The many deities of the Overdark are as varied as the people who worship them. What follows is a brief description of these deities, their followers, and some other facts about them.
EON
God of Order
Eon teaches a place for everything, and everything in its place. He joined the light because he felt that the Demons of the primordial darkness would spread far too much chaos into the world should they be allowed to reign unchecked. He and his brother Chrome maintain the balance between order and chaos, law and freedom, tyranny and anarchy.
Eon appears as an aged human wearing the uniform of a judge. He is always well dressed, and his posture is impeccable. When he must speak with mortals his word choice is very precise, formal, but never flowery. His servants strive to follow a similar pattern in their lives. Priests of Eon are often record keepers, and often aid law makers and those who enforce the laws. Paladins of Eon ensure that all criminals are brought to trial, and that the punishment is equal to the crime.
Eon's temples and altars are always built according to precise formulas. They consist of large, vertical columns, open, spacious corridors, and the clergy always follow precise schedules. To facilitate this, the temple often has a large bell which is rung at regular intervals.
Eon's holy symbol is a perfect square, located within a circle with each corner touching the circle. The circle is in an equilateral triangle, and touches each side.
CHROME
God of Chaos
Chrome teaches that one should never be too caught up in details to forget to enjoy life. He joined the Light because he feared the demon's tyranny would kill freedom and self expression. He and his brother Chrome maintain the balance between order and chaos, law and freedom, tyranny and anarchy.
Chrome appears as a young scoundrel wearing an outfit of many colors and fabrics. His clothes are always made of many ever shifting patterns, and his appearance is never consistent. One moment he might have black hair and be clean shaven the next he might be blonde with a goatee and after that he might have the visage of a troll. His speech is scattered, his thought process beyond what a mere mortal can understand. His mind has trouble sticking to a single concept, and his tangents are as legendary as they are confusing. His followers reject ideas of structured religion, and their god encourages this. Each follower finds their own path. As such he has very few temples, though he does have many shrines and altars. These places of worship are well cared for, though often disorganized, crowded, and often are made with some creative freedom. The few paladins who claim him as patron are freedom fighters and rebels, lending their sword to those who are enslaved or trapped by injustice.
Chrome's holy symbol comes in many shapes and sizes, and is unique to each worshiper.
VILTHAYA
Goddess of Peace
Vilthaya teaches that violence is never the answer, and to harm none. She joined the Light because she found the destruction and death wrought by the demons to be abhorrent. She and her brother Phalan are often in conflict, as Vilthaya disagrees with Phalan's teachings of war.
Vilthaya is represented by a young maiden in white. She is often seen sitting on a shield, with some usually aggressive animal sleeping softly beside her. She is kind, compassionate, and understanding to all who seek her out. Her priesthood consists mainly of healers, and those skilled in protective magics. Her paladins are few, but dedicated to the cause of peace. They will rarely resort to violence, and prefer non-lethal weapons.
Vilthaya's holy symbol is a polished shield, because it can not harm, only protect.
PHALAN
God of War
Phalan teaches that battle is an honorable pursuit, and to always fight for what you believe. He joined the Light because he felt the demons would make great foes, and because he could not abandon his sister.
Phalan is always represented as a knight-general, with brilliant armor, and only a sword in his hand. It is said he once had a shield, but gave it to Vilthaya to protect her, since she refused to carry a weapon. His priests are few, but his paladins are many. They are the most active in the land, seeking to battle evil wherever it may be. They take great pride in their combat prowess, and rarely resort to magic. His paladin's are often accompanied by a priestess of Vilthaya who provides healing and protection.
As a god of war, it makes sense that Phalan's holy symbol is a sword.
DUROCK
God of Death
Death comes to all, unerring, uncaring, and cannot be swayed. This is the teaching of Durock. Durock abhors all beings who shall not die, and did not battle in the war between the Demons in the Celestials. He is and always has been a silent observer, and yet he still has an impressive following. He does not dwell in the realm of the other gods, and instead reigns over the realm of the dead.
Depicted as a skeletal figure shrouded in a black robe, this form is not so simply described. When viewed by a mortal, the robe is made of the shadows of all of their deeds. It is from these shadows that Durock passes judgment. For Durock's priesthood see The cult of Durock. His paladins scour the world for immortal creatures and undead, and consist of a shocking number of Graveborn who feel as though Durock granted them return to earth to do his will. It s unknown if this is truth.
Durock's holy symbol is a white skull impaled on a pike.
AIMEEIN
Goddess of the Elements
The power of nature is absolute and beautiful, and the followers of Aimeein both believe and exemplify this ideal. Aimeein joined the light to save the natural world from the corruption and taint of the demons.
Represented as a Dryad wearing a robe made of all the elements, she is the mother and master of the elementals, and also of the four goddesses of the seasons. Of all her children, only Kyros disobeys her. She communicates with her followers through the natural world. Her followers are more often Druids than priests, and her paladins are few in number. Her sacred places are scattered throughout the wild, and they are not built but discovered. Anywhere that the elements exists in balance and harmony is a temple to Aimeein, and all the world is her domain.
Her holy symbol is any natural object created by the elements interacting, including cooled magma, collected rain water, a stone made smooth by a rushing river, etc.
BORUS
God of Fear and Rage
Borus teaches that fear is for your enemies to feel at the mention of your name, and that Rage is the answer to anything which stands before you. Borus originally sided with the demons, but betrayed them in a fit of rage when they refused to listen to him.
Borus is represented as a crimson ogre, who is in a constant rage. His followers are more often Barbarians than priests or paladins, and he is one of the few Primordial gods to allow deathknights into his service. His worshipers have no organized church, and honor their god through action, the spreading of fear and rage.
Borus's holy symbol is an ogre skull covered in blood.
PELIOS
God of the Sun
Each day is a new beginning, this is the teaching of Pelios. He joined the Light to spare the world an age of eternal darkness. He once bathed all the world in light, until Ellinium stole half of it from him. He has been chasing her ever since, yet each second he reclaims a piece of the world, she steals the same amount from behind him.
Pelios is represented as the sun itself, and when he must take human form he is represented as a phoenix with golden eyes. His followers work tirelessly each day to make better the lives of their friends and neighbors, and it seen as a sin to waste a moment of daylight.
His holy symbol is, not surprisingly, a sun.
HELM
God of Dragons
The teachings of Helm are few, he is a god of a near extinct race, and his power fades with them. He teaches survival, resurgence, and not to fight among brethren. He is a patron of Dragons and Drakes, and cares little for other races and their squabbles. He sided with the light only to preserve his children, and now he wonders if perhaps that was a mistake. Ever since the Dragon-Giant war that nearly wiped out his creations, he has been in open conflict with Koross.
He is represented, not surprisingly, as a dragon. While once great and proud, he is now aged and weakening. He gladly offers council to any of his children who seek it, and wants nothing more than a return to the time of dragons, and death to those who hunted his children to near extinction. Each dragon which remains is precious to him, and he grants them freedom to live and worship as they please, as long as they live, and try to bring about the return of the dragons.
He sees Drakes as a partial resurgence of his creations, and as they grow in power so does he.
His holy symbol is a dragon scale.
ELLINIUM
Goddess of Night
The darkness is not evil, it is only dark. This is the prayer of Ellinium's faithful. The Goddess of night was once betrothed to Kyros, and as a gift she offered him half the world, to be bathed forever in darkness. She became enraged when he asked, “Why not all the world?” and rejected her gift. Despite this, she still chases behind Pelios, trying to claim all the world for darkness in the hopes that her lover will forgive her for betraying him and joining the Light in the war.
Ellinium is represented as a young maiden with raven black hair, and skin as pale as moonlight. She wears the night sky as a dress, and fallen stars as jewels. Her followers do most of their dealing in darkness, and all who would hide from the light offer her a prayer. Her churches are often painted with constellations and celestial bodies. Her clerics are keepers of secrets and deal in darkness. She also has many sorcerers who call her their matron goddess.
Ellinium's holy symbol is a moon, full or crescent.
TARVIK
God of Trickery
To fool another is to prove yourself. Patron god of liars, pranksters, grifters, and con-men Tarvik has always been a thorn in the sides of gods, celestials, and even the demons. When the war was raging he managed to convince both sides that he was working with them, when in actuality he never raised a finger on either side. He is tolerated by the other gods as a harmless nuisance.
Represented as a scoundrel and a rogue, Tarvik is a master shape-shifter and has no true form, at least, not so far as anyone can tell. His clerics rarely fess up to it, and though they recognize each other, they often attempt to fool others into believing they serve a different deity. The only time they come together is once a year, at a time determined by certain celestial events, to share stories of their tricks in the dark of night. It is in this way that they honor their god.
Tarvik has no holy symbol, and his clerics use the symbols of other gods.
OCRONUM
God of Mystery
There is no greater pleasure than discovery. But that pleasure is denied when all is known. Ocronum is the god who protects the unknown, awaiting a seeker to find it. He guards ancient knowledge and lost secrets. During the war with the light he spent most of his time documenting the conflict, and did little fighting.
Ocronum is depicted as an old sphinx, his eyes white and his fur grey. He wears old, faded robes, and speaks only in Havokan. Because of this his followers can only discern his will by deciphering ancient tablets where scribes wrote down his words, as none can understand the spoken form anymore. His clerics are archivists and archaeologists. His temples are built in restored ruins, his altars erected in the oldest of places. Ocronum's faithful strive to recover lost knowledge, and restore the beauty of the past. The church often funds adventurers to delve into lost places and bring back the treasures there.
Ocronum's holy symbol is a scroll, with his name written in Havokan script.
DUMATH
God of Crafting
A man is remembered by what he leaves behind, and respected for what he creates with his own hands. This is the belief of Dumath, patron deity of craftsman of all sorts. He aided the Light's war effort by supplying weapons and armor. If one were to find one of these relics, a blade smithed by THE smith you would be a warrior to behold. He is the husband of Naleph, and often crafts her beautiful tools as gifts.
Dumath is always represented as a craftsman, strong, with callused hands. He is skilled in all forms of craft, and his temples are architectural marvels. He is seen as the God of the common folk, and has a large number of worshipers among the working class. His priests spend little time in the temples, and most of their day is spent working. Whether it be working a forge to provide farmers tools or helping to rebuild houses lost in a fire. Their priests often work along side the clergy of Pelios, from dawn til dusk.
Dumath's symbol is an anvil.
ANNUIL
Goddess of Balance
All things in equal measure. Day cannot conquer night, evil cannot eradicate good, yet the inverse is also true. Annuil is the keeper of the scales of the universe. She weighs the consequence of every action, and shifts the tide of events to maintain balance. While not the strongest goddess, she is the most active. When the primordial darkness and it's demons waged war, she joined the light so that balance would prevail. Now she watches the scales, insuring that they never tip again. She is the mother of Eon and Chrome, and they take great care to aid her in her vigil.
Annuil's priests are caretakers of the balance. They encourage diplomacy, because a war always tips the scales in one way or the other. They exemplify the idea of the “status quo” and go to great lengths to ensure balance, and when war is waged they side with the under dog to tip the scales back to an equilibrium.
Her symbol is a merchant's scale.
BELLOG
God of Exploration
To seek new sites and sensations, to dive head first into the unknown and return with a story to tell, that is the quest of Bellog. His temple is everywhere you have never been, and his followers rarely stay in one place long enough to construct more than a way-shrine on the road. He served as a scout during the war, constantly running head long into enemy territory. His faithful are adventurers, travelers, and map makers.
Bellog and his servants often aid the priests of Ocronum, by telling them where to find fresh ruins. Of all the gods, Bellog is believed to spend the most amount of time on the material plane, exploring places that no mortal could ever go. It his said he wishes to explore the depths of the sea, but Roaroch forbids him from entering his domain due to an old squabble.
Bellog's symbol is a rolled up map.
ROAROCH
God of the Seas
The ocean is more vast than any stretch of land, deeper than any ruin, and more deadly than anything else in this world. The mysteries are greater, the treasures more vast. Roaroch holds the sea as the most precious untapped resource, and protects it jealously. During the war he ensured that no demon could cross the sea, and trapped countless of Kyros's shadows at the bottom of the ocean, and forbade him from calling upon them.
Roaroch is depicted as an aquatic chimera, with parts of countless sea creatures. His rage is felt by the entirety of the ocean. It is said that he fathered the elemental Hydrok, and that his son inherited his fury. Roaroch is a jealous and petty god. He defends his domain with great prejudice, and claims any ship that cannot survive his rage as tribute. His clerics and druids are few, but those that do follow him are devoutly loyal. Though they may not worship him, there is not a sailor alive who does not pray to him regularly.
His holy symbol is a breaking wave.
KOROSS
God of Strength
Magic is for the weak, the strong rely only on the power within themselves. Those who follow Koross disdain magic, whether for protection, healing, or even augmentation. Some very devout folowers even go to great lengths to avoid all magics, beneficial or harmful. Koross is the patron of warriors who rely only on their bodies, including brawlers and martial artists. He tore through swaths of the demonic armies opposing the Light with his bare hands. He is often considered a rival of Phalan, however he is in open conflict with Helm, as his creations the Giants nearly drove the Dragons to extinction.
Represented as a large, giant of a man, Koross is always shown shirtless as to reveal his muscles. His strength is legendary, and those who try to emulate him disdain not only magic but weapons and armor as well. He has few priests, and his “Paladins” are really just martial artists who revere his teachings.
Koross's symbol is a clenched fist.
ELTHIA
Goddess of Magic
Magic is everywhere. It is all around you, and within you. It is a part of you. Put simply, Magic is. This is the Truth of Elthia. She is the mother of all magical creatures, patron of all who use magic, and the author of all spells. Her magic protected the Celestial forces, destroyed countless demons, and was used to bind the Arch-Demons in the abyss. She is the daughter of Ocronum and Iliv.
The goddess of magic is depicted as young apprentice wizard. The reason for this is because she is the first student of magic, and it is she who is learning the limits of the power which she has domain over. When she masters the art, then all that can be known about magic will be known. Elthia has few clerics, but it is rare for a wizard to not hold her in high regard. Her paladins, who are more often battle mages, hunt down all who would abuse the arcane arts, especially those who dabble in forbidden magic, as decreed by a wizard high council.
Her symbol is the arcane rune of Magic, the symbol for the astral itself.
HEIL
Goddess of Merriment
Life is a celebration, for each day is a gift for which you should be thankful. The revelers who worship Heil are always in a constant state of celebration, and often inebriation. Heil wasn't very active during the war, but once it finished she threw a grand celebration. She is one of the few gods who enjoys Tarvik's antics.
Heil is a maiden in a summer dress, leading her followers in a grand dance. Her followers are always either preparing for some form of festivity, attending one, or cleaning up after one. Sometimes they are doing all three at once. Heil's followers rarely participate in battles, and she has the no paladins, but she is one of the most popular goddesses, particularly during festivals.
Her symbol is a chalice over flowing with drink.
THE FOUR SISTERS, GLEISEEM, DEILEEM, MAPHEEM, WEIREEM
Goddesses of the seasons, Winter, Summer, Spring, Autumn.
The four sisters are almost always worshiped together. Daughters of Aimeen they are the care takers of the cycle of nature. Some believe they are a single goddess who changes with the seasons, while others believe three of the goddesses sleep, and the waking goddess determines the season. They were born after the war, and helped heal the world with their powers of rebirth.
The four sisters are dryads, dressed in the trappings of their season. A coat of snow, a dress of green leaves, a gown of flower petals, or an ensemble of brown leaves and harvest fruits. They are almost exclusively worshiped by druids, and any groves dedicated to the are usually simply fields with a large tree, never an evergreen, and this tree's seasonal changes serve as the decorations to honor the seasonal goddess.
Their symbols are, in order, a Snowflake, a green leaf, a flower, and an apple.
KANULAI
God of Justice (Deceased)
Kanulai was slain in the war, and it was his death that led to the corruption of his sister Janulai. He was a god of justice, who sought to eradicate the wicked. He challenged Lucafic by himself, but was ambushed by Abbadon and Belial, and slain.
JANULAI
Goddess of Vengence
(Once a Goddess of Retribution)
Those who destroy what you love deserve only destruction in return. Rain down destruction on those who cross you, an eye for an eye only leaves the world blind if you leave your foes with an eye to find you. Janulai is a violent goddess who despises the Arch-Devils. Her paladins and deathknights hunt down the followers of those beings with extreme prejudice. All of her followers are prone to exacting revenge for even the smallest slight.
Janulai was once a goddess of retribution, but when her brother was slain by the demons she became enraged. Some believe the Belial managed to corrupt her, but her followers vehemently oppose this notion. She is represented as a once beautiful angel with blackened wings, and a scar over her heart, as legend says when she heard her brother was dead she cut it out to stop the pain. She is covered with battle scars, and always furious. Her and her followers wage war against the abyss and it's ilk any opportunity they get.
Janulai's holy symbol is heart shape, yet it is empty and hollow.
HANULAI
Goddess of Diplomacy
(Previously Goddess of Fury)
War only takes and destroys. If peace can reign, than those who died in war can finally rest. Hanulai teaches that compromise can over come conflict, and end squabbles. She is a patron of negotiators, diplomats, and mediators. She used to be a goddess of righteous fury, but the flames of her rage were extinguished when she lost her brother.
Hanulai is depicted as an angelic figure who is always crying, shedding tears for all who needlessly lose their lives. She is always shown with both hands extended, inviting enemies to come to terms. Her followers are the first to suggest a diplomatic approach, and will strive for a non-violent resolution whenever possible. They often work with servants of Vilthaya on peace keeping missions.
Her symbol is an olive branch.
TAESSOS
God of Sickness
Culling the weak makes the herd stronger as a whole. Illness is a natural part of life. This is what the followers of Taessos claim, but most see them as cruel plague-bearers. He is the son of Durock and hastens the end of the weak. He was born after the war, when Durock stepped into the world of the living, along with his brother Ithrik.
Worshipers of Taessos claim that he takes after his father, though a bit less skeletal. He resembles a corpse, covered in the symptoms of countless sicknesses. He is adorned in bandages that look to be soaked in filth. His worshiper are clerics, druids, and sorcerers who practice magics which unleash toxic illnesses into the world. They set up their temples in foul swamps, and other sickly places. It is unheard of for a priest of Taessos to NOT be sick, and it seems to make them stronger.
His symbol is a vial of foul green liquid.
ADILIO
God of Storms
The power of the skies personified, Adilio is the living storm. He is the embodiment of his father Inoask's destructive power, and smites any who would threaten the skies or doubt their might. During the war he often led the charge with wind and rain and lightning as his weapons.
Adilio is the living storm, and is represented as hurricane given human form. His worshipers, though few, serve as Paladins of Inoask as well. Adilio is the enforcer of his father's will, and his followers bear this burden with him.
His symbol is a thunderbolt.
ANAEM
God of Courtship
Love is like a flower, beautiful on it's own. However, when tended by a master gardener, it can grow into something truly awe inspiring. The priests and priestesses of Anaem are these master gardeners. They serve as match-makers, perform wedding ceremonies, and even council couples during the rough times. It is Anaem who convinced Ellinium to woo Kyros, hoping their love would end the war.
Anaem is always invoked during a wedding, to bless the happy couple and ensure a long and happy relationship. The God of Courtship is opposed to polygamy, casual encounters, and hates being confused with a god of carnal pleasure. His domain is love and marriage. While he is on good terms with all the other gods, in fact he only opposes one force in this world. Malice, Arch-Devil of Hate. Not even Anaem can love him, and his followers will destroy any cult to the foul demon that they discover.
Anaem's symbol is a pair of wedding bands.
THE TWINS, IRETAN and IRETAS
God and Goddess of sleep, Dreams and Nightmares
Through dreams and nightmares the truth is revealed. You may hide from the waking world, but in the sleeping mind all is revealed. Children of Yimoul, god of prophecy, the Twins have some small power of divination, and grant their followers visions in their sleep. They were born after the war, when their father closed his eyes to rest.
The twins are represented as identical, young oracles, each with only a single eye open at any time. It is said that they dwell in a world made of dreams, and their followers strive to find a way into this place. Those who worship the twins often imbibe poisons concocted to give them vivid dreams. Their temples are sparsely decorated, but filled with beds for the faithful to sleep in. While their followers are many, their church is, not surprisingly, the least active.
Their symbol is a closed eye with the numeral II painted on the lid.
INOASK
God of the Sky
The sky is vast, and though it is empty it contains power enough to raze the earth. Inoask is the god of the sky and rules the air with an iron fist. His power grounded any demons who dare take to the skies during the war. He is the father of Aerok, elemental of air, and Adilio god of storms.
Inoaks's worshipers do not build temples or altars. The sky is their temple, and the sound of thunder is the voice of their god. Inoask's faithful are often seen taking to the sky on winged mounts or of their own power. The closer they can get to the sky the better, and many get uncomfortable when they are indoors, and even worse when under ground.
His symbol is a white cloud.