Bhrea
Joss (johs): The head god of the Bhrea pantheon, often depicted as a circle with a crescent underneath. It is a genderless god, though colloquially referred to as “he,”, and is the figurative “father” of all creation. His main temple is in Terrn. Bhreans believe that Joss shattered his soul to create the world, the pieces spreading far and wide, creating the land, the stars, and everything in between. Thus, all things have an element of Joss within them, and through the cycle of life and death, rejoin the Greatsoul of Joss. They believe Joss wants all things and their souls to return back to him–good and evil, powerful and weak. Once his soul is reunited, all things would exist in harmony as one. Until then, beings must live righteously in order for their souls judged to be worthy of rejoining the Greatsoul.
Svorra (SVOR-rah): The matron of the Bhrean pantheon, the goddess of water, time, travel, and motherhood. Depicted as a woman, she is the mother of Bhrean pantheon and induced the creation of the world. When people die, she is their caretaker in the halls of her realm under the western ocean, Paumen. Her main temple is in Jessel. Bhreans believe that Svorra was the first being to form consciousness after Joss and convinced him to create the world by breaking his soul into innumerable pieces.
Lunt (loont): The god of knowledge, male fertility, enlightenment, and the sun and moons. Son of Svorra and Joss, twin brother of Lera. Depicted as a young man wielding a staff or sometimes the sun, often sitting or reaching for the sky. Main temple is in Betsaida.
Lera (LEHR-ah): The goddess of fire, war, female sexuality, and love. Daughter of Svorra and Joss, twin sister of Lunt. Depicted as a woman in traditional armor (made of gold in wealthier temples), holding a sword in one hand and a merat flower in the other, which is a common symbol of love. Her main temple is in Getsjibet.
Dolan (DOH-lahn): The god of night, unnatural death, omens, and dreams. Son of Svorra and Joss. Depicted as a cloaked figure, or sometimes a cripple—a false appearance to lure the unwise into traps. His main temple is in Akrima.
Gedmet (GED-met): The god of labor, harvest, and hunting. Son of Svorra and Joss. Depicted as a man holding grain, a hammer, or a bow. He is revered as bringing technology to society. His main temple is in Avet.
Attima and Pataal (AT-ihm-mah and pah-TAHL): The two moon goddesses of protection. There is no main temple for them, but they are often worshipped in temples of Lunt as his daughters or creations.
Religions and Pantheons around the World
Faghaena/Algaran (fahg-AY-nah/ahl-GAR-an): The Faghaena religion is animistic, with no central deity. They believe spirits inhabit all things, from people, to animals, to inanimate objects. To honor the spirits is to bring good fortune, to disregard them is to bring suffering. A tribe typically adopts some kind of spirit as a totem to guide them. For example, the Tribe of the Bear, the Tribe of the Sun and Stars, and the Tribe of the Stag are some of the more powerful tribes.
Pronegh (PROH-neg): Though they adopted the Bhrean pantheon, they did not always worship those gods. They used to worship a goddess of war named Senkaa, but that morphed into veneration of the Bhrean goddess Lera above other gods in the Bhrean pantheon. Though sole worship of Lera used to be common, that tradition has waned over time, with modern Pronegh honoring all gods, but placing Lera in special reverence.
Zulda (ZUHL-da): Zuldans are monotheistic, worshipping the sun goddess Chesfena (known to Bhreans as Jesvena). The Zuldan government is partially theocratic–High Priests make up a council to serve the king or queen. Zuldans believe that all is part of a great cycle, and the sun and stars predict parts of the cycle. Priests study the stars and other celestial patterns to discern what is in store for the mortal realm, which informs decisions on matters of state.
Amnasi (ahm-NAH-see): If it exists–concrete or abstract–there is a god for it. Amnasi honor a myriad of gods and goddesses, each with their own set of colors and rituals. For example, Ki La, the goddess of the sea, is demarcated with blue, white, and black. The highest god is Am Dash, the creator of all the world. The largest island bears his name as Po’Am (mountain of god).
Syanti (SYAHN-tee): Syanti are largely monotheistic, worshipping a goddess named Thitha. She is a provider, protector, and guide in the harsh desert and arid grasslands. The Syanti also honor their ancestors, believing they are the messengers of Thitha. Syanti keep extensive records of lineages–a sacred practice that only the most learned and wise can do. Though nomadic, there are several permanent locations at which rituals to honor the ancestors take place.
Kataal (kah-TAHL): Very little is known about Kataal culture, but rare interactions with the isolationist people and their exiled seem to indicate they value balance–internal and external, abstract and physical.