The Pantheon of Nyrotha
Upon the thrones of eternity, the pantheon reigns, their will shaping the fates of mortal realms.
The History of Nyrotha’s Pantheon
The Discovery of the Four Gods
Since the dawn of written history and long before, the gods of Nyrotha have walked among its people. Silently watching, listening, they observed the rise of cultures and factions, and in time, they began to reveal their presence—subtle at first, but unmistakable. Early scholars uncovered symbols and carvings that hinted at these influences of higher powers, and soon it became widely accepted that the gods were real, dwelling among them in ways beyond mortal comprehension.
As centuries passed, the gods began to visit chosen mortals, solidifying their existence. According to all known accounts, four gods made themselves known: Rygnar the Conqueror, who initially favored the Stoneborne king and his burgeoning empire; Morveth the Weaver, who guided the scholars of Solara Isle. Sylana the Wildheart and Vethros the Shade also appeared sporadically throughout the land, though their encounters were less documented.
While these gods showed favor to particular mortals, it was clear that they did not bind themselves to any single faction or cause. They sought out individuals whose hearts and actions aligned with their domains, regardless of affiliation.
But there was one who found no favor from the gods and he would soon rise to become the most powerful man in all of Nyrotha: Astal, the would-be god king.
The Coming of the Fifth
As already established, through the discovery and documentation of ancient carvings and ruins, it became clear that there were four gods in the pantheon of Nyrotha. Then these deities were later identified—through visions and mythical encounters across the land—as Rygnar the Conqueror, Morveth the Weaver, Sylana the Wildheart, and Vethros the Shade.
However, with these discoveries came the revelation of another entity, unknown to the mortals of Nyrotha. This being was depicted in these ancients carvings, as imprisoned and bound by the other gods of the pantheon. Through the time other gods reached out to mortals, this fifth god never revealed itself. The gods themselves, in their sporadic visits to chosen mortals also made no mention of this entity. If not for the scholars who studied the ancient carvings, there would be no knowledge of this mysterious creature to begin with.
Astal, the would-be god king.
Then came Astal, who introduced spellcasting through the power of the Glintstone, and began uniting the scattered clans through his conquest of Nyrotha, eventually forming the Aurorium Empire. While an extremely powerful being, Astal was much unlike the other gods, who had never made themselves physically present. You see, Astal walked among the people of Nyrotha, as if one of them. This fact alone led to rampant speculation about the true nature of his divinity and whether he might truly be the fifth, forgotten entity of the pantheon, as he claimed.
However, when he defeated the Stoneborne King, Rygnar the Conqueror's chosen champion, many began to accept Astal as the fifth god—the final piece of the Nyrothian pantheon.
Present day, within the Aurourium Empire, the worship of the four original gods has been outlawed, with Astal revered as the sole true deity, the "god of the people" as they say. This has resulted in the number five becoming sacred among the people of the empire, influencing customs such as having five children or eating five meals a day. Yet, outside the Aurourium Empire, in the free provinces such as Solara Isle and Arandium, the worship of the divine four endures—a defiant act against Astal, whom they label the "would-be god-king."
The Known Gods of Nyortha
Morveth the Weaver
Morveth, the Weaver of Time and Fate, holds sway over the scholars within Nyrotha. Revered most fervently by the learned of Solara Isle, his influence weaves through pockets of scholars scattered across the land, all drawn to his philosophy and mastery over the hidden forces that bind reality. His followers, devoted to understanding the intricacies of time and space, channel his teachings through the schools of transmutation, divination, and conjuration, striving to unravel what governs their world.
Morveth is often said to appear in visions and dreams, a silent specter cloaked in gold-plated armor and a shadowy black hood. His masked visage radiates an introverted, enigmatic power, inspiring awe and reverence among his devotees. Those who delve deeply into his studies and offer the proper tributes are granted the rarest of gifts: magic that bends the fabric of time itself. Yet such powers come with a heavy cost. The manipulation of time, while whispered to be within the grasp of Morveth's brightest followers, is forbidden throughout the lands, even in the halls of Solara Isle. To alter time is to challenge fate itself—a perilous transgression no mortal can safely endure.
Sylana the Wildheart
Sylana, the Wildheart, goddess of nature and the untamed elements, watches over those who live in harmony with the natural world. Mortals who embrace the balance of Nyrotha’s ecosystems and respect the wilds earn her favor. Her presence is often heralded by a green-striped creature, be it a bear, a stag, or another animal bound to the rhythms of the land. Her followers, rejecting the trappings of urban life, dwell in the remote wilderness, living in tune with the raw pulse of nature.
It is whispered among her devotees that all creatures, from the smallest insect to the mighty beasts that roam the wildlands, are bound together through Sylana’s will, a vast, invisible network that she controls as a living hivemind. While this belief remains unproven, it is a central tenet of her worship, a symbol of her immense and primal power. Her followers, empowered by this belief, often wield magic rooted in Abjuration and Evocation, calling upon the forces of the elements to protect the vulnerable and uphold the balance of life. Sylana’s power is fierce and nurturing in equal measure, and those who follow her path are guardians of the natural world, defending its sanctity with the fury of the storm and the patience of the ancient trees.
Rygnar the Conqueror
Where there is the thrill of battle, Rygnar is not far. Rygnar the Conqueror is a god representation of absolute power, who favors those of courage and bravery through violence and war. It is believed through accounts of his favored the Rygnar birthed dragons and giants into the world of Nyrotha. Said to be depecited as a 8 foot tall horned warrior, his favored as said to see Rygnar when experiencing the adrenaline of battle, as he guides their blade for glory of their peoples.
Cultures that are favored by Rygnar are those who priotize the discipline of battle. Once the Stoneborne where the only known favored of Rygnar, with their king said to be the choosen champion of the god, that all changed when they were conquered by Astal and the Auriorium Empire. Now that they fight for the would-be god king, they have fallen from favor of Rygnar, and many of this generation have been born into this silence. Other followers however of Rygnar find themselves extremely skilled in matrial combat or blessed with powers of evocation magic.
Vethros the Shade
In the land of Nyrotha, death is ever-present, woven into the very fabric of its war-torn existence. Blood is spilled over lands and rivalries, and where death lingers, Vethros the Shade is never far. Vethros is the true god of death, stalking the shadows of the realm and forging deals with powerful mortals to ensure that death continues to flow ceaselessly across Nyrotha. In a way, Vethros is also a god of fate and curiously bears a striking resemblance to Morveth in this regard. Scholars often speculate about a unique relationship between the two deities, a relationship unlike any other among the gods. Some believe that the souls claimed by Vethros are delivered to Morveth, where they are woven into the ever-growing tapestry of Nyrotha’s fate. However, no scholar has truly been able to ascertain the exact nature of their bond.
Morveth finds favor with those who not only embrace death but also deliver it across Nyrotha. The Cathedral of Mercenaries, for example, is believed to house Morveth's most favored followers. Those who fully devote themselves to Morveth are blessed with magic—necromancy, illusion, and enchantment—each tied to death and deception.
The gods of Nyrotha are woven into the very fabric of its ancient history, likely existing long before the first recorded word. Despite the tireless efforts of scholars, who scour the world in search of those claiming divine encounters, much about these enigmatic beings remains shrouded in mystery. There are countless stories yet to be revealed, and answers that still drift on the wind. Is Astal truly the fifth god? What is the purpose of these divine entities? From where did they come? Why do the ancient carvings depict the fifth as a dire threat?
These questions, and many more, drive the scholars of Nyrotha to continue their work amidst the constant war and bloodshed. They seek not only to unravel the truth of the gods' existence but also to understand their ultimate purpose—perhaps even to harness their power and elevate the people of Nyrotha to heights once thought unimaginable.
