The Dark Horizon World contains many beings which might be classified as 'goddess' or 'god'. It really depends on one's own perspective. After all, wouldn't a common ant think an Aiian baker a God?

This being said, those living in Gray Harbor have a very clear idea on their own personal perspective, and pantheon of deities.

Dark Horizon Deities

Aiia

The Aiian religion is the only societally accepted religion, both in gray harbor, and back in the homeland. Basic tenets of the faith include respect for life, birth, and creation in general.

The Aiian faith accepts only females into its priesthood, and these priestesses are often highly respected by the society at large. Duties of the priesthood to the community include blessings of new children, crops, and young livestock. Priestesses are also often asked to aid in matters of fertility and birth.

In addition to these sacraments, rituals, and services, priestesses are also often skilled in matters of healing, and have often been known to pull folk back from the brink of death (or so it is rumored).

Priestesses may not marry, though they may bear children, if the process is performed in accordance to certain strict rules.

For more about Aiia and those involved in her faith, continue on to the Aiia page.

 

Luren

Although the Aiian faith is the only accepted religion, that is not to say that other options are not available, and do not flourish in unspoken of shadows.

As Aiia is the goddess of life and creation, Luren, her brother, presides over death and reclamation. It is important to note that Luren is not a god of destruction. Indeed, the deity and its followers only hold interest in the deaths of those things created by Aiia. In this way, Luren is not a god of death, but of the act of reclaiming life energy.

According to myth, when Aiia came to this world, she brought with her the kindle, a packet of life energy from her own birthplace. With this, she has provided life fire to all the souls that ever were, and ever will be. Luren seeks to gather up that energy, and bring it back to the home of the gods.

When he comes to do this, it will effectively be armageddon for the Aiians, no matter what their faith.

In the meantime, Lurenites seek to enact Luren's will in their own lifetime. This doesn't amount to mindless slaughter, but rather careful, calculated killings. For instance, there is a holiday devoted entirely to causing a single death that might be seen by everyone, to remind those who might have forgotten that Luren is approaching.

For more about Luren and his followers, continue onward to the Luren page.

 

Ilseus

Another proscribed deity in Aiian society, Ilseus is the god of the air and sky. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he -is- the air and sky.

In Aiian myth, there was a time when Ilseus very nearly destroyed all of the Aiians, having come upon them in his domain, utterly surprised at their intrusion.

Only through intervention by the goddess Sylrien, and the resultant pact between Sylrien and Ilseus, did Aiia's children survive. This pact harmed Sylrien greatly, however, and Aiia never forgave Ilseus for his actions. Thus those of Aiian faith bear great hate for Ilseus and his own creatures.

Ilseans (Ilseus' followers) are somewhat of an oddity. First off, they are of the Aiian race, a race Ilseus has great dislike for. Secondly, Ilseus pays very little attention (if any) to his Aiian adherents.

Ilseans are of the opinion that Ilseus is the strongest power out there, and they would rather learn just one of his secrets, than spend a life in homage to a weaker deity. Thus they spend their days in secret study of Ilseus' particular brand of power and might.

Some whisper of Ilsean priests who have lived for hundreds of years through the odd rituals they enact. Others mention mystical rituals upon mountain tops, and the calling down of lightning and storms. Whatever the truth behind the Ilseans may be, you'll certainly have a better chance of learning it if you continue on to the Ilseus page.

 

Sylrien

Just as Ilseus is the air and sky above, Sylrien is the water and sea below. She is considered a far more beneficial deity than Ilseus or Luren, and is therefore is not exactly proscribed, though there is no real 'worship' of Sylrien, nor are there priestesses or orders devoted to the lady of the sea.

Sylrien (also called 'Lady Sylrie') is a benevolent goddess, or perhaps it is more accurate to say she was one, many years ago. Sylrie helped Aiia in her work creating the Aiian people and their home, and is therefore thought very highly of by most Aiians and Aiian priestesses. However, the pact she sealed with Ilseus to save the Aiians has indeed taken its toll on her.

In the centuries after the pact, Sylrien slipped slowly away from herself, becoming a brooding and dark presence. After some time, it was said that she stopped speaking to Aiia entirely. Thus the sea has since become a much more dangerous place than it was, and sailors who would travel it have need of both bravery and strength.

Many, most especially those directly involved with the sea and sailing, at least pay some homage to Lady Sylrie, even if it is only a poem or a nod of appreciation when heading out, or returning safely with a fine catch. To find out more about the goddess Sylrien, continue on to the Sylrien page.

 

 

Others?

There are other minor deities, angels, demons, and various god-prodigy about the world. More information on those beings can be found on their corresponding deity page.

But is there more? What about this new island? If the gods did not create it, who did? Might there be other powers either high in the heavens, or walking the earth that might be god-like in nature? Will they ever be met, and what will it mean if they are indeed discovered? For those answers, look to the gameworld, as the story unfolds.