@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.
It has been a day and it is not even over. Writing this entry may be somewhat premature, but I must get my thoughts down.
I have acquired a new spirit named Vaelith, a half-elf drow from Numeria. My protective instincts are at full throttle and so I am treating him gently and kindly and with patience. It'll be interesting to see what kind of person he is as time goes on. I think I've already seen glimpses of his personality simply in our introductions, and I think he will fit in well with the group, if he can embrace their antics.
It is the day after the ball; which had been a wonderful event, beyond expectations. I had expected to be ostracized and shunned or gossiped about openly after my... departure... from the previous event. But nobody said anything. I wouldn't expect that kind of graciousness from an event involving the peers of my father's court, so it was a surprise. A pleasant one. And spending an evening not worrying about the fragile state of affairs between myself and my loves was also a welcome reprieve. I had fun with them. I think they had fun with me. (I certainly hope Maeca had fun with the evening, considering how it ended. But even in a journal I will not talk of such affairs. I am a lady!)
I will speak to them soon and tender a resignation on attempting to make things work for an open relationship. It feels like defeat. It feels like failure. It's also a relief. These feelings are hard to reconcile. I need to sit with them a while, I think. I need to try not to let them swallow me whole. No easy task. Nothing is ever easy, really.
I still feel the trembling whisper of fear in my heart that I will lose all that makes me happy. I still have a lot of things that I am struggling with. They lurk, waiting for the warm afterglow of a pleasant evening to fade. Monsters of the sea, under the waves, circling. I can see them there.
Thinking of this is tiring. I just want to cling to my happiness for a while longer.
Cypress provided a nice distraction, both in pleasant conversation and pleasant company. And, with much glee, the pitch of a beach themed room. Even thinking about it puts a spring back in my step. I can't wait to gaze over the ocean once more!
