Alphatian Pantheon
by Giampaolo AgostaThere is little canon information about the Alphatians' religion and its pantheon. I think that, given the large size of that empire, and the utilitarian approach to priesthood, there would probably be many different temples and faiths, probably in competition with each other. I also believe that, while each priest would be quite zealous in his duty --no one wants to be left without spells, their rivalry would be not overt, nor exceedingly violent --no priest would be really willing to die for its faith.
This attitude could have allowed the creation of a number of different churches, often worshipping different aspects of the same Immortals. I'm obviously not going to describe all the possible temples in a nation of millions, so I'm going to discuss only three pantheons, that IMO would be revered through the whole empire.
The Pantheon of Magic
First of these pantheons is the Pantheon of Magic, a collection of Immortal Patrons for the various schools of magic. There are twelve patrons, plus the head of the Pantheon and its chief enemy, the personification of the lack of magic. Each patron of a school is also patron of a month of the year --supposedly, the month where that school is stronger.
Head of the Pantheon
Razud, God of Wizardry, Patron of All Magic
Patrons of the Eight Schools
Alphatia, Patroness of Alteration Alphamir
Koryis, Patron of Abjuration Cyprimir
Noumena, Patron of Divination Vertmir
Ixion, Patron of Invocation Sulamir
Nyx, Patroness of Conjuration Nyxmir
Marwdyn, Patron of Necromancy Burymir
Eiryndul, Patron of Illusion Hastmir
Brissard, Patron of Enchantment Islamir
The Four Patrons of Elemental Magic
Palartarkan, Patron of Air Magic Eimir
Khoronus, Patron of Water Magic Amphimir
Rathanos, Patron of Fire Magic Andrumir
Kagyar, Patron of Earth Magic Sudmir
The Enemy
Talitha the Thief, Goddess of No Magic, Patroness of the Day of Dread
Obviously, Talitha becomes Patroness of the Day of Dread only after WotI, both in HW Alphatia and in the Alphatian settlements in the Outer World.
National Pantheon
This is the composition of a series of national churches based in each Alphatian Kingdom. Each patron is recognised within the Imperial Church of Alphatia, but most have their own local church in their home kingdom.
Head of the Pantheon
Alphatia & Razud, Patrons of the Empire
National Patrons
Norwold and Thothia follow different traditions, but each has a national pantheon.
The Craft Pantheon
This last Pantheon as some following among the mundane population. The priests of this pantheon are considered to have tedious but well-payed jobs. However, they aren't especially popular among the aristocracy.
Razud, Patron of Wizards
The Enemy
In the Craft Pantheon churches, Alphaks is seen in his aspect of destroyer of art and knowledge.
Alphatia, Patroness of Haven
Razud, Patron of Vertiloch & Arogansa
Koryis, Patron of Bellissaria
Eiryndul, Patron of Shiye-Lawr
Ixion, Patron of Randel
Nyx, Patroness of Limn
Kagyar, Patron of Stoutfellow
Palartarkan, Patron of Floating Ar
Marwdyn, Patron of Blackheart
Zirchev, Patron of Foresthome
Note that for lesser kingdoms, patrons could be exalted beings, allowed by their patron Immortal to grant spells up to the 4th level. Obviously, a position in one of these churches is a second (or third) choice for all but the most pious priests.
The enemy of the National Pantheon is Alphaks the Destroyer, in his main aspect of enemy of Alphatia.
This Pantheon also has a rigid hierarchy, with Razud at the head, followed by Noumena and Alphatia. The Immortals are listed here in order of decreasing importance in the pantheon.
Noumena, Patron of Scholars
Alphatia, Patroness of Artists
Ixion, Patron of Warriors
Eiryndul, Patron of Jesters
Kagyar, Patron of Artisans
Palartarkan, Patron of Sailors
Zirchev, Patron of Rangers
Brissard, Patron of Merchants
Khoronus, Patron of Farmers
Talitha, Patroness of Thieves
Alphaks the Destroyer