The major gods. There are many and varied gods worshiped throughout the lands, but these are the most common representatives of Law, Neutrality and Chaos.
Devil and demon worship while fairly uncommon, does occur. But they are not generally worshiped as gods per se, but rather unknowingly as representatives of gods. And yet again, there are those secretive priests and wizards who venerate powerful demon lords, they are few and generally quite mad.
And then...there are 'The Old Ones'. Rumored to have come before the gods, no one is quite sure who they were, and even more so, who, if anyone, worshiped them. But there are spider-haunted ruins in deep jungles, and undersea relics that have been dredged up from the blackest of depths, that prove that these ancient beings once ruled supreme on this world.
Gods of Law:
HEIRONEOUS - 'The Invincible', God of Chivalry, Honor, Justice, Valor and Daring
Heironeous is the champion of rightful combat and chivalrous deeds. Likewise he is the deity of those who fight for honor and strive for order and justice. Heironeous often leaves the Seven Heavens in ordr to mover around the Prime Material Plane, aiding heroic causes and championing Law.
Worshipers of Heironeous are found everywhere, but are particularly likely to be found among those who follow military professions or do heroic deeds. Clerics of Heironeous are especially warlike, always wearing chainmail. Their robes are dark blue with silver trim indicating their station. At 11th level, clerics of Heironeeous can, in addition to their normal spells, use a bolt of energy once per seek. Places of worship of Heironeous are usually adorned with blue trappings, silver, and occasionally windows of colored glass depicting scenes of Heiroeneous triumphant. A copper statue to the deity, armed with a silver battle axe and covered in silver mail, with seven silver bolts radiating from behind his head, typically stands behind the altar.
SAINT CUTHBERT - 'of the Cudgel', God of Wisdom, Common Sense, Truth, Forthrightness, Dedication and Zeal
St. Cuthbert appears as a stout, red-faced man, with a drooping white mustache and flowing white hair. He wears simple plate mail of a highly magical nature. Atop his helmet is a crumpled hat, and a starburst of rubies set in platinum hangs on his chest.
While St. Cuthbert has many large places of worship, wayside shrines and small, crude chapels are usual. His followers are found mainly in the countryside around great cities. A great rivalry exists between the followers of St. Cuthbert and the followers of Pholtus.
CELESTIAN - 'The Far Wanderer', God of Stars, Space and Wandering
It is said that Celestian and Fharlanghn are brothers who followed similar but different paths. While the latter chose the distances of the world, Celestian was drawn to the endless reaches of the stars and the Astral Plane.
Service and worship are always conducted in the open, during the night, preferably when the sky is clear and many stars are visible.
FHARLANGN - 'Dweller on the Horizon', God of Horizons, Distances, Roads and Travel
As Celestian wanders the star roads, his elder brother Fharlanghn roams the four corners of the world. He is, in fact, regarded as the god of travel and distance. Fharlanghn sometimes enters the Elemental Plane of Earth, but he seldom enters the plane of Air and shuns those of Fire and Water. He can travel to any Inner Plane, however.
Worshippers of Fharlangn are most active in the open regions of the world. Followers of this deity are typically merchants, adventurers, itinerants, and the like. Services are often conducted outdoors, under the sunny sky.
EHLONNA - 'of the Forests', Goddess of Forest, Meadows, Animals, Flowers and Fertility
Ehlonna of the Forests is said to be the patroness of all folk - elven, human or otherwise - who dwell in woodlands and love such surroundings. She is likewise the deity of those who hunt, fish, and otherwise gain their livelihood from the forests. She is thus worshiped by rangers, foresters, trappers, hunters, woodcutters, etc. More females than males serve Ehlonna.
The worship of Ehlonna is centered in the area around the coasts and wherever there are deep forests. Her clerics wear pale green robes. Temples of Ehlonna are always in sylvan settings, although small shrines are occasionally located in villages. Services of worship involve wooden and horn vessels, various herbs, and the playing of pipes and flutes.
PHOLTUS - 'of the Blinding Light', God of Light, Resolution, Law, Order, Inflexibility, Sun and Moon
It is said the regularity of sunrise and sunset, the cycles of the moon, are as fixes as the resolve of Pholtus to show all creatures the One True Way, a strict path which allows no deviation but gives absolute assurance of rightness. Some followers of the Blinding Light actually claim i is their deity, Photus, who ordered the rigid progression of the sun and moon and maintains them in his regimen. Such claims are not regarded as doctrine.
The priesthood of Pholtus is at its most active in urban districts. Consecrated buildings are white. Typical services feature many burning candles and long sermons. The anthem of the worshipers is "O Blinding Light".
TRITHEREON - 'The Summoner', God of Individuality, Self Protection, Liberty and Retribution
Trithereon, "The Summoner", is the deity of individuality and the right of self protection. His symbol, the rune of pursuit, indicates many things, including the need to strive for liberty and to seek to bring to an end to those who are bent on abridging life or freedom.
Priests of Trithereon wear dark blue or purple robes, silver or gold trimmed. During special ceremonies they wear cassocks of golden red emblazoned with the rune of pursuit. The followers of this deity are common in large towns and cities. Typical services feature ceremonial flames, bells, and iron vessels and symbols of various types.
Gods of Neutrality:
ISTUS - 'Lady of Our Fate', Goddess of Fate, Destiny, Predestination and Future
Istus, The Colorless and All-colored, Lady of Our Fate, is honored and feared as the controller of foreordination. While she has relatively few faithful devotees, many persons will call upon Istus in time of want or need. She may or may not heed this call; no one knows. Because fate is so often cruel or unkind, only very cynical or unfeeling persons tend toward service of Istus.
Clerics of Istus wear gray robes, or black ones on occasion. Leading clerics have web-patterned formal vestments. Most of the clerics of Istus are female. Centers of worship of Istus are in large cities. Services include gauze hangings, clouds of incense, woodwind music, chanting and meditation.
OBAD-HAI - 'The Shalm', God of Nature, Wildlands, Freedom, Hunting and Wild Beasts
Obad-hai, "The Shalm," is an archaic deity of nature and wild lands, one of the most ancient known having been worshipped by the ancient peoples prior to the arrival of the current occupants of this land.
Clerics who follow Obad-hai are usually druids. A few others are of the norma sort, although they wander as pilgrims in most cases. Such clerics wear russet garments and carry staves. Churches or chapels of Obad-hai are always in rustic settings and made of rough timber. Services are brief and not particularly ritualized. Living flowers, earth, water, and fire are typical service adornments.
BOCCOB - 'The Uncaring', God of Neutrality, Magic, Arcane Knowledge, Foreknowledge, and Foresight
Boccob, called The Uncaring, is the Lord of all Magics and Archimage of the Deities. Whether or not any worship or serve him seems of no importance to him. Naturally, he is entreated for omens by seers and diviners. Likewise, those seeking new magics are prone to ask his aid. Sages also revere him.
The worshippers of Boccob are spread throughout the land. His clerics wear purple robes with gold trim; and those attaining high level are able to handle magic items normally usable only by magic-users. Services to honor Boccob involve complex rituals, incense, recital of formulas, and readings from special works honoring knowledge.
ZAGYG - 'The Mad Archmage', God of Humor, Occult Studies, Unpredictability, and Eccentricity
Zagyg, the Mad Arch-Mage and punster, is the sole known servant of Boccob, for the latter recognizes no others except on special occasions. Zagyg is mad only in that none but his master seem to be able to fathom is reasoning and sense of humor; few, if any, hold him as their deity.
Olidammara - 'The Laughing Rogue', God of Music, Revelry, Roguery, Tricks and Jokes, Wine and Spirits
Olidamara, the Laughing Rogue, minstrel and miscreant, is the favorite deity of many thieves. Worshippers include bards, jesters, vagabonds, beggars, and common folk as well. He wanders the Prime Material Plane in may guises, stealing from the rich, the haughty, or the evil. Olidammara gives wealth to those without means - often distributing his pilfered gains through high revels.
There are few chapels dedicated to Olidammara. They are always located in large towns or cities. Shrines are not uncommon in urban centers and rural areas. Clerics of this deity are trained to have the ability of hiding in shadows so as to be equal to a thief one level lower than their clerical level. They are taught musical skills of the bards. Finally, clerics of Olidammara gain the ability to change self at 8th and higher level, the duration being as if the caster were of the same level. They dress in garments of brown, green, green and brown, and green and black. Services include much singing, chanting, feasting, and libations of fermented berry beverage.
Gods of Chaos:
HEXTOR - 'Herald of Hell / Scourge of Battle', God of War, Discord, Conflict and Fitness
Hextor, Champion of Evil, Herald of Hell, Scrouge of Battle, is the deity of many soldiers and fighters who deem chaos most fit to rule, admiring war and discord. Of course, others besides those of military calling follow him. Hextor dwells on the Planes of Acheron, but can wander to those of Hell or even Nirvana. Most frequently, though, Hextor treads the Prime Material Plane in search of warfare, aiding chaos, opposing law. Especially does Hextor seek to overthrow those serving Heironeous. The latter is his half-brother, and the Lords of Evil granted Hextor six arms, instead of only a pair so as to be able to best Heironeous and all other opponents.
Places of worship of Hextor are grim, dark, and bloody. Major shrines and temples are usually built on some field of slaughter. His clerics wear black robes, adorned with white skulls or gray visages embroidered thereon. Only the higher-level clerics have arrows of hate and discord in red, lower-level clerics being permitted gray ones. Much chanting accompanies all ceremonies honoring Hextor. Wind instruments sound discordant tones, shouts and screams are voiced, and iron weapons are struck during such an offering. Priests of Hextor are trained in assassination, so that at the gaining of sixth level of clerical ability, one level of assassin ability is also gained. There after, every two levels of advancement in clerical skill means one level of gain in assassin ability. The maximum level attainable in assassin ability is sixth, which is reached by a cleric upon attaining 16th level in that class.
IUZ - 'the Old', God of Oppression, Deceit, Wickedness and Pain
Whether Iuz is a human who has become demon-like through the centuries, or whether he is a semi-demon (as some suggest, a by-blow of Orcus), no mortal knows. He is, however, the first known godling of Chaos; his wickedness and treachery are infamous throughout the the land.
Clerics of Iuz dress in rusty black (their master's favorite color) or white streaked with rust-red blood stains. At third level they gain the ability to change self once per day. Their ceremonies include the burning of foul-smelling substances, the beating of a great drums and the clangor of bronze bells, and blood sacrifice whenever possible. Places of service to Iuz must be old, filthy and dark. Altar services are typically of bone and include many skulls.
ERYTHNUL - 'The Many', God of Ugliness, Hate, Envy, Malice, Panic and Slaughter
Erythnul, known as "The Many", is the deity of capricious malice, hate, envy, and panic. His followers include humans and humanoids as well, for Erythnul is said to greatly reward his faithful servants for their fickleness and wickedness. Erythnul stalks battlefields in order to strike fear and route whenever possible.
Clerics of Erythnul dress in rust-colored garments. Their ceremonial robes are most often white spattered with blood. Masks include stylized visages for each of Erythnul's five aspects. Each cleric above 3rd level is also able to cast a scare spell just as if he or she were a magic-user. Most places of worship of Erythnul are hidden. Towns and cities will usually have a small cult of his followers amongst the denizens of the local thieves' quarter. Many gnolls, bugbears, ogres, and rolls worship this deity. Services include shrill reed instruments played in discordant tones, gongs, and drums. Major rites involve fire and sacrifice.
INCABULOS - God of Evil, Plague, Sickness, Famine, Drought, Disasters, and Nighmares
Incabulos is the deity of evil sendings - plagues, sickness, droughts, nightmares, and the like. His major delights are woe and wickedness. Thus, he is feared by even the princes of Hades and dukes of Hell.
Those who worship and serve Incabulos are most secretive, fearing the wrath of those (even others of evil ilk) who detest what Incabulos stands for. Yet many do call upon this deity, and hidden temples exist in subterranean places and forsaken lands. His priesthood dresses in black, of course, with the eye of possession symbol in verdigrised bronze, repeated in dull orange on the robes of higher clerics. Services to honor Incabulos have weird humming and droning chants as background. Multiple evils are celebrated by the faithful, while flickering black candles dimly light the altar areas. All vessels are of old bronze, carnelian, or bloodstone.
NERUL - 'The Reaper', God of Death, Darkness, Underworld, and Covert Activity
The dreaded Nerull ins the Foe of all Good, Hater of Life, Bringer of Darkness, King of all Gloom, Reaper of Flesh. He is the deity of all those who seek greatest evil for their enjoyment and gain.
Many humans of evil nature, and some humanoids as well, pay homage to Nerull. Assassins and thieves often regard this deity as a patron. In wicked lands, temples and cathedrals of Nerull are openly operated. IN other places the rites of Nerull are conducted in subterranean shrines and sacred vaults. His clerics dress in rust-red or blackish-rust garments, carry staves and somewhere bear the unholy skull and scythe symbol. The worship of Nerull is done in full darkness. The litany is ghastly, being of death and suffering. Human sacrifice is common. Altars are of rusty-colored stone. Service pieces are usually of copper and malachite.
RALISHAZ - 'The Unlooked For', God of Chance, Randomness, Bad Luck, Misfortune, and Madness
WASTRI - Chaos, 'The Hopping Prophet', God of Bigotry, Self Deception and Amphibians
