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.PANTHEON.

"all the gods of Xanele..."

Good
Neutral
Evil

Valor - God of Light

Prefered race: Human
Holy Symbol: A half sun is fused to half the globe of the world, symbolic of the sun being the giver of life to the world. The high priests have golden medallions of a whole sun burst encrusted with rubies and amber.

Colors: The high priest wear golden tunics interwoven with patters of orange and yellow. The regular clergy wear less elaborate robes of yellow or orange.

Duties of the Priesthood: The oath bound followers of Valor observer the growth of the world. Not material growth but rather the advancement of society towards a higher state of existance. They are responsible for teaching younger generations and to keep the daily celebration of the blessing of Valor never abandoning Xanale for long, always return to shine down upon them.

Powers: The priests are able to summon spells of light. They poses the power of holy, this energy is very harmful to demons. The high priests are possess the ability to summon angels and celestial beings.

Description:Valor is embodied in all forms of light: sunlight, moonlight, firelight, etc.

He takes on the body of an elderly man, garbed in a golden tunic that radiates a light all its own even in the darkest places. His skin is tanned and weathered, contrasted by the soft feathery whiteness of his hair and beard. One couldn’t help but feel content and welcome in his presence, there is usually no hostile power held around him. Perhaps on would compare him to a respected elder or even a favorite grandfather.

Valor enjoys being children. They are not only full of life but a perfect representation of it. They are growing bodies and minds, manipulated by their environment but in turn manipulating it. But most of all they were full of joy and energy. If ever there was an arch-enemy in the heavens feared and revered by the minions of , especially demons it is the sun god. He is a man of philosophy, reason and logic are the tools of a negotiation. He is a mastermind in his own right and one of the more rational of the pantheon. Facing all odds with a calm solution and an ear open to the masses, for god or no god he still held a great heart of compassion.

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Chaye - Goddess of Healing

Prefered race: Elven
Holy Symbol: Crying Phoenix Eye

Colors: They often wear robes of an earthen color, trimmed with a green commonly seen as buds upon tree limbs in the spring. High

priests dress all in green with trimmed in gold. For special ceremonies or festivals most wear red trimmed in gold and high priests wear all gold trimmed in red.

Duties of the Priesthood: The main duties are to guide in the worship of Chaye, tend and heal to the sick and dying and promote peace and harmony of races and nature. The High Priests are Head of major temples and Perform spiritual healing.

Powers: Priests and priestesses hold great abilities to heal. They are knowledgeable in herbal remedies and have the ear of the goddess to pray too should divine intervention be allowed. Some of the highest ranking priests and priestesses even possess the ability to do spiritual healing, such as exorcism of demons, devils, spirits and possesions. In some cases, Chaye’s hand remains folded in her lap – so the priests and priestesses say – as it is the bidding of someone higher that does not allow her to save a life destined to pass on.

Description:The followers of Chaye, the goddess of Healing, are not a strong voice in the world. They are a reserved and peaceful congregation; sometimes a bit somber as if in a state of mourning. It is one of the inherent duties of priesthood that serve Chaye to express compassion to those souls lost that no one remembers. They hold remorse for the people that passed under their watch and were not healed.

Those who serve Chaye live under the sign of a crying phoenix eye, whose tears are known to have great healing powers. Many have tattoos upon their hands of a single phoenix tear over the knuckle of their middle finger.

The form Chaye is most likely to take on is that of a High Elven female, her favored race which makes up most of her priesthood being Elves. She is a motherly woman possessing a humble appearance, though still beautiful. She has long brown hair, usually braided with a wreath of Rosemary, Winter Savory, Lobelia, and Borage. A thin black lace veil is drawn up, a garment of a mourner though it does not cover her face. Her garments are simple, of mostly green with trimmings in gold. She is often barefoot and her hands clearly visible, showing soft tenderness.

Chaye is a somber woman with a soft smile that suggests contentment amidst all things. Though she seems to always be watching something unseen, as if she can see ones spirit within them and even when it has departed. She seems to love children most of all, of any race.

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Dunbar - God of Justice

Prefered race: in the eyes of Justice all are the same
Holy Symbol: A wolf's head clasping a sword in it’s jaws

Colors: Dunbar’s paladins wear black cloth and chain mail under silver

breastplates, gauntlets and helmets. The Clergy wears black robes with silver trimming and the symbol of their gods. Silver-wolves who serve are given collars with their god’s holy symbol. (Rumor has it some wolves have clerical magic.)

Duties of the Priesthood: It is the duty of the priests of Dunbar to seek out and make sure justice is served; even if it means going against the laws of some kingdoms. Paladins of Dunbar are versed in law and law-enforcement. They protect the innocent and root out corruption. Be assured that if a group of paladins are enroute to somewhere it does not bode well for who they seek. Clergy is not only limited to humans. Silver-wolves also serve the church and are treated as equals. As proof they show clerical abilities equal to any priest or paladin. The priest hood also serves more then criminal cases. They judge minor disputes and the party can usually be assured a fair and impartial trial. High priests and arch-paladins gain the ability to look into ones soul and judge them. They also gain the ability to detect truths and half truths. Don’t be guilty of lying to them.

Powers: Paladins and priests alike have the ability to sense the alignment of a person. They can smite the guilty with terrible punishments. Smiting takes the form of an odd magic that seems to fit the individuals crime. Some criminals who beat attack the elderly find their youth stripped away and the elderly person becomes young or a murderer will find himself suffering the same wounds he inflicted on his victim. Also they know healing and undead slaying arts.

Description:“Let the punishment fit the crime.” Word Dunbar lives by. Dunbar appears as a human with silver eyes and black hair. He often manifests in his worshipers or a victim of a horrible crime that needs to be resolved. He has even manifest in kings from time to time during disputes. He is calm and contemplative but quick to serve justice on the guilty. He will often confer with Uriel his twin on matters that are difficult even for him. Justice must often be tempered by wisdom.

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Solstice - God of Longetivity

Prefered race: Immortals
Holy Symbol
: A cross with two wings.

Colors:Silver and gray robes.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priest of Solstice are healers and destroyers of undead. They are guides for souls from one cycle to the next.

Powers: Priests are often taught to heal and farm among other life studies. Many an undead slayer come from the rank of Solstice priest. Also priestly magic usually revolves around Soul magic (more explained in the magic section). The high priests of Solstice are rumored to be able to restore life.

Description:Solstice appears as a 7ft tall immortal with silver hair and white wings. However he also likes to appear as a normal human. Solstice enjoys walking among normal folk and seeing how they live. It is not unusual for him to spend a few decades just watching and seeing one particular group of people. In these times the people will have long life and live happily with little disease.

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Sasanis - Goddess of Love

Prefered race: Hobbits
Holy Symbol: a net over a heart

Colors: The high priest wears a white robe with a red sash. All priestly

robes will have a red ribbon trim on the hem and the end of the sleeves. The hem will have a red sequin for each sucessful love marriage that the priest has aided. The high priest usually has several of such ribbons. The neophytes wear a gray robe, only priests that have married are allowed to wear white and only the high priest wears the red sash.

Duties of the Priesthood: Guidance and marriage. Priests of Sasanis believe in marriages out of love. They will shun out those for political or monetary reasons and do their best to stop them. They promote love in all its aspects including those that are not of romantic involvement. They do what they can to bring people together, couples, parent-child, friends, etc.

Powers: Besides a range of miracles granted by Sasanis to help with the duties of the priesthood, the priest of Sasanis are very empathic. They can sense the emotions of others. They also have an innate ability to charm or fascinate those around them. The high priest has the ability to Soothe, it is a power that will end arguments and dispel discordance, even so to bring a berserker to peace.

Description: The goddess avatar takes the form of a teenage female halfling in most instances (think hobbit). She has long brown hair and jewel-like blue eyes. Her clothes are colorful and cute. This is her preferred form when dealing with her priests. When dealing with non-practicioners she takes the form of a sidhe. An elven looking higher fae. Her hair is still brown, but short and the eyes while still blue have an alluring tinge to it. No matter her form, she will be the most beautiful being the given mortal has set eyes upon. Sasanis is in one word intense. Whatever she does it is done to the fullest. She has a twin, Sorisis.

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Draxim - God of Honor

Prefered race: Dwarf
Holy Symbol: A closed fist with a metal gauntlet over it.

Colors: The priests of Draxim must wear armor over brown clothes. The armor

must be metal, the high priest will wear a golden armor although it is not made out of gold. The golden metail is actually an alloy of titanium, gold and adamantium.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Draxim must use the powers granted by the god to fight honorably against evil, they are often confused with paladins. It is prohibited to use the powers only in the benefit of the order. Each priest must establish their own code of honor, and must act in a chivalrous manner. They must also uphold the tenants given by the priesthood as follows:

Prowess: To seek excellence in all endeavors seeking strength to be used in the service of goodness, rather than in personal aggrandizement.

Justice: Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy. If the 'right' you see rings agrees with others, and you seek it out without bending to the temptation for expediency, then you will earn renown beyond measure.

Loyalty: Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by.

Defense: Seek always to defend your nation, your family, the weak and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty.

Courage: Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. At the same time seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, or the pure truth can bring grief.

Faith: Faith in his beliefs, for faith roots and gives hope against the despair that human failings create.

Humility: Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds.

Largesse: Be generous in so far as your resources allow; largesse used in this way counters gluttony. It also makes the path of mercy easier to discern when a difficult decision of justice is required.

Nobility: Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of the priesthood, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done in the service of rightness.

Franchise: Seek to emulate everything spoken of as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue.

Powers: Priests of Draxim are the warriors of goodness. They excell in the use of weapons. They can make a magical weapon out of anything, be it a stone, sword or a staff it turns a vessel of their faith magic in their hands. They are also adept in protecting others and themselves, something they often find themselves doing in the promotion of the priesthood. The High Priest can empower holy weapons and armor, it is a ritual the deity channels to those deserving of the godsent gifts.

Description: Draxim also represents righteous warfare, launched to right grievous wrongs. Though his temper is not swift, it is sure when combat is justified. Draxim has a strong sense of honour and fair play. He targets only the guilty and avoids involving innocents. Also he cannot tolerate tyranny, fighting it with tireless heroism and discipline. He often takes the form of a dwarf of long red beard and vibrant red hair. The proxy wears a combination of plate and chain mail with a large double battle axe. The armor is golden in color and the weapon silver.

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Sparanza - Goddess of Hope

Prefered race: Corne
Holy Symbol: Rainbow with a haze on a black background.

Colors: The priests wear robes of yellow with white trimmings. The high priest

will have a special hood that has many colors towards the end of it.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Sparanza aleviate the burdens of society through self sacrifice. They are constantly in a state of enlightenment and radiate their good vibes to those around them. They offer their services in the name of fulfillment of the individual regardless of sex, age, race or alignment.

Powers: The priests have a deeper understanding of the individual and very deductive natures. Just by looking at a person they can tell the age, alignment and general aura. By deduction they can figure out the individual's line of work, hobbies and other such general personal information (i.e. prefered weapons for a warrior, faith for a priest etc.). It is prohibited for priests of Sparanza to use this information in any way other than to move the individual closer to their personal epiphany or fufillment. By fulfilment the priesthood means 'the state at which all hopes are realized'. This varies from individual to individual but the theologicians will simplify it as the path that will bring the spirit closer towards its goal for any given lifetime. The high priest of Sparanza will gather the knowledge not only for the current lifetime of an individual but for past lifetimes.

Description: Sparanza is the youngest of the pantheon. She often takes the form of a mote of light, never confused with a will-o'-the-wisp. The mote of light can be small or big, and will always infuse the individual with a state of well being along with a deeper understanding of a situation. It offers practical solutions, and sometimes even god sent solutions when things are at its darkests.

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Darleen - Goddess of Nature

Prefered race: Animele
Holy Symbol: A collage of the four elements

Colors: Priests of Nature have no specific garments to distinguish

them. The goddess requires them to make their own robes out of leather or cotton.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Darleen are defenders of nature. They tend to the plants and animals and ensure every ecosystem mantains its balance. They will teach people how to live in harmony with their surroundings.

Powers: The control over the elements is the forte of the priests of Nature. They also exert some control over the biome that they are protecting. The High Priest is able to summon and control elementals.

Description:Darleen often appears as a unicorn of pure black with a mane of three colors: red, blue and yellow. The horn and hooves of the unicorn are of pure crystal. Also the goddess may choose to present herself as an animal, many priests have said to see the goddess in nature itself, that being the best representation of her.

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Marla - God of the Seas

Prefered race: Pacifians
Holy Symbol: Enchanting fully blue eyes looking out from under a crown made of seaweed.

Colors: The priests wear flowing robes of silk in a gentle crystal blue coloration. The high priest’s robe is more elegant, the sleeves and end of the robe flowing much longer than those of the regular robes. The coloration of the robe of the high priest is a gentle and smooth transition from a blackish blue towards the bottom of the robe all the way to a crest white for the hood; these colors represent the depths of the ocean, from the murky black bottom to the gentle crests of the breaking waves. The priests have their eyes dyed with a special dye found in a rare plant on the bottom of the ocean, a plant that they must obtain alone to prove themselves worthy of the priesthood. Each priest wears a handmade crown of seaweed, which is decorated only when they have preformed certain priestly deeds.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Marla are rarely seen on land. They worship in temple built to float freely on the oceans of Xanele, traveling long distances at a time to find the temple to show respect and dedication to their goddess. The priests protect the waters and care for the many creatures that inhabit the sprawling oceans, often times giving their lives in the name of their goddess to defend the oceans and their inhabitants from the pirates and evils that plague the waters. “We, The Priests of Marla, are born to the sea, live for the sea, give life to the sea, and die for the sea, so that we may return as creatures of the sea”

Powers: The powers of the priest of Marla include the ability to commune with the creatures of the sea, breathe underwater, and withstand the crushing pressures of the depths, just to name a few. Upon entering the water, their necks form gills, and their fingers and toes form webs. The priests’ main power is the ability to have limited manipulation over the waters of the oceans, including, but not limited to, causing waterspouts to rise from the sea, and creating giant waves. All priests are bestowed with the gift to see the energy around them without the use of sight, as the dye used on their eyes causes permanent blindness.

The power of the high priest is that of greater control over the ocean. The high priest has the ability to control the tides and the flow of the ocean, as well as control and manipulate underwater plants.

Description:Marla works in mysterious ways, showing herself in many different forms. She has been known to make herself known as a simple tiny angelfish, or a dolphin. She believes she doesn’t have to make herself grand and known for her presence to still be felt. When going on shore, however, Marla will take the form of a beautiful young lady from an age old legend of a woman who almost drowned in the ocean, and was saved by the goddess by being turned into a dolphin, only able to walk to lady by the light of the moon. In this human form, her eyes are an enchanting crystal blue. The blue color covers the entire eye, not making any distinguishable pupil, retina, or cornea. Her hair is the same color blue, and flows down from her head like a gentle steam of water washing over her pale body. Her skin, though pale, holds a slight blue hue to it, as though it was freshly washed over with the light of a full moon. In this form, she wears nothing more than a bikini top made of seaweed and a small skirt made of deer skin leather. Her fingernails and the toenails of her petite bare feet are naturally colored the same color as her eyes and hair, giving her a true appearance of a young woman who has just emerged from the depths of the ocean.

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Najwa - God of the Spirits

Prefered race: Tainami
Holy Symbol: There is a symbol and form to Najwa itself, despite the already numerous representations. A slightly jagged mountain with a full moon rising on its right side is the mark.

Colors: The priesthood is known as Shaman, spiritual leaders to the Tainami. They’re rank is shown most frequently by a pendant presenting their chosen Spirit. Other than that for the most part they wear what they like to represent their rank.

Duties of the Priesthood: The shammen are the guide to the spirits of their tribe. They also act as wise men. Their duties go from counseling of the braves and leaders to healing of the sick and conduct ceremonies.

Powers: They are gifted with healing, spiritual guidance, and ability to take on the form of their Spirit guide. They are taught knowledge of magic and the ability to re-teach it to the Shaman who will replace them.

Description: The temple of Najwa meets under many names and many faces. Najwa is the one behind the many spirits of the Tainami. These are not to be mistaken for the departed souls of humans and demi-humans alike. The plains people believe in many animals manifesting into Spirits, guides to their lives and they are said to inhabit upon the Sacred Mountain. The Tainami leave the mountain unsettled, out of respect, although it is rumored a deceased tribe has risen again and claimed the land as their own.

The many names are easily remembered as key animals in the Tainami every day lives. Each is like a shadow of some of the other Gods and Goddesses of the Dystopia world. The wolf is an embodiment of wisdom and the coyote a trickster and master of deception. The serpent is one of cunning and also a great representation of death. The lion is one of courage and honor and the bear of strength and justice. The gazelle is one representing nature itself. All these Spirits are representations of magic and healing in their own right.

With all the Spirits combined to one known as Najwa it is like a pantheon of power within this one. Although Najwa is no more powerful than the fellow Gods and Goddesses of Dystopia for the amount of power is divided to the many outlets and forms that Najwa takes on.

They see Najwa in whatever animal form is taken on that the Shaman has favor to. All Shaman are male, as it is thought the burden of child bearing enough for women that the men be the ones to carry Spiritual woes. Though, such a thing is being questioned in some places.

Those few who know of and have seen Najwa see a Tainami, neither male nor female. Najwa’s hair is thick and black running part way down the back and narrow eyes also dark and black. Two heads, one atop the other, of a wolf and a coyote are upon Najwa’s head, hides hanging down behind. Garments of a tanned gazelle hide and boots of snake scales. The claws and even some teeth of the bear and lion make for necklaces and bracelets that jingle upon Najwa’s form.

Najwa is a calm entity it would seem, although, truth brings Najwa to be reserved in one instance while another there is inhibition. It is a miniature balance kept in careful and perhaps teetering order but kept all the same.

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Uriel - God of Wisdom

Prefered race: Centaurs
Holy Symbol: A golden owl

Colors: Centaur priests wear black shirts with gold vests and carry staves with a small, carved owl at the end. Human clerics wear black robes with gold vestments and trim.

Duties of the Priesthood: Uriel’s priesthood is ripe with philosophers, poets and to some degree scientists. All priests are trained scribes and sages. All the wisdom of the church is free to anyone who needs it. Anyone. High priests are trained in Divination and a many an oracle have come from their ranks. Priests of Uriel have sat next to thrones as advisors, sent as diplomats and counseled the poor and rich alike. Centaur priests can be seen in the church as readily as humans and are just respected or more so.

Powers: Priests of Uriel practice Divination spells and some glimpses of foresight and the future. Also they gain more wisdom as they grow as priests. They make the ultimate diplomats.

Description:Uriel looks much like his brother Dunbar only he has gold eyes. He is calm, patient and impossible to get a rise out of. He offers his advice only if asked and gives the since of being your oldest and dearest friend. That is exactly the form he takes. Whenever he appears in material world he takes the form who that persons most trusted friend and advisor. He will never judge you. Only try to help you.

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Aiden - God of Music

Prefered race: Irdas
Holy Symbol: The most common symbol for the lower level priests and priestesses is a mandolin, but other musical instruments have been used. The high priests and priestesses bear a golden harp, adorned with colorful gems to

show that Aiden's favor is upon them.

Colors: The house of Aiden, God of Music and Art, may be thought to be a disorganized foundation for a religion.The apparent lenience shown is sometimes scoffed by the other more traditional congregations. However, it would seem only fitting that there be allowance for followers to express themselves without limitation.His priesthood have their choice of garb and symbols. Any color, any design that is changed as he/she advanced through the patronage.

Duties of the Priesthood: The followers of Aiden are devout in the spread of music and dance through their communities. They organized and host many parties and competitions for the people to express their talents. Anything from art fairs, competitions of music and dance. The head of traveling performing groups and theatre organizations usually have some connection to with Aiden and his priesthood. They strive to bring enlightenment through personal expression in art and music.

Powers: Gifts and talents are given to those who join his patronage. Those are usually outspoken before they join the priesthood but the title gives them a more powerful voice and Aiden’s guidance shines upon them. They are usually filled with active muses, either performing or composing. Some have been known to combine and worship Brianna and Aiden together, weaving magic within their songs. One of the most well known abilities is songs that lull the listener and allow for them to be susceptible to suggestion, much like hypnosis.

Description: The God of Music appears to the populace as an elegant grey elf, a race known for their crafts and raw beauty. His features are handsome, light but a whimsical smile and violet eyes that shimmer with golden flecks. His hair is a golden hue as well, long and sweeping behind him. His garments are usually brightly colored and fancy in their design. He is always carrying a musical instrument, with which ancient runes are etched upon them and inset jewels.

Aiden is a very friendly god with a vast amount of charm. He loves a good party and especially where he can waltz about flirting with the lovely young woman of the races. He is quite competitive in many forms, including the winning affection of ladies or in out performing people. He has a voice of unmatched beauty to which he can stir any emotions within one through his song.

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Briana - Goddess of Magic

Prefered race: Alainos
Holy Symbol
: Opened Spell Book

Colors: The heads of her order are easily picked out for their rich silver tunics touched with violet and blue adornments and trim. They also possess a symbol in the form of an opened spell book, representing the goddess’s knowledge and rule. The average priest or priestess dresses in garments of blue edge with silver and a few adornments. Their symbol is that of a shooting start, its tail one of many colors intertwining in a representation of the various schools of magic.

Duties of the Priesthood: The order of Magic encourages worship of Briana and the following of her ways. They are not only leaders of a religion but educators, fierce protectors of the written knowledge of magic. Priests and priestesses posses expert magic ability and train those in their order as well as the common followers in it. Texts are copied many times over to ensure no loss of knowledge and then kept in many libraries which hold vast collections of such specialized works focusing on the different branches of magic. The idea of sharing and exchanging this knowledge is greatly encouraged as well as the push to go out and discover new ways.

Powers: Magic, enough said.

Description:The goddess of magic is, even though neutral, an important one. Briana is hailed by many priests and priestesses although in truth she still answers to the head of her Pantheon, Darleen, goddess of Nature. There is a passion and dedication to her that those under the following take. Sometimes, it may be a little obsessive and power hungry but they are still her priests and priestesses and assembly of followers just the same.

Briana takes on the form of her favored race. As an Alanois female she wears a long dress of the violet color that is adorned with diamonds. Her hair is long, flowing behind her in a richness of color that depends on her mood. Attributes are quite obvious, including silver for a bright and pleasant mood, black for sorrow and pain, and red for anger. Her eyes too take on this shift with her mood but always hold a life that shimmers like a jewel put into the full moonlight. Her wings are the true gem of her form, a shining silver. They are full and feathered in their large expanse. The tips are also decorated with diamonds that shimmer as beautifully as the feathers.

Briana is a woman of beauty and seems to come to the world with outstretched arms, willing to take any follower without prejudice. A kindness that is welcoming and wholehearted, with a vigor for life as grand as her power. Though, like any sweet smile of a mother she has her scolding of the people who preach and fight in her name. She is one to be faithful to and not attempt to deceive. All actions have their consequences and though she loves her followers she is not about to be lenient upon them.

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Seismos - God of Knowledge

Prefered race: Gnomes
Holy Symbol
: A scroll and quill

Colors: These priests wear a simple hoodless robe of coarse gray fabric. It

is belted at the waist with a plain brown cord. Even the high priests wear the simple fashion becoming indistinguishable from the neophytes. The spartan dress code is symbolic of their vow of non-interference, that regardless of personal allegiances or opinions, they must set all aside.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Seismos serve a temple or university and insatiably seek knowledge. They are charged with recording of events as they see them, no personal insight added. At least once in their lifetime they must contribute to the general knowledge of mankind by research. Their findings must be written down in a paper called a thesis. The thesis must be presented to the temple of university the priest serves. No priest of Seismos may ever burn a book. Priests of Seismos serve the public as an historians, counselors, judges or arbiters.

Powers: Priests of Seismos are the humblest of the lot. They have enlightened minds and are very adept at Clairsentience. As historians they are deeply tied to time and it is said that the high priest is even able to travel to the past and see events as they transcured. No priest of Seismos would dream of interfering with the river of time.

Description: Seismos avatar has the look of a flamboyant gnome with a cheerful attitude and swashbuckler flaire. Very contrary to the followers of Seismos who are austere in their way of clothing. The gnome will always have houndreds of inventions readily available, which sadly always go wrong in one way or another. Yet somehow at the end the mistakes are for the benefit of those that the avatar had made it's presence known. Seismos is modest in all things, never boasting of his knowledge or power. He takes a scholar's delight in watching others discover truth and solve problems. Seismos was originally the leader of the Neutral pantheon, maintaining the balance between the families of Good and Evil. When one side grew too powerful, Seismos allies briefly with the other side or provides it a bit of knowledge, like a merchant balancing a scale. He was also the holder of the Book of Knowledge, a tome of truth whose power ends all disputes.

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Celest - Goddess of Death

Prefered race: Saurial
Holy Symbol
: The holy symbol for the high priest is a silver-plated skull with blood-red rubies for eyes. The other members of the clergy carry just an average skull, usually that of a small animal. The symbol is usually part of a weapon so that it is more easily concealed.


Colors: The high priests wear hooded black robes with adornments of silver and grey. Other clergymen and women wear simply black tunics.

Duties of the Priesthood: The clerics teach the acceptance of death and that we're all dead. The 'Life' that we posses is actually a low point of the great cycle and thus the reason for pain, suffering and confusion. We cling to a false existance, emotions cloud our minds and confuse us, preventing us to see that in order to become Dead we must seperate ourselves in every way from our false emotions and bodies. Killing yourself is not the solution to reach Death, only by detaching from emotions. Otherwise you'll come back again, and again, and again, still clinging to the false Life.

True Death must come to all. It is also emphasized that those who evade this fate are a menace to the rest of the inhabitants of Xanele. In this manner a hatred for Immortals is brewed. Especially for the Immortal Asm who is the one credited for the undead people known as Vampires. Undead is a pityful state for they have frozen their progress in the cycle. The priest may aid an undead creature to begin the cycle anew by destroying it, or it may punish it for its weakness by using the undead (before destroying it).

Priests of Celest then are vowed to exterminate all Immortals they come across. Vigilance is instructed and action against any being which is naturally and unnaturally (such as wizards with potions of longevity) keeping Death at bay. Each being has its rightful place in the ‘beyond’ and the clergy of Celest is determined to be sure they arrive there.

Powers: The priests possess the power to take the unnatural ‘death’ from undead creatures and can also detect an Immortal that comes within 50 ft of them in any direction. They are masters of darkness, and can manipulate darkness and shadows to their benefit. The High Priest can create an aura of death, it is power that had never been seen and it is only taught as a running myth to other clergy's.

Description: Celes is the leader of the evil pantheon. She leads the gods of evil with an iron fist covered in a silk glove. Her touch is smooth but her strength imposing. Since she wants the spirits to reach their True Death, the pantheon promotes the aspects that expose 'Life' as the lie. The goddess of death is, naturally, a terrifying figure of whom most races regard as an enemy and unavoidable bringer doom. People have believed the goddess to be a heartless foreboding figure that comes to rip them from their lives but in face she has no face that can be described. No one vision of the woman has been the same; many are not even told to anyone for her appearance ensures one’s death most certainly.

Depending on the life you’ve led the known appearances of the goddess are quite simply describe. Words are known to fall short of describing any visage of a divinity. To those of a good heart the goddess will appear as a beautiful woman shrouded in a white dress, a white hooded cloak adorned with gold shadows the features of her face. Though from the depths of the hood shines the best deeds one has performed. Her skin is fair and one will take her hand to be led to the ‘beyond’, her black curls spilling from the hood. Those that see the goddess thus know will 'die happily ever after'.

Those who have lived with life clinging-intent, she may appear as the most horrifying being you have ever seen. The shadows are her garments and a blood red light radiates from where her face ought to be and one feels as though they relive those most despicable moments of their time on Xanele. It may seem like eternity of evil scorching ones soul before they are dragged to their fate of a death that will only perpetuate the cycle. And so, one must tread carefully for Celest watches and what you have done in life and you ought to expect the same in death. You will become the victim of your own deeds.

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Enoch - God of Pain

Prefered race: Echidnian
Holy Symbol: The regular clergy wear a whip as a symbol of their devotion to the god of pain. It is usually of bronze, not coiled up, as it would be

when carried but dangling ready with knotted ends one can almost imagine slashing at flesh. The high priests posses a sign that appears like a creatures maw. What creature it could be no one knows as you can only make out the beady eyes and the rest is an open jaw with rows of teeth. Usually they are made of obsidian or of black material for any other sign besides medallions.

Colors: The colors of the order vary depending on cast. The regular priests and priestess often wear dulled earthen colors, as if dreary in death, hues of brown. Any added decorations on the garments are usually gray. The high priests are singled out in their capes of storm-cloud gray, elaborate with patterns in black and red along the bottom hem usually depicting horrific beasts and demons.

Duties of the Priesthood: The priest hood takes great pleasure in carrying out the ‘cleansing of souls’ in the name of Enoch by invoking physical and psychological pain. They erase most horrid memories so as to not loose most of their congregation but trauma usually lingers in the backs of people’s minds. These usually bring about unexplainable nightmares of visions of horrors the people want to rid themselves of as quickly as possible. So they turn to ever-ready priests who probably know the cause and would have the solution… though these solutions come with prices, and usually not of just material wealth.

Not only not only those of evil intent employ them, but also those supposedly standing for the sides of good in the world. They are master engineers of torturous devices and know how to manipulate the body to create excruciation pain for days, even months, without pushing the person to the brink of death. So, kingdoms may employ them to carry out horrific sentences for certain brutal crimes or to get information that the victim may not feeling too willing to part with in the first place. Not all tortures need to be physical though and those in this following know this and use it to their advantages.

Powers: They posses great knowledge of the limitations of the human body and mind. With certain rituals they may be able to give themselves the power to inflict pain with a mere touch or draw up the greatest fears of a person and use them to drive them mad with panic. Some even believe that those high priests that are appointed by Enoch himself may very well have the ability to take a life with a wave of the hand.

Description:He is a man of ashen colored flesh, with hair of a blackness that does not exist in nature. His is painted pure white, like a mask of someone crying though the tears are more like drops of blood. His garments are of the same hue as the high priests but intricately embroidered with silver images of people that are seem to go through their torture upon the very fabric. Their faces express in silent pure agony and often-terrible beasts devour them when it is all over. One will never see the same thing in Enoch’s garments.

This is greatly contrasted by his demeanor. He may appear like a harlequin but there is nothing amusing about him. He gathers a great joy in the suffering of others. One will know when he is watching for it things go the way he likes there is often a haunting applause to be heard. Or even exuberant laughing that those who hear it will never, even with the strongest of spells, forget. He will toy with the weak and simple and take great thrill in breaking down the strongest of wills. A mad man, is surely an understatement for this god can only be categorized as the embodiment of pain, suffering, and fears itself.

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Tasha - Goddess of Desire

Prefered race: Fae
Holy Symbol: Open black hand with red heart in the palm

Colors: The priesthood dons robes of vibrant red with black sashes and trim. A High priest may by robes of crisp white with red. The colors of red, black, and white are said to have been chosen by the goddess

herself as the most powerful, overwhelming pigments. Red, the color of uninhibited passion. Black the color of despair beyond the reach of hope. White the color of purity, or desire for something untainted by guilt.

Duties of the Priesthood: The priesthood of Tasha, goddess of desire, hold a mission statement that they will gladly recite to anyone who asks. “To satisfy the desires of the mind, body, and soul held by anyone for anything by any means.” Mostly they simply pass on the prayers of people to the goddess and perform ceremonies of offering to her. Some go as far as being conspirators to plot out methods for people to obtain their desires. For a price of course.

Powers: Powers of the priesthood aren’t well publicized and generally kept within the order. Most of it is the knowledge of spells and potions that fiddle with the natural order of a person’s mind.

Description:Tasha is the patron god of many radicals and those who have a thirst for anything: love, power, riches, etc.
Tasha appears within a form appealing to whomever it is she is coming before. A regal woman of wealth and beauty. She flaunts her sex appeal, delighting at how easily one can toy with mortals. She dresses in the latest fashions, usually colored to those of her order. She favors lush black hair with garments of a rich red. Her jewelry was not gaudy but elaborate, glittering with precious stones and metals. Sometimes gems appeared to be embedded in her very flesh. The one feature of the woman that never changed was the color of her eyes, which flashed like a flawless emerald put into the sunlight. The rarest stone seeming to be a fitting representation for a rare type of woman.

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Garth - God of Deceit

Prefered race: Kenku
Holy Symbol: a black mask, not very elaborate.

Colors: The priesthood has no chosen colors or needed garments. They only required wear the symbol of Garth and this is usually hidden.

Duties of the Priesthood: The duties of the priesthood are hard to come by for outsiders. Those seeking the services of a clergy member usually find themselves being the ones sought rather than the other way around. This suggests that these people have many connections, many informants. They are brilliant planners of scandals and can be employed to execute the ‘perfect crime’. They will help with anything from petty theft to usurping a throne, for a price unless you are lucky enough to have the blessing of Garth.

Powers: They are tricksters, swindlers, gamblers, frauds, and lawyers. The clergy is well versed in politics, economics, and society itself. They are great manipulators and masters of disguise. They know how gossip and media can work to ones advantage and disadvantage. If life were a show, they would be the puppet masters of the masses marionettes. They also make superb spies not only for their ability to blend into any crowd but their seemingly endless network of contacts.

Description: Garth appears in various forms. He is rumored to walk amidst the commoners and courts alike without their knowledge. Perhaps even leading lives on either side; prominently successful or promiscuously scandalous. He’s easily described as suave, debonair, and down right seductive. There is barely a woman that could escape his charms or a man who could argue his logic. He tends to be a moderately built man with handsome features, generally dark hair and dark eyes.

He has a form relative to his favored race, Kenku. In which he appears a humanoid form with the legs of a bird, and raven wings draping like a cape over his shoulders and down his back. The black eyes are cold and calculating. If he wishes to betray himself in other forms one will look into the eyes of a man and seen no white or iris. Pure blackness will stare back at them.

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Sorisis - Goddess of Hate

Prefered race: Gorgoyle
Holy Symbol: A feather dripping blood

Colors: The high priest wears a red garment with a white sash. All priestly robes will have a white ribbon trim on the hem and the end of the sleeves. The dress code of Sorisis is extremely risque. The

robes are often of silken sheer material, over bustiers and tight leather skirts. The neophytes wear silver and white.

Duties of the Priesthood: Priests of Sorisis believe in hatred as the proponent of cleansing the spirit of all ties to life. Therefore the priesthood instigates supremacy of the individual (or particular group) as needed. They instill hate wherever they go in whatever fashion: hate of country, hate of religions, racism, chauvinism and just general bigotry. They promote hate towards life, nature and the miserable existance of the spirit. They are a highly intolerant priesthood, yet seem to be a closely knit and cohesive group within their members. Given the nature of their doctrines they work individualy and there are no known temples. Nonetheless when to priests recognize each other they can work in unison towards a common goal. This is done for the sake of the 'bigger picture' but it is likely the priests hate each other as well.

Powers: The priests of Sorisis are very verbose and eloquent. They have the power of speech, excelling in public demonstrations and often influencing crowds with their power filled words. They have the ability to alter the mood of their audience, usually rallying them into action. They can also cause a berserk rage on any one individual. The high priest has the ability to cause Discord, it is a power that will end bring out the flaws of any given settled argument.

Description:The goddess avatar takes the form of a the individual she is visiting, but it is always a mirror image. If she is before a crowd each would see her as their reflection. The goddess had one twin, Sasanis.

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Volo - God of Sickness

Prefered race: Lycanthrops
Holy Symbol: Withered Cow-Skull

Colors: Red and black, Priests faces are usually paint red and black with the dried blood of their victims.

Duties of the Priesthood: The priesthood of Volo is a very shamatic in nature. Shamans of Volo spread sickness. They do so through natural means or magic. Some justify it as a way to prevent overcrowding, others don't need justification. They feel disease is yet another way to purify the soul. By weakening the body ties to the 'false life' are cut. The the werefolk will not spread their God’s gift to others needlessly. A balance must be maintained even if their side of the balance is not a pleasant one.

Powers: Many shaman of Volo are werewolves. Their bite is highly infectious, transforming their victims into were-folk. They can cure or cause any disease. Volo wants to make the world sick so that the races of Xanele stop relying on the body and carnal things and move on to a higher spiritual state of existance. High shaman can summon and control rats and wolves. Hordes of them. Some can create magical diseases which are very selective. It will strike anyone from a single individual to only a certain blood line or even a certain race.

Description:Volo appears as a deathly pale man with blood red hair. He looks ill but is actually immune to all diseases. Though you couldn’t tell him that. He takes his role very seriously. However he is paranoid and a hypochondriac. He is always wringing his hands and will scream and launch massive spell attacks against whoever dares lay an unwashed hand upon him.

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Retors - God of War

Prefered race: Minotaurs
Holy Symbol: A clashing battleaxe and sword

Colors: While one would expect the god of war to prefer red, the color of blood, and black the color of misfortune and despair, Retors is not a predictable god. He favors a regal shade of midnight blue. The lower clergy adorned their robes with silver and the high priests in gold.

Duties of the Priesthood: The main duty of the priesthood is to promote and endure war. They offer guidance in a time of war. For the most part this is simply giving forceful encouragement to show no mercy to the enemy. They are more supportive of effectively diminishing the numbers of the opposing ranks in the fastest, most brutal way possible. They also offer sacrifices in the name of lords preparing to wage war or even in the middle of battle. This is to gain the favor with the god of war and hopefully increase chances of success.

Powers: The priests of Retors are known to make an informant out of anything. They can possess a squirrel to act as a scout, or make a tree into a sentry. They are masters of arms able to tell fine craftsmanship at a glance, as well as poor. Although Retors has a preference for domination by brute force, his clergy are well known for their ingenious sneak attacks, for find spots of strategic advantage, as well as setting up crafty booby traps. The priests can also incite a berserk rage among the troops, or inspire them to great battles. People searching for Retors favor not only offer sacrifices but dress a boy in form battle attire colored in blue and silver to hold the army’s flag behind the lines. It is considered a sign of luck and especially effective if a priest of Retors accompanies the flag.

Description: Retors favored forms are that of a large Minotaur, or a bull Animele. As a Minotaur he stands an average of 8’. His fur is pure black and prickly as it stands constantly on end. His eyes are an eerie blood-shot red. He has horns and hooves of steel, literally, and it would seem his fingernails were made up of the element as well. A steel bullring is pierced through his nostrils. His attire in this form is hard leather, kilt-like garment with a cloth of midnight blue beneath the spaced strips that are adorned with steel studs. He carries a large battleaxe.

As an Animele he appears mostly like a human noble. He retains large bullhorns and stiff cupped ears. His eyes are still the blood-shot red color and the bullring hands from his nostrils just over his upper lip. He wears a steel breastplate with a midnight blue shirt silk beneath it. Steel gauntlets protect his hands. He wears a pair of leather breeches, also dyed the midnight blue, and his lower legs protected by steel plating. He has no boots or shoes for his feet are still menacing looking hooves. His favored weapon in this form is a bastard sword sheathed at his side for his height still remains an enormous 8’.

Retors is one of the younger gods and known to very irrational. He has an incredibly short temper and rather than negotiate simply goes into a rage. He was most likely the one to introduce pillaging and burning of villages to the people of Xanele. He enjoys chaos and panic and though he’ll laugh insanely over the misfortune of others he never smiles. He is a very stern imposing figure to meet and most of his priests though they worship him are absolutely terrified of him. It would be pure insanity not to.

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