Gods of Elanthia

Gods of Elanthia is an Official GemStone IV Document, and it is protected from editing.

Introduction to the Arkati

It is interesting to note that those the Elanthians worship as gods were once servants themselves. The Arkati began their existence as the slaves of the Drakes, for although they were as old a race as dragonkind, the humanoid Arkati were lesser in both powers and numbers. The Arkati earned this worship, for it was only by their intervention that the lesser races such as elves, humans, dwarves and halflings lived at all.

At the peak of each population, there were perhaps one hundred dragons and fifty Arkati. The planet became overcrowded, and the Drakes sent their servants to live on the moons of Lornon and Liabo. Unable to refuse their masters’ command, the Arkati regretfully left for the satellites. Many feared that the dragons were using Elanthia’s overcrowding as an excuse to remove the lesser races, and that the relocation of the Arkati was to facilitate this genocide.

Thus, it is perhaps too convenient that the Ur-Daemons chose this time to appear. Those Arkati that lived on Liabo did their best to reason with the Drakes, entreating them to leave the lesser races be. Many say that those on Lornon followed the same tactic. Some legends recorded by Faendryl seers and elder historians tell a different tale.

Among those sent to the moon of Lornon was Eorgina, an Arkati with a passion for domination. She was the strongest personality of those there, and the one with the most talent for leadership. She was tired of taking a backseat to the Drakes, and having to grovel for what she wanted. With her masters’ eyes off her activities for the time, she acted.

She went to Fash’lo’nae, the scholar of those on Lornon, and asked if he had found anything in his studies that would rid the Arkati of dragon rule. Fash’lo’nae, punished at one time for spreading knowledge to the lesser races and bringing them fire, promised Eorgina his aid.

Fash’lo’nae had never mentioned his planar studies to his masters or his fellow servants. Nor had he ever mentioned the beings he found in the alternate dimensions. Thus, Eorgina and the other Lornon Arkati were quite surprised when presented with an Ur- Daemon. Eorgina, quick to recover from her surprise, wasted no time in pointing out the Drakes and their abundance of mana to the Ur-Daemons. Were they to remove the dragons, they could share in the abundance Elanthia presented.

The Ur-Daemons were not stupid. The Arkatis’ ploy was an obvious one, but the rewards were real. Should they remove the Drakes, the Ur-Daemons would be free to plunder the planet as they saw fit. They had no intention of sharing with the Arkati, and these lesser creatures had ended their usefulness the moment they had opened the Veil. With a smile, the Ur-Daemons agreed to help the Arkati.

Whether or not this legend is true is lost to time. What is known for certain is that the Ur- Daemons found their way to our dimension, and with them came chaos. The Ur-Daemon War broke out between the invaders and the Drakes. Many Arkati rushed to help their masters and were summarily killed. The intelligent ones hid from the conflict, thereby ensuring their survival.

The War lasted one thousand years. The final stand, before the portal to the Ur-Daemons’ home plane that Fash’lo’nae had secretly opened upon Elanthia, blasted the landscape for hundreds of miles, leaving it a lifeless wasteland. The Ur-Daemons were gone -- but so were the Drakes. Their numbers had been decimated, and most of those left had been driven insane by fear. The Arkati were servants no longer.

Their time on Lornon and Liabo had changed the Arkati, however. Those who state the Lornon Arkati had summoned the Ur-Daemon say that the Liabo Arkati were horrified and appalled by what the others had done. Others say that the differing influences of each moon had changed them. The results are undisputed: when they moved to heal the damage done to Elanthia, the Arkati were a race divided.

In the early days after the War, some Arkati walked among the mortal races as teachers, leaders, and guides. They considered Elanthia and its inhabitants a trust which had befallen them. These were the Liabo Arkati. As they taught the mortal races, they advised caution dealing with "the Arkati who once lived upon Lornon." This shortened to "the Arkati of Lornon." The pantheons of Liabo and Lornon were born.

Those of Lornon did not see things as their Liabo siblings did. They considered the lands a playground, and the lesser races toys to be trifled with or worse. The two pantheons grew further and further apart. For a while, war between the groups seemed imminent.

Then Koar summoned the remaining Arkati to a chamber in his mountain sanctum. What was said in that meeting is unknown, but when the Arkati emerged, they no longer spoke of fighting each other. They went their separate ways and have never come into open conflict, although an abundance of small battles are waged in the background daily.

Pantheon of Liabo

The pantheon of Liabo is considered "good" or "light" and consists almost exclusively of Arkati that work towards the betterment of the lesser races. Those Arkati considered "of Liabo" viewed the other races as a trust given to them, and appointed themselves the caretakers of Elanthia.

Charl, Lord of the Seas

God of the Oceans, Storms and Revolution

Charl is the God of the Sea. Living apart from his brethren, he dwells constantly in the seas of Elanthia, joining the other Gods only when Koar commands. Legend holds that Koar once had to send for Charl six times before he appeared. When Koar demanded to know why he was so disobedient, Charl replied that he was always the most obedient of Koar’s servants, but that the waters of the six oceans of the world flowed through his veins, and none could come without the others. Charl is a dark and violent god, and is renowned for his drastic mood swings. He cares little for the land dwelling races on Elanthia, and is as likely to swat a nearby ship with a storm as he is to let it pass untouched. Because of this he is feared by seamen, and few pray to him for fear they might attract his attention. For the same reason clerics serving Charl, although seldom welcome, rarely come to harm in any place frequented by seamen.

He is also the god of storms of all sorts, and more than one despotic tyrant, overthrown by an angry mob marching under a stormy sky, has sworn that it was Charl’s hand that laid him low.

Some clergy contend that Charl is at heart a God of Darkness. Still, there is little doubt that he swears fealty to Koar, and for that reason, if for no other, he is numbered with the Gods of Light.

Charl’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a towering man with a beard of seaweed and algae, blue and grey robes, wielding a trident. Charl rarely appears except in the sea or the heart of a storm. His lower half is a fish’s tail. In manner, he is stern, angry and quick-tempered. His symbol is an emerald trident on a field of blue.

Cholen, the Jester

God of Festivals, Performing Arts, and Humor

Cholen is the God of festivals and the performing arts. The offspring of Imaera and Eonak, he is the twin brother of Jastev. Patron of celebrations and all that goes with them, Cholen is renowned for his bright demeanor, his mastery of music, song, and dance, and of his mischievous nature. All performing skills commonly seen at festivals fall within his domain, and muttered prayers to Cholen are not uncommon among jugglers, actors, and bards who frequently perform at them.

The many comedies whose plots revolve around mistaken identity and cross-gender disguises owe their basis, at least in part, to Cholen’s penchant for cross-gender pranks, although his disguises are generally acknowledged as being more complete than most acting troupes could ever manage.

Cholen's preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a young man with summer-sun gold hair, blue eyes and a slight build. He is arrayed in fine but exaggerated clothing, and he favors a great cloak with patches of every color and shape imaginable. In manner, he is playful and mocking. His symbol is a crimson lute on a field of gold.

Eonak, Master of the Forge

God of Craftsmanship, Labor and Triumph Over Adversity

Eonak is the artificer of the gods. He is also the consort of Imaera. After the Ur-Daemon War, he took the people who worked in the stone under his wing and taught them. Thus, he is considered the patron of the dwarves. Maker of all of the fantastic items used by the gods, Eonak spends most of his time at his forge. He is more at home there than anywhere else, and at times only a decree from Koar or the soft words of Imaera can separate him from it.

Often considered a strange pairing, Imaera and Eonak are each masters of crafting, although their choices of substances is vastly different. Imaera’s crafting is of living things, of cycles and seasons and balance. Eonak’s crafting is of inanimate things, yet even as Imaera’s, his creations must fulfill their purposes, achieve a balance of beauty and utility, and all, even as Imaera’s do, contain some part of him that marks them as creations of Eonak’s hand.

Eonak personifies success won by hard work rather than natural gifts alone. Legends differ as to how Eonak lost his arm, but all agree that the veil iron arm he spent lifetimes crafting is the greatest piece of craftsmanship ever under taken and serves him better than the original.

Eonak’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a heavily muscled person, either a short man or a large dwarf, who wears the leather garments of a blacksmith. His left arm is missing, replaced by a veil iron prosthetic. In manner, he is impatient, surly and distracted. His symbol is a golden anvil on a field of brown.

Imaera, Lady of the Green

Goddess of Nature, Harvest, Plants, Animals, Healing & Autumn

Imaera is the Goddess of the Nature and Autumn. She is also often considered the patron of the sylvan elves. While Oleani’s realm is cultivation and the fertility of mortals, Imaera’s realm is the wilds and unfettered nature. Her consort is Eonak, without whose rocky soil, no plant could grow. As the Goddess of life and growing things, hers are the plants and animals native to the land. Credited with the re-creation of most of the species on Elanthia, and with several of the human-like races, she is the mistress of shaping flesh, bone, and plant to suit any need. As such her blessing is often sought by those who practice the healing arts.

Imaera is also the Goddess of the harvest and so of the bounty which the land produces in its cycle of life. While Oleani oversees cultivation and agriculture, the final blessing of Imaera is needed for the spark of life. Because of this she is often honored in autumn festivals.

All of the aspects of Imaera are in direct opposition to the twisting and deformation of life forms practiced by some of the Dark Gods, and of the senseless destruction of life and land that most of their minions undertake as a matter of course.

Imaera’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a young woman, often sylvan, dressed in robes of leaves and flowers. In manner, she is exuberant. Her symbol is a golden sheaf of grain on a field of green when she is worshipped by farmers. The sylvan elves ascribe to her a brown doe on a field of green.

Jastev, the Soothsayer

God of Visual Arts and Prophecy

Jastev is the God of Visual Art and Prophecy, and is the offspring of Imaera and Eonak. He is the only God of Light whose company Charl regularly keeps, and the only Arkati who will speak to Gosaena at all. Given to a somber demeanor and periods of depression, Jastev’s knowledge of the future is a double-edged sword, giving him warning of the consequences of the actions of the Dark Gods and their followers, yet also showing him more than any being would wish to know. It is said that having foreseen the end of the world and of all that he loves causes his darker moods. It is this kinship in prophecy with Gosaena that gives him the tolerance to discourse with her.

His patronization of the visual arts is also attributed to his knowledge of the future, since he encourages the preservation of each moment of beauty, emotion, or tragedy for those who will come after.

Jastev is the patron of mystics and seers, and his blessing is often invoked by practitioners of the arts of foretelling. While Lumnis will provide her followers with knowledge of the skills of fishing, Jastev is not averse to giving the location of the nearest fish.

Jastev’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a pale man dressed in drab colors. His age varies from the youngest of boys to the oldest of greybeards. In manner, he is most often sad, with fits of inspiration and joy. His symbol is a black artist’s brush on a field of grey, or alternately, a silver crystal ball on a field of grey.

Kai, Master of Battle

God of Strength, Athletic Prowess, and Skill at Arms

Kai is the God of Physical Strength and Athletic Prowess. He has been beaten once in armed combat by Koar, and fought once to a standstill against V’tull. Beyond these two instances, every opponent Kai has faced has fallen before him. Legend holds that in the Ur-Daemon War, Kai slew more of the enemy than any Drake did, despite their awesome might, and is the only Arkati who participated in that war to have survived. Kai’s joy of physical combat is such that only Koar’s injunctions keep him from constant battle with the Gods of Darkness. As an alternative he often roams Elanthia looking for unsuspecting mortals to toy with in physical "contests" of one sort or another.

Kai’s blessing is often invoked at contests of physical prowess.

Kai’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a young man of epic build with strong and carefree features. Kai is always dressed in light armor and is never without a weapon of some sort. In manner, he is carefree, brave and aggressive. His symbol is a silver arm with fist clenched, on a field of crimson. His clerics name their maces, cast in the same shape, the Fists of Kai.

Koar, King of the Gods

God of Justice, Loyalty and Law

Koar is the King of the Gods. Once, he ruled all the Arkati and he is still the titular head of both the Light and Dark Gods. In practice, however, his direct control is only over the Gods of Light. Not since the fall of the Drakes in the Ur-Daemon War has Koar rallied all the gods to him, and none knows for sure if he could unify the Arkati now, no matter the cause. Still, it is said that as long as Koar lives, the Gods of Light and Dark will never face each other in open war. Legend holds that Koar sits on a great throne carved from the stone heart of the world extending up through the tallest mountain in Elanthia. He rarely leaves his throne, and spends most of his time slumbering or brooding. Even when he sleeps, one eye is always slightly open, and while Koar may not intervene in the affairs of gods or mortals often, there is little that escapes his notice.

The sages say that the mountains of Elanthia rise and fall as Koar’s brow furrows. One day, it is said, when the Gods of Darkness no longer vex their king, and when mortals no longer wage petty wars, the mountains will sink back into the ground and all the world will be a fertile plain. Earthquakes are attributed to Koar shifting restlessly, and before Koar’s brow is smoothed, legend holds he will rise from his throne in wrath, shaking the greatest fortresses to rubble. The prophecy is silent as to who or what will be the object of his ire.

Some common folk believe that Koar is not an Arkati, but actually the last of the Great Drakes. No one living can confirm this notion, however.

Koar’s blessing is often invoked during coronation ceremonies, and it is not uncommon for rulers to claim that their particular right to reign bears Koar’s approval.

Koar’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a huge man upon a throne, wearing a gold crown, contemplating the fate of all things. In manner, he is commanding, detached, or weary. His symbol is a golden crown, often set on a circle of white.

Lorminstra, the Gatekeeper

Goddess of Death and Rebirth, Winter and Deliverance

Lorminstra is the Goddess of Death and Rebirth. She is the eldest offspring of Koar and Lumnis. Lorminstra is also the Goddess of Winter, that annual "death" of nature which parallels the death and rebirth of souls. Lorminstra is also the Keeper of the Ebon Gate. It is her decision whether a soul is allowed to return to Elanthia each time an appeal is made via a ritual of resurrection, and even Koar will not gainsay her decision.

Lorminstra regards Luukos’ enslavement of souls to animate his undead as abominable. She supports her brother, Ronan, in his struggle against Luukos’ minions, and also petitions Koar frequently to take direct measures to curb Luukos’ activities.

Lorminstra’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a thin woman with black hair and pale alabaster skin. She wears two layers of robes, black over white, and at her side dangles a ring of keys, one for every soul. In manner, she is somber yet caring. Her symbol is a golden key, or a golden key set upon a gate of black.

Lumnis, Queen of Enlightenment

Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge

Lumnis is the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge, and the wife of Koar. She is not considered the "Queen" of the Gods, however. She gives counsel willingly, even to the Dark Gods, but never commands. Lumnis’ power lies in her understanding of the interrelationships of the Spheres of Knowledge (Elemental, Spiritual, Chaos, Order and Planar) and her intuitive grasp of their intricacies. Able to accomplish feats that leave even Koar amazed, she wields her knowledge with the style of an artist.

She is worshipped by scholars and practitioners of the arcane arts who explore the boundaries of their knowledge with a wonder and respect of the powers they discover. Her wisdom is also sought by fortune-tellers and all in need of guidance. Lumnis will never give an answer outright, however. She would rather advise and guide, allowing those who seek aid to find the answer on their own.

She regards Fash’lo’nae’s approach to knowledge as ultimately self-destructive and unconscionable. Her disapproval of knowledge for personal gain or power is such that she has been attributed with the sudden disappearance of several notably power-hungry magic users over the centuries.

Lumnis’ preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a mature woman in gossamer robes of light grey, so long that her feet are never seen and the hem is lost in distant mists. Her hair is black with a single shock of grey at her forehead. In manner she is serene, and even in anger she is more a disappointed mother than a raging goddess. Her symbol is a golden scroll overlaying five conjoined circles, the circles being red (Planar), blue (Spiritual), black (Chaos), green (Elemental), and white (Order) - symbolizing her mastery of the Spheres of Knowledge.

Also see: The History of Lumnis.

Oleani, Mistress of Adoration

Goddess of Love, Spring and Fertility

Oleani is the Goddess of Love, Fertility and Spring. To many, she is also considered the patroness of halflings. Her consort is Phoen, the Sun God. Called upon to bless weddings and birthings, Oleani represents the many aspects of love. Her interests range from the romantic aspects of a "respectable and proper courtship" to the sensual magnetism which may spark an illicit love affair - from the tragedy of a lover’s untimely death to the joy of a new birth.

In most lands she is honored in the early spring when a celebration of new love and a ritual requesting her blessing on the fields are combined into a single holiday.

Oleani’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a woman of maddening beauty, of any race or color. In manner, she is amorous and nurturing. Her symbol is a red heart with a budding flower growing from it.

Phoen, the Sun God

God of the Sun, Summer and Fatherhood

Phoen is the God of the Sun and Summer. He is consort to Oleani. He is often considered the god of fatherhood, given his relationship with Oleani (the goddess of fertility), and as God of the Sun he represents the masculine side of fertility. The Sun God personifies manly power, to the point that he is often egotistical. There is more than one fable of Phoen causing harm rather than good through careless use of his great power.

The warmth and light associated with the sun, as well as the fact that they are life- nurturing qualities place Phoen in direct opposition to the Dark Gods. However, more often it is the Dark Gods regarding him as such that leads to conflict, rather than his desire to oppose them. He may also face them simply as a staunch ally of Oleani’s.

Phoen’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a man nearly identical to Ronan, but with golden hair that shines so brightly as to blind mortals. The clothes he wears are golden as well. In manner he is confidant, even to the point of egotism. His symbol is a golden sunburst on a field of blue.

Ronan, Lord of Dreams

God of Night and Dreams

Ronan is the God of Night. He is master of sleep and dreams, and guardian against those who would violate the peaceful respite of that other world. Ronan is perhaps the most active foe of the Dark Gods. Ronan is the darker twin of Phoen, and it is said that the two, being night and day, cannot come together in the same place.

Given their avoidance of light and their use of darkness as a cloak to cover their activities, Ronan finds the Dark Gods trespassing in his realm quite regularly. Ronan and Sheru are in constant conflict since they both regard the night and sleep as their rightful territories. Luukos also mounts a constant assault on Ronan’s realm with those who have failed to die cleanly and are now subject to his curse.

Ronan’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a gaunt man with heavy-lidded eyes and a mysterious smile. His eyes are without whites, leaving deep black pools broken only by a faint grey swirl. He dresses only in black, and even the steel of his weapons is black. In manner, he is sleepy and sardonic. His symbol is a black sword with a silver edge on a field of black.

Tonis, the Fleetfooted, King of Thieves

God of Speed, Travel and Thieves

Tonis is the messenger of the gods. He is the only offspring of Phoen and Oleani. He is renowned for his speed, and for the shape he commonly chooses when on an errand. Even more frequently than his humanoid form, Tonis takes on the form of a golden pegasus whose hooves strike flames from the sky.

Tonis is also worshipped by thieves. Myths of his speed and daring spur his worshippers on to perform similar feats, and it is the skill and daring of their acts that motivates them more than the trinkets they take. In battle, Tonis can slay an army in a few moments by rushing among them and snatching the breath from their mouths.

Tonis’ preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a lithe young man dressed in a simple tunic carrying a messenger’s pouch across one shoulder. In manner, he is hyperactive and childlike. His symbol is a golden pegasus on a field of blue.

Pantheon of Neutrality

There are a few Arkati who do not fit into either Liabo or Lornon. They instead remain a relative neutral, working towards their own designs with varying regard for the lesser races.

Gosaena, Mistress of Eternity

Goddess of Death

Despite resurrections, deeds, and other ways to return to existence, death is an ultimately final thing. When the bridge between life and death is crossed for the final time, and a soul is allowed through the Ebon Gates, Gosaena is there waiting on the other side. She is the goddess of death. Unlike Lorminstra, when a spirit comes to Gosaena, it will not be returning to the mortal realm. Gosaena is a pariah among the other Arkati. She is gifted with foresight, most specifically, knowledge of when everyone and everything will die. The Arkati, now gods to the mortal races, had no desire to recall their own mortality and so outcast her. Neither pantheon will claim her, and no one will speak to her save Jastev, whose own talent for foresight makes him sympathetic to her plight.

Gosaena never speaks, except on very rare occasions to Jastev. She is as silent as the grave, and takes the souls due her without regret, compassion or malice, only impartiality.

Gosaena’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a beautiful woman with pale skin, long silver hair, and ice blue eyes. She wears grey robes and a large grey cloak that covers brilliant white feathered wings. In manner, she is silent and impartial. Her symbol is a silver or grey sickle on a field of green.

Zelia, Keeper of the Moons

Goddess of the Moons and Insanity

Zelia is a lunatic in the purest sense of the word. Goddess of the moons and of insanity, the only thing consistent about her is that she is inconsistent, and is completely out of her mind. Zelia may be chaos personified. Once a great lover of solitude, it is said that the Arkatis’ move to the moons at the Drakes’ behest was her undoing. It is not known, however, if it was the invasion of her privacy or the loneliness that may have ensued after her peers left for Elanthia that unseated her sanity. Whatever the case, she now takes a personal hand in the affairs of the mortal world, just as the other Arkati, blessing her followers with what she considers the greatest freedom of all: freedom from lucidity.

Zelia has a great dislike for Sheru. She feels that his tactic of scaring a person into madness is classless and brute-like, lacking a great deal in finesse and understanding of mortal mentality. There are much better ways to drive someone over the edge. She drives a misty chariot pulled by grey stallions, looking for people in need of her gift.

Zelia’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a woman with large green eyes and silver hair that always seems to be blowing wildly about her face. There is no trace of sanity anywhere in her expression, and she wears a silver breastplate and grey tunic. In manner, she is unpredictable and insane. Her symbol is a silver crescent moon on a field of black.

Literature on Zelia

• Madness and Entropy: A Tale of Zelia

Pantheon of Lornon

The pantheon of Lornon is considered "evil" or "dark" and consists almost exclusively of Arkati that work towards the betterment of themselves. Those Arkati considered "of Lornon" viewed the other races as playthings, food, or worse, and considered Elanthia a stage for their own desires.

Lesser Spirits & Other Immortals

There are a number of beings that, while they are not Arkati or are not Arkati of the main pantheons, are worshipped all the same. Their motivations and stories vary wildly, as do their allegiances to good or evil.