Religion

There are multiple different pantheons represented in Verazul and throughout the Stygian Blue. In general, there is little friction between pantheons and their adherents.

Polonian Pantheon

The official state religion of the Empire of Polonia is devoted to the worship of Tiamat.

Tiamat is traditionally depicted as the personification of salt water who was birthed in the chaos of original creation in the form of a sea serpent. Although Tiamat is often associated with chaos, she is best depicted as a force with its own law and structure that nonetheless causes waves of chaos by overthrowing and reshaping the existing order. In the standard mythology, an earlier, corrupt era dominated by fire gods was attacked and overthrown by Tiamat and her minions.

Native Stygian Blue Pantheon

Before the appearance of Kal the Indomitable, the natives of the area worshipped anthropomorphic gods, typically personifications of beasts and weather, strong emotions, and impactful events. Much of this worship persists in some form, if only as superstitions and habits. For example, sailors typically still page homage to a variety of sea and wind gods in hopes of ensuring safe journeys. Further west, it is said some more traditional villages still make sacrifices to sharks and other sea monsters in hopes of appeasing jealous, ancient gods.

Pantheon of the Eighth Age

When Kal’s army first arrived in the Stygian Blue, they brought word of three new gods, shadowy figures each personifications of Fate, Hunger, and Duty. While it is accepted that these three new gods shaped the Eighth Age, there is little active, public worship of them. However, rumors of cults attempting to gain favor with these new gods make excellent tales heard in taverns across the Stygian Blue.

Other Pantheons of Kal’s Army

Kal’s army that landed in Verazul almost 200 years ago was filled with people from dozens of lands surrounding the Southern Ocean and the Inner Sea. Each of them brought their own gods to the Stygian Blue. The strength and even the existence of some of these gods may be questioned, but adherents of a hundred different gods can be found through the region.