Originally, the two chief gods of the pantheon were Ormaz (the Light) and Angra Mainyu (the Darkness), locked in eternal struggle. Later, after the first destruction of the world, mortals came to revere the later gods more, turning away from the excesses of their earlier extremism. Dwarves, however, are ever faithful. They remember their Grandfather.
According to priests of Ormaz, Ormaz should have been the undisputed king of gods and mortals, and the world would have been a paradise, but due to some cosmic mistake, evil, in the form of Angra Mainyu, usurped his place. Thus, the earth is inherantly corrupt. Ormaz created mortals to purify the world, but Angra Mainyu created evil races of mortals in mockery. Priests of Ormaz tend the sacred fire, symbol of purity. Each Temple of Ormaz has a fire altar, supposedly holding an offshoot of the original flame Ormaz gave to the first dwarf.
Above the surface, followers of Ormaz commit their dead to "air burials":
i.e. they place them on top of special Towers of Silence, usually located
on remote hilltops, for vultures. It's said that one reason Zimurga, the
magical vulture, is so wise, is that she has purified the remains of so many
wise and blessed mortals. Below the surface, followers of Ormaz cremate
their dead. After death, the souls must attempt to cross the Bridge of
Separation, which is guarded by a holy dog that drives away demons. Those
who have achieved more good than evil are permitted to cross. The evil are
cast into the abyss.
Angra Mainyu
Time decreed that the eldest should rule by right over all the world. Therefore did Angra Mainyu tear his way prematurely from the belly of Zurvan Akarana (Infinite Time), granting himself lawful dominion over creation.
His children honor him by conquest and subjugation of other races, especially those favored by Ormaz. They celebrate his birth at a midsummer festival involving the sacrificial burning of an enemy village (if that can be managed).
Popular among commoners of many races, she goes from one twin to the other. Her love keeps them from destroying the world. She is the goddess of renewal. Her dance revived the earth and relit the sun after the cataclysm that destroyed the world. She is associated with the ocean, as her brother Mitras is associated with the land.
Anahita has a number of mystery cults and temples of sacred prostitutes, but these are outlawed in the lands of the followers of Ela (including Krosa). Typical rites include an orgiastic festival at harvest-time.
The brother of Anahita, the god of war and herders, Mitras slew the sacred bull Geshurvan to bring luck and fertility back to the land after it was destroyed in the long winter (Fimbulwinter). All kinds of plants and animals emerged from the corpse. Every year in late winter/pre-spring, the high priest re-enacts the rite as Mitras.
Like Anahita, Mitras has a number of mystery cults associated with him. In Skandria, the Emperor is the high priest of one of these. Initiates wear masks, go to secret rites, have seven grades of initiation (from lowest to highest, Raven, Bridegroom, Soldier, Lion, Priest, Courier of the Sun, Father. Details may vary from place to place.)
Haoma is Anahita's son by either Ormaz or Angra Mainyu. After the destruction of the world, he revived his fathers from near-death.
Haoma is the god of plants, of intoxication, of visions and dreams, especially those under the influence of plant substances. From plants, he can brew all sorts of medicines, the Elixir of Immortality, the Water of Life, poisons, etc. He taught his priests to make the secret intoxicating drink named after him.
Haoma has a number of mystery cults dedicated to him. In the west, these take the form of ecstatics wearing leaves, animal skins, and carrying the sacred staff, wreathed with vine-leaves or ivy. They roam the mountains in wild whirling dances, drunk or drugged, and hunt the god (in the form of a sacred animal) down and tear it to pieces, consuming it raw. Many fey are members of such cults.
Zaole represents both the smiling face of the Sun and the harsh deadly heat of its fire. She is a child of Ormaz, and his warrior. Snakes are sacred to her. Worshippers keep a harmless green snake: kindness to the snake brings generosity from the goddess.
Zaole sees not just what is, but what might be. She watches over her children, the gnomes, and her adoptive children, the halflings.
Somewhat enigmatic gods. Worshipped by humans as weather gods, and for the fertility of the soil. Seen as the guardians of the edge between the spiritual/magical and the material worlds. Tradition holds that Madrakka created the physical part of the elves, Maddratcha the spiritual. But perhaps it was the other way around. The two are always associated, always together, and the names and natures may very well switch between them.
According to the elves:
Madrakka for body, earth, fire, life. Maddratcha for soul, air, death.
Madrakka for things made, Maddratcha for songs sung.
Original material copyright © April 7, 2001, Celeste Chang
Revised April 7, 2001