Help System

NAME
Powers - anthropomorphic personifications of the forces of the five
          alchemical elements, worshiped across the whole of Alyria

DESCRIPTION
The majority of the denizens of Alyria worship personifications
of the forces of the five alchemical elements - earth, water, air,
fire, and ether. They are known as the Powers. Sub-classifications
of these five Major Powers exist, which vary among the sentient races,
defining certain aspects of each greater Power, but the essential
forces remain the same. These Powers are named and classified as
follows:

MARADAS
Earth - Masculine, cold and dry in nature. Represented by the color
black and the direction north, and linked to the Physical plane.
Gnomes are the faerie creatures directly embodying the primal forces
of this Power.

ITHRILIS
Water - Feminine, cold and moist in nature. Represented by the color
blue and the direction west, and linked to the Astral plane. Undines
are the faerie creatures directly embodying the primal forces of
this Power.

DIRA
Air - Feminine, hot and moist in nature. Represented by the color yellow
and the direction east, and linked to the Mental plane. Sylphs are the
faerie creatures directly embodying the primal forces of this Power.

GATH
Fire - Masculine, hot and dry in nature. Represented by the color red
and the direction south, and linked to the Spiritual plane. Salamanders
are the faerie creatures directly embodying the primal forces of
this Power.

VANDYNE
Ether - Androgynous and Neutral in nature. There is no faerie creature
directly embodying the primal forces of this Power.

The Powers are themselves parts of the primal Unity - the point in the
universe from which everything stems,  simply, the "One". Some races do
not believe in this unity, stating that the five Powers are the only
forces in the universe, but it is known to the exceedingly wise that
the Powers are all extensions of the One.

Priests will usually choose one of the five Powers or, depending on
their race, one of the many aspects or combination of aspects of a Power.
To tap into the forces of the particular Power they serve, they will
use a combination of chanting and gestures to bring about the appropriate
mindset.

The lesser Powers are as follows:
Vehja - Smoke
Graph - Ice
Gonur - Ooze
Talur - Magma

The demiPowers are as follows:
Zanct - Lightning
Gerdun - Steam
Orth - Radiance
Malfat - Vaccuum
Ethgon - Salt
Vaugal - Dust
Unter - Ash

Druids serve and respect all of the Powers and may call upon their
primal forces when needed. A druid will never call upon the One except
in a dire emergency, for the One embodies the combined forces of all
the Powers and is almost impossible to control without losing oneself
in the channeling.

In addition to the Powers, many other deities, demigods and self-styled
elemental forces, real and perceived, populate Alyria:

Ruthia - Ruthia is sometimes worshiped as the Goddess of Luck by Sigilians,
  but many of Her devotees have turned to Uath in recent times.

Theoorn - One of the old dwarven deific triumvirate, he is vital and
rugged like gemstones.

Asvin - One of the old dwarven deific triumvirate, he is courageous and
honorable like the bearded ancient ones.

Osvin - One of the old dwarven deific triumvirate, he is strong and
powerful, like the mighty pickaxes.

Sumter - Little is known about Sumter, as all of the historical tracts and
books were lost when the Kells invaded the Temple of Sumter.

Xuchar - The drowish Demon Urge of Malice is viewed by most theologians as
one of the most powerful deities in the drowish pantheon.

Grorbol - A primary goblin deity, much of the goblin theological system is
too complex for non-goblins to comprehend, and thus Grorbol is named
metonymously for all that goblins believe in, and much of what non-goblins
hate in life.

Fallen-Gods - Their names are lost to time, but the idols and deities of
prehistory are still remembered on Arcane and in Mandrake Woods and elsewhere.

Animism - Less an entity than a belief in the inherent life force present in
everything, including objects, animism is widely practiced among primitive people.

Ina - The patron goddess of Aequtus, Ina is widely believed to safeguard the
Western Sea between Sepharia and Avros.

Skah-tuk - Worshipped by the more primitive minotaur tribes, Skah-tuk is
their primary God of Rain.

Saenia - The sea-elves native to the Proving Grounds worship Saenia, Goddess
of Peace and Diplomacy, as a saving grace against the sahuagin.

Holzan - Little is known about this drowish deity.

Nadazar - Worshiped as the patron God of Atlantis, nearly all local mermaids
pray to Nadazar.

Abacax - An icy balrog of evil and corruption, Abacax worshiped by the
vermin of Shadow Castle and their keepers.

Zeqolas - A tremendously strong shark deity worshiped primarily by the
Sahuagin, he incites frequent evilness, but is not particularly influential.

Hymula - The orcish deity of life and healing is prayed to and worshiped
dutifully, yet few truly follow her.

Allak-sunn - Among some dracons that hold onto old traditions, Allak-sunn is
believed to hold sway over the four winds.

Alkhan-Rakh - Traditionally invoked before attacking naive advenurers within
the Tower of Riga, He is the old ariel God of War.

Praios - Praios is well-known among travelers to Lowangen, for his adherents
prosytelization, and little more.

Uath - Popularly worshiped in Sigil as the God of Luck, Uath has many
gambling devices and games of chance dedicated to his favor.

Indra - The patron goddess of New Rigel, thieves and entertainers
uncharacteristically seek to gain Her favor in search of wealth.

Kalywak - A multifaceted being, the name Kalywak is the invocation of a
continuum of mischief, ranging from harmless jokes to clever pranks to terrible
turns of fate.

Selvicia - The mysterious Lady of the eponymous Cult, Selvicia is known to
have existed at one time, but few outside of the Cult know anything of her.

Vyst - A fiery being from another plane, Vyst seeks greater power in the
form of religious subservience.

Azathoth - A fiery balrog of evil and corruption, Azathoth is worshiped by
anti-paladins and his high priest Kalak in the caverns of Irda Isle.

Yourban - The self-styled master of all evil, Yourban is a demon seeking to
climb the deific hierarchy.

Ypayla - The orcs of Wroth dedicated a holiday and many statues to their
deity of suffering and agony.

V'ree - Little is known about V'ree by outsiders, save that it is one of the
drowish Demonic Urges.

Dracolich - The symbol and ostensible object of the Dracco cult's
attentions, the Dracolich predominately holds power within the Dungeon Avarice.

Stormseeker - An unknown deity from antiquity, only the relics and remnants of
devices created to honor the Stormseeker remain.

The Jellyfish of the Universe - While few worship the Jellyfish of the
Universe, the children's story telling of the creation of the world by
sloughing off of Its egg sac is widely held to be true.

Hungry Implementors - Extraplanar gods of mischief, it is unknown whether
anyone actually worships them, or they simply are truly deific manifestations
that nobody worships.

Beyonder - Only dracons worship this being, yet it is undeniably cosmic in
origin, and held in the utmost respect by the inhabitants of Vir for its role
as the protector of the Source of the dracon genesis.

Metonychoseuthis, with Swiveling Hooks - Presumptively held by cult
followers to be the destroyer of the universe, only the presumptive creator
deity, The Jellyfish of the Universe rivals the godsquid's advertised power.

Gruumsh the One-Eyed - The leader of the orcish pantheon of deities, the
primary traits attributed to Gruumsh are avarice, envy, and tremendous pride.

Queen Tirona - The eternal leader of the Fey, Tirona oversees the Unseelie
court and holds aspirations towards expanding her empire.

King Sandoval - The eternal leader of the Sidhe, Sandoval seeks to fend off
Queen Tirona's advances, and curry favor on the Physical plane.

Death - The eventual end of all things, death is subtle and sometimes
conflated with entropy on all levels, the patient dissolutor of everything.

SEE ALSO
Religion, Religious Spells, Religious Battles