Religion is an important part of Imphyran life; it was, after all, one of the principals that the Empire was founded upon.  90-95% of the general population is actively involved in some sort of religion or cult. The other 5% mostly keep to themselves.

The oldest religion recognized by the Empire is that which worships Gaia, the Earthmother.  Gaia's followers are mostly rural folk, with Druids acting as priests and spiritual leaders.  Many rangers also worship her. 

The standard religion of the Empire is the Circle of Nine.  The most common followers of this religion are those who worship the entire pantheon.  While each province has its patron god or goddess, most of the inhabitants of the Empire do not have a favored god.  Even the priests of a specific religion, such as the Solevians and Deirans, still recognize the value of the other members of the pantheon, even if they do notdirectly pray to them.  Generally speaking, there is a great deal of religious tolerance within the Pantheon.  Deirans and Solevians are legendary in their alliance, in fact.  Many a war has been waged with Solevians and Deirans fighting side by side; the Solevian and Deiran paladins protecting the Solevian mages and Deiran priests who offer firepower and healing ability.

The newest religion of the Empire, still relatively small and non-political, is the monotheistic worship of the One.  Based loosely on Judeo-Chrisitian religion, members of this following believe that there is one God and one Devil, the ultimate sources of Good and Evil in the universe.  Priests of this religion, are clerics in the truest sense of the word...they follow the rules laid out in the Players Handbook for priests.  Priests worshipping the Nine also follow these rules, with some slight variations in their spells.

THE DEITIES OF IMPHYRAS

AERAL

King of the gods, the god of kings, and Ruler of the Sky
 
Province: Imphyr
City Headquarters: Emirok
Aspects: Sky, Weather, Leadership, Thunder
Principle Followers: Upper class, nobility, leaders, some sailors
Aeral is most often depicted as an older man with a long flowing beard and eyes that shine like lightning.  He is often dressed in white flowing robes and carries a staff made of pure lightning.  He is crowned with clouds that depict his mood.
DEIRA
Queen of Life
 
 
Province: Symdale 
City Headquarters: Dresella
Aspects: Life, Health, Home and Hearth, Fertility, Purity
Principle Followers: Healers, Housewives, Mothers
Sometimes seen as Aeral’s consort, sometimes as Solev’s consort, and sometimes as Solev’s sister, no one seems to be sure of her relationship with the other members of the Pantheon.  Different sects will place her in a different role and worship different aspects of her.
 Of all the gods and goddesses, amazingly there is the most strife amongst Deira’s worshippers.  There are sects which believe that magic is evil and seek to eliminate it as they see it as a manifestation of Death.  No one sect claims allegiance to any other, but all will defer to the Imperial Church of Deira based in Dresella (mostly for fear of the consequences of disobedience).
SOLEV
Scourge of Darkness
 
 
Province: Valencia
City Headquarters: Whiterook
Aspects: War, Justice, Sun, Light and Flame
Principle Followers: Warriors
The son of Aeral, Solev is the bane of any creature of darkness.  Whether it be goblins or vampires, Solevians seek to destroy all that is evil and corrupt.  Purists will seek out corruption in all forms: even that of government, while liberals seek to use evil against itself.
 An extremely important and controversial figure in Solevian religion is Aredhel bat Anar.  Respected as one of Solev’s greatest field priests, Aredhel was often in the company of Kellson Nighthawk, a mage skilled in forbidden necromancy.  Her point of view is that one must fight evil with whatever tools are available.
 The Solevian church is extremely unified.  Each priest of Knight of Solev swears allegiance to the Church, which is headed by the Sword of Solev in Whiterook.
MERA
Lady of the Ocean
 
Province: Meraché
City Headquarters: Clearwater
Aspects: Storms, Water, the Ocean
Principle Followers: Any who live near water or make their living by it
 The Lady of the Ocean commands all the water of the world, whether it be lakes, rivers, or the Great Ocean itself.  She is the beloved and fear of any who live by the water, whether they be fishermen, river traders, or nobility with oceanfront property.
GRUMBAR
Lord of the Earth
 
 
Province: Ven Ulreth
City Headquarters: Trinswell
Aspects: Agriculture, Nature, King of the Hallowed Halls
Principle Followers: Farmers, laborers, miners, nature loves, patron of Underdwellers
CERIL
Flower of Beauty
 
 
Province: Paelchere
City Headquarters: Karyntine
Aspects: Art, Beauty, Music, Love
Principle Followers: Musicians, artists, dancers, bards, ladies-in-waiting, lovers
LUNASA
Jewel of the Night Sky
 
Province: Arabel
City Headquarters: Arabel
Aspects: Moon, stars, wisdom, knowledge, magic and mystic things
Principle Followers: Students, mages, seekers of knowledge
KIRNA
Joy-bringer
 
 
Province: Selune
City Headquarters: Sarelphynam
Aspects: Celebration, Trade, Reunion, Luck
Principle Followers: Merchants, elves, those with light fingers, and anyone who likes to party
SAND
Humble one
   
Province: Anarak
City Headquarters: Pax Eternam
Aspects: Humility, Peace, Stoicism
Principle Followers: Worshippers of Sand are virtually unknown outside of Anarak

A host of other minor gods are worshipped throughout the Empire, although few have formal structure and none are officially recognized by the Empire.  In addition, some citizens worship gods from other lands.  Some theologians argue that these other gods are merely aspects of the One God, since the powers exhibited by these priests are remarkably similar to those displayed by priests of the One.

(Game note: priests of Torm, Gond, Helm, Zeus, etc. will all have the same spells presented for Clerics in the Player's Handbook.)

EVIL GODS

Like most religions, there is an equal and opposite force for evil.  Not much is known about evil gods, as the Empire has little tolerance for their worship.  The best known evil gods are:

Bane, the god of death.  Worshipped by necromancers, powerful undead, and some of the orc clans. 

Morlea, Scourge of Light.  Solev's mortal enemy, priests of this goddess are rarely seen in the Empire. 

Chyntara, the Dark Empress.  Although it is doubtful that the evil gods have organized themselves into any sort of order, if they did cooperate the Dark Empress would rule with an iron fist.

Lloth, Demon Queen of Spiders.  Feared throughout the Underdark, this queen is the matron goddess of all drow. 

Tanarych, Lord of the Storms.  Some of the denizens of the Pirate Isles have been known to worship Mera's evil counterpart.  Powerful priests of Tanarych have been rumored to be able to summon gigantic creatures of the deep and unleash enormous tidal waves upon hapless coastal villages.

Even more sinister than the evil gods are the Elder Gods, demonic forces that ruled the universe before they were overthrown by the new order.  Virtually nothing is known about these entities, although the legends say that they languish in some prison, sleep deep beneath the earth, or are simply biding their time before returning to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs.

Last Modified August 25, 2004