Religion

Faith. It is a driving force in the world of Ransera. Throughout the history of the world it has helped shaped the lives of mortals for better or worse. But what is Faith?

For the purposes of this article, Faith has multiple definitions. From a mundane standpoint, it is the heartfelt belief in a set of religious principles based on divine doctrine issued by a higher spiritual power or philosophical or spiritual institution. It is also the intangible currency harnessed by the various spirits, gods and even demigods in order to expand their influence through the lens of their aetheric portfolio. In other words, Faith is both an individual’s belief in a codified set of principles and it is also a form of power used by spiritual entities to reaffirm and expand their scope of influence over a particular concept. The more mortals who believe in and affirm that concept, the more powerful the spirit becomes as they serve as an avatar for it.

Religion in Ransera

Matters of Faith in Ransera vary depending on one’s cultural background. In ancient times when the world was very young, there were only the Dragon Gods and the lesser spirits that aided them in the creation of the world. In those early days, the Dragon Gods were the primary recipients of worship and praise for all manner of occurrences in the span of a mortal’s daily life. As time has gone on and more aetheric entities and various demigods have risen to power across the ages, mortals attention has shifted to incorporate various powers across the spectrum. From cults that venerate lesser and greater demons to entire temples and pantheons that are a mix of Dragon God and Mistlord.

Religion and the Sundering

The Sundering reshaped not just the physical landscape of the mortal planes of existence but its spiritual landscape as well. Many spirits that had been the focal points of worship for centuries were destroyed, killed or driven mad by the events of the Sundering. Those that survived did so at either great cost to themselves or to their followers. Pantheons across the world collapsed, religious orders found their prayers going unanswered as the Dragon Gods and even some of the Mistlords were forced to intervene to bring the Sundering to a halt. This forced them to direct their attention to maintaining and rebuilding the very foundations of the universe and thus unable to come directly to their followers. In the years that followed, the prayers of many mortals went unanswered, the gods they knew were dead, gone, or insane.

The spiritual fallout of the Sundering saw the disbanding of religious orders across the world. Institutions that were once powerful, were now powerless. As a result, mortals turned their fury to the only reasonable outlet that could be found: mages. As Kaitos Diraegon, the great Mage-King of the Clockwork Empire was well known to be the most prominent mage to have ever lived, many factions that would have otherwise gone defunct due to the destruction of their gods, turned to persecuting wizards. Compound this outrage with the fact that magic itself began to manifest in unknown and strange ways that had never been seen before. Many mages, those not killed due to the rampant surges of aether brought by the Sundering, found themselves in possession of powers they no longer understood.

This dilemma was only worsened with the advent of the Dread Mists. Things became even more distressing as various beings that would have otherwise never risen to prominence, began to fill the void left by the catastrophic event. New ideas began to take shape among the mortal populace and from them, new perspectives both on what it means to be mortal and the responsibilities of the divine.

Dead Gods

The following are a listing of those deific powers that were either slain or lost their power, for whatever reason, in the catastrophe that was the Sundering of the World. As a result, many of their divine portfolios remain vacant as the gods who once occupied these posts are now either destroyed or so diminished that they no longer can even claim divinity.

• Streolon - Mistlord of Hunger, Ambition, Power
• Ysadrin- Dragon Goddess of Sunlight, Agriculture, Summer
• Bhezaxr- Mistlord of Panic, Paranoia, Betrayal
• Shynetekrah- Mistlord of Lies, Parasites, Horror
• Rhythival- Dragon God of Poison, Pestilence, Plague
• Mythori- Dragon God of Storms, Hurricanes, Air
• Toralyon- Dragon God of Earth, Mountains, Patience
• Nyjoris- Dragon God of Treachery, Hysteria, Dementia
• Toldrana- Dragon Goddess of Mania, Obsession, Addiction
• Iakoudra- Mistlord of Misery, Despair, Famine
• Ugrimal- Mistlord of Sacrifice, Chains, Domination
• Xarakses- Mistlord of Blood, Conspiracy, Conflict
• Etaiss- Dragon Goddess of Family, the Harvest, Autumn
• Harataecia- Dragon Goddess of Carnage, Pain, Murder
• Zedros- Dragon God of Luck, Athleticism, Spring
• Yggrakas- Mistlord of Destruction, Wrath, Malice
• Vymeshis- Mistlord of Greed, Debauchery, Excess
• Etrulu- Mistlord of Envy, Insanity
• Cxirroth- Mistlord of Decay, Regret, Pests
• Loshor- Draegir of Pride, Slaughter
• Okzair- Moritasi of Terror, Manipulation
• Nazam- Draegir of Stars, Navigation, Memory
• Theadrin- Draegir of Horses, Archery, Survival

New Atheism

As a result of the destruction wrought by the Sundering, a philosophical and spiritual movement has taken root in many cultures throughout the world. It is dubbed by scholars as New Atheism. This viewpoint does not espouse the falsehood of gods so much as it refutes their dominion over mortal destinies. New Atheism acknowledges the existence of beings that are not mortal. However, it scorns them and dubs them entities that are selfish and uncaring of mortal plights. By extension, believers in New Atheism often find mages and those who exhibit any form of magic, to be abhorrent. These beliefs have lead to the continued persecution of mages and other magical entities to extremes. The Gelerian Imperium remains the prime example of New Atheism taken as the philosophy of a sovereign nation. The Imperium goes to great lengths to either demonize or eschew any belief that magic and paranormal entities are anything but harmful to mortals. This has lead to the advancement of a great many anti-magic methods across the Imperium, as they turn to science and engineering over the arcane and spiritual.

New Atheism has its varying degrees of nuance. There are those who throw off the worship of gods and spirits in favor of mortal perseverance and ingenuity. This viewpoint welcomes the “responsible” use of magic by those in possession of it. What is defined as “responsible” often shifts depending on the circumstance. Regardless, the ideology of New Atheism has become a permanent fixture in Ransera and one that is likely to remain for Ages to come.

The Aetheric Potential Scale

An individual's potential and ability to manipulate aether is measured on the Aetheric Potential Scale. The aetheric potential scale is the measurement of the degree of control an individual entity, whether mortal or immortal, possesses over the ability to perceive and manipulate the Aetherium. The highest echelons of this scale are capable of existing in the abstract realm of the Aetherium unharmed and are completely capable of manipulating it on a whim. The lowest tiers are incapable of withstanding the forces of the Aetherium unaided, if at all and exert the most limited degree over the ability to perceive and manipulate the aetherium.

The highest degree of potential is measured at Tier 1 as beings capable of rewriting the laws of reality on a whim with minimal effort on their part. The lowest degree of potential is measured at Tier 10. The further away from Tier 1 an individual is, the less they are able to manipulate aether or even truly understand what it is and how to perceive it.

NOTE: Because of their colossal influence over the course of Ransera's events and their scale of power and divine authority, only a Regional Moderator or Above can utilize Tier 1-3 beings. Tier 4-6 can be moderated by a Principal or Assistant Moderator unless special permission from the Support Forum is granted. Tier 7+ are circumstantial. If in doubt, ask permission from the Support Forum!

Tier 1

Supreme beings of unfathomable scales of power. These entities are capable of rewriting the very foundations of the universe on a whim. It is exceptionally rare for these beings to interact with mortals. Often these entities concern themselves only with the affairs of gods and cosmic happenings. In the event they do interact with mortals, it is an encounter that can change the course of that individual's destiny irrevocably.

Eikaen- The Dragon King

Naori- The Masked Queen

Tier 2

The highest echelon that is attributed to the "Greater Gods" of Ransera. These aetherborn entities are gods of colossal power. They are known to the lives of mortals and are often venerated quite extensively across the various cultures of Ransera. Often these gods oversee lesser powers ensuring they fall in line with their ideals and uphold the workings of creation.

• Raella- Dragon Goddess of Life
• Wraedan- Dragon God of Death
• Vicis- Dragon Goddess of Fate
• Velar- Dragon God of Time
• Aedrin- Dragon God of Nature
• Malgar- Dragon God of Suffering
• Thiovan- Dragon God of Dreams
• Keela- Dragon Goddess of Wisdom
• Myshala- Mistlord of Wishes, Bargains
• Drimera- Mistlord of Grief, Obscurity
• Akrivar- Mistlord of Tyranny, Oaths
• Lyren- Mistlord of Knowledge, Undeath
• Shaeoth- God of Darkness, the Void, Vengeance

Tier 3

By and large the beings that are most familiar to the people of Ransera. While beings of higher echelons are typically regarded as leaders of cultural pantheons, these beings tend to be revered as gods of more specialized concepts such as an emotion, a season or concepts closely tied to mortals and the like. Additionally, Greatwyrms, ancient dragons of exceptional power, also occupy this tier. In the aftermath of the Sundering, some of these gods have seen their following grow while others have diminished in prominence and power because of the fallout of that cataclysm.

• Thultu- Mistlord of Monsters
• Aileor- Dragon God of Divination
• Nerix- Dragon God of Moons
• Nuenna- Dragon Goddess of Roads, Travel, Stories
• Skar- Dragon God of War, Strength, Honor
• Suion- Dragon Goddess of Love, Passion, Desire
• Fyraea- Dragon Goddess of Fire, Industry, Craftsmanship

Tier 4

The final tier that can be considered divine in nature. This encompasses beings that are only partially able to innately interact with the aetherium directly. These beings are not considered full gods but rather they are demigods. Most of the beings that occupy this tier are the offspring of either a Dragon God or a Mistlord. The demigods of a Dragon God are referred to as Draegir. The demigods of a Mistlord are referred to as Moritasi. The demigods are unique in that they are able to derive a measure of power from mortal worship. Demigods are those who are capable of bestowing an Emblem upon mortal followers. Ancient Dragons also occupy this tier. The worship of demigods has always varied across the cultures of Ransera. In a world post-Sundering, demigod worship has become much more personal in those cultures that venerate religious practices. This has created a situation where the demigods have begun to fill the vacuum left behind by the dead or diminished gods from ages past.

• Arcas- Draegir of Justice, Hope, Light
• Ioniri- Draegir of Healing, Medicine, Motherhood
• Aværys- Moritasi of Hunger, Ambition, Power
• Varvara- Moritasi of Sacrifice, Chains, Domination
• Avenna- Draegir of Commerce, Trade, Wealth
• Galetira- Draegir of Compassion, Writing, Fortunetelling
• Syren- Moritasi of Music, Lust, Poetry
• Vhexur- Moritasi of Trickery, Gambling
• Raxen- Moritasi of Swords, Courage, Truth
• Florian - Draegir of Rebellion

Tier 5

Entities within the Tier 5 scale are the first beings who are not capable of innately interacting with the Aetherium and thus are not able to perceive it of their own accord. These beings, while still powerful, exist within the various material realms or the realms created by higher powers. They cannot withstand the power of the Aetherium unaided but are still able to perform innate feats of magic that are not bound to a Rune of Magic or a World Magic. They are capable of utilizing these things but often do not require such things to perform certain abilities on their own.

Gritaeri- The Gritaeri are the various Elemental Lords empowered by Aedrin, the Dragon God of Nature to preside over various aspects of elemental energy and power. Their primary purpose is to uphold the balance of nature and ensure lesser elementals perform their assigned tasks.

Ara- An Ara is typically a celestial being of generally benevolent disposition. More often than not they serve as generals in the armies of largely good aligned deities or as guardians of places held sacred to such gods.

Kahl- An entity typically of a darker disposition that often holds sway over legions of lesser beings in service to a god of more evil alignment.

Vrahzot'th- A powerful amorphous entity that can be considered eldritch in origin and influence. They are difficult to define and are as likely to be malevolent as they are benevolent. They are often concerned with matters and concepts that go beyond what most mortal minds can fathom.

Adult Dragon - Adult dragons are creatures of immense power and capability. Their moods and motives run the full spectrum of what mortals themselves are capable of expressing. Encountering a fully grown adult dragon in their prime can either be a wondrous or terrifying experience depending on the circumstances.

Grandmaster Mage - Grandmaster Mages are incredibly powerful masters of aethereal manipulation. They possess unique knowledge and capacity for magic that lesser mages simply find difficult to fathom. A single Grandmaster Mage possesses such heightened levels of awareness on this scale that they are the most likely individuals to be able to successfully pull off the complex rituals and immensely dangerous feats that enable mortals to perform Archmagic.

Tier 6

The 6th tier and beyond encompass all manner of entities from elder dragons just below that of an ancient one, to demons of the Shrouded Realms and celestial in service to other gods. The various mortal races themselves are capable of achieving this tier through mastery of magic in a handful of disciplines of Rune Magic or through the gathering of various powerful magical artifacts.

• Coraegi- A moderately powerful spirit typically associated with virtuous concepts such as Valor, Compassion, Bravery, etc.
• Tyran- A moderately powerful spirit typically associated with malignant concepts such as Rage, Bloodlust, Deception etc.
• Palarae- A moderately powerful spirit from nature often manifesting as either a greater elemental or a wildlife spirit.
• Kthacctar- A moderately powerful eldritch spirit that is as likely to be helpful as it is harmful.
• Young Dragons
• Master Mage (5+ Magics)

Tier 7

Entities that occupy this tier are incapable of manipulating aether without assistance through either the Runes of Magic, World Magic or are only capable of doing so in a very limited scope.

• Xiothur- A lesser eldritch spirit of limited power and influence that is, in some ways, more understandable to mortals than higher entities.
• Serath- A lesser celestial spirit that typically serves as a guardian and protector or as a foot soldier in the armies of higher powers.
• Djorin- A lesser demon often serving much more powerful demonic lords in the pursuit of their interests.
• Phycaal- A lesser elemental or nature spirit most commonly found in remote places and where the wilds are more dominant.
• Annai- Various humored spirits that often interact with mortals serving as guides, guardians or antagonists. They tend to manifest as personifications of a particular concept, a geographical area, or even as a particular emotion. Their scope of influence is limited largely to what is directly within their vicinity and extending perhaps a kilometer beyond that. Annai tend to be singular with abstract titles that only give a small bit of insight into their powers (i.e. Annai of Painted Veils, Annai of Wandering Paths etc.)

Tier 8

Entities capable of manipulating aether in only very specific ways and only in accordance to either what is allowed through a Rune of Magic or World Magic or in a very minor aspect in the case of spirit entities.

• Mage (Rune or World)
• Essenti- Very minor spirits such as minor animal, nature or elemental spirits.
• Innaedri- Very minor humored spirits such as wraiths.

Tier 9+

The lowest tiers of objects and beings in the planes of existence. This tier and beyond encompasses all of those things that are incapable of rendering paranormal effects at all or do so to such a minor degree as to be unnoticeable by comparison to a Tier 8 being. Beyond Tier 9 includes non-sentient creatures, livestock, animals, insects. etc.