Deities

Most of Nowalde is Polytheistic, worshiping a pantheon of common gods with only a few variations between the religions of the various kingdoms and states. The most common names and symbols of the gods are known as the Aquilan Pantheon, centered on Arete, the Queen of Heaven. The gods live in an otherworldly dimension called Heaven. Heaven is a varied realm, with many principalities, the individual sovereign domains of the gods. The principalities are as varied as the gods themselves, reflecting the natures and desires of the gods who hold sway over them--from the golden city that is the realm of Arete, goddess of civilization, to the arid wasteland that is the domain of Enyon, god of war. The gods sometimes come into conflict with each other directly, but as the immortality of the gods makes open warfare between them a futile endeaver, they most often plot against each other through mortal agents on the physical plane, seeking to affect each other through their worshipers.

Religion pervades almost every aspect of life in Aquila. The gods are not merely ideas, worshipped from afar, but have genuine agents in the form of priests and prophets who are able to perform miracles in their deities' names, and none doubt the existence of the gods. Most worship, some fear, and some resent the gods, but few doubt them.

THE AQUILAN PANTHEON

Arete  -  Goddess of Civilization and Law, the Queen of Heaven.

Aristos  -  God of Justice and Loyalty.

Aetar  -  God of the Sea and Storms.

Agape  -  Goddess of Love and Sleep.

Bel  -  Goddess of Vengeance and Strife.

Concorde  -  Goddess of Peace and the Harvest.

Eirgil  -  God of Travel and Exploration.

Empyrea  -  Goddess of Magic and Knowledge.

Enyon  -  God of War and Destruction.

Gol  -  God of Shadows and Secrets.

Hyperion  -  God of the Sun.

Orthia  -  Goddess of the Hunt and Wilderness.

Pindar  -  God of Music and Art.

Praxis  -  God of Fire and Craft.

Strega  -  Goddess of Death.

There are other gods that, while not officially part of the Aquilan pantheon, still have worshipers and cults in the fringes and frontiers of Nowalde. Still worshipped in many places, but considered the enemy of all the gods, is the dread serpent Jormungant, God of Lies and Father of Dragons. The Orcs of the northern wilderness refer to him only as the Enemy, because of his eternal struggle with their chief god Ulik, God of Strength. Most Orcs refuse to say his name in hopes of denying him power over them.

The Orcs have many other gods, as varied and as vibrant a religion as that of Aquila, if not as organized.

The Orcish Pantheon

Ulik  -  God of Strength and Honor.

Kronos -  God of Fire.

Ostara -  Goddess of Love.

Nertha -  Goddess of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

Fimbul -  God of Winter.

Urda -  Goddess of Death.

Venatir -  God of the Hunt.

Oberon -  God of Wisdom.

Draga -  Goddess of the Sea.

Morrigant -  Goddess of Wrath.

Dilga -  Goddess of Sleep.

Sigfrit -  God of Song.

In Sylvania, the western forest homeland of the Elves, the living goddess Metis  rules directly as their Queen. The Elves are henotheistic, acknowledging other gods but worshipping only Metis.