Bess shook her head. “I think we should sit down. I know you will find what I have to tell you as unsettling as I did, when I witnessed it.”
Select Pantheons with a Presence in Astlan[10]
Trevin made her way deep into the depths of the palace’s underground towards one of her most private workrooms. She needed to discuss these visions of Elrose and Maelen with Elraith. She winced slightly at her own brusqueness in barging in on them as she had, but their reactions today to her mention of Bastet had gnawed at her.
Unfortunately, speaking with them about their visions had only succeeded in making things worse. Much worse. She sighed. This would likely be tricky. Those wards were quite effective at cutting off all outside contact. It was for this reason she was going deep, very deep, down to the very bedrock upon which the palace and Freehold stood.
Waving her hand to open the last of the sealed doors on her journey, she entered the cavern she needed. Technically, it was more of a cave than a cavern; it was not that large. The air pressure on the other side of the door shut it behind her, as she had willed. The room was pitch-black and absolutely silent, but she needed neither wizard sight nor light to find the small throne that had been shaped from the bedrock floor.
She sat on the throne and willed herself to relax. The stone throne, part of the bedrock itself, was rather antithetical to her own preferred element of air, but Duranor had fashioned it for her for just such situations. She only hoped the Grove’s chief geomancer and representative to the Grove of the Modgriensofarthgonosefren would not be listening in.
She allowed herself to sink into the stone as she began chanting the ancient phrases that would virtually transport her to the Grove’s own similar chamber. She closed her eyes as she felt herself sink deeper into the bedrock, becoming one with it. Concentrating on the Grove’s version of the throne, she worked to juxtapose her current Freehold self with a simulacrum of herself in the Grove’s throne.
Trevin heard the gasp of the gnome on duty to monitor the throne chamber in the Grove. She opened her imaginary eyes in the dark chamber. Being one with the rock, she could sense the presence of the gnome, although she could not see him in the dark. She was actually rather surprised she had made it through the wards. However, she had been fairly sure this form of sympathetic geomancy was not something Lenamare would have ever considered.
“Monitor, it is I, Trevin D’Vils. Is Elraith awake?” Trevin asked. The deep bass of her stone simulacrum surprised even her. She had not used this method in several centuries.
“Mistress, he meditates,” the gnome replied.
“We must wake him,” Trevin said.
“Very well. This may take some time.”
One pleasant thing about being stone was that time passed quite quickly comparatively, Trevin reflected. She had no idea how long it was before the very old, formerly human Senior Elder of the Grove arrived in the chamber.
“My dear. So sorry to keep you waiting,” the ancient druid said.
“Not a problem, love,” Trevin told him. She could sense no other presence in the chamber; he was alone and they were in private, as she needed.
“So what brings you to use this rather drastic form of communication?” Elraith asked curiously.
“And wake you from your meditation?” Trevin asked with a smile.
“I was not going to mention that, but since you brought it up... I am going to sit down; it takes me a while to recover from being so deep.” He sat down on a ledge facing her stone throne and simulacrum.
“We have had exceedingly portentous events, the details of which will have to be revealed to the Council of Elders. But I needed to speak with you first, in private,” Trevin said.
“Go ahead,” Elraith said, listening intently.
“First, Freehold is surrounded by both the Rod and the Sky Fleet of Oorstemoth.”
“That is an issue, but I think the Council of Wizardry can handle that.”
“We are,” Trevin said, “but we also discovered that the city was overrun with about a thousand lesser demons and two or more archdemons, something else and someone else.”
She could sense Elraith nodding. “Now things are seeming a bit more interesting.”
“We expelled the demons, but in so doing revealed the identities of what we thought were three archdemons.” She sensed a raised eyebrow. “I believe one of the beings we had thought was an archdemon is actually Bastet of the Nyjyr Ennead.”
She could sense Elraith pausing on that point. “That would be quite interesting. Why would she be posing as an archdemon? I did not even realize she was anywhere near the localverse.” Elraith shook his head. “And the others?”
“The second archdemon is Ramses the Damned, formerly of the Time Warriors; the third, our neighbor Exador,” Trevin said.
“Exador, son of Exador, etcetera. That actually makes quite a bit of sense, and helps explain Abancia.” Elraith shook his head. “I still regret not doing more then. They were next door, so to speak.”
He paused. “Ramses the Damned, also a demon. Never liked any of the Ramses. I can assume they were all the same, like the Exadors?”
Trevin shrugged. “At the moment, you know what I know. But that would be likely.”
“He is a threat to us. The Anilords were a threat to us, and the various Ramses were particularly annoying,” Elraith noted.
“Well, it gets more complicated yet. And I still have not gotten to the point that concerns me the most, and I am sure will concern you,” Trevin said. It was exhausting to talk this way. Stone was not the best method for rapid communication. “We also have what we thought was a greater demon who possessed a bunch of priests and then somehow broke into Tiernon’s illumination stream.”
That made Elraith gasp. “That should not be possible!” the druid said.
“It should not, and it’s going to annoy Tiernon very much,” Trevin said.
“So that is what you are concerned about? Tiernon’s people coming to Astlan and interacting with the Nyjyr Ennead again, and various demons that have apparently been sitting on our doorstep and making threatening noises?” Elraith asked.
“I am, but again, not so much,” Trevin said.
“My dear, you are drawing this out too much. I am an old man. I can’t take too many more interesting things, each of which is worse than the last.”
“This is it, then. A sorcerer who works for Councilor Lenamare and a senior fellow from the Society have both had visions of a great war, perhaps several.”
“That sounds probable, given what you’ve said,” Elraith pointed out drily.
“Yes, and that’s the level I am working with them on, or plan to. It is certainly dire enough. However, in more offhand remarks they mentioned a few other visions, which they made less of than I do. The first was of armies of orcs and armies of alvfar.” Trevin could sense Elraith’s shoulders sinking. “Further, visions of smiths — two smithies, in fact. At least one located under a volcano with large channels and floes of metal. However, they could see only one of the two smiths; the other was hidden from their Sight.”
“Oh, dear,” Elraith breathed to himself.
“And one odd note: this was not clear to them, but they mentioned having a sense of orcs attacking from the skies,” Trevin said.
“Orcs attacking from the sky? They don’t have that kind of magic; at least, not on any large scale,” Elraith stated.
“I know. It means a very sophisticated orc army,” Trevin said.
“And the smiths? The volcano, a smith hidden from the Sight? You think this portends the god Hephaestus?” Elraith paused and added, “Who, as I recall, is also known as pêTah among the Nyjyr Ennead.”
There are a great many pantheons of gods in Astlan. For the sake of reference, we list the major deities of the two largest active pantheons among humans, The Etonians and The Narveson, which began on Eton and Norelon respectively. We also provide the principal deities of the hybrid races along with a great number of Sidhe, simply known as the Gods of the Grove.
We also list a few known deities from (mostly) forgotten pantheons: the “Old Ones,” who have a few cult members hidden around, and the Nyjyr Ennead, a pantheon driven from Astlan by the Etonians. Very brief mention is made of an alvaren pantheon, the El'adasir, simply because their principal deity is mentioned by the alfar; however, very little is known about the religion outside alvaren realms.
The Etonians
The Etonians originated primarily in Eton. While missionaries expanded their circle outside of Eton for years, it was not until the Cult of Tiernon in AC -1288 began expanding into Norelon that they attained a sizable presence outside of Eton. This incursion earned them and their followers the wrath of the Narveson, who had held sway upon Norelon.
The Etonians, and the Rod of Tiernon in particular, played a critical role in the overthrow of the Anilords. As a result of this, the Etonians gained a substantial foothold in Norelon as the Narveson were displaced with the Anilords.
The Five Major Gods are all siblings, brothers and sisters. Their mother is commonly believed to have been the Goddess Danu of the El'adasir pantheon. Their father’s name, Aetherus All Father, is considered to have been the original creator of the multiverse. However, he seems to have vanished and is rarely mentioned in any of the Etonian religious texts.
The Lesser Gods tend to be the children of the Major Gods and typically represent different aspects under their parent.
Hendeclass="underline" God of Healing (Element of Earth)
Hendel is the Etonian god of health and healing. He is particularly popular with thaumaturges, alchemists, chemists. Hendel's Supreme Temple is in Hendel's Hearth on the west coast of Eton.
Krinna: Goddess of the Wind and Sky (Element of Air)
Krinna is the Etonian goddess of the Sky, Wind and Air. She is the goddess of Enchantment, Seduction, Bewitchment and Flight. Krinna's Supreme Temple is in Krinna's Reach on the west coast of Eton.
Namora: Goddess of the Sea (Element of Water)
Namora, the Etonian Goddess of the Sea, is worshiped by all sailors, particularly adventurers and merchants, fishermen and naturally, sorcerers. Namora's largest temple and the center of her worship is on the island of Namora off the west coast of Eton. The entire island is dedicated to her service.
Tiernon: God of Justice and War (Element of Fire)
Tiernon is the best known of the Etonians Gods outside of Eton and is widely worshiped by warriors and nobility. He is the God of Justice and War and is dedicated to the elimination of Evil (with a capital E). Justicia is the seat of Tiernon's power in Astlan. It is located in western Eton.
Torean: God of Valor and Exploration (Element of Spirit)
Torean is the second most popular Etonian outside of Eton. He is the god of adventurers, exploration, combat and glory. Torean's Fast is the seat of Torean's supreme temple and the starting point for all great adventures and exploration.
The Narveson
The Narveson are the old gods of Norelon. In particular, they were the gods of the Anilords. With the overthrow of the Anilords, the Narveson have lost a sizeable number of followers in favor of the Etonians, who were instrumental in overthrowing the Anilords.
Drott Kmon: God of Law and Order
Drott Kmon and his cult had a very awkward relationship during the age of the Anilords. He was officially a patron of the Anilord regime, yet often seen as in opposition to the corruption found within the ranks of the Anilords. He is still popular with traditionalists. Neither he nor his adherents get along well with Zbibik and his worshipers.
Illania: Goddess of Magic
Illania was extremely popular with the Anilords and their adherents; however, her cult managed to survive relatively well by embracing wizardry quickly after the fall of the Anilords. She is also a strong patron of craft and professional women.
Maera: Goddess of Nature and Healing
Maera is still quite popular with peasants, farmers and thaumaturgists.
Soth Ammon: God of Life and Death
Soth Ammon is the Narveson god of birth, life and death. In more recent years he has become more associated with death and the underworld, primarily due to the pantheon's affiliation with the Anilords.
Teth Ammon: Goddess of Destiny
Wife of Soth Ammon. It is said that it is Teth who instructs her husband on who lives and who dies, based on thread lines within her giant loom.
Zbibk: God of Change, Chaos, Anarchy
Zbibk was very popular during the war against the Anilords (he was opposed to them) and is still popular among any rebel groups. He is also very popular among a number of non-human races, Orcs and Jotun in particular.
The El’adasir
The El'adasir are the gods of the Los Alfar. Very little is known about these gods outside of alvaren realms, as the Los Alfar keep their religious beliefs quite private. The best known deity is Danu, the Mother Goddess of Nature.
Danu the All Mother: Goddess of Creation and Nature
Mother Astlan, Earth Mother, the principal oneness of nature and life.
Nét: God of War
Nét is the El’Adasir God of War, has at times been a prominent and well known figure even to alvaran allies and enemies. However, in recent times little has been heard of him in Astlan or the localverse; this is most likely because the Los Alfar have not been engaged in any large scale warfare in the last few thousand years.
The Gods of the Grove
The Gods of the Grove are the primary protectors of the Grove. Outside of the Grove, they are not currently widely worshiped by urban humans or farmers. However, they are very popular among woodsmen, hunters, rangers and scouts, as well as shepherds throughout Astlan. They are extremely popular with many of the hybrid races as well as a sizable number of Sidhe.
The pantheon has a relatively ribald nature and is frowned upon among knowledgeable elites who consider the practices of their followers to be very animalistic, primitive and too overtly sexual.
Nearly all the gods are intimately associated with nature, the seasons, life, death, rebirth and fecundity. The major deities all have deep affiliations with fertility, sexuality, passion, and uninhibited behavior.