The Dipantheon of Nesperia
The Cycle
Nesperia's heavens are ruled by two pantheons, each of nine gods. These groups of gods are the Mothers and the Fathers. Each group consists of nine gods, each representing a clerical domain in the DND5e ruleset (Arcane, Death, Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Tempest, Trickery, War).
Only one group of gods rules the heavens at a time. Every ten years, the Mothers and Fathers alternate, one group becoming dormant while the other awakens from a celestial slumber, and resumes deitihood. The world recognizes these periods of time as the "Mothers' Mercy" and the "Fathers' Reign", respectively. The periods are sometimes also referred as "Seasons".
At the end of each period, the world's citizens convene in the largest cities in the land to witness what is known as the Cycle. Towns, tribes, and peoples from all over Nesperia send runners to observe the event. Individuals venture out on their own personal pilgramages to attend. The world's people gather to celebrate the rebirth of the sleeping gods.
Alignment
The gods of Nesperia do not tend towards alignment on the Good vs Evil axis. Just like on Earth, good and bad people can worship the same god. Instead, Nesperia's gods are identified by their identity on the Law vs Chaos axis.
The Fathers are fierce gods, ruling strictly, but from afar. They smite those who defy them, insist upon offerings and sacrifices, and strike fear into their worshippers. The Fathers are lawful in alignment.
The Mothers are merciful and loving. They prefer that their worshippers honor them through festivals. They offer miracles and forgive trespasses often. The Mothers are chaotic in alignment.
The Church and Politics
The acting pantheon is represented on Nesperia by a council of nine church figureheads known as the Children. The Children keep indirect contact with the gods through angels and celestials that visit them.
Amongst themselves, they appoint one member to act as Speaker. They choose the Speaker based on the world's needs at the time. After a great plague strikes, they might elect the council member of Life, the child of Koro and Kara to be the Speaker. During wartime, the Child of Zeldar and Zelda may be elected. The Speaker makes all of the church's formal addresses to the people of Nesperia.
In Nesperia, the church has heavy political clout. The Children help draft and pass laws, and give aid and guidance to political leaders across Nesperia. It is not uncommon for most towns in a civilized region to have regional rulership appointed by the Children. These appointed leaders are called Delegates.
Naturally, when a Cycle occurs, all members of this leadership structure are retired. A new council of Children is formed by way of election amongst clerical orders, a new Speaker chosen amongst them, and new Delegates are distributed throughout the land.
Standing Army
The church has its own standing army which occupies the civilized lands of Nesperia. This army is known as The Children's Hand, or "the hand" for short.
The Father's Hand are a band of strict law lovers. They show no quarter for criminals and miscreants. They are firm but fair. These enforcers march during the Fathers' Reign.
During the Mothers' Mercy, The Mother's Hand doles out a more lax form of law enforcement. They won't turn a blind eye to truely dark deeds such as murder, but they adhere to the spirit of the law, not the letter.
The High Hand are the elite members of the Children's Hand, acting as personal guard to the Children themselves, and tasked with missions and duties of the utmost importance to the church.
The Slumbering Gods
It is not uncommon for an individual or entire cultures to prefer the Fathers over the Mothers, or vice versa. However, the worship of the gods that are not currently acting is a taboo act, shunned by most civilizations.
In Hampshire, such worship would be kept a secret. Secret cults form to continue taboo worship of inactive gods. Seeking out and breaking up these cult activities is one duty of The Children's Hand.
Entire cultures devote themselves to a particular god or set of gods. The tribal women of the Isle of Zelda honor the Mother of War regardless of the period.
The Nesperia Pantheon
| Domain | Father | Mother | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane | Kenwer | Kelwer | the all seeing eye |
| Death | Vox | Vex | a corpse on a pyre |
| Knowledge | Lukas | Lucia | an open book |
| Life | Koro | Kara | the soul |
| Light | Felorn | Felora | the rising sun |
| Nature | Rell | Ren | a growing tree |
| Tempest | Menos | Meenas | two lighting bolts |
| Trickery | Yorn | Yeln | a winding serpent |
| War | Zeldar | Zelda | two spears crossed |
Symbols
