allgeektout

The Gods of the City are not constant. They are ever-changing, subject to the whims of those who dwell within. There are three ways they form and gain power:

1. Pure, unadulterated belief in their power.
2. Adherence to an ideal that the deity embodies.
3. A physical representation of the deity that has been blessed by a cleric.

Since the Shift, many gods have died, others greatly weakened, and even a few have been created. Unfortunately, this has led to a great amount of tension and bickering within the pantheon of the remaining gods, each worried to lose whatever little power they have to another.

Because of the way they are formed, anyone can believe in any deity and they generally can be “right” about their beliefs. However, there are a few core deities that form a central pantheon that is widely acknowledged and (more importantly) respected within the City. In particular, three gods are revered (and feared).

Azarad, the god of artifice and madness. The source of power for most of the technology that powers the city. He is said to live at the top of the mountains where the elves make their forges, and that his energy is what brings their inventions to life. He also has a reputation as a dangerous and wild god, though not intentionally. He mutters nonsense words and phrases from atop his perch, and each one manifests its way on the material plane in some way or another, be it through an elf’s invention, a cleric’s spell, or a twisted piece of clockwork. All the other gods keep a close eye on him, in case he says anything that might require divine influence (and perhaps will help them regain some of their fame and power).

Laywen, the goddess of ice and snow. Before the Shift, she was one of the most beloved goddesses, the fire of her heart keeping people’s hearths lit, and her breath melting the snow when wintertime ended. But when the Shift came, altars to her husband, the king-god Aren, were replaced with furnaces and machinery, and her warm heart froze. Her power now comes from those who whisper her name in fear, and those who hope her icy breath will never touch them.

Ruman, the fierce, but detached, god of war and battle. His existence in the City is a bit of an enigma to some, as there have been no other cities or kingdoms to be at war with. But he finds his strength in the secret war that lies underneath most people’s notice. The constant struggle within the upper echelon of the government is only part of a much greater battle for control. However, to this day, nobody has been able to gain an edge in the battle – perhaps because no side has found an offering great enough to entice Ruman to their side.