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The Divines of Shem are seen differently in different cultures, but they always come back to a certain core of being. In some cultures, Aeonians are worshipped as Divines, natural forces or concepts are worshipped, but whatever is worshipped is not an actual Divine--a god or a baal. Worship is independent from what kind of being something is. Aeonians can answer prayers and grant favor as well, but they do not do so at the same power as a Divine.

Whether a Divine is considered evil by the culture that worships it is irrelevant--the Divine itself is evil, good, or otherwise because of their actions, philosophies, and thoughts. However, the worship thereof does not necessarily translate into evil if the conception of the Divine is different from the actuality of the Divine. In other words, if someone worships the Swanmother but views justice as something more draconian, cruel, or benefitting oppressors, the worshipper will still be evil (and the Swanmother will likely not grant them much favor). Other beings might grant them favor or they might make up for it with other powers.

Furthermore, if a culture presents a god as good but worships them in a way that is objectively evil (defined as "not good for the world or the survival of life") then that culture is still evil. For instance, In Srisia, they present the Webweaver as a cunning, brilliant deviser of plans, a designer of a perfect society, who uplifts the worthy and punishes the unworthy. Their definitions of worthy and unworthy are cruel, individualistic, and machiavellian, and though the Webweaver is brilliant as a strategist and plotter, they are always for his own benefit and not the world or even Srisian society, except when they happen to align. He's evil, Srisia's evil, but the people of Srisia mostly buy into the perception that this is the right way to live.

Below is a list of common perceptions of Divines for reference, but not an exhaustive list, merely a set of common examples:

White Crown:

• the Masked God:
  1. God of the Pure: most people know him as the god of a sect of racial purists. Those who worship him this way view themselves as members of a master race, and he is the one who decides who is Pure, who is deserving, who is strong. People outside of this religion or those who are seen as Impure often view this as the evil that it is, but those who benefit from it are often gulled into seeing this as the righteous way to live.
  2. The Brass Mask: in some cultures, the nature of bigotry and hatred is better understood, and the Masked God is seen as a liar and briber who seeks to lure people away from the unity of a nation, culture, class, or country. This is a perception of him as an evil tempter who offers short-term power in order to divide, conquer, and control.
  3. Vengeance Divine: some view the Masked God simply as a being of vengeance, but not short-term vengeance. Long-term vendettas, deep feuds, angry rivalries, and lifelong grudges are his province, and as such, he is viewed as someone you don't worship primarily but as a Divine who is sacrificed to in order to feed such situations. This is a view of him as a useful and dangerous tool, more or less. Sometimes, this role is taken by Aeonians in a culture.
• the Serpent Mother:
  1. Whispering Serpents: more often than not, she is represented as a serpent, as one who whispers in the ear and tempts you to act for your own benefit. In some places, this is seen as encouraging one to be one's best; in others, this is seen as encouraging one to betray the community.
  2. Vesturian God-Empress: in Vesturia, she is seen as the patron of their country and the source of their pride and power, the one who drives them to conquest and power, to become the mightest country in the world, and who blesses the czars in their ambitions. Within Vesturia, this is seen as righteous, but those who are conquered, enslaved, controlled, or exploited by Vesturia hate her and everything she stands for.
  3. Hissing Serpent: other cultures view her as a representation of the danger serpents represent, and thus, she is sacrificed to in order to ask for protection from serpents. She is viewed as evil, but inevitable, something to guard from, not something to hate.
• Lord Diamond:
  1. The God of Bankers and Merchants: perhaps the most commonly misperceived Divine, Lord Diamond is the god of bankers, merchants, and business, and therefore, in many cultures, he is seen as either good or neutral. He is, however, a source of exploitation, greed, and parasitism. He is the god of a cruel ruling class, in contrast to the the Trader God, who simply represents trade or bartering, an action. In a few cultures, however, the exploitative nature of Lord Diamond's sphere is well understood and loathed as the evil that it is.
  2. The Crime Boss: some view Lord Diamond as a figure of organized crime, as opposed to bankers or merchants or unorganized, low-level crime. This view of him is better understood to be evil; he is often honored by crime syndicates and loathed by local law enforcement or people harmed by the crimes.
  3. God of Weatlh: some view him simply as one to ask for good favor in business dealings, trade, or simply when one needs money, usually favored at the same time as the Trader God, the Rambler, or others.
• First of the Horde:
  1. War-God of the Horde: TheBaleful is a massive cluster of nations that live in Wymmera and seek conquest through violence. They have a small pantheon of gods, and the chief among them is their War-God, who gives them strength by empowering their blood with baleblood. Good or evil isn't even part of it; violence is the goal, and he provides. Victims of the Horde see him as a monster, of course.
  2. Blood Curse: some view him as the source of a blood curse (baleblood), the cause of irrational or sudden violence, of uncontrolled anger, of rage, wrath, brutality. He is seen as an evil force, something that causes this kind of problem, and something to be avoided, signed or prayed against. Something to be protected from and cleansed of.
  3. God of Pigs: some cultures simply view him as an enraged boar-god, a natural danger, which is hunted for food or fled from in times of peril. Neither good nor evil, simply a danger to be engaged with cautiously.
  4. Vengeance Divine: like the Masked God, the First of the Horde is sometimes seen as a source of vengeance, but swift vengeance, quick and sometimes brutal. This is a view of him as a useful but dangerous tool, and one that is often relegated to Aeonians instead.
• the Poacher:
  1. Queen of Thorns: the patron Divine of Mwyr Aeld, the one who represents their ambitions, national pride, and unrecognized self-loathing, the one who symbolizes their power. They are proud of her cunning, treachery, and also envious of it. They aspire to it, and seek to take her place regularly (well, at least the ruling class of the country does). She encourages it, and encourages their petty feuds as well. Good or evil are not the question; they simply have a culture of political maneuvering, where ruthlessness and betrayal are seen as signs of strength and intelligence.
  2. Patron of Poachers: most cultures view her as one of the Divines of hunting, but a dangerous and evil one. She is the one who whispers in the hunter's ear and tells them to take more than they need, to kill children or mother animals, to take an unfair share. She is the one who causes extinctions, starvation, and suffering because she inspires envy and jealousy that drives people to try to be better than others.
  3. Poisoned Thorn: a representation of dangerous plants, of the allure of beautiful things with something toxic and sharp beneath. Also symbolizes impossible beauty standards, jeaousies and envy among lovers, and/or the general use of poison. She is warned against, a parable, a symbol of sin, but to some, merely the patron of a neutral thing--some plants are beautiful and dangerous, and that's the way things are. This is sometimes relegated to an Aeonian.
• the Bloodmother:
• 1. Blood of Power: a relatively obscure goddess, but one with immense power and influence, she is most commonly known as the patron of blood mages, a vampiric sect of magic-users who take the blood of others and use it to invoke magic and gain power.
  2. Mother of Leeches: either a literal animal deity who represents parasitic animals, or a symbolic representation of exploitation, of the theft of value, energy, etc. from those who create it. The former is seen in some cultures and is a more neutral approach; the latter is in the occasional cultures that have an understanding of exploitation and view it as the evil that it is. Because she prefers to be in the background, she often delegates this to Aeonians.
  3. Will to Power: she also exists as a justification for exploitation, as the symbolic figure whose strength justifies taking and hurting and controlling. This view of her is rarely direct; she usually delegates this to Aeonians because she wishes to remain hidden and siphon power off from the background. However, the view persists both as a justification and thus a positive view of her or as a negative view, of seeing her for the evil she is.
• the Grey Mother: a rare being that has no common "good" perception
• 1. Queen of the Grey: many cultures know about the Grey Lands and view them as a sort of limbo, and the Grey Mother is seen as the patron of that realm, the genius loci of it. Some view this neutrally--she simply is the one who runs the place--or as a danger--she will corrupt the souls there and turn them into undead. The latter is more or less accurate.
  2. Mother of Bones: necromancers worship her and see her as she is, a source of corruption, evil, and undeath, of msawhat, of the violation of the natural world. Necromancers usually do not view themselves as good--it's hard to be a graverobber, serial killer, and master manipulator and not let it get to you--but sometimes as neutral (there is no right and wrong, thus what they do is simply neither) or they are honest about their evil (they want power and to avoid death, and they don't care that it hurts others). As such, they view the Grey Mother the same way, while others view her not just as evil, but as something profane, disturbing, horrifying. Many cultures do not realize the Queen of the Grey and the Mother of Bones are the same Divine.
  3. The Grey Mist: sometimes she is seen as a force of corruption, an unnatural anomaly that causes people to be corrupted, turned into something evil or abominable--undead.
• the Webweaver:
• 1. Spider of Srisia: as mentioned above, in Srisia, he is seen as one who punishes the unworthy (the stupid and weak) and empowers the worthy (strong, cunning, ruthless), a planner of great schemes and plots, a brilliant leader, but one who leads from the background. The latter is accurate. They see it as the right way of things, the natural order, the survival of the fittest in the most fucked up individualistic way, and they laud him for it. Others view him this way and see it as the evil that it is.
  2. God of Spiders: many cultures simply view him as the god of spiders, the ones that are hard to see until they bite you, the ones who lure you into traps, the ones who drain you slowly. He is a danger, something to be warned and protected against. No one asks him for protection, though; they ask others for protection from him.
  3. The Source of All Evil: some cultures simply view him as evil incarnate and fear him to the point they rarely even acknowledge he exists except as a force or a power behind a particular Aeonian, usually the Devil.
• the Master Slaver:
• 1. Smith of Furich Amol: the patron of the empire Furich Amol and a god of smiths, he is seen as a worker and a source of pride. They view themselves as self-made people and their subjugation and enslavement of millions is simply a sign of their worthiness and might. He is the one who forges the schwerstrum chains that let them do this. They see this as good, and the slaves and others view him as a brutal conqueror to be feared and hated.
  2. Father of Slavers: slavers--from Furich Amol or otherwise--view him as their patron, and many don't really care that this is evil. Good, neutral, or evil, they recognize him as a source of power that allows them to enslave others. Victims view him as a force of evil.
  3. Empowerer of the Cruel: some view him as a god that gives power to the cruel and oppressive, the tyrants, the cause of tyranny, and thus, something to be protected from, to be rejected, to be feared, as pure evil.
• the Vile One:
• 1. Bringer of Plagues: most cultures view him as the cause of all disease and something to be protected against. Some see this as neutral--disease is simply something that exists--others as evil. Some invoke him to protect agaisnt disease, others refuse to acknowledge him.
  2. Culling the Weak: some few cultures, mostly the most brutal, honor him for getting rid of weak people from their populations.
  3. Father of the Contagion: the lues, the sentient virus, honors him as their Father, their progenitor, and thus, a good and powerful being.
  4. Scarab God: a force of nature that brings plagues and poison, and thus, something dangerous but neutral.
  5. The Poisoner: a venal, cruel, cowardly figure, patron of the poisoners and anyone who uses poisons, including industrial poisons (akin to the Industrial God), an evil figure for most except the rare cult or assassin guild member who justifies their work throigh him.
• Nightstalker:
  1. Scarecrow Divine: a figure of fear, something that causes fear, something that can be wielded to cause fear, often delegated to an Aeonian. A useful and dangerous tool.
  2. Goblinfather: patron of the goblins who helps them remain hidden, wield fear and terror, and causes horrifying illusions. They view him as a terrifying patron, not good or evil, just dangerous and powerful and one to be flattered and given offerings.
  3. Father of the Unseelie: a tyrant, one who wields terrorism to control and exploit, a fascist dictator, essentially. The unseelie view this as natural and good, and their victims and others view it as horrifying and evil.
  4. Nightmare-Bringer: a natural force who brings nightmares or the trauma that causes nightmares, a dangerous neutral natural force or an evil violation of the way things are.
  5. Master Terrorist: patron of those who wield fear and terror to harm others, this view of him is in societies who understand him for what he is and loathe him for it.
• the Left Half:
  1. Goddess of Truth: as half of the original Goddess of Truth, she presents herself as the true goddess, the actual goddess, and many worship her as such. She garners immense power from this deception.
  2. The Deceiver: many see her as she is, the Mother of Lies, deceit and deception and calumnies. Usually this is seen as an evil thing, but a few cultures honor good liars and respect her, viewing her either as good or neutral.
  3. The Forgotten World: her connection to the long-lost world Ruiz means many see her as its nephesh and honor her as an elemental being, a representation she encourages.
  4. Unseen and Uncontrollable: a force that causes people to misunderstand or want to use deception to control, harm, or manipulate others, and thus, a figure of evil in many cultures.
• Nine-Eyed Goddess:
  1. Seductress: as goddess of temptation, she is usually seen as a figure who seduces people and drains them of power, life, or soul, a dangerous figure to be guarded against. Some few cultures see her this way and honor it, ignoring other facets of her.
  2. She Who Lures Them to Hell: any kind of temptation that causes people to stray from a positive or righteous path, she is a thing to be protected from or avoided. Sin.
  3. Queen of Beauty and Love: some few cultures ignore or are unaware of the parasitic side of her and see her as a figure of beauty and desire, sex and love, and she encourages this misapprehension.

Shattered Obelisk:

• the Doomsayer:
  1. Harbinger of the End Times: the main followers of the Doomsayer belong to a national doomsday cult, trying to bring about the end of the world, and they believe the Doomsayer is the one who heralds that end. Some view the end of the world as salvation or as a form of justice for the crimes of mortality. Others, especially among the soghlatha, believe they will survive it while others die, bringing about a new realm of domination, and most importantly, punishing the others.
  2. A Warning: some view the Doomsayer as a warning of what will come, something to be acted upon to prevent the Doom. Some view him as part of what causes it, and others view him as neutral or even positive.
  3. Messenger of the Obelisk: some view him as a figure who intercedes with mortality on behalf of the more powerful and evil Obelisk gods. Some view this as his being culpable and an agent of evil, but others think of him as a pawn or even a slave or some figure with no free will.
• the Dragon of Misfortune:
  1. Bringer of Calamities: most often seen as a figure that brings disaster, calamity, or misfortune to individuals or groups, or even the whole world. This is sometimes seen as a primal force or a judgment, but mostly it is viewed as an intentional evil, a villain. Some few, however, view him as a weapon to be wielded.
  2. Omen of Bad Luck: some simply view the Dragon as an omen, a figure that warns of bad luck and misfortune, calamity and disaster, rather than the one who brings it. These are rare, but they view the Dragon as either a dangerous but neutral figure or an evil one to be protected against or avoided.
  3. Cheater and Conman: some who worship the Dragon view it as a figure who allows them to bring misfortune to others (which is accurate). He is the patron of conmen and cheaters, those who rig the system in their favor at the expense of others. They often view him as justification for their actions, their intelligence being "better" than othes, but some know him to be evil.
• Lord of Hooks:
  1. The Tormented: the most common, and not entirely inaccurate, view is that the Lord of Hooks is not so much a Lord as a slave, held in barbed chains and tortured, lashing out in his pain to bring pain to others. The inaccuracy is merely in the fact that the pain is what causes him to lash out; he lashes out for power, not because of the pain. He is, however, bound by his Curate Mnemnon, and tormented to give Mnemnon power.
  2. The Tormentor: a less common but still frequent view is that he is not really in pain but simply one who torments everyone, including himself. This view of him is more common in more just societies.
  3. Trauma Divine: some simply see him as the force of trauma in the world, bringing pain and causing lingering damage, a terrible force that is a consequence of other things.
  4. Punisher: many view him as the source of punishment for the wicked or the weak, and one who empowers others ("pain is weakness leaving the body" idiots).
• the Primal Void:
  1. Voidfather: the national view of him among athaks is that he is a benevolent authority who guides their lives with his deep and powerful wisdom, granting them the power of void science so that they may master a hostile universe.
  2. Lord of Negation: many view him as the symbol of the force of negation, of the power of nullification, a dangerous but potent tool to be used or a power to be guarded from.
  3. Devourer of Magic: most non-void esotercists view him as a villain who seeks to steal the magical powers of the world, which is accurate. Most view this as evil, but some simply see void as a (un)natural danger.
  4. Obliterator: some view him (accurately) as a figure who wishes to destroy the world, viewing it (unjustly) as a prison. As an outcast from his own realm (for good reasons), he believes he has no choice but to turn this realm into something he can control.
• the One-Winged God:
  1. Bringer of Famine and Drought: the most common view is that he is a bringer of disaster, deprivation, and pain. He is responsible for natural and unnatural famines and droughts, and he is to be guarded against meticulously. Many cultures see him as a monster that passes in the night, others see him as a natural force, and others still see him as the power behind false-scarcity.
  2. Lord of Self-Denial: some cultures, especially harpies, view him as a trainer, one who encourages fasting, not a figure of disaster. He brings strength through self-denial, and that individual strength justifies the suffering of others. If someone cannot survive famine or drought, they are too weak to live.
• Hollow Jack:
  1. Malish Lord: the national god of Mal'sk, a figure of tyrannical strength, their prince who became a terrifying god. He represents their united strength, as the rat-horde represents their collective strength, their national identity. They bring pain and control the world.
  2. God of Rats: he is mostly viewed as the patron of rats, not cuddly rats who are kept as pets, nor part of a healthy ecosystem, but the teeming rats that overwhelm cities and towns and bring disease and suffering and filth. He is an urban god, one thought of as a cowardly figure, viewed with contempt, or as a dangerous figure who uses manipulation, terror, and torture. Some see this as pure evil, others as a consequence of actions, and others still as a punishment for the sinners who live in cities.
  3. Cruel Baron: some view him as one who uses the pain of others to gain status and power; he is the wielder of abuse and trauma, the one who causes it, and the one who exploits it.
  4. Lurker in the Woods: his beginnings as a horror that harms those who stumble upon him in the wild is a reputation that continues. He is a parable, a warning, a story told to children to keep them from going places they shouldn't.
  5. Hollow God: others view him as one who punishes the weak for being weak, and thus, strengthens society. This view of him is a distortion of the Cruel Baron, which rings truer than most. He is more c complex than most.
• the Stillborn God:
• 1. God of the Deeps: the most common view on Third Shem is that he is a deep sea monster of some kind. This is generally strengthened by the fact that his cult centers in undersea nations. He is feared by sailors and viewed by most not as a Divine, but simply some terrible creature.
  2. Pedophagy: the Cult views him as a figure that gains power from the suffering of children and grants it to them so that they may further his agenda. This is pretty accurate. He is the god of the pain brought to pregnant people, expectant or new parents, babies, and children, the things that harm and kill them, and any offering of such gives him power and favor to his followers. Those who follow this view of him generally see him as a weapon to be used against a world that has harmed them or as a tool to allow them to wield their other power over the weak.
• the Shrike:
• 1. The Shrieking Huntress: the most common view of her is as one of the hunting deities. She represents opportunistic, violent, screaming hunting, the kind of hunting that wields terror. She is viewed as the kind of hunter who kills for sport, who will wound an animal for fun and then let it go, the kind that mauls and maims and rips without need for food. Most see this as evil, a parable on how not to hunt, but others view this as a sign of her strength and make her the patron of sport-hunting, often a passtime of the rich and powerful.
  2. Shattering Voice: some view her more primally, as the sounds that break and destroy, a source of dissonance and loudness. This view of her is as a powerful monster or figure that brings pain and must be avoided or feared.
  3. Bridgebreaker: some view her more metaphorically, as disharmony, as that which shatters connections, drives people and things apart, creates isolation and loneliness and pain in the world. This view is in more just societies.
  4. Rightful Queen: some view her as the rightful ruler of Mwyr Aeld, a rival to the Poacher. They view her as a powerful figure who gives them a chance against the followers of the Thorn.
• Mother of Tears:
• 1. Lachrymosan Mother: the commonest view of the Mother of Tears is the source of despair. Her tears are a metaphor for the flowing of sorrow, pain, grief, loss, frustration, and despair that pervades the world. She brings despair; she does not embody it. Some see her as a patron who helps with wield this kind of pain, and others as a monster to be guarded against and feared.
  2. Weeping Woman: some view her as a victim of despair, as one who has been abused and lost, a wounded woman who seeks justified or unjustified revenge. This view is usually combined with other goddesses.
  3. Suicide's Bride: some view her as one who holds the hands of those in despair and keeps them from escaping the draw of suicide. This view is a more primal one, one of her as a force, usually, but others view it more literally, as an invisible phantasm that must be guarded against when someone you love is in pain.
  4. Ogrish Queen: the national view of her as the mother of ogres is that she represents the ablity to exist despite despair and agony. She is the one who brings grief and loss to their enemies, and she justifies their cannibalistic behavior as eating the weak to become strong.
• the Destroyer:
• 1. Lord of the End: the most common view of the Destroyer is as the figure who will destroy the world and who brings about major acts of destruction. He is a figure of warning and woe, a terror, a figure of apocalyptic terror. He is a prophesied figure, not a current one, to some, and to others, he is an ominpresent terror that must be protected against.
  2. Trollfather: the national view among trolls is that he is that which gives them the power to destroy; he is a figure of might, a war-god and a father figure. He is seen as also a punisher of the weak and a killer of their enemies.
  3. He Who Destroys: He is the patron of bombings and explosions, of dam breakings, building collapses, and other mortalmade disasters. He is viewed sometimes as that which causes flaws in mortalmade things, and other times as the patron of those who cut corners or bring destructive wars. He is all of these things and more, of course.
• the Industrial God:
• 1. Lord of Industry: most view him as a god of industrial work, a captain of industry, a business leader. He is viewed as a mechanic figure, and a shrewd one. He is popular in industrialzied countries and those that aspire to be. Some few see through this and see that he is one that exploits the work of others and uses them with no regard to what it does to the world.
  2. Poisoner of the World: some view him simply as the pollution itself and not the industry or tycoons who bring it. He is an unnatural, alien thing that poisons the world and kills all natural things. A source of impending doom and the encroaching extinction of life.
  3. Lurker in the Myre: others see him as a vulgar thing that lurks beyond the edges of civilization, a terrible monster.
• the Flycatcher:
• • God of Flies: the most common view of the Flycatcher is the patron of flies and other pests, one who lives off the decay of others. Some see him as this but a punisher of those who rely on the strength of gods, those who do not live up to their personal potential, and others see him as this and see that he is one who harms the weak for his own benefit.
  • Godslayer: some view him either as a monster who attacks their religions and culture, or as a hero who slays the gods that enslave them. He is seen directly as a force that harms the Divine, despite being Divine himself.
  • Lord of The Pit: some recognize that he is the one that now rules The Pit and sends forth Pit-monsters into the world. He is a jailer of the Divine, a cruel tyrant who lures the faithful in, and one who sickens he hearts of people against the Divine.

Living World:

• the Ern:
  1. Bringer of Seasons: the most common view of the Ern is as a Divine bird that brings the changing seasons. He is seen as a figure that wanders the world and whose wingbeats alter season and weather and nature. He is revered by some, but mostly he is seen as the manifestation of the natural world.
  2. Father Nature: others view him as a paternal figure who shapes nature, as one who tends what is, like a gardener of the whole world, or perhaps a consort of Mother Shem. He is seen as more active, not a representation of a natural change, but one who engages with nature. In this guise, he is understood to be one who could be prayed to and asked for favor, and thus, he is more often seen as good or evil in this.
  3. Protector of Nature: another way he is seen is not one who tends or represents nature, but one who protects it with ferocity. He is more of a hunter, warrior, and mystic in this form, and is sometimes seen as good or evil.
  4. Citybreaker: and finally, some view him as representation on the power of nature to destroy and harm, as a symbol of the loss of civilization. This view is rare even in industrialized countries, but it does occur.
• the Silver Mother:
  1. Lifebringer: most commonly, the Silver Mother is known to people as the one who brought living beings to the world. She is the consort to either the Creator or the Ern, or in some rare cases, the Mother Shem herself. She is seen as a mother figure by some, and by others, as a gardener or one who simply spread seeds, but she is usually seen as benevolent, one who heals and brings new life, and protects it.
  2. Mother of Elves: the elves see her as a mother, a figure who brought them into being with a purpose, and who legendarily held them accountable for failing Life itself, then gave them the strength to redeem themselves. They aspire to be like her.
  3. Preserver: many see her not as a mother figure, but the lifeforce in all things that keeps things living, that preserves the Living World, This view is more of a natural force than a personal avatar. Most see this as good or neutral, but some few hate her for it.
  4. Lifeslaver: necromancers and a few others see her as one who has imprisoned them in weak bodies that will fail them. They hate her and view her as the epitome of evil for her role in creating life itself instead of inmortality as she has.
• the Mountain:
  1. Lord of Stone and Earth: the commonest view of the Mountain God is tha he is a figure of stone and earth, impassive as stone, deep as caverns, vibrant as earth. He is the body of the world. He is strength and sturdiness and sometimes stoic and stubborn. He is mostly viewed as a neutral figure, as mountains simply are so is he. But others view him as the strength that gives the world life, a positive force.
  2. Dwarf God: the dwarves view him as the provider, the one who crafted and hewed mountain and cave for them to live in. He is not so much a father figure as a kindly provider, someone who gave them great gifts and it is up to them to make use of them.
  3. Protector of Earth: others see him as representative of the might of stone and earth and how it protects, how it provides building materials. He is seen as guardian and provider, and sometimes as a literal warrior-guardian.
  4. Imprisoner: others still view caves and mountains, stone and earth, as the tools that form prisons and bind them in the world. He is hated by some who feel confined or crushed by his mass and power.
  5. Dangerous Caverns/Avallanche/Earthquake: others still correlate him entirely with either the dangers of caves or the avallanches and earthquakes that he is responsible for. He is seen as slow to violence, but fearsome when he reaches it, a waiting danger that must be guarded against, avoided, or endured.
• the Flowerlady:
  1. Flowerbringer: the commonest view of the Flowerlady is she who brings flowers, who makes things bloom, who is not merely a plant goddess, but one who represents thriving life, color, sex, and reproduction. She is connected to the idea of maturing, of coming to life, and to rejuvenation. She is honored as a symbol of youth as well.
  2. Mother of Spring: another common view correlates her directly with the Spring. She brings flowers because she brings spring itself. She is honored in dance and festival, representative of newness and rebirth and the culmination of the beautiful cycles of the Living World.
  3. Redeemer/Revitalizer: some take her more metaphorically, as a symbol of rejuvenation, rebirth, redemption, and revitalization. In this, she is often still correlated with spring, but as a more natural force, sometimes neutral, a natural consequence, and other times as positive, benevolent, good. Rarely is she seen as evil.
  4. Floral Lover: she who split herself in three. some know the deep lore of the Flowerlady and the very ancient, almost forgotten legends of the Messiah of Flowers and the iterations of Shem from before. They know she was pressured after Second Shem to leave her lover, the Greenmother, and she refused. At the time, she represented more than just flowers and spring, but also hope and liberation and more. In order to remain with her lover, she split herself into three: a goddess of flowers and spring, a goddess of hope and aspiration and grace, and a goddess of liberation and the struggle for freedom. Knowing this, many worship her as part of that trinity, or as part of a duo with the Greenmother, or some combination thereof, and others see her as an enemy because of her past role in fighting against injustice.
  5. Scourge: pollen as a scourge. This is correlated to her past roles as fighting injustice as well, but it doesn't have to be. She is sometimes seen as a source of misery, or the change and new year she represents symbolizes an unwelcome change.
• the Veins of the World:
  1. Smith God: the commonest view of the god of metals is the Smith. He is the most well known and liked smithing god, common in any country or culture where smithing is a major craft. He is usually honored by smiths and those who use smiths often, including those who tend horses, but he is also sometimes honored more widely for his role in providing tools and more to society. This latter is a more positive view, but many simply view him as representing a common job in a neutral way. Others view him as representative of someone who represents a dangerous or toxic profession.
  2. Veinfinder: miners worship him as the god of metals and ores, the one who provides them with metal, who protects them in mines or one who must be honored in order to use a mine. He provides them the bounty of good veins or he denies them the same.
  3. The Veins: some view him as part of the Living World, the veins of it, the metals that run through the world being akin to the blood of Mother Shem. Some who see him this way reject the idea of miners and smiths honoring him, thinking the metals should remain where they are or at least not be "corrupted". Most, however, understand that the Living World provides them with what they need.
  4. Weaponmaker/Foundry God: some view him as similar to a war-god or industrial god. He is seen either as a patron of those crafts or as responsible for the negative aspects of them (war or pollution). He is rarely seen as a polluter, but the view of him as a source of violence is seen in places where weapons are more prevalent than tools.
  5. White Tiger: in Unbul, he is seen as a fundamental element, represented by the white tiger, and thus, something more potent and important than some other cultures view him as. The white tiger is viewed in many complicated ways in this culture.
• the Greenmother:
  1. Forest Mother: the Greenmother is usually correlated to forests more than just plants in general. This is because most cultures have relegated plants and nature to something outside their lives rather than something they are part of. Regardless, she is usually positively viewed as a source of greenery and natural power.
  2. Verdant World: others see her more broadly, either as goddess of all plants (accurate) or the representative of all nature, akin to a mixture of the Ern and the Lifegiver. She is revered greatly by those who see her this way, though some few despise her for it.
  3. Gardener Divine: some more urban cultures have forgotten her as a figure of nature and see her simply as the patron of their gardens. She is to be honored in order to keep plants green and alive, almost a hobby goddess to some.
  4. Cleanser of the World: some recognize plants as those that "cleanse the air" of the world. They view her as a fighter of pollution and a protector of life, and she is honored as a healer and fighter.
  5. Dangerous Woods: and some know her only for the dangers the forest represents, and they fear and hate her for the risks that dwell under her canopies.
• the Island Speaker:
  1. The Island Souls: often seen as a collective figure, the Island Speaker is most commonly understood as many Divines, as they are seen as a figure who is a god for every island. Usually, this is either a series of elementals or Aeonians that are understood to be separate gods, though some view them as facets of the same Divine. It's complicated and varied. But mostly those of island cultures and sailors worship the Island Speaker, and thus, there are many variations.
  2. Volcano God: the second most common view is in island cultures with a volcano/volcanoes nearby. This is a complicated view, as the volcano is seen as a source of extreme danger, of warmth and protection, and of literally a maker of islands.
  3. Guardians of the Seas: those undersea view them as almost a mountain deity. They are seen as a figure that protects and guides the currents, that are sentinels amongst the deep waters. They are honored as warriors.
  4. The World's Heart: others still see the Island Speaker in context of the whole pantheon, viewing the volcanoes that formed many islands as representations of the emotions of Mother Shem. Dormancy is calm, etc. This view can sometimes be taken as seeing them as a warning, and other times viewing them as a source of power, or even more complex.
  5. Sunslayer/Burning Wrath: and then there's the not too uncommon view of volcanoes as sources of disaster and burning destruction or, in some rarer cases, as a source of ash that blacks out the sun and brings horrifying winters. This is the view most often seen as evil.
• the Voice:
  1. Messenger of the Living World: the most common view of the Soundfather is that he is a messenger for the Living World, the one who communicates with mortality on behalf of the other Divines. He is considered an active, engaged deity, and one who is commonly asked to bring prayers to others, which is a little odd for him. He's used to it, though.
  2. Bringer of Sound: some understand him as the primal source of sound, the first vibration, the thing that makes communication possible. He is a god of sound, speech, and hearing, and sometimes, rarely, language.
  3. Rumbler: some very rare folks view him as the source of the vibrations that cause earthquakes or shatter glass or come from explosions. Noise. He is rarely seen this way, though, and only by those who hate the Living World.
  4. Great Voice: others still view him as simply a voice, a sound, a symbol of the natural. This is very rare, though, as sound is more associated with communication, and thus, less primal things.
• the Wintermother:
  1. Bringer of Winter: she is most often understood as the figure that brings winter. This is seen as both good and bad, depending on culture and time period. Some view her as a terrible bringer of cold, death, and starvation, and others view her as bringing beauty, quiet, and coolness. Most, though, view winter as a natural force that must be endured and can be thrived in, and thus, she is invoked for protection from cold and honored for the beauty of snow.
  2. Mother of the North Wind: others view the North Wind as the primary divine of ice, snow, and winter, and the Wintermother simply as she who gave birth to the North Wind, a figure in the background. She is understood in this guise to be the winter itself, not the bringer thereof.
  3. Beauty of Snow: some see only the beauty the snows and ice have, and honor her as almost an artist or a symbol of a kind of enduring love of the wonders of the world. This is a rare and extremely positive view of her.
  4. Bitter Cold: others view her as only the representative of the coldest, most destructive aspects of winter, snow, and ice. She is feared, hated, and terrifying. This is common in those who rely on a good harvest to survive the winter; those who live in snowier climes near the poles see her as either neutral and natural or positive and embracing.
  5. Ice Queen: finally there is the view of her as heartless and ruthless, a huntress, a killer, and beautiful. This is common with those who remember her from other Shems, when she was confined to other pantheons.
• the Immensity:
  1. The Constellations: most view the Cosmic Father as a group of Divines, notably, a grouping of constellations. Interpretations of these patterns in the stars varies by cultures, and usually, they are worshipping the Cosmic Father and constellation elementals, zodiac minds, or similar. Others view him as merely representative of a single star, though these are usually logos.
  2. Star Guide: sailors and other travelers often honor him as the North Star, the guide, the compass point. He is understood for his role as representative of the patterns of the night sky, and thus, one who can be depended upon to show you the way.
  3. Star Keeper: some view him not as a god of all of outer space and its wonders and dangers, but of the stars only. This view is very common on Shem, rather than on the Moons or out in other parts of the Angeldawn system. This view is one of a wise tender of the sparkling expanse.
  4. The Universal Expanse: some understand him to be the immense, powerful figure that he is, the representative of the great cosmos. Some see him as a natural figure, the representation of the immenseness of space, and others understand him as one who contains that immensity, and others still see him as Mother Shem's liaison to the Universe (this latter is most accurate). Some view him as vast and unfeeling, and others as all-encompassing and loving.
  5. The Emptiness/Impact Event: others still correlate him with the cold emptiness, the dangerous vacuum of space, or with impact events, meteorites or asteroid strikes. This is rare on Shem, but commoner in space, where those dangers are more prevalent.
• the Mother of the Swamp:
  1. Sister of the Green: the commonest view of the Swampmother is that of her as a sister to the Greenmother, and thus, almost subsidiary to her. This is not really accurate; they have some overlap in domain, but they do not answer to one another. Sometimes instead she is seen as complementary to the Greenmother, swamp and forest, the two "greenest" landscapes.
  2. Stormbreaker: those who live along the wetlands near coasts know that the swamps and marshes actually alleviate the impact of the cyclones that hit their homes, and thus, they honor her as a protective goddess, a shield, a wall against the violent world.
  3. The Thriving Swamp: others recognize the swamps and wetlands as the most alive places in the world, and thus, hotbeds of life itself. They honor her as the mother of this life, as the protector of it, as the preserver of it.
  4. The Myre: and others still see only the dangers of the swamp--quicksand, predators, swamp gas, mosquitos and insects, etc.--and view her as an angry manifestation of those, as a figure that lures them to their deaths or encroaches on their homes.
• the Autumnal Mother:
  1. Mother of Petrichor: many cultures take the smell of leaves after a rain as a profound sign, a portent of changing weather and of the perseverence of life, and as such, many cultures honor the goddess as representative of that. She is most commonly associated with forests, trees, leaves, and so on, but in their decline, not their vibrancy, and thus, she is correlated with death to a degree. This can be seen as good or evil, but more often, she simply is seen as a natural force.
  2. Bringer of Autumn: others see her as she who brings the autumn. She represents the fading of the natural world and the changing of the seasons toward cooler times. She is seen also as a harvest goddess by some, though usually, she is seen as representative of the times after the harvest, of the times of fattening up for winter, or enjoying bounty while it lasts, or as lean times when one must preserve what little is left.
  3. Wisewoman of the Living World: as representative of autumn, she is seen as elderly woman, one who is learned and wise, who can guide people. She is often a Crone as well. This is one of the most positive views of her.
  4. Brittle Decay: many view her simply as the coming of the end, the decaying periods, the rotting and drying out, and she is feared for it. She is seen sometimes as a figure that flies over fields and blights them or breathes a chill wind that brings death and catastophe.
• the Harvest Mother:
  1. Bringer of Bounty: most cultures have or had a harvest festival or similar time to honor the fruits of their labors and enjoy feasts and so on. This is the Harvest Mothers' primary avatar, one of gratitude for the good harvest, a giver of bounty and strength, and a maternal figure. Most view this as benevolent, though some view it as more of a natural force.
  2. Nourisher: others view her as the nourishing power of good food, of the strength gained from it, of health and vitality. This is more of a view of her as a healer and a bodily deity than as a natural force.
  3. Farmer Divine: some view her as a labor deity, representing farmers, cooks, etc. Those who work in food or crops. She is respected and honored by these workers, especially near harvest time.
  4. Harvester: some view her as a a metaphorical deity, one that represents the harvesting of souls, bodies, minds, a figure of death and change. This is rarer, mostly taken by those who oppose what she stands for.
  5. Giantess Divine: giants view her as a mother figure, the founder of their nation, and the one who gave them great strength and their farming skills. She is honored as part of the land itself, the fertility of the soil, and as the feast itself.
• the Ark:
  1. Lord of All Animals: most view the Ark as a great beast that rules all beasts, an animal of power and wisdom and ferocity. Sometimes dangerous but not usually evil. He is worshipped by some as a figure that dwells outside of their daily lives and by others as a figure with dominion over every animal, including sentient ones.
  2. Many Faces: Others see him as a shapeshifter or trickster who can appear as any animal, or as many deities representing different animals (these are usually Aeonians), i.e., a god of birds, a god of wolves or canines, a god of cattle, etc. He is often worshipped as a totem or spirit guide as well.
  3. Dangerous Beast: some do see him as representative strictly as a predator or other dangerous animal, a danger to be warned against or protected from. Usually this is from those who have an antagonistic relationship with animals or nature.
  4. Wilderness: some view him more broadly as representing the wilderness entirely, animals and more, and as such view him as a greater nature god.
• the Visitor:
  1. Messenger in Dreams: the most common view of the Dreamer is that of a figure that appears in dreams and offers Divine visions. He rules over the Dream Realm and sends mortals dreams with deeper meanings. He is often seen as a dream himself, or as a tender of dreams.
  2. Sleepbringer: some see him as the god of sleep, a night deity, a healer (rest), and/or a Sandman-esque figure (which is usually an Aeonian). He soothes and aids those who need rest, and sometimes some think insomnia is a punishment from him. Others also consider him the source of nightmares.
  3. Fairy God: the fairies view him as the keeper of the power of dreams. He is seen as one who shapes and controls dreams, and wields that power to fashion images. He is the source of glamour. However, they do not view him as a lord or leader; that is reserved for The Queen.
  4. Illusionist Divine: illusionists and imagers often revere him as the source of their power or the founder of their craft. Some places only know him as this, and some fear his power of illusion, viewing him as a deceiver and trickster.
• the Sea Mother:
  1. Sea Goddess: primarily, people around the world associate her solely with the seas and oceans. Sailors everywhere revere her, viewing her as temperamental, powerful, beautiful, and/or protective. She is a figure who absolutely must be respected, and only fools offend her, especially while at sea.
  2. Dangers of the Waters: next most common is viewing her strictly as the dangers of bodies of water. Those who live near dangerous waters especially see her as volatile and sometimes evil. She is one who drowns people, one who consumes them, one who holds deep dangers that few know of.
  3. River/Lake/Dew/Rain: She is oftened viewed as a different specific form of water, or even a specific body of water. Often these are elementals or Aeonians instead. The view on them varies greatly by location, culture, and water.
  4. The Currents of the World: some view her as part of the Living World, the currents which carry information everywhere, the source of connection around the world. She represents the currents, the water cycle, and the life giving power of water. She is healer, communicator, and catalyst.
  5. Mother of Fish: She is often associated with fish, or specific fish, or other aquatic life. She is seen sometimes as subject to the Ark, though this could not be further from the truth. (Indeed, she is one of the most powerful Divines.)
  6. Mother of Sea Serpents: sometimes she is seen as a complement to the Serpentmother (being that they are twin sisters). She is seen as an evil figure that represents naval might and conquest, fell waters, and the flow of power.
• Sisters of the Moons:
  1. Witch Goddesses: all witches worship a trinity of goddesses; the Moon Sisters are the most common of those. They view the sisters as the Mother-Maiden-Crone, even more so than the goddesses of magic, and worship them as indicative of the cycles of nature and magic. Even those who are not witches often view the Moons/Moon Sisters this way.
  2. Reflection of the Living World: some view them as part of the Living World, the three tenders of the Moons, which reflect back the power of the world and the sun, cold and beautiful protectors.
  3. Mothers of Cycles: some view them as a single, triple-faced goddess who represents the cycles of the Moons or all cycles, a figure of natural power.
  4. Night Trinity: some view them as representations of the dangers of the night, a trinity representing things that go bump in the night, dangerous, powerful, and to be guarded from, revered, or feared.
  5. Bearers of the Lunar Crescents: some view them merely as beings that carry the moons rather than guard, tend, or embody them. This is not inaccurate--the nephesh of the Moons embody them--but it is rarely discussed, and many conflate them with the nephesh.
• the Flame Divine:
  1. Firebringer: the most common view of the Flame Divine is that of a figure who brought fire to mortals and showed them how to use it. In some versions, he stole it from other gods, and in some versions, he created it and brought it to mortals. There are many variations, and some even go so far as to suggest this was a bad thing, though this is rare.
  2. Keeper of the Flame: some view him not as a bringer of flame, but the one who keeps it and protects it from being misused. He travels the world to punish those who turn it into a a weapon, preferring it be used to cook, cleanse, or warm.
  3. Wildfire Divine: others view him as the embodiment of the danger and violence of fire, of its uncontrollable nature, of the power of it to destroy. They view him as a monster, a figure of fear and terror that consumes all that is before it.
  4. Lord of Smoke and Ash: some view him as a more mysterious figure, embodying smoke and ash, which occlude and hide. He is a figure of concealment rather than light, which is part of his complex nature. This is sometimes viewed as a protector or as an antagonist of some kind.
  5. Bringer of Warmth: some view him as a protector and healer, one who brings warmth and provides protection. In this more benevolent view, he is sometimes a paternal figure who teaches others how to protect themselves with his powers.
  6. War-God of the Living World: as part of the Living World, he is the one considered the fighter, the one who will combat the enemies of the world. He is a fierce warrior whose powers are well-suited to obliterate any foes.
• Father Time:
  1. Tender of the Hours: Father Time is usually seen as one who tends to time itself, making sure it flows correctly. He is aloof, powerful, wise, all-knowing, and severe, seen as a stern grandfatherly figure. Most view him neutrally, though some see him as a protector and others as one who brings inevitabilities.
  2. Counter of the Moments: some view him as more pitiable, a figure trapped into counting the moments, of keeping track of time as it happens. He is trapped in the ever-present, never lingering on the past nor viewing the future, cataloguing all that is. He is sometimes conflating with the Chronurians and at other times he is seen as the head of their order. Mostly, they are unknown and he is simply seen as a lone figure who sees all and can do nothing about it.
  3. Guide of the Flow of Time: some view him as a more active god, one who controls the flow of time, one who changes time itself, one who makes it move and stop and start. He is seen as almost omnipotent (this is far from the truth), and sometimes more nefarious.
  4. The Ancient Inevitable: others view him as the cause of aging and inevitable events, a fatalistic view, seeing him as an evil figure that forces things to grow, change, and die.
• the Creator:
  1. The Maker: the most common view is the Creator not of the world but of all the things in it. He shaped it and crafted it. He took the raw materials and fashioned continents, oceans, and more. He is seen by some as the most benevolent of gods, and by others as a neutral figure, one who simply allows his creation to exist as it is, one pleased with his work. A few see him as one who violated the world by shaping it.
  2. Father Genesis:
  3. God of Crafters: many view him as a labor deity, patron of builders, masons, carpenters, smiths, tinkers, mechanics, and any others who make things, shape them, build, fix, repair. He is honored with the great works of these creators, who view him as the master of masters at making things. He is very well respected in this regard.
  4. Creativity Divine: many artists view him as the source of creativity, a complement to the goddess of inspiration.
  5. Imprisoner of the World: some few see him as a villain who imprisoned Mother Shem, or imprisoned life itself, or simply crafted prisons for all things.
• the Lightbearer:
  1. Bringer of Light: a primal force, the one who brought forth light at the dawn of all things, she is seen as something older and more powerful, something greater and more fundamental than other Divines.
  2. Revelation: some view her as a force for revealing and illuminating, for showing what is. She is not primal but a weapon or tool, a servant of mortals.
  3. Blinding Light: Some rare few see her as a monster that destroys sight, a strange, alien force brighter even than the sun.
  4. Source of the Bright: others still see her as the source of aetherial energy. She is seen as energy itself, as fuel for mystical powers.
  5. Crystalmother: the crystal folk view her as the one who brought them life, as they are made of inorganic material. She shone the light of life within them, and they are grateful to her.
• Death Herself:
  1. Reaper and Psychopomp: primarily, she is seen as the figure who takes souls to the afterlife. She does not kill, but she is Death. She embodies it. She is feared, loved, revered, honored, seen as necessary and tragic. She is a guide, protector, and implacable.
  2. Keykeeper: some see her as the one who holds the key to the Gates of Mortality and Divinity, the gates between life and life eternal. She is not a guard but one who waits with the keys, judging those who seek to go through the Gates.
  3. Killer Divine: some see her as the embodiment of murder, a figure who kills, who asssassinates, who takes lives. She is considered by some to be an evil figure simply for existing. She is hated most by necromancers who see her as the ultimate enemy.
  4. Keeper of Nature: some view her in her role as a necessity of nature to be one who maintains nature itself. She is a custodian of sorts, a figure that keeps the cycles of change and life going.
• the Shadowbearer:
  1. Bringer of the Dark: much as the Lightbearer is a primal figure, so too is her twin sister. She embodies the dark before all that was, the utter blackness of primordial being. She is darkness, night, and shadow. She is also seen as more fundamental than other Divines.
  2. Concealing Goddess: She is the goddess who hides, conceals, and obscures. She is a figure that keeps things just out of sight, beyond the reach of light, as a weapon or tool for mortals.
  3. Dangers of the Dark: some see her as, similar to others, a figure of danger, the things that exist in the night that are dangerous, those things that lurk beyond vision and wait to strike.
  4. Source of the Shadow: others view her as the source of True Shadow, the potent energy that comes from the Shadowlands. She is seen as a source of a greater mystic power.
• the Storm Divine:
  1. Storm God: a primal force, the natural power of the storm, this view is neutral mostly, a view of him as a thing of nature. Some do see it as evil, and some as good--a part of a wider pattern. But commonly, he is seen simply as the Divine representation of storms, an expression of nature.
  2. Shipwrecker/God of Flood: another common view is that of the violence of the storms or other inclement weather (heat waves, blizzards, etc.). He is seen as a destroyer of ships, a bringer of floods, etc.
  3. Source of Electricity: in technological countries, he is sometimes seen as simply the god of electricity, a technological divine, a powerplant or a labor deity for electricians.
  4. World's Rage: some view the storm as an expression of the Living World's rage, a figure that brings wind, rain, and thunder in such force because of the anger of the world.
  5. God of Patterns: some view him more metaphorically, as patterns, as a figure of climate and movement.
  6. Bringer of Rain/Clement Weather: and others still reduce him to other forms of weather, such as rain, heat, snow, clement weather, or even just lightning or thunder. This is often delegated to Aeonians.
• the Horse Mother:
  1. Mother of Horses: the most common view of her is simply as the mother of horses, goddess of one of the earliest forms of transportation for most cultures. She tends herds, births new calves, preserves horses, and helps riders.
  2. Mother of the Plains: more accurately, she is seen as the protector, preserver, and embodiment of the plains all that live on them--horses, plants, etc.--and the winds that sweep them.
  3. Sussoror: some view her as the goddess of the sound of the winds in the grass, a very specific sphere that represents either the calm of the plains or that which is hidden there.
  4. Endless Expanse: some see her as the openness of the plains, the wide landscape representing openness in general. Uncontained, free, wild, endless, beautiful, calming, easy to be lost in.
• the Dancer in the Sky:
  1. The Wind Father: the most common view of him is master of the four winds, an embodiment of the entire world's wind patterns, a figure that represents the movement of air, breathing, life and movement.
  2. Skydancer: as the Skydancer, he is seen as a carefree figure, half-trickster, half-child. He is beloved by many, one who leads them in dance and joy, and patron of dancers themselves.
  3. Ship's Friend: sailors honor the winds because the winds move their ships. They see him as a figure that must be kept happy lest they end up in doldrums.
  4. Swiftness of the Wind: some see him as a representation of speed, of movement, more so than wind itself. This is complementary to the Divine Vagabond.
  5. Galeforce: some see him as the violence of the wind, the force and power of it to destroy, to scour, to whip, and to twist and turn, an evil or dangerous figure.
  6. Bird Father: and some see him as the god of birds, the winged god, an animalistic figure.
• the Sunbearer:
  1. Sun's Chariot/Barque: most see her as the figure that carries the sun through the sky (or cosmos) via chariott, barque, horses, ship, etc. She brings warmth and light and life and brings the day to the world. She is seen as honorable, fierce, powerful, sometimes invincible, a warrior-goddess.
  2. Desert Goddess: some see her as the embodiment of the desert and its dangers and mysteries, of its power to protect, conceal, and to scour and burn. She can be sandstorm or oasis.
  3. Golden Goddess: some see her as a queen, a glorious golden figure that brings burning light that instills awe and wonder. She is an aloof figure, the burning sun itself, untouchable and powerful.
  4. Solarblaze: others see her as the burning wrath of the sun, the violent flames, flares, and explosiveness of her golden light.
  5. Dawnbringer: and she is seen as the bringer of the new day, she who helps the sun rise, she who brings the dawn. She is considered a figure of hope and renewal, of new beginnings or of something rote, even.

Radiant Spectrum:

• Scarlet Pennon:
  1. Brave Warrior: most cultures view him as the epitome of what a warrior should be, a brave, honorable, skilled fighter for the people. Some distort this to fit their culture, some make him loyal to a crown or a government or an ideal that doesn't really fit, but many simply see him as an exemplar of fighting for the good of others. (Some add "handsome" to his list of qualities, making him part of a pantheon of gods of beauty.)
  2. Scarlet Light: those who view the pantheon as a whole see him as representing the red (scarlet) stripe of the rainbow, symbolizing Valor or Bravery. They view him more as a concept than an actual warrior.
  3. God of Righteous War: some view him as their cultural war-god, a symbol of righteous war--wars for liberation, against enslavement, against oppression. Most who view him as this view him as righteous, but some few simply see him as just a war-god, or worse, as a threat to their sovereignty (as slaveowners, for instance).
  4. Reckless God: some view him not as brave but as a figure of recklessness, taking his bravery as something that endangers himself and others, using him as a warning to others. Others simply view violence as inherently evil.
  5. Twin Glory: Some who know the cosmological details understand that he is the twin brother to the Queen of Heaven, and see them as part of a duo representing glory, a combination of valor and empowerment.
• Mother of the Spectrum:
  1. Artist Divine: she is the patron of artists, especially painters and sculptors, and the source of and/or bringer of inspiration. She is honored by those who work in art or who simply love art, as either a labor deity or as a figure of pure inspiration.
  2. Mother of Rainbows: those who view her as part of the pantheon see her as the rainbow itself, all seven colors united to bring inspiration, wonder, beauty into the world. In this aspect, she is as much as deity of beauty as the Sapphire Mother.
  3. Mother of Wonder: some view her as the embodiment not of the inspiration for art, but as the result of it--the wonder, the awe, the deep feelings art brings. This is a more abstract view of her.
  4. Dazzling Light: some few see the rainbow as a sign of destruction, in the aftermath of a storm, or as a blinding light akin to the view of the Lightbringer. This is a view mostly held by those antagonistic to her or the pantheon for other reasons.
  5. Prism Maker: some view her as the one who reveals the rainbow, not as the embodiment of it. She is seen as a figure who created or brought prisms to people so they migjht see the components of light, the brilliant colors united.
• Iridal Walker:
  1. Mother of Heaven: most view her as the maternal figure who protects, soothes, aids, and so on those in Heaven. She is the welcoming figure, the one who guides people in, the one who embodies Heaven itself. Some view her as a judge or a queen or other figure of authority, while many view her as a figure of equality.
  2. Protector of Rainbows: those who view her as part of the pantheon view her either as a figure almost synonymous with the Mother of the Spectrum (sometimes her sister, her mother, or even her shadow) or as, more commonly, a warrior who guards the rainbow, which they view as the bridge to heaven. She stands guard and keeps the iniquitous away (some therefore see her as a figure of judgment or gatekeeping).
  3. Empowerment Divine: some view her simply as the concept of empowerment, the idea of giving strength and support to others. She is seen as an ideal, as a figure who empowers or as a figure who should be aspired to or copied.
  4. Judgment: some view her solely as the judge of who gets into heaven and who doesn't (this is inaccurate). She is viewed either neutrally or in some cases as evil, because she would deny paradise to anyone, but most view her as righteous even in this role.
  5. Twin Glory: as the twin to the Brave Warrior, she is often paired with him as a symbol of glory, of empowerment and valor combined.
• Hope Divine:
  • Grace:
  • Bringer of Hope:
  • Last Hope:
  • Delusion:
  • Indigo Light:
• Fulvous Warrior:
  1. Liberator:
  2. Guide of the Oppressed:
  3. Fulvous Light:
  4. Thief of Profit:
• Emerald Singer:
  1. Harmony Divine:
  2. Singer Divine:
  3. Emerald Light:
  4. Rhythm of Hearts:
• Child of Delight:
  1. Laughter Divine:
  2. Bringer of Happiness:
  3. Violet Light:
  4. Goddess of Pleasure:
• Longwalker:
  1. Walker of the Long Path:
  2. Wiseman Divine:
  3. Spearbearer:
  4. Strategist Divine:
  5. Plotter and Schemer:
  6. Yellow Light:
• Sapphire Beloved:
  1. Goddess of Beauty:
  2. Mother of Love:
  3. Seductress:
  4. Sapphire Light:
  5. Bejewelled Queen:

Holy Shield:

• Shield of Tranquility:
  1. Bringer of Peace:
  2. Shield Against War:
  3. Calm Divine:
  4. Eternal Stasis:
• Shield of Virtue:
  1. Virtuous Mother:
  2. 12 Virtues:
  3. Protector of Virtue:
  4. Strict Matron:
• Ancestral Mother:
  1. Guide of the Ancestors:
  2. Matriarchy Divine:
  3. First Ancestor:
  4. Eqality Divine:
  5. Ancient Goddess:
  6. Uncivilized Goddess:
• Shield of the Hearth:
  1. Protector of the Home:
  2. Goddess of the Hearth:
  3. Hospitality Divine:
  4. Hermit Divine:
• the Healer Divine:
  1. Great Healer:
  2. Bringer/Maker of Medicine:
  3. Vivisector:
  4. Giver of Health:
  5. Guard Against Disease:
• the United:
  1. The Union:
  2. Laborer Divine:
  3. Arm of the People:
  4. Toiler:
  5. Protector of the People:
• the Right Half:
  1. Goddess of Truth:
  2. Revealer of Truth:
  3. Liar:
  4. Honesty Divine:
  5. Protector of Truth:
• the Swanmother:
  1. Mother of Swans:
  2. Bringer of Justice:
  3. Protector of the Meek:
  4. Sword of Justice:
  5. War-God of the Shield:
• the Bisonmother:
  1. Bison Herd:
  2. Bringer of Equality:
  3. Equalizer:
  4. Unifier:
  5. Shield of the Poor:
  6. Megalith-Builder:
• Clanmother:
  1. Head of the Clan(s):
  2. Protector of Children:
  3. Goddess of the Bloodline:
  4. Binder of Family:
• Shield of the City:
  1. Protector of Community:
  2. Defender of Cities and Towns:
  3. Maker of Bonds:
  4. Maker of Nations:
  5. Goddess of Civics:

Velour Mantle:

• the Nexus Father:
  1. Connection Between All Things:
  2. Network Divine:
  3. Creator of Systems:
  4. Computer God:
• the Gamemaker:
  1. Children's Games:
  2. Toymaker:
  3. Funmaker:
  4. Jokester:
  5. Avuncular God:
  6. Caretaker of Children:
• the Answerer:
  1. God of Philosophers:
  2. The Answer:
  3. Professor Divine:
  4. Academia Divine:
• the Rambler:
  1. God of Good Fortune:
  2. Wanderer and Luck-Changer:
  3. Gambler Divine:
  4. Risk-Taker:
• the Fates:
  1. Threadweavers:
  2. Crafters of Fate:
  3. Viewers of Fate:
  4. Guides of Fate:
  5. Eldest Trinity:
  6. Binders of Fate:
• the Historian:
  1. Recorder of History:
  2. What Has Come Before:
  3. Materialist Divine:
  4. Old Gods United:
  5. The Past:
• the Great Mind:
  1. God of the Mind:
  2. Thoughtmaker:
  3. Psionic God:
  4. Thinker:
  5. Hive Mind:
• the Ever-Shifting Cloud:
  1. The Catalyst:
  2. Shifting Cloud:
  3. Alteror Divine:
  4. Guide of Evolution:
• the Prankster:
  1. Merry Prankster:
  2. Fool's Friend:
  3. Childish Goddess:
  4. Trickery:
• the Nine-Pointed God:
  1. Nine Emotions:
  2. The Heart Divine:
  3. Psychologer Divine:
  4. Blinding Passion:
• the Storyteller:
  1. Interferor:
  2. Weaver of Narratives:
  3. Teller of Tales:
  4. Narrator:
  5. The Story Itself:
• the Questioner:
  1. Scientist Divine:
  2. The Experiment:
  3. Logical:
  4. The Method:
  5. Mad Scientist:
• the Nexus Mother:
  1. Connection Between All Things:
  2. Bridgemaker:
  3. Ethereal Divine:
• the Infinite:
  1. The Unknowable Infinite:
  2. God of Numbers:
  3. Complexity Divine:
• Triple Goddess:
  1. The Witch Goddesses:
  2. Source of Magic:
  3. Tenders of Mana:
  4. Power Over Reality:
• the Old God:
  1. The Fundamental Forces:
  2. That Which Is Beneath All:
  3. The Most Ancient:
  4. Nuclear Holocaust:
• the Inner Light:
  1. That Within Us All:
  2. Soulmaker:
  3. Perfection of the Soul:
  4. Identity Divine:

Vermeil Sword:

• the Tower-Builder:
  1. Great Builder:
  2. The Tower Itself:
  3. Power Over Matter:
  4. Structure and Strength:
  5. Capable Design:
  6. The Architect:
• the One-Eyed God:
  1. Keeper of Secrets and Mysteries:
  2. The Silent One:
  3. Great Mystery:
  4. Cyclopean God:
  5. Hidden God:
• the Mightiest:
  1. War-God of Wath:
  2. Strength Divine:
  3. Power in Any Form:
  4. Dominant God:
• the Bell-Armored God:
  1. Bell Armor:
  2. War-God of Tacticians:
  3. Learning God: one who embodies learning new skills.
  4. Teacher of Skills:
  5. Training Divine: the act of training is the god itself
• the Bull God:
  1. Warrior's Patron:
  2. Minotaurean God:
  3. Conqueror Divine:
  4. Conflict Embodied:
  5. The Sword Itself:
• the Vagabond's Friend:
  1. Friend to Travellers:
  2. The Guide:
  3. Movement Divine:
  4. Wandering Divine:
  5. Language Maker/Evolver:
• the Lord of Boundaries:
  1. Two-Faced God:
  2. God of Borders:
  3. Terminal God:
  4. Barrier-Maker:
  5. Obstacle God:
• the Sard God:
  1. The Judge:
  2. Keeper of Status Quo:
  3. Neutral Divine:
  4. That Which Is:
• the Dragon God:
  1. Dragon Divine:
  2. The Five Heads:
  3. Accumulator:
  4. Hoarder:
• Queen of Thieves:
  1. Thief-Goddess:
  2. Criminal Mastermind:
  3. Lumpen Goddess:
  4. Poverty's Resort:
  5. Urban Survivor:
• Sword of Law:
  1. War-God of Authority:
  2. Keeper of Law:
  3. Order of Things:
  4. Automaton:
  5. Lawmaker:
  6. Authority Divine:
• the Huntress:
  1. The Huntress:
  2. Surivalist:
  3. Predator Goddess:
  4. Wilderness Goddess:
• the Trader Divine:
  1. Trader God:
  2. Barterer Divine:
  3. Value-Maker:
  4. Appraiser: