in passing or as a minor force. Malar is the god of beasts and the freedom of the wilderness. He considers all creatures of the untamed wild to be his children, and he reviles those who would wish to bend the beautiful chaos of nature to order. However, he also appeals to a select few in the civilized lands who revere his Hunting aspect. His exact reasons for joining the Warring Pantheon are unknown, and as such I'm afraid I can't offer you any explanation, dear reader.

The Seasonal Pantheon
A pantheon that every farmer knows by heart, the Seasonal Pantheon governs the four seasons of the year. While the four deities of this pantheon are not enemies, most are cordial with their 'neighbors' (as an example, Spring's neighbors are Winter and Summer) and rivals with their counterpart (as a continuation of the example, Spring is the rival of Fall). A popular legend depicts the forming of this pantheon, and since no other sources on the matter exist I have resigned myself to summarizing it here.

Before the Dawn War there were no seasons. Every land had its own temperature and weather, and it was a constant unchanging state. The primordials saw the perfect order of the climate as repulsive, and so during the dawn war they sundered the climate into unpredictable chaos. The weather could be mercilessly hot and dry in the morning, flooding in the afternoon, and freezing in the evening; it is not hard to see that this in turn made the people miserable. After the Dawn War, the gods were unable to correct the damage the primordials had done to the climate of the world. However, they could group each aspect into its own distinct entity, thereby bringing an order to the climate once again. One god was given dominion over each of the four aspects of the primordial's work, but none would be more or less than the others to ensure that the chaos would not once again engulf the land. Thus the seasons and the Seasonal Pantheon was born.

Melora
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Life, Wilderness, Oceans, and Spring
Domain: Unknown

Melora is a peaceful god that believes life is the single greatest achievement to ever enter existence. As such, she holds dear all living things, even beings such as primordials, elementals, demons, and the like. The only creatures that do not have her favor are unnatural creatures (such as aberrants or undead) that seek to make a mockery of life. Regardless, Melora preaches that all living things should live in harmony and enjoy the gift of life. This has led her to become a champion of the peaceful existence of nature and of pacifism, but beware; she has an impressive mean streak that she reserves for those who seek to defile or destroy the natural order of things.

Pelor
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Sun, Life, Prosperity, and Summer
Domain: Hestavar

It is not hard to see why Pelor is the most popular god in the pantheon. With the aspects of both Life and Prosperity, many mundane folk revere Pelor as the giver of all good things. As is predictable with a god that has a Sun aspect (and, by extension, radiant) he detests undead in all forms and encourages his followers to actively seek them out to purge them from the world. What makes Pelor interesting, however, is his deep rivalry with Shar that predates the pantheon. The two of them used to be bitter enemies, as Pelor attempted to sustain an everlasting sun while Shar perpetuated eternal darkness. During the Dawn War however, the two agreed to split the day exactly in half in order to allow each of them to commit fully to driving back the primordial threat. After the war, the 'truce' has remained to this day, though Pelor has made it painfully obvious that he will immediately confront Shar given the smallest excuse.

Auril
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Change, Organization, Reflection, and Fall
Domain: Unknown

I will admit, when I first heard of Auril as a young pupil I thought that someone was playing a poor joke on me. No, that above is not a typo; she does indeed have aspects of both Change and Organization. While at first it may seem that Auril is a paradox, something that so confounds logic would not be fitting to describe the god of Organization. She manages her primary three aspects by Organizing that which exists so that perceived inefficiencies may be Changed to be more efficient, and then Reflecting upon the past to ensure that she did not alter anything unjustly. While she is not a powerful god of direct influence, her power shines in assisting other gods to their goals through productive change. Auril cares little for Melora, as she sees Melora's constant protection of all life as counterproductive to improving life through endings and beginnings.

Shar
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Portfolio: Deception, Night, Subterfuge, and Winter
Domain: Unknown

Shar is difficult to explain because it is hard to discern anything factual about her. I can say that she teaches the arts of subterfuge, stealth, and trickery as the prime means for solving any issue. However, her followers also maintain that these three methods are not inherently evil, as they can be employed for noble purposes as well. But to say anything further than that would most likely grievously mislead you, as even those scant facts were incredibly difficult to verify. The only other things I can say are about her relationships with Pelor and Lolth. As mentioned above she is the opposite and rival of Pelor, and they keep a close eye upon each other. In contrast to the cold war between her and Pelor, Shar has a deep hatred for Lolth (the alternative god of deception) which is explained by an amusing line her followers attribute to Shar: "It's not deception if the people you are attempting to deceive know that you are going to betray them." Regardless, Shar acts quite cordial with all other gods beyond these two, but for what purpose I don't have the slightest idea.

The Civilized Pantheon
The Civilized Pantheon was consciously organized by all the members before being formalized. Unlike the other pantheons, everything about this pantheon is deliberate and by design. It was established shortly after the Dawn War in response to the widespread destruction that remained in its wake. The Pantheon was designed to be the ultimate force to rebuild and remake the world from its ruins into a more perfect form that befit the standards of civilization. This has obviously made the Pantheon a quite divisive entity due to its strong ties to civilization and order.

Erathis
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Civilization, Creation, and Impartiality
Domain: Hestavar

Erathis is the god of lawful and just societies. She delights in forging new civilizations, items, and methods where there once was nothing, and she expects each citizen to contribute to the greater good. As the architect of the pantheon, Erathis exercised her Impartiality aspect to ensure that the pantheon would not favor any one deity, even herself (though she did manage to name the pantheon after one of her aspects, so I think she got the best bargain). While Erathis is a god that is open to compromise and new ideas, it is widely believed that she holds the wilderness and chaos in contempt. This would not surprise me, but there is no evidence to support such a statement and her clerics deny such things as slander.

Moradin
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Minerals, Creation, Loyalty, and Defense
Domain: Mount Celestia

The patron of all dwarves, Moradin is the god of maintaining society. While Erathis believes in the expansion of civilization in all forms, Moradin believes in protecting that which already exists from destruction or decay. This means that his Creation aspect is slightly altered from what you would expect: he only creates to repair or protect that which has already been created. Now, that is not to say that Moradin does not encourage making anything new, it just means that the purpose of the creation is to sustain other creations and not for just the sake of creating. His inclusion of the pantheon was to ensure that if a disaster should befall society, Moradin and his followers would be on hand to prevent or limit the damage of any setback.

Waukeen
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Portfolio: Commerce, Communication, and Diplomacy
Domain: Unknown

If Moradin was included to protect society from all outside threats, then Waukeen was included to prevent all internal threats to society. Erathis realized that no one form of society was perfect, and the civilizations of the world encompass a variety of lifestyles and ideals. As such, disagreements can occur when these civilizations have differing ideas on the correct way to handle a situation, and such disagreements can lessen or even destroy entire civilizations. As such, someone would be needed to ensure that such disagreements were handled efficiently and with care; that is Waukeen's specialty. Waukeen has a silver tongue, and uses it to strive to reach peaceful resolutions to any conflict. She believes that mutual agreements are always possible, and one must only be willing to examine all options and compromise upon a solution. While there are those who disagree with such a philosophy, one cannot deny that she has ensured the continued prosperity of the pantheon.

Ioun

Ioun was included to chronicle all aspects of civilization for future reference. This was for two reasons. First, a detailed history is required to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of any civilization. Second, Ioun can provide guidance from her impressive mastery of knowledge and history of the past shortcomings.

The Sovereign Pantheon
The Sovereign Pantheon is interesting in that it was not meant to be a pantheon at all. The members of the Sovereign Pantheon have little in common, but what united them was their shared view that pantheons were detrimental to their purpose. To summarize their stance, they maintain that secluding one's interactions to a select few gods leads to stagnation for all the gods involved. However, because mortals have a sense of humor or are lazy (most likely both), the Sovereign Pantheon was formed to categorize the gods who loathed pantheons. As you can image, the members of the Sovereign Pantheon were thrilled at this development, but have come to accept it as a symbol of their independence from the collusion of the other gods.

Avandra
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Change, Travel, and Luck
Domain: Unknown

Avandra is the fickle god of luck that most individuals in existence strive to win the favor of. Due to her Luck aspect, she can have a hand in almost any occurrence in existence, but she rarely interacts with any discernible pattern. She makes no secret of the fact that it is possible to win her favor, but the means of attaining such a covetous status is unknown due to the deluge of false methods. Beyond her Luck aspect, Avandra encourages Change in all forms as long as something productive comes of it; pointless destruction for example, while technically changing that which it has destroyed, is not encouraged. She also encourages Change through Travel, as many times new places can encourage new ideas and skills to develop in the traveler.

Sune
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Love, Healing, and Redemption
Domain: Unknown

Sune is the Lady of Love and said to be the most beautiful being in existence. She believes that love between any creatures is pure and must be both protected and celebrated, and as such her followers are extremely diverse. Flirtatious and flighty, Sune seems to have trouble focusing on anything beyond her portfolio (which, to be perfectly frank, is most likely for the best). She also has the ability to change her appearance and gender at will to, ahem, 'appeal to and satisfy' anyone who catches her fancy. Her clerics are known to idolize beauty in the world, and many justify the Healing aspect as restoring the beauty that has been lost. While those of a reserved nature may not enjoy Sune's promiscuous nature, she is nevertheless a very popular god.

The Raven Queen
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Death and Fate
Domain: Unknown

Before you ask, no, her name is not 'The Raven Queen'. It is merely the title given to her since her name has been forgotten over time (terrible record keeping, that). While her origins are shrouded in mystery, it is known that she ascended to divinity shortly after the fall of the previous god of Death, Nerull (who is not given a full mention in this work due to the dearth of information regarding him). The Raven Queen prefers to remain distant from all other gods if possible, only interacting with them if there is no other alternative. This is most likely for the best, as she serves as the gatekeeper of the dead. It is her responsibility to see that all souls pass safely into their deserved afterlife (regardless of whether or not the soul wants that afterlife). While she has the aspect of Fate, there is no record written or spoken of her ever exercising that aspect. That is incredibly perplexing, even for a god of Fate.

Vecna
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Portfolio: Lies, Secrets, and Undeath
Domain: If only it were that easy...

Why is it that the gods that ascended to divinity always cause the most trouble? Vecna was once a mortal wizard of great and terrible power, and in life he carved a brutal and bloody path through his enemies. Through his mastery or arcane magic, he became the first lich to become as such without the assistance of Orcus, much to Orcus' rage. As if that wasn't enough, he then through some unknown means managed to ascend to godhood and claimed his portfolio. If you're wondering how a mere mortal could have effected such a change, well, join the club; no one knows, and with Vecna being the god of Secrets there is little chance of the world ever finding out. Speaking of which, Vecna has few friends but many enemies due to his controversial portfolio. Ioun, The Raven Queen, Pelor, and Orcus are only a few of the beings that would like nothing more than to cast Vecna into oblivion, never to be seen again.

Cyric
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Strife, Destruction, and Madness
Domain: Astral Sea, Imprisoned

To even attempt to begin explaining this god would be a nigh impossible task, even for one such as myself. Instead, I'll provide a brief history. Cyric was not always the god of Madness, as before the Dawn War he is described as a personable and kind god. However, something happened and he descended into the state of chaos that he occupies today. Previously the other gods did not openly oppose him for some unknown reason (I suspect they were keeping him as a trained attack god), but after Mystra's demise they could tolerate him no longer. It is said that a coalition of the gods united together to strip Cyric of his power and imprison the being for all time. The manner and details of which are, of course, a closely held secret.

Zehir
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Portfolio: Poison, Plots, Stealth, and Snakes
Domain: Unknown

I must admit that Zehir is an unsettling god. Though commonly believed to be a 'weak' god, I have little doubt that such a viewpoint is even propagated by his own followers to make their work easier to achieve. As one can guess from his portfolio, Zehir prefers to work from the shadows in order to further his intricate goals. I'm told that those who stand in his way are paid at most two visits: the first is polite and outlines what Zehir wishes of them, and those who require a second visit rarely survive it. Commonly described as intimidating, calm, and confidant, I would not be surprised if Zehir already secretly controlled the world.

The Neutral Pantheon
The final pantheon's name is slightly misleading. Contrary to what the name might imply, not all members of the pantheon are of neutral alignment. Instead, the name refers to the fact that all the members have no opinion on the pantheon system as a whole (and while 'The Indifferent Pantheon' would have been more appropriate, I suppose it isn't a flattering name). While the Sovereign Pantheon is united by a common mindset, the Neutral Pantheon is purely an organization tool that has no bearing upon the member gods themselves.

Ilmater
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Suffering, Mercy, and Sacrifice
Domain: Unknown

While Ilmater does not have the Healing aspect, many associate this god with the art of healing. Ilmater teaches that suffering is an unfortunate but integral part of existence, and that only through hardship can one grow as a person. As a result, his followers can usually be found in places gripped by poverty, disease, and war as they tend to the suffering. It is worth noting that the servants of Ilmater are called Painbearers. Why, you may ask? Because Ilmater and his clerics are masters of transferring suffering from those who can not bear it onto themselves. While this alleviates the burden from the one seeking help, Painbearers tend to have to endure to the worst afflictions and wounds that exist in the world.

Loviatar
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Portfolio: Suffering, Cruelty, and Vengeance
Domain: Unknown

While Ilmater may be a kind god who preaches that suffering must be endured for the greater good, Loviatar takes perverse pleasure in inflicting it on others. Spiteful and vicious, Loviatar is quick to inflict lasting, painful punishments upon those who displease or commit some perceived slight against her. The patron god of jailers, torturers, and interrogators, Loviatar also tempts those who have been wronged to exact bloody 'justice' against the perpetrators of the offense. This has obviously made her the sworn enemy of Ilmater, and a common pattern of their conflict is that Loviatar inflicts suffering on the innocent while Ilmater relieves it.

Gond
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Portfolio: Progress, Innovation, and Impetus
Domain: Unknown

Gond is typically seen as the god of artifice. The art of artifice was his own creation, and though its results are usually unpredictable and dangerous, it has occasionally yielded truly marvelous wonders. However, Gond tends to have trouble working with other gods who are of like mind, as his methods are radical and hard to reconcile with the ways of those gods. As an amusing anecdote, Gond's inclusion in this pantheon has always been something of a sore spot among his followers. As the patron god of gnomes, many were surprised when he was denied entry to the Fey Pantheon. Then, he suffered a further blow when he was not asked to be a member of the Civilized Pantheon. However, through it all Gond has managed to keep his characteristic optimism about the future.

Conclusion

While this list is not completely comprehensive, it covers all the gods that are still alive and directly affect the world on a regular basis. It purposely neglects to mention Asmodeus due to a certain threat from a certain Paladin (who shall not be mentioned as Krothgar, Paladin of Kord). I hope this work helped to inform you of the divines in our world and has broadened your understanding of the intricacies of the world around us.

PS: The next cleric at my door complaining about this book's supposedly 'unfair' portrayal of their god of choice will see said god being described as a promiscuous transvestite in the next edition of this work. I went to great lengths to not play favorites to the best of my abilities, and I don't appreciate people complaining that I didn't buy into the propaganda that seems to spread around. So go ahead, try me!
"I will live forever, or die trying!"

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