GODS

Posted by Meself

Synad (Example Title) The Healer
(Alignment) Lawful/Good
(Most Common Avatar) A beautiful, very slender, fragile-looking lady, with a white gown and a warm caring smile. She has golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
(Character) She is caring, loving, and disapproves of any form of violence. She knows of the necessity of healing for survival, and would like these powers to be used only in times of necessity or on the innocent to avoid the encouragement of violence. The only acceptable form of "fighting" is self defense or fighting in defense of the innocent.
(Recognized Powers) Healing, charm, blessing, protection.
(Granted Powers) Spells of healing, some shape changing abilities, calming, easing pain, etc.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 1
(Stance on Magic) Synad is not a violent goddess, but she doesn't approve of the threat wizards represent. However, because of her non-violent nature, she will not command her followers to kill wizards. Wizards could possibly be taught better ways, or the magic could be taken from them in some way, but killing is not an option.

Posted by Tamlyn/Gene

Nortumia (otherwise known Nort)
(Example Title) Barbarian Lord
(Alignment) Choatic-Neutral
(Most Common Avatar) A large, strong, limber man with darkly tanned skin and shoulder length raven-black hair. Usually seen in the company of a large wolf. Assumes many forms ranging from human to orc and knoll.
(Character) Quick tempered and brutal in combat.
(Recognized Powers) Tracking, animal morphing, exceptional strength and agility.
(Granted Powers) Tracking, strength, and agility.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 1
(Stance on Magic) Although Nortumia is not evil, he is not tolerant of wizards, which is also encourged in his followers. He does take pleasure, though, in killing wizards if they confront him or his followers and may go out of his way to wipe out a potential threat without real cause.

Lady Forestine
(Example Title) Maiden of the Wood
(Alignment) Neutral
(Most Common Avatar) Appears as a beautiful, young, human/odissa archer with long brown hair. Though never seen in a city, she can be found deep in the heart of the forest. Lady Forestine is the patron of rangers, hunters, and druids.
(Character) She has a strong love for the land and all its inhabitants. Though her avatar is normally human, her personality is reminiscent of an elf.
(Recognized Powers) Archery, animal morphing, nightvision, and tracking.
(Granted Powers) Healing, animal morphing, tracking.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 1
(Stance on Magic) Although Lady Forestine does not take sides in the wizard dispute, she has been known to be overly harsh on wizards that experiment with lethal magic that harms anything within her sphere of influence.

Posted by Keryon

Wenvardor
(Example Title) The High Mystery
(Alignment) Neutral/Good
(Most Common Avatar) A tall, slender, hooded, masculine figure dressed in purple-blue robes. Those who see inside the hood see only stars and other celestial bodies.
(Character) He is the god of mystery and the patron of persecuted good and neutral mages. He believes that mages under his protection should cooperate in order to hide from their persecutors and find new knowledge.
(Recognized Powers) Tends to use subtle and non-violent powers dealing with illusion, mind-controling, transforming, and divination.
(Granted Powers) Wenvardor grants no powers to his followers because they are already mages and have their own powers, and because he uses all of his personal powers to defend them. He advises his followers to follow his path and use only subtle and non-violent spells. He regularly sends disguised avatars to guide/instruct potential wizards.
(Power Level) Lower Power (just became a god).
(Stance on Magic) God of persecuted mages and seekers of knowledge.

Posted by Vacithius

Oolidil (Example Title) The Wise Father
(Alignment) Lawful-Neutral
(Most Common Avatar) An old, wizened, gray-haired human man of powerful stature shrouded in gray robes. His face is usually set in relaxed concentration and is heavily bearded, but not over wrinkled. He often appears floating on a large throne of gray stone with a serious, distracted demeanor and commanding presence.
(Character) Eternally solemn and distracted if powerful presence, almost never reacts with visible emotion.
(Recognized Powers) Usually responds to threats with a single but powerful act, but seldom initiates offensive actions of his own. His responsive actions usually consist of a powerful spell that demolishes the power of an enemies forces, and/or resolve, with striking power but often with simple, upon reflection, means or reasoning. Such responses have gained considerable respect, fear, and resentment among his godly peers. A simple but powerful spell of some sort of befuddlement has layed waste to the best layed plans of his enemies minions. So effective is the spell that none seem to remember the reason for their confusion afterwards or they remain broken of resolve and useless to their masters, some forever.
(Granted Powers) Befuddlement/confusion, turning/control, calm enemies, nullification, undoing, etc.
(Power Level) Higher Power: Level 1
(Stance on Magic) Doesn't support wizards, even seemingly dispises them, but doesn't actively support or act against their persecution himself, unlike many of his followers, who often look with righteous hatred on all wizards.

Yodinnay
(Example Title) Lord of Tempests
(Alignment) Chaotic-Neutral/Good
(Most Common Avatar) Many races, but usually a young adult male dressed in stormy blue silks and with matching eyes and midnight black shoulder length hair. His clothes and hair always seem to be caught in a whipping wind which isn�t felt by viewers.
(Character) Wild, carefree, excitement seeking, challenging, but quick to anger if abused.
(Recognized Powers) Lightning and the fury of weather.
(Granted Powers) Storm and wild magic.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 2
(Stance on Magic) Often mocks wizards with his power, very distrustful of the truly powerful ones. However, doesn't actively persecute them unless threatened, unlike most of his followers, but he doesn't stop his followers from doing so either.

Talthazar
(Example Title) The Great Warrior
(Alignment) Lawful-Neutral/Good
(Most Common Avatar) A tall and handsome warrior of commanding stature with both great strength and agility. Always seen carrying a bright silver shield and sword. Armor varies, even up to and including none.
(Character) Solemn, proud, and focused. Demanding of his followers and their bravery. Not necessarily concerned with about his followers doing good deeds, but serving a respectable post with true honor and respectability.
(Recognized Powers) Focus, concentrated strength, speed, accuracy, and stamina.
(Granted Powers) Bravery, strength, health, stamina, focus, accuracy, speed, etc.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 2
(Stance on Magic) Generally has nothing to do with wizards, but still follows a code of honor when he or his followers are forced to be in their company. Generally avoids them and distrusts the powerful ones to the point of paranoia.

Udra
(Example Title) The Great Dark one
(Alignment) Evil-Lawful
(Most Common Avatar) Usually appears as an undead man of any race (lich really) with twin pinpricks of white light for eyes which seem to absorb the strength of those who meet his gaze. Usually wrapped in kingly silks and finery which are drapped over his decayed flesh. A cold crown sits atop his leathery skull and darkness seems to grow from him both physically and metaphysically, as will as a numbing, strength sapping cold. His presence is one of great power, which seems to eminate threateningly from him in almost throbbing waves of dark energy.
(Character) Unhumanly dark and cold, just like his avatar portrays. Utterly remorseless and power hungry.
(Recognized Powers) Trapping souls, stealing strength, and banishing hope, warmth, light, and resistance to his will.
(Granted Powers) Cold, darkness, fear, weakness, poison, etc.
(Power Level) Higher Power: Level 2
(Stance on Magic) Will basically kill them on sight, his followers will do the same.

Eilorria
(Example Title) Lady of Light
(Alignment) Good-Lawful
(Most Common Avatar) Many races, but usually female and with varying looks, but beautiful. Usually seen wearing flowing robes of a radiant white color and surrounded by a ghostly-white aura.
(Character) Kind and generous, but both dangerous and patient if her or her interests are threatened. Has proven herself a surprisingly powerful rival to her more powerful enemies.
(Recognized Powers) Her powers usually manifest themselves in a blinding white brilliance which has proven a fearful weapon against many a dark minion.
(Granted Powers) Healing, light, blessing, banishment, protection.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 2
(Stance on Magic) Supports wizards and all good creatures. Unpopular and very misunderstood because of this, many think her evil only disguised as good, a seductress and trickster, as their religious leaders teach them. Non-wizards who follow her usually do so secretly and will aid the oppressed.

Malladorian
(Example Title) The Lord of Shadows
(Alignment) Chaotic-Neutral/Evil
(Most Common Avatar) Any race or gender, but usually dressed in robes as dark and ghostly as real shadows. Appears with raven black hair and intense green eyes. Prefers a lithe, agile figure. Gives off a felt aura of shadowy intrigue which is alluring to the weak, but tinged with a perceptable sense of danger which is often confused with excitement.
(Character) Usually darkly humorous to apathetic and bored. His help is said to be ultimately self-serving and even treacherous when offered. His stare has been said to make even the most powerful and secure kings quake in fear.
(Recognized Powers) Shadowy illusion, altering, and dark creation.
(Granted Powers) Shadow magic, alteration, illusion, curses, and confusion.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 1
(Stance on Magic) Uses wizards treacherously for his own gains, his followers do as he says, they being few, but persecute wizards unless told not to.

Nalithus
(Example Title) The Horned One
(Alignment) Chaotic-Neutral/Evil
(Most Common Avatar) Many races, male, also as a dragon or unnaturally powerful carnivorous beast.
(Character) Self-appointed lord of nature, destroyer of frontier civilizations.
(Recognized Powers) Control/summon creatures, lycanthropy, polymorphing into animal forms, earth magic, and some spells of darkness, poison, and weakness.
(Granted Powers) Same as above.
(Power Level) Demi-Power: Level 2
(Stance on Magic) Sees wizards as rivals and does away with them when practical to do so.

Power Level Table

Higher Power: Level 1
Higher power: Level 2
Demi-Power: Level 1
Demi-Power: Level 2
Lower Power

Alignment Table

*Lawful: concerned with order and law
Balanced: avoids lawful and chaotic extremes and honors both natures
Chaotic: opposite of lawful
Good: concerned with fairness, virtue, and good will
Neutral: avoids good and evil extremes and honors both natures
Evil: opposite of good, unsympathetic and self-serving to a fault or deliberately cruel

Examples of Mixtures

Lawful-Good**
Balanced-Neutral
Evil-Lawful
Lawful-Good/Neutral***
Lawful/Balanced-Evil

* The presence of only one alignment means that alignment is pure.
** The alignment/s listed before the - is more dominant than the one/s coming after.
*** A / between two alignments means that one may take the place of the other or they are equal.
Note: Extremes don�t mix by any means (- or /). Extremes are lawful and chaotic, evil and good.
Note: Balanced takes the place of neutral between the lawful and chaotic extremes.

CLERICS AND THEIR GRANTED POWERS

Posted by Vacithius

This suggestion is an attempt to be as generic as possible, and yet add some needed definition to this world's cleric class, but it is probably the only class which requires such due to special circumstances. This suggestion takes into account that wizard spells and cleric spells may be quite similar (as the World Theme suggests).

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They need only to pray in some generic verbal fashion at the beginning of each day to receive their powers, but must recite the words of a prayer (really an arcane language that the uninitiated can't understand) to accomplish a specific effect or cast a certain spell. The words to these prayers must be memorized from a text, or by practice with a priest/cleric who has memorized the words (can be passed down by oral tradition in this way to avoid writing things down, which might be inconvenient for uncivilized religions), or kept in writing on their person to be read during casting. A text or teacher is only needed to learn a spell initially. Texts may be kept at hand in case of some emergency, like someone casting a forgetting spell, etc., but they are not neccessary for normal casting. Let me put it this way, clerics need to learn about their powers from some source. The actual spells are those of the rule system of your choosing (clerical or magical spells can be adapted and used as clerical powers, but be sure to make noticeable aesthetic differences in magical spells to distinguish them as clerical), and other rules may apply, like level advancement, the number of spells per level, etc. Brand new spells/prayers are learned from prophets or direct communications with the gods. The types of spells available to the follower of a particular god should be reflected in the granted powers (item 7 on the god descriptions) of the god (it is up to the GM to choose which spells match the descriptions of the granted powers for each god). The GM makes all final decisions concerning the adaptation of the cleric class listed above to his/her chosen rule system. Special acceptions may occur, including special powers granted directly from the god. Anyone can start out as a cleric, but as stated in the World Themes, the gods can decide to take away a cleric's powers on the slightest whim or for the slightest wrong committed by the cleric and may never give them back. It is up to the DM to determine when/if this occurs and for what reasons, by following the god descriptions. How much power a cleric receives each morning for their prayers (see above), is directly related to the total number of spells granted for that cleric's level (according to the rule system in use, may vary from this) and the number of spells granted per SPELL level for that cleric�s level (again, see the rule system in use). Thus, clerics can't just cast any spell simply because they can read it from a text or memorize it. Although clerics will likely lose their powers if they defy a god's wishes, they can often get away with defiance at least once since their power to cast spells is granted at the beginning of each day and the gods are usually not direcly involved in every casting, they simply supply the power and knowledge of spells (accept in special cases as mentioned before). This allows clerics in tight situations to get off at least one good spell before their powers are taken from them.

SERVANTS OF THE GODS

How many servants can each god have that are of an angel/demonic nature?

Let me define these servants a little. They are immortal creatures without souls, like demons and angels, they are nothing more or less than armies, messengers, and special forces for the gods and their death spells oblivion for them. In this way they are similar to the demons of hell or the angels of heaven. Gods certainly have the ability to create or unmake them at their whim. Intelligence wise they are like droids, they know their mission with perfect clarity but often little else. They were made to do or protect something and that is what they do.

The Higher Powers have a medium-range of servants (numbering in the upper thousands), while the Higher Powers have a small-range (numbering in the the lower thousands to the hundreds), and Low Powers, as mentioned before, can make and sustain few servants. They simply lack the power to make beings at the level at which the Higher and Demi Powers can. However, there is nothing to stop them from doing so if their power were to advance them to a higher level.