Certain portions of this document are Open Game Content, per the Open Game License. The Open Game License is attached to the end of the main page. All of the pages and text in the House Rules section is Open Game Content except any mentioned setting names (primarily Theralis and Forgotten Realms). Artwork and text in any other section is Closed Content. Open Content may be reproduced per the rules of the Open Game License. Closed Content may not be reproduced.
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The material realm is the one we are accustomed to. The mountains that you can see with your own eyes, the dirt you can pick up with your own hands. Everything that is well known is in this realm.
Co-existing with this is the ethereal realm, the insubstantial plane of ghosts and spirits. Your mind, anchored to your body and bound in its material "stuff", exists in the ethereal. Ethereal objects which are not bound into an object are insubstantially visible as wispy, transparent things.
The ethereal realm is one dimensional slice away from our own, and has unknown properties. Connected to it in other dimensional directions are the many planes. Of these, only a few are known and detailed herein.
The celestial realm is where the gods dwell. According to most research and theological understandings, the gods constructed it in the ethereal and then divided it from the normal ethereal as the eldest gods once parted land from sea. The celestial realm is actually numerous realms of the same nature, each one owned by a particular god, or jointly owned by several.
The infernal realm is the prison of the older gods, whom the current gods overthrew and destroyed. The serpent YS dwells there, as does the great wolf Abthyr, and many others.
The elemental planes are almost connected to the material realm, with the veil thinnest where great amounts of the element are strongest. Thus, deep beneath the ground, the veil between the material realm and the elemental plane of earth are very thin indeed. The elemental planes are similar to the celestial realm, but provide their owners with far, far more power. Xeras, Peladas, Hethas and Phastas each possess one of the elemental planes as well as a demesnes in the celestial realm.
All of the realms and planes are geographically limited in scope as regards the material realm. The gods of Theralis do not rule everywhere, and thus one might find other gods ruling the elemental planes elsewhere. This is one small reason why the gods war.
And, as it is said, the wars of the gods are the wars of mortals.
Once, long ago, the first lick of divine fire sparked into existence in an icy world of blackness. Within moments of its birth, it raged throughout the universe and created everything. However, it was completely chaotic, creating and destroying in an orgiastic frenzy, but without conscious design or intent.
Sixteen major behavioral patterns emerged from its random actions, each representing varying degrees of chaos or order, creation or destruction. And eventually, these took on some degree of self-awareness and drive. When that happened, they ceased to be aspects of one entity and became their own beings, forever dividing the universe from an organic morass into distinct elements.
They developed alliances and enmities, short-term and long-term goals, and succeeded to varying degrees. But they were not a stable structure.
At some point, exactly when is unknown, one of their first servants, now ancient and cunning, led their other servants into betraying and destroying them. The various servants took into themselves what they could of the divine fire, and hid the remainder away until they could handle its burning glory.
These, then, were the first gods as we know them. The current gods are the third generation of such, having overthrown the children of the first gods, and taken the divine fire into themselves.
The current gods were spirits made strong with faith and belief, and are the closest to humanity that have ever been. Their divine fire is also weaker than any before them.
Xeras: Goddess of elemental air, Xeros is tempestuous, lustful, passionate... and easily the most powerful god. She is the the undisputed lord of the sky, bringing healing rains and devestating lightning in equal measure. For various etymological reasons, She is tied to travellers, oaths, and astronomy. She is known for Her lusts, and has dallied with a significant portion of ancient heroes of myth, and their mothers.
Peladas: Goddess of elemental water, Pelados is considerably cooler-headed than Xeros, but still possessed of easily aroused passion and immense greed. Pelados is the lord of the sea, and is also associated with earthquakes.
Hethas: Goddess of elemental earth, Hethos is cold and calculating. She is also associated with wealth, but is otherwise unconcerned with mortals.
Phastas: Goddess of elemental fire, Phastos is better known for Her divine patronage to craftsmen, engineers and others who use Her technological gifts. She is generally seen as the most benificent god, possessing a great deal of kindness towards mortalkind.
Atmos: God of night and mysteries, Atmos is seen as a distant, cold figure who is best not crossed. He is strongly associated with the moon, silver, poisons, and the unknown aspect of the wilderness.
Athos: God of warfare and martial prowess, Athos is a cunning strategist and a perfectionist. He is also associated with statesmanship, particularly leaders, and with students who seek to master any skill or craft. Athos and Aphos are brothers.
Aphos: God of love, desire and beauty, Aphos is a beautifully androgynous man who has (in myth) often dressed as a woman to achieve His ends. Regardless, He seduces all who see Him, and is also associated with romance, marriage and the Muses.
Allas: Goddess of day, Allas is beautiful and sweet-natured. She is associated with the sun, truth, gold, and summer. Allas is the source of most prophecies, as it is said that She can see somewhat into the future from Her seat in the Sun.
Demis: The god/dess of the harvest, the changing seasons, fertility, and many similar life cycles. Demis brings new life into the world, and brings age to those who have already been brought in. Like Xeras, Demis has dallied with a number of heroes in myth.
There are far more than are listed here, but these are the most commonly known ones. The remainder are so obscure or weak as to be practically non-existent.
The Muses: Every creative or intellectual endeavor has its own Muse, and sub-genres simply have lesser Muses serving greater Muses. The "greater" Muses include Music, Poetry, Dreams, History and Philosophy. All Muses serve Aphos in some manner. Although not as powerful as the other greater Muses, the Muse of Healing is very popular among healers.
The Graces: God/desses of various pleasures, these minor arcana serve no one directly, but are instead on call for all of the gods. Of them all, Laughter is the most enamored of mortalkind, and has defied the rule of the gods in the name of a good joke.
Nemesis: The god/dess of divine vengeance, Nemesis serves any god who needs Him/Her. He/She is implacable and deadly.
Detos: The corn god, Detos is a reasonably minor god who is nonetheless extremely popular among the commonfolk for His gift of corn. Detos serves Demis.
Dianas: Goddess of the grape, Dianas is very minor but extremely popular among drunkards and the starting region. She serves no one directly, although She has been in the service, variously, of Aphos, Allas and Demis. Dianas is one of the few surviving gods of a much older time, and seems content in Her reduced role in the modern world.
Eras: Goddess of sex, Eras serves Aphos directly. May also be one of the older gods, although She is so thoroughly conformed to the modern gods that it's difficult to tell.
Kallos: God of chaos and destruction, Kallos is a rogue older god who has thus far avoided being killed. He is present in attacks on the established order.