The Circle of Essence consists of deities representing the major spiritual elements of the world, each embodying and overseeing a domain.

      Essence gods are vague to mortals, existing as ideals more than individuals. An ordinary religious person would appeal to his or her ancestors for spiritual intervention. A cleric would interact primarily with an Intercessor. Only the wisest, most experienced holy men and women ever commune with the gods directly.

      The Essence gods are traditionally depicted in a loose circle, with Evil across from Good, and Law opposing Chaos. Other gods have alliances and enemies based on opposition and adjacency around the circle:

 

The Essence gods are outlined below. in A god's symbol is its common physical depicted, and usually represented on holy symbols. A manifestation is an item, emotion, or event in the natural world that are seen as signs of a god's presence or work.

 

Ranmyaku (Chaos)

Symbol: uneven spirals

Manifestation: wonder, confusion

 

Chaos does not appear to have an agenda other than proliferation. Most seers and wise folk agree that because of this, Chaos is the easiest god to find in the world.

 

Unlike Good and Evil who flatly oppose one another, Chaos and Law tend to feed off of each other. Mythology represents them more as feuding brothers or rivals than enemies. Chaos leads to Law, who eventually leads back to Chaos in a cosmic struggle of one-upsmanship. Chaos seems to enjoy this clash more than Law.

 

Zetsumei (Death)

Symbol: semicircle of bones

Manifestation: skeleton

 

Death considers itself a portion of the cycle of life. It doesn’t enjoy or promote killing any more than it does quiet, peaceful death. It is, however, not a caretaker. It actively promotes death, just not fanatically.

 

Death hates Sun, because he doesn’t agree with the “cycle of life” idea, and mocks Death. Death frequently allies with Destruction and War.

 

Metsubou (Destruction)

Symbol: shattered rock or metal, locusts

Manifestation: downfall, ruin

 

 

 

Bunbetsu (Evil)

Symbol: six-pointed star

Manifestation: division

 

Evil has no friends among the other gods, but allies with many of them. Evil uses his purview to turn other gods against each other to work to his advantage. When he does this, Trickery and Destruction are his two best marks.

 

Kaichou (Good)

Symbol: chain links

Manifestation: unity

 

Arguably the most powerful god, with the most worshipers among the common races, Good is poorly understood by her fellow gods.

 

Chiyu (Healing)

Symbol: curewort

Manifestation: rest

 

Healing tends to ally with Good and Law, but will tend to wounded anywhere.

 

Chishiki (Knowledge)

Symbol: scroll

Manifestation: questions

 

Knowledge is friend to all but Death. Knowledge would be his friend too, but Death won’t even talk to Knowledge. In religious iconography and stories, Knowledge is often depicted with his brother, Travel.

 

 

Kiritsu (Law)

Symbol: obelisk

Manifestation: consequence

 

Law often works with Trickery to accomplish his ends. He is fond of saying, "I am law, not fairness."

 

Law's ongoing rivalry with Chaos features in many religious parables.

 

Shiawase (Luck)

Symbol: teeth, dice

Manifestation: second chances

 

Luck generally opposes Strength, and taunts him when she can.

 

 

Mahou (Magic)

Symbol: dragon

Manifestation: magic

 

Magic isn’t friendly to anyone, but allies with everyone.

 

 

Chikara (Strength)

Symbol: pillar, three cords

Manifestation: strain

 

Strength generally opposes Luck.

 

Taiyou (Sun)

Symbol: the sun

Manifestation: openness

 

 Sun is prideful and powerful, an all-or-nothing god. Sun drives away those he does not favor with heat and light. According to clerical legend, Darkness does not even exist among the gods any more because of Sun’s overpowering will.

     Sun mocks Death's belief that her domain is part of the life cycle. Instead, Sun believes in All existing at Once. Life or death are meaningless concepts in the unending light of Sun. Therefore, Sun has no interest in perpetuating reincarnation.

[source]

 

Ryokou (Travel)

Symbol: road to the horizon, thistle

Manifestation: dirty shoes or wheels

 

Ikasama (Trickery)

Symbol: mirror

Manifestation: confusion

 

All gods are wary of Trickery, but all work with him to further their ends. Trickery doesn't actually like Chaos, but Chaos thrives in his wake.

 

Senka (War)

Symbol: blade

Manifestation: violence

 

Death and Destruction often ally with War for mutual furtherance of their portfolios.

 

 

The Lost God

The domain of Protection has gone missing from the Circle of Essence. No one knows when or why this happened, although it is widely speculated that the god herself disappeared around the time of the Six Plagues.

 

Other Gods

The domains of Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, and Water are in the Circle of Existence.

 

See Alignment

 

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