"Of the gods who watch over Aranor thus, we know many - some whose worship is widespread, such as Alissa and Nossa, others whose sects are more hidden, such as Falandine and Nex. Some have been lost to us permanently, such as the creator gods of all the mortals who now walk this earth. But all have meddled in the affairs of mortals, and all have their influence felt in the many avenues of power they choose to manifest; Relics, prayers, temples, statues, and sometimes, as mortals themselves."
The Modern Pantheon of Aranor, by J.S. Hearthmaker
Aranor is watched over by various deities and lesser powers to whom the mortals of the world offer their worship and devotion in exchange for power, protection, and fulfillment in their first life and the next. Their origins, if were they ever truly understood, have been lost to the Curse of Falandine and perhaps even to the mighty gods themselves. What is known is that they vary from beings as ancient as creation itself and some of them ascended from mere mortals in the Forgotten Age, now sharing in the power of the heavens drawn from the faith of mortals.
Many names, many faces
Religious practices around the same deity can vary wildly from races to cultures throughout Aranor, with different names and titles for the same deity, or even the worship of dual entities such as the elven practice of viewing Alissa and Lunissa as two parts of a whole. Although some aspects and ideals of the gods remains consistent across various iterations of the same religion it is not infrequent that the expressions of their faith can lead them into conflict with each other, or that one temple of a deity spreads the tenets of their deity benevolently while another of the same does so maliciously. It has some to believe that the scope of the gods' favour is truly broad in scope - while others suspect the blasphemous doings of Nex the Deceiver, well-known to infiltrate and subtly alter other faiths.
Distant, but ever present
The deities of Aranor only rarely choose to show themselves on the material plane or interact directly with mortals, preferring instead to empower mortals to enact their will as their intermediaries on the affairs of the world. Although they are capable of manifesting in physical avatars with which they wield awesome powers and influence, it is a significantly taxing experience and most terrifying of all to an immortal being: it means they can be slain. Such is believed to have been the fate of the goddess of the elves Al'varanyë, slain by her own creations by the hand of the drow Zeri'thel in the Battle of Falling Stars.
The Dead and the Forgotten
Not only civilizations and history was left behind with the Curse of Falandine, but also many of the gods mortals once revered, most notable among them their creators. Whether by some past calamity or by lack of faith to nourish them, none of the gods attributed with the creation of Aranor's mortal races have survived after the Forgotten Age with only their faded scriptures and ancient monuments to remember them by. Nevertheless they are not without their worshippers to this day, although the only power they have to offer is now limited to the lingering echoes of their essence lingering behind in their relics and temples.
The known Living Gods and their Progeny
- Alissa, Goddess of the Sun
- Atemar, God of Mercy
- Borsimer, God of War
- Golgazak, The Grand Subjugator
- Daal, God of Justice
- Dorios, Deity of the Art
- Falandine, God of Fate
- Ynaera, Keeper of Secrets
- Lunissa, Goddess of the Moon
- Morgana, The Doomsinger
- Seras, She-Who-Thrives-In-Darkness
- Lyra, Goddess of Song
- Carnelia, Lady of Desire
- Nossa, Goddess of the Sea
- Jorvik, God of Luck
- Nex, Goddess of Deceit
- Astrabeth, Lord of the Forest
- Ziridessa, Mistress of Treachery
- Umethara, The Cavern-Mother
- Torek, God of Law
- Oohros, God of Chaos
The known Lost Gods
- A-ro, God of Humans
- Al'varanyë, Goddess of Elves
- Acheros, God of Orcs
- Amarae, Goddess of Dwarves
- Doriac, God of Halflings
- Vaalmateus, God of Metallic Dragons
- Korlaxxia, Goddess of Chromatic Dragons
- Khagarus, God of Goblins
- Lantillius, God of Gnomes
- A-Sarkat, Demigod of of Sarkati