There is no question that the Gods of Nezdriodel exist. While these beings are the most powerful entities in creation (that we know of, at least), they are not all-powerful or all-knowing, and each have their own unique motivations and personalities. Each of the Gods espouses a number of traits that they value above all else, and each is responsible for certain aspects of creation.
While each of the 5 Great Kingdoms has a Patron Deity that they associate with and revere most, all of the Gods are granted prayer in certain situations. For instance, while Phemos (God of the Sea) is the patron deity of the aquatic Marinauts, he is prayed to and deeply respected by all sailors and seafaring people, no matter their Species. The people of Nezdriodel understand that the different Gods are in charge of different things, and who they pray to changes with the situation.
The Gods are mysterious and do not make it a habit to interfere in the affairs of men. Their existence does not depend on worship, and while they take interest in the events of the mortal world, they also have their own divine affairs and duties to tend to. Some claim that the Gods have sworn a pact to not interfere in the lives of their lessers to prevent the inevitable conflicts that might arise as a result. Some choose not to pay heed to any of the Gods, but none refute their existence.
The Gods can assume any form they please, but all have favored physical forms that they choose to take and are most associated with.
The gods revered by the denizens of the five Great Kingdoms have various moral settings, but none are outright evil. Evil Gods do certainly exist and have power on Nezdriodel, and are deeply revered by their own uncivilized worshippers.
A word on the Afterlife: The Gods of Bravehold hold sway over various aspects of creation, but do not promise their worshipers a cushy afterlife or eternity of damnation as punishment for displeasure. Similarly, the people of Nezdriodel do not serve their Gods in order to get sweet prizes when they die. The Gods espouse different virtues that they believe leads to a better life for all. Those that worship them identify most with these values and live accordingly. As for matters of spirituality, most people in Bravehold (no matter the Species) believe that their essences live on in the memories of friends and family, or through heroic tales that are told over a crackling hearth for eternity.
Nickname: The Silvered Liege
Areas of Influence: Life, Civilization, Chivalry, Order, Honor, Tradition, Noble Warfare
Holy Symbol: A gleaming silver chalice inlaid with three gems (to symbolize Serfs, Nobles, and Clergy)
Considered most altruistic among all the Gods, Valtus is tireless in his dedication to honor and chivalric ideals. He is depicted as a fully armored crusader in sparkling silver platemail and a billowing red cloak.
Worship: The only Deity with a full-on Church, Valtus worship is by far the most formalized out of any of the Gods. The Valtborn really like the whole religion thing, and have a codified book of rules and regulations on how to conduct one’s life. The Church of Valtus is steeped in ritual and holy day observances, and no other deity has a more rigid, codified center of worship.
One unique aspect of the Church of Valtus is the use of Saints. Sometimes, exceptionally pious mortal individuals gain legendary status among the Church and are granted Sainthood over a particular aspect of life. This mini-pantheon makes the Church of Valtus that much more confusing, but hey, it makes them happy. Below is a list of some of the more common Saints that are revered by the Church. Keep in mind that this is merely a few examples picked from an exhaustively lengthy list…
Saint Rontley
The finest blacksmith who ever lived, Rontley is the talented artisan responsible for forging the Silver Throne that acts as the (literal) seat of power to the Kingdom of Valtmoor. This serious craftsman worked day and night in his forge to craft the throne, and it is said that he did not stop working until it was completed. Upon completing his task and presenting the Throne to the King at the time, Rontley’s heart exploded and he dropped dead on the spot. Since then, he is revered as the Patron Saint of craftsmen and artisans.
Saint Yagatha
The patron Saint of self denial and frugality, Yagatha lived her entire life tasting nothing more flavorful than a turnip, which she exclusively ate alongside a tall, luke-warm glass of turnip juice. It is said that Yagatha only owned one dress for her entire life, and only took twenty breaths per day, finding any more than that to be lustful. Yagatha is the patron Saint of frugal spending and simple living.
Saint Mullbert the Maimed
As a boy, Mulbert was mauled by a bear in his crib, and things only got worse for him as he lived his life. Through trials and tribulations and misfortunes aplenty, Mulberry ended up with no arms and legs, but never stopped smiling and having a chipper, pleasant attitude in the process. Mullbert’s life was cut (mercifully) short on his 50th birthday, when he was struck by a bolt of lightning (twice). He is the Patron Saint of endurance and positive thinking, especially in the face of adversity.
Saint Fainmere
The young, handsome Knight Sir Fainmere is the patron Saint of courtly love and loyalty, and is renowned for fighting his way through an entire guild of bloodthirsty bandits to rescue the love of his life from harm, believing her to have been abducted by the foul bandits. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that Sir Fainmere’s sweetheart had shacked up with the Bandit leader and had married him willingly. As you might imagine, she was none too pleased about having her husband brutally beheaded in front of her, and she drank a vile of noxious poison to join her hubby in death. Despite having his noble heart shattered, Sir Fainmere never loved another, and lived to the ripe old age of 106 pining for his only paramore.
Values & Tenets
-Honor your word and keep oaths sacred. No higher binding exists.
-All have a place in the world. Find yours and excel. Tradition is the stone that builds empires.
-Chaos is the most destructive force. Tame it at every opportunity.
-Act as an example to others so that they might improve their lot.
-Defend the weak and alleviate undo suffering. I call no cruel heart kin.
-Do not yield to temptation and avarice. Discipline is the antidote for the plague that is anarchy.
-Revel not in bloodshed, but be no stranger to the blade in the face of wretchedness.
Nickname: None
Areas of Influence: Fortune, Travel, Music, Time, Adventure
Holy Symbol: A majestic rearing steed, or a pattern of three swirls in gold
Fickle and unpredictable, The Fates are less a singular deity and more a collective force composed of the spirits of randomized chance and pure, unadulterated luck. One’s standing can change in the blink of an eye, and no matter how well one prepares for the future, its ravages can decimate even the most stalwart. The Fates are most commonly depicted as a wild horse with a gloriously flowing mane. Sometimes, the Fates are depicted as three steeds all facing different directions (to symbolize the past, present, and future).
Worship: The Fates don’t care a lick about worship or adoration. At best, they are casually entertained by the struggles of mortals, shrugging wispy shoulders at the rising and falling of kingdoms. Though, most people still find it unwise to curse such mercurial beings aloud when things are going wrong in their life!
Values & Tenets
-Life is a most volatile storm. Best learn how to swim.
-Boredom is entropy. Adventure spawns immortals.
-Revel in song and good company when available, for neither are lasting.
-The past cannot be changed and the future is yet to be endured, so make whatever peace you can with the present.
Nickname: Monarch of Worms
Areas of Influence: Shadows, Death, Entropy, Decay
Holy Symbol: A horned purple skull with three eyes
Mortriggon is the hulking God of death and decay, holding his morose court in the underground kingdom of Mortriggaz, the lands of the dead. Depicted as a bulbous, worm-like thing with a slavering maw on his rotund belly, this fearsome looking God is actually quite shy and reclusive. Mortriggon is not an evil being, and only does his part in keeping the natural order afloat. Beauty fades and great cities crack and crumble. These are simply the laws of creation, and he is just doing his part. The great mouth on Mortriggon’s belly is said to be constantly chewing, symbolizing the ticking away of life and valuable seconds of existence.
Worship: Never one to be overly haughty, Mortriggon does not require (or particularly like) worship. The whole affair actually makes this naturally shy deity relatively uncomfortable, to be honest. He is puzzled by the numerous death cults that spring up and revere him through perverse ritual, and shrugs his rubbery shoulders at their strange sacrificial offerings and blood tithes. Despite having the biggest mouth of any of the Gods, Mortriggon doesn’t speak…or simply chooses not to. One or the other…
Values & Tenets
-All things are as dust given time. Do not forget this.
-The only way to conquer fear of darkness is to tread boldly into it. Find strength in shadows.
-Death clears a path for life. Without one, the other is useless.
-If a life needs to be taken, do so with swiftness, for agony is not my ally.
Nickname: The Codfather
Areas of Influence: Passion, The Sea, Storms, Aquatic Wildlife
Holy Symbol: An orange coral Trident (the favored weapon of Phemos)
Boisterous, temperamental and mighty, Phemos is the undisputed master of the depths and is the most revered being to the Marinaut people. He controls the tide with his endless tentacles, stirring the seas like a frothy cauldron. Phemos assumes the form of a massive leviathan wearing a pretty green laurel wreath. Of all the Gods, Phemos is the most sociable, and he is the most likely to intercede in the affairs of men due to genuine curiosity. It is not uncommon for Phemos to assume the form of smaller aquatic life and spy on events going on in the mortal world. This mighty squid hates boredom and is infamous for assuming mortal form to cavort with beautiful mortal women of all Species.
Worship: Phemos is one of the more popular deities due to his fiery, passionate nature. Worshipped by musicians, creatives, debauchees and degenerates alike, his name is invoked whenever fiery passions rage. The domains of love, lust, revenge, and even hatred are all the realm of this fishy deity, and whatever emotion he is currently inspired by, he feels it to the fullest extent possible. As you might expect, Sailors and those that live near water also favor Phemos as their deity of choice, regardless of their Species.
Values & Tenets
-Those with fewer breaths to spare should speak loudest.
-Pleasure is a prize best greedily hoarded.
-A wrong that is revenged twice over is never repeated.
-The sea is my bride. Disrespect her at your own peril.
Nickname: Maiden of Whispers
Areas of Influence: Mysteries, Secrets, Knowledge, Wisdom, Magic
Holy Symbol: The all seeing eye of Shebsharu surrounded by an ankh
Of all the Gods, Shebsharu is the most knowledgeable about the ways of the cosmos. Shebsharu most commonly assumes the form of a tall, willowy female carved entirely out of amber. She wears a hood to shield most of her features, and is never seen without a thick tablet that houses the very secrets of creation etched upon its smooth surface. She is never seen without a feline in her presence.
Worship: Like most of the other Gods of Bravehold, Shebsharu is not demanding of those that worship her. Mostly, her followers are students that practice arcane Magic, spies, information brokers, politicians, and anyone who can appreciate good machinations and calculated cunning. It is said that the first wizards of Bravehold were taught the fundamental basics of arcane magic from the Maiden of Whispers herself.
Values & Tenets
-Knowledge is power. Forbidden knowledge is ultimate power.
-The secrets of creation are there for the taking by bold, fearless and cunning hands.
-A disciplined mind can sort out and tame the very forces of creation.
-Offer nothing to a potential opponent. Carelessly spent words give the game away.
-Achieve your goals through any method available to you. Limiting your own ambition is weakness.
While the 5 most worshipped Gods in Bravehold are not all sterling moral paragons, at least they aren’t outright evil. The following Gods are super duper bad news, and have their own favored Species just like the Kingdoms of Bravehold. What we know about these nefarious forces is detailed below.
Nickname: The Cold Raider
Areas of Influence: Winter, Looting, Slaughter, Fury
Holy Symbol: A pointed helm with two horns made of icicles.
The patron deity of the frantic, frenzied Frost Goblins was once a mortal being who challenged their old God to hand to hand combat and was actually mean enough to win! Though victorious, the battle cost Tundrak his eye, which he still grumbles about to this day. Regularly, Frost Goblins challenge Tundrak to combat in order to claim his frosty throne, and he has dispatched every would-be usurper with brutal lethality. Tundrak appears as a normal Frost Goblin with long icicle fingers and a single, curled horn sprouting from the side of his bulbous head.
Worship: Tundrak delights in mindless slaughter, watching from his icy throne with glee as his minions sack cities and devastate those weaker than them. Recent events bring the evil God nothing but glee, and he wants nothing more than to see Bravehold hurled into chaos under the cold tide of his slavering hordes.
Values & Tenets
-Arrive.
-Kill everybody.
-Take their stuff.
-Leave.
Nickname: The Mad Muncher of Worlds
Areas of Influence: Hunger, Insanity, Chaos
Holy Symbol: A massive red footprint
Kravagon seeks only to alleviate his endless hunger, gobbling down anything or anyone that he can fit into his massive maw. Indeed, this unbalanced deity was so out of control in his rampage that the other Gods (worried that Kravagon would devour the entire world and everything in it) all banded together to banish him to the boiling realm of Chartrundle, where he rages and frenzies to this very day. As you might expect, this did little for the rampaging God’s self esteem, and he continually stomps across the landscape, roaring out in impotent rage and chomping down on anything unfortunate enough to cross his path. One thing is certain: If Kravagon were ever to be unleashed from the lands that he was banished to, he would undoubtedly devour Creation itself in its entirety. Kravagon assumes the form of a ravenous prehistoric creature with a sharp-tooth maw. He can breathe forth a thick cloud of gray smog that can blanket an area in impenetrable soot for months at a time.
Worship: The Lava Giants revere Kravagon because he is even bigger and meaner than them, and they work tirelessly to free Kravagon from his imprisonment. They do this solely because they are tired of getting eaten by their own god. Many Lava Giants believe that if their Queen Big Momma Sha’Graan marries the Frost Goblin King Nulgriff and brings the continent of Bravehold to its knees, Kravagon will be freed from his banishment. And so, they work tirelessly towards this grim aim. Worship of Kravagon is quite simple, and all it takes is the occasional living sacrifice or twelve to satiate the God’s insane hunger…for now, anyway.
Values & Tenets
-Let your urges go unchecked, no matter how base or vicious.
-Order is a lie. Chaos is the natural state of being.
-All of Creation is your feast. Devour it.
