psychological
the
domain
"The greatest gift ever given to man is the human mind. Nothing has ever come close to imitating the same capacity for creation and destruction. What one man will take and use to build, another will find a way to tear down. As long as humans have had the ability to think, they've used this as a weapon to control one another. But despite this, humans have always shown that even in the deepest darkness, they can find a shining light to get them through those dire moments. Perhaps this is the true blessing of the mortal psyche."
of mind and heart
PANTHEON OF THE MORTAL PSYCHE
The Progenitor of Humanity
Aliases: Hati, Marduk, Qos, Aramazd, Dagan, Gaut, Astarte, Tengri, Yahweh, Zalmoxis, Siam Devadhiraj, Chemosh, Nüwa
The Great Deity of Humanity
Considered the blueprint for humanity, the great deity ruling over the mortal psyche is deeply complex. Known to be particularly unpredictable, their expressive nature makes them a very engaging figure. But to create a being in the image of gods was not a popular decision. Humanity is not beloved by the heavens, and so only their greatest creator can defend their existence.
The psyche is what separates humanity from every other creation is their relationship to the gods. They were built to care for the world in the stead of the gods, to worship the gods, to exist as an extension of the gods in the realm of mortality. But to be lifeless vessels without free will would make them no different that beasts, and so, the human psyche was envisioned. Humans are capable of immense good, and despicable evils. The energy that flows through them, that intertwines every aspect of their being is called essence; it is the gift that makes humanity unique.
PSYCHE
Cognants
Those blessed by the psych gods.
Sagacity
The following of the psych pantheon.
Altruists
Disciples of the psych pantheon.
Magical energy used to conduct physical magic is called Essence.
Sagacity focuses on humanity’s interests with an emphasis on free will and equality. All humans deserve respect and kindness under their creators, and every facet of humanity was created with purpose. Forgiveness is preached, those who commit wrongdoings must repent and accept punishment to atone for their crimes, and then they are forgiven. To do good for humanity is to do good for yourself; those who heal the essence of others heal their own essence, and in turn, reap the benefits in death. It is believed those with the most pure essence will live amongst the heavens as heroes, and those with impure essence will be condemned to suffer for eternity.
Followers generally align themselves with the values of a singular god, but must recognize the importance of all psyche gods. Regardless, conflict between believers of opposing gods is common. It is rare for a group of Altruists to all get along.
Domain Feature: Empathic Focus
Apostles under this domain are able to detect a person's surface emotions by touching them and understand it as an emotion they themselves can feel. This applies to any mortal being with a psyche.
Aliases: Eitis, Gurzil, Ares, Begtse, Bellona, Hachiman, Sekhmet, Apedemak, Svetovid, Anann, Neto, Baduhenna, Chiyou
Embodiment of Anger, Conflict and Heroism
THE ENRAGED FIST
Deity of War
Some may say war represents the darkest evils of humanity. To take a life is a great sin. But what is it that lures humanity to the battlefield? They fight for freedom, for religion, for their values and for love. Each side of the war has their righteous truth, and an enemy that threatens that. But the enemy has their own truth, and what makes one truth more virtuous than the other? Only those who write stories are the victors who uphold glory.
The blessed are naturally drawn to conflict, not that they intend to seek it out. Somehow it finds its way to them like a firefly to light. What they do with it defines their ideas- will they seek for conquest or utter domination? Those who give in to their powers become a part of war, utilizing their natural abilities to propel their side forward towards victory. Others use their understanding of human conflict to resolve said conflict, to understand both sides of each argument. However, their weakness is in finding a solution for both sides. To them, things can appear as black and white where there is 'right' and 'wrong' or 'winner' and 'loser'.
Humanity prays to war for success on the battlefield, but success doesn’t always turn out the way they hope. It draws out the worst of people, their anger, their hate, ran by the adrenaline of the conflict beyond them. Those blessed by war can bring out the worst of a person, inciting anger, rivalry, a sense of moral rightness in people, and compel them to fight for a side. They are masters of conflict, both internal and external. They are a fighter at heart, whether it’s for their own righteous truth, or submitted to the truth of another.
THE VIGILANT GAZE
Deity of the Hunt
Aliases: Nyyr, Ullr, Neith, Artemis, Cernunnos, Apsat, Bhadra, Nujalik, Pinga, Diana, Devana, Bendis, Oshosi, Herne, Hou Yi
Embodiment of Tracking, Senses and Patience
The silent stalker, hidden in plain sight, watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. The god is similarly patient and lethal, both in action and wit. They are soft-spoken, but their words hit harder than most. The most lethal of weapons is sometimes patience. An awareness of what's around you. The ability to watch and wait until the time is right.
Those who are honorable enough to be blessed by the Hunt are unanimously as patient as they are. They have a tendency to notice weaknesses: in form, in arguments, in a person's demeanor as they always have a strong awareness of people around them, noticing the different between foe and friend. It is difficult to fool them, but even more difficult to hide from them, both figuratively and literally. They are good mediators and formidable and often cutthroat leaders. Despite this innate ability, they lean towards honesty more than trickery, which can sometimes lead to their own downfall. They reveal themselves less than they reveal others, often time being misunderstood for their truthfulness.
The magic of the hunt grants its users keener senses and a sharp mind- the world before their blessing felt like being underwater and unlivable. The blessed also become excellent at scouting things and people. They are the trackers, able to pick up a trail with only a trace to guide them, following it to its end. They can identify just about any smell, taste, sound and feeling. With experience, it is said that a hunt blessed cannot miss their mark, that they will always find their target. Though it may take them time, they will always pull through. Patience is their most powerful tool that they use to reach their goals.
Deity of Wisdom
Embodiment of Knowledge, Learning and Charity
Aliases: Houen, Quetzalcoatl, Laozi, Wōden, Athena, Saraswati, A'as, Fukurokoji, Al-Kutbay, Nabu, Mimir, Anahita, Anulap
THE REVERENT COGNIZANCE
The all knowing god of knowledge, champion of education, academia and scholarship. Knowledge is true power, but understanding is the key to freedom. In the age of information, where every human has a world's worth of knowledge at their fingertips, it is those who truly understand knowledge hold the most influence and acuity towards the vast world.
Those blessed with wisdom are the geniuses amongst their peers. They have the ability to pursue just about any career they seek and the capacity to learn anything there is. They tend towards educating others, and helping people understand the knowledge passed to them and those whom they have gained, over learning solely for themselves. They become teachers, professors, book writers, and researchers. They themselves were involved in the creation of many technologies, were at the helm of many human advancements.
Prayer to Wisdom is almost a requirement before a test; but only those who are faithful can hope to be granted the wisdom of the god. The blessed have the same gift of understanding. their only limit is time. They are quick to learn languages, most becoming polyglots before adulthood simply through exposure. Their communication skills are also unparalleled, and as much as they can understand information, they also have the power to pass it on to others.
They represent humanity's ability to learn.
THE FORTHRIGHT CALL
Deity of Justice
Aliases: Qiu, Pugu, Pabilsaĝ, Forseti, Haukim, Idlurugu, Themis, Anbay, Baldr, Ištaran, Taarhkarr, Mandanu, Nemesis
Embodiment of Truth, Equality and Honour
For as long as humanity has believed in right and wrong, they have judged whether the actions of their fellows were one or the other. The god of their sense of justice represents fairness in it's entirety: defense of the weak, upholder of morality, punisher of wrongdoers. A pillar of neutrality, representing impartiality, condemning prejudice and enforcing objectivity. To be fair is to be inhuman, but without rules, humanity would fall into darkness.
Lady Justice's blessed have, throughout history, been figures of equal empathy and reason. The patron god of the law and balance, she seeks out individuals with a strong sense of morality, and a desire for seeking out the truth. Many of her blessed become key players in judicial systems and global negotiations, and have a reputation for being diplomatic and regal leaders. Justice is a benign but even-headed god - while many of her blessed have been diplomats or lawyers due to the nature of their jobs, she picks her blessed purely based off their values and potential
Seekers of truth, those aligned with justice can find the truth within the lies of humanity. When blessed, it is more than truth that they seek. They represent morality, but morality has always been subjective. They gain the ability to enforce their morality; what they view as right and wrong. What a terrifying weapon it can be, to decide what is fair amongst humans. They punish those they deem sinners, but with punishment, they can set those sinners free. Atonement is the only way to set yourself free.
Deity of Love
Embodiment of Passion, Relationships and Joy
THE ARDENT HEART
Aliases: Lalia, Ishtar, Dogoda, Aphrodite, Oshun, Min, Bastet, Zamani, Prende, Milda, Astghik, Rati, Yue-Lao, Kurupi
Love is many things. It is a force that can bind souls together, and sometimes push them apart. It drives humans to insanity, as they reach for emptiness in it's absence. It pulls people from the precipice of disaster, even when it is the very thing that brought them there in the first place. People will do incredibly things in the name of Love, and they'd have it no other way. They revel in the knowledge that they move humanity more than their peers. They are soft-hearted and kind, manipulative and discerning. They are both the warmth of an embrace and cold reality of a broken heart.
All are drawn to the Love blessed, naturally attracted to them. This transcends gender, sexuality and common-sense, and it is not something they can always turn off. The god is drawn to those with the same naïve ideals of love that she holds, but often the power she gifts to them turns those ideals sour. Love is a chemical reaction. Love is a feeling. Love is words, love is poetry. Love is a choice, love is choosing to stay with somebody. Love is subjective, and the blessed become acutely aware of this.
Love shares their charisma with their followers, gifting them a piece of their alluring persona in exchange for loyalty and praise. Those chosen to represent Love already hold this allure. Awakening a charm unparalleled in this world, the blessed hold an influence over humanity that borders on cruel. Their words hold power over actions, their presence demands attention, their words wash over minds. Those who feel most secure with those blessed by love are the most vulnerable. Or perhaps have already fallen under their spell.
Deity of Trickery
Embodiment of Deception, Cunning and Luck
THE Lucky TOUCH
Aliases: Enki, Maui, Bamapana, Dolos, Ekwensu, San Martin Txiki, Iktomi, Olifat, Kaulu, Monkey King, Huveane, Gwydion
Life is a game, where every opponent has a chance to win or lose. Deception is a tool that comes with risk: there is no certainty the victim will fall for such treachery, but if they do, the win is so much more glorious. Trickery revels in the game of life. Every decision is a gamble, but the real game is drawing everybody into it.
As much as the blessed exist to represent the god on this world, not all gods like to play by this rule. Trickery has a tendency to play games with their blessed as much as the blessed do with those around them. Their choice in vessel may be the lie itself, and a few blessed have lost their minds in trying to understand their purpose and responsibility. In some rare cases, the blessed find as much joy in the game as their god, and when working together, they challenge and cripple power structures.
Luck is a powerful force that many seek for their own benefit. Followers of Trickery seek this out not knowing the risks they draw to themselves. The blessed become masters of deception, creating false realities and powerful illusions so alike to reality they may as well be. They live on a tight-rope between truth and lies, to the point where even they begin to lose themselves. You can never be too sure if what you see in a trickster is reality, nor can you believe anything they tell you.
THE ENRAPTURED SOUL
Deity of the Arts
Aliases: Apollo, Benzaiten, Huēhuecoyōtl, Ptah, Abhean, Han Xiangzi, Xochipilli, Arubani, Väinämöinen, Benzaiten
Embodiment of Creativity, Craftsmanship and Sorrow
The great songwriter, spinning stories into sweet melodies. The painter who turns colours into visions and dreams far greater than reality itself. The most powerful of the arts are those which tug at the soul. The greatest artists all share the pain of their god, the great Artist whose melancholy flows into masterpieces. They have always shared their imagination, given themselves to humanity, but they remain so very distant, so very lonely.
Naturally, those blessed by Art are themselves often artists. The practice of fine arts, music, song, dance, any form of creativity flows through them as blood does through veins. Their artistry is sometimes called prodigy, but this does not reflect the time and effort sunk into mastering these abilities. Though they are blessed, this does not mean they are skilled without putting in the work. It sharpens their mind, builds their confidence, and fills their heart with imagination.
Every artist knows the great artist, and speaks of them fondly, as if a friend. They become a muse, an inspiration to push themselves to create. The blessed channel creativity into purpose. What they create becomes real. Their songs echo in the minds of listeners. Their paintings spill into the world as paint upon a canvas. Their craft takes on life. Their mind is brimming with ideas, ideas that cannot help but escape. They influence the world and people around them with the potential for the world.
