Pantheon
The Pantheon is the collective name for all the major and minor deities currently recognized on Vaerith. The Pantheon is divided into two trees, the Altar and the Shrine. The Altar consists of nine major deities (known as Creators) honoring the paths humans travel. The Shrine is composed of seven lesser deities (known as Keepers) honoring the tools humans use to navigate those paths. Each deity represents a specific aspect of or influence on a human's journey during their lifetime.
Approximately half of the population engages in a form of religious observance. The most organized and oldest religion is that surrounding Vaerith. Followers of any tradition may congregate with others in formal settings or may pay respects through private rituals and observances. It is most common for people to refer to or ask favors from multiple deities.
Each religious following or adherent defines its own relationship with the Pantheon, including gender. These terms also differ by region. The number of followers is difficult to determine due to constantly shifting immigration/emigration patterns and various legislative efforts.
Art (in-story) created around the Pantheon ranges from the written word to sculpture to paintings to song. Depictions can be anthropomorphic or abstract, impressionistic or classical, symbolic or realistic, and anything in-between. Popular items available for purchase include cards (much like playing cards) for people to pray to (similar to rosaries, prayer cylinders, or saints' medallions), clothing, and jewelry.
***Art created on this page was done solely by the author through ArtBreeder. Thanks (and apologies) go to previous contributors or creators whose art was used in training the machine.
Terminology
Adherent - person who believes in the Pantheon
Animism - belief that a spirit energizes or inhabits everything
Avoidant - person that is agnostic or atheist
Cult - belief that a specific deity inhabits a human leader to whom followers are exceptionally devoted
Dualism - belief that all things have an opposite, equal half, including deities
Folk - beliefs are heavily related to local customs without official practices or doctrine
Heresy - beliefs that are unique to a person, who may or may not commune with others
Monotheism - belief that one deity is above any others; followers often refer to their chosen deity in as a solo entity
Organized - beliefs and practices are formally established with a central body
Polytheism - belief that all deities are equal in influence and work together; followers elevate one to pay homage to
Sect - group that has separated from the mainstream, but still follows the deity
Shamanism - belief that through ritual, humans can commune directly with deities
A representation of all 16 deities
Representation of the Pantheon, centering on Sepperl
Representation of Sepperl and Vaerith
Alive or dead, the gods live in all of us.
Anoeia
(ahn-oh-ee'-ah)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of fate
Organized? No; Folk
Adherents: Laceworker
Form: Dualism
Anoeia does not issue fates; rather, the deity creates various pathways for humans to choose from. Followers are known as laceworkers due to the intricate roadmaps Anoeia is known for (and for how much can change if you just look on the other side of something).
Anoeia is usually depicted as carefully woven together webs or, as they are usually called on when a decision needs to be made, the "Great Decider".
Aqmos
(auk'-mohs)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of shadows
Organized? No; Cult
Adherents: Stone reader
Form: Animism
Aqmos keeps and releases shadows, both in the literal and the metaphoric sense. Adherents are known as stone readers due to previous iterations using stones to tell fortunes. Aqmos is not evil or good and is often called upon during military engagements.
Aqmos is usually depicted with 2-4 shadowy forms with a light nearby.
Elliss
(ell'-iss)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of trade/success
Organized? No; Folk
Adherents: Fortune seeker
Form: Monotheism
After Vaerith, Elliss is in the running for second-most followed deity. While not defining success, Elliss helps adherents find their definition of it. They frequently talk of hosting Elliss for tea during new ventures.
Elliss is usually depicted as a multi-fingered or multi-eared deity, having their fingers in and keeping their ears open for so many possibilities for success.
Eotl
(yo'-dil)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of fear
Organized? No; cult
Adherents: Valiant Ones
Form: Cult
Eotl does not seek to spread fear; rather, it recognizes what fear is and what each human fears. Eotl is usually invoked either when someone is afraid or when they wish someone else to be. Those who can walk with this being beside them are said to be exceptionally brave.
Typically depicted with similarities to Undiam and Maidnu, Eotl highlights both the unknown and what we hold dearest to ourselves.
Ia
(ee'-ah)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of war/revenge
Organized? No; heresy
Adherents: Scouts
Form: Polytheism
Legend has it that Ia came into being when jealousy led to a vengeful act which then led to war. Invoked to help end a battle or to right a wrong, Ia lives just within the fog of war.
Ia usually is shown in two styles: a faceless warrior, features torn apart by the brutality of war and revenge with a hidden weapon to their breast, ready to strike; or a type of creature releasing many offspring to illustrate the infectious nature of war and revenge.
Maidnu
(migh-di'-nu)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of surprises
Organized? No; folk
Adherents: Jubuliants
Form: Dualism
Maidnu adherents recognize the close relationship surprises and secrets share. They view surprises as positive occurances. Followers can be identified by their lockets.
Most depictions of Maidnu usually mirror those of Undiam, with a key exception; the path to discovery is clear.
Makkow
(mah-kow')
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of dreams
Organized? No; heresy
Adherents: Gazers
Form: Monotheism
Adherents to the keeper of dreams believe reality is twisted by dreams. Their deity is a repository for all dreams; good, bad, prophetic, erotic, relivings, or past life.
Because of the belief in a distorted reality, Makkow is frequently shown as something attractive or desireable, but with a flaw.
Myrriss
(myr-riss')
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of dreams
Organized? Yes
Adherents: Workers
Form: Polytheism
Myrriss peers through to a human's soul to see what their true talent or ability is. Frequently misused for inspiration or power, Myrriss inspires Workers to either corrupt or foster talents.
Typically, depections of Myrriss have a mask included, through which they see all.
Onnamm
(oh-namm')
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of travel
Organized? No; folk
Adherents: Observers
Form: Polytheism
Onnamm knows where everyone is going and has been. Adherents request help with knowing where to go and protection for the journey. Darker sects may ask for travel disruption.
Whatever style used, Onnamm is always shown as looking both forward and backwards, with their actual direction undetermined.
Rinnik
(rinn'-ick)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of the dead
Organized? No; Cult
Adherents: Black Talon
Form: Cult
Rinnik's followers tend to fall into two categories - those who revere death and those who usher its presence. Rinnik is typically invoked when something is final or may have a gruesome outcome.
As death comes in many forms, so does Rinnik depending on which persuasion the followers fall into; as a consumer of life or a beautiful woman welcoming the newly deceased into blankets of comfort.
Sepperl
(sep'-perl)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of the creation
Organized? Yes
Adherents: Rewyns
Form: Monotheism
Creation is one of two immutable facts of life, according to adherents. They are some of the most devoted followers of the Pantheon.
Depictions of Sepperl are the most widely varied of all the Pantheon. Volcanic eruptions and a blank two-faced figure without an identity are frequent themes.
Togath
(toh'-gath)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of wishes
Organized? No; folk
Adherents: Custodian
Form: Monotheism
The keeper of wishes differs from Makkow in that adherents believe wishes are both short-term and occur during waking hours. They also believe that wishes can disguise true intentions.
Togath is traditionally shown as a human wearing a mask showing what they wish they looked like.
Undiam
(oon-dee'-am)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of secrets
Organized? No; folk
Adherents: Cypher
Form: Dualism
Adherents to Undiam believe that both power and destruction come from secrecy. Sects are typically split by whether they seek to uncover or bury secrets.
Most depictions of Undiam usually mirror those of Maidnu, with a key exception; path to the truth has yet to be unknotted.
Vaerith
(vare'-ith)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of the living
Organized? Yes
Adherents: Attendant
Form: Polytheism
Sharing the planet's name, Vaerith is widely considered the first deity. Over time, Vaerith has come to represent the Pantheon as a whole.
Vaerith is often depicted as a timepiece or an entity holding a timepiece to represent the finite time living things exist.
Varst
(varst)
Tree: Altar
Title: Creator of relationships
Organized? No; folk
Adherents: Counselor
Form: Dualism
Varst ties with Elliss for second most-followed deity. The creator of relationships covers all types of relationships - business, romantic, sexual, academic, friendship, family, and more. Adherents seek to understand more about such connections.
Most themes present in art about Varst emphasize the importance of being truthful about one's intentions if the relationship will be healthy.
Xesis
(zeks'-sis)
Tree: Shrine
Title: Keeper of knowledge
Organized? No; cult
Adherents: Scholar
Form: Shamanism
Rinnik's followers tend to fall into two categories - those who revere death and those who usher its presence. Rinnik is typically invoked when something is final or may have a gruesome outcome.
As death comes in many forms, so does Rinnik depending on which persuasion the followers fall into; as a consumer of life or a beautiful woman welcoming the newly deceased into blankets of comfort.
