Pantheon of the Makhavirene Empire

With the advent of the Makhavirene Empire, the various beliefs and religions of the three continents were collected and mingled, creating a standing pantheon of a few dozen gods. As the empire grew it continued to gather and reshape the structure of deities, spiritual entities, and mystic traditions, with nearly every province within the empire soon held to some standard of worship under the new pantheon.

Structure of the Pantheon
While at first the empire recognized only those deities which fit its ideology, it soon relented to the reality that many more deities existed in its lands, and their worshipers demanded recognition from the growing theological structure. With growing unrest and the fragility of the new pantheon in mind, the empire decided to recognize and include those deities outside its ideological and moral senses. With this, deities not just of order, good, and light were recognized, but also those of a darker and more twisted sense. The structure of the pantheon was based upon this, and soon a standard was given.

The Makhavirene Pantheon is based on a hierarchical system, with a trinity of gods at its head representing the three most basic ideas of reality, with the descending orders of deities representing more and more complex and specific concepts. The trinity at the head of this hierarchy consists of Ronnovar God of Order, Kesathria Goddess of the Void, and Oras God of Chaos. While not necessarily true to the ideas held by their worshipers, the pantheon's hierarchy places these deities closest enough to the concepts they represent, and thus give them the portfolio they now hold.

God of Order
Ronnovar, according to religious texts dating back from before the Empire, was a mortal man before he was a god. Sometime after the war between primordials and dragons, it is said Ronnovar was the first mortal to discover magic, tapping into the powers of creation. He taught mortals how to harness the force of the ley-lines, wield it to their will, and create marvelous works to their name. He later ascended from the mortal plane to become one of the gods. Modern belief puts him in place of the God of Order, but this is superficial – In reality, before the Empire Ronnovar was a god of the arcane, organization, and logic, interested more in the furthering of knowledge and mortal power than a sense of duty to the idea of Order. Still, Ronnovar has shepherded over his share of the pantheon's trinity, and has done so for over a thousand years.

Ronnovar counts many lawful deities as his allies, both of goodness and neutrality. His place in the upper echelons of the Makhavirene pantheon granted him an immense amount of influence, and though he rarely takes a leadership role his words have swayed more than a few arguments to his way of thinking. For all the histories of the world on Ronnovar, there are only a handful of instances that incurred his wrath, all of them based on the gross misuse, mishandling, or corruption of magic itself. Suffice to say, Ronnovar is nearly impossible to anger, matched perhaps only by Aejuna herself in temperament.

Ronnovar is largely worshiped by mages, scholars, and those in places of legal authority. He is often invoked by those whose oaths are tested, in the direst of times.

Goddess of the Void
Kesathria is one of the first gods known to mortal kind, ancient and incredibly powerful she is known to be a selfish creature with little regard for others in her schemes save for their usefulness. Doctrine from before the founding of the Empire states she is a goddess of appetence and shadow, which explains her place as the Goddess of the Void in the Makhavirene Pantheon rather succinctly. Older texts tell stories of Kesathria being the creature who tricked dragons and primordials into war, though different texts disagree on which group she tricked. Regardless, the result was the same – The primordials were slaughtered and dragons were cursed with an inherent lust for terror and destruction.

Kesathria leads many trickster pantheons, given her history, as well as many thief, death, and eldritch pantheons. She is quick to make alliances, but rarely keeps to her word. The Goddess of the Void is more likely to deceive than assist, but her force of will and suggestion ensure others continue to fall for her tricks. Kesathria has a cold anger, holding grudges like a dragon hoards riches, and always gets the last laugh. She is worshiped by thieves, tricksters, and the forsaken, mostly for the power she grants in exchange.

God of Chaos
Oras is believed to have been a primordial born during the creation of the world, ascended to the ranks of the gods after the war with the dragons. All research on the being known as Oras shows he is perhaps the closest of the trinity, even compared to Kesathria, to his given portfolio. Oras changes the closer one looks at him, with even his religious texts changing from day to day, and his priests driven mad in the search to understand their god. Doctrine exists that states Oras existed when time began, and Oras will be there when it ends, a being whose very essence is change without end, until Kesathria's void claims him.

Oras rarely allies with anyone for any considerable length of time. Those who claim chaos as their very essence rarely consider partnership or fraternity to their tastes. Oras leads chaotic gods simply by being more powerful than the rest, using them as tools and expenditures to further his crazed ideas. As one would expect, Oras is as quick to anger as he is to sadness, complacency, or laughter. He is worshiped by the mad, the desperate, and the strange.

God of Courage, Justice, Honor
Valorikan is one of the few half-elven gods in existence, originating from an elven pantheon dating back to their earliest civilizations. Worship of Valorikan can be found in nearly every culture on Vennar, and it is believed by those with knowledge surpassing most mortals that Valorikan was the very first mortal to reach apotheosis. A god of law and codes of honor, he is widely titled "The First Knight" by many such orders that take him as their patron.

Valorikan heads the major deities of the Good alignment, as he heads most pantheons of other cultures. Valorikan counts most any deity that shares his opinions on free will and virtuous deeds as friends, as well as many deities that follow a code of honor or chivalry. He is very slow to anger, seeing many other beings as weaker or less skilled and thus to be treated with patience, but is a powerful enemy when roused to anger. He is a popular god among paladins and knightly orders.

It is said that Valorikan currently struggles against a new born god of corruption, hatred, and terror, who assaults his realm in the celestial plane with infernal armies and vile power.

Goddess of the Major Moon and the Tides
Aejuna is the goddess of the largest and central moon, literally the sentient spirit of the moon itself. She was first worshiped by the elves, like many of the oldest deities. She is worshiped as a light in the darkness, a figure of hope and salvation, shaping the world with her tides, and a guiding force to those who seek her out.

Aejuna is worshiped by sailors, hermits, self-assured royalty, and any who search for a beacon of hope to follow. It is thought by many scholars and theologians that Aejuna would exist as a powerful force regardless of mortal worship, and is only further empowered by those mortals who seek her out. She is normally a solitary goddess, keeping to herself with a few hangers on she treats more as aimless children than as equals. She will ally with good or neutral deities - especially those who are nature-based – when the need arises, though that need is rare.

Deity of Bounty, Fertility, Harvest
Borlum is worshiped as the progenitor of the dwarves, giving birth to their race in its entirety. The oldest records of Borlum's worship come from the deepest dwarven territories, long abandoned to the fallen creatures that now inhabit the darkest reaches of the world. The being that would be worshiped as Borlum was once a primordial who shaped Vennar with their power, guiding their children within the deep places and raising entire continents to the surface above. Borlum is a hermaphroditic deity, taking on the essence of motherhood, fatherhood, man, and woman, holding great authority over forces of life and the natural world.

Borlum is worshiped first and foremost by the dwarves, as well as druids, midwives, and devoted parents. Borlum's priests are sought out by couples attempting to have children, guiding these couples through the process from conception to birth. Borlum is normally either the leader of their pantheons or coupled with the leader, acting as the idealized parental figure. Borlum is friendly if not outright loving with nearly every other deity regardless of alignment, offering forgiveness and encouragement to those of an evil outlook should they seek it.

Goddess of the Natural Order
The elven goddess Rheala originates from the time after the titan war, when the elves began to expand their society through architecture and care for the land. She holds the natural order as the utmost good, and all that which is natural as good. Her doctrine states that civilization and the wilds are both a part of the natural order, and to have one without the other is an abomination. While a city is natural, a city without trees or plant life is unnatural. While a wild forest is natural, a wild forest without mortals is unnatural. Farming is a way to care for the land, felling a tree for lumber is akin to a bird making a nest. Cutting away forests or disrupting the land for mere convenience is unnatural. Hunting for food is natural, while hunting for sport is vile.

Rheala stands tall among the elven gods, quite often second if not the highest in their religions. She counts any who preserve the natural order as friends, and many as allies. She is slow to anger unless the natural order is threatened, despising undead and those whose greed blinds them to their damage of the land. She is worshiped by druids and those who revere nature, and has a temple or shrine within every elven city.

Goddess of Judgement
The dwarven god of Judgement Ylena is younger than many of the dwarven gods. The oldest record of Ylena's worship dates to shortly after the primordial war, and so many believe she was a mortal dwarven woman who ascended to the ranks of the gods. Doctrine states Ylena was the first dwarf to set down a code of law after the primordials were defeated, and led her people through the time of trial and destruction that followed the war. She is considered a fair and ideal judge, without bias or prejudice, focused solely on the rule of law and the advancement of civilization.

Ylena holds a place of honor in most dwarven religions, among the few of her race that ascended to the ranks of the gods. The First Judge is a friend to many other lawful deities, and a personal friend of Valorikan, the half-elven god of justice and honor. She rarely feels anger, and will not answer to provocation, instead judging any who consider themselves her enemy, and acting accordingly. She is worshiped by those who devote themselves truly to law and order, by those who enforce it, and by those who write it down.

Goddess of Rebirth
Xumera is an odd goddess, charged with overseeing the process of rebirth through destruction. When the land begins anew after a terrible storm, when volcanoes erupt and cover the land in ash and rock, when the ocean rises and floods the land, Xumera brings about the awakening after the devastation. Originally a spirit paid homage to in times of need, Xumera's worship expanded when the empire began to break apart. Many mortals believe she is responsible for the destruction as well, for without an end there can be no new beginning.

Xumera rose to take on a higher position in the religions of Makhavireth, and has only risen higher since. Standing beside other major deities, Xumera counts those gods who value the cycle of death and rebirth among her friends, and those who wield destructive power as her allies. She is not so quick to anger as one might expect, taking a careful response to provocation so that she might measure the cost and the gain in her destructive efforts. Nature, after all, is not a wholly destructive force. Every disaster is simply the first step in the process of rebirth. She is worshiped largely by druids, orders offering relief through disasters, and mages who value her destructive properties.

God of Sacred Knowledge
Quizon Jin is an ancient god, believed to have been a primordial before mortal worship. He originates in the dwarven pantheon, and is popular among humans. Ancient rites state Quizon Jin was the primordial who created the ley-lines, or the primordial charged with their maintenance, birthed within their very heart. He was the patron god of the dwarves and humans of Quizo, to the southeast of present day Dergomal, but the nation was destroyed during the infernal invasion and the god lost a significant amount of his influence. Quizon Jin guards over ancient knowledge, ensuring it passes on only to those who are ready to understand it, and those who might use it for the benefit of all. He is known as the Ley Guardian, defending the ley-lines and ensuring they remain unaltered and ever flowing.

Quizon Jin rarely leads any group of deities, but is often seen as advisor and confidant to many who do. He is a lawful good deity, and largely allies with those who share his ideals, counting Valorikan and Aejuna as foremost among his allies, with Borlum as an old friend. He is slow to anger unless the ley-lines he protects are tampered with, and takes a calculated, measured response to any provocation. He is worshiped largely by magic users and those who seek to defend the natural order of things as laid down by the primordials themselves in ancient times.

The God of Sacred Knowledge currently wars with the infernal plane, allying with Valorikan in his attempts to win back his chosen peoples' beloved nation, and return to a place of greater influence in the world.

Goddess of Righteous Glory
Alana Sjalfili is an ancient goddess of human origin, depicted as a great warrior of skill and compassion. Considered among the highest of human deities, old doctrine states she was the first human to learn the skill of metalworking from the dwarves, the first woman to lift a sword, and an educated tribal leader. Ascending upon her death on the battlefield, Alana rose to hold sway over the idea of righteous glory, in strength of arms, in skill of craft, and in the knowledge of one's enemy. Alana Sjalfili leads most human pantheons, was considered second to Valorikan in the Makhavirene Pantheon, and has a place even within many dwarven religions. She counts many lawful and good deities among her allies, and is quick to defend the weak. She is slow to anger, but is quick to defend her ideals and her allies, by whatever means necessary. She is the patron goddess of Makhiren, worshiped by many holy orders and warriors. She is a defender of the weak, a bulwark to the strong, and an ally to the righteous.

God of the Natural World
Ordrae is a member of the Fey court, worshiped by mortals since the barriers between the realms weakened in ancient times. Ordrae is a powerful deity, having aided and ruled over the growth of the natural world after the primordials fell. Worshiped as the foremost god over nature, Ordrae is often pictured as a living tree, or a bark-skinned elven man. Purely a neutral force, but with the fickle nature of the fey, Ordrae makes and breaks alliances as it suits him, and is both a chaotic and orderly entity, like the domain over which he rules. Druids, rangers, and paladins of nature worship him, with certain nomadic societies paying him homage so as not to incur his wrath and lose the sources of their livelihood.

Goddess of Beauty and Love
Deliah is the goddess of love, and the beauty of the world, worshipped since the first dawn of mortal civilization. She is an old and powerful goddess, with myths painting her as a primordial, an ascended mortal, and even a shard of the world’s soul itself. She is worshipped largely as the being who brings lovers together, and the muse of artists the world over. Deliah is often depicted as a beautiful young woman, the stereotypical form of beauty in the mortal mind, of the same race as her worshippers. She is a neutral deity, of a mind to bring love and beauty wherever it may be found, in the darkest of hearts or the kindest. She counts most of the pantheon as her friends as she is almost incapable of hating another, though should one draw her anger she is quick to answer. She is worshipped by artists and lovers, though her worship may be twisted in the minds of those who were spurned.

God of Time
The God of Time is a mysterious being, rarely depicted and only ever as a formless shadow. Lothos is one of three deities ruling over the mortal cycle, presiding over the transitional periods of life and death, both within and without, as well as the flow of time itself. As such, he is generally considered an order god, obsessed with balance, but this is rarely proven correct. Lothos, in most tales and histories, tends towards the good, but only rarely acts. It is he who separates Itontia and Esesrione from meeting all but for once a century, when the two moons named after the two deities meet in the sky, and stay together for one week, before separating once more, doomed to remain one in the day, and the other at night for the rest of the century to come. This meeting period, while often marked with celebration, is just as often marked with onlookers being struck blind, massive tidal activity, and earthquakes, thus it is said Lothos keeps them separated for their own good, and the good of the world.

Lothos is a god who prefers to stick to the background, acting only when required and making rare appearances. While a very powerful god in theory, his influence in mortal worship is limited by his unwillingness to act. He may count many of the lawful deities among his acquaintances, and few as his friends. Lothos is a god of the wise, the old, and those who seek power over the mortal cycle.

Goddess of Wild Magic
Kidesis is a goddess of magic driven mad by her own power. Elven in origin, Kidesis was once an archmage of the high elves who reached apotheosis late in life, while suffering from a deteriorating sense of self. Mortals see her as a goddess of wild magic, unchecked and ever changing, and as the force behind the stagnation of ley-lines, so that she might draw power from the chaos that is caused.

Kidesis has no patience to join or ally with other deities, doing so only in rare moments of clarity, or when her mind has driven her goals to match those of another. She is as quick to anger as she is to love, and never remains in any state for long. She is a mad goddess, with her madness as much a part of her as her very skin. Those who worship her do so in exchange for eldritch secrets, or because they are mad themselves. Many sorcerers will worship the goddess of wild magic, in the mistaken belief her favor will cause the winds of change to favor them more often with positive effects than negative.

Goddess of the Hunt
Veara is a half-elven deity, charged with overseeing the balance between hunter and prey, as well as mortals and the natural world. Many believe she was the first hunter, born of the first human tribe who discovered the possibilities of rock and bone. She was the one who talked down the elven warriors who defended the animals that humans sought to eat, comparing the human need for meat to that of any predatory animal. She is called the "First Huntress" for the beliefs that surround her.

Veara, while quite influential, often refuses to take a prominent position in most religions, content with the hunt. When the call of war does sound for her, she counts those who seek to keep balance as her allies. She is slow to anger, and prefers diplomacy to outright warfare, despite her considerable skills. She is worshiped by hunters, druids, and keepers of the balance.

God of Mortal Terror
Seiberonov the Firstborn is the culmination of all mortal belief in a dragon god, combining mortal idea of sin, terror, hatred, might, and sorcery. Seiberonov is depicted as a titanic creature of shifting color, at a size to rival the largest of the ancient primordials, and with power to match. Titled "The Firstborn" because of the belief he was the first dragon born on Vennar, and the one to lead his species in war against the Primordials.

Seiberonov heads most any draconic pantheon of mortal origin, and is among the higher echelons of most evil aligned deities. Seiberonov allies with those of a lawful or generally evil alignment like him, but counts few as friends. He is a trickster, a deceiver, a god of mortal terror, and a horror among the stars. Only the very mad, the very desperate, or the very power-hungry would count themselves among his worshipers, and their number grows by the day.

Seiberonov is the enemy of all those who war with dragons, and is the bogeyman of the myriad orders of dragon hunters.

God of Corruption, Hatred, Terror
A new born god, Deminadrus claimed his position of power shortly before the fall of the empire. According to scripture, Deminadrus rose to his position from the ranks of the Infernals, killing the previous minor deities who held his portfolios and clawing his way into the ranks of the major deities through mortal worship and ruthless tactics in the outer planes. Deminadrus is depicted as a wastrel, a starved and sickened child with matted hair and wings of rotting flesh and bone.

Deminadrus claims no deity as his ally, and is claimed by none. Standing alone within the darkness, he is a deity of the darkest and most twisted ideologies, striving to corrupt and twist all creation until it falls to his whim. He is a deity only a few centuries old, yet has gained a following unheard of by any but the most powerful among them, counting even lords of the Infernal Planes as his followers. Most who worship Deminadrus willingly trade their eternal souls for power and influence, and he has called many nobles, military leaders, and wretched cultists to his name.

Goddess of Vile Magic
The orc goddess of magic reflects the race's view of magic as a necessary evil, depicted as an old hag of a den mother, with a gnarled staff and gnarled bones. Believing themselves created by the last breath of the primordials, and believing the primordials forbade the use of magic by mortals, the orcs use the winds of change only in the direst of circumstances. Ushagha is a temptress, a deceiver, and a wicked magic user. She uses magic to weave illusions, craft nasty poisons, sew discontent, and entrance the orcish race to her whim.

Ushagha is far from being a leader in the orcish religion, holding the position of a pariah among the orcish gods, and counting few as her allies. She uses her magics to ensnare other orcish gods to her bidding, just as she ensnares the orcs themselves. The orcs believe Ushagha pretends to be a warm and inviting personality, to further tempt those who interest her, but beneath the warm exterior lies a cold and deceitful heart. She is worshiped only by orcish magic users, outcasts from orcish society, and occasionally those of other races who hunger for her skill in magic.

God of Smiths
Born a primordial in ancient times, it is said Losogun forged the first hammer, anvil, and calipers, gifting them to his dwarven followers so they might further the craft. Depicted by his followers in the modern day as a dwarven blacksmith, Losogun has set hammer to anvil since the very concept was first imagined. Dwarves consider him one of their foremost deities, and human smiths pay him homage as well.

In the greatest dwarven religions, Losogun may be found in the highest tier, even supplanting Borlum in some cases. In other societies, however, Losogun is usually a minor deity at best, worshipped only by smiths and jewelers, and so he is placed as such in the Makhavirene pantheon. He is a staunch ally of those deities who value hard work, good deeds, and the beauty of the craft. He is a hot-blooded, rowdy man, quick to anger but swiftly quenched under the right circumstances. Outside of dwarven society he is worshiped by craftsmen and craftsmen's families, and holds patronship over a handful of smaller towns and cities with a focus on craft.

God of Day and the Living
One of the three deities presiding over the mortal cycle, Itontia is popularly depicted as the male of the Two Lovers, but is almost as often depicted as female. One of two moons second to Aejuna in size, Itontia appears during the day and joins Esesrione in the night sky as she joins him in the day sky for one week once every century.

Itontia presides over the day cycle, the state of living, and the cacophony of the waking world. His lover is Esesrione, Goddess of Night. He, like Lothos, rarely allies with other deities. He is most often worshiped by artists, lovers, and the young.

Goddess of Night and the Dead
One of the three deities ruling over the mortal cycle, Esesrione is popularly depicted as the female of the Two Lovers, but is almost as often depicted as male. One of two moons second to Aejuna in size, Esesrione appears during the night circling Aejuna, and joins Itontia in the day sky as he joins her in the night sky for one week once every century.

Esesrione presides over the night cycle and the state of death. She is the goddess over lifelessness itself, and the silence of the grave. Her lover is Itontia, God of Day. She, like Lothos and Itontia, rarely allies with other deities. She is worshiped largely by artists, lovers, and those who are ready to die.

Goddess of Artifice
Sobiris is a younger goddess, born of the ideals true to artificers and their craft, focused on enchantment, precision, and mechanical forces. Sobiris is often depicted as an enchanter herself, guiding over the laws of the physical and astral realms and ensuring they work smoothly when invoked.

Sobiris gained a following only a short few centuries before the fall of the empire, and so is not truly represented in most religions or pantheons. She is a neutral party, preferring her isolation so she might further her abilities and guide artificers to do the same. Sobiris is usually only worshiped by artificers themselves or their families, and occasionally by orders founded to protect the laws of magic, or to gather artifacts so they might not fall into the wrong hands.

God of Famine, Swarms
Kyemos is a locust deity, originating in the old deserts since wiped from Makhavireth, and rules over the idea of famine and swarms. Most mortals worship Kyemos as a god of war, using his vast swarms of followers and creatures to conquer and devour all that lies before him. He is also a god who mortals sacrifice to in times of famine, to appease him so that he might lift his terrible curse and their fields might grow once more.

Kyemos rarely leads any pantheon, preferring to focus his attention on conquering rather than ruling. He rarely allies with other gods, as a chaotic and evil force. Occasionally a far stronger or more clever deity will force him into service, or trick him to do their bidding, and his rage is terrible to behold when he discovers such a plot. He is not a god to anger lightly, being of an unpredictable nature and quick to anger. Most who worship him do so for his favor in war, or to lift the burden of famine.

Domains

 * ArcanaSCAG
 * CivilizationW-H
 * DeathDMG
 * ForgeUA
 * GraveUA
 * KnowledgePHB
 * LifePHB
 * LightPHB
 * MadnessW-H
 * NaturePHB
 * ProtectionUA
 * TempestPHB
 * TrickeryPHB
 * WarPHB