Religions of Oerth

Because the dresium trade has generated such intercultural exchange, the gods worshipped on Oerth have often traveled far from their cultural origins. Although there are some loose cultural pantheons, one can often find certain gods being worshipped far and wide. Below are listed some of the most common gods worshipped on Oerth.

Apollo, the Light Bringer

Originally the chief Tomani god, Apollo is the god of reason, wisdom, and light. He is the patron of many scholars and has a considerable following across Oerth. The saying “Apollo knows” is a way of saying that the speaker does not know. A common farewell is “May Apollo’s light shine upon you.”

Cerunnos, the Antlered One

Cerunnos, the Antlered God is the chief deity of the Keltic pantheon. He is the god of the hunt and is known for his wildness and love of celebration and mead. he is typically depicted as a brawny man with large antlers growing from his head.

Damona, the Mother

Damona is the mother-goddess of the Keltic pantheon but her worship has spread far and wide by those who revere nature. Her followers sometimes come into conflict with those of Ishtar for both deities are thought to represent rebirth and renewal among other things.

Hamuna, the Ape God

Hamuna is the ape god, originally worshipped in certain Bakshuni cities, but now with cult following across many parts of Oerth. He is a dark god of savagery and ferocity. It is said that his dreadful fanes are protected by fierce white apes under the command of his priests.

Heimdall, the Guardian

Heimdall is one of the most important gods of the Guldorian pantheon. His often called the “Guardian god” and is believed to stand eternally vigilant to protect the world from great threats. He is variously seen as the god of honor, steadfastness, and perseverance. In the Guldorian tradition, he is envisioned as a warrior with a great horn, but in other traditions he is re-imagined as a bearded man meditating on a lotus leaf from which he can see all potential danger through his mind’s eye. The phrase “Heimdall protect me/you/them” is common throughout Oerth.

Ishtar, the Mother

Ishtar is a Bakshuni goddess of fertility and prosperity. She is extremely popular in Bakshuni cities and has followings throughout Oerth. People provide offerings to her when they seek good fortune or a healthy birth. She is frequently associated with the Festival of Dawn that celebrates the arrival of spring.

Isis, the Healer

Isis is the chief goddess of the Zambian pantheon and is considered a goddess of knowledge, dreams, and healing. She is the eternal enemy of the serpent god, Set. Many individuals who dedicate themselves to healing the sick are worshippers of Isis.

Kali, the Destroyer

Kali is an evil goddess of destruction and chaos. She is originally of Bakshuni origin, but has an underground cult following that has spread far and wide. In many places, worship of Kali is outlawed because her followers are known to commit murder and other atrocities in her name.

Mithras, the One and True God

Mithras was originally a god of peace and prosperity in the Tomani tradition. However, over the last hundred years, a mystery cult has grown up around him that envisions him as the one-and-true god and that all other gods are false. This cult has grown strong particularly in the west where temples (or “churches” as their follower call them) devoted to him have caused problems with other religious traditions.

The Rat God

The Rat God is perhaps the most universal of all gods on Oerth and no one knows his true cultural origins. He is worshipped by the down and out in every society who beseech him to aid in their time of trouble and/or to bring down the high and mighty around them. He has no formal temples, but secret fanes and altars devoted to him lie in dismal and secret places beneath most cities. “May the Rat God take you!” is a typical epithet of many a beggar to those who withhold their coin.

Set, the Unknown

Set is the great serpent deity of Zambian origin and is considered a god of dark secrets and hidden power. His temples are believed to practice human sacrifice (to giant serpents, if you believe the stories) and so his worship is banned in many cities, but cults devoted to him still exist. Worship of Set is still openly practices in many Kushite and Bakshuni cities.

Tian-Zhu, the Emperor God

Tian-Zhu is the most popular god in the Xinnish pantheon. He is represented as the first among all gods and the one who maintains law and order in the face of the forces of chaos and entropy. In other parts of Oerth he has become known as Tinzu and is worshipped by many of those who seek order above all else.