A rough draft for a pantheon
This isn't fleshed out and needs heavy rewriting and revising, not to mention expanding, but here is a rough draft of a suggestion for a PH-based pantheon.
I didn't connect this yet to the gods-as-planes, psionics as atheism, and the Blesphamy. This is just a rough draft.
SOUTHERN ALLIANCE PANTHEON
[Pelor]Brennan's religion is dominated by the faith of Phaeton [NG; Good, Healing, Mind*, Strength, Sun], the state religion of #1 and a common faith throughout the south and beyond. Phaeton's clergy focus on works of charity and combating evil, both spiritually and physically.
[Elhonna]A related deity is Shefa [NG; Animal, Good, Plant, Sun], often described as Phaeton's daughter, which is a goddess of agriculture whose priests are very active in managing and supporting the peasant's labor.
[Nerull]Phaeton's eternal adversary is Ashid [NE; Darkness*, Death, Evil, Madness*, Trickery], a being so terrible that it is beyond comprehension which lies at the furthest reaches of the underworld, where each night it battles Phaeton in an attempt to prevent the new day.
[Erythnul]Ashid's main ally is Tohu [CE; Chaos, Evil, Trickey, War], a warmongering manipulative trickster that is said to be responsible for many ills.
[Heironeous]Amongst the nobility, and especially in #2, the worship of Zedek is common. Although its connection with Phaeton was initially tenuous, over the centuries their connections deepended until now the church of Phaeton consideres Zedek an aspect of Phaeton. The church of Zedek disagrees, of course.
[Fharlanghan]Another common deity whose origins seems rooted in the same traditions is Nosia [N; Luck, Protection, Travel], a goddess of merchants, wealth, and luck. Nosia's faith recognizes that Phaeton is more active in fighting Ashid over the fate of the world, but maintains that Nosia's impact is more subtle but ultimately more important. Some sects also claim that only Nosia's gifts are what is worth saving, other place Phaeton as Nosia's guardian, and some place Nosia as a goddess of fate, supreme over all the gods.
[Hextor]It should be noted that the dominance of Phaeton is a relatively new development. Until recently the dominant religion was that of Tyrran [LE; Destruction, Evil, Law, War], led by the Emperor of #12. This faith, an offspring of the Four Faced God, celebrated Tyrran as the patron of the Empire and personification of its ideals. Although initially popular, it lost all real power in the recent centuries and became hated and feared, which to a large degree contributed to the downfall of the #12 empire. It is still practiced within the city of Kadesh, but no where else.
NORTHERN ALLIANCE PANTHEON
Whereas the religion in #1 and its satellites is dominated by the worship of one deity, faith in other lands is more diverse. While some would say this is symptomatic of Berin's less devout populace, in truth it is as much a matter of a more diverse faith.
[Wee Jas]Perhaps the most influential deity in Berin is Teham [LN; Death, Law, Magic]. His faith, practiced widely amongst the continent wizards, espouses necromancy and magic, and concerns itself with the fate of the dead. Teham's clergy dispose and use the dead, which affords them a great deal of respect throughout the land.
[Correlon]An equally important deity in the north is that of Yezura [CG; Chaos, Good, Protection, War], often depicted as a female sorceress warrior. Yezura's faith embraces personal freedom and the thrill of both magic and warfare, but emphasizes adherence to good and using one's power to aid others. It is closely related to the cult of the Four Faced God.
[Kord]Yama [CG; Chaos, Good, Luck, Ocean*, Protection, Strength] is also widely respected in Berin, although he is worshipped mainly in #7 and along the shores. A chaotic god of the sea, Yama is famous for sinking an entire fleet who sought to attack Berin from the southern continent.
[Cuthbert]As if the tension between the followers of Yezura and Teham wasn't enough, the situation is compounded by the theocracy of Nabut [LN; Destruction, Law, Protection, Strength] at #8. Nabut's priest-kings lead a tough militant clergy and often come into conflict with other nations and religions (which, to them, are one and the same). They believe in reincarnation and consider necromancy a grave sin, and have often engaged in open war against #1, indecisively.
OTHER DEITIES
[Obad Hai]The worship of the Four Faced God [N; Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water] is believed by many to be the most ancient of religions. Its customs vary considerably, but focus on the apprehention of nature as the embodiment of the four elemental energies. All traditions share a common respect for nature and the elements, but are so varied little else can be said about it generally. Practitoners of the faith can be found nearly anywhere in both Breannan and Berin.
[Moradin]Perhaps the most accepted of the non-human deities is Asa [LG; Artifice*, Earth, Good, Law, Protection], the dwarven deity. His faith, emphasizing perfection in action and thought, is respected in nearly all lands and has won non-dwarf adherents.
[Gruumsh]Equally influential in his way is Shed [CE; Chaos, Evil, Strength, War], a malign deity widely worshipped by orcs, goblins, and other evil intelligent races. Many in Brelanna associate Shed with Ashedi, and some sages suggest they are one and the same.
[Boccob and Vecna]Less known are Kesem [N; Knowledge, Magic, Trickery] and Sod [NE; Evil, Knowledge, Magic], two gods of magic known almost exclusively to a few bards and wizards. Little is known of either of those.
UNTREATED
Garl Glittergold (NG): Good, Protection, Trickery; GNOME DEITY.
Olidammara (CN): Chaos, Luck, Trickery; THIEVES GOD, NOT SURE HOW.
Yondalla (LG): Good, Law, Protection; MUST BE A HALFLING DEITY.
THE STORM ON THE HORIZON
Most popular faiths are tolerated, at least to some extent, nearly everywhere. The chief exception would be #1's demonization of Teham's followers and Nabut's intolerance to nearly all religions but to Phaeton's most of all. #1's hate of Berin's necromancy and #8's aggressive persecution of Phaeltonites is one of the major causes of tension pushing the countries to war.
Although it is depicted as such, the faiths are not limited to one alliance or another. Phaeton's clergy can be found in #6, they are just less influential there.
