Patron Deities – Asthalia Wyrldica

Table of Contents

Deities

Each character has three deities they can choose to follow. One is always their primary, and the others are ones they have been consecrated for. You can choose from any of the deities available. These are recorded as your Faiths: Principal, Secondary, Tertiary. You do not have to pick three, and you can choose to turn your back on all of them.

Note that Clerics & Shrinewards can only have one, and that Paladins must have three.

You can learn more about the deities of Wyrlde in The Codexalia.

The Hosts	Bright	Qetza	Mansa	Kybele	Gaea	Tamasin	Ululani	Vulcana
	Shadow	Antelle	Gallae	Lamia	Melane	Paria
	Dread	Timur	Pallor	Belial	Urisha

The Powers That Be are the primary deities, and briefly laid out in the following. They are the only ones who seek converts, who give power and spells, who can be invoked during Ordeals, and who are able to change or shape the world at whim. Settlements will have a Shrine to at least one – large cities will even have a Temple to at least one of them, usually two, as well as two shrines. These are the Patron powers of that Realm. Towns, villages, and hamlets may have shrines to others, but all will have at least one shrine to one of the patrons.

It is worth noting that Urisha has no temples, no shrines, and is only known to some, mostly comments and concerns spoken of within the walls of the adventurer’s guild. Qetza, Mansa, Timur, and Belial are the only masculine Powers That Be.

Powers of the

World

Chicory

Acacia

Beau

Oremus

Erishu

Charon

Baen

The Powers In The World are uninterested in worship, unlikely to intervene, but more likely to take an interest. They are unlikely to engage or defend someone to grant power unless it wholly favors a task or goal of thiers, and they do not approve of ordeals.

They do have shrines raised to them, but not formal or large ones, and never in settlements.

The Old Ones	Skyfather	Hearthmother	Dawnbringer	Sunshine	Fastingstar
	Huntsman	Fireforge	Warbringer	Seamaster	Springmother
	Evenstar	Riverdaughter	Stormbringer	Trickster

The Old Ones are all present, spoken of in whispers and secret places. They have no temples, no shrines outside a home or a single room, and are unlikely to respond to any entreaties. They are interested in Worship but lack the power to change or shape the world, though they may on occasion influence it. They cannot grant power or spells, and do not alter ordeals. Chance and Fate are invoked through them, however, in the form of the Sisters.

Kybele

History	The much beloved Kybele is one of the most important Powers and was the first to realize the power of worship and the gifts that could be given to Clerics. Belial’s desire for her led to his causing her great harm and so started the God’s War. She is the mother of the Angels, the Demons, and the Kaun. During the God’s War, Kybele personally destroyed the Dread Lord Sakrefis, one of Pallor’s most dangerous generals, though her entire regiment was slain. She collected them and personally raised them all into the night as stars. She often uses Valkyries as messengers. Kybele is said to be the most involved of the Seven in the daily affairs of those who follow her.
Relations	Kybele is the currently somewhat estranged partner of Mansa, and she is terrified of Belial. She is not fond of Qetza or Gallae and finds their posturing to be annoying. She grows quiet around Chicory and prefers to be near Ululani and Paria. She is the sister of Gallae, and some believe grandmother of Acacia.
Centers of Worship	Kybele is of great importance to Sibola, Dorado, and Aztlan. She is the most worshipped, most beloved of all the Powers, and if there was one that people said they trusted, it would be her. Her patronage of Dorado is a sore spot to many, though she did personally raise her Temple there.
Followers	Of all the Bright Host, no one is loved more than Kybele. No one is worshipped more than Kybele. Kybele is the prettiest, kindest, most forgiving and generous of all the Powers, and her many followers reflect this. She is known to heal wounds of children without being asked, and to personally show up to feed prisoners and criminals. She is not, however, without a vengeful side, and she uses the power she has judiciously and exactingly. She is said to punish those who ask her to bring harm to others, even if unintended, but will help those who seek aid not for themselves but for others.
Personality	Kybele is someone no one decent can say anything bad about. She is gorgeous, gracious, elegant, charming, kind to a fault, and yet she is also seemingly distracted, not always grasping things at the first, self-deprecating and apologetic, willing to accept the faults in a meeting as her own. She is considered the epitome of grace and womanliness, and only the most uncouth of people will gainsay her to others.

Gaea

History	The irrepressible and strong-willed Gaea is called the Earth Mother, Paraterra, and is a member of the bright Host. She was relentless hounded by Belial, who held a grudge against her that she never fully understood beyond the thought a woman who was uninterested in sex was broken. During the War, she was known to lead vast regiments of all women warriors whose fury and skill challenged even Timur’s legions for supremacy. Since then, she has been focused on warding the wild areas of the world, not wanting it to fall to the hand of Men.
Relations	Gaea is on friendly terms with most of the Bright Host. She is the occasional Consort of Paria, the confidant of Mansa, and the best friend of Qetza. She has sworn an oath to end Timur, and that has echoed throughout the ages as her will continues to be thwarted. She will disagree with Mansa openly, sometimes harshly. She gets along well with Gallae and Lamia. Gaea is the Mother of Gob, Paralda, Neksa, and Djin, making her the mother of Elementals.
Centers of Worship	Gaea’s cities are Aztlan, Lyonese, and Antilia. She is known to favor them and to support their efforts as they strive for greatness.
Followers	She is called The Great Mother, the Dancer, Ayesha and Paraterra, Lady of the Hearth. She is the loving maternal embrace, the encouraging word, the fiery defender, the protectress. Her baptism involves being fully submerged in running water, face to the sky, while the Priest intones the rite of baptism. She abhors inhospitality, even to enemies, considers mistrust and rudeness to be sins, and she will accept any offering of value to the worshipper, often returning it the following year.
Personality	Gaea is generally laid back and informal, fond of comfort and the pleasures of home. She is believed to have a home in all her cities, and every temple complex has a small set aside building, usually fairly humble, that is said to be her Home, her hearth, and is sacrosanct. Gaea has a fiery temper one aroused, however, and will fashion herself a from a dozen feet tall, clad in metal ribbons that ripple like silk streamers, and carries an immense double headed battle axe into battle, which she enjoins with a wild, snarling leer of anticipation.

Mansa

History	The God’s War started because Mansa was seen as a threat by his one-time best friend, Belial. Coveting Kybele, Belial sent Mansa off on errands and tried to seduce her, and when he failed, he took her, and he took the children of that and corrupted them into demons. On returning, Mansa became mad with rage and punched Belial, and so started the God’s War. Mansa is still angry over what was done to his wife.
Relations	As befits the man who punched Belial to start the God’s War, Mansa is unerringly opposed to anything the Dread host does in all manners and in all ways. He has been somewhat single minded in this, and it has cost him dearly – he is somewhat estranged from Kybele, his wife, though he is still close to Qetza. He rarely gets along well with the others due to his always thinking he is right and is said to think of himself as the leader of the Powers – a thought shared by no others. He does not get along well at all with the Shadow Host members, who find him infuriating.
Centers of Worship	The largest, grandest, and most conspicuous of all the Temples in his honor is located in Sibola, which remains the seat of his worship and influence. Mansa is deeply popular among men, and it can be said not at all among pretty much everyone else.
Followers	Mansa always has two, and only two, Temples in every complex dedicated to him. They are identical, except that one (always left hand from entry) is for women, and the other is for men. He maintains a strict division between the two, to the point that they cannot touch nor speak to a member of the opposite sex. He allows followers to marry, but the man is always the leader and head of the family. Mansa is possibly the least popular of all the Powers. His clerics, when ordained, are marked on their backs by his scale, and it actively measures their devotion to him in a visible manner.
Personality	He is paternal, patriarchal, and believes in firm, strong gender roles. He is a brilliant strategist, absolutely focused, and can become blood crazed. Despite his flaws, he stands solely for goodness and order.

Qetza

History	The Warlord, the Hedonist, the wild man of the Powers, Qetza is many different things, with manly standing out as the first and foremost. He is exceptionally handsome, and his whole body is covered by intricate tribal and knotwork tattoos that he also requires of is Clerics. He is famous as the strategist of the Bright Host, and is a warrior’s warrior, dedicated to and loving the contest, the challenge, the test, the use of skill of and wit. Yet once the fight is over, he turns to his other proclivities, which in many would be women and wine, and his case is missing the Wo- part.
Relations	Qetza is the strange one of the Bright Host. He is the only other man among them besides Mansa, who is his best friend, and he absolutely loathes Belial and Pallor, but is said to think he can win over Timur, his counterpart among the dread host. He does not get along with Chicory at all, and the two have been known to fight openly, loudly, and with much vigor – much to the dismay and risk of those around them. He is on good terms with Paria, Erishu, and Baen. He is close to Lamia and Gallae, but on a different level.
Centers of Worship	Durango and Dorado are his principle locations, but it is said that most towns and cities have at least one place where men who enjoy leather and his brand of joyful exuberance can be found and a shrine to him is raised. Qetza is also the Patron of the Grand Games, and he is said to have a personal interest in the Dire War.
Followers	His followers tend to be large, hairy, boisterous, proud, happy, loving, friendly, and heavily tattooed. They often wear leather clothing and are frequently, like the Power himself, found wearing fur lined vests and leather pants with boots. He has an entire cadre of women followers, who often are angry at him for not allowing them to be clerics, but he just winks and says “see Lamia”.
Personality	“If it ain’t fun, why do it?” is the core summation oof Qetza’s outlook on life, and his approach to everything but combat. His approach there is best described as “Hit it so hard it never gets up and if it lives, will fall over on its own after it sees you.”. That is pretty much the whole of Qetza’s personality.

Tamasin

History	Tamasin was the first to emerge from the Eternal Fire and set foot on the world. Where a tear of hers fell an immense Wisteria tree sprang up immediately, and the blossoms surrounded her from above as lavender grew below. Tamasin worked closely with Dwarfs and Elfin in their efforts during the War and remains thought of fondly by them.
Relations	The only known entanglement of any of the other Powers and Tamasin is that Tamasin claims first place for vengeance upon Timur, whose slaying of Alfey still echoes through many places and in many ways. She is cordial, reserved, and seemingly above things in her dealings with other Powers, much like she is in dealing with Mortals. She is the one who points out that to their knowledge, Powers can die, and thus they are closer to Mortals than to the Old Ones.
Centers of Worship	Qivira, Lyonese, and Islandia are her three most well-known centers, with large, ornate and gilded temples. Her temples are marvels in and of themselves, every inch worked to display intricate, stunning beauty, and her Clerics always seem to posses some craft to which they devote their extra time in search of mastery and perfection. Tamasin’s Temples are quiet places, with hushed whispers and gentle streams among the many wisteria trees. When in bloom, the entirety of them is decorated.
Followers	Tamasin’s followers are expected to display Harmony, Grace, Equity, and absolute mastery of craft in their daily lives, which is why she is popular in both Qivira and Lyonese. She encourages obsessive behavior and is known to think well of those who conceive, plan, and execute a successful plan in secret. She hates braggards.
Personality	“A pleasant demeanor is a more powerful weapon than any hand.” She, herself, lives up to it, in that she is on the surface very generous of spirit, polite and courteous, demure and pleasant. Some say that Sahara Shang is her current Ikon, and it is hard to deny, as Sahara did rather cold bloodedly secure the realm of Qivira by following Tamasin’s teachings. Tamasin seems to be above everything, and yet she is a strong willed and sometimes cruel woman who will do many things to get her way.

Ululani

History	Tritons and the naval wars were almost wholly in the hands of Ululani, who hates water but loves fishes. After some early failures, she began to turn the tide of the war steadily and unerringly at sea completely in favor of the Bright Host, and ultimately is why the final battle was staged in and around the Ancient Land, far from where her naval forces could be of value. In the Battle of Bilderburg, she managed to completely decimate the Thyrs based frontlines using strictly massive globs of saltwater hurled from ships. Her impact was such that she is credited with the design basics for all Ships of the Empire.
Relations	Laminar’s Daughter, Ululani watched her parents die in the Voes, and has never been quite right since. She survived, and has ever since been distant, overly concerned with the fascination of the moment, seemingly flighty, and yet, despite all of this short erm attention stuff, she is one of the sharpest and most sought for advice among the Powers – though to say she is friendly with any might be a stretch.
Centers of Worship	The largest Temple for Ululani is reached through a passage from the landward part of Keris that leads below the lagoon to Keris proper, and is completely dry, with a clear ceiling that allows one to see the sea all around. The Temple is isolated from the rest of Keris proper, as it is wholly dry and water is not allowed in. It took 70 years to construct. She also has Temples in Islandia, and in Gateway in Akadia. She is very popular among Akadians, even is most of the Mages still prefer Melane.
Followers	Ululani’s followers tend to keep fish as pets, from small ones up to large koi ponds and on to the Aquariums of Islandia’s towns. They are often very focused people, easily distracted and given to simple pleasures and what is best described as quirkiness. A great many of her followers are women, especially young women.
Personality	Ululani is often said to be a Power that lacks focus, that is hard to pin down, that is flighty and unreliable. These belie who true strengths in deep knowledge, grasp of subjects far below the surface level, and the particulars of how systems interact and operate. She comes across as distracted and uninterested in what is going on around her but is paying close attention. She never meets people’s eyes, is shy and reserved. “Sorry, what did you say?” seems to be a favorite phrase.

Vulcana

History	Vulcana was Alfey’s first love, and he was her only and eternal love. They were inseparable, save for a single time, and that separation became permanent. Every scar on Timur’s body comes from an encounter with Vulcana, who even now hunts his chained parts that she might further torture and inflict harm on him. It is believed her intense dislike of Chicory comes from the fact that she thinks Chicory knows where the parts are and is not telling. She dislikes Antelle because Antelle is close to Chicory and won’t push on her behalf.
Relations	Vulcana seems to get along well with all the Bright Host but avoids having anything to do with any other host. It is said she blames the near loss on the Shadow host and their unwillingness to commit. Since Alfey was a member of the Shadow Host, this has led to some hard feelings.
Centers of Worship	The grandest Tower in all of Akadia is a non-standard Temple to the woman whose fury razed the original built by struggling failed revolutionaries. Needless to say, Vulcana has a strong presence in Akadia, and a second one in Dorado. It is said that she is also worshipped within Thule, having earned the respect of the leaders there during the war. Vulcana is worshipped in many places, though, especially in areas where the overall sense is that someone is angry.
Followers	Vulcana’s followers are people of action, even when that action might be rash. They are decisive, curious, and prone to dislike the idea of talking too much or too long. They are called impatient, but it is more that they have an inner fire, a drive to move, to keep moving, and are fearless about the day. They get along famously well with Qetza’s followers, except for the partying stuff.
Personality	Vulcana is a very tall, lithe woman, with coal dark skin, red eyes, and appears to be on fire at all times. That is always how she appears, and she almost never seems to be anything but angry. This is surprising because prior to Alfey’s death, shwas in the running to be as well-loved as Alfey or Kybele. These days, she is defined by that rage of hers, and the speed and finality with which she acts when she makes a decision. Her ikon, a Meka named Murderbot, is as externally cool as she is externally fiery.

Antelle

History	It was Mansa’s blow, but he only knew because of the plotting and slow, methodical work of the ever risky to cross Antelle. She was and some say still is the Spymaster, the Schemer, the Planner behind many plans, and Pallor’s opposite number. Antelle is not someone who tolerates betrayal or who seeks to harm those in her care, and this has placed her at opposite sides of many a situation fro people who are otherwise friendly. Her chief concerns these days are ensuring the success and wellbeing of all the peoples of Wyrlde, even the Foes.
Relations	Like much of the Shadow Host, Antelle has cordial if distant relations with the Bright Host and is closer to her own Host than many of them are. She is tightest with Paria and Lamia, and rumor has it she even once seduced Mansa “just to see”. It is a favorite story of Ara’s to tell. She is fairly rigid in her positions but is willing to work with others to achieve their goals or ends.
Centers of Worship	Antelle is the chief Patron of Dorado, and it is there her largest Temple is found. She can be found in many other places as well, as among the shadow host she is fairly popular despite her flaw: Antelle, like Paria and Chicory, is a transgender Power. As below, so above, and while few will speak to her directly, all find her a bit unnerving to deal with at times.
Followers	Like Qetza, Antelle’s followers love festivals and parties. Unlike his, those who follow the Shescythe are much more sedate and think of themselves as refined. Flowers feature largely in any activity involving her followers, as flowers are all sacred to her.
Personality	She is the heart of the Shadow Host, and even if the others were to switch sides, she would remain where she is, always in the center, always between the poles, just as she was in the War itself. She is unconcerned with the things that benefits the Powers – her worries and focus are on the people, but she does not seek their favor, like the rest of the Shadow Host, in the same way. She is grateful for it, but few would say it is what drivers her. Antelle is famous for carrying a gigantic scythe that is bone white from gleaming point to metal shod base. She uses it to carve away the souls of those who oppose her, and to stop time – which is one of the reasons she is considered among the most powerful of the Powers, for only three, maybe four others can do that: The Three of the Old Ones, and Chicory.

Gallae

History	The Foe still tell tales of what it was like for their ancestors to face Gallae on the field of battle. Immense herds of gigantic beasts. Trees which would grab you and swallow you whole or tear you limb from limb. Stones that would draw you down and silene you. Insects which would drain you dry or sting you to madness before letting you die a painful death. Survive all of that, and you faced the fifteen-foot-tall giantess and an army of boars, her massive arrows able to cleave one in two while she smoked a cigar with her free hand. This woman helped make the Dreadnoughts.
Relations	The short version is Gallae doesn’t get along with anyone. The long version is she gets along with her cousin, Gaea, occasionally with Ululani, and most often with Antelle, though that was a frosty one at first. Gallae is uninterested in cities and city life, and is focused on the places beyond them, untamed, wild, and needing protection from the ravages of the Dread Hordes.
Centers of Worship	Despite this, Gallae has a magnificent temple on Zefir, which only a few ever visit in any given year. It is said the Emperor is a devotee of hers, and as that is the only Temple to her in any city, he stays there. Gallae’s Shrines are all over the place, and she is known to frequent them in disguise.
Followers	Gallae’s followers tend to be hunters and woodsmen, folks in steadings and hamlets, those who seek to find a way to live in the world away from walls. She likes it that way.
Personality	Gallae is a regal woman, with tight black curly hair kept short, a penchant for trousers and plaid patterned shirts, and a mistrust of other Powers That Be except for her Wife, Lamia. Gallae is said to resemble Gaea, in that she tends toward middle age in most encounters and adopts a gruff personality that is quite different around her spouse.

Lamia

History	While her wife would have the world do it for her, among those who stood against Lamia there was only the mother of Serpents, and her fangs are two sharp, short blades. Laia moves with grace and dances through combat like it was a song, and while her blades bites deep, the venom within them is what truly is to be feared. Lamia likes people, but doesn’t like what people do, and is not known to be the forgiving partner of the pair. She makes exceptions for Serpent Therian in her clerics and was said to be why they exist.
Relations	Lamia give everyone the willies. She is pretty, demure, feminine, and absolutely uninterested in anything anyone else is doing except for her wife, who she supports and who supports her in turn. She does like Acacia. That’s about it.
Centers of Worship	Lamia has quiet, secluded Shrines scattered about the lands, often in very out of the way places and guarded in part by snakes raised by her clerics. She has no temple in any city.
Followers	Lamia’s followers are known to shave a line through one eyebrow based in part on what they are attracted to (left for women, right for men), and all get a tattoo around their eye, though it can vary from a snake to a scorpion to a flower – all are known for their poisonous nature, however, even though those poisons have long since stopped working. Poison is an acceptable tool in the arsenal of lamia’s followers, but it must be done properly, and innocents cannot die from it.
Personality	Lamia is always concerned with the consequences of an action, the outcomes that are not seen, the impacts that are not predicted. She is a forward thinker, then, less concerned with he moment than she is with what will be, and she is rarely wrong in her sibylline outlooks. As a result, her Clerics are often sought for auguries and prophecies, as they are thought to be particular useful and far less likely to be couched in some strange mystical puzzle format.

Melane

History	The maker of Meka and Dreadnought, the clockwork queen, the Teknogy of Melane was one of the greatest tools for any side in the War, and when she saw what her works had been turned towards, she turned against them as well. It is said that while the Bleak Journey was going on, Melane was learning magic and how it worked, and that she took the form of a young wizard to teach it to others. It is also said she taught the smith of Lyonese the secrets to sprocket and gear, and that she may still yet be teaching someone else something new and wonderful because no one has the level of curiosity and ambition she has, for the sake of that curiosity and ambition – but she has always bent it towards an old and ancient set of rules for personal behavior that she has fought hard to preserve through the Ages.
Relations	Melane sees people and is seen by others as a resource, or a possible tool, and since Shavan was killed has been exploring the nature of mortality and returning. Few will cross her in person, she seems to exude a sense of rage and anger, and other Powers have said that she has been that way since Shavan passed on.
Centers of Worship	Melane is the favorite of Mages of Akadia because she pretty much asks noting of them except be decent people. Her temple is the more traditional one, next door to Vulcana’s, across the way from Tamasin’s. Antilia has declared her the Patron of the City and taken her Oath as one of citizenship.
Followers	Followers of Melane never cut their hair, and always wear it in braids of many different sorts. They must have hair the length of their hand to be baptized, and they must recite the Oath of Melane while their hair is being braided. The Oath has seven parts and follows devotionals to uphold seven virtues and aver seven vices whose existence predates the history of the world.
Personality	Melane is challenging for many to deal with. She accepts cut braids as offerings, will nearly always choose the underdog, and cannot stand places or points where there is a degree of unrepentant discrimination. She has been seen and said to be working to foment rebellion among the people of Lemuria, and to be using a host of Denizens to do so. She adores clockworks and magic, and is always accompanied by Legolas, her per snake, and Margolis, her pet white panther.

Paria

History	Where Antelle was the Spymaster, Paria was the Spy. Unassuming, unremarkable, unremarked, unheard, usually unseen, Paria was the youngest of the Powers and was close to Chicory and her friends. In the War, it was Paria that uncovered the many experiments and cruel works of Belial and Pallor. It is said that Paria is the reason that after taking over Sibola, the victors left the city and founded Aztlan instead of occupying it – Paria shared secrets that they did not know could be known.
Relations	Paria is a wanderer. The last time they were at a full meeting of the Powers was before the end of the God’s War. They still knew everything and were active enough to add in some surprises in Zefir that the Emperor is still learning about.
Centers of Worship	Paria has traveled more of Wyrlde than any of the existing Powers have and is said to know all the secrets held everywhere by anyone. They have small Shrines scattered about, but most pass them by without knowing what the places are for or why they are there. Many are places where Paria has stopped and paused, before continuing on the journey that has seen them cover the whole of the world, above and below, and uncover secrets in all the crevices. Paria is recognized even within Lemuria and Agartha, Duat and Thule.
Followers	Pariahs, they are called, and they are a strange, reserved, people who smile sadly and sigh wistfully and ask more questions that should be right and proper for anyone to ask. They tend to be good matchmakers, but because they will pry into everything they are seen as nosy busybodies, gossipers, and pests. While most do not wander, they have a brisk trade in secrets, but tend to follow a rule Paria would find humorous: a secret can only be shared three times.
Personality	Paria, when asked, says they are the God of Nothing, of Outcasts, of Thought and Ideas. Neither man nor woman, Paria is a walking enigma to most. Paria is closest to Antelle and Chicory. They always appear in a hooded cloak or robe and wears a mask that covers half their face at a diagonal, starting upper left above their eye, crossing their nose, and riding under their lower right jaw. Paria always has an air of longing, of yearning, of sadness about them. They are never encountered alongside other members of the Hosts, and always move alone, unless for some grand project.

Belial

History	Belial is the most powerful of all the Powers That Be, though his particular talents are not as broad or useful, it is his magnetism and drive to control, dominate, and possess everything that his power has turned towards. His arrogance and nerve led him to assault Kybele, led him to attempt to kill Mansa after being struck, and led into the God’s War. His ego is out of control and drives him. Truth is what he says it is, and his truth is that save for a rare few of true and loyal friends, everyone else is his enemy. His whole is sundered at present, into three distinct parts, scattered about the cosmos that he built, each part aware but unable to come together. Belial does not know how it happened, for it happened so swiftly, that he never learned. He awaits restoration.
Relations	Belial gets along with Pallor and Timur. Everyone else hates his guts, but he is certain and absolutely convinced they love him but have merely been mind-controlled by others.
Centers of Worship	Belial has a gargantuan Temple crowned by the Three Towers – the Dread Tower, the Black Tower, and the Tower of Doom. This Temple is located in Lemuria. His other followers have constructed Manses in secret around the world in every major city and town – rooting them out is a preoccupation of both the cities and his people, who seek to avoid it all costs.
Followers	Belial’s followers are just like him, except they think of him as the rightful leader of the Powers, whom they call Gods, and that all this has been stolen from them and only he can restore them to the places and positions of power and authority that are rightfully theirs.
Personality	Belial usually appears to be a pale skinned man of average height, with black hair and dark eyes and an easy smile. He is warm, friendly, outgoing, and genial. He is nearly always called handsome, and he delights in seduction for his own purposes. He is jealous, callous, cruel, petty, and vicious. His temper is immediate and brutal, his kindness lasting only if he is not displeased. He feels that he knows more and knows better than everyone – and that as a result, everyone exists to serve his whims and his will.

Pallor

History	Quite possibly the single most feared of all the Dread Host, Pallor is the partner of Belial, a jealous, vengeful, possessive woman whose thirst for and love of cruelty and destruction may have neither limit nor boundary. Her whole is sundered at present, into three distinct parts, scattered about the cosmos that she helped build, each part aware but unable to come together. Pallor does not know how it happened, for it happened so swiftly, that she never learned. She awaits restoration.
Relations	Pallor wants Belial all to herself, and she wants him under her control and influence, but not in a way that he is aware of it. She gets along with no one else among any of the different Powers, though she has had past dalliances with Paria and even once with Qetza in a different form than her normal. She entertains herself with watching the hapless mortals she tortures as they struggle in her webs. It becomes interesting to watch at times, because she is very much willing to suck up to The Three of the Old Ones, but finds herself rebuffed and seeks to undermine them, as well. She has at least Two Manses in every city, and in most towns; she plays them off one another in increasingly deranged contests. Failure is often an option with her; it may not be a good one, depending on her mood, though.
Centers of Worship	Agartha has a solid square mile wide Temple dedicated just to her within the deep roots of the world. It is the single largest, most intricately decorated, most ostentatiously gilded and glittering Temple in all the World, and she keeps it a secret. What they don’t know can’t hurt her. She is likely the second most powerful of all the Powers That Be.
Followers	As above, so below: Pallor’s followers celebrate with a wicked and cunning glee at the hurt, the harm, the suffering, the hopelessness of others. They delight in schemes and contrivances that befuddle and fool, trick and deceive, corrupt and turn.
Personality	Hates being called Becky. Pallor is the most active of the Dread Host, save possibly for Urisha, who even she does not fully understand yet. Pallor is fond of complex and layered plots, and she delights in corrupting and turning people. She is the most manipulative of all the Powers, and even Paria is cautious around her.

Timur

History	The least known of the Dread Powers, for all his history of making things we fear. Timur became the General of the Dread Host early in the War and proved that he was a better strategist than Qetza, though not a better tactician. At his feet can be laid some of the greatest criminal acts of the entire war, including the slaughter of over a million innocent lives that were not involved in fighting, and shifting h the war to a scorched earth format. His whole is sundered at present, into three distinct parts, scattered about the cosmos that he helped build, each part aware but unable to come together. Timur does not know how it happened, for it happened so swiftly, that he never learned. He awaits restoration.
Relations	Dislikes and does not trust Pallor. Gets offended when a woman challenges him. He mocks Mansa frequently and is glad that Belial and Mansa are no longer friendly. Timur is the Father of Hags, by way of Gaea. Timur is basically on everyone’s hit list for having killed Alfey. This includes his own; he too was once close to Alfey.
Centers of Worship	Thyrs, Agartha have small Temples to him. He doesn’t like them, as they are not as well built and ostentatious as Belial’s, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He has no Manse outside of the Shadow Lands, though some whisper he has one in Antilia.
Followers	Timur’s few dedicated followers are often in disarray and struggling as they are caught between the schemes of Pallor and the hubris of Belial, all while trying to serve a Power that doing the same thing and finds himself working at cross purposes with Pallor more often than he would like.
Personality	Timur is handsome, pale man, with loosely curled white hair and eyes so light as to seem colorless. Standing seven feet tall, he has never smiled. For Timur the point of any confrontation is winning at any cost; he is not bothered by morals, ethics, or the right way. Timur is the brilliant mind that enables Belial’s dominance over the others when he is free. Timur once led an army in a battle on other lands of this world, and nothing walked away from that battle alive. He said, “that’ll do.”

Urisha

History	Urisha is a new Power. She has only been known to be active for the last few Ages, and her actions make neither sense nor seem to have a reason beyond what was once pulled out of a tiny group of folks found to have begun following her. Urisha’s goals are to end the world. To destroy the entire cosmos. To kill every last living thing, even the stars above. It is believed that Urisha is one of the Dead Gods, killed during the God’s War, returned – but not quite themselves.
Relations	Urisha gets along with no one. Indeed, when asked about her, nearly every major Power That Is says “who?”. Antelle, Chicory, Acacia, and Erishu all seem to have some knowledge, and ae known o be working together against something she is doing. The Old Gods are aware of her and warn their folks to stay well away from her, calling her a mad God. The emphasis is on God, and they never acknowledge her as a woman.
Centers of Worship	Urisha has no Temples, no Manses, no Shrines, no places of worship. It is believed that if she does have worshippers, they do so at secret shrines in their homes.
Followers	It does not appear that Urisha has any followers, or that she even seeks to find them. Indeed, those who have been found to do her bidding have thought themselves doing the work of some other Power or force.
Personality	“I know for whom the bell tolls because I am the one ringing it.” “Don’t be sad. Into every life a little rain must fall, even if that rain is of blood and the thunder is screams.” “Hush child, it will soon be all over for you, just as it was for me. You won’t come back, though.” The maddest of all the Powers, thought dead for centuries, once called either Trundle or possibly even Shavan, Urisha may not be chained and is thought to be working for the Dread Host now. Regardless, she is unhinged and unreasoning in ways that disturb even the other Powers. Her apparent goal, according to the last Ikon of hers (who self-immolated), is the End of All Things. She has unleashed a demon in a small town and set forth minions n many locations as part of her goal to plunge the world into a war and restart the God’s War.

Spread the Word:

Kybele

Alignment	Pattern, Benefice, Balance, Agency, Unity, Dependence, Life
Alternyms	Paramour, The Beauteous, Europa
Patron of	Sibola	Dorado
Colors	Blue	White		Silver
Fauna	Sheep	Beast	Manticore
Flora	Lotus	Omen	Wilted, dead flower
Ordeals	Solitude	Ingestion		Cross
Followers
Virtues	Empathy	Kindness		Caring
Sins	Mercilessness	Cruelty		Viciousness
Worship	Bow, prayer, request, offering, bow, back out.
Baptism	Ritual bath in goatmilk
Prayer	Hey Lady, I was hoping you could hear me.
Offerings	Flowers
Clerics	Only women may be Clerics of Paramour, and they must be strong and must be willing to raise at last two children. She permits any armor, but no edged or pointed weapons. Her symbol is marked on the forehead by ordaining.

Gaea

Alignment	Chaos, Benefice, Balance, Agency, Unity, Dependence, Life
Alternyms	Paraterra, Hearthmother, The Dancer Ayesha
Patron of	Antilia	Lyonese
Colors	Brown	Orange		Gray
Fauna	Squirrels	Beast	Elementals
Flora	Daffodils	Omen	A rotten nut
Ordeals	Walking Fire	Burning Hand		Ingestion
Followers
Virtues	Hospitality	Familial Love		Courtesy
Sins	Mistrust	Rudeness		Secrecy
Worship	Kneel, offering, prayer, request, gratitude.
Baptism	Being fully submerged in running water, face to sky, while the rite is intoned.
Prayer	She of the hearth and home, hear my plea.
Offerings	Any of object of importance and value to the worshipper.
Clerics	People of any gender can be her Clerics, must remain celibate once ordained. Clerics have her symbol tattooed on the backs of their hands in orange ink.

Mansa

Alignment	Pattern, Benefice, Balance, Structure, Unity, Dependence, Life

Alternyms	Paragon, Dagon, Mister Shiny, Lawfather
Patron of	Sibola	Durango
Colors	Gold	Red		White
Fauna	Lion	Beast	Chimera
Flora	Linden Tree	Omen	Consistent Clumsiness
Ordeals	Combat	Arena		Boiling Stone
Followers
Virtues	Paternalism	Justice		Orderliness
Sins	Weakness	Criminality		Emotionality
Worship	Kneel, Prayer, Offering, Request, Bow
Baptism	Blessed Water drizzled over head and shoulders
Prayer	Mighty Mansa, I ask you to hear my hopes and accept my offering
Offerings	Braids, Coins, Weapons, Jewelry
Clerics	Clerics have the Scales appear on their backs, and the scale weighs them visibly.

Qetza

Alignment	Chaos, Benefice, Imbalance, Agency, Unity, Independence, Life

Alternyms	Parabellum, Etragon, Bladelord, Aries, Bataer
Patron of	Durango	Dorado
Colors	Black	Brown		Green
Fauna	Bear	Beast	Polecat
Flora	Pansy	Omen	Weapons Breaking
Ordeals	Seated Pyre	Molten Metal		Arena
Followers
Virtues	Speed in Battle	Calm in Peace		Hedonism
Sins	Cowardice	Hopelessness		Moderation
Worship	Set weapon on altar, bow, offering, bow, prayer, bow, retrieve weapon
Baptism	Single combat to first blood, scar remains
Prayer	Lord Qetza, I beg of thee hear my plea.
Offerings	Flowers, candy, braided and woven goods
Clerics	Qetza only allows men as Clerics, forbids them the use of any armor, and requires fearlessness in battle. His mark is on the back of their heads, often beneath hair.

Tamasin

Alignment	Pattern, Benefice, Imbalance, Agency, Unity, Independence, Life

Alternyms	Paraduush, Tamara, Tamarind, Tamsin
Patron of	Qivira	Aztlan
Colors	Blue	Gold		Black
Fauna	Falcon	Beast	Drake
Flora	Wisteria	Omen	A haunting 4 note, then 5 note sound
Ordeals	Solitude	Sulphur Brew		Ingestion
Followers
Virtues	Planning	Self- Confidence		Self-Reliance
Sins	Disrespect	Capriciousness		Impulsiveness
Worship	Clap twice, kneel, prayer, offering, rise, bow, clap thrice
Baptism	Purification bath in naturally running water from above
Prayer	Lady of Vows, this is my oath.
Offerings	Flowers, food, first fruit
Clerics	Prefers Demihumans, semihumans, and humanoid Clerics. Her mark is on the throat, and she only allows ranged weapons and up to light armor.