Showing posts with label Lords of Heaven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lords of Heaven. Show all posts

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Rúadan

Rúadan (Donn)

The Dead Lord; The Scourge of the Risen Dead; The Watcher of Graves; Celestial Lord of the Peaceful Dead

Alignment: Lawful Good.
Domains: (Crusade), The Dead, Endings, Foresight, Peace, Planning, Truth.
Summon Monster: Rúadan's clerics and favored souls can summon axiomatic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A broken axe.
Favored Weapon: "Cleaver of death" (battle axe).
Related Prestige Classes: Paladin.

Rúadan is dead. Along with Forseti, Heim, and Tiwas, he was one of the four sons of Eiur, and like them he was a champion of the armies of Heaven. During the War in Heaven, Rúadan joined his brothers in their quest to recover the infant Füllar. Though they found Füllar and rescued him, Rúadan was overwhelmed and fell while holding the demonic hordes off long enough for his brothers to escape with the child, and was taken as a hostage into the depths of Hell. Though Woda sent Aíne to try to secure his release, the Lords of Hell betrayed her, and when they proved unable to slay her due to the death gesa that protected her, they killed Rúadan instead, using infernal poisons and magic that put him beyond even Eiur's ability to heal.

Being dead, Rúadan sees all things as they are, and can foresee all ends. Being dead, Rúadan only begrudgingly shares such secrets with the living, keeping his own counsel, silent as the grave. Even though Rúadan is dead, that does not mean he does not have devoted worshipers. Even though he was one of Eiur's sons, his death caused the divine mother so much grief that his temples are not co-located with hers as those of his brothers are. Instead, Rúadan's shrines can be found guarding over cemeteries and graveyards, providing a silent watch to ensure that the dead are left in peace. As the Lord of the Peaceful Dead, Rúadan's greatest ire is reserved for grave-robbers, necromancers, and all who would disturb the rest of the departed. As such, his priesthood holds a special enmity towards the White Hand, as well as a particular animus towards Kalma and her followers.

Rúadan is not a popular deity per se, but all honor him eventually when they bury those they have lost. Every funeral's rites are conducted in his name. Many of Rúadan's priests serve as caretakers of the places of the dead, performing the rituals of comfort for the living and guarding the resting places of the departed to ensure that they are left in peace. Others, however, take up the axe to cut down the living dead to return them to the grave where they belong. Many of the most famous of Rúadan's devotees have been crusading undead hunters.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Lódur

Lódur (Fíonn)

The Many-Faced Lord; The Spy of Heaven; Celestial Lord of Changelings, Shapechangers, Luck, and Gamblers

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Domains: Alteration, City, Fortune, GestaltLuck, (Shapechanger), Transformation.
Summon Monster: Lódur's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic and shadow creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A mask.
Favored Weapon: "Surprise!" (arm knife).

Lódur is the most mercurial and unpredictable of all of the Lords of Heaven. The embodiment of the fickle vagaries of luck and fortune, he is often presented as being cheerfully unreliable in the best of circumstances. In many of the folktales in which he features, he is often shown as an almost perfect agent of chaos, sowing confusion and turmoil in his wake. And yet, when the Lords of Heaven were in their direst need, Lódur proved himself to be one of the most valuable of their number, using his ever-shifting abilities to infiltrate the infernal realms and ferret out the Demon Lords' most closely guarded secrets. In this way, Lódur claimed dominion over spies and espionage.

No one knows that Lódur's true form is. He is often portrayed as a featureless being with pale skin - akin in appearance to a changeling, but many question whether even that is what Lódur truly looks like. Although Lódur is often referred to as "he" by default, the celestial lord seems to be just as comfortable taking the role of either gender, and in some tales he is the father of children, while in others she is the mother of progeny. Capable of assuming any shape, Lódur appears in legend in almost every guise one can imagine, often revealing himself only at the end of the tale and even then usually only by implication. In fact, it is a not uncommon confidence game for a grifter to pose as Lódur in an effort to sway the gullible, a hustle that is just plausible enough to sometimes actually work. As far as Lódur is concerned, his followers say that the Many-Faced Lord is amused and honored by such deceptions, pointing to the stories in which mortals attempt to trick him and he responds to the attempts with a good-natured chuckle.

Though Lódur is often seen as capricious, he is never portrayed as vindictive, just like the luck and fortune that he represents. Temples dedicated to Lódur are rare, and his priesthood is quite small, but rogues, gamblers, con artists, and spies all appeal to the Lord of Luck to look kindly upon their endeavors. He is held in high regard by changelings, who regard him as the patron of their race. Whether Lódur agrees with them is unknown, and may be entirely irrelevant given the general attitudes of the changeling race. In fact, to many changelings it seems like it would be entirely fitting to have a patron deity who is uncaring and indifferent.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Hœnir

Hœnir (Viswa-Nîn)

The Machine Who Makes; The Iron Lord; Celestial Lord of Constructs, Engineers, and Ironborn

Alignment: Lawful Neutral.
Domains: Armor, Artifice, Constructs, Creation, Fabrication, MechanusTime.
Summon Monster: Hœnir's clerics and favored souls can summon axiomatic and ísern-souled creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: Three interlocked gears.
Favored Weapon: "The tinkerer's hand" (light hammer).

Hœnir's origins are lost in legend. The celestial lord is a great machine animated by clockwork gears and magical power, so some maintain that Hœnir was crafted - crafted in Wünd's celestial forgers and assembled by means of Füllar's ingenuity. Others dismiss such notions as ludicrous, and instead say that Hœnir is the physical manifestation of the clockwork workings of the universe itself, and predates the existence of all other beings. Those who hold this position claim that Hœnir is the Great Maker who crafted everyone and everything else that exists, or ever existed. On this subject, as he is on all other subjects, Hœnir is silent, for the Iron Lord does not speak.

In tales, Hœnir appears as an iron golem shaped from iron and bronze, with gouts of steam constantly issuing forth from his joints. As with all things about him, Hœnir's exact nature is shrouded in mystery. Some say that he was once a being made from flesh who slowly replaced himself with mechanical parts - citing Heim's silver hands and eyes and Tiwas' golden arm as an example of how this process could have begun. Other quarters hold that Hœnir was always a steam and clockwork creation, and that he has never been a creature of flesh and blood. Still others maintain that beneath Hœnir's metal exterior beats a fragile heart made of muscle and blood. The one thing that all agree on is that not even Woda knows the truth. What is known is that Hœnir is not only a machine himself, he is the creator of new machines, and delights in building new machines, and is constantly fabricating new constructs, new steamwork devices, and new clockwork gadgets in his celestial workshop. Though he does not speak, Hœnir makes, tirelessly crafting an endless stream of creations driven by an enigmatic agenda that none but he knows.

There are few tales that tell what Hœnir did during the War in Heaven. Some say he did not participate directly in the fighting, instead crafting weapons and war machines to aid the Celestial Lords in their struggle, while other stories imply that the Divine Machine fought alongside the Celestial warriors against their demonic foes. The stories all agree that even though Heim's silver hands and eyes and Tiwas' golden arm cam from Wünd's forges, it was Hœnir's skill and ingenuity that made them possible. Many other stories describe mighty engines of divine destruction crafted by his hands that were thrown against the demonic hordes. It is accepted as a matter of faith that the great golem that looms inert over the fortress city of Cær Alrys is Hœnir's creation.

Hœnir is not a particularly popular deity, but his followers are usually ardent in their devotion. He is loved by engineers and craftsmen, finding great favor among gnomes and dwarves. He is regarded as the patron lord of the ironborn, who regard his existence as a harbinger of the inevitability of their own creation. Hœnir's temples often resemble workshops more than places of worship, as his followers are called upon to show their devotion by their own creative industry.

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Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Hlín

Hlín (Damara)

Keeper of the Sacred Flame; The Defender of Refuges; Celestial Mistress of Hope, Home, and the Hearth

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Elysium, Hearth, Home, Hope, Life, Restoration, Solace.
Summon Monster: Hlín's clerics and favored souls can summon celestial and ignan creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A hearth.
Favored Weapon: "The last, best hope" (heavy mace or light mace).

Hlín is the celestial mistress of the hearth who tends the fires of the Great Hall of the Heavens. She is the guardian of homes and the giver of succor to those in need. Though she is not a warrior, when the Lords of Hell swept into the Heavens and overwhelmed Heim's watch, it was Hlín who, in the last desperate hour, barred the doors of the Great Hall to the invaders, holding them off until the Lords of Heaven could rally and drive the infernal forces away.

Hlín is depicted as a small, plain woman who walks with a limp and has hands perpetually covered in ash and soot. She is the patron of wives, of the sure, steady love that comes with time and age. She is, in some ways, the antithesis to the wild and tempestuous Brid. In legend she is often seen as a somewhat taciturn woman but who, when moved to speak, is always a source of sound and compassionate advice. Hlín does not appear in folktales often, but when she does, she is always portrayed as steady, constant, reliable, and loving.

Hlín is a popular celestial, and nearly every home in the Three Worlds has an icon or shrine dedicated to her. Hlín is Wünd's consort, serving as a steady companion to the celestial craftsman. As the kindler of the sacred flame, it is she who lights the fires of the divine forges that her husband labors over. Many smiths pay homage to her hoping their forges will find favor in her eyes and never lose their flame. Hlín offers more than mere physical fire, however, as she is also the bringer of hope, who inspires and ignites the hearts of the faithful.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Aíne

Aíne (Rhiannon)

The Herald of Heaven; Celestial Mistress of Diplomacy, Commerce, and Halflings

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Commerce, Diplomacy, Eloquence, (Halfling), Herald, Trade, Wealth
Summon Monster: Aíne's clerics and favored souls can summon celestial creatures and either anarchic or axiomatic creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A sparrow feather.
Favored Weapon: "The needle of negotiation" (rapier or smallsword).

Before the War in Heaven, Woda wanted to try to negotiate the return of his kidnapped son Rúadan, and as she was the greatest diplomat in the celestial realm, Aíne volunteered to undertake the task. Woda inscribed magical silver runes on her lips and declared her to be the Herald of Heaven. Aíne went to the infernal realms, but the demon lords foreswore their oaths of safe passage and captured her as well. As she was under a death gæsa pronounced by Füllar that she could only be killed by someone who truly loved her, the demon lords instead bound and gagged her, leaving her in Vaßatar's keeping. During her captivity, Vaßatar tried to sway her to his side, but Aíne resisted all of his attempts. After she was rescued by Caire, Aíne took her revenge upon Vaßatar, deceiving, defeating, and humiliating the trickster demon.

Aíne is a the patron of halflings, as well as the celestial mistress of trade and commerce. Aíne also holds dominion over heralds and diplomacy. As such she is a popular deity among merchants, artisans, and anyone seeking wealth as well as ambassadors and emissaries. Most towns have a merchant square with a shrine dedicated to Aíne, and it is common for those entering into important negotiations to call upon her blessing. Her faith is closely allied to that of Caire, and it is common to find joint temples and shrines dedicated to the two deities.

Aíne is said to have a feathered cloak that allows her to take the shape of a sparrow. In legend, she makes her home in a great wain drawn by two oxen named Fé and Mé.

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Yng

Yng (Freyr)

The Lord of the Golden Disc; The Lord of Many Colors; The Summer Lord, The Great Master of the Winds; Celestial Lord of Sunshine, the Sky, Archery, and Creatures in Flight

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Arborea, Birds, Glory, Rainbow, Sky, Summer, Sun.
Summon Monster: Yng's clerics and favored souls can summon auran and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A sun disk of gold with a red eagle displayed.
Favored Weapon: "The Rainbow" (longbow or composite longbow).
Related Prestige Classes: Shining Blade of Yng.

Yng is the lord of light, the sun, the sky, and the patron of all flying creatures. Although he is paired with the wild and tempestuous Brid, Yng is steady and calm, guiding the sun with a steady hand every day to rise and set in its constant, reliable way. Where Brid is rash and impetuous, Yng is reflective and thoughtful, carefully considering and planning his decisions before he commits himself. In many folktales, Yng is called upon to extricate his foolhardy consort from some predicament she has found herself in as a result of her impulsive nature. Yng is portrayed as the ever-suffering but ever-tolerant spouse, always coming to Brid's aid when she is in need, seemingly regarding her mishaps with kindly affection.

Yng is counted as one of the mightiest of the Lords of Heaven. Despite his contemplative nature, he is said to be terrible to behold when roused to anger, when he fights he is said to shine like the sun itself. Yng is fearsome when hunting and his wrath in battle is dreadful. He rides a giant eagle with red feathers and talons of gold whose wings are so powerful they cause great gales when it flies. Yng is closely associated with the composite longbow and in legend he is considered the greatest archer of the gods, but the stories also recount him battling his foes with a mighty longsword. He owns a many-colored bow that is said to never miss when he fires it, a yellow, shining blade that glows like the sun, and a helm decorated with two brilliant yellow gems. Legend holds that rainbows that appear in the sky are reflections of Yng's great bow, drawn over the earth as the celestial lord hunts his enemies. During the War in Heaven, Yng confronted Gangyn, the great shadow spirit, as well as Abonde, the mistress of night, and drove them back into Hell with his radiant light. Yng holds a special hatred for Tuni, and his priests are called upon to oppose the Demon Lord of Death at all times.

He is also said to own a cloak that can make any who wear it become invisible at will. Yng holds dominion over the sun, and is said to guide it through the sky in a great chariot pulled by a great convocation of eagles. He rules over all of the creatures of the air, and any who travel in the skies fall under his authority. His worshipers can be found everywhere, but those who rely upon the wind and the sun for their livelihoods, such as sailors and farmers, are most likely to seek his favor.

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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Wünd

Wünd (Wreylund)

Lord of the Forge; The Dwarf Lord; The Divine Crafter; Celestial Lord of Smiths, Craftsmen, and Dwarves

Alignment: Lawful Neutral.
Domains: Craft, (Dwarf), The Forge, Inspiration, Metal, Stone, Stonehearth.
Summon Monster: Wünd's clerics and favored souls can summon tempered and terran creatures using summon monster spells. Dwarven clerics and favored souls devoted to Wünd can also summon hammerstruck creatures.
Symbol: A smith's hammer or other crafting tool.
Favored Weapon: "The smith's hand" (warhammer).

Wünd is the master of all crafts and delights in works of skill, however small or great they may be. It is said that he placed all of the gems in the earth when he crafted the substance that makes up the stones and rock, and the gold, silver and other metals that may be found under the land are where they are by his hand. Some believe that the courses of the veins and types of minerals that may be followed by miners may, if properly interpreted, provide his followers with advice and guidance. Wünd is said to have manufactured all of the weapons and armor of the gods that were used in the War in Heaven, and myths hold that those armaments he makes can never be broken and never miss when used in battle. Wünd is also credited with crafting Heim’s silver hands and eyes, Tiwas’ golden arm and great oath ring, and the cage used to imprison the demon hound Garm, as well as many other wondrous and powerful items. In the War in Heaven, only Wünd could stand before the heat and fury of the fire demon Surtan, having become inured to the flames by his long labors over his intensely hot furnaces. Protected by his iron mask and flame hardened war shield, Wünd used his great war hammer and felled the fire demon, who was cast out of heaven. Because of this, Surtan hates and despises Wünd and his followers seek to destroy Wünd’s adherents whenever they find them.

Wünd always is depicted as a mighty and stoutly built blacksmith clad in a leather apron. Among dwarves, Wünd is always shown as a massively muscled dwarven smith, a representation that is not uncommon among other races. This deity is very popular among dwarves, who hold that the most skilled and worthy dwarven smiths are taken to his great workshops to become his assistants, but craftsmen and miners of all races revere him. His consort is Hlín, the kindler of the sacred flame, and in legend it is her who lights the fires of his holy forges. Wünd is also shown working closely with Hœnir, and some story-cycles even claim that it was the Dwarf Lord who created the Machine Who Makes, although this is a decidedly minority view. As would be expected for the lord of smiths, Wünd’s followers favor the warhammer, which is his chosen weapon.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Woda

Woda (Oman)

The All-Father; The Blind Lord; The Runecaster; Celestial Lord of Magic and Knowledge

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: (Alvar), Knowledge, Magic, MemoryMentor, Rune, Wisdom.
Summon Monster: Woda's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic, axiomatic, and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A length of cloth tied into a loop, as a blindfold.
Favored Weapon: Staff.

This celestial is the leader of the Lords of Heaven and he is regarded as the patron of sages, sorcerers, and diviners of hidden mysteries. In legend, Woda carries the Runestaff, a mystical weapon upon which is carved runes setting forth the sum total of the knowledge of the heavens, as well as the secrets of the foundations of magic. In his search for knowledge, Woda traded his worldly sight to learn the innermost secrets of the mind of the Grym and the events that took place before the celestial lords were created, learning things that are said to torment him at all times. Many stories about Woda involve his dealings with mortals, but he almost always walks in disguise, usually appearing as a tall, gaunt old man with a cloth bound over his eyes, with gray hair and a beard, and wearing a rough cloak and a hood or broad-brimmed hat.

Woda has a pair of wolves who guard his throne, and a pair of ravens who bring him news of everything that happens throughout the world every day. Woda owns the Cauldron of Abundance, in which everyone who draws from it finds food according to their merit and none are left hungry. He is the spouse of Eiur, and the acknowledged father of Forseti, Füllar, Heim, Rúadan, Syfa, Tiwas, and Vali. In the War in Heaven, Woda’s magical might was tested against Ishi, and the two locked in a mystical struggle, matching enchantment against enchantment. In the end, the All-Father's magic proved to be stronger, and Ishi was forced out of the gates of Heaven, and fell with his compatriots to be imprisoned in Hell.

It is said that when he sits upon his throne, he can see throughout the past, with only the darkened pits of Hell being beyond his backward seeing vision and he can hear anything that is said in the world, so long as the winds can carry it. As the master of magic, this celestial lord is very popular among the alvar, who claim that he holds them in special favor. All clerics of Woda may treat Speak Language as a class skill for free and are required to learn to speak Quolin no matter their race. Clerics devoted to Woda usually favor the staff as a weapon. Clerics devoted to Woda may treat the wizard class as an additional favored class. Many of his most powerful priests become Mystic Theurges.

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Vali

Vali (Macha)

The Raven of Battle; The Savage Huntress; The Tracker in the Wilds; Celestial Mistress of War and the Moon

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Domains: HunterLycanthropy, Moon, Repose, SurvivalWar, Wild.
Prestige Domains: Beastmaster.
Summon Monster: Vali's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic creatures using summon monster spells. Vali's clerics may also use the summon nature's ally lists when summoning creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: Nine black ravens on a white field trimmed in red.
Favored Weapon: "The raven's spike" (leaf spear or belly spear).
Related Prestige Classes: Moondancer of Vali, Ranger.

Over his head is shrieking
A lean hag, gently hopping
Over the points of the weapons and the shields;
She is the raven-haired Vali.

     - from the Tain Liath Vali.

Vali is the fierce and violent mistress of war, battle, destruction, and death. She represents the naked violence of warfare, the vicious predatory instinct, and raw animal savagery, and is the embodiment of the raw, destructive power of unrestrained warfare, as well as the moon and shape changers. Vali is said to be the sister of Syfa and half-sister to Füllar, although some of the myths hold that her kinship with Eiur may be tenuous at best. She is said to be as beautiful as she is dangerous, although the stories have little else to say about her appearance other than to say she is a slender pale woman with black hair and blue traced body paint who can be beautiful or terrible depending upon her mood. Myths tell of her fearsome presence, the fury and panic of battle surrounding her as a mantle of fear, driving the faint of heart to flee her presence.

As the mistress of battle, Vali is also closely associated with death, and it is her and her entourage of daughters who serve as her battle-maidens that select those warriors who have proved themselves in arms sufficiently enough to be added to the armies of Heaven. Many warriors pray to her that they be worthy of being so chosen should they die in battle. When she fights, she and her daughters carry vicious barbed spears in battle, Vali names hers Tocyn Coch, and the favored weapons of her devotees are the leaf spear and the belly spear. Although Vali has no consort, she has nine daughters who follow her onto the battlefield. Each daughter is associated with a particular aspect of Vali. They are: Agrona, mistress of slaughter; Ancasta, mistress of fear; Caireen, mistress of strife; Cauþ Bodva, mistress of fury; Cabh Deað, mistress of bloodshed; Ernmas, mistress of killing; Fæ, mistress of hate; Nemain, mistress of venom; and Uaþach, mistress of anger.

Vali gives little heed to the past or the future, and is of little use as counselor or advisor. When she appears in legend she typically takes the role of an active participant giving aid on behalf of a hero or cause. The faithful pray to Vali for success in the hunt and in war. Those who devote themselves to her adorn themselves with silver jewelry, usually in the shape of the moon or weapons of battle. Vali is said to take powerful mortal warriors as lovers from time to time, and when she communicates with her devoted followers, she often speaks by taking the form of one of these heroes who has died in battle, although she sometimes appears as a raven. Divine casters devoted to Vali refuse to use her gifts to heal wounds not inflicted in battle, considering only injuries inflicted in combat to be worthy of her blessings. In addition, wounds healed by her power always leave a visible scar: A display of the bravery and honor of the bearer. Stories tell of a magical golden boar owned by Vali that can be hunted and eaten every night, but is healed anew before the next moonrise. Because of this, Vali is associated with the boar, and her worshipers frequently honor her by conducting ritual boar hunts.

Vali is also the mistress of the moon, complementing Brid’s mastery over the stars and Yng's suzerainty over the sun. She is closely associated with the powers of shape changing, as many of the most famous and noteworthy warriors in myth and legend have been powerful shape shifters. Vali is said to be tireless and fast enough to run down any four-legged creature, and can take the form of any beast or bird. Her priests teach that she and her daughters fly as a flock of ten shrieking ravens or carrion crows, calling up a host of slain warriors over any field where a battle is fought. For this reason, a raven is seen as an omen of impending combat and death. She is closely associated with the powers of shape changing, as many of the most famous and noteworthy warriors in myth and legend have been powerful shape shifters. While she favors shape changers devoted to her, lycanthropy obtained and exercised without her blessing is regarded as a blasphemy against Vali’s power. It is her power that reveals lycanthropes in their true form under the full moon, either to reveal their blasphemy against her, or to demonstrate their devotion to her power. Vali is, understandably, quite popular among khülen communities, and among the khülen she is widely regarded as the creator and patron of the race.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Tiwas

Tiwas (Toutatis)

The Binder of Oaths; The Golden Arm of Justice; Celestial Lord of Law and Judges

Alignment: Lawful Neutral.
Domains: Balance, (Crusade), Judgment, Justice, Law, Nobility, Sword.
Summon Monster: Tiwas' clerics ad favored souls can summon axiomatic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A balanced golden scale with a silver longsword as the fulcrum.
Favored Weapon: "Righteous justice" (longsword).
Related Prestige Classes: Paladin.

Tiwas is the lord of law and judgment, and every properly conducted trial takes place under his protection. In the War in Heaven, Tiwas combined with Forseti to turn back Belial and his demon host. Tiwas lost his right hand when the Lords of Heaven sought to imprison the demon hound Garm. The demonic beast refused to allow itself to be imprisoned unless one of the Lords of Heaven agreed to place it in the beast’s mouth as a hostage. Tiwas took up the task, and did not shirk even when Garm ripped off Tiwas' arm. As they had done for Heim, Wünd and Hœnir worked together and crafted Tiwas a new arm, but this limb was not made from silver, but is instead gold. In legend, Tiwas lives in a great fortress named Himinbjorg from which he presides over the court of the Heavens. He is said to wear a silver arm ring that is supposed to be enchanted such that any oath sworn upon it may never be broken, even by one of the Celestial or Demonic Lords. His temples hold similar rings upon which oaths are sworn, mounted as the central altar of shrines devoted to him, although they are not usually enchanted.

Tiwas emphasizes strategy and tactics in combat, and many of his followers have earned renown as skilled and brilliant war leaders. As is to be expected of one devoted to the law, he expects his followers to be valorous, organized and orderly in wartime, and demands that they remain true to all promises and oaths they have given. He is a popular celestial among the Warknights of the Council, supporting both their steadfast courage and inspirational leadership of troops in battle. Judges look to Tiwas for guidance when making their decisions, and no court in the Freeholds is conducted without calling upon his blessing. Tiwas is the third of the brother gods descended from Eiur. Although his church is more prominent than that of Forseti or Heim, his priesthood is also subordinate to Eiur’s.

Clerics of Tiwas frequently favor the longsword as a weapon of war. Clerics and paladins of Tiwas may treat the skills Knowledge: Law and Sense Motive as class skills for free but may never tell a lie or hedge the truth. Paladins who follow Tiwas are usually members of the religious order known as the Order of the Scales.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Þunor

Þunor (Taranis)

The Thunderer; The Fury of the Storm; Celestial Lord of Thunder, Storms, and Strength

Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Domains: Air, Feast, Lightning, Storm, Strength, Thunder, Wrath.
Summon Monster: Þunor's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic and auran creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: An eagle bearing a lightning bolt in its talons.
Favored Weapon: "Wind splitter" (greataxe).
Related Prestige Classes: Mighty Contender of Þunor

Þunor is said to live in a land atop a great thunderhead named Þruþheim where he maintains a mighty hall named Bilskinir. Þunor represents the wild rage of a seething thunderstorm, and his followers are expected to emulate this characteristic. In all stories in which he appears, he is depicted as incredibly strong, totally fearless, straightforward, bluff, hearty, and violent. His eyes are a deep blue, like the sky, and when he is angered, they flash lightning. Though he is the thunderous frenzy of the storm, he can be calmed by his spouse Syfa, and in stormy weather many in the Three Worlds pray to her to intercede and stay his wild rage.

Þunor has little care for the past or the future, and is of little aid as a counselor or adviser, but is a hardy albeit inconsistent ally in time of trouble. He normally appears as a huge, muscular warrior with wild red hair, a bristling red beard, ruddy flesh and an enchanted greataxe that can split the wind with a thunderclap, a weapon many of his devoted followers carry in his honor. In the War in Heaven, Þunor was at the forefront of battle, confronting Halpas and Bål, his wild rage driving them both back into Hell.

Þunor is associated with the eagle, and he wears a helm decorated with two wings made from eagle feathers. Among men, Þunor is often referred to as the Wind Lord or the Storm Lord, and his wrath is said to be the mighty thunderstorm that can rock the earth and break even the highest mountains. To many uncivilized warriors he is the ideal, possessing strength, courage and resoluteness in abundance, delighting in wrestling and contests of strength. Many barbarians hold Þunor as their patron and clerics devoted to Þunor may treat the barbarian class as an additional favored class.

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Syfa

Syfa (Andate)

The Lady of Swiftness; The Autumn Queen; Celestial Mistress of Nature, Forests, and Beasts

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Animal, Celerity, Nature, Plant, SwiftnessWeather, Wood.
Summon Monster: Syfa's clerics and favored souls can summon celestial and fioð creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A stag skull.
Favored Weapon: "Autumn's sting" (javelin or throwing spear).
Related Prestige Classes: Fleet Runner of Syfa, Ranger

Syfa is the fleet footed mistress of the hunt and guardian of the wild places of the world. The legends hold that she is sister to the four brothers Forseti, Heim, Rúadan, and Tiwas, and half-sister to Füllar. She is also possibly the half-sister of Vali but the exact nature of their kinship is unclear in the myths. She appears to mortals as an athletic woman with blond hair, although myths variously describe her as human, fæy, or half-fæy. She is always depicted wearing green and brown clothes, and carrying a sheaf of javelins to cast at those who would despoil the beautiful places of the wild. Syfa is said to be faster afoot than any beast or creature that runs on feet, and the myths hold that her endurance is such that she can run down any quarry. Syfa is a wild untamable spirit who delights in sport and running, but is regarded as a faithful consort to Þunor, unlike her promiscuous half-sister Vali.

Syfa is said to live on a diet of deer milk and wild berries and refuses to consume any meat. Syfa the mistress of plants and growing things, and has a great love for the forests and trees of the world as well as the beasts of the wild. In the War in Heaven, In legend, Syfa mastered the demon hound Garm, but could not slay the animal because it was protected by a death gesa that said it could not be destroyed without causing the end of the world. Instead, she confined the hound until Wünd could forge a cage strong enough to imprison the beast, and even then the Lords of Heaven had to place an entire mountain on top of Garm's prison to keep it from escaping.

Syfa is regarded as the mistress of all wild places, and is a popular celestial among shifters and rangers. Syfa is closely associated with the stag, and hunters must take care not to arouse her wrath by inflicting cruelty upon their prey and must sacrifice a portion of their kills to her in order to appease her. Syfa also has dominion over the weather, but is seen as the benevolent mistress of life-giving spring rains and warm summer breezes, making her a counterpoint to the storms and fury of her spouse Þunor. Farmers often look to her blessing for their crops, hoping for gentle summer rains to water their fields and provide for a bountiful autumn harvest. Clerics and druids devoted to Syfa may treat the scout class as an additional favored class and may become members of the fleet runner of Syfa prestige class. Druids devoted to Syfa may use the javelin without penalty.

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Hler

Hler (Llyr)

Lord of the Waves; The Unrelenting Lord; Celestial Lord of the Seas and Waters

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Domains: Fish, Ocean, River, (Seafolk), UnderseaWater, Windstorm.
Summon Monster: Hler's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic and aquan creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A necklace made from barracuda, shark, or whale teeth.
Favored Weapon: "Sea fang" (halfspear or shortspear).

The supreme ruler of the great oceans, Hler is said to make his home in an undersea fortress lit with luminous gold that legend holds may be traveled to by hidden passages under the isle of Hlesey where the spirits of the drowned are brought after death by his water-maidens. When he appears to men, he is said to take the form of a terrible mounting wave striding over the waters with a dark foam crested helm and clad in shimmering mail that fades from bright silver into deep shadows of green.

In the War for Heaven, Hler fought the giant ice demon Iku-Tyrma, whose perversions are a great affront to Hler’s power and dominion, and cast him down into Hell. Now both are said to hold a great enmity towards the other. Hler also holds a bitter hatred for the fire demon Surtan. Although he is wild and chaotic as the sea itself, Hler is said to hold a great affection for men and other mortals, and in many legends he dares the boundaries between the heavenly realms and the mundane worlds to assist heroes and kings against horrible enemies. He is a jovial lord, laughing even in the face of the mighty battles of the War in Heaven, but is also a powerful and implacable foe to his enemies.

Hler’s followers are forbidden from having any friendly contact with the servants of Surtan or Iku-Tyrma, the Demon Lords of the fire and frost giants. Priests who venerate Hler may treat Swim as a cleric class skill for free and many are skilled sailors.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Heim

Heim (Nuada)

The Defending Lord; Guardian of the Gates; Celestial Lord of the Silver Hands and Eyes; The Stalwart Counselor; Celestial Lord of Guardians

Alignment: Lawful Good.
Domains: Celestial, (Crusade), Guardian, Heraldry, Protection, Purification, Valor.
Summon Monster: Heim's clerics and favored souls can summon axiomatic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A green shield with two silver eyes.
Favored Weapon: "The defender of the weak" (spiked shield).
Related Prestige Classes: Paladin.

Heim appears as a massive man, or sometimes a massive dwarf, with silver hands and eyes carrying a green shield. Legend holds that before the War in Heaven, Heim was given the post of sentry to watch for the invasion of the Infernal host. While at his post, he was ensnared by Ishi’s enchantments and fell asleep, allowing the dark forces to sweep forward and overrun the Gods and their followers. Before charging forward, Darmas stopped where Heim slept and severed both his hands. Not content with this mutilation, Ninkurra stopped and gouged out his eyes.

Despite his wounds, Heim was shamed by the failure of his watch and in atonement he swore an oath of eternal vigil bound by Tiwas’ great Oath Ring. Wünd and Hœnir forged him new hands and eyes of silver, so now Heim never needs to sleep or rest while he guards the ramparts of Heaven. With his all-seeing silver eyes and the hard lessons of adversity, Heim has gleaned great wisdom, and his counsel is regarded as among the most valuable in the Heavens. It has been foretold that he will kill Ninkurra and be killed by her in the final battle in the next War in Heaven. He carries the Güllhorn, the warning horn of heaven, to signal the start of the next invasion. Heim is one of Eiur’s sons, and like his brothers, his priesthood is subordinate to Eiur’s faith.

Heim's church is one of the subordinate faiths to Eiur, and many of her temples are guarded by vigilant paladin's devoted to him. Heim's priesthood has no single classed clerics among its ranks, all of his chosen are paladins or cleric/paladins. His paladins are typically members of a religious order named the Order of the Shield. Heim’s priesthood also has no female members and an unrelenting hostility to goblin kind, perhaps a sign of his hostility to the female Demon Lord Ninkurra. The Church of Heim counts many dwarves and halflings among its members, perhaps because of Heim's emphasis on defense and enmity towards goblins.

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Füllar

Füllar (Llugus)

The Oracle of the Heavens; Celestial Lord of Fate, Gnomes, Prophecy, and the Wheel

Alignment: Neutral.
Domains: Destiny, DivinationDream, Fate, (Gnome), Oracle, Prophecy.
Summon Monster: Füllar's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic, axiomatic, celestial, and fiendish creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A wheel
Favored Weapon: "A cast of the hand" (sling).

Legends say that Füllar is Woda’s son, but his birth was the result of Kivutar’s trickery. The demoness beguiled Woda with powerful illusions and enchantments and he fathered Füllar with her. After his birth, the brother knights Forseti, Heim, Rúadan and Tiwas and his half-sisters Syfa and Vali stole him from his mother to bring him to Heaven. As a child of the union between Woda and Kivutar, Füllar is half-brother to Forseti, Heim, Rúadan, Syfa, and Tiwas. He is also the half-brother of Vali as well, even though the details of her parentage are somewhat murky in the myths. Not fully celestial, but not quite demonic either, Füllar’s position is unique in the universe.

Füllar is usually depicted as a bald young man covered in golden runes with one shining star and one smoking ember for eyes. He is regarded as the Celestial Lord responsible for the placement of the stars in the sky, and his hand is said to be the agent that guides their motions. He is held in high regard by gnomes, who see his fellow markings as a prediction of their own race's creation. The fact that gnomes did not exist when Füllar was born is seen as being of no consequence - he is, after all, the lord of prophecy, so his devotees say that his own existence being a portent of the coming existence of gnomes is fitting. Some of Füllar's most fervent gnomish followers state that just as their patron is unique in the universe, and is the wheel about whom the world revolves, so are the gnomes. These zealots point to the gnomish prevalence in Enselm as further confirmation of this belief, and have established many sites of worship in the city.

Füllar is, in a sense, responsible for the War in Heaven, or at least his existence is. After his half-brothers and half-sisters stole him from Kivutar, she harangued the other Demon Lords into kidnapping Rúadan in retaliation, setting off the cycle of offense and retaliation that culminated with the great battle between the Divine and the Infernal.At the critical juncture of the conflict, Füllar definitively sided with the Celestial Lords, using his prophetic powers to reveal the means by which the various Lords of Hell could be defeated, cast down, and imprisoned. Most of the knowledge about the future second conflict between the forces of Heaven and the forces of Hell is derived from Füllar's prophetic visions, although the picture is maddeningly incomplete. Whether this is because Füllar is unable to see those parts of the future or because he is simply not willing to reveal what he knows is a mystery, as Füllar is something of an enigmatic figure in all of the myths that he is featured in. Some have speculated that Füllar hasn't revealed everything he knows because for unknown reasons he will side with the Infernal Lords in the future conflict, but no one knows if this is true or not.

Like his father, Füllar is closely associated with magic and learning, which is reflected in the predilections of his most prominent followers, who are often scholars, seers, or wizards. While Woda’s focus is on the mysteries and secrets of ancient lore and the past, Füllar is forward looking focusing his attention to the future and things to come, as he is the only being who can truly comprehend the full measure of the future. He is the patron of prophecy and divination, and it is believed that portents, visions and signs are granted through his power. Many temples devoted to him are famous as oracular sites that house individuals said to have been granted the power to see the future by this Celestial Lord. Those devoted to Füllar claim that he provides predictions in the movement of the stars that can be read and interpreted by those who study and understand the meaning of such celestial motion.

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Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Forseti

Forseti (Neit)

The Questing Lord; The Fist of Heaven; Celestial Lord of Justice and Victory

Alignment: Lawful Good.
Domains: Celestia, Courage, (Crusade), Crusader, Exorcism, Leadership, Victory
Summon Monster: Forseti's clerics and favored souls can summon axiomatic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: An upraised fist wearing a silver gauntlet on a blue field.
Favored Weapon: "The fist of victory" (spiked gauntlet).
Related Prestige Classes: Paladin.

Forseti is the son of Woda and Eiur, and one of the four brother gods affiliated with the Church of Eiur. When he and his three brothers and their two sisters set out to recover the infant Füllar from the clutches of Kivutar, it was Forseti who led the expedition. During the War in Heaven, Forseti personally battled several of the powerful demon lords from among the infernal forces, and cast many of them down into the pits of Hell. Because of this, Belial, Gangyn, Kalma, and Sirchade hold a special animosity towards Forseti.

While Heim is the divine guardian, and Tiwas is the divine judge and oath keeper, Forseti is the agent of divine justice and retribution. Legends in which he features almost always portray the celestial on a quest to hunt down and either slay his quarry, or bring a terrible foe back for judgment. When Forseti is not tracking down and destroying fiends, he is said to live in a great hall named Glintir that glows with a holy light and is supposedly filled with the ranks of his devoted followers whose souls he has assembled to battle at his side in the next war against demon kind.

Paladins who follow Forseti are usually members of a religious order known as the Order of the Gauntlet, a crusading order that is devoted to hunting down and destroying or exorcising fiends, demons, and evil villains. His priesthood is militant, comprised of hunters who track down demons and those who seek to evade justice. His church is one of the subordinate faiths to Eiur along with his two surviving brothers. His followers are primarily men, and his priesthood is composed primarily of clerics and paladins, although his clerics and paladins sometimes become scouts as well so as to better be able to track down their chosen quarry.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Eiur

Eiur (Danu)

The Mother in Mourning; The Light in Darkness; Celestial Mistress of Family, Light, Motherhood, and Fertility

Alignment: Neutral Good.
Domains: Community, Family, Fertility, GoodHealing, Light, Nourishment.
Summon Monster: Eiur's clerics and favored souls can summon celestial and fioð creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A shock of wheat.
Favored Weapon: Sickle.
Related Prestige Classes: Paladin, Radiant Pelerine.

In legend, Eiur is mother to Forseti, Heim, Syfa, Rúadan, and Tiwas. Eiur is regarded as the greatest of all healers, and after the War for Heaven, Eiur treated many of the great wounds that were inflicted upon the host of the gods. The tales of the Celestial Lords hold that without her care, many of heaven’s warriors were so badly wounded in the conflict that they would have been unable to resist the renewed efforts of those they had cast out. She also is regarded as the mistress of mourners, as she is said to have originated the keening mourning wail when she mourned for her fourth son Rúadan after he was killed in the War for Heaven. In legend, she gives comfort to those who have lost loved ones, despite her own perpetual sorrow. Eiur is closely associated with harvesting mistletoe, which is considered to be her holy plant.

Eiur is one of the most popular celestials among the Lords of Heaven, and her churches are common throughout the lands. She is the patron of mothers, family, and fertility, and also presides over the harvest. Eiur is sometimes described as the Lady of Light, as she brings hope when hope is lost, and aid to those who are unable to care for themselves. Her temples are always built in conjunction with those of her three sons, the brother gods Forseti, Heim, and Tiwas. Only women may become clerics of Eiur. Some of her most devoted priestesses are the Pelerine Order, who take vows against causing any harm, instead dedicating their lives to healing the sick and wounded and providing safety and comfort for the weak.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Caire

Caire (Nari)

The Bard of Heaven; The Opener of Ways; Celestial Lord of Poetry, Song, and Travel

Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Domains: Doorways, Fæy Roads, Liberation, Portal, Renewal, Sound, Travel
Summon Monster: Caire's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A golden harp.
Favored Weapon: "The traveler's friend" (scrub knife).

Legends say that Caire was born mute, a condition that not even the powers of the Lords of Heaven could remedy. Stories say that he traveled the world searching for a cure for his muteness, finding and following all of the secret trails and passages that exist in the universe. In his journeys, Caire studied until he was the most skilled musician ever, capable of playing any instrument with unsurpassed skill, but his favorite was always the harp. During the War in Heaven, Caire traveled by secret ways known only to him and rescued Aíne from her confinement, disguising himself and then charming many of her guards into an enchanted sleep with his music.

After the War in Heaven, Caire was given a mourning poem written by Euir spelling out her most desperate longing for her dead son Rúadan, which Caire set to music. When the time came to perform the piece, Caire was so overcome with its beauty that he broke into song and was cured of his muteness. After he gained the power of speech, Woda inscribed magical runes on his tongue and made him the Bard of Heaven.

Caire is a champion of the underdog and the voice of the voiceless, favoring the use of guile, wit and skill to overcome obstacles. Caire is associated with the gecko, an animal that uses trickery to confound its enemies. Caire is held in high regard by halflings, who regard him, along with Aíne, as a patron of their race. Bards, travelers, and rogues frequently worship Caire, drawn to his love of confounding his enemies and rejection of the strictures of authority.

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Campaign Design - The Lords of Heaven: Brid

Brid (Fræya)

The Lady of Stars; Dancer in the Twilight; Celestial Mistress of Love, Beauty, and Dance

Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Domains: Beauty, Dance, Fæy, HeavenJoy, Love, Pleasure.
Summon Monster: Brid's clerics and favored souls can summon anarchic and celestial creatures using summon monster spells.
Symbol: A nighthawk crowned with stars.
Favored Weapon: "Stars in twilight" (shuriken).

Brid is Yng's consort, the twilight star that follows the glorious light of the sun. She is always depicted as a tall, beautiful woman with silver hair and stars on her brow that glow with an unearthly light. Brid is always accompanied by a dancing troupe of fæy - most commonly nymphs, dryads, and sylphs, but any kind of fæy can be found among her ensemble.

Brid is the patron of passionate love, romance, and lovers. As such, she is impetuous, often rash, and sometimes shortsighted, causing the steady Yng no end of headache as he is called upon to extricate her from whatever predicament she has most recently gotten herself into. Stories in which Brid rushes headlong into assisting some young lovers and finds herself in need of her husband's assistance to fix the impending disaster she has caused are common in the folktales of the Three Worlds. She is also the patron of dance, and in legend she and her troupe of fæy handmaidens are often seen by heroes from afar as she twirls and leaps in the rising of eventide to joyously welcome the stars. Such travelers must be wary or find themselves drawn into the celebration and find themselves caught by Brid's beauty and charm cavorting away the years of their life in her band of performers. In some tales, she has been known to give advice to those she comes across in this manner if she thinks their cause worthy (and for Brid, endeavors involving romantic love are those that she is most likely to find worthy), but one consistent theme is that even though such counsel is always well-intended, the recipients of such advice often find it to be of somewhat dubious usefulness.

In the War in Heaven, Brid fought little, but did confront the demon mistress Kivutar, whose perversion of the act of love had precipitated the conflict. Filled with righteous indignation, Brid rained stars and færie magic upon the Demon Mistress of Lust, setting the vile being aflame with holy fire and driving her from the field of battle back into the infernal realms.

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Campaign Design - Religion in the Three Worlds: The Lords of Heaven

The divinities venerated by the inhabitants of the Three Worlds are roughly divided into two camps: the Lords of Heaven, also called the Celestial Lords, (listed here), and the Lords of Hell also called the Demon Lords. The Lords of Heaven are available as divine patrons for the players in the campaign to choose (while the Lords of Hell, for the most part, are not). Clerics, favored souls, and paladins must choose a specific divine patron, while other characters are not required to. Although most druids honor the y'Grym, a substantial number honor one of the Lords of Heaven, specifically Eiur, Syfa, or Vali. In the campaign, most people don't regard as particular Celestial Lord as especially more important than the others, calling upon their favor when they need some sort of benefice that is within that particular Celestial's sphere of interest.

Each Celestial Lord is listed with two names, one in Rhadynnic and one in Sorglish, as they are known by different names among speakers of those two languages. The detailed descriptions of each individual Celestial, which can be reached by clicking on their names, includes game information for clerics and paladins devoted to their service. The nineteen Celestial Lords and Mistresses and their respective spheres of influence are:

Aíne (Rhiannon), The Herald of Heaven; Celestial Mistress of Diplomacy, Commerce, and Halflings
Brid (Freya), The Lady of Stars; Dancer in the Twilight; Celestial Mistress of Love, Beauty, and Dance
Caire (Nari), The Bard of Heaven; The Opener of Ways; Celestial Lord of Poetry, Song, and Travel
Eiur (Danu), The Mother in Mourning; The Light in Darkness; Celestial Mistress of Family, Light, Motherhood, and Fertility
Forseti (Neit), The Questing Lord; The Fist of Heaven; Celestial Lord of Justice and Victory
Füllar (Llugus), The Oracle of the Heavens; Celestial Lord of Fate, Gnomes, Prophecy, and the Wheel
Heim (Nuada), The Defending Lord; Guardian of the Gates; Celestial Lord of the Silver Hands and Eyes; The Stalwart Counselor; Celestial Lord of Guardians
Hler (Llyr), Lord of the Waves; The Unrelenting Lord; Celestial Lord of the Seas and Waters
Hlín (Damara), Keeper of the Sacred Flame; The Defender of Refuges; Celestial Mistress of Hope, Home, and the Hearth
Hœnir (Viswa-Nîn), The Machine Who Makes; The Iron Lord; Celestial Lord of Constructs, Engineers, and Ironborn
Lódur (Fionn), The Many-Faced Lord; The Spy of Heaven; Celestial Lord of Changelings, Shapechangers, Luck, and Gamblers
Rúadan (Donn), The Dead Lord; The Scourge of the Risen Dead; The Watcher of Graves; Celestial Lord of the Peaceful Dead
Syfa (Andate), The Lady of Swiftness; The Autumn Queen; Celestial Mistress of Nature, Forests, and Beasts
Þunor (Taranis), The Thunderer; The Fury of the Storm; Celestial Lord of Thunder, Storms, and Strength
Tiwas (Toutatis), The Binder of Oaths; The Golden Arm of Justice; Celestial Lord of Law and Judges
Vali (Macha), The Raven of Battle; The Savage Huntress; The Tracker in the Wilds; Celestial Mistress of War and the Moon
Woda (Oman), The All-Father; The Blind Lord; The Runecaster; Celestial Lord of Magic and Knowledge
Wünd (Wreylund), Lord of the Forge; The Dwarf Lord; The Divine Crafter; Celestial Lord of Smiths, Craftsmen, and Dwarves
Yng (Freyr), The Lord of the Golden Disc; The Lord of Many Colors; The Summer Lord The Great Master of Winds; Celestial Lord of Sunshine, the Sky, Archery, and Creatures in Flight

While no Celestial is generally regarded "more important" than another, some are more popular than others. The most popular is Eiur, because of her emphasis on healing, motherhood, family, and growing things, making her well-loved among most people who desire a happy, healthy life. Her faith is affiliated with those of her three living sons Forseti, Heim, and Tiwas, and most of her temples also house shrines to their worship. Their emphasis on protection, justice, and the law makes them popular Celestials as well, and the temples of the mother and her three sons are common throughout the Three Worlds. Woda, despite being Eiur's spouse and ostensibly being the ruler of the Lords of Heaven, is far less popular, because his particular sphere of influence - history, learning, and arcane knowledge - is of far less concern to most people. On the other hand, Woda is quite popular among wizards and sages, and centers of learning are often dedicated as holy places devoted to him. Aíne is also quite popular, because of her dominion over trade and commerce, and most market squares include a small shrine consecrated to her. Þunor is more popular among warriors than the mercurial and unpredictable Vali, but most people look to Þunor's spouse Syfa to calm his rages. Celestials devoted to a particular demi-human race are understandably popular among the members of those races. And so on.

The central event of the mythology of the Three Worlds is the War in Heaven. Originally sparked by the birth of Füllar resulting from Kivutar's deception and resulting seduction of Woda, the conflict climaxed when the Lords of Hell led the Infernal Host in an effort to storm the very Gates of Heaven and depose the Celestial Lords, with the ultimate goal of installing themselves in their place. The War in Heaven was long and brutal, with the back and forth conflict establishing many of the bitter enmities between the various Celestial and Demon Lords. Eventually, Füllar sided with the Lords of Heaven and his insight allowed the Lords of Heaven to prevail over their foes. All of the Demon Lords were cast out of Heaven and imprisoned in Hell.

The War in Heaven was arduous and expensive even with Füllar's aid, costing Tiwas his right arm, Heim his hands and eyes, and their brother Rúadan his life. After the War was concluded, Füllar prophesied that there would be a second great war between the forces of Heaven and Hell at the ending of the world, along with many predictions of what would happen in that final battle.

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