Alvion: Deities

Strictly speaking, Alvion is home to only two entities which may be considered truly divine: the twins Bahamut and Tiamat, who form the circle of life for all living things. Their great flight through the cosmos causes the world to rotate in the void. However, Alvion is also home to many powerful beings which operate on their own, less-cosmic terms, who are equally capable of providing divine power to their worshippers. Such entities are known as Spirits - they vary widely in power and scope, but typically may influence the world in some limited capacity within their purview.

Spirits are powerful divine beings who possess a limited presence upon the Material Plane, typically one within their purview. There are both Great Spirits, listed below, as well as lesser spirits which occupy more niche positions in the cosmology of the world. Typically, the weaker and more niche a spirit's purview is, the easier it is for them to personally impose their will upon the Material Plane, rather than have it done on their behalf by mortal followers.

Telta is the Great Spirit of the Underground. When Telta first arrived, its said the sheer bedrock beneath the soil fell away, and revealed untold miles of caves and glittering wonders beneath the earth, and mountains sprung wherever Dwarves emerged. Mithril is commonly associated with Telta, as it is believed deposits of the ore formed in the placed from which Telta passed through on her journey to the surface.

Telta's children are the Dwarves, though commonly Telta is also associated with the more unsavory things that come from the underground. Many Elves blame Telta's arrival for creating the likes of Drow and Ratfolk, foul creatures formed from the primordial darkness caused by Telta's emergence. Some believe that the Drow originated from curious Elves of the First Age who wandered into the darkness from which Telta emerged.

Siobhan is the Great Spirit of the Earth - the Natural world, as it is called. Siobhan's handiwork is seen all across Alvion, in the trees, the birds, and her fey-blooded children: the Elves and Gnomes. Although generally considered a good force, Siobhan possesses a somewhat unforgiving primal side - just as the wood is beautiful in the day with birds singing and flowers blooming, so is the wood terrifying in the pitch black of night when the canopy hides any sign of starlight, as wolves howl through the trees and untold beasts stalk your every move.

Siobhan is closely associated to the Fey, and some believe that she is a sort of Fairy Queen herself, with a distinct Seelie and Unseelie side to go with it.

Cydan (Key-dan) is the Great Spirit of the Waters. Its said that when he emerged and the waters came out of the deep to form lakes and oceans, a great landmass composed of treasures from the depths came with him, providing a kingly promenade upon which he strode. This landmass would come to be known as Meracydia, the lost island of the Humans.

As the Spirit of Waters, Cydan presides over every aspect thereof - he is acknowledged by any creature that dares tread near his realm, and he is known to be slow to anger but wrathful beyond the measure of Solus when so inclined. The Humans supposedly formed from the frothing waters around his feet when he first appeared, and all Humans are thus descended from these Meracydian ancestors. Legends say that in the First Age, Cydan ruled over the Humans of Meracydia, and even sired children into a royal line. Such Humans are notably stronger and longer-lived than others, with lifespans comparable to Dwarves. It is believed that this line was lost with the fall of Carthen.

Pazuzu was the Great Spirit of the Sky. For many centuries, Pazuzu was the most active of the Great Spirits, and actively manifested himself amongst the flying islands of Tir. Over time, his presence diminished, to the point which by the time of the Shattering, he was mysteriously slain. Such an event had never taken place before, and the world itself quaked in mourning of his passing, leading to the severing of Mt. Erdenheim.

As a result of Pazuzu's death, the islands of Tir held aloft by his winds fell into the sea, effectively destroying that civilization in the process. To this day, the wind does not blow in Alvion without one to guide them.

Often mistaken for Great Spirits themselves, the Guardians are elemental creatures which represent the four basic elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. They are quite powerful in of themselves, and often attract small cult followings depending upon how active they are within the world at a particular time.

The Phoenix is the Guardian of Fire, and is known for its love of mortals and willingness to participate in the world.

The Mammoth is the Guardian of Earth, and is reclusive and isolationist. It is known for its wisdom and eternal patience, and will often work with those who put in the effort to seek it out.

The Whale is the Guardian of Air, and tends to be a fiercely territorial creature. In the elder days, it patrolled the skies of Tir, protecting the people who it saw as its own. Since the death of Pazuzu, the Whale fell into a great despair, and to this day the winds do not blow at more than a whisper throughout Alvion. None are sure if the Whale still lives at all.

The Serpent was formerly a creature of extreme mythology and legend, as it would reside in the deepest places of the world, which not even the Dwarves had reached. In the quakes of The Shattering, and the subsequent pollution of the ocean by the colliding of realms, the Serpent was driven into a mad frenzy, and sweeps through the seas of its former home in a ceaseless rage. Not even the dragons contest the territory of this beast, and its presence has kept boats close to shore for centuries.