Another question about your gods- Are there any interesting relationships (current or former) between any of the good aligned gods and the evil gods? Any dramatic betrayals akin to Asmodeus and the Dawnfather?
Thankfully my pantheon isn’t quite so dramatic as Exandria’s are. That said Veliflare doesn’t mind dipping down into the Underbelly of the Heavens for a bit of fun. She’s got a lovely little love story with Zaryx that I’ve posted the bones of and I’ll get back to flesh out at some point.
She likes to play in Veydris’ temples, interfering with his mirrors. Veydris for his part puts up with her because she isn’t so disruptive as to cause long lasting problems, and he finds her amusing.
Therivor and Nyxalor have a grudging respect for each other, and on occasion are willing to work together (usually only because Eryndor is involved, and neither wants to be left out if there’s something to be discovered).
The rest of the Good aligned Gods are either too self involved or dismissive of their Evil brethren to take much notice.
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As of now I don’t think there are any big betrayals, nothing akin to the Schism anyway.
Nyxalor sees Kasmyr shaking off his chains and ascending as a betrayal. But that’s a skill issue on Nyx’s part, and not one he learns from (he ends up kidnapping one of Kasmyr’s kids and chaining him up, and losing him for the same reason he lost Kasmyr).
Veliflare and Caltheris’ feud is maybe the closest to Schism level God drama, but only because Veli dragged everyone else into it. And It’s Caltheris’ refusal to admit he was wrong that keeps it going, if he would just admit he made a mistake she would forgive him. (But he is a god of Fate and Prophecy and refuses to believe he could have erred).
@tybarbary I'm gonna use just the purely/mainly knowledge based deities for this since a lot of them dip into Knowledge on some level but it isn't their main thing.
Eryndor, The Silent Edifice (TN) The Keeper of Truth and Arcane Knowledge
~All Knowledge must be preserved, even if it never spoken aloud.~
Eryndor is not a god of learning but rather his role is in the recording and safeguarding of knowledge. His worship revolves around the preservation rather than revelation, his priests are scribes, and archivists.
He does not place moral value on knowledge, nor does he dictate that it must be shared, the recording and safekeeping is sacred in and of itself. The truth no matter how terrible is a better teacher than a stripped down sanitized retelling.
*Priests and scholars spend their lives recording history, magic, and hidden truths.
*Initiates must undergo a ritual of silence, where they observe knowledge before being allowed to contribute to it.
*His great library-temples allow study but often require seekers to earn access through trials of intellect.
Therivor, The Gilded Key (NG) - Unlocker of Hidden Truths and Seeker of Knowledge
~No truth should remain locked away from those who seek it~
Therivor believes that knowledge must be uncovered, that there is as much to be gained in the process as in the answer. Some knowledge is dangerous or uncomfortable, but it is what is done with it that matters.
His followers are truth seekers and puzzle solvers, always looking to unravel mysteries and reveal hidden secrets. Though not strictly a god of the arcane many who dabble is such magics find themselves drawn to his halls.
He encourages the sharing of knowledge, but only to those who seek it in earnest, forcing truth upon those who refuse to listen is pointless. Further truth is not just about facts, it is about perspective. He teaches that context matters, and understanding is not the same as simply knowing.
*Followers often embark on quests to uncover lost knowledge or hidden histories.
*His temples hold hidden compartments and riddles to test the minds of visitors.
*Priests are known to challenge students with paradoxes and layered truths, ensuring they can think critically.
*Oral tradition is vital—stories and myths hold hidden meanings waiting to be uncovered.
Nyxalor, The Chameleon of Ciphers (LE), Hoarder of Secrets and Master of Forbidden Knowledge
~Knowledge is power, and power belongs to those who control it~
Nyxalor believes that knowledge should be controlled, only those worthy and capable should hold it. To know is to hold leverage.
His followers act as secret keepers, spies and manipulators, ensuring only the right people have access to certain truths. His clergy decide who should learn and who should remain in ignorance. Lies, misdirection, and omission are just as powerful as truth, sometimes hiding knowledge is the best way to wield it.
*Priests guard forbidden knowledge, choosing who is worthy to receive it.
*Secrets are sacred—confessing knowledge to the clergy ensures it is hidden forever.
*Initiates undergo trials of deception, proving they can protect knowledge as much as they can obtain it.
*Holy texts are written in shifting scripts, legible only to those initiated into his mysteries.
Vaelith, The Reader (NE), Weaver of Lies and Perceived Truths
~Truth is what you make it. What is written can be rewritten.~
Vaelith's philosophy is one of manipulation, truth and fiction are not so different, and history belongs to those who write it. To learn is to gain control of perception and to share is to shape the world's understanding. There is no objective truth but the one you make, and no lie if you are believed.
Her followers do not simply collect knowledge, they shape it. They are scribes and storytellers spinning narratives to serve their own ends. Truth is not objective it is a weapon and a mask, a tool made to serve it's wielder.
*Her clergy rewrite history, ensuring events favor those who serve her.
*Every initiate must create a false narrative and convince others it is real before they are fully accepted.
*Temples act as grand libraries filled with conflicting versions of stories, forcing seekers to question what is real.
*Oaths taken in her name ensure absolute loyalty—breaking them means losing one’s identity within the records.
