Deities of Exandria
The deities of Exandria comprise the Prime Deities and the Betrayer Gods (originally collectively known as the Protean Gods), as well as a number of lesser deities or deities outside the standard pantheon.
Description[edit | edit source]
Each deity's power is enhanced by the size of their following; the greater the scale of the worship, the better they can spread their power and exercise control over their domains.[1]
Although the gods are locked behind the Divine Gate, they still can grant limited amounts of divine power to their followers on the Material Plane. The gods can appear inside the Divine Gate as an avatar, the extensions of the god's essence,[2] given shape by the worship of their worshipers. It is risky for gods to to appear as avatars, "for while it focuses and grants them much present power (as the gods were forced to do in the Calamity) it may also leave them open to grievous injury".[3]
It is nearly impossible to alter a pact with a god. When the sides made their first agreement, the pact cannot be "completely surmountable", but there is a room for changes to some of the verbage or shifts to a more favorable circumstances. However once the pact is sealed, there are no chance for alterations even with the Wish spell.[4]
Some deities are associated with a race, typically that which the god created during The Founding, but members of the race are not bound that religion and their choice is personal.[5]
Mortal creations[edit | edit source]
Ioun goddess told her version of the life-creation, sparked by the gods to blossom and thrive on Exandria. Each of the gods has their own path and the devoted following, at the beginning teaching them according to their ways, then they set their children free to decide their own fate. "A path can be groomed before them, but it is they who must take the steps." At the end of the Age of Arcanum their creations rebelled, and gods could have incinerate them, but left their children another chance. In the post-Divergence era Ioun thought the Prime Deities fulfilled their greatest purpose by giving birth to multitudes of Exandrian races and now were destined to inspire and guide their creations, as well as guarding the Divine Gate. She added that the gods needed their children. "All mortal life has potential with or without the gods."[6]
Demigods[edit | edit source]
- During the Calamity, the Everlight lived in the town of Hawk's Hill an avatar named Trist and bore two kids (Haylie and Topher) with her firbolg husband Amaris. When the town was attacked by fiends, the Everlight gave them divine powers of the demigods to overcome the invasion.[7][8]
- Uk'otoa, as the creation of Zehir, considered to be a demigod.[9]
History[edit | edit source]
The Luxon[edit | edit source]
According to the Kryn Dynasty's creation stories, the Luxon was born during the initial creation of the universe and, rather than becoming a star, traveled the universe hoping to understand itself. It eventually found the then-lifeless planet of Exandria, bringing it life and bringing forth the Primordials. The Luxon wished to help the Primordials and in doing so to learn more about itself, but the Primordials instead fought each other. The Luxon was confused, but chose to split itself into many beacons and scatter itself across the world such that those that found it and bound themselves to these beacons would be bound in a cycle of reincarnation, through which they could learn enough to one day answer the Luxon's own questions about its purpose.[10]
Collapse of Tengar[edit | edit source]
The deities from the core pantheon of Exandria originated on the plane of Tengar, an eternal palace of light and possibility. After a new tree was born in the palace's Orchard of Possibility and one of the entities within, Edun, plucked it, he froze and then vanished after telling those gathered he was going away. A second entity, Aily, attempted to rescue Edun and also disappeared, and Tengar began to crumble. A small portion of the beings were able to escape on a ship created by Ihana. As they fled, the actions they took to survive caused them to take on physical and non-infinite form. They crash-landed on Exandria, which was populated at the time by Primordials.[11]
The Founding and Schism[edit | edit source]
The creation myth widely accepted by the rest of Exandria states that the pantheon came to the world of elemental chaos from elsewhere, and by some accounts, Ascendant Bridge Mountain is believed to be the site of their arrival, where they also met with the titans.[12] The gods, then collectively known as the Protean Gods, arrived as formless and nameless young divinities. As they tamed the elemental chaos, shaped the world, and created its various peoples, these gods were given shape and names as their creations worshiped them. Though they were previously formless, it is believed each god had unique motivations and thoughts that were codified through this worship.[13] To help these creations, the gods gave them divine magic and, later, metallic dragons as protection against various dangers.[14]
At some point prior to the Schism, an entity known as Predathos came from beyond Exandria and killed Vordo and Ethedok. In its wake, it left behind a twisted version of life, and the gods were scared. The remaining gods worked with the Primordials to seal away Predathos in a prison, made from part of Exandria, which they used to create Ruidus. They then encased it in the lattice and sent it into space, but it remained as a satellite.[15]
After a time, the Primordials grew angry and began to destroy the people the gods had created. Some of the gods, in response, wished to side with the Primordials, allow the world to be destroyed, and start again elsewhere, and became known as the Betrayer Gods. Others wished to save their creations and fight back the Primordials. This break between the gods became referred to as the Schism. Those who wished to remain with the people became known as the Prime Deities, who granted their creations arcane magic. The people of Exandria used this magic and the aid of the Prime Deities to fight back the Primordials and to banish the Betrayer Gods.[14]
Ascension of the Raven Queen and the Calamity[edit | edit source]
The gift of arcane magic made the people of Exandria arrogant and many mages no longer believed in the power of the gods. Late into the Age of Arcanum, one wizard[16] challenged the God of Death with a ritual she had developed, and successfully ascended to godhood to take his place as the Raven Queen.[14] She is considered among the Prime Deities.[17] Another, Vecna, attempted the same but was stopped by the forces of Pelor.[18]
During this time, the Archmage Vespin Chloras broke open the prisons of the Betrayer Gods in pursuit of their power. The Betrayer Gods, after so much time imprisoned, no longer wished to destroy the world but rather to rule it absolutely. They established the city of Ghor Dranas and attacked the city of Vasselheim, setting off a catastrophic war known as the Calamity. For many years, both gods and mortals battled each other until finally the Betrayer Gods were again banished. The Prime Deities, having seen the destruction both the Betrayer Gods and they themselves had caused to the world, created the Divine Gate so that none of the pantheon could physically return to the Material Plane. The gods leaving the plane is known as the Divergence.[19]
Vecna[edit | edit source]
Vecna survived as a lich for centuries, and with the aid of his faithful cultists, recreated the Raven Queen's ritual and ascended to godhood in 812 PD.[20] He was banished by Vox Machina shortly after,[21] but is considered among the Betrayer Gods.[22]
The Pantheon of Exandria[edit | edit source]
The following deities are the Prime Deities and Betrayer Gods and are widely considered the "true gods" in terms of power and status.[23] Both Prime Deities and Betrayer Gods are sealed behind the Divine Gate.
Prime Deities[edit | edit source]
The Raven Queen's predecessor is presumed to have been considered one of the Prime Deities, given that the Betrayer Gods were, at the time of her ascension, unable to grant any powers.[24] His name was lost at the moment of her ascension.[25]
| Name | Epithet | Alignment | Holy Day | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avandra | The Change Bringer | Chaotic Good | New Dawn (1 Horisal) | None[26] |
| Bahamut | The Platinum Dragon | Lawful Good | Embertide (5 Duscar) | Celestia[27] |
| Corellon | The Arch Heart | Chaotic Good | Elvendawn (20 Brussendar) | Arborea[28] |
| Erathis | The Law Bearer | Lawful Neutral | Civilization's Dawn (22 Quen'pillar) | Astral Plane[28] |
| Ioun | The Knowing Mentor | True Neutral | Unknown | Endless Athenaeum[29] |
| Kord | The Storm Lord | Chaotic Neutral | Day of Challenging (7 Misuthar) | Ysgard[30] |
| Melora | The Wild Mother | True Neutral | Wild's Grandeur (20 Dualahei) | None[31] |
| Moradin | The All-Hammer | Lawful Good | Deep Solace (18 Unndilar) | Celestia[17] |
| Pelor | The Dawnfather | Neutral Good | Highsummer (15 Sydenstar) | Elysium[17] |
| Sarenrae | The Everlight | Neutral Good | Unknown | Elysium[17] |
| Sehanine | The Moon Weaver | Chaotic Good | Unnamed (night of the decade's largest full moon) | Arborea/Feywild[32] |
| The Raven Queen | The Matron of Death | Lawful Neutral | Night of Ascension (13 Cuersaar) | Shadowfell[32] |
Betrayer Gods[edit | edit source]
| Name | Epithet | Alignment | Plane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asmodeus | The Lord of the Nine Hells | Lawful Evil | Nessus, Nine Hells[27] |
| Bane | The Strife Emperor | Lawful Evil | Acheron[27] |
| Gruumsh | The Ruiner | Chaotic Evil | Acheron[33] |
| Lolth | The Spider Queen | Chaotic Evil | Abyss[33] |
| Tharizdun | The Chained Oblivion | Chaotic Evil | Abyss[30] |
| Tiamat | The Scaled Tyrant | Lawful Evil | Avernus, Nine Hells[30] |
| Torog | The Crawling King | Neutral Evil | Far Realm[30] |
| Vecna | The Whispered One | Neutral Evil | None[22] |
| Zehir | The Cloaked Serpent | Chaotic Evil | Astral Plane[22] |
Destroyed deities[edit | edit source]
These gods were once part of the pantheon of Exandria but were destroyed before The Divergence.
- Ethedok, the Endless Shadow, was consumed by Predathos during The Founding before The Schism.[34]
- Vordo, the Fateshaper, was consumed by Predathos shortly after Ethedok.[34]
- The Raven Queen's predecessor, the former god of death, was destroyed during the Age of Arcanum upon the Raven Queen's Ascension. He was one of the Prime Deities.[35][36][37]
- Deities destroyed during the collapse of Tengar:
- Aily
- Edun
- Nahala
- Qsar[38]
Divine abilities[edit | edit source]
The deities' power is separated into seven domains, which grant them divine-level abilities. The Factorum Malleus is designed to gradually strip the gods of their abilities and then destroy them.[7]
- Divine Prowess: After making a skill check, the gods double the result. After calculating all bonuses, they double all passive skills (perception and insight).[39]
- Divine Resistance: They gain 5 legendary resistances. After rolling a saving throw, they double the result. The gods are immune to all nonmagical damage, weapon damage from non-artifact weapons, and damage and effects from spells of 6th level or lower. They gain two elemental damage immunities and four elemental damage resistances of their choice.[40]
- Divine Awareness: They gain truesight, blindsight, and 120ft tremor-sense. They can speak, and understand all languages, can read all writing, and can communicate telepathically with any creature they can see. The gods are immune to the charmed, frightened, stunned, blinded, and deafened conditions.[41]
- Divine Vigor: At the beginning of their turn, they regain all limited use class features. They immune to exhaustion. Their speed is doubled. They gain 3 legendary actions.[42]
- Divine Vitality: At the beginning of their turn, if they have not taken damage since their last turn, the gods regenerate all hit points. All death saves are nat20s, and any temporary hit points granted by spells they cast is multiplied by 10. The gods are immune to the paralyzed, petrified, and poisoned conditions. Immune to disease. Their maximum hit points are multiplied by 10.[43]
- Divine Magic: Once per turn, they can cast one cleric or paladin spell connected with their divine domain— the spell can be of any level and doesn't use a spell slot. After calculating all bonuses, they double the spell save DC, range, area of effect, and duration of all spells.[44]
- Divine Potency: All damage dealt by their spells and weapons is multiplied by 10. After rolling an attack roll, they double the result. After calculating all bonuses, they double AC. The range of their ranged weapons are doubled.[45]
Lesser idols[edit | edit source]
Otherworldly beings had always existed and been able to lend some degree of power to mortals,[46] but after the Divergence, while worship of the gods beyond the Divine Gate continued, with the Prime Deities and Betrayer Gods no longer on the material plane, beings of lesser but still immense power arose and gained some degree of divine power themselves.[23]
The list of lesser idols can include archdevils, demon lords, fiends, celestials, and demigods (beings with partial or lesser divine status). Some of them are also "affected by the Divine Gate, preventing them from crossing it of their own volition, yet are not so bound by it that they cannot be summoned by mortal magic".[47]
| Name | Alignment | Divine Domains | Warlock Patron Provinces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arioch | Unknown, presumably chaotic | – | –[48] |
| Arms of the Betrayers | Neutral Evil | Death, War | Fiend, Hexblade[49] |
| Azgrah | Lawful Neutral | – | Undying[50] |
| Ceratos | Chaotic Neutral | Knowledge, Tempest | Great Old One[49] |
| Crysa-Thul | – | – | —[51] |
| Desirat | Lawful Evil | Light, Trickery | Fiend, Undying[49] |
| Eidolons | – | – | –[52] |
| Galdric | Lawful Good | – | Celestial, Undying[50] |
| Graz'tchar | Chaotic Evil | – | Fiend, Hexblade[50] |
| Graz'zt | Chaotic Evil | – | –[53] |
| Hoarmorath | – | – | –[54] |
| Khedive Xundi | Chaotic Neutral | – | Genie[50] |
| Laduguer | Lawful Evil | – | –[55] |
| Lady of Pain | – | – | –[56] |
| Naviask | Neutral Good | Life, Nature | Archfey[49] |
| Orcus | Chaotic Evil[presumed] | – | –[57] |
| Predathos | – | – | – |
| Quajath | Chaotic Neutral | Nature, War | Fiend, Great Old One[49] |
| Saundor | Lawful Evil[58] | – | Archfey[59] |
| Sirius | – | – | Great Old One[60] |
| Star spirits (The Imprisoned) | – | – | Great Old One[61] |
| Surtr | – | – | –[62] |
| The Hag Mother | Neutral Evil | Knowledge, Trickery | Fiend[49] |
| The Luxon | True Neutral | Arcana, Light[49] | Celestial[63] |
| The Observer | Neutral Good | – | Archfey, Celestial[50] |
| The Sightless | Chaotic Evil | – | Great Old One[50] |
| The Traveler | Chaotic Neutral | Nature, Trickery | Archfey[49] |
| Uk'otoa | Neutral Evil | Knowledge, Tempest | Hexblade, Great Old One[49] |
| Vesh | Neutral Evil | Death, Life | Archfey, Undying[49] |
| Vokodo | Chaotic Evil[64] | – | –[65][note 1] |
| Xalicas | Lawful Good | Life, Light | Archfey, Celestial[49] |
| Yeenoghu | Chaotic Evil | – | –[66] |
Secluded champions[edit | edit source]
Secluded champions are a small number of mortals from Tal'Dorei who have "risen to nearly divine power through destiny or sheer will". Most of them live their lives in seclusion and grant their powers to others, ready to come out of their seclusion in the time of need and defend their people. These champions are "all mythic iconoclasts".[67]
Some of the known secluded champions are:[67]
- Flavia (Queen of Unending Storms), a cloud giant
- Suthine (Eternal Princess of Vulkanon), a fire giant
- Valdemar (Draugr-Jarl of Farborg), a frost giant
- Ghaladron (Traitor to the Iron Crown), a hobgoblin
- Tevrosk (Whose Axe Was Wreathed in Flowers), an orc
- The First Favored Champion, a stone giant
- Typhoe (the Dreaming Shark), a storm giant
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Wizards of the Coast has trademarked the names of deities in D&D, as has Paizo for Pathfinder. For official campaign guides like Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn or the show The Legend of Vox Machina, they use epithets to refer to the deities, usually ones novel to Exandria.[68] For example, in the Tal'Dorei campaign guides, the Raven Queen is called the "Matron of Ravens".
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ It is unclear if Vokodo could grant any powers, but he was worshiped as a god.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) at 1:26:10. Ioun: "Vecna's ascended being is fresh. He will need to expand his worship vastly to learn how to disseminate his power and claim his domains."
- ↑ The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2, Episodes 10-12 Q&A at 43:30.
- ↑ "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) at 1:24:54.
- ↑ "Talks Machina #43: The Chapter Closes" (TM1x115) at 19:06. Matt describing the pact between the Raven Queen and Vax.
- ↑ "The Climb Within" (1x110) at 1:38:32. "you ran into the Allhammer's space before, but not every dwarf worships the Allhammer. Just like any other free race in the world, religion's up for grabs".
- ↑ "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) at 1:14:52.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101).
- ↑ "4-Sided Dive: Oh My Gods" (4SDx26) at 57:23.
- ↑ "The Mighty Nein Reunited Part 2 – Uk'otoa Unleashed" (OSx51) at 2:41:55.
- ↑ Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 33.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part One" (3x99). Episode's prologue.
- ↑ "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 4:02:56.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 1: "Welcome to Tal'Dorei", pp. 13–15.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 12.
- ↑ "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 3:20:03.
- ↑ "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 1:41:35.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 24.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 38.
- ↑ Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 12–14.
- ↑ "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) at 1:23:20.
- ↑ "Vecna, the Ascended" (1x114) at 5:27:30.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 29.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 39.
- ↑ "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 1:57:55.
- ↑ "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 2:01:51.
- ↑ Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 21. Avandra wanders the Outer Planes but does not reside on any specific one.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 26.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 22.
- ↑ Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 23.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 28.
- ↑ Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 23. Melora wanders all the planes, but spends a lot of time on Arvandor
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 25.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 27.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 3:04:09.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 6.
- ↑ "Duskmeadow" (1x57) from 57:06 through 58:56.
- ↑ "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 1:58:03. Given that he was worshiped and had followers and temples during the Age of Arcanum, when the Betrayer Gods were completely sealed away, he would not have been among the Betrayers.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part One" (3x99). Prologue
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 2:13:16.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 4:30:51.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 4:52:41.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 5:05:16.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 4:18:06.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 4:17:37.
- ↑ "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 4:19:10.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 41. The Luxon, Observer, and Sightless all pre-date the Divine Gate
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 27.
- ↑ "Dignity: An Adventure with Stephen Colbert" (OSx47) at 3:52.
- ↑ 49.00 49.01 49.02 49.03 49.04 49.05 49.06 49.07 49.08 49.09 49.10 Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, Chapter 1: "Story of Wildemount", p. 31.
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 40.
- ↑ See Archive:Fendril Vas, imported from the original Vox Machina Wiki
- ↑ "Faith or Famine" (3x60) at 2:19:24.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64.
- ↑ Vox Machina Origins I #2. A god of the sahuagin.
- ↑ "The Throne Room" (1x07) at 1:25:35.
- ↑ "The Search For Bob" (OSx31) at 2:00:31. Shanak created statues of the Lady of Pain.
- ↑ "Glass and Bone" (1x08) at 55:49.
- ↑ Saundor's character sheet was shown in the ninth episode of GM Tips with Matt Mercer, entitled "Behind the Screen", with his name spelled as "Sondur" (source).
- ↑ "Talks Machina Special #5: Fireside Chat Q&A" (TMSx05) at 41:27.
- ↑ "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19) at 30:10. Zahra Hydris uses Awakened Mind, a feature of the Great Old One patron
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 84–85.
- ↑ "Where the Cards Fall" (1x75) at 53:12. The City of Brass has a temple to this god fire giants.
- ↑ Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 40–41.
- ↑ Volo's Guide to Monsters, p. 178.
- ↑ "Hunted at Sea" (2x100) at 3:14:46.
- ↑ "The Howling Mines" (2x06) at 49:48.
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Chapter 2: "Allegiances of Tal'Dorei", p. 40.
- ↑ "Talks Machina #2: Brawl in the Arches" (TM1x76) at 46:41.
Art:
- ↑ Screenshot of Prime Deities and Betrayer Gods, by Cyarna Trim and Conceptopolis from "Exandria: An Intimate History" (Mx12) at 2:22. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
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