Koar Greater God, King of the Gods Spheres of Power: Justice, Loyalty, Law Humanoid Manifestation: A huge man upon a throne, contemplating fate of all things. Flowing grey hair and beard, shaggy brows, a deeply creased forehead, and weary eyes. Koar wears a golden crown. Manner: commanding, detached, weary Koar is the King of the Gods. Once he ruled all the Arkati and he is still the titular head of both the Light and Dark Gods. In practice, however, his direct control is only over the Gods of Light. Not since the fall of the Drakes in the Ur-Daemon War has Koar rallied all the gods too him, and none knows for sure if he could unify the Arkati now, no matter what the cause. Still, it is said that as long as Koar lives, the Gods of Light and Dark will never face each other in open war. Legend holds that Koar sits on a great throne carved from the stone heart of the world extending up through the tallest mountain in Elanthia. He rarely leaves his throne, and spends most of his time slumbering or brooding. Even when he sleeps, one eye is always slightly open, and while Koar may not intervene in the affairs of gods or mortals often, there is little that escapes his notice. The sages say that the mountains of Elanthia rise and fall as Koar's brow furrows. One day, it is said, when the Gods of Darkness no longer vex their king, and when mortals no longer wage petty wars, the mountains will sink back into the ground and all the world will be a fertile plain. Earthquakes are attributed to Koar shifting restlessly, and before Koar's brow is smoothed, legend holds he will rise from his throne in wrath, shaking the greatest fortresses to rubble. The prophecy is silent as to who or what will be the object of his ire. Some common folk believe that Koar is not an Arkati, but actually the last of the Great Drakes. No respected scholar actually believes such nonsense, obviously born of chuckle-headed nostalgia. Koar's blessing is often invoked during coronation ceremonies, and it is not uncommon for rulers to claim that their particular right to reign bears Koar's approval. Koar's symbol is a golden crown, often set on a circle of white. Lumnis Greater Goddess Spheres of Power: Wisdom, Knowledge Humanoid Manifestation: A mature woman in a gossamer robe of light grey so long that her feet are never seen and the hem is lost in distant mists. Her hair is black with a single shock of gray at her forehead. Manner: Serene Lumnis is the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge, and the Wife of Koar. She is not considered the "Queen" of the Gods, however. She gives counsel willingly, even to the Dark Gods, but never commands. Lumnis' power lies in her understanding of the interrelationships of the Spheres of Knowledge and her intuitive grasp of their intricacies. Able to accomplish feats that leave even Koar amazed, she wields her knowledge with the style of an artist. She is worshipped by scholars and practitioners of the arcane arts who explore the boundaries of their knowledge with a wonder and respect of the powers they discover. Her wisdom is also sought by fortune-tellers and all in need of guidance. She regards Fash'lo'nae's approach to knowledge as ultimately self-destructive and unconscionable. Her disapproval of knowledge for personal gain or power is such that she has been attributed with the sudden disappearance of several notably power-hungry magic users over the centuries. Lumnis' symbol is a golden scroll overlaying five conjoined circles, the circles being red, blue, black, green, and white - symbolizing her mastery of the Spheres of Knowledge. Ronan Spheres of Power: Night, Dreams Humanoid Manifestation: A gaunt man with heavy-lidded eyes and a mysterious smile. His eyes are without whites, being entirely black save a faint grey swirl. He dresses only in black and even the steel of his weapons are black. Manner: Sleepy, Sardonic Ronan is the God of Night, he is master of sleep and of dreams and guardian against those who would violate the peaceful respite of that other world. Ronan is perhaps the most active foe of the Dark Gods. Ronan is the darker twin of Phoen, and it is said that the two, being night and day, cannot come together in the same place. Given their avoidance of light and their use of darkness as a cloak to cover their activities, Ronan finds the Dark Gods trespassing in his realm quite regularly. Ronan and Sheru are in constant conflict since they both regard the night and sleep as their rightful territories. Luukos also mounts a constant assault on Ronan's realm with those who have failed to die cleanly and are now subject to his curse. Ronan's symbol is a black sword with a silver edge on a field of black. Lorminstra Greater Goddess Spheres of Power: Death, Rebirth, Winter, Deliverance Humanoid Manifestation: A thin woman with blonde hair and pale alabaster skin. She wears two layers of robes, black over white. At her side dangles a ring of keys, one for every soul. Manner: Somber, Caring Lorminstra is the Goddess of Death/Rebirth and Winter, she is the eldest offspring of Koar and Lumnis. Lorminstra is the Goddess of Winter, that annual 'death' of nature which parallels the death and rebirth of souls. Lorminstra is also the Guardian of Souls, and Keeper of the Ebon Gate. It is her decision whether a soul is allowed to return to Elanthia each time an appeal is made via a ritual of 'Lifegiving', and even Koar will not gainsay her decision. Lorminstra regards Luukos' enslavement of souls to animate his undead as abominable. She supports her brother, Ronan, in his struggle against Luukos' minions, and also petitions Koar frequently to take direct measures to curb Luukos' activities. Lorminstra's symbol is a golden key, or a golden key set upon a gate of black. Phoen Greater God Sphere of Power: Sun, Summer, Fatherhood Humanoid Manifestation: Phoen's features are almost identical to Ronan's, but his hair is golden, shining so brightly as to blind mortals. His clothes are golden also. Manner: Confident, to the point of egotism Phoen is the God of the Sun and Summer. Phoen is Consort to Oleani. He is often considered the god of 'fatherhood', given his relationship with Oleani (the goddess of fertility) and as God of the Sun he represents the masculine side of fertility. The Sun God personifies manly power, to the point that he is often egotistical. There is more than one fable of Phoen causing harm rather than good through careless use of his great power. The warmth and light associated with the sun, as well as the fact that they are life-nurturing qualities place Phoen in direct opposition to the Dark Gods However, more often it is the Dark Gods regarding him as such that leads to conflict, rather than his desire to oppose them. He may also face them simply as a staunch ally of Oleani's. Phoen's symbol is a golden sunburst on a field of blue. Oleani Greater Goddess Spheres of Power: Love, Fertility, Spring Humanoid Manifestation: Oleani appears in many forms, but always as a woman of maddening beauty. Manner: Amorous, Nurturing Oleani is the Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Spring. Her consort is Phoen, the Sun God Called upon to bless weddings and birthings, Oleani represents the many aspects of Love. Her interests range from the romantic aspects of a 'respectable and proper courtship' to the sensual magnetism which may spark an illicit love affair - from the tragedy of a lover's untimely death to the joy of a new birth. In most lands she is honored in the early spring when a celebration of new love and a ritual requesting her blessing on the fields are combined into a single holiday. Oleani's symbol is a red heart with a budding flower growing from it. Kai Greater God Spheres of Power: Strength, Athletic Prowess, Skill at Arms Humanoid Manifestation: A young man of epic build, with strong and carefree features. Kai is always dressed in light armor and is never without a weapon of some sort. Manner: Carefree, Brave, Aggressive Kai is the God of physical strength and athletic prowess. Kai has been beaten once in armed combat by Koar, and fought once to a standstill against V'tull. Beyond these two instances every opponent Kai has faced has fallen before him. Legend holds that in the Ur-Daemon war, Kai slew more of the enemy than any Drake did, despite their awesome might. Kai's joy of physical combat is such that only Koar's injunctions keep him from constant battle with the Gods of Darkness. As an alternative he often roams Elanthia looking for unsuspecting mortals to toy with in physical 'contests' of one sort or another. Kai's blessing is often invoked at contests of physical prowess. Kai's symbol is a silver arm with fist clenched, on a field of crimson. His clerics name their maces, cast in the same shape, the Fists of Kai. Imaera Greater Goddess Spheres of Power: Autumn, Harvest, Healing, Plants and Animals Humanoid Manifestation: A young woman, often elven, dressed in robes of leaves and flowers. Manner: Exuberant Imaera is the Goddess of the Nature and Autumn. While Oleani's realm is cultivation and the fertility of mortals, Imaera's realm is the wilds and unfettered nature. Her consort is Eonak, without who's rocky soil, no plant could grow. As the Goddess of Life and of growing things, hers are the plants and animals native to the land. Credited with the creation of most of the species on Elanthia, and with several of the human-like races, she is the mistress of shaping flesh, bone, and plant to suit any need. As such her blessing is often sought by those who practice the healing arts. Imaera is also the Goddess of the Harvest and so of the bounty which the land produces in its cycle of life. While Oleani oversees cultivation and agriculture, the final blessing of Imaera is needed for the spark of life. Because of this she is often honored in autumn festivals. All of the aspects of Imaera are in direct opposition to the twisting and deformation of life forms practiced by some of the Dark Gods, and of the senseless destruction of life and land that most of their minions undertake as a matter of course. Imaera's symbol is a golden sheaf of grain on a field of green when she is worshipped by farmers. The elves ascribe to her a brown doe on a field of green. Charl Greater God Spheres of Power: Oceans, Storms, Revolution Humanoid Manifestation: A towering man with a beard of seaweed and algae, blue and grey robes, and wielding a trident. Charl rarely appears except in the sea or the heart of a storm, and only his lower half is a fish's tail. Manner: Stern, Angry, Quick-tempered Charl is the God of the Sea. Living apart from his brethren, Charl dwells constantly in the seas of Elanthia, joining the other Gods only when Koar commands. Legend holds that Koar once had to send for Charl six times before he appeared. When Koar demanded to know why he was so disobedient, Charl replied that he was always the most obedient of Koar's servants, but that the waters of the six oceans of the world flowed through his veins, and none could come without the others. Charl is a dark and violent god, and is renowned for his drastic mood swings. He cares little for the land dwelling races on Elanthia, and is as likely to swat a nearby ship with a storm as he is to let it pass untouched. Because of this he is feared by seamen, and few pray to him for fear they might attract his attention. For the same reason clerics serving Charl, although seldom welcome, rarely come to harm in any place frequented by seamen. He is also the god of storms of all sorts, and more than one despotic tyrant, overthrown by an angry mob marching under a stormy sky, has sworn that it was Charl's hand that laid him low. Some clergy contend that Charl is at heart a God of Darkness. Still, there is little doubt that he swears fealty to Koar, and for that reason, if for no other, he is numbered with the Gods of Light. Charl's symbol is an emerald trident on a field of blue, or alternately, a silver dolphin on a field of blue. Jastev Greater God Spheres of Power: Visual Art (Painting, Sculpture, etc.), Prophecy Humanoid Manifestation: A pale man dressed in drab colors. His age varies from the youngest of boys to the oldest of greybeards. Manner: Most often Sad, with fits of Inspiration and Joy Jastev is the God of Visual Art and Prophecy. He is the only God of Light who's company Charl regularly keeps. Given to a somber demeanor and periods of depression, Jastev's knowledge of the future is portrayed as a double-edged sword, giving him warning of the consequences of the actions of the Dark Gods and their followers, yet also showing him more than any being would wish to know. It is said that having foreseen the end of the World and of all that he loves causes his darker moods. His patronization of the visual arts is also attributed to his knowledge of the future, since he encourages the preservation of each moment of beauty, emotion, or tragedy for those who will come after. Jastev is the patron of mystics and seers, and his blessing is often invoked by practitioners of the arts of foretelling. While Lumnis will provide her followers with knowledge of the skills of fishing, Jastev is not averse to giving the location of the nearest fish. Jastev's symbol is a black artist's brush on a field of grey, alternately it is a silver crystal ball on a field of grey. Cholen Greater God Spheres of Power: Festivals, Performing Arts, Humor Humanoid Manifestation: Arrayed in fine but exaggerated clothing, Cholen's favors a great cloak with patches of every color and shape imaginable. Demeanor: playful; mocking Cholen is the God of Festivals and the performing arts. Offspring of Imaera and Eonak, and younger brother to Jastev. Patron of celebrations and all that goes with them, Cholen is renowned for his bright demeanor, his mastery of music, song, and dance, and of his mischievous nature. All performing skills commonly seen at festivals fall within his domain, and muttered prayers to Cholen are not uncommon among jugglers, actors, and bards who frequently perform at them. The many comedies whose plots revolve around mistaken identity and cross-gender disguises owe their basis, at least in part, to Cholen's penchant for cross-gender pranks, although his disguises are generally acknowledged as being more complete than most acting troupes could ever manage. Cholen's symbol is a crimson lute on a field of gold. Tonis Greater God Spheres of Power: Speed, Travel, Thieves Humanoid Manifestation: A lithe young man dressed in a simple tunic and carrying a messenger's pouch across one shoulder. Demeanor: hyper-active, childlike Tonis is the Messenger of the gods. Offspring of Phoen and Oleani. He is renowned for his speed, and for the shape he commonly chooses when on an errand. Even more frequently than his 'human' form, Tonis takes on the form of a golden pegasus whose hooves strike flames from the sky. Tonis is also worshipped by thieves. Myths of his speed and daring spur his worshippers on to perform similar feats, and it is the skill and daring of their acts that motivates them more than the trinkets they take. In battle, Tonis can slay an army in a few moments by rushing among them and snatching the breath from their mouths. Tonis' symbol is a golden pegasus on a field of blue. Eonak Greater God Spheres of Power: Craftsmanship, Labor, Triumph over Adversity Humanoid Manifestation: Eonak is heavily muscled, either a short Man or large Dwarf, and wears the leather garments of a blacksmith. His left arm is missing, replaced by a veil iron prosthetic. Demeanor: impatient, surly, distracted Eonak is the Artificer of the gods. He is the Consort of Imaera. Maker of all of the fantastic items used by the gods, Eonak spends most of his time at his forge. He is more at home there than anywhere else, and at times only a decree from Koar or the soft words of Imaera can separate him from it. Often considered a strange pairing, Imaera and Eonak are each masters of crafting, although their choices of substances is vastly different. Imaera's crafting is of living things, of cycles and seasons and balance. Eonak's crafting is of inanimate things, yet even as Imaera's, his creations must fulfill their purposes, achieve a balance of beauty and utility, and all, even as Imaera's do, contain some part of him that marks them as creations of Eonak's hand. Eonak personifies success won by hard work rather than natural gifts alone. Legend differ as to how Eonak lost his arm, but all agree that the veil iron arm he spent lifetimes crafting is the greatest piece of craftsmanship ever under taken and serves him better than the original. Eonak's symbol is a golden anvil on a field of brown. Voln Lesser God Spheres of Power: Battle against the Undead Humanoid Manifestation: Voln always appears ready for battle in full armor of black chainmail topped by a white surcoat and carrying a white shield. Demeanor: grim, sometimes snide While not directly a servant of Lorminstra, Voln does owe much to her and shares her hatred of Luukos. Tales suggest that Voln's very existence is a result of Lorminstra's constant entreaties to Koar for some direct action to counter the spreading curse of Luukos' undead. Most tales attribute Voln's paternal lineage to Koar and a mortal woman. His upbringing, in a land where he witnessed loved ones lost to Luukos' curse, shaped him with an undying hatred of the undead and provided a lifelong mission. Now fully cognizant of his own immortal nature, Voln has pledged himself to the release of every soul enslaved by Luukos. Voln's symbol is a white shield on a field of black. The scrolls speak of the darker gods as well. Those that follow are generally regarded as the Dark Gods. Eorgina Greater Goddess Sphere's of Power: Darkness, Domination, Tyranny Humanoid Manifestation: Eorgina appears as a beautiful queen wearing the richest and most beautiful of velvet robes and weighed down with lavish jewelry. Demeanor: cruel, destructive Eorgina is the Goddess of Darkness and Ruler of the Dark Gods. She bestows upon herself the title of Queen of the Gods and works toward the end of either replacing Lumnis at Koar's side or killing him and Taking both their places. The Queen of Darkness personifies the unrestrained power of tyranny and draws strength wherever one being dominates another, be it a despot with no regard for justice or a stepmother with no love for her husband's children. Ironically, her worshippers often include those who have been wronged by tyranny and seek the revenge of returning the favor. Eorgina's symbol is red, stylized flames on a field of grey. Ivas Greater Goddess Sphere's of Power: Unbridled Desire, Lust, and Passion Humanoid Manifestation: A beautiful woman with tentacles in place of arms Demeanor: insatiable Ivas is the Goddess of Seduction. Possessing a pair of tentacles where most humanoid beings have arms, and with full, sensuous lips hiding a maw filled with shark's teeth, Ivas cloaks herself in illusion. She appears to the unwary as a woman of unearthly beauty. Preying on those willing to be seduced, Ivas thrives on the jealousy, distrust, and hatred that results. Often times marked by rotting diseases that defy all cures, her adherents form cults which revel in perverted carnal pleasures. However, their primary goal is the seduction of unwary outsiders. Ivas' symbol is a stylized, green wisp of smoke on a field of red. Fash'lo'nae Greater God Sphere of Power: Magic, Forbidden Knowledge, Libraries Humanoid Manifestation: Fash'lo'nae appears as an ancient man or woman of scholarly bent. Demeanor: cool, calculating Fash'lo'nae, is the Master of Magic and Arcane knowledge for its own sake. He regards the pursuit of esoteric knowledge as an end in itself, and soci- etal or other impacts of that pursuit are of no consequence. Even the gaining of knowledge for personal gain is not a goal, other than as it may make further inquiries, investigations, and experiments possible. Theft, dishonesty, and even murder are acceptable if they further the acquiring of knowledge, particularly arcane or mystical knowledge. While Fash'lo'nae is certainly frowned upon by many, most do not consider him strictly "evil." In fact, he is credited in several legends with spreading beneficial knowledge that others would have suppressed. (Drakes-arkati,arkati- elves,elves-humans). It is generally agreed that Fash'lo'nae brought fire to the mortal races, suffering the wrath of the Great Drakes, although there is dispute as to his motive in doing so. Many call Fash'lo'nae The Grandfather, and his followers contend that he is the eldest of the Gods, even older than Koar himself. Followers of Fash'lo'nae are a hazard to all about them, since they consider the risks of demon summoning as a paltry price to pay for the potential of increased knowledge. Fash'lo'nae's symbol is yellow, slit-pupilled eye on a field of grey. Andelas Greater God Spheres of Power: Felines, Hunting Humanoid Manifestation: While Andelas appears most often as a great cat, in human form he retains his cat-like quality from his eyes to his unusually sharp fingernails. Demeanor: playful, sadistic or indifferent Andelas is the God of Cats, and so is different to some degree from the rest of the Dark Gods. In fact, were it not for his decidedly sadistic nature, it could be argued that Andelas is not really 'evil'. Followers of Andelas form cat-cults, and idolize felines to the point of re-enacting the stalk, the hunt, and the kill; complete with costuming, fangs, and claws. Andelas' influence is revealed in that the quarry in the re-enactments are most often members of one of the humanoid races. Unfortunately, they are rarely as enthused about their own participation as the members of the cult are. It is rumored that Andelas has an avatar that walks the land known as The Claw of Andelas. Andelas' symbol is a black cat's head on a field of red. V'tull Greater God Sphere's of Power: Combat, Blood Lust Humanoid Manifestation: V'tull has marble-white skin, coal-black eyes, and towers above all he meets. He is always dressed in armor so stained in blood that it's true color cannot be known. Demeanor: determined, righteous, obsessive, vengeful V'tull is the Champion of the Dark Gods Almost single-minded in his goal of bloodletting for its own sake, the sight of the life's blood of any creature seems to fill V'tull with ecstasy. Given his nature, he has spent all of his efforts in perfecting his fighting abilities and in using them at every opportunity. While all of the Gods rarely manifest themselves among mortals, V'tull does so more often than most. He regularly enters into the bodies of warriors, who's eyes are said to turn black as night when this happens, and turns them into machines of killing. His willingness to divinely inspire assures that his devotees among the martial classes are many, even where his worship is prohibited by those who fear their warriors will turn against them. V'tull's symbol is a black scimitar on a field of red. Sheru Greater God Sphere's of Power: Night, Nightmares, Insanity, Terror Humanoid Manifestation: Sheru appears as a large man with a black furred hyena's head. Demeanor: cold; emotionless, cruel Sheru is the God of Night and Nightmares. Truly the god of terror, and of unbridled fear, Sheru thrives on these emotions in lesser creatures. Only experiencing satisfaction when his efforts unseat a being's sanity, Sheru will use any means to achieve this end. Luukos' undead minions tend to cause more terror than most of the other minions of darkness, and so Sheru and Luukos are allied more often than any of the other Dark Gods. The insane are often said to have received Sheru's Gift. Sheru's symbol is a black hyena's head on a field of gold. Mularos Greater God Spheres of Power: Suffering, Torture Humanoid Manifestation: Mularos appears as a young man of delicate features dressed in simple silk robes. Often a slight glimpse of the scars left by manacles can be seen at the hem of his robe, or the bloody mark of a lash below the collar. Demeanor: charming, sado-masochistic, sad Known as "He who is the Sorrow of the World," Mularos is the God of Suffering, both physical and emotional. He draws the most strength from pain inflicted by others. While Mularos is not worshipped by any formal church, cults to him have surfaced from time to time. These are most often collections of sado-masochists, often led by a charismatic, but twisted leader. These cults seduce young followers with a decadent and reassuring life-style, and then bend their minds to dependent love and strict obedience. While the usual end result is mass suicide, it is rumored that there are such cults that have lasted for centuries. At times Mularos seems to revel in causing pain, but he feels the pain of mortals at the same time that he draws strength from it. In a sense, he is a victim of mortals as much as they are victims of him. Mularos' symbol is a heart with a dagger piercing it, on a field of white. Luukos Greater God Spheres of Power: Death. Lies. Humanoid Manifestation: Luukos appears as a darkly complexioned man with faintly reptilian features and a forked tongue. Demeanor: persuasive, treacherous; sadistic Luukos is the God of Unending Death. Unlike Lorminstra, Luukos shows no reverence for the souls of those who have died. To him they have two uses, either to animate one of his undead minions in his efforts to extend his power, or as sustenance for himself. Luukos' primary foods are the blood of the dead, and the souls of the recently fallen. Luukos' form of choice is that of a large green serpent. It is not unusual for survivors of a large battle to report the sighting of such a creature slithering from corpse to corpse on the recently abandoned field of combat. Luukos' is able to claim the souls not only of those he takes by force through his undead minions, but also of those who have sullied themselves in life. Thus, Luukos' is also the Lord of Lies, and his minions always seek to spread misinformation among mortals. Legend holds that Luukos' can snatch the soul of one who has died with a lie on their lips even from Lorminstra, and that the only way to be free from his hideous jaws is to renounce the lie. Luukos' symbol is a green serpent on a brown field. Onar Lesser God Sphere of Power: Homicide Humanoid Manifestation: Onar's true face is unknown. He acts almost exclusively through the hand of others. friendly Dress: varies True Attitude: cold-blooded, emotionless Onar is known as the Assassin of the Gods. Most often working at the behest of Eorgina, Onar is professionally cold and calculating. He never chooses a target without a reason. His services are used whenever a single death will achieve Eorgina's ends. Onar also serves the other Gods, but always at a price. What coin can pay a God is not for mortals to guess at, but the Dark Gods seem to use his services regularly against mortals who cross them. In many courts of law, possession by Onar is a defense to a charge of murder. Such possession can usually be detected by the presence of a skull marking somewhere on the body of the one possessed. Onar's symbol is a broken white skull on a field of black. Marlu Greater God Spheres of Power: Demonic Summoning, Destruction, Power Humanoid Manifestation: Marlu is a gruesome creature with glistening black skin, leathery wings, and fanged tentacles. Demeanor: Demonic Often mistaken for one of the greater demons and frequently called the Demon Lord, Marlu delights in death, destruction, and the devouring of still-living prey. Tales tell of Marlu being seen around ancient ruins, prying open old chambers and delving into all manner of spaces. Common legend has it that he seeks others of his kind to loose upon the innocents of Elanthia. Just as some believe Koar is actually the last Drake, there are those who hold that Marlu is a true Ur-Daemon who sought asylum with the Arkati when the rest of his kind were killed or driven out of this realm of existence. Marlu derives power from the summoning of demons, one reason that such practices are frowned upon by many worshippers of the Light Gods. Whether his power comes in the same manner as other Arkati, or from the loosening of the portals between dimensions, is unknown. Marlu is also drawn to all manner of destruction. More than any other of the Dark Gods, Marlu seems bent on destruction of a scale so massive that it might actually eliminate the world and all his worshippers with it. While Eorgina personifies power over others, Marlu is the embodiment of personal destructive power. Marlu's symbol is a black six tentacled 'star' on a field of grey.