The Pantheon of Aranor
The gods of Aranor are as ancient as the land itself, with legends saying they remnants of the Architects or were born from the magic of the leylines. They are revered across the continent, though their worship varies from region to region. The pantheon of Aranor is not simply worshiped but also woven into everyday life and culture. Followers believe that the gods’ influence is felt wherever the leylines run, and some areas of Aranor are seen as particularly sacred due to their proximity to these magical veins. Each god’s presence is strongest near specific leylines or in regions aligned with their domains, leading to localized rituals and celebrations.
The gods are seen as not only creators and destroyers but as reflections of Aranor’s own duality—its beauty and its danger. Their influence is both a source of protection and a reminder of the untamed powers of the world. The followers of each deity form orders, societies, and sects that carry out the gods’ will, often clashing or cooperating in the pursuit of their own divine mandates.
As the Cult of the Obsidian Order rises and dark forces gather, some fear that the gods themselves may intervene. Ancient prophecies suggest that if the Silent King were to return, Alara and Vireon would descend to lead a last battle, Mara would record the fate of all involved, and Lyssara would guide souls to their final rest.
Alara, The Dawnmother
Alara is the goddess of light, life, and rebirth. Often depicted as a radiant woman with flowing golden hair, she is worshiped as the bringer of day and the giver of warmth. Alara is said to have mended the wounded earth after the Sundering War, nurturing life back into the land. Her priests are healers, and her temples are often found near places of great natural beauty.
Domains: Light, Healing, Renewal
Symbol: A golden sun rising over a field
Followers: Farmers, healers, parents, those seeking hope and renewal.
Holy Sites: Alara’s grandest temple lies in Donimroth, where it is believed she blessed the city with an eternal flame.
Eryndor, The Keeper of the Wilds
Eryndor is the god of forests, animals, and the untamed wilds. Known as a guardian spirit of Aranor, Eryndor represents the primal force of nature, both nurturing and merciless. He is depicted as a massive stag or as a wild, bearded man adorned with leaves and antlers. Followers of Eryndor revere the balance of life and death in nature and believe that he protects the natural world from overuse and corruption.
Domains: Nature, Wilderness, Beasts
Symbol: A stag’s head surrounded by leaves
Followers: Druids, hunters, rangers, the people of Wyndalan.
Holy Sites: The forests around Wyndalan are considered sacred to Eryndor, and his followers celebrate seasonal rites there.
Lyssara, The Mistress of Shadows
Lyssara is the goddess of shadows, illusion, and the veil between worlds. She is a patron of thieves and spies but is also invoked by those seeking guidance in the night or protection from unseen threats. Lyssara is said to have woven the dreams of mortals, influencing the minds of kings and commoners alike. She is depicted as a slender, hooded figure, often with a sly smile.
Domains: Trickery, Night, Dreams
Symbol: A crescent moon veiled by a wisp of shadow
Followers: Rogues, spies, poets, those who operate in secrecy.
Holy Sites: Thralash is rumored to house a hidden temple to Lyssara, though its location is a closely guarded secret.
Aeris, The Stormbringer
Aeris is the god of storms, the sea, and the forces of change. Known for his unpredictable temper, he represents both the life-giving and destructive powers of water and sky. Sailors and coastal villages honor him to appease his wrath, as he controls the tempests that sweep across the Silver Sea. Aeris is depicted as a fierce warrior with stormy eyes and wild hair, wielding a trident crackling with lightning.
Domains: Tempest, Sea, Change
Symbol: A lightning bolt splitting a wave
Followers: Sailors, fishers, storm sorcerers, those who seek transformation
Holy Sites: His grandest temple lies in Satun, where the Sapphire Flame’s priests conduct rituals to calm the storms.
Vireon, The Iron Sentinel
Vireon is the god of war, protection, and disciplined strength. He represents the resolve of warriors and the duty to protect one’s people. Vireon’s followers honor him through acts of bravery and strict adherence to codes of honor. He is often depicted as a towering figure clad in silver armor; his face hidden behind a visor. Vireon’s worship is especially prominent in Elburh, where he is considered a guardian against the forces of Roude.
Domains: War, Order, Protection
Symbol: A silver shield emblazoned with a sword
Followers: Soldiers, knights, guardians, those who value justice and order.
Holy Sites: The fortress-city of Elburh is seen as a living temple to Vireon, and his shrines are common along its battlements.
Mara, The Weaver of Fate
Mara is the goddess of fate, knowledge, and the threads of magic that bind the world. She is thought to weave the destinies of mortals and gods alike, recording all events in the Book of Ages. Mara is depicted as a robed figure with a serene face, holding a spindle and a book. Her followers believe that by studying fate and history, they can glimpse the hidden patterns that govern life.
Domains: Knowledge, Fate, Magic
Symbol: A golden thread winding around an open book
Followers: Scholars, sages, wizards, those who seek wisdom and insight.
Holy Sites: The grand library of Satun is dedicated to Mara, and it is said that her priests guard tomes containing prophecies of Aranor’s future.
Thalos, The Shaper of Fire and Forge
Thalos is the god of fire, craftsmanship, and invention. He embodies the spirit of creation through skill and labor, and his followers include artisans and smiths. Thalos is often depicted as a burly, muscular figure, wielding a hammer, with flames dancing around him. His teachings emphasize perseverance, mastery, and the pursuit of perfection in one’s craft.
Domains: Forge, Craft, Fire
Symbol: A hammer striking an anvil, with sparks flying
Followers: Blacksmiths, artisans, inventors, those who work with their hands.
Holy Sites: The foundries of Donimroth are dedicated to Thalos, where massive forges are maintained in his honor.
In the pantheon of Aranor, death is a complex and contested domain. While Tarnum, the Silent King, embodies necromancy and the corruption of death, there is another deity who opposes his dark influence. This deity is the protector of the natural cycle of life and death and stands against the perversion of undeath.
Tarnum, The Silent King
: Tarnum, the Silent King, is the god of undeath, forbidden magic, and relentless ambition. Legends claim that he was once an Architect who betrayed his kind, seeking dominion over all magic. His mortal form was destroyed in the Sundering War, but his spirit lingers, whispering promises of power to those willing to delve into forbidden knowledge. Tarnum is often depicted as a shadowed figure crowned in darkness, his eyes glowing red, hidden beneath a dark crown. He is the patron of necromancers and those who seek power over life and death.
Domains: Undeath, Necromancy, Ambition
Symbol: A black crown with a single red gem
Followers: Necromancers, cultists, seekers of forbidden power.
Holy Sites: His followers revere Roude, a desolate city where the influence of the Silent King is believed to be strongest.
Eldris, The Veiled Guardian
Eldris, known as the Veiled Guardian, is the goddess of death, peace, and the natural passage from life to afterlife. She is the custodian of souls, guiding them to the Eternal Fields where they find rest. Eldris represents death as a release, a return to the source, and opposes any force that would disrupt this balance. She is often depicted as a serene, veiled woman holding a scythe adorned with lilies, symbolizing the dual nature of death as both an end and a beginning.
Domains: Death, Peace, Transition
Symbol: A white lily intertwined with a silver scythe
Followers: Priests, those who honor the dead, those who seek peace and protection from undeath.
Holy Sites: Eldris’s most sacred temple lies in Elburh, the fortress-city that serves as a bulwark against the forces of Roude. Her followers conduct ceremonies to honor the fallen and ensure they find rest.
Mythos of Tarnum and Eldris
The rivalry between Tarnum and Eldris is one of the oldest stories in Aranor. It is said that Tarnum, upon his betrayal of the Architects, sought to use death to extend his own power and live eternally through his followers. Eldris opposed him, as she saw his actions as a perversion of the natural cycle. In the Sundering War, she and her followers stood as the last line of defense against Tarnum’s army of the undead.
Though Tarnum was defeated, Eldris remains vigilant, watching over the world and ensuring that the dead find peace. Her priests, known as the Wardens of the Veil, are trained not only in the rites of death but also in combat to hunt down necromancers and cleanse the land of undead.
The followers of Tarnum and Eldris are in constant conflict, especially in areas around Roude and Elburh. Tarnum’s cult, known as the Obsidian Order, believes in using death as a tool for power and views undeath as a form of ascension. They perform dark rituals to raise the dead and gain Tarnum’s favor, often using corrupted leylines to strengthen their magic.
The Wardens of the Veil, meanwhile, are devoted to preserving the sanctity of death. They patrol graveyards, sanctify battlegrounds, and destroy any undead they encounter. Eldris’s followers see their goddess as the true guardian of death, ensuring that souls are not trapped in an eternal torment.
This dichotomy between Eldris and Tarnum adds a layer of tension across Aranor. As the Cult of the Obsidian Order grows and the forces of undeath spread, many fear that a second war could erupt, one where Eldris’s Wardens must once again confront the ambitions of the Silent King.