[Information] The Ancient Gods

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I shall post information for each of the Ancient Gods here with links to each one.

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Arafon, the Blade at Midnight (CE): Arafon is the patron god and forefather of the Lupos. His aspect is that of a tall, thin wolfman, with an extended muzzle, eyes that shine silver as if the reflection of the full moon. His fur is matte black, but gleams with his divine power from time to time as he directs his will. He is a cruel creature, desirous of much bloodshed. His shrines consist of a large bowl beneath a pair of wicked spikes. Arafon’s worshippers impale their sacrifices on the spikes, and allow the blood to pool in the bowl. Once the victims have bled out, the priests smear the blood on the faithful, and then all consume the remaining blood mixed with fortified wine. Acceptable sacrifices include other sentient creatures, rogue Lupos, and most Good magical creatures.

Portfolio: Midnight, Bloodletting, Wolves, Mayhem

Domains: Chaos, Darkness, Death, Destruction, Evil

Favored Weapon: Dagger

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Deliahla, the Moon's Daughter (NG): Deliahla is the patron goddess of the Elves. Her aspect is that of a warrior-maiden, armored in a shining silver breastplate, with a tall spear, mirrored shield, and a sheathed curved sword. Her hair is silvered blonde, and cascades down her back to collect at her waist. She advocates complete military isolation and brutal defense of the border. Trade with her subjects must occur outside the limits of their land. Her worship consists of nocturnal gatherings to offer bowls of water in holy hollows.

Portfolio: Elves, The Moon, Silver, Defensive Warfare

Domains: Good, Protection, Nobility, Glory, Community

Favored Weapon: Longspear

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Bjornstadt, Hammer of the Deep (LG): Bjornstadt is the patron god of the Dwarves. His aspect is a stout dwarf with a mining pick and a heavy hammer gripped in his hands. Bjornstadt advocates minimalist mining, and encourages his followers to not accumulate unused material wealth. Many followers of Bjornstadt accept promises of favors in return for their goods, and thus the clans of Boregrim call upon their neighbors frequently for aid. Bjornstadt's worship is performed by disintegrating a large precious gem on the evening of auspicious days, and when looking for guidance in times of trouble. There are several major holy days each year devoted to Bjornstadt.

Portfolio: Dwarves, Precious Stones, Metalworking, Tunnels

Domains: Good, Law, Strength, Rune, Earth

Favored Weapon: Warhammer

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Haraam, the Bright Beacon (CG): Haraam is the patron god and father of the Aasimar. His aspect is a winged man with silver skin, platinum hair, and a bright golden halo floating above his head. He created the aasimar to be a less-conspicuous representation of his will in the world. His teachings are devoted to preserving freedom and doing what is right, regardless of the consequences. He was known to have friendly relations with some of the other Ancient Gods, vastly more so than any other Ancient God. His worship is performed in the healing of the sick and injured, and with the freeing of captives and slaves. Haraam hates slaveholders and murderers, and commands his followers to show such people no mercy.

Portfolio: Medicine, Aasimar, Liberation, Peaceful Negotiations

Domains: Good, Chaos, Healing, Liberation, Knowledge

Favored Weapon: Unarmed Strike

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Hortaga, the Gaping Maw (CE): Hortaga is the patron goddess and creator of the Orcs. Her aspect is that of a tall, broad-shouldered, heavily tusked orc woman, gripping an enormous axe between her meaty hands. After creating the orcs, she was known to come down from her otherplanar home and slay entire warbands of her people just to find the strongest warrior amongst them. She would then bind that warrior in chains and take him home with her to use as her breeding stock. Hortaga's offspring were mighty demigods, wreaking havoc on the realms of the other gods. Hortaga's worship consists of the castration of captive warriors, followed by the consumption of the resulting mess by the warleaders and battle-mothers of the tribe.

Portfolio: Battle-lust, Mutilation, Slavery, Hatred

Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Madness, War

Favored Weapon: Greataxe

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Caruthia of the Gentle Paw (CG): Caruthia is the patron goddess and mother of the Catfolk race. Her aspect is that of a tall, willowy catfolk wrapped in a diaphanous white robe, holding a staff in her left hand marked with the badge of the healers, and her right hand empty, outstretched to touch the wounded and afflicted. During the Ritual of Cleansing, priests of Caruthia tend to the poor and the travelers. The worship of Caruthia is performed in acts of charitable healing, feeding the poor, and the washing of the bodies of the faithful.

Portfolio: Catfolk, Simple Healings, Charity, Cats

Domains: Chaos, Community, Good, Healing, Travel

Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff

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Hagun, the Grand Marshal (LE): Hagun is patron god and first Marshal of the Hobgoblin Legions. His aspect is that of a tall, fit Hobgoblin in a shining golden breastplate, golden shield, and tall spear. He is the most calculating and strategic of the Ancient Gods, and is a master of battlefield strategy. His worshippers are called to take land by force and capture slaves. His worship is performed at crude altars consisting of the bodies of slain enemies pierced through with long spears. His priests then give sermons on the benefits of obedience to one's superior officers, and the glory of conquest.

Portfolio: Strategic Warfare, Slavery, Arcanophobia, Hobgoblins

Domains: Law, Evil, War, Strength, Sun

Favored Weapon: Shortsword

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Kabooma, the Bearer of Flames (CE): Kabooma is the patron goddess and mother of the goblin race. Her aspect is that of an obese, waddling goblin matron, surrounded by a massive gaggle of infant goblins. She encourages her followers to procreate as much as possible, filling the land with future warriors to fuel the fires of war. She delights in tricks and jokes, though generally those of a bawdy nature. Kabooma brought fire to the world in its infancy, and her marauding followers inadvertently brought it to their enemies, who soundly defeated them through size and cunning. Worship of Kabooma is practiced by dalliances with temple prostitutes, providing the future generation of followers for the goddess.

Portfolio: Goblins, bonfires, reproduction, tricks

Domains: Chaos, Evil, Fire, Trickery, War

Favored Weapon: Dogslicer

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Baelshesh, the Shade at Midday (NE): Baelshesh is the patron god and father of the Tieflings. His aspect is a tall man, gaunt, with a stub of a tail and vestigial horn bumps on his forehead. He wears a fashionable robe in midnight blue, so dark that even in the light of the brightest day it threatens to suck the light out of nearby objects. He does not provide anything to his followers except knowledge. Knowledge to empower themselves to greater and greater ambition. His worship is performed at high noon, at specific dedicated shrines which lie in perpetual darkness due to curses placed on their locations. Stolen goods, pieces of murder victims' flesh, and contraband goods are placed on the altar just before noon, and disappear into the recesses of a pocket plane for the use of the clergy of Baelshesh when the last bell tolls.

Portfolio: Tieflings, Wealth, Seduction, lynchings

Domains: Evil, Darkness, Knowledge, Nobility, Void

Favored Weapon: Rapier

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Grrummprr, The All-Mother (N): Grrummprr is the patron goddess and mother of all Ursarans. Grrummprr's aspect is that of an enormous she-bear. Seeing the other Ancient Gods creating races that moved about on two legs, she followed suit, but made her creations much closer to her own form. The resulting Ursarans stood taller and stronger than their neighbors, but were seen as more bestial. Grrummprr's worship is very simple. It is performed by treating others fairly, and by respecting one's surroundings. Piles of stones in woodlands and city parks honor Grrummprr, and she is revered as a protector of the weak.

Portfolio: Ursarans, Woodlands, Caves, Bears

Domains: Animal, Earth, Protection, Repose, Strength

Favored Weapon: Greatclub

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Giathon, the Star-Bringer (CG): Giathon is the patron god and father of the Strix. His aspect is that of a great six-winged owl, with stars sewn into his wings, forming the constellations as he flies through the skies. He is said to be the god who acted the least with the world, merely creating the strix and then returning to the sky to watch time pass. His worship is conducted either privately or with small groups, usually close family, during the final day of every week at midnight where everyone involved burns a piece of paper telling of events from the past week. He supports looking back on one's actions and remembering them, teaching that it is the past which makes a person, but the future holds someone new.

Portfolio: time, stars, observance, Strix

Domains: Knowledge, Luck, Repose, Void, Weather

Favored Weapon: Scimitar

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Gladred, the Traveler (CN): Gladred is the patron goddess and mother of all gnomes. Her aspect is that of a gnome woman with elaborate pink hair done up nearly as tall again as she is. She carries a traveler's staff in one hand, decked out in baubles and doodads. She is the goddess of music, and jingling bells can be heard whenever she passes. Travelers and bards worship Gladred often, invoking her blessing on performances and journeys. Gladred doesn't have temples, per se, but taverns, inns, and auditoriums often have small wooden boxes near their entrances where donations can be made. Itinerant priests of Gladred can open these donation boxes with a magical password, and fund their travels from these monies.

Portfolio: Gnomes, travelers, musicians, theatre

Domains: Charm, Community, Glory, Good, Travel

Favored Weapon: Sap

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Kimagurena, the Twinkling Eye (N): Kimagurena is the patron goddess and mother of the Kitsune. Her aspect is that of a lithe young foxfolk woman, wrapped in a classy, classically styled kimono. Her feet never quite touch the earth beneath her, she seems to float along on a cushion of air. Her followers come from many walks of life, and she is often revered by more urban druids. Her worship takes the form of ritual dances in open areas such as city squares and woodland meadows. She protects nature, and exacts retribution on poachers.

Portfolio: Druids, Kitsune, natural spaces, dancing

Domains: Air, Animal, Community, Knowledge, Plant

Favored Weapon: Chakram

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Hyaera, the Cackling Warrior (CN): Hyaera is the matriarch and patron goddess of the Gnoll people. Her aspect is that of a warrior queen, bedecked in a shining bronze breastplate, with her companion, the indomitable hyena Yushus, by her side. She carries a longbow and a spiked mace. Strong women of many races worship her, as she is the patron of matriarchy and the subjugation of males. Gnoll tribal leaders look to her as an example of how to be a strong leader. Her worship is performed in the resale of captives, as well as in hunting strong game, whether it be sentient or not.

Portfolio: Gnolls, hunting, matriarchies, domination

Domains: Chaos, Fire, Strength, Sun, War

Favored Weapon: Mace