Religion

The Trinity of Gods

The gods across the world of Amerilia are universally accepted as the three great divines. They have direct and proven control and influence over the lives of mortals, such that none but the mad or insane think themselves beyond their reach. Supporting the aspect of divinity is that all empires and peoples, despite growing and developing independently, recognize not only the same rites but the same names and depictions of the major three. This common ground from a religious aspect make those belonging to specific religious orders such as the Son of Baitaal or the Chosen of Xaal find common ground and cells operating across the world. Most people will at minimum pay lip service to one or all of the gods depending on their profession or needs at the time. Those truly devout and dedicated are often given gifts or under special circumstances aided by their chosen patron they have devoted themselves to. Each god however is neither good nor evil and have their own selection of servants which represent them in both a noble and ignoble fashion. Whether a servant of a patron god could be considered an angel or demon is entirely up to the individual and what they are doing at the time they encounter said servant.

Baitaal, god of Order

Titles: The Hand of Order, Master of Masters, The Destroyer
Realm: Heaven
Symbol: A metal octagon with a square in the center.
Moral Aspects: Order, Law, Duty, Strength, Community, Artifice, Nobility, Protection, Glory
Immoral Aspects: War, Destruction, Slavery, Ruin, Tyranny
Favored Animals: Dogs, wolves, beasts of burden.
Servants: Archons
Favored Colors: Blue and White
Baitaal is known as the most widely appreciated and most invoked god, for his domains concern with protection and destruction in a world filled with hostile predators and dangerous creatures. As a result, Baitaal has a strong presence in most areas and boast a large following among mercenaries, soldiers, and enforcers that both protect their homes and seek to destroy their enemies. Known as the master of masters, Baitaal has an extremely strong following among the nobility of every nation for he represents their desired status quo of who remains in power and who is to be ruled. Yet, even those on the bottom of society pay their respects to the Destroyer, as it is only through his support that they can over throw and slaughter corrupt leaders.

Baitaal is often depicted in art as a large imposing man encased in gleaming blue-metal armor with gold trim with an iconic faceless helmet. In nearly every depiction he is described as obstinately crossing him arms and depending on the artist may be depicted man or giant sized. As he is both a creator and destroyer he is often depicted wielding a hammer and has been known to grant his most devout followers weapons to better serve them in their endeavors. Among those not seeking war and conflict Baitaal is the favored god of artisanry, manufacturing, and smithing as he naturally covers the creation of fortified defenses and the production of the tools of war. Gnolls pay prayer to Baitaal as well, as his extremes in order and destruction do well for the savage slavers.

Baitaal is not without his cults however, the largest and most well known are the Sons of Baitaal, a zealous organization of witch hunters, undead slayers, and crusaders. The sons are a well-respected organization with cells and churches across the world, their members making up the cullers of the naturally risen undead and providing the art of magical healing through their rosaria corps. They first came to true prominence during the 3rd century Lich war. Originally an order of knights, in modern times they have progressed towards the use of firearms and more advanced sanctified weapons, with elders and greater members of their order being blessed by Baitaal to become paladins.

The lesser cults of Baitaal include the Order of Brass. Though officially the order of brass is not a religious organization, most revere Baitaal in their creations of bronze as they believe heavily in Baitaal's care for artifice and creation. Some contend that golems are naturally servants of Baitaal, but the order of brass is small enough for most not to pay them much heed.

Ravendara, goddess of Freedom

Titles: The Wind and Earth, Lady of the Forest, The Great Hunter
Realm: Dark Forest
Symbol: A rose at the center of a circle.
Moral Aspects: Freedom, Nature, Healing, Travel, Weather, Luck, Liberation, Earth, Plants, Animals
Immoral Aspects: Fire, Chaos, Savagery, Madness, Trickery, Predators
Favored Animals: Birds, Felines, any animal that cannot be tamed.
Servants: Fae
Favored Colors: Brown and Orange
Ravendara is best known as the goddess of freedom, healing, and nature and most often worshipped by the common man. Humble professions such as farmers, sailors, healers, hunters, alchemists, and travelers or traveling merchants pay prayer to the lady of the forest. She is viewed as the wild and untamed nature of the world given form, being the best and worst aspects of the natural world. Some dismiss the lady as nothing but a savage god for savage people but those who find themselves in the wild or at mercy of nature often pay prayer to the wind and earth for protection. Ravendara is often depicted as a homely woman of varying race with blended animal features, most often antlers and bright red feline eyes in a plain brown or muted orange dress with a knife of bone strung to her hip.

Ravendara is said to be the most impish of the great trinity, often besetting those who defy her wants with terrible weather, troublesome insects, or in more extreme cases sending dangerous predators to beset them. While ruthless, Ravendara is also the goddess of nature and healing and thus blesses those who earn her favor with restoration and better harvests. What earns her favor and her ire is a very fickle and unknown to most besides a general respect for nature. Her position as the goddess of healing makes her the patron to much of the rosaria corps in the widespread sons of Baitaal, who often pay equal homage to both gods. Yet due to her fickle nature Ravendara has no real cults of note, most of her sects are often small tribes or individual groups beneath the notice of the greater empires and wider world.

Though rare, it is said that those known to survive in the wilds by themselves or beyond the protection of heavily fortified wall are Ravendara's chosen. As trolls are not only the only race to live beyond the protection of communities but often do so alone or in small families for upwards of two centuries they are said to be the favored children of Ravendara. A fact compounded by the nature of trolls appearing so wildly and different from one another, much in the same way Ravendara herself is depicted. As such, trolls are often and most easily earn the favor of the great hunter, with many becoming prominent druids and world walkers who act as the herald and speaker of the lady.

Xaal, god of Death

Titles: Herald of the End, The Pallid Man, The Midnight Lord
Realm: Hel
Symbol: A skull with no jaw and two small horns.
Moral Aspects: Repose, Acceptance, Sacrifice, Retribution, Survival, Necromancy, Peace
Immoral Aspects: Undead, Corruption, Ruin, Nihilism
Favored Animals: Carrion Eaters, Undead, scavengers.
Servants: Daemons and Greater Undead
Favored Colors: Black and Gold
Xaal, god of death, the pallid man and the god spoken with equal hate and fear. While often associated with necromancers and undead, both in the modern age and historically, Xaal is given his begrudging due in prayer as his power is said to eclipse all. Death, after all, is the only fact of life that is inescapable without his aid. It is said that those favored by Xaal become liches, true immortal servants of his designs, but the Chosen of Xaal contest this as it was a lich that they sought to destroy when they first formed in the third century. More so, the priesthood of Xaal is focused heavily upon keeping the dead from rising and thus are tolerated for their uses. Many servants of Xaal describe undeath as torture, an eternal hel created for those who have greatly sinned. This idea is supported by the fact that evil or sinful individuals often tend to rise as undead faster than regular men, becoming monstrosities of greater power in a matter of months rather than the normal span of years or decades.

Xaal is often depicted as a normal man wearing a dark robe, with pallid skin or fur depending on his race and hands made of bone. He carries with him an hour glass in one hand and a reaping scythe in the other. Though hated for being the bringer of death, Xaal does have noble aspects. He is the only god that offers peace and repose, his cult preaching acceptance of what is and what shall be. However, this is often over shadowed by those who see it as nothing more than corruption, ruin, and apathy.

Xaal hosts many cults, most of which being small necromantic groups seeking to raise the undead for nefarious purposes and are routinely slaughtered by the witch hunters of the sons of Baitaal. Xaal himself does not seem to care for his worshippers, as even if accepted the chosen are rarely offered any gifts or aid beyond a rare special few like the current leader of Xaal's Chosen, Bonecaller Magnus and lord of Crullfield. His largest cult, the chosen, are begrudgingly welcomed everywhere they appear because they handle the funeral rites and burial of the dead and it is only through their works that the undead remain a minor nuisance at best. Though many centuries have passed since the lich war, its ruinous effects upon the onokrin empire are not forgotten. Thus, like the ever-present threat of death, Xaal is often simply ignored until his icy hand begins to reach.