MAJOR HUMAN LANGUAGES
Language	Mutual Intelligibility	Specialty Uses
Albionish	Carmation & Sylvanian	banking/finance, plays, poetry
Carmatian	Albionish & Sylvanian	distilling, metallurgy, tinkering
Celedinese	Elatolion & Ontolonese	accounting, administration
Darrestygian	Lachlandic & Norish	modern arcana
Elatolian	Celedinese & Ontolonese	equestrian training, herding
Fitch	Joryani & Maniac	modern sciences, painting
Gallorian	Helvetican & Truscan	diplomacy, fashion, winemaking
Helvetican	Gallorian & Truscan	gemcutting, minting, mountaineering
Iskreshi	Serpian & Wabahari	oceanic exploration, trade
Joryani	Fitch & Maniac	siegecraft
Kohaddic	Melange & Zintu	construction, stonecutting
Lachlandic	Darrestygian & Norish	arctic exploration, fishing
Norish	Darrestygian & Lachlandic	pillaging, sailing, smithing
Maniac	Fitch & Joryani	modern sciences, opera, tinkering
Melange	Kohaddic & Zintu	illicit trade, slavery, utopian politics
Ontolonese	Celedinese & Elatolian	fishing, weaving
Serpian	Iskreshi & Wabahari	ancient sciences, construction
Sivelsh	none	forestry, monster hunting, sailing
Sylvanian	Albionish & Carmatian	forestry, parliamentary procedure
Thracian	none	ancient sciences, medicine, philosophy
To-shinese	none	martial arts, plays, poetry
Truscan	Gallorian & Helvetican	law, medicine, modern sciences, opera
Tuathish	Sylvan	brewing, plays, poetry
Wababahari	Iskreshi & Serpian	astronomy, desert exploration
Xe-shanese	none	espionage, martial arts
Zintu	Kohaddic & Melange	tropical exploration, monster hunting

 At the dawn of language, spellcasting and speech were not clearly distinct activities. The most ancient dragons had almost unthinkable freedom to tap immense arcane resources in a simple magical environment. A hunger for power drove them to increase their own intellects. They would go on to shape many other forms of life. Some were designed purely for food while others were to provide useful service in the years before consumption. These efforts made the magical environment much more complex. They did likewise for the spoken word.
 Labor pools each had their own language, as the most isolated tribes do today. Early elves secretly developed a global tongue, weaving whispers of conspiracy into discussions of magical techniques. Known today as Ancient Elven, this form of speech would become the world's second dominant language. Yet that uniformity would give way to chaos as Imperium Arcanum bastions fell. Various peoples split into small groups and developed their own ways of communicating. Even the elves' own speech diverged into three distinct languages.
 There are hundreds of human languages in use today. Yet many of them have no written form, and only twenty-six human tongues are spoken by more than one million living individuals. Sivelsh, Thracian, To-shinese, Tuathish, and Xe-shanese are each of profoundly unique origin. They are only intelligible to listeners and readers who know that specific language. The other twenty-one major human languages can be grouped into seven trios. Common root words and some shared history make it possible to attempt communication using different languages within a group. These efforts may not go as smoothly as both parties using the same language, but understanding should be possible with patience and mutual goodwill.

LANGUAGE GROUPS
⪤ Desert Speech (Iskreshi, Serpian, Wabahar) Serpian script, written from right to left, provides the alphabet for all three of these languages. They share roots in the tongue of the Old Kingdom, though even modern Serpian sounds nothing like that ancient speech. Wabahar and Iskreshi likewise have their own distinct cadences and emphases. These modern languages share enough common heritage and similar word roots that all peoples of the eastern deserts are able to negotiate basic interactions.
⪤ Elvish (Drow, Greenfey, High Elven) The vocabulary of Ancient Elven is alive and well in the languages of modern elves. For the most part, they can make themselves understood by kin of a different complexion. Yet many centuries of drift have made three distinct tongues out of the old elven langauge. Idiomatic content often translates poorly while technical terms remain highly consistent. Though the three languages vary enormously in written style, they all rely on the same alphabet of delicate script devised roughly 400,000 years ago.
⪤ Fell Speech (Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin) Humanoids rising from the filth of the Scarlands all signal one another with the same limited set of shrieks and babbles. These primal sounds form the basis of native tongues spoken in communities of sentient goblinoids, including organized marauders and mercenaries. Warlords and outlaws sometimes learn a form of Fell Speech for purposes of negotiation or command. Though literature is rare in these languages, each has its own simple alphabet and poetic traditions.
⪤ Forester (Albionish, Carmatian, Sylvanian) During his earthly reign, subjects of the God-King Silvanus promoted a blend of elven, gnomish, and human expressions. This mixture matured into a tongue known at the time as Forest Speech. Though proper Forest Speech is a relic of the past, its offspring include Albionish, Carmatian, and Sylvanian. United by quirky grammar and a richly nuanced vocabulary, these three languages are mutually intelligible to the extent speakers can tame their thick regional accents while avoiding modern idioms.

NOTABLE NON-HUMAN LANGUAGES
Language	Mutual Intelligibility	Spoken By
Abyssal	none	cambions, cultists, demons
Bugbear	Goblin & Hobgoblin	bugbears, mercenaries, warlords
Celestial	none	divine emissaries, planar explorers
Cyclopean	Dwarven & Giant	cyclopes, ancient titans
Deep Speech	none	deep Labyrinth dwellers, cultists
Draconic	none	dragonborn, kobolds, dragons
Drow	Greenfey & High Elven	dark elves, Labyrinth dwellers
Dwarven	Cyclopean & Giant	dwarves, metallurgists, miners
Giant	Cyclopean & Dwarven	firbolgs, goliaths, giants
Gnomish	none	gnomes, spies, tinkers
Goblin	Bugbear & Hobgoblin	goblins, mercenaries, warlords
Greenfey	Drow & High Elven	firbolgs, wood elves, scouts
Halfling	none	halflings
High Elven	Drow & Greenfey	high elves, historians
Hobgoblin	Bugbear & Goblin	hobgoblins, mercenaries, warlords
Infernal	none	tieflings, cultists, devils
Merfolk	Sahuagin & Triton	merfolk, mariners
Ogrish	Orcish & Troll	ogres, barbarians, marauders
Orcish	Ogrish & Troll	orcs, barbarians, warlords
Primordial	none	conjurers, elemental creatures
Sahuagin	Merfolk & Triton	sahuagin, underwater explorers
Saurian	none	lizardfolk, spies
Sylvan	Tuathish	druids, forest dwellers
Triton	Merfolk & Sahuagin	tritons, sea floor dwellers
Troll	Ogrish & Orcish	trolls, brigands
Typhonian	none	typhonians

⪤ Gruntwise (Ogrish, Orcish, Troll) Twisted to serve as shock troops during the Imperium Arcanum, some brutal creatures developed a common langauge that blended the most vulgar elven slang with a range of original gutteral expressions. Over thousands of years these tongues diversified as speakers went their seperate ways. Learned individuals put together written versions of each racial langauge. Yet all versed in Gruntwise remain able to communicate simple concepts with one another, with more nuanced ideas requiring good faith for clear communication across language lines.
⪤ Heartlander (Gallorian, Helvetican, Truscan) Ancient Truscan was once spoken by an overwhelming majority of Mainland. Modern Truscan is effectively a different language, altered over the centuries by an urbane and sophisticated people. Gallorian and Helvetican are similarly derived from Ancient Truscan. Anyone who can read Ancient Truscan literature will encounter many familiar terms in each of these modern languages, and all use basically the same simple alphabet. Yet education and culture in the provinces increasingly diverges from Truscan norms.
⪤ Jade Tongues (Celedinese, Elatolian, Ontolonese) Writing and speech standardized under the Elatolian Hegemony across much of the Orient. Three modern tongues all borrow heavily from Ancient Elatolian. Modern Elatolian, Celedinese, and Ontolonese are inflected in wildly different ways, but many terms have a common root in all three languages. Depending on caligraphic style, some written translations within this group are virtually identical to the original. Yet there is also much variation here, as each language has its own simplified modern alphabet that is a substantial departure from their shared pictographic alphabet.
⪤ Low Speech (Fitch, Joryani, Maniac) The people of the Low Towns played a part in the histories of three decidedly different ethnic groups. Their influence was profound enough that the modern language of each people closely resembles the other two. Along with many word roots, a rolling percussive manner of delivery is shared by these three languages. Mutual conversation is usually possible, and readers of one language only need puzzle through grammatical variations to make sense of texts in the other two. Native speakers of these languages will argue that no others are as beautiful, but the rest of the world generally agrees that Low Speech tends to sound unpleasant in any context other than the most skillful singing.
⪤ Mountain Speech (Cyclopean, Dwarven, Giant) There is legitimate debate as to whether the first dwarven engravings meant to instruct smelting and forging operations are older than the first elven bloodskins recording the magical musings of dragons. Yet scholars agree the Dwarven language has varied little through the ages. Ironically it also serves as the basis for the tongue of giants. Modern giants utilize an especially gutteral tongue enabling them to converse across substantial distances. Also adopted by titans active early in the Age of Heroes, their dwarven offshoot would be a dead language if not for continued use by cyclopes.
⪤ Norlandic Tongues (Darrestygian, Norish, Lachlandic) The Wotanian language was proudly spoken by scholars and warriors alike. Surviving texts suggest it is strikingly similar to modern Darrestygian, with virtually no variation in the ancient runic alphabet. Yet Norish and Lachlandic also share many of the same words and idioms. Oral traditions feature heavily in all three cultures. Translations between these languages are sometimes as simple as changing accent marks and affixes. Yet idiomatic variations require patience to be conveyed across the lines between distinct tongues.
⪤ Oceanic (Merfolk, Sahuagin, Triton) United by their aquatic habitats, sea-dwelling races learn combinations of chirps and clicks relay basic information to others who can hear underwater. Non-verbal nuances provide much more detail, though they sometimes create confusion when the style of one race is subject to interpretation under another paradigm. Oceanic script is smooth and flowing despite being engraved more often than it is inked. These languages provide many ways to say "water" and plenty for "air" as well, but their only term for "fire" is also one of their words for "mystery."

Trade Languages Metropolitan centers, paved highways, and peaceful seas all blend together the cultures of the world. Doing business with a diverse public generally requires buyers and vendors to communicate in some common tongue. No single language enjoys global fluency. Yet there are several widely known beyond the ancestral homeland of their origination. Books and contracts are often written in one of these trade languages. Merchants and scholars typically know at least one such tongue, thereby gaining access to opportunities for trade and study throughout a huge region of the world.  Albionish is widely known among bankers and financiers the world over. Elaborate business contracts often exploit this tongue's rich and nuanced vocabulary. It has been said that deciphering an ancient wizard's spellbook is easier than making sense of the documentation behind a modern investment agreement. Fluency in Albionish is also widespread thanks to the popularity of dramas written by legendary bards from Albion.  Celedinese is the language of all government business in the Oriental Empire. Anyone who wishes a place in the bureaucracy must be able to speak and write Celedinese. It is also the favored language of scholars and poets across the Orient. The Inscrutible Observers may not speak much, but their presence is global, and almost all of them are fluent in Celedinese.  Gallorian is the preferred tongue of diplomats and aristocrats from Mainland. Associated with peace and prosperity, it is also a tongue rich with expressions pertaining to food, fashion, and stagecraft. Many Gallorian idioms have become terms of art in other languages. Heavenly Vintners spread this tongue by insisting on wine labels and menus written in elegant Gallorian script.  Iskreshi is the language of commerce across eastern Mainland. The Iskreshi Sultanate provided standardized education to peoples all across its vast territory. While Iskreshi is now a native tongue across only a few provinces of the Serpian Empire; it remains popular among merchants, scholars, and mariners with business along the eastern coast.  Norish is popular with military officers and mariners around the world. Many nautical terms derive from this tongue. It is also the prevailing trade language of northwest Mainland. Norish raiders have spread their native tongue down the west coast, where some modern cloisters and colleges have embraced it. The Church of Thor has inspired a recent wave of global interest in Norish speech and writing.  Serpian is the fastest-growing language in the world. As the simplest way to systematically inscribe quantities, Serpian numerals are now the standard for mathematicians and accountants around the world. Geometry, architecture, and astronomy all rely heavily on terms derived from this language. As the Serpian Empire actively villifies Truscan culture, some academic institutions are replacing libraries full of Truscan literature with Serpian translations.  Truscan is the closest thing Theatron has to a true common language. There was a time when almost all literate Mainlanders could read Truscan. Modern scientific terminology is dominated by terms with Truscan roots. Globally, a majority of sages write in an archaic form of Truscan, with translation into other languages reserved for the most popular works. The Church of Zeus offers Truscan language schooling to any interested students.

⪤ Southlandish (Kohaddic, Melange, Zintu) Though they parted ways early in the Age of Heroes, the Zintu and the Kohadesians were once united, farming and building together in the jungles of southwestern Mainland. While these cultures took radically different paths, both languages share many common roots. After so many Zintu were put into chains, Melange evolved from a dialect of their language into a distinct tongue of its own, incorporating slave jargon from every corner of the world. Though still taught to many slaves who receive no other education, it is also popular with urban countercultures seeking emphatic contrast with the local aristocracy. Some groups embrace Melange as an idealistic rejection of all ethnic and racial divisions.

ORPHAN LANGUAGES
∉ Abyssal Demons may have their roots in the darkest and least coherent realms of existence, yet their speech is both precise and persuasive. Those who do not comprehend Abyssal may perceive it as a series of enticing secrets encoded in surreal jibberish. Cambion are born with an innate knowledge of this tongue, clearly articulated infantile speech one among many of their unnerving traits. Cambion political influence typically prevents legal bans, but authoritarian leaders sometimes persecute Abyssal speakers.
∉ Celestial Though not truly the language of the gods, this tongue functions as a trade language across higher planes of existence. Agents acting in service to a true deity converse in this language as a sign of mutual respect. Scriptures may be written in this tongue, either out of angelic inspiration or to prevent the text from being read by common worshipers. Celestial is not the native language of any substantial population on Theatron. Nonetheless it is popular at centers of learning because of the prestige associated with studying select sacred texts in their original language.
∉ Deep Speech The origins of Deep Speech are shrouded in mystery, with no identifiable link to any language from Theatron or any other known place of existence. Modern minds residing below the Drow Imperium are likely to be fluent in Deep Speech. Yet these creatures also seem alien and unconnected to the rest of the world. Little effort has been spent scrying into subterranean prehistory. Thus it is theoretically possible that the deepest caves harbored intelligence even before the rise of dragons. Though this language has become entangled in the lore of the Great Old Ones, conflicting results prevent scholars from divining much of anything about those enigmatic entities.
∉ Draconic The first language of the world sees much of its vocabulary still in use by modern dragons. Over five thousand molts have passed, and many ancient invocations are now only verbs. Utterances often trail off into a long growl or hiss that emphasizes a speaker's tone. The words themselves reveal much about the nature of magic. Many universities consider this language part of a well-rounded arcane education. Dragonborn traditionally use this tongue when addressing their own kind. Winning the respect of an actual dragon is virtually impossible, but being able to converse in Draconic is a start.
∉ Gnomish Created to function as scouts and saboteurs, gnomes quickly developed a language of their own. Though it can be written in elvish script and shares some grammatical conventions, Gnomish reflects a profoundly different perspective on the world. It is a tongue of secrets, full of double meanings and cryptic idioms. Some say sphinxes learned how to compose riddles from ancient gnomes. Also known as the "Hidden Tongue," this language is popular with spies and outlaws despite the fact that modern gnomish communities do not normally offer hiding places to human-sized fugitives.
∉ Halfling As far back as the Age of Dragons, halflings had their own worldwide language to facilitate bartering and foraging. Even today, a strong tradition of secrecy prevents halflings from spreading this tongue outside their families unless irresistibly compelled or fabulously compensated. It relies so heavily on murmurs and whispers that Halfling is a poor choice for shouting at far off targets. Yet this same tendency makes Halflings almost impossible to overhear when they huddle together in conversation. Some elite halfling operatives shun employers who appropriate their racial language, causing few espionage organizations to embrace this otherwise ideal tongue.
∉ Infernal Many priests teach that hell is packed with souls endlessly struggling to communicate while speaking languages derived from an infinite array mortal worlds. Yet there is a single langauge spoken by nearly all devils to visit Theatron. Teaching this language is forbidden or heavily restricted in many civlized areas, but it remains a Tiefling birthright proudly passed on even by those who rebel against their diabolic heritage. Many cults and a few criminal gangs embrace the Infernal tongue as an alternative to the local language. Even in the most open-minded and libertine societies, public performance of an Infernal opera is likely to leave general audiences shocked and disturbed.
∉ Primordial Primordial could be the oldest language in the multiverse. The most credible tales of a much more primitive cosmos feature characters with distinctively Primordial names. Deities have been overhead quarreling in this tongue. Even today it is the most pervasive language of the Elemental Planes. Though simple in grammar and vocabulary, the endless possibilities of compound words allow for vivid and precise Primordial expressions. No population on Theatron has adopted this tongue as their own, but scholars emphasize it for many of the same reasons Draconic is widely taught.
∉ Saurian Lizardfolk communicate a mix of whispers, hisses, and clicks that sounds nothing like language to most human ears. Often these utterances convey basic information while subtle details are incorporated into a lengthy undertone that also expresses mood. Even dragonborn find Saurian an alien language uncomfortable to vocalize. Yet for lizardfolk, everything about it is perfectly natural except the script. Institutional education is rare among their kind. Many are unaware Saurian uses an alphabet and punctuation lifted wholesale from Draconic. This tongue sees some popularity with scouts and spies, as it allows for sophisticated conversation that might pass for background noise in thriving forests or swamps.

Secret Languages Druids and rogues are each privy to specialized forms of communication that often go unacknowledged in academic languages studies. One is completely silent, and the other is a way of speaking used in combination with conventional language.  Druidic is composed chiefly of gestures, allowing for lively conversations that do not disturb the sounds of a natural setting. While Druidic features vocabulary voids in areas like metallurgy and music, it supports incredible detail when discussing plants, animals, terrain, climate, weather, and the elements. Druidic also features a lexicon of tiny natural disturbances, such as distinctively braided twigs or piles of little stones, used to record simple messages. Like the most subtle urban graffiti, these markings guide persons in the know to remarkable vistas, prime foraging spots, and ancient monuments. They may also warn of specific danger or convey general news about a wild place.  Thieves' Cant involves the relentless use of colorful expressions and hidden meanings to speak in clear explicit terms about one thing while appearing to make innocuous chitchat. This systematic approach to doublespeak enables criminals to discuss their activities without retreating into complete privacy. Thieves' Cant may even enable the planning of an escape or attack while imminent adversaries participate in the unhidden layer of dialog. Individuals schooled in these hidden meanings are also quick to pick up on whatever markings and other signs local criminals use to designate meeting places, known threats, useful resources, etc. Where criminal organizations preside over clearly defined territories, such markings will also indicate the limits of control. Savvy people can spot and interpret these signs that are otherwise unobtrusive and meaningless.

∉ Sivelsh While Silvanus encouraged his mortal subjects to conduct dialog in Forest Speech, he personally preferred a peculiar tongue only his most devoted priests could comprehend. Doing their best to address complex nuanced sounds with a simple alphabet, the first Sivelsh scribes often turned brief utterances into words of tremendous length. Their modern counterparts keep this tradition alive. Unabbreviated Sivelsh signposts can be comedically shaped. Outsiders see their prose as all but unreadable. Yet this is a tongue favored by well-educated pirates, since Sivelsh features an excellent vocabulary of nautical terms completely foreign to all other naval traditions.
∉ Sylvan see Tuathish
∉ Thracian Originating among island folk prodigious at herding and trading, this langauge employs a unique alphabet and mostly original root words. Well-travelled merchants spread this tongue to standardize business practices. The rise of Thracian city-states saw human scholarship innovating clinical terms needed to establish the natural sciences. While once the dominant trade language of Eastern Mainland, it was marginalized during the Iskreshi Sultanate. Today Thracian remains important outside Thrace chiefly because it is the original language of so many foundational academic works.
∉ To-shinese The islands of To-Shin resisted rule by the Elatolian Hegemony despite lacking their own political cohesion. Warring To-shinese factions only unified a few generations before Celedinese forces annexed the islands into their empire. Efforts to incorporate new commonalities with the Jade Tongues had a reverse effect, driving the people of To-shin to celebrate their cultural differences even more intensely. Though Mainlanders see just another exotic language with a syllabic alphabet, many people from the Orient regard the To-shinese langauge as a clear indication that the rebel province will never be comfortably integrated into the current Imperial regime.
∉ Tuathish/Sylvan Though this is the language of everyday conversation for the people of Danu, Tuathish is also the tongue of fey creatures from many planes of existence. Centaurs, nymphs, pixies, satyrs, and treants are among the many woodland creatures who know this language as Sylvan. To the ear it sounds similar to the Forester langauges. Yet Tuathish is incomprehensible to speakers and readers who are not specifically schooled in it, and this schooling provides no ability to understand the Forester languages. Some of the world's most colorful turns of phrase began as Tuathish expressions before finding their way into the plays and poems of other cultures.
∉ Typhonian This language lurked behind a shroud of secrecy and misinformation for centuries. With a striking similarity to Iskreshi spoken in reverse, this cryptic tongue is a little disturbing whether whispered in a quiet corner or bellowed across a battlefield. Warlocks and other occult experts sometimes write in Typhonian since its obscurity and ominous intonations match well with their work. Legal suppression is rare because governments hunger for translators and operatives with this knowledge. Modern security services either make a point to train at least a few investigators in Typhonian to deal with any conspiracy orchestrated by actual Typhonians.
∉ Xe-shanese This language sometimes unnerves those who are unfamiliar with its sound or appearance. The application of nuance through heavy grumbles, short chirps, and eerie whistles seems distinctly alien. Also, the Xe-shanese alphabet of basic geometric shapes bears some resemblance to the content of notebooks written by Inscrutible Observers, though it is much simpler. Tourists in Xe-shan sometimes confuse signage with pure decoration. Grand masters of a martial art or spellcasting technique may pen their masterworks in Xe-shanese because the absence of other cultural influences results avoids lexical ambiguities.

Assets & Estates

 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡

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Bans & Smuggling  ⧫ Alcohol has been popular for tens of thousands of years. The Archfey personally shaped many varieties of grape in pursuit of the finest table wines. Modern worshippers of Dionysus both covet and revere alcoholic beverages. In one form or another, beer is a common ration as well as a tavern staple. Most modern cultures also have their own winemaking traditions, and many are no strangers to strong spirits. Agricultural surpluses and distillation technology maintain the flow of booze into thirsty cities.
 Yet chronic or excessive drunkenness gives rise to serious concerns. Most societies closely regulate and heavily tax the production of alcohol. Bootlegging and smuggling can lead to violent conflicts with authorities. Public drunkenness is rarely punished with more than a turn in the pillory, though some local authorities enforce more severe prohibitions. The primary harm from alcohol is not so much the drinking itself as the street fights and other gang activity often fueled by aggressive consumption. Even so, few aristocrats abstain from this pleasure.
 ⧫ Ambrosia is seen by some as a gift given by the gods, while others regard it as a stolen secret. This light foamy foodstuff tastes of honey. A hearty portion is always satisfying yet never fattening. Consumption tends to emphasize feelings of fitness and youth, often accompanied by a general sense of bliss. It does wonders for elevating people out of sad or angry moods. Ambrosia also offers temporary respite from chronic pain and other physical discomforts. There is no excuse for remaining glum at a celebration where this dish is served.
 Unfortunately, the day after an indulgence, the effect ceases. Continuous dosing shortens the duration of the effect. Meals of ambrosia must become increasingly frequent to maintain a sense of well-being. Dependent consumers may resort to desperate measures in the quest to fund a habit. Infused with holy magic, genuine ambrosia is typically produced by a team of skilled cooks working with clergy. Churches may freely distribute the stuff on special occasions, but they zealously guard supplies. Most societies have popular laws with severe penalties for the hoarding or resale of ambrosia by persons operating without the support of a sanctioned religious organization.
 ⧫ Cheerpaste is produced by compressing a blend of berries, nectars, and fungi into a sticky gel. Initially it tastes sweet, and if eaten it has a numbing effect that makes all other foods taste sweet. In larger doses, it can cause slurred speech along with colorful staining of the tongue, teeth, and lips. Though cheerpaste can be used to make a bland meal taste like dessert, the substance is consumed primarily by people sitting or standing in an audience. It normally promotes quiet attention, but cheerpaste also seems to amplify the emotional impact of a crowd's shared experience. Tragic moments in a play will seem even darker, while triumphs of art or sport will be profoundly satisfying to witness.
 Cheerpaste loses potency within a day or two of its manufacture, so it can be an expensive treat in areas where the ingredients are rare. Yet it is a feature of many Old Faith gatherings, making silences more reverent and howling more fervent. When eaten alone or in the absence of any spectacle, the chief effect of the substance is to raise awareness of just how boring the present moment happens to be. Actual cheerpaste is rarely involved in criminal matters, but vendors peddling old or counterfeit cheerpaste may work the crowd at major public events.
 ⧫ Chromestools seem psychedelic on the outside, given the way light plays off the shimmering exteriors of these small mushrooms. When eaten raw, they taste of well-cooked beefsteak. Beyond that, they also alter minds to think in ways both more creative and less orderly. With a moderate dose, all forms of entertainment seem more intense and amusing. A truly heavy dose can produce temporary confusion, hallucinations, and synesthesia. Fringe groups and rebellious youths may eat chromestools to enhance revelry. Some artists and scholars indulge in search of inspiration. Yet many find the experience unpleasant, and some local leaders go so far as to ban trade in chromesools.
 Actual harm involving these mushrooms is likely to be a result of a ban rather than the behavior of users. The heaviest doses can be disorienting or even sickening, but chromestools are not popular with the sorts of people who accept life-and-death responsibilities on a regular basis. Parents and teachers tell scary stories of tragedies attributed to chromestools, but these are typically fictions concocted to discourage juvenile experimentation. Being almost as controversial as they are shiny, this ware is normally stocked by herbalists in a secret compartment or opaque container.
 ⧫ Fizzwater is produced with the simplest of magics. Given the correct formula, any beverage can be infused with tiny bubbles that impart both relaxing and refreshing qualities. Some favor it as a substitute for alcohol, since fizzwater binges typically conclude with peaceful slumber. Parties fuelled by fizzwater tend to be quiet and serene, yet no less euphoric than their alcoholic counterparts. Where available, fizzwater is particularly welcome in the aftermath of a great labor or a stressful day. It is often effective in calming disturbed or traumatized individuals.
 The chief hazard of fizzwater is its explosive nature. Fizzwater containers must be tightly sealed, as its gaseous infusion will disperse into the air within an hour or two of exposure. Yet if a sealed fizzwater container becomes agitated, the pressure within will increase. Being highly flammable, a strong concentration of those gases near an open flame can prove deadly. This trade is rigorously taxed, restricted, and licensed. Public backlash is common against any government that does not protect its citizens from public detonations of large fizzwater supplies.
 ⧫ Hushbalm is a blend of fragrant oils with a unique and memorable aroma. When deliberately inhaled or applied just under the nose, it produces a profound state of calm. Pain and distress somehow seem to matter little under the influence of hushbalm. Yet it also tends to be disorienting, with even light doses leading to a highly suggestible state. Recreational use typically involves the oversight of a sober minder. Medical experts may administer this substance to sedate the wounded.
 Hushbalm is not popular at festive events, but some revellers will use the stuff as a sleeping aid. This can be dangerous -- habitual use will cause a tolerance to build up, and extremely heavy doses of hushbalm can be deadly. The primary social concern about hushbalm stems from the practice of using rags daubed with the stuff as tools of abduction. Also, less scrupulous suitors may attempt to administer a dose by offering up a medicated flower so that its scent may be sampled. Hushbalm production and sale are tightly controlled in some societies for fear of these abuses.
 ⧫ Mindglass is the product of an alchemical process so exacting that even the weather must be considered when preparing a batch. After proper mixing and cooling, the finished product should have the look of stained glass. No specific color is better than another, but any cloudiness or haze suggests the presence of impurities. When vaporized in a small heated vessel, inhaled mindglass renders a person intensely ecstatic. Consumers report being more able to focus their attention and being free from fatigue. In small doses it may help a person become more diligent in labor or study. Large doses often renders a person fully manic.
 Consumers also become sleepless, with some prone to incoherent ravings. It is possible to maintain precise dosing given consistent supplies and great personal restraint. Yet variations in purity and mood drive some mindglass users to take larger and larger doses, falling into a spiral of elevated tolerance and deeper desire. Many societies have outlawed mindglass entirely, and elsewhere it is subject to extreme restrictions. Even so, the stuff is popular with military organizations. Forced marches and late night patrol duties seem less tiring with a good dose of mindglass to stay sharp.
 ⧫ Pipeweed is a naturally occuring plant still found wild in most parts of the world. Yet modern pipeweed benefits from millennia of magical adjustments and selective breeding. Some varieties are most noteable for causing a strong euphoria. Others are famed for their relaxing effects. Yet all tend to stimulate hunger and remedy nausea. As its name suggests, the herbal material is normally smoked for immediate effect. Yet it can also be potent as a food additive. Pipeweed is more popular in some cultures and others, but authorities rarely prohibit the stuff.
 Conflict still sometimes arises around pipeweed. Though the plant is easily cultivated, special strains able to grow the highest quality product require a convergence of factors. Farms with a reputation for fine crops often face steep taxes. Some governments require growers to be licensed and submit to regular quality checks. Smugglers and illicit growers profit by undercutting heavily regulated suppliers. Though pipeweed smokers tend to be peaceful and harmless, the pipeweed business can get downright brutal when producers and vendors compete for their share of the lucrative trade.
 ⧫ Poppymilk is a concentrated extract taken from a relatively common flowering plant. Basic alchemical processes turn the sap of the plant into a powerful painkiller and sedative. A small splash of poppymilk in some other beverage will do much to soften the impact of a sorrow or lessen the pain of a fresh injury. Larger doses result in a blissful sense of cosmic awareness. Yet too large a dose functions as a poison, sending its victim off into a peacefully fatal slumber. Some herbalists refuse to sell supplies of poppymilk, instead only dealing with customers willing to have a carefully measured dose administered personally.
 Habitual consumers often find it difficult to avoid escalating their dose. Building tolerance demands more of the substance to achieve the same effect. Apart from considerable expense, regularly consuming high doses of poppymilk will cause a person to seem pale and sickly the whole day through. Deadly overdoses are a common fate for those who cannot be weened off the substance. This is rare mostly because poppymilk is particularly expensive. Tremendous amounts of raw material must be harvested to fill a small container with finished product. Applicable regulations are easy to enforce and taxes easy to collect because no competent government fails to notice vast swaths of land covered in bright red flowers.
 ⧫ Tea is available in almost every civilized community. The simple hot beverage is a safe alternative to alcohol in places where the water supply is questionable. Varieties excede the scope of any catalog, in part because various palaces and temples grow unique teas only available at that particular site. Tea typically has an extremely mild effect on the mind, providing just a little bit more focus and energy. It is an ideal afternoon refreshment for people looking to stay sharp through the end of a workday. A few varieties have a much stronger effect, causing bouts of hypervigilance paired with insomnia. Such brews are popular with guards, teamsters, and other workers with a duty to resist fatigue.
 There is no law in the world that prohibits tea consumption. Yet some lands have rigorous laws about the gathering, preparation, and distribution of the stuff. A supply of especially rare tea may fetch a high price. This creates opportunities for counterfeiters who would package low grade leaves as something finer. Elite tea producers are often influential with regional government, so these crimes may generate aggressive responses from authorities. In lands where beer or wine are not customary offerings of hospitality, a hot cup of tea tends to fill that role. In some parts of the Orient, the act of sharing a small pot of tea has become an artform unto itself.
 ⧫ Tobacco is available in as many strains as pipeweed, yet all varieties of tobacco have essentially similar effects on users. Either smoked or chewed and spat out, this mildly toxic leaf can provide an effect that is simultaneously stimulating and calming. A pipe full of tobacco can make a smoker more alert and less drawn to distractions. Stress is often reduced during consumption. Yet the indulgence easily becomes a habit. Despite such a mild effect on the mind, regular tobacco smokers can become agitated when deprived of this vice.
 Much like tea, tobacco is traded the world over. While flavor and scent are the only major distinguishing features of specific varieties, many smokers develop intense loyalty to a favored type. Tobacco shops offer material from exotic locations. Supportive climates will also see homegrown offerings available in bulk. Civilized locales often feature ash trays and spittoons to manage this otherwise dirty habit. Legal prohibitions on tobacco are rare, though many private establishments will not allow tobacco smoking indoors.
 ⧫ Witchroot can be unearthed as gnarly masses of dry fibrous material. The stuff is often powdered before use. In this form it can be consumed by snorting a generous pinch. It can also be forcibly administered by puffing a handful into someone's face. A light dose causes general relaxation while inducing a state of open-mindedness. Potential beliefs or friends will be evaluated from a favorable perspective. Stronger doses bring forth primal instincts. This often includes craving for full contact physical activities ranging from dance to brawling. Small hot beverages infused with witchroot are ideal refreshments at events where inhibitions are unwanted. Yet too much of the stuff can lead to a frenzy that only relents after total exhaustion.
 Witchroot is controversial, but bans are rare since it is an ingredient in a great many useful potions. The stuff also sees popular use as an aphrodisiac. Some cultures promote this practice while others explicitly outlaw the administration of witchroot without prior consent. Consumers who overdo it with this substance are usually happy to wait a few days before indulging anew. Concern about witchroot as a social problem is often dismissed as excessively austere moralizing. Yet there are many young people who plan their entire lives around weekly gatherings where large groups of people take witchroot, make loud music, and frantically writhe together in the shadows.

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Coins & Treasure

Personal Wealth During the Age of Heroes most people did not inhabit a thriving society where peasant farmers lived with dignity and comfort. The fortunes of ordinary folk rose and fell with regimes that were rarely either enduring or egalitarian. Constant struggle made broad prosperity elusive. Then the Great Consolidation set the stage for long periods of stable economic growth. Aqueducts and sewers made vast cities possible. Enormous markets hungered for whatever the surrounding lands could produce. Even tenant farmers now enjoy a little taste of modern prosperity. Ordinary people often have a few pieces of gold hidden away, and a journeyman artisan may profit as much from a single day's labor.  Yet money is far from the only measure of wealth. Synod Jewelers faclitate fair trade in objects fashioned from precious metals and gems. Land rights, from permission to hunt in a specific forest to title over a personal fief, may generate income and convey social status. Livestock, working animals, and slaves are also indicators of means in many cultures. These practical assets are may be traded away when the need is urgent. Adventuring companies have been known to offers shares of treasure for logistical or political support. Basic financial awareness is widespread, and any free adult is likely to regard a single gold piece as an insignificant bribe.

 The concept of wealth has changed dramatically through the ages. Like many creatures, dragons are instinctively drawn to shiny objects. Their earliest kin were able to amass troves of gold nuggets simply by exploring and occasionally clawing at the ground. Treasure hoards have always been status symbols, but dragons playing with piles of glittering gold gives dragons an intoxicating satisfaction. When the surface of the world had been scoured for gold deposits, dwarves were created to dig out deeper supplies. Dragons amassed, seized, and inherited wealth; but they had no real concept of trade. The first commerce in the world would give rise to the first coins in the world.
 An ancient dwarven mining foreman believed that, if his people had permission to hide in the small tunnels created by their work, they would not be so vulnerable during terrible fits of draconian rage. A volatile tyrant acknowledged this humble request with the condition that the cowering dwarves would die upon leaving the mines unless they each emerged with one hundred new gold objects -- a seemingly impossible quota. The first working mint was a bold gambit. It was also a great success, widely emulated. Little coins gave dragonkind a whole new way to enjoy their hoards. Even bragging protocols changed, and the wealthiest wyrms invented new numbers to quantify how many pieces of gold they possessed.
 Trade remained an extremely rare practice. Illogically, most dragons would part with a large number of skilled workers before they would give up a small number of precious coins. Arcane knowledge was conveyed with some sense of value, but no true medium of exchange existed. Even during the Imperium Arcanum, nothing much resembled a marketplace. The Archfey ordained how resources would be allocated, and their power sustained vast populations. What few mints they operated mostly produced false hoards. Shiny lures containing very little actual gold, ancient fey troves could be effective traps or distractions, yet they would also prove unsatisfying to any dragons able to make a claim.
 Commerce in the modern sense was not widespread before the Age of Heroes. Refugees from collapsing Imperium Arcanum strongholds struggled to survive in wilderness areas. This economy of desperate bartering saw many short-lived efforts to sustain a form of currency. The enormous proliferation of gold coins provided the first enduring solution. Emerging local governments endeavored to standardize and stamp currency, promoting trust among merchants and customers. Yet only a few generations passed between this modern idea of money and the desire for gold beyond what long-dead dragons collected for themselves.

Minting Practices Ancient treasure hoards tend to contain strange coins of inconsistent purity. Their precious metal content may vary greatly from one piece to another. With the international trade on the rise in modern times, official currencies have drifted into rigid standardization. Uniform weight and high purity result in predictable purchasing power with simple exchange rates. Yet diverse minting practices create variety in the names and appearances of modern coins.  Cultural values are revealed through the prism of money. The sturdy pewter-mounted skjöld is intended as a fair price for a reliable shield or a week of service from a Norish warrior. Elegantly simple, the Sylvanian ducat is a fitting token of gratitude from an actual duke. Each Truscan laureatus is gilt just enough to emphasize that achievement merits reward. The solidus of Serpia bears a scintillating gold fringe in numismatic tribute to the Sun. In contrast, The Oriental ryo is a dull coin meant to draw minimal attention while conveying the value of feeding one person for one month. Each of these platinum coins has equivalent monetary value despite their diverse appearances and origins.

 Mining became a lucrative trade for those with the skills to perform it. Coins of other metals began to circulate. Entire monetary systems took shape. Yet the rise and fall of most currency standards would be a function of politics. Thriving nations would issue valuable coins to enjoy favorable clout in trade with neighboring realms. Failing governments would devalue their currency in the struggle to fund essential institutions. Between all that volatility and the traces of curse or poison lingering on many fey troves, coins found to predate 500 A.H. are often melted or otherwise destroyed to recover precious metal content.

UNITS OF ACCOUNT
	Norish	Sylvanian	Serpian	Truscan	Oriental
Copper	øre	penny	nummus	assarius	fen
Silver	sceat	shilling	aspron	denarius	jiaō
Electrum	mark	albus	follis	victoriatus	taiji
Gold	kronor	sovereign	pyron	aureus	yuan
Platinum	skjöld	ducat	solidus	laureate	ryo

 The chaos of so many nations each managing their own coinage was substantially untangled during the Great Consolidation. Cultural variations linger, but every civilized area accepts currency in a set of several denominations with equivalents all over the world. Synod Jewelers have a sacred duty to be honest about the purity of precious metals they inspect, and Celestial Accountants likewise cannot mark an object with a misleading weight. Major mints and precious metal exchanges often work closely with these holy orders to ensure best practices in the production of coins and trade ingots.
 Most likely with some divine guidance, a system of twenty-five currencies became dominant across the five broad cultural groups. Counterfeiters and coin shavers are hunted down by powerful authorities, sometimes helped along by priests with a vested interest in maintaining public confidence in circulating currency. Great trading houses and banks rely on their reputations to conduct international business. This makes currency fraud extremely rare, though it also gives upstart financial enterprises much difficulty becoming established or expanding aggressively.
 Convenience and reliability make the money supplies of today optimal for growing small businesses. Individual ships and caravans may see shares bought and sold by speculative investors. Some firms may even offer stakes in global commercial enterprises. Most major cities feature some system of financing large projects through the lending of money for interest. The most noble creditors offer reasonable rates and fair terms, but exploitation and coercion of debtors are serious problems in every great city. Such abuses are especially severe in lands where authorities do not agressively regulate or even fully comprehend the most elaborate investing practices.

COINS OF THE REALMS

albus (pl. albi, value 1 ep) Sometimes simply referred to as "whites," these distinctive electrum coins present almost no color as they shimmer. Some mints employ an alchemical bath or even a touch of magic to further whiten the alloy without diminishing gold or silver content. A traditional Sylvanian compensation for the untanned hide of healthy deer, albi remain in widespread circulation thanks to the robust trade of hunters and trappers bringing woodland resources to urban markets across southwestern Mainland. A standard albus features the head of an indigenous game animal on the obverse with a detailed tree leaf or flowering plant on the reverse.  aspron (pl. asprons, value 1 sp) In ancient times, a vast nation of Isks spread their version of the silver piece across half of Mainland. Even today, the distinctive $ symbol marks nearly all the silver coins minted in the Serpian Empire. Some say the overlay of I and S means "imperial silver," though the glyph was originally intended to indicate "Iskreshi Sultanate." Serpian mints continue this tradition, often detailing this prominent image to depict a serpent coiling loosely around a staff. The reverse of an aspron normally features a great monument or the image of a thriving modern city.  assarius (pl. assarii, value 1 cp) Some consider these humble copper coins fit only for use by slaves. Nonetheless ubiquitous in metropolitan Truscanny, assarii speckle city streets and clutter the pockets of ordinary citizens. Some shops leave trays of them out to ease purchases made by customers who insist on having exact change. Minted today more out of tradition than economic need, the modern assarius features two different perspectives on a single important building or monument.  aureus (pl. aurei, value 1 gp) Literally the gold standard, the weight of these coins is so consistent that merchants often use stacks as counterweights in their scales. After annexing Helvetica, the Truscan Empire pioneered precision machine tooling used by modern mints. Sophisticated production techniques were first put to use making these coins more than a millennium ago. Designs are invariably simple, with the name and face of the reigning Emperor on the obverse while the reverse depicts a large flying creature. Eagles, griffons, pegasi, and dragons have all graced this denomination.  buck (pl. bucks, value 1 gp) Across the land now covered by the Sylvanian Confederation, thousands of years of tradition shape a subculture of prosperous hunters. Previously informal and unregulated, the exchange of golden bucks among these people was a trusted practice. It promoted the idea that a truly fine pelt was worth more than one electrum piece, and it enabled many of these forest dwellers to avoid taxation. After aristocrats started restricting hunts in their own realms, a few outright democratic regimes rose up to protect what many regard as traditional Sylvanian freedoms. Now bucks are standardized and blessed in modern mints operated by sovereign governments. Yet these coins, typically featuring a proud stag's head opposite the hind end of the same beast, remain a defiant challenge to modern business practices.  denarius (pl. denarii, value 1 sp) Incredibly common across the Truscan Empire and its many former possessions, this simple silver piece just might be the most abundant coin in the world. Once the lifeblood of incalculably huge military payrolls and tax collections, millions of people continue to find a place for it in their coinpurses. Several modern languages derive their word for "money" from the name of this Truscan coin. A typical denarius features the face of a general or governor on the obverse with the full figure of a deity or legendary hero on the reverse.  drachma (pl. drachmae, value 1 sp) Some of the first efforts to standardize currency involve silver coins in early Thrace. Many city-states maintained stable regimes over multiple centuries. Some Thracian philosophers applied alchemical standards of precise measurement to the weight and purity of official coins. Consistent currency promoted social integrity and economic stability. Drachmae are no longer widely produced, but some ancient coins remain in circulation, and many more linger in buried stashes. As the conflict between Serpia and Truscanny seems to focus on Thrace, both sides are entertaining the idea of a drachma revival to garner the support of indigenous people. These coins traditionally feature the face of an Olympian deity with a simple rendering of that god's holy symbol on the reverse.  ducat (pl. ducats, value 1 pp) Originally minted for use exclusively at aristocratic events, these "coins of the dukes" epitomize dignity and elegance. Simple, round, and platinum; their tasteful heraldic imprints feel smooth to the touch. Even the most free-spirited of Sylvanians often shows respect for area aristocrats in the hope a ducat might be discretely bestowed as a token of appreciation. Some of southwestern Mainland's most elite figures refuse to allow any other coins in their purses.  fen (pl. fen, value 1 cp) Celedinese traditions emphasize the importance of precise accounting. Though there is little demand for it among merchants and financiers, the local copper piece is nonetheless widespread and in ongoing production. Fen are typically stamped with a Celedinese alchemical symbol on the obverse and a moral platitude on the other side. Many Oriental shopkeepers offer inexpensive items, like a cup of hot tea or a morsel of fresh fruit, as a means of engaging personally with their customers while justifying few fen of additional expense to end a transaction with an auspiciously round number. This harmonizes precise bookkeeping with convenience.  follis (pl. folles, value 1 ep) In modern times, these large thin coins spell out an important imperial decree on the reverse while depicting the Padishah on the obverse. Older folles featured the Truscan governors of Serpia, while the oldest of these coins picture Pharoahs. Serpian electrum reserves dwindled in the aftermath of cheap gold parting techniques, but these coins continue to be produced at major financial centers. Particularly loyal soldiers or laborers may receive them as a token of encouragement, an echo of the Truscan incentive that substitutes electrum for silver. The follis is vital to international trade as well, since it provides a clear equivalent to common coins like the mark or the guilder.  florin (pl. florins, value 2½ gp) These large gold coins glitter enticingly in the hands of recruiters and merchants. Authorities in Fitchland produce them in great quantities. Yet most florins are the result of gold processed by private mints, producing culturally neutral currency to sustain politically delicate trade relationships. Notable for elaborate embossed designs, florins are crafted to draw and hold attention. Mint markings and other details about the issue are always engraved in delicate script around the perimeter of one face, so as to minimally detract from the the coin's florid imagery.  groat (pl. groats, value 4 cp) Found all over Albion and Carmatia, these undersized silver coins are also known as fourpence. Custom values them at one tavern drink, though prosperous cityfolk often favor less affordable establishments. Because groats have developed a reputation as dirty and common, issuing mints have taken to stamping them with images of local wildlife or natural vistas rather than the faces of dignitaries.  guilder (pl. guilders, value 1 ep) This little Fitch coin has become incredibly popular all around the world. Galleons laden with them constitute that kingdom's tribute to Norish Moots. Perfect round discs of pure gold, they bear a profile of the monarch's face on the obverse while the reverse features a radiant seashell in acknowledgement of the role the merchant marine plays in refilling the treasuries of the homeland. Many Fitch tailors and outfitters have a knack for fashioning hidden pouches and secret compartments sized for concealing quantities of these half-pieces of gold.  jiaō (pl. jiaō, value 1 sp) These coins are identical to the yuan in every way save for silver composition and different markings. The term "cash" originated to describe coins of this exact shape and size. A central square hole makes it possible to carry many jiaō on a single string or rod. Keen observers have noted that the words on this coin seem directed to motivate laborers or soldiers while loftier language on the yuan appeals to artisans and scholars. Yet both invariably promote traditional Celedinese values, and together as cash they dominate everyday commerce in the Orient.  kronor (pl. krona, value 1 gp) Norish kings refuse to put their faces on any coins less valuable than gold. New rulers in the region are often eager to melt down old currency so that they might see their likenesses spread far and wide. While the obverse is always a clear image of the issuing ruler, the reverse of a traditional kronor features that monarch's s name in bold runic. Those eager to flout custom may instead opt for highly detailed imprints of their own thrones, palaces, or capital cities on the reverse face.  laureate (pl. laureatei, value 1 pp) The first major issue of standardized platinum coins was among the many ways the ascendant Truscan Empire signaled dominance. Their traditional design has changed only to accomodate tiny gold inlays emphasizing select details like the Emperor's laurel crown or the soaring dragon featured prominently on the reverse. In some border territories, laureatei will be carried and used as badges to indicate allegiance to Septopolis. By custom they are the amount of wealth a patrician parts with when seeking a personal favor from a common citizen. Yet the coin is controversial in some regions, and authorities elsewhere may be quick to convert the metal into ingots or a coin local residents are happier to see.  liekki (pl. liekkit, value 1 ep) Despite the frigid climate, hospitality is not an implied expectation from strangers in Lachland. When local leaders began exploiting abundant electrum deposits, they were quick to produce currency for exchange with outsiders. These are always engraved with the image of a torch, hearth, bonfire, or pyre. Though normally enough for a hot meal and a clean bed, by custom these coins are the amount of money one pays for the privilege of spending the night warmed by someone else's fire.  mark (pl. marks, value 1 ep) First minted in Transmania, both faces of this electrum alloy coin are stamped to display a simple numeral 1. They were originally intended as accounting tokens, then later used as meal tickets. While Maniacs turned to Truscan currency, the peoples of Greater Norland embraced this design for their electrum pieces. Modern examples typically feature the name of a king or an earl, a royal motto, and mint markings all stamped in a ring around the prominent 1.

nummus (pl. nummi, value 1 cp) The legions of laborers employed to raise the mountainous monuments of Serpia posed a management challenge. They were kept happy and well-rested with generous evening rations of beer, but uneven distribution created disorder. The original nummi were simply accounting tokens meant to track the number of refills a worker was authorized to collect. When the Imperium Arcanum collapsed and the Serpian Old Kingdom arose, these abundant coins became the basis for the realm's first offical currency. Though nummi have little value today, they are still produced with modern coin faces preserving a few cryptic symbols from the defunct empire of the fey.  øre (pl. øres, value 1 cp) When dwarves first taught men to collect precious metals by tunneling deep into solid rock, substantial hauls would often be traded for chests of comparatively cheap coins. Everyone in Greater Norland today knows that a dirty gold nugget is more precious than a pile of shiny copper bits. To reinforce this lesson, children in the region are encouraged to collect øres in ceramic egg banks. It is a coming of age moment when the delicate vessel is shattered, years of accumulated coins conveying only a little purchasing power. The modern øre typically features the the visage of a dangerous monster on the obverse with its full body illustrated on the reverse. Each design is yet another lesson as well as a distinctive gaming token.  penny (pl. pence, value 1 cp) Wherever tribal hunter-gatherers trade with more sophisticated societies, they are likely to overvalue the cheapest coins. Early rulers among the Albionians, Sylvanians, Maniacs, and Gallorians exploited this by making "pawns' coins." Kept clean and burnished to shine, these prototypical pence often fetched goods far in excess of their metal value. Today it is rare that a penny is mistaken for a valuable object, but these copper coins still develop quite a shine with a little effort. Modern pence often feature a folk hero or spiritual leader on the obverse with a scene of natural beauty on the reverse.  pound (pl. pounds, value 5 gp) Common across much of Mainland, these small platinum coins are equal in value to one pound of schillings, sceats, asprons, denarii, drachmae, or jiaō. They originated with Albionian bankers eager to simplify the process of accepting silver deposits. Now the pound is a widely accepted denomination among the affluent. The little coins are more discrete than typical platinum pieces, and their use is particularly common wherever great cities authorize local financial institutions to issue their own coinage.  pyron (pl. pyrons, value 1 gp) When Serpian alchemists devised an innovative new method of parting gold from silver, incalculable hoards of old electrum were transformed into shiny new asprons and pyrons. The land somehow seemed richer, though also a more desirable target for Truscan conquest. Yet the same coin that enticed invaders long ago has more recently bankrolled the independence of the modern Serpian Empire. These coins normally present the face of a ruler or historical figure with a little biographical detail on the reverse.  ryo (pl. ryo, value 1 pp) These oblong platinum coins are in widespread circulation due to Celedinese and To-Shinese treasuries disbursing immense quantities in recent decades. Traditionally representing the amount a host is due after feeding one soldier for one month, the ryo is also the basis for funding projects like dam construction or canal excavation. One face is featureless save for mint markings to substantiate precious metal content. The obverse may bear the portrait of a leader or it may contain a whole paragraph about the specific endeavor motivating the issue of new currency.  sceat (pl. sceattas, value 1 sp) Modern coins that retain the small diameter and substantial thickness of their precursors, the sceat is now the basis of everyday market commerce across Greater Norland. These durable little slugs are engraved with scenes of heroism involving Odin, Thor, or Tyr. Though some of these pieces are artful, many remain true to primitive imagery derived from ancient stone carvings.  sestertius (pl. sestertii, value 2½ cp) These tiny pieces of Truscan silver are valued at a rate of four to one denarius. Affluent urbane folk often use sestertii to avoid handling the lowest actual denomation. Yet one alone still conveys little value -- rarely enough to obtain a snack at a public event or purchase a single arrow. These quarter-pieces of silver still see much use with retailers making change and gamblers intent on keeping the stakes modest.  shilling (pl. shillings, value 1 sp) These simple coins are widely produced by vassals and generals throughout the Sylvanian Confederation. Each presents the face of a particular leader with a reverse illustration dedicated to some honor or achievement associated with that person. In less prosperous times, this coin represented the value of employing one laborer for one day of hard work. The shilling may not buy what it once did, but it is still the currency of choice for everyday commerce throughout southwestern Mainland. The term has developed a second meaning to describe performing work for low wages despite demanding and unpleasant job requirements.  skjöld (pl. skjölde, value 1 pp) Literally Norish for "shield," this hefty platinum slug is pressed between two rugged discs of pewter. By custom it is both the cost of a sturdy metal shield and the pay due a mercenary after a day of heavy fighting. Swapping pewter faces enables military commanders to cheaply rebrand their payrolls without destroying mint markings on the edge of the platinum. This design of the skjöld also literally shields the precious metal with less valuable material. Foreigners unfamiliar with the coin may mistake it for an object of little value while searching the possessions of Norish raiders.  solidus (pl. solidi, value 1 pp) Constantly living under its harsh glare, the people of Serpia practically worshiped the Sun before they ever encountered the concept of a deity. Under Truscan rule, the Serpians began to mint provincial platinum pieces with scintillating gold adornments. Most do not mention Ra by name, but each of these valuable coins is a work of art dedicated to glorifying the Sun itself. This eyecatching coin helped the Serpian Empire finance its successful secession.  sovereign (pl. sovereigns, value 1 gp) When Sylvanian realms started breaking away from the Truscan Empire, actual currency scandals were amplified by effective propaganda. The Sylvanian Confederation formed in part to restore faith in the governments and currencies serving this region. Trust has been restored today, but only through many generations of kings and queens putting their faces on honest and pure gold pieces of varying design. The obverse of a sovereign may range from a close portrait to the image of a leader astride a mount. Reverse imagery customarily depicts Standing Stones or a natural vista from the issuing realm.  stuiver (pl. stuivers, value 2½ cp) The lesser of the three coins issued by the Fitch government, one hundred brass stuiver are equivalent to one florin. Stuivers are less common internationally, but they are a staple of commerce on the streets of Fitchland. Known for loud clattering, these hefty coins sometimes serve as improvised percussion pieces for dancers and musicians. Their particular alloy enables large shipments of stuivers to serve as raw material for the manufacture of precision tools or durable clockwork. The coins themselves feature the faces of sages or scientists on the obverse with images of marvelous devices on the reverse.  taiji (pl. taiji, value 1 ep) This is not so much a piece of electrum alloy as it is a coin made by fusing together slugs of gold and silver. The two faces of the taiji are plainly different in color, though their principle adornment tends to be identical glyphs or geometric patterns. Mesmers the world over favor this coin when their craft calls for a shiny object. Though this denomination has fallen out of favor with most producers of Oriental currency, Xe-shanese aristocrats seem particularly fond of making and spending taiji.  victoriatus (pl. victoriati, value 1 ep) Great triumphs in the Truscan Empire are often commemorated with a batch of of these coins. New designs are unveiled by surprise, with soldiers or other citizens involved in a great achievement unexpectedly collecting quintuple their normal pay. The obverse of this coin is usually the same portrait of the Emperor featured on current aureii. Yet the reverse of a victoriatus depicts a scene from the conquest, construction, or competition associated with its issue.  yuan (pl. yuan, value 1 gp) The Celedinese rose to power in part because their amassed wealth was sufficient to sustain a ten-to-one custom of using generous payrolls to inspire turncoats. The modern Oriental Empire has adopted this generic term for coin as the standard denomination of gold, a reminder of how freespending Celedinese paymasters can be with these particular coins. Each yuan features a central square hole for carrying the coins on a string or rod, being one of two types of coin giving rise to the term "cash." The faces of yuan are decorated with sagacious messages that promote traditional values.

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Debts & Obligations

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Exports & Imports

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Finances & Banking

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Gear & Technology

Heroes & Villains The Age of Heroes draws its name from the countless dramatic triumphs that enabled humanity to recover, proliferate, and thrive after so many generations of draconic or fey oppression. Though dragons were a rare threat, monsters were generally all too common. New communities could not be established until brave adventurers rid a locale of indigenous menaces. Settled areas constantly faced danger from interlopers as well as possible ruin at the hands of migrating swarms or hordes. Many generations of heroes carved out precursors to modern homelands. Through the tribulations of many battles, these heroes grew great in both prowess and fame.
 Yet the struggle was far from over after establishing a community. Rival leaders from within might compete for control. Outside groups might attack or exploit locals. Yet the difference between hero and villain is often a matter of perspective. A usurper or conquerer could also be a liberator. Populations seeking control of the same resources may each see their own leaders as heroic, perhaps for strikingly similar reasons. The Age of Heroes saw hundreds of deities inspire their own religions. Competing evangelists surpassed warlords and monarchs in terms of inciting violence. Outside great nations like Wotania, Silvania, and the Elatolian Hegemony; most people lived in constant fear of raids or invasions.
 Mighty heroes could maintain peace and prosperity around their homes. Yet all too often these increasingly powerful figures set out to annex neighboring communities or gain exclusive control over shared resources. As gifted individuals fell in battle, new heroes rose up to support the cause. Technological and social progress slowed even while holy wars became more intense and numerous. Gods and men alike squandered so much in struggles against one another. Visionaries ordained a new order with fewer spiritual alternatives, less destructive conflict, and reduced social instability. This would set the stage for peace and prosperity, though at the cost of grand adventures.
 The modern era is actually home to more adventurers than any other part of history. However, it is also home to the largest human population in history. Over two centuries have psssed since diviners at the Council of Theopolis confirmed more than one billion people live on the world's surface. Almost all of these families support themselves peacefully by means of agriculture, industry, or commerce. Though substantial fractions of some societies have seen military service, not all soldiers are combat veterans.
 Barbarians, bards, clerics, druids, fighters, monks, paladins, rangers, rogues, sorcerers, warlocks, wizards.  ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡

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Illnesses & Plagues

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Jails & Prisons

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Killers & Slavers People have been trying to kill each other with weapons ever since hunger swept the first failing Imperium Arcanum bastion. Tools originally created for fighting dragons or hunting wild game became instruments of human slaughter. No special knowledge is required to shove a blade into a warm body. Yet skill provides an edge of its own. Not all warriors work with an instructor. Surviving enough deadly struggles will reveal experience to be a fine mentor. Even unschooled combatants eventually develop a personal style.

Military Education Many sovereign nations feature institutions dedicated to training military officers. Even some mercenary companies maintain a war college to determine and advocate the superior tactics. In the best cases, these academies and colleges resemble their Imperial counterparts, promoting high standards of conduct and competence.  Lack of combat veterans and insufficient funding may seriously degrade a nation's officer corps in times of peace. Academies may be reduced to social clubs for retirees. War colleges may embrace obsolete old lore or unproven new ideas. As peace fall apart, modest establishments struggle to address the needs of major recruiting or conscription drives. It is rare that a small nation systematically maintains the levels of professionalism and coordination associated with Imperial training.

 Lore accumulated over thousands of years details countless fighting techniques, martial arts styles, and tactical insights. From an Imperial officer drilling squads of fresh recruits to a reclusive hermit training a lone student, the best teachers draw on battle-tested traditions. Formal training may be tailored to facilitate group tactics, prepare for particular enemies, or make use of specialized equipment. Modern military science emphasizes the Six Qualities that distinguish highly effective warriors. Doctrine holds that competent commanders must learn lessons associated with each of the Six Qualities to better recognize and encourage those traits in subordinates. No doubt each trait is a virtue for anyone in the midst of deadly combat.
 † Aggressive Great warriors strike with unreserved fury. Inexperienced murderers are sometimes identified as such by small cuts inflicted while hesitating to attack properly. Weak attacks are easily turned aside by armor or a defensive maneuver. Also, many weapons only deliver their best results while striking forcefully with the intent to follow through. Profound hostility is a reliable way to motivate such attacks. Aggressive warriors put the desire to defeat their foes above any concern about their own well-being. Most evident in the berzerk rage of charging barbarians, aggression swiftly eliminates threats and other targets, hastening the arrival of victory.
 † Committed Great warriors kill with unwavering purpose. Some defeats result from failure to overcome superior resolve. Morale during battle has an enormous impact on the effectiveness of participants. Fanatical dedication to the mission at hand is ideal. A holy purpose may drive passion to that intensity. Yet even atheists are capable of pledging their lives to a cause or crusade. The truly steadfast cannot be turned aside even with bribery or mesmerism. Extremely devoted warriors view their weapons as conduits for deadly fervor, enowing might with a moral imperative. Paladins demonstrate this level of committment when they smite foes standing in the way of victory.

Imperial Training Three Emperors personally rule superpowers collectively containing most of world's human beings as well as most of the world's tax revenue. These vast nations each maintain a standing military force of over one million people -- large enough to constitute respectable kingdoms unto themselves. The thousands of officers organizing these huge armies are schooled by networks of service academies and war colleges. Some institutions give junior officers opportunities to interact with living legends. Others focus on a speciality like covert reconaissance or artillery operations. These institutions also enable officers to study the latest recommended tactics and drills.  The phrase "Imperial training" implies excellent and extensive military education. Consistent practices enable any qualified Imperial officer to integrate with a pre-existing unit. Officers are likewise prepared to recruit, relentlessly drilling new personnel to achieve proficiency with standard issue equipment. Generations of violence have seen an evolution in each empire's military doctrines. Folk wisdom accumulated during times of peace has been purged to make way for battle-tested insights. The earliest reference to the Six Qualities comes from Master Willow's Rules of Command, a manual famously authored by the last legendary general involved in the Celedinese Ascendance. Today that ancient treatise is highly regarded in every human homeland, and all three superpowers encourage their officers to focus on the Six Qualities.

 † Disciplined Great warriors relentlessly seek perfection. Physical fitness furnishes the force behind force of arms. This may involve the muscle to move freely inside a metal suit while dishing out punishing strikes, the agility to evade attacks while lashing out with pinpoint precision, or some blend of both gifts. Serious martial artists will train with every spare moment, always striving to improve upon personal bests. Repetition is crucial, since adapting amid the chaos of combat benefits from muscle memory of flawless form. The elaborate regimens of monks exemplify discipline while enabling superior execution of advanced techniques, paving the way to victory.
 † Guileful Great warriors exploit favorable circumstances. Few people would die in battle if the losing side could foresee the outcome. Violent clashes are innately unpredictable. The tide may turn on a moment of opportunity, recognized and seized by a cunning combatant. More effective attacks follow from orchestrating and exploiting situational advantages. This may involve an unexpected angle of attack or violence concerted with an ally. From concealed snipers to nimble skirmishers, wily warriors will make use of hazards, distractions, and cover. The sly tactics of rogues demonstrate guile, as they make the most of every opening in pursuit of victory.
 † Tenacious Great warriors rally and triumph despite injury. Normally one side must be defeated before the other can claim to have won. For any combatant still willing and able to strike, the clash is not over. Seasoned warriors find ways to push through the most difficult struggles and remain effective even when suffering from heavy wounds. Reserves of staying power influence the tempo of battle, sometimes producing a reversal of fortune. Stalwart warriors may invite attack, confident they will endure and recover. So long as the most rugged combatants weather an onslaught, allies may be spared harm. Tenacity is the quality that enables fighters to overcome setbacks and persevere to victory.
 † Versatile Great warriors avoid strengths and attack weaknesses. Every method of fighting has benefits and drawbacks. Stalking and tracking a foe may shed light on which methods are most effective against that particular target. The best-equipped warriors are walking arsenals, easily adapting from one enemy to the next. Every additional option increases the chance that one will prove suitable, if not ideal, for a given clash. If the weather or some other factor thwarts a plan, a robust set of alternatives may yet save the day. Rangers display versatility by being prepared to attack weaknesses, seeking the one that will serve as a path to victory.

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Lords & Officials

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Monsters & Mayhem

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Navgiation & Travel

What is Magic? The modern spellcasting environment is an accumulation countless past events. All living things exude an unseen aura and leave traces of energy where they linger. The most voracious among early dragons devoured so many creatures that tremendous accumulations of life force stewed and transformed within their bellies. Gradually learning to vent and shape this energy, their actions created ripples in the magic of the world.  With increasingly sophisticated spellcasting, these ripples produced a more complex and turbulent environment. Elves launched their age of dominance by converting much draconic energy into a new source of power. Later they reached toward the heavens and drew cosmic forces into the mix. Strange creatures and the rarest of people developed psychic abilities. Gods and devils (among other things) opened channels of power to reward spellcasters for completing various rites and observances. The Immaculate System brought some stability, but magic remains an ever-present seething tumult of countless energies and forces.  Modern scholars write of the Seven Sources, but each is a category of magical phenomena rather than a single wellspring. Individual resources are as abundant and varied as living creatures -- of such diversity that no comprehensive catalog is possible. As a shepherd minds a flock without knowing all there is to know about animals, working spellcasters need not learn all there is to know about magic. Be it inspiration furnished by some higher being, formulae refined through extensive study, or well-practiced lessons of personal experience; spellcasters command the secrets of some invisible powers while remaining mystified by the vast remainder of the world's magic.

The One Truth ∞ Magic is everywhere in the world. While all sane people believe magical forces exist, initiation as a novice spellcaster involves accumulating awareness of the energies constantly seething and coursing through even the most ordinary of places and things. Teaching methods are diverse. Yet all aspiring spellcasters must understand basic details about the fabric of magic. Building up great power first requires establishing this foundation.
 Be it methodical study and experimentation, open-minded immersion in nature, or purposeful prayer and meditation; all spellcasters have dedicated ample time to thinking about various phenomena that can be shaped to create magical effects. Some draw power to themselves, preparing personal reserves to be unleashed by subsequent cues. Others call out to powerful beings, volunteering to serve as conduits for holy or unholy energy. Then there are spellcasters who live off the land, letting small details of the area and its inhabitants reveal ambient magical resources. Like air to a fire, energies directed into spellcasting tend to circulate. The environment replenishes quickly.
 Magic abhors a void. Even zones that inhibit spellcasting do not involve the total absence of magic. Instead they feature patterns of interference that thwart mortal efforts to control nearby flows of energy. Many spellcasters learn a technique for visualizing this energy, clearly discerning enchanted items and active spell effects from the roiling turbulence of ambient magic. This visualization is not required to cast spells. Be it knowledge of timing and geometry, sensitivity to environmental indicators, or collaboration with an immensely powerful patron; spellcasting taps into pervasive unseen forces to create effects ranging from a flicker of thought to a cataclysmic explosion.

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The Two States Change is the essence of magic. Not all spells are transmutations, but they are all the causes of effects that would not otherwise occur. Magic is also woven from change. All magical forces are in some state of flux. Some slowly rise and fall with rhythms as regular as daylight. Others surge with the chaos of storm winds. To exert reliable control over these forces, it is vital to possess some understanding of the Two States.
 ↟ Rising forces may also be identified by terms such as "growing," "ascending," or "intensifying." Some of the simplest spells produce dramatic effects with the merger of two highly reactive magical flows. The product of these reactions may be a jolt of energy, building to a great peak then fading back to nothing, all in a flash. To shape this energy, the moment of its existence must be understood as intensity rising and falling over time, however short that time may be. Minor common magical phenomena can be depleted to produce useful effects with relatively little effort.
 The most successful spellcasting involves aligning intended effect(s) with greater rising magical energies. Many spells require input throughout the duration of a substantial effect. While some may thrive from a single rising channel, like a god's will granting a mortal prayer; sustaining others involves a tangle of connections. Energy sources at peak levels are near to falling, perhaps precipitously. Complex spellcasting may require managing redundant flows so that the sum of the inputs remains sufficient even after a portion of those inputs have fallen away.

The Decline of Magic Some of the earliest human books on the subject claimed that magical forces were waning. This was not true at the time. Yet some authors could not shake this feeling as they walked among the ruins of colossal Imperium Arcanum strongholds that fell when critical enchantments could no longer be maintained. It was truly a dark age in terms of arcane knowledge, but the rise of religious magic more than compensated for the absence of the Archfey.  Modern times see another wave of fashionable publications on the decline of magic itself. Scientific progress in areas like alchemy, clockwork, and optics offer technological alternatives to magic use. Although the total number of active spellcasters continues to rise, their ranks swell so slowly that they diminish as a proportion of the population. Colleges and universities thrive like never before. Yet no major centers of learning remain exclusively devoted to the study of magic.  Measurements systematically recorded by scholars suggest recent centuries have seen a gentle decline in the overall sum of magical energies present in the world. This apparent trend clouds debate about larger matters. There is no evidence that magic is destined to be entirely absent from the world, yet there is also no evidence that this decline is part of a natural cycle. Countless debates see clash between those speculative opinions.

 At the highest levels of power, the art of the cascade becomes a factor. Some forces intensify as a reaction to the presence of other magical phenomena. Legendary spellcasters orchestrate feedback loops, sculpt containment fields, employ lensing effects, and engage in other manipulations to achieve the most wonderous or terrible outcomes. The tumbling of a single pebble may be the beginning of a great avalanche. True masters of magic can identify these metaphorical pebbles, then follow through by guiding a chain reaction until the intended result is let loose on the physical world.
 ↡ Falling forces may also be identified by terms such as "dwindling," "descending," or "dying." Though it is easier for students to comprehend the importance of rising phenomena, it is no less important for spellcasters to understand falling magic. All resources used to weave spells will experience a falling stage. For some, like the brightness of the Moon, a cycle of renewal will occur after a nadir is reached. For others, like a shooting star, the fall is an end to existence. Through what scholars term "negative action," the quickened fall of some minor magical phenomena can produce reactions giving rise to useful magical effects.
 Likewise, awareness of presently falling forces may reveal crucial opportunities. Just as a combatant may momentarily lower his or her guard, a magical environment's normal resistance to action may fade with the dwindling of one force or another. The ability to recognize and act on these instances can make the difference between dabbling in magic and becoming a great spellcaster. Command of falling forces is also vital to the process of countering arcane attacks, breaking enchantments, removing curses, etc. Ambient magical phenomena will quickly refill any space purged of magic, but it only takes a moment to snuff out a spell by quashing the flow(s) supplying energy to it.
 Many spells can be the cause of a permanent effect, such as killing with a bolt of force. Yet if a spell itself is to be permanent, some arcane engineering is required. The greatest spellcasters combine magical flows to create create repulsion fields, energy sinks, distribution channels, or other phenomena that impose a strong falling pressure on some types of energy nearby. Such fortification equips a spell to endure erosive forces pervading the environment. Less rugged efforts require constant attention and adaptation to avoid quickly failing from the ordinary wear and tear of magical turbulence.

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Magic Shops The need for material components and spellcasting implements creates lucrative opportunities for specialized merchants. Those with power over magic tend to be reliable paying customers. Metropolitan areas may feature an entire neighborhood of establishments that cater to spellcasters, academics, alchemists, and herbalists. Furnishing supplies to practicioners at the edge of civilization often paves the way for more robust trade once new settlements expand. Maintaining a highly diverse stock of quality goods is not easy. Still the trade is prized because the oldest magic shops in an area often become social hubs for the most powerful local spellcasters.  Some magic shops also deal in genuine treasures. Magic items may be auctioned alongside unique art objects or rare jewels. Where trade is sufficiently brisk, a selection of modest items may be available on demand. Such trade also takes place through procurers and brokers. Agents may be hired to inquire about private owners willing to sell or trade a specific magical item. Yet these investigations take time and money with no assurance of success. Major cities sometimes feature a guild of enchanters eager to produce magic items on commission. Even so, a journeyman artisan purchasing the most basic sort of magic sword would likely need to spend more than a full year's wages.

The Three Components The act of casting a spell may be as simple as speaking a syllable while focused on a specific intention or it may be so complex as to require epic ritual incantations and the sacrifice of a small fortune in precious objects. All spellcasters understand that utterances, gestures, and supplies can be used to control magical energy. Taken together, the Three Components categorize all the means by which a mortal might weave magic.
 ∋ Verbal Practitioners consider it misleading to speak of "magic words" or "the language of magic." Words can be powerful triggers, but even the simplest evocations must be backed by intention and understanding. Without understanding, useful magical energies cannot be tapped. Without intention, magical effects cannot be directed and shaped. From the most bookish wizard to the most intuitive sorcerer, spellcasting demands an extraordinary mindset pairing precision with improvisation. Basic utterance often require adaptation with an elaborate grammar of affixes, accents, and emphases. Verbal spellcasting is to "just saying the words" as swordfighting is to "just swinging the blade."
 ∋ Somatic Physical motion can be instrumental in redirecting magical flows and triggering effects. The most feared spellcasters have been known to kill with a quick gesture, and a great many methods of magical attack benefit from bodily expression. Given normal anatomy, hands are the only features suited to delivering gestures of magical power. Like utterances, these motions may be subject to complex systems of subtle modifications needed for adaptation to the circumstances at hand. The somatic component explains why so many war wizards refer to "throwing a Fireball" rather than "casting a Fireball spell."
 ∋ Material Many spells can only be cast in the presence of a specific object or substance. Some of these items are sacrifices consumed in powering the spell. Others are focal points for magical energies, catalysts for magical interactions, templates for magical effects, or useful tools of spellcraft. Material components are typically inexpensive if not also easy to obtain. Yet the most powerful spells may require gems of immense value and/or something intensely personal to the intended target. Material components and objects of focus create a special set of mercantile oppportunities in areas where many spellcasters are active.


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The Four Elements Early Thracian philosophers asserted that all physical things in the world are composed of four basic elements -- air, fire, earth, and water. Scholars of modern science reject that ancient theory, though their inconclusive debates about the basic building blocks of matter are endless. Even if the theory of the Four Elements is not true, magical energies have clear and distinct peaks of effectiveness when focused on related elemental effects. Most spellcasters find study of the Four Elements useful in the advancement of their practice.

Elemental Beings The elemental planes are not hospitable to ordinary people. Inhabitants of those planes are composed chiefly of the same elemental stuff. Some spells conjure elemental beings, but this can be delicate business. These efforts normally bring forth creatures that feel compelled to complete a short term of service before returning to their extraplanar homes. Should the magical bonds of servitude be broken, a sufficiently strong elemental is may lash out against a former master or mistress now regarded as a cruel abductor.  The elemental planes are unthinkably vast. Raw material appropriated for spellcasting purposes seems to have no impact on this abundance. University libraries often feature atlases of these planes along with lesson plans to help spellcasters harvest the most useful elemental phenomena. Far more books have been written about the possibilities of blending the four elements in magical processes than combining ordinary materials in the manner of alchemists or metallurgists. The elemental planes are not the only reserves of extraplanar matter a spellcaster might tap. Yet they are so convenient and extensively studied that working with alternatives tends to pose greater challenges.

 Turning magical energy into durable solid material is especially difficult. A common workaround involves tapping other planes of existence for resources. The four Elemental Planes may be limitless in their bounty. Acquiring and blending their substances is a less challenging method of causing physical effects. The simplest methods open a channel through which raw elemental stuff will flow. With advanced techniques, it is even possible to pluck denizens from the Elemental Planes, binding them until they have completed a term of service.
 △ Air Simply taking control of the air's movements may be enough to decide the outcome of a naval battle. Wind may also interfere with arhcers and artillery. Given broader control of the weather, it is possible to impair the effectiveness of specific types of troops without reducing the effectiveness of others. A wise general or admiral pays well for magic that can command the sky. Air is closely associated with coveted powers like flight and invisibility. Yet simpler applications may push back threats or sweep away fog. Air is a useful constituent of gas clouds, storms, and effects that prevent drowning or suffocation.
 △ Fire The most destructive of elements, fire is as specatcular as it is unpredictable. Simply directing the smallest wisp of elemental fire is a deadly attack that may also ignite combustibles. Uncontrolled fires are always a serious emergency in urban environments as well as wooden vessels. Even armies with no magical personnel find ways to incorporate fire into their attacks. Yet it is also the preferred tool of most war wizards. Such raw power always commands respect. Less violent applications of this element may function to provide illumination, mesmerize onlookers, or create a defensive barrier.
 ▽ Earth The essence of durability, earth can furnish solid substance otherwise scarce among magical effects. Simple ramparts have their uses, and stone walls provide extradordinary defense. Yet power over this element can also be used to breach fortifications. When applied on a personal level, it may petrify an enemy or render an ally exceptionally resilient. Any effects that produce stone, metal, or gems likely make robust use of this element. Prospective applications span the spectrum of power from an unexpected dose of sand in the face to a tremor capable of demolishing buildings.
 ▽ Water Essential for life, water is often associated with healing and recovery. It also promotes plant growth, often playing a role in spells cast to support agriculture. Yet water can be destructive, from a great tsunami down to the quenching of an ordinary torch. This element plays a vital role in most storms, and it also is the primary constituent of effects producing ice or steam. More exotic water magic includes methods of scrying, distorting images, and creating reflections.

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Ancient Magic In the thousands of centuries since the first spell was cast, the fabric of magic has been repeatedly transformed. Techniques developed before the Great Consolidation are likely to fail or produce unexpected results when attempted in modern times. Only a small number of magic items dating back to the Imperium Arcanum have retained power through the intervening millennia. Most are now inert items of value only to archaeologists and collectors. Arcane lore preserved from that era is often incomprehensible, but what can be deciphered is also largely useless today.  Items and spells developed during the Age of Heroes may fare better, as most are less than 5,000 years old. The Great Consolidation began with a sudden sweeping global change. Many spells ceased to function at all, while others behaved differently than before. Likewise, some magical items changed in function or even lost all enchantment. Yet the general trend was toward more stable, predictable, and consistent magic than previous eras. Magical formulae from the Age of Heroes are best regarded as incomplete or flawed -- in need of major revision to be effective in modern times.

The Five Eras The nature of magic has changed repeatedly in the history of the world. Academics define the top tier of historical boundaries based on changes in the fundamental nature of magic. The first spell cast, activation of the ley lines, the first prayer answered by a god, and the Fivesquare Pantheon consecrating The Immaculate System -- each division is marked by a specific event that reconfigured the magical environment worldwide. Even if it were possible to travel into the past, modern practitioners might find it difficult or impossible to weave spells from resources available in previous eras.
 I. Primordial Times There were no signs of intelligence, never mind spellcasting, during this span of history. Lands and seas alike were home to strange beasts. The surface of the world was blanketed in warm heavy mists, yet thick vegetation was pervasive on land. Scrying so far into the past is unreliable and minimally informative. Fanciful speculations abound regarding hidden civilizations thriving in the jungles of the distant past. No solid evidence exists to support such theories.
 Little is known about the magic of this time. With life thriving on virtually every available surface, it seems likely the environment teemed with energy that could be tapped work the spells of druids. Yet time travel is not a reality, and scrying has never turned up evidence of any primordial magical effect save for other efforts to scry from the future. One controversial theory holds that magic created itself, with diviners' efforts to investigate Primordial Times serving as a spark to ignite the fires of the first true magical effects.
 II. The Age of Dragons The top tier predators of Primordial Times were dinosaurs of colossal size. Over the span of many millennia, intellect slowly accumulated in their reptilian brains. Ravenous feeding habits concetrated the magic of life force in their bellies. The most well-fed developed the power to breathe fire. The most creative developed skill at shaping this power. The progenitors of dragonkind transformed themselves into godlike beings. They also transformed all manner of wild beasts. Cows, goats, horses, pigs, and yaks were each shaped to suit the dietary preferences of great wyrms.
 Ever wary of threats, these cosmic lizards also used magic to reduce the size of their offspring. Modern chromatic dragons, while comparatively small, eventually wiped out their decrepit ancestors. Yet they also created new forms of life -- edible servants to accomplish work they were not industrious enough to perform alone. Humans farmed the land to sustain large herds of livestock. Dwarves burrowed into the ground to extract precious gold. Elves penned libraries to archive arcane knowledge. Halflings, so easily overlooked, were created to serve as unobtrusive heralds and couriers.

The Three Unholies Clerics and other practitioners of modern religion are deeply troubled by the spellcasting of witches and warlocks. This goes beyond personal taste or cultural bias and into the metaphysics of how these abilities actually work. While masters of the arcane normally manipulate magical forces in the environment around them, occult pacts channel magical power from a greater being. The Immaculate System lives up to its name when it comes to regulating the power of prayer. These sorts of bargains, known to theologists as the Three Unholies, allow ungodly powers to exploit alternative methods of channeling energy requested by mortal spellcasters. ★ The Grandfather Clause Hundreds of centuries before gods came into the world, leaders of the Imperium Arcanum harnessed the power of their enemies through sacrifice. Vast quantities of dragons' blood spilled into the appropriate rituals and energized a global network of fey power. This infrastructure of ley lines enabled Imperium response teams to answer any threat against a major stronghold or a nexus of power. The Immaculate System is concordant with this global structure so deeply ingrained that even the gods lacked a practical method of demolition. Echoes of the Archfey live on as ghosts in the machine. They empower adepts who diligently study the system and boldly praise their memory. ★ The Spiritual Underground Mere scavangers compared to deities, the greatest demons and devils may grant infernal boons when they hear twisted forms of prayer. This unholy energy often travels along dark channels hidden in the shadows of The Immaculate System's sacred flows. Inspired by cryptic clues seeded in works of art, animal behaviors, and the ravings of the insane; some mortals pursue unholy pacts with genuine fervor. Yet diabolic and demonic influences hunger so strongly for a greater connection with this world that sincerity is rarely required of the witches and warlocks they empower. Consorting with demons and devils on any level enhances their ability to manifest on this plane and deal directly with other mortals. ★ The Extraneous Signals There are entities as powerful as gods, yet not at all like gods or devils. Their natures and agendas remain shrouded in mystery. Many who investigate such phenomena wind up losing all sanity. Yet some manage to piece together enough lore to attempt useful communion. Profoundly alien beings empowering profoundly alien magic, the Great Old Ones defy classification within The Immaculate System. Their invocations do not register as prayers and their boons lack any signature of divinity. Even cultists who achieve immense power with this path have but fleetingly glimpsed the motives of their cosmic patrons. Not all religions promote fear of the unknown, but they are in accord about fearing this particular category of mysteries.

 For thousands of centuries all these races served dragons without question. Effective resistance to this tyranny only became possible when elves started compiling secret libraries and stockpiles of rare spell components. While dragons continued to bellow their distinctive form of magic into the world, whispering cabals of elves developed an entirely new manner of spellcasting. They studied nature and the heavens, but their greatest triumph would involve turning the power of dragons back upon itself.
 III. The Imperium Arcanum The mightiest dragons could only be slain when a squad of elven magi launched a surprise attack. Yet the innate arrogance of dragons thwarted repeated efforts to band together in mutual defense. Many fortified their lairs with lesser monsters or armies of loyal servants. Teleportation was crucial to the downfall of dragons. Having already enchanted monuments facilitating travel to and from their hidden meeting places, elves started to pour the blood of their enemies into rituals forging mystical links between those sites.
 One success led to another. Soon a global web of connections was energized by unthinkable amounts of fey energy derived from the blood of defeated dragons. Not only did the Archfey introduce their own form of magic to the world, but they also studied both cosmic and natural power sources. Rising to power through the use of epic enchantments, the leaders of the Imperium Arcanum were able to maintain vast self-contained strongholds complete with food and water enough for millions of people to inhabit the same structure. During this era, the well-governed magical environment made it practical to sustain effects of immense scope.
 Yet elven hegemons were also crafty, relying heavily on charms and illusions to maintain morale among the surging human populations within their bastions. Some scholars continue aggressive debates about how much of the Archfey's power was real and how much was mere trickery. Whatever the mix, it was enough to dramatically reduce the world's population of dragons. Life proliferated through arcane experimentation, generating most of the diversity we see in modern fey. Dragonborn and metallic dragons were also the result Archfey initiatives. Increasingly wild experiments caused magical forces to splinter and diverge. Politically and metaphysically, chaos reigned when the Imperium Arcanum collapsed amid internal strife.
 IV. The Age of Heroes Struggles to survive after the fall of elven civilization created unfathomable desperation. Multitudes long nourished by the Archfey's glamorous bounty now fought over the modest returns from hunting and gathering. Feudal agriculture slowly elevated humanity out of a savagely dark period. With famines and plagues devastating every major population center, frantic people would look to anyone or anything in search of hope. They even took to prayer, calling out to the cosmos in search of salvation.
 So many sentient people with no gods of their own -- this is a deity's concept of treasure. Hundreds of new religions inspired their own prophets and evangelists. Holy orders of clerics and paladins became effective spellcasters, calling down power from their divine patrons. Spiritual magic flowed through an increasing number of channels. Also, a new fusion of fey and nature magic emerged. Human caretakers watching over Standing Stones blended animistic beliefs with working remnants of elven arcana. Practitioners of this form called themselves druids, joining a single global organization commited to protecting nature while steering clear of civilized politics.
 Elves and their gnomish minions retained considerable magical knowledge, but the greatest arcanists of this era were human. Only truly accomplished magic-users could claim the title of Wizard. Early in this era, illusionists alone practiced their speciality, while the most powerful dweomers remained the exclusive province of Arch-Magi. Over time each of the Eight Schools joined the growing list of arcane specialties. Continuing proliferation eventually made the study of magic almost incoherent.
 Ambient energies of the era were mentally invasive, eroding memory of magical formulae as they were employed. Preparing to cast spells required forethought, and deploying them to good effect required difficult judgements. Meanwhile, the gods themselves fought thousands of battles. Divine clashes sent ripples across every corner of the world. This competition consumed the bulk of a rich spiritual harvest. Social and technological progress stagnated amidst the violence of countless holy wars and territorial conflicts.
 V. The Great Consolidation Centuries before its implementation, events started to set the stage for Shang-Ti's Immaculate System. Warring deities exiled vanquished rivals from this world. Likewise, human politics saw minor tribes and city-states merging to form great nations. 1 G.C. was a year of epic upheaval. Only modern methods of spellcasting continued to function as expected. All wizards could only continue their progress as specialists in one of the Eight Schools. Only magical phenomena associated with one of the Seven Sources remained useful. Teachings outside the Six Forms failed to improve the capabilities of spellcasters.
 Entire libraries had to be revised. Yet the loss of old lore was balanced by the emergence of new techniques. New stability in many common magical flows gives spellcasters greater flexibility. Personal energy can be applied to any preparation, and the action itself no longer taxes a caster's memory. Cantrips, once dismissed as parlor tricks, now include effects every bit as deadly as weapons in the hands of a skilled warrior. Bards, clerics, druids, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards refined their own approaches to magic. In their own way, each unlocked some secrets of the most powerful spells. Other adventuring classes, save for barbarians, incorporated some measure of spellcasting lore and training.
 This great upheaval also saw the Fivesquare Pantheon establish complete control of spiritual magic. Clerical spellcasting can only succeed when devoted to one of those twenty-five deities. Good and evil alike, the entire pantheon is considered holy. No one knows how many entities grant power through unholy pacts, but everyone knows warlocks and clerics generally condemn each other. In some lands, pact magic violates laws against witchcraft. Except for warlocks, humanity tends to judge spellcasters by their deeds rather than their favored form of magic. Today, spells play a vital role in the economy and the culture every civilization on the surface of the world.

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Spellcasting Style Each of the Six Forms is a distinctive approach to magic associated with a prominent category of practitioners. These relationships are definitive. They determine which spells might possibly be cast. They formalize the method by which new spells are learned. They even designate which personal attributes influence spellcasting aptitude.

♪  Bard ⇒ Musical (Charisma) ✠  Cleric ⇒ Spiritual (Wisdom) ♣  Druid ⇒ Natural (Wisdom) ≬  Sorcerer ⇒ Visceral (Charisma) ★  Warlock ⇒ Contractual (Charisma) ∢  Wizard ⇒ Intellectual (Intelligence)

When it comes to a philosophy of magic, many individuals follow the the teachings of institutions like colleges, temples, or guilds. Others embrace ancient mystical traditions or pattern their efforts on the work of a great practitioner from an earlier generation. Then there are individuals who develop a profoundly original approach to the subject. All are united in that every spellcaster knows some blend of lessons and lore from across the Six Forms.

The Six Forms Different magical traditions emphasize different aspects of the craft. One mark of a well-rounded arcane education is systematic training in each of the Six Forms. While the university experience is not required to work magic, all spellcasters possess some grasp of the principles at the heart of every form. Understanding sufficient to weave an actual spell can only be achieved through the synthesis of basic ideas from these diverse perspectives.
 Countless holy orders, bardic colleges, arcane universities, druid circles, and secret covens teach distinctive approaches to magic. Like martial arts styles or types of dance, these forms vary in emphasis and technique. Scholars generally believe Shang-Ti's Immaculate System called for five forms of spellcasting. If true, this part of the plan did not execute flawlessly. Metaphysical shadows lurked under spiritual channels engineered to contain and recirculate the power of prayers. These imperfections in the system create opportunities for unholy entities to connect with mortals seeking empowerment. Thus there are truly six forms of magical practice in the modern world.
 ★ Contractual All magic requires bargaining with mysterious forces. Every respectable spellcaster has an answer to the question, "what have you sacrificed for your power?" Be it years of study, joining a holy order, or relentless rehearsal; real magical power is always one side of an exchange. Most spells must be prepared by way of study, exercise, meditation, or rite. Some spells also consume precious material contributions. To take hold of magical power, one must first contribute much in time and effort if not also supplies.
 Then there are the concessions integral to the casting process. Circumstances may force a practitioner to improvisationally adjust a formula, substituting some readily available flow of energy for a similar yet absent flow. Subtle tweaks in the timing or composition of a spell may be needed to work around magical interference caused by transient phenomena. Even spell selection may require concessions, since a foe might be immune to a specific damage type or it may be best to reserve an especially draining effort for a more crucial moment.
 Making compromises and striking bargains is the essence of the contractual form, exemplified by witchcraft. Contractual magic is best practiced by the guileful, able to present minor acts of service as grand gestures of devotion. Legendary abominations, Archfey, demons, and devils may be unmentionable in polite company. Yet mighty boons await spellcasters willing to praise their secret names and act as conduits for unholy powers. This form is an anethema to many, especially practitioners of the spiritual form.

Magical Formulae The act of spellcasting is often completed with no more than a momentary flurry of syllables and gestures. Yet being prepared to cast a spell requires so much more than memorizing a few words and motions. Particulars of powering, positioning, and timing cannot be ignored. All manner of inflections and additions must be understood so that each casting can be adapted to the circumstances at hand. From the number of targets to the local wind speed, all manner variables may warrant adjustments during a successful casting effort.  A magical formula is packed with notes or lessons addressing a wide range of contingencies. Spellbooks, bardic performances, holy scriptures, and occult manuals are all laced with anecdotes and parables that convey instruction about the workings of specific spells. Written formulae may be supplemented with charts, diagrams, and sketches. Even the simplest effort to weave real magic requires some understanding of how to draw upon appropriate energies as well as how to control the spell's effect.  Rhyming verse is popular with spellcasters since it is easily committed to memory. Novices are often amazed to discover well-known doggerels they learned in youth have hidden meanings when interpreted as commentaries about an arcane force or the workings of a specific spell. Any mnemonic device that enhances recall of crucial information is an asset to practitioners learning new spells or preparing for a fresh day of making magic.

 ∢ Intellectual All magic requires the study of complex interactions among unseen energies. If spellcasting was simple, everyone would do it. Modern arcane experts benefit from progress achieved over thousands of years. Countless scholarly studies and even more magical experiments contribute to a downright awesome breadth and depth of written knowledge. Some academics make entire careers out of testing and documenting the properties of one specific interaction of magical forces. Most focus on distilling wide-ranging expertise down to essential lessons taught to aspiring spellcasters in preparation for an apprenticeship.
 Even the most intuitive practitioners still need to develop some grasp of the energies and synergies that give power to magic. Through the experience of using lesser spells effectively, fresh insights give rise to understandings that unlock more potent techniques. For example, a sorcerer reviewing an ancient book may read that ley lines pulse with four times the frequency of the dominant solar wave, while a bard playing outside on a sunny day observes that sounding a double octave seems to weave a connection unifying those two forms of ambient energy. Completely different paths sometimes lead to the same useful knowledge.
 Typified by wizardry, the intellectual form primarily relies on expert study of these interactions. At the heart of it all are arcane formulae and personal observations recorded in writing. The academic demands of this form require a keen mind, as do the complexities of achieving intended results. Yet the right combination of learning and genius has the potential to command the most potent magic accessible to mortals. During the Age of Heroes, this form alone unlocked mysteries at the highest levels of power.
 ♪ Musical All magic requires patterns of rhythm, melody, and/or harmony be expressed creatively. Superb timing is essential for spellcasters intent on deploying instantaneous effects or utilizing transient resources. Every gesture and utterance of a spell must be coordinated with respect to patterns in the magical environment as well as the positions of intended targets. Complex spellcasting may involve crescendos to sculpt rising forces, pitch bends to direct one flow into another, overtones to preserve constituents of a partially completed weave, etc. Spellcasters need not be musicians, but they must be precise with the pacing and tone of their efforts.
 The phrase "practice of magic" is especially meaningful. Reliable spellcasting requires exhaustive rehearsal. The basic pattern of each spell must be deeply ingrained for effortless recall. Without prior rote learning, it is impossible to confidently adapt and improvise as needed during the actual casting of a spell. Being satisfied with the bare minimum is a recipe for failure. Truly effective spellcasting, like truly great musical performance, overlays inspired creative expression atop comfortable mastery of the standard performance.
 The musical form, normally associated with bards, taps into magical energy through specialized compositions. Effects are triggered by the performance of excerpts from those great works. Star quality is the best indicator of natural aptitude for this approach. The need to rehearse extensively limits the size of each practitioner's repertoire. With a mix of relentless practice and inspiration drawn for personal growth, new magical songs are learned and refined. Some bards even infuse their music with patterns borrowed from other spellcasters' techniques.

Inspired Magic Not all spellcasting is learned from lecturing masters and arcane texts. Some practitioners seize upon sources of inspiration as they develop and improve their own magical techniques. So much of what druids learn follows from observation and meditation in wild places. Their spells often feature sounds derived from animal calls and gestures based on shapes recurrent in the wild. After all, nature is an excellent teacher offering a global classroom full of valuable lessons. Any spellcaster may benefit from study of the Natural Form, though it is the essence of druidic magic.  Except for the Old Faith, religions feature scriptures, and these scriptures feature magical formulae. Yet clerics also draw great inspiration from prayer and meditation. The gods are fond of sending signs to their most loyal servants. It is likewise with devils and other unholy entities. They may favor more ominous signs, like messages buried in the ravings of the insane or details evident at the scene of a freak accident. Yet students of the Bargaining Form recognize these messages as invitations to expand the scope of an occult pact. For those who wish to be led, any magical guidance is a profoundly inspiring experience.

 ♣ Natural All magic requires awareness of environmental conditions. The wilderness speaks to those who will listen. Attentive regard for the present local situation can reveal much about unseen forces. From the most spectacular birdsong to the simple chirping of a cricket, the presence or absence of specific energies may be recognized through signs in animal behavior. The same is true of so much else -- the clouds in the sky, ripples in a puddle, a flickering campfire. This is just as true in a deep dungeon or a crowded city as it is at the heart of a verdant forest. Even the play of shadows over uneven surfaces may indicate specific magical resources are at hand.
 Taking control of these resources and directing them with intention is the general method of all spellcasting. Some efforts are special due to the technical complexity or extraordinary timing of the weave. In other cases, the quality of spellcasting reflects a practitioner's gift for living off the land -- sensing and gathering the best available ambient resources. Effective magic requires vigilance enough to pick up on environmental cues. This may provide clues about local phenomena to avoid as well as the availability of useful magical resources.
 The natural form has roots in the primitive shamanism emulated by the first druids. Immersion in and meditation on the beauty of thriving wildlands is the path to this mode of enlightenment. Tranquil and content, the true student of nature experiences awakened senses and a yearning to comprehend the unseen. Sensitivity and patience are important qualities for excelling with this form. For earnest practitioners it becomes devotional. Yet the magic works equally well whether that devotion involves a Nature God or some more abstract concept of nature.
 ✠ Spiritual All magic requires humility in the face of miraculous power. The true mind of a deity is beyond the comprehension of any mortal being. Accepting the mystery with reverent awe is first step taken toward faith-based spellcasting. Heartfelt prayer is essential, though commitments often run deeper. Many holy orders impose strict codes of behavior, and priests are expected to see ceremonial duties as an opportunity to spread the faith. Association with a specific institution may involve being subordinate to harsh and unreasonable superiors. At the very least, some tracts of holy scripture must be memorized.
 Once a life is lived through the prism of service to a god, a personal spiritual connection may form. Motes of divinity itself can be channeled through the body of a devoted worshipper. Practitioners of this form also know sacred words, gestures, and rites developed to express prayers in the ways of that god's choosing. Given proper technique and a sufficiently strong relationship with a patron deity, this holy magic may reach beyond the world and tap raw godly power to cause miraculous effects.

Magic Fatigue Casting spells is an effort unlike any other. During the Age of Heroes, spellcasters would open their minds to the magical turmoil of the world, allowing it to scour away memory of any formula during the act of its use. This side effect is not a feature of the modern magical environment. Yet even the most accomplished practitioners can experience magic fatigue. Be it serving as a vessel for divine energy, constantly scrutinizing the area for subtle clues, calculating the progression of a chain reaction, or singing a particularly high note -- casting a spell normally takes a toll.  The best magical effects are imbued with a caster's purpose, but untapped magic often seems intent on thwarting spellcasters. Any success at all is rare without years of relentless training. Lessons from each of the Six Forms must be learned and applied for a coherent effect to emerge from the seething turbulence of the magical environment. Experienced practitioners will improve their spellcasting potential in both quantity and quality. Yet, once that potential is exhausted, the flows of energy employed to power spells will seem as elusive and confounding as they always are for struggling apprentices. Rest is the method by which spellcasters recover their faculties and regain effective command over magical resources.

 Epitomized by clerical magic, the spiritual form is all about calling down this higher power. One must be both steadfast and judicious to perform well as a living conduit of divinity. Yet the channels wherein this energy flows are equally real to unbelievers. To completely ignore them risks troublesome interference with other magical phenomena. Also, each deity has a portfolio within The Immaculate System. Without resorting to earnest worship, any spellcaster may use a gesture or verbiage to show respect for a relevant deity. When attempting to conjure a mighty storm, it does no harm to offer a tip of the hat to the Sky Gods.
 ≬ Visceral All magic requires strong emotional projection. Just as a warriors use strength to give power to a blade, spellcasters use intention to give purpose to energy. The best effects seem motivated to accomplish their creator's goal. Focus on a simmering hatred can help a magical combatant deliver vicious attacks. Likewise, efforts to heal and restore others are best paired with sincere compassion and concern. Dwelling on the feeling that inspires a casting establishes a pattern to shape and guide constituent energies.
 Practitioners of this form look inward for potent fervor. They are driven to generate effects bigger, longer, and stronger than ordinary outcomes. Cultivating the ideal state of mind for a particular magical exploit requires an intimate connection with each spell, so visceral casters learn few. Yet they find ways to strain the limits of each. Advanced techniques support emotional nuance, like sympathy for a bystander caught in the midst of many despised foes. A sufficiently intense feeling of urgency may even enable a spellcaster to use an abridged formula to produce a complete effect.
 Sorcerers avidly explore the visceral form. Their greatest results surpass the best efforts of any other practitioners utilizing the same spell. Force of personality and sheer willpower are the attributes that enable emotional impulses to enrich the weave of magic being cast. All spellcasters act with intention to some degree, using personal resolve to set energy in motion. The visceral form goes beyond mere initiation, exploiting passion as a catalyst for arcane reactions. Practitioners with the most explosive tempers are literally the cause of the biggest explosions.

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Magical Spectra Different minds percieve the same magical phenomena in different ways. Recent centuries have seen growing standardization of the techniques practitioners use to visualize underlying energies. To promote common ground and useful discussion, many modern colleges and cloisters teach the Simple Spectral Structure. This has no bearing on the color of effects produced by spells, but many practitioners find clarity in this consistent approach to analyzing the constituent energies of magic.

███ Red distinguishes power of draconic origin. ███ Orange indicates personal mental effort. ███ Yellow suggests the presence of a holy spirit. ███ Green marks the vital energy of living things. ███ Blue is characteristic of cosmic energy. ███ Indigo signifies a fiendish force at work. ███ Violet designates power of fey origin.

Illusions, paint, and puffs of colored powder can be useful in demonstrating the behavior of magical resources. The best spellbooks are illuminated with rare inks enabling small illustrations or diagrams to contain tremendous amounts of information. As teaching techniques, colorful representations shape the expectations of aspiring spellcasters. Both the general study of magic and progress within a particular tradition are well-served by detection approaches that distinguish each of the Seven Sources from one another.

The Seven Sources In the beginning, there was only life. As they acquired intelligence, dragons formed the first thoughts, then flooded the world with their own variety of magic. Elves rose to power by converting much of this into a new type of energy. They went on to analyze the heavens and integrate cosmic forces into the arcane environment. Countless gods and devils intervened to directly empower mortal followers. The Immaculate System did much to stabilize and regulate the magic of the world. Even so, it remains a ceaselessly turbulent blend of energies and forces collectively known as the Seven Sources.
 Unlike material objects, multiple magical phenomena can occupy the same space simultaneously. Some fields span the globe. Various sorts of waves or rays also cover tremendous areas, like the light from a full moon. Ley lines and holy channels each comprise seperate worldwide networks. Other resources are ubiquitous in some environments and scarce in others. For example, clouds and pools of ambient life energy accumulate heavily in thriving forests while comparatively rare and small on icy tundra. Many magical phenomena are the byproducts of prior spellcasting or an event of downright metaphysical importance. Their number is too vast for a complete accounting, but any energies useful for powering magic spells can be categorized among the Seven Sources.
 ◼ Cosmic Energy from beyond this world constantly flows down from the sky. Its forms are many and mysterious, yet they include sunlight -- a magical resource familiar even to the uninitiated. Dozens of cosmic forces take the form of fields or rays covering much if not all of the world. Some even permeate the deepest recesses of Labyrinth. Spellcasters cannot manipulate the whole of such vast phenomena, but local interactions often prove useful. Many rays can be concentrated, their energies accumulating around a specific attractor. Also, the correct lenses or reflectors can concentrate widespread energy into a single focal point. Intensified by enough orders of magnitude, invisble rays comfortably experienced by all may be transformed into a brilliant spectacle or a downright deadly power.
 A legendary bard once said of spellcasting, "sometimes, it's about the energies you don't weave." Plenty of magical effects require shielding from a pervasive cosmic field. Complex arcane reactions may generate byproducts that would be disruptive to other constituents of the same effort. Refraction, reflection, absorption, and dissipation all provide ways to keep a form of unwanted magical energy from interacting with a delicate process underway. Like a cloud passing under the Sun, fluctuations sometimes sweep across the local magical environment. Maintaining an active spell may require constant adjustment to the mechanisms that shield against disruptive energies.

Transient Magic Gods and devils often package energy channeled through spells cast in their name. These magical resources only exist for the moment of their transmission. Unstable products used in cascading reactions may be similarly short-lived. These transient resources often prove ideal for weaving spells that produce an instantaneous effect. They have been studied extensively despite the fact that they barely manifest long enough to be observed or measured.  The quest to analyze fleeting magic requires peering intently into the deepest mysteries. Millennium after millennium of spellcasting filled the world with arcane echoes. Patterns of interference form where otherwise undetectable ripples converge. Faded remnants of draconic resources may rise abruptly where other forms of magic collide or swirl in particular ways. Wisps and streaks of unidentified energies randomly flicker across a typical scene. The only constant is turmoil. Mainstream scholars generally agree that prolonged continuous scrutiny of the magical environment is corrosive to sanity.

 At some point in the journey from novice to archmage, wizards shift their studies from casting spells under normal conditions to spellcasting under extreme conditions. The most ambitious arcane fomulae concentrate or exclude particular forms of cosmic energy, creating tiny instances of these extreme conditions. For example, lightning effects are often launched from a tiny field of static. With the right magnetic flourish, such a field can be uniformly polarized in the instant before it is tapped. The end result unleashes more destructive energy while providing more control over that energy. Learning the properties of cosmic forces and the techniques for shaping them often makes the difference between basic spellcasting and advanced magic.
 ◼ Draconic When the earliest dragons creatively shaped their own fiery breath, the magical environment of the world was forever marked by their efforts. It is unclear if dragons chose to imbue certain words with mystic power or if their original language was derived from verbal magic discoveries. Either way, the earliest speech was not intended to describe things so much as change them. Popular sentiment associates draconic magic with furious bursts of destructive energy, but arcane scholars understand that the true essence of it is transformative.
 Their bodies, their offspring, their lairs, and their prey were all subject to extensive modifications. Before there were dragons, forms of life thrived or perished as a function of fitness for the natural environment. By the time the first generation of spellcasting dragons completely died off, the world was packed with new forms of hooved or humanoid livestock shaped by the will of godlike wyrms. The ease with which dragons tapped into a simple magical environment gave way to turbulent complexity. Volatile interactions between the ambient energies of life and resources forged by dragon magic made reliable spellcasting increasingly difficult.
 Dragons found themselves unable to shape the world as their ancient ancestors had. Their language of imperatives did not lend itself to the sorts of analytical study needed to command magical resources in a world awash with the echoes of such epic prior spellcasting. Many dragons went insane struggling to make sense of magical turmoil. Modern spellcasters extract the most powerful draconic resources from the jets, vortices, and wakes generated by volatile interactions of other magical phenomena. With proper direction these intense energies can inflate an effect to fill an area, disrupt a spell in progress, or change the shape of objects and creatures.

Magical Infrastructure Few moments altered the history of the world like the completion of the ritual energizing the original ley lines. Immediately, leaders of the rebellion against dragonkind understood that they would rise to positions of unrivalled power. They organized into the Imperium Arcanum -- literally "the empire of secrets." Countless mature dragons were sacrificed to build a small web of mystical connections into a robust global network for channeling magical energy. Adding inputs from both the natural world and the cosmos, ascendant Archfey fortified this network to be self-replenishing and impervious to disruption.  Even today, ley lines influence the availability and behavior of magical resources. The path of the nearest line as well as the relative location of the nearest convergence are two facts spellcasters are likely to find informative. Druids, bards, and some warlocks will be particularly attuned to the fey power coursing through these lines. Some practitioners make an effort to stay connected even when far removed from the nearest ley line. Others simply let their distance from the network inform selections made while weaving flows of energy into a spell. Ley lines provide fixed geographical references in a magical environment where churning commotion is the norm.  The Fivesquare Pantheon also established an orderly network of magical conduits. Unable to replace or hijack the ley lines, they constructed an entirely seperate entity. Reaching to sources in the heavens, spiritual channels guide holy energy downward in answer to prayers. Any plea for divine assistance opens such a channel. Sacred rituals and consistent prayers cause these links to grow stronger. Priests are often eager to consecrate lands and structures, including their own houses of worship, making it is more convenient for a patron deity to furnish magical resources. Though geography has nothing to do with it, there is a kernel of truth when worshippers report feeling "closer" to their patron deity while visiting shrines and temples.  A personal relationship with that patron deity is essential for spellcasters who rely heavily on holy power. That relationship functions as a sort of spiritual tether to the broader network. It also guides network's growth whenever religious activity sanctifies previously unhallowed ground. Some practitioners believe holy symbols and readings from scripture help deities to find their mark when channeling energy into unfamiliar territory. Others believe that the entire network is less a literal structure and more an association of ideas. This theory holds that declaring and promoting faith in a location establishes the idea of that location in the mind of a god. It follows that the vast spiritual network is nothing more than paths of divine awareness.  Abominations, demons, and devils have all found ways to obscure their own magical channels. They work through an unholy underground of occult rituals and cryptic spellcasting techniques. With the right bargains, warlocks learn how to call forth magical resources from their own ungodly patrons. Moving through the shadows of holy spiritual channels, these dark transmissions from hellish places are able to infiltrate the mortal realm. The Archfey also do business with warlocks, though their unholy resources typically emerge from ley lines. Thus both networks of magical infrastructure create opportunities to channel energy in ways seemingly contrary to the will of the gods.

 ◼ Fey Cunning and graceful, it was elvenkind that dragons tasked with making sense of magical inquiry. The first fey used piles of skin and blood to record more information than an adult dragon could carve into an entire mountainside. Soon the elves developed parchment and inks. Bound volumes of arcane lore were second only to piles of gold coins as status symbols among dragons. As archivists and researchers, elves crafted their own language of whispers and flowing script. Through many generations of serving dragonkind, secret elven lore accumulated into its own sophisticated magical tradition. Little by little, elves grew in power by misinforming their masters and skimming supplies for their own purposes.
 Those purposes included activating a network of connections that would ease the process of teleporting to or from secret meeting places where elven magi honed combat techniques. Long thought to be invincible, dragons fell by the thousands when the attacks began. Ritual sacrifice of their blood supercharged the elven network, sending new vibrations across the world. Emboldened fey leaders soon looked beyond the world, further complicating the magical environment by exposing it to cosmic energies. As more sources mingled in a cacophony of power, many surviving dragons turned away from spellcasting. Yet the elves only grew more capable.
 The greatest magics of the Imperium Arcanum were elaborate constructs of gargantuan size. These impossibly tall bastions provided not only security, but also food, water, and entertainment for the millions of humans housed within each structure. These labor forces helped elves gather and process materials to expand their empire and continue war against dragons. Fey magic resources are abundant, though the most lively specimens flow along ley lines or circulate near Standing Stones. Often taking the form of hazy wisps or swarms of shimmering motes, remnants of this ancient magic can be used to power physical transformations, project phantasms, and alter the behavior of creatures. Capricious and unpredictable, these resources also prove useful in the production of random effects as well as spells intended to influence luck.
 ◼ Holy Quarrels among the gods once made divine energy a disorderly tangle of forces in opposition. Tremendous powers were cancelled out while deities labored to foil one another. The Immaculate Plan harmonized the world's divine energy, turning bitter rivalries into concerted efforts at popularizing sacred narratives. The same heavenly reforms established a robust infrastructure of channels and protocols. Religious spellcasters now form personal connections with their patron gods. Consecrated observances and consistent prayers serve to reinforce these links as well as the broader network of spiritual conduits. When properly invoked, holy energy is delivered on demand, powering downright miraculous effects.
 Without faith and prayer, the best of these resources are not normally available to spellcasters. Yet there is always some chance that a deity invited to support a spell might choose to do so if its purpose is aligned with that god's agenda. Also, all practitioners need to be aware of holy magic since the global network can interfere with some efforts. Wards and veils must be incorporated into vulnerable weaves, sheltering effects otherwise undermined by a holy presence. Yet some arcane casting may interact usefully with ambient holy energy. Basic illumination, warmth, and calm are all effects that can be achieved with spillage -- residual traces of overflow from these spiritual channels. The success of The Immaculate System generates considerable surpluses.
 For well-connected spellcasters, even greater applications of this energy are possible. For effects that restore, protect, or heal; it surpasses other sources. The energy of each deity bears its own unique signature. Yet it all flows along the same shared network, coordinated to prevent conflicts that might generate losses. From the most desolate wastelands to the deepest dungeons, there is no location left untouched by this apparatus of the divine. Faithful clergy maintain their spiritual connections wherever they travel, and religious rites leave traces of holy energy in their wake. The reach of the gods extends to every place an earnest prayer has been given voice.
 ◼ Life Before any spells were cast in the world, the land was covered with living things, and the sea likewise bounteous. All this life is innately magical. Living creatures leave traces of this magic wherever they linger. It tends to coalesce and diffuse in slow cycles governed by the Moon or the seasons. Wild habitats thrive all the more when these energies are recycled through spellcasting that benefits local plants and animals. Life is naturally inclined to proliferate and diversify. Aligning with this process provides harmonious access to abundant magical resources.
 Yet this energy may be manipulated in other ways. Some necromancy pulls the life right out of victims, causing creatures to weaken and decay. Infusions of this same energy provide an alternative to the gods as a source of healing. Like the dragons and elves of ages past, the boldest modern spellcasters can manipulate life energy change the shape of living things. This source also has a particular affinity for the land, the sea, and the elements. With variants beyond the scope of any writing, it is impossible to calculate how many possible combinations of life energy might be woven together.
 Awareness of local plants and animals can guide spellcasters reaching out for magical resources. Spellcasters may imitate the calls or movements of specific creatures as a means to better tap these resources. In addition to detailed illustrations of related flora and fauna, arcane formulae often feature prose or verse packed with information about techniques for harvesting specific resources. Practitioners with an especially strong connection to nature may maintain vast reserves of these resources. This proves useful for spellcasting in barren lands as well as crowded urban environments where ambient life energy tends to be less diverse.

Pinched Magic Time challenges even the deepest thinkers. Is it a force? Is it an energy? Does it come in waves? With little relevant experimental evidence, modern universities tend to address the subject as a question of philosophy rather than physics. Spellcasters can modify the relative passage of time for specific targets, but more divergent ratios require greater effort. Anything beyond doubling or halving the passage of time is a challenge only the greatest practitioners might attempt.  Yet this is only true of living beings and material objects. Very little effort is required to manipulate the relationship between time and a local magical resource. Any adjustment tends to create a feedback loop amplifying the manipulation to its theoretical limit. This makes for a process of extremes known to arcanists as "pinching" to generate a "flare" or a "hold."  A resource on hold becomes inert to magical reactions. The rate of change due to its rising or falling state is indistinguishable from zero. Complex spellcasting may require putting several resources on hold until a weave is nearly finished. Many arcane formulae list "a pinch" of something to instruct that a constituent energy should be put on hold until the spell's effect is triggered. When a weave is complete, holds are released to coordinate intended magical reaction(s).  "A pinch" may also refer to the act of consuming a magical resource by compressing its remaining existence into a single instant known as a "flare." A normal candle may offer hours of light and a little bit of warmth. Yet if all that energy could be released in less than a second, the result would be a blinding flash and a small fiery explosion. Consider this technique applied to death echoes -- the magical ripples that form in the wake of violent killing. They are sometimes experienced as a slight chill lingering near the site of the slaughter. If a skilled spellcaster recognizes one of these resources then pinches it into a flare, the entire potential energy of the death echo can be tapped to power significant effects involving frost or necrosis.

 ◼ Thought All biology exudes life energy, and all sentient beings generate a second source of magic. At the heart of every spell is an intention. Even the lengthiest rituals are not shaped entirely by words and gestures. All thinking beings have the potential to project extremely faint yet highly reactive magical phenomena. From a sorcerer spinning a fireball out of a dragon's wake to a cleric reaching out to cure a blind man, it is the delicate magic of thought that conveys intention to other resources in a pending weave.
 During the Age of Heroes, rare individuals and several varieties of creature developed extraordinary powers by generating tremendous levels of thought energy. Though some of these psychic creatures still exist, humans and the other civilized races of the surface world are no longer so empowered. Even for effects like reading minds or scrying, modern spellcasters must pair their intentions with at least one of the other six sources to achieve results. Yet those results can include effects like mind control, paralysis, and telekinesis.
 Thought energy phenomena are regarded as tools of the trade, perhaps most akin to harnesses placed on beasts. Wizards and sorcerers perform mental calculations to optimize their spellcasting. A moment of calm reflection helps a cleric or druid administer relief. Passionate expression intensifies the efforts of bards and sorcerers. Humble pleading is essential for clerics and warlocks alike. A quick scan of the area informs wizards and druids of the best resources at hand. Bards and warlocks achieve excellent results by being mindful of aesthetics while casting a spell. Unlocking the power of thoughts is the beginning of every practitioner's journey toward effective spellcasting.
 ◼ Unholy Where solid objects block light, shadowy hiding places are the result. Some magical resources defy mortal comprehension. In doing so, they create opportunities for concealment. The Fivesquare Pantheon's network of spiritual channels consistently generates these magical shadows. Ungodly powers reach through the darkness to empower students of obscure occult practices. The greatest Archfey, abominations, demons, and devils all channel energy to spellcasters in exchange for the use of specific spellcasting techniques along with praise directed at patrons' secret names.
 Just as with holy magic, unholy channels gain capacity through repeated use. Resistance is eroded by frequent and strong flows. While unholy magic has been around since early in the Age of Heroes, it only became a reliable source of power in the modern era. Covens and cults can escalate with alarming speed. Theoretically, each local menace could develop into an apocalyptic crisis. Monstrous beings and social outcasts alike are drawn to the prospect of channeling unholy energy. Clergy typically condemn the use of unholy power, and some governments outlaw practices associated with the term "witchcraft."
 Unholy energy is both a temptation to its users and well-suited to effects that deceive or manipulate others. It is also easily woven into spells that do direct damage by inflicting bodily harm or promoting future misfortune. Even where witches and warlocks are not outlaws, they are often feared. Few scholars are versed in the cryptic lore of unholy energy. It sometimes reveals its presence through freakish coincidences as well as disturbing behavior among animals or people. With countless possible patrons, unholy magical resources are extraordinarily diverse. Yet they are all alike in leaving an unsettling strangeness in the aftermath of effects primarily energized by this source.

 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡

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The Eight Schools Unlike the elves and dragons before them, the most powerful human spellcasters during the Age of Heroes were often eager to share the specifics of their theories and techniques. Accumulations of lore provided a foundation to guide further original research. Early Wizards adopted a system associating each working dweomer with one of eight schools of magick. Thousands of years later, essentially the same Eight Schools classify the spells of modern times. All spellcasters possess a basic grasp of this system. Arcane universities tend to require some formal study in each of the Eight Schools. Yet established wizards always affiliate with a single arcane tradition, since specialization conveys both power and prestige.
 ◬ Abjuration This school prepares wizards to function as arcane bodyguards. Some political leaders keep their most learned abjurer close, since there is no better way to thwart the wrath of a hostile wizard. Dispel magic, counterspell, and antimagic field provide methods of guarding against a magical menace. Magic circle and globe of invulnerability are likewise popular in the face of other threats. Clergy make good use of this school of magic, with spells like sanctuary, aid, and holy aura to fortify allies under attack.
 Dedicated specialists may earn their keep providing magical security. Organized constabularies often place alarm spells to catch perpetrators foolish enough to return to the scene of the crime. Covert operations may utilize pass without trace or nondetection to avoid notice. The long labor of placing permanent guards and wards often commands a large fee. For problems that offer no other solution, a practitioner may rid a place of trouble with a banishment or imprisonment spell. Even where wizards are generally distrusted, abjurers may be regarded as sensible and practical individuals unlikely to start trouble.
 ◬ Conjuration
 ◬ Divinition
 ◬ Enchantment
 ◬ Evocation
 ◬ Illusion
 ◬ Necromancy Many people become uncomfortable thinking about this school and its keen focus on death. Only the most permissive communities allow animate dead to provide supplemental laborers. Yet many people will pay dearly for a speak with dead session before a funeral takes place. Of course, the most valuable service provided by magic from this school involves no funeral at all. Bloodsport seems downright irresponsible without a capable priest around to revivify the fallen. At the other extreme, true resurrection may literally be worth a king's ransom, or it may be freely cast with an eye toward historical consequence.
 Though several schools of magic feature methods of causing grave harm, necromancy offers particularly vicious options. Some practitioners call on the power of a god to inflict wounds or spread contagion. Others may weave negative energy to bestow curse or deliver an eyebite. More direct attacks include ray of enfeeblement and finger of death. Where control is preferable to death, magic jar may prove an insidiously devastating spell. With enough contemplation extending to subjects beyond this mortal coil, even astral projection is possible. Whatever common folk may think, most academics respect necromancy as an important and challenging school of magic.
 ◬ Transmutation Purify Food and Drink Fly Water Breathing Control Weather Control Water Stone Shape Move Earth Disintegrate Time Stop Regenerate True Polymorph


 ↟ Contents ↟  ↡ Index ↡

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The Nine Mysteries While religious folklore provides easy answers rooted in myth, the best available scholarship offers no clear answers to some incredibly important questions. Academics refer to the Nine Mysteries when discussing these topics outside the scope of well-established history and science. With sufficient resources, almost any quibble can be settled by turning to reference material, a capable diviner, or an esteemed expert on the subject at hand. The Nine Mysteries are popular topics of conversation precisely because they raise questions even the most knowledgeable sages cannot definitively answer.

Cosmic Context Scholars often refer to their native plane of existence as the Prime Material Plane. This acknowledges a multiverse with countless other worlds which, from indigenous perspectives, could be likewise named. Deities endeavor to cultivate large populations of thinking beings on worlds where magic runs strong. From this spiritual energy, a well-venerated god may feast. Theatron is an unusual natural bounty, since it was a highly populated and magically active world long before the first religious awakening. A divine punster might describe the world as a "prime Prime Material Plane."  As with so many of those parallel worlds, Theatron is not far removed from the Elemental Planes nor the Ethereal Plane. Even novice spellcasters may draw on resources from those places. Yet reality extends much farther. The Astral Plane is a realm of abstraction. Creatures somehow live there, but material beings ordinarily pass through only during journeys to and from the Outer Planes.  That incomprehensibly vast ring features many worlds of its own, each shaped by distinctive moral and physicial forces radically different from those that shaped Theatron. Many believe the Outer Planes are the true homes of the gods. Religious scriptures often support this perspective. Enough adventurers have returned from such extreme journeys to confirm that places like Nirvana, Olympus, and Asgard can be found among the Outer Planes. Taken in this broader context, Theatron begins to seem like a downright tiny place.

 ⦻ How did the world form? Theatron is a mystery even to the gods. Discovered worlds are rare. Among them, large populations of potential worshipers are rarer still. Great scholars know that all religious folklore about the origin of the world is myth. Yet none can peer past the mists of Primordial Times to witness any process of creation. The world, this plane of existence, and the multiverse in general are all real. Yet no theories about how they came to be are supported by anything resembling compelling evidence. Philosophers can only speculate about the origin of the cosmos while scientists still lack ideas about how to approach the question empirically.
 ⦻ Is the world a sentient being? It is only natural that people anthropomorphisize the world even if it is not alive. Yet some earnestly believe it is not only alive, but aware and mindful. Many speak of "the way of the world" as if they understand its intentions. Such speculation raises more questions than it answers. Could a world perceive, let alone care about, the actions of individuals on its surface? How would a globe influence events of individual significance? What languages might the world understand? Some claim to have experienced communion with the world, though the most learned and powerful skeptics cannot recreate this experience. The world does not grant prayers to an ordained priesthood, but . . .
 ⦻ What empowers the Old Faith? Simply invoking "the world" is not an effective approach to natural spellcasting. Yet dedication to "nature" or "the natural world" is effective. Druids do little to channel energy from more powerful beings. Instead, even those druids actively praying to a deity like Silvanus or Dagda will tend to draw their energy from residual life force accumulated in the local environment. Reverence for nature is an absolute requirement. Simultaneously a religion and not a religion, the Old Faith vexes modern theologists. Some masters of natural spellcasting hold mutually exclusive opinions about the essence of their craft. Thus even their ability to work powerful spells does not settle these debates.
 ⦻ Could the Imperium Arcanum be restored? In the time of elven domination, most people lived in vast fortresses shielded by layers of amplified magical defense. Bastions clad in delicate glass taunted dragons unable to smash the pretty windows or devour human workforces framed therein. When gods brought a new sort of magic into the world, an already fractured Imperium Arcanum quickly fell to shambles. Yet the gods could not dismantle the ley line network, and students of taboo lore continue to channel energy from the Archfey. Action against these "white witches" is typically motivated by fear that their efforts could bring back the tyranny of the elves. Is such a thing even possible? If so, what would the Archfey be like after five thousand years of hedonistic exile?

Secret Realms Faced with lore both confusing and conflicting, academics continue to debate the nature of Feywild and Shadowfell. Spellcasters are able to magically interact with each place, so they must exist. Some argue that they are particular zones of the Outer Planes with a strong connection to this world. Others contend Feywild and Shadowfell join the Elemental Planes to constitute a cluster of conveniently accessible Inner Planes. One popular theory holds that these are regions of the Prime Material Plane designated as prisons for beings the gods thought unfit to roam the cosmos.  History records the bulk of the Imperium Arcanum's magocracy accepting confinement inside the Moon in 2,908 A.H. With no dragons to hunt, legions of immensely powerful archmagi formed a society dedicated to self-indulgence. Personality clashes led to increasingly unhinged melodramas as the centuries passed. Most trips to Feywild involve wandering alone through impossibly beautiful landscapes or having profound conversations with talking animals. Other visitors report being swept up in relentless revelry where powerful magical intoxicants and incomprehnsibly elaborate dances delight and exhaust participants. Leaders of these lunar courts go by the names of ancient Archfey.  Could these be the same entities? If so, could they possibly return from exile? Also, if Feywild is a prison for the Archfey, might an even greater power be confined in Shadowfell? Intriguing speculation suggests it could be an epic evil imprisoned within the core of the world itself. Returning visitors often report pervasive gloom with little in the way of distinct sights or sounds. Yet a few tell of living shadows populating a kingdom of relentless dread. Denizens of this realm do not communicate willingly with outsiders. More than one team of legendary spellcasters never returned from an expedition to identify the Lords of Shadowfell.

 ⦻ Is divinity extremely powerful magic? Academic consensus holds that the Archfey were magic-users who became godlike after participating in the slaughter of so many powerful dragons. Ma Yuan's ascension involved the opportunistic consumption of two wounded gods. One perpsective holds that gods have somehow unlocked magical powers beyond the command of mortal spellcasters, having previously been mortal themselves. All sane experts agree that divine ascension is not a reasonable goal. Kings and emperors are not known for limiting themselves to reasonable goals. Developing a personal cult, killing a god on Theatron, battling gods on other planes, negotiating directly with Zeus or Shang-Ti -- speculation abounds about potential paths to godhood.
 ⦻ What are the Great Old Ones? Utterly alien and gratuitously cryptic, even the most powerful servants of the Great Old Ones know little about these beings. As with the Archfey, devils, and gods; the Great Old Ones bundle magical energy for use by mortal spellcasters. Yet they seem to need no infrastructure, conveying mostly cosmic resources from unpredictable angles. No patterns emerge from analysis. Their invocations may be indistinguishable from jibberish. How do they connect with pact partners? Where are they from? Why do they spread both power and insanity? Who or what the Great Old Ones are remains a mystery that even the gods consider impolite conversation.
 ⦻ What lurks at the center of the world? Tunneling through the land or even below the sea floor eventually leads to the Dread Zone, a dense layer of iron-bearing minerals where most of the voids are incorporated into one impossibly confusing network of tunnels and caverns. It is the mind-bending maze from which Labyrinth takes its name. Few return from this depth. Yet some have ventured beyond, discovering hatches that open over the Sea of Abominations. There are too few credible accounts of efforts to tunnel under that sea to reach any conclusions about an even deeper layer. Yet Labyrinth and the surface both support the widespread belief that something ominous inhabits the core of the world. Even today, the area remains an inaccessible enigma.
 ⦻ Will technology displace magic? The modern era sees human intellects shifting from arcane studies to the pursuit of invention. Optics and machine tools have made life better for millions of people. Though magic remains an integral part of modern living, it is fashionable to speculate about a world where spellcasting is no longer possible and technological wonders abound. Planar travellers have confirmed the existence of more advanced technology on other worlds, but nothing establishes that these advances are inevitable. Also, a high-tech future is not mutually exclusive with continuity in the spellcasting environment. Even if technological progress continues or accelerates, it is as likely to supplement magic as to marginalize it.
 ⦻ How will the world end? Many religious teachings hold that the world will end when Odin challenges Zeus for the right to sit on the Heavenly Throne. Some sages argue that this is a metaphor for betrayal. Should a dispute arise among the Regal Deities, it could disrupt The Immaculate System and open the world to a new flood of divine interlopers. This would not be the end of the world so much as the beginning of a new era plagued by divine conflicts. Then again, the full power of the gods is unfathomable. It is within the realm of possibility that one day Odin and Zeus will wage war in a manner that literally destroys the world itself. Even if this foretold doomsday never occurs, the idea that the world is eternal is no less strange than the idea that it will eventually end.

The Regal Deities Odin, Dagda, Zeus, Ra, and Shang-Ti are all beings accustomed to bending even other gods to their will. Phrases like "lord of lords" and "king of kings" often spill from the lips of their priests. When the spiritual flows of the world were standardized by The Immaculate System, each of these five Regal Deities would be joined by four other great gods of similar cultural affiliation. The maturation of this arrangement raised a cosmic barrier to interference from outside deities, at the same time reinforcing wards against the return of any Dead Gods.  Other entities encourage worship, but all divine magic is firmly governed by The Immaculate System. Some hellish or angelic beings personally wield sparks of divine power, but tapping into the spiritual energy of religious practice in this world requires loyalty pledged to a receptive power. Every cleric is passionately devoted to a specific patron deity, though some attribute their blessings to a broader pantheon or a complete abstraction. The Regal Deities have lattitude to authorize some flexibility in the particulars of worship associated with their cultural heritage.

 Though many divinities have touched the face of the world, the Great Consolidation drove almost all of them away. Five groups of five gods remain, in some cases answering prayers directed at their departed peers. Odin and Zeus have made particular efforts to perpetuate worship of their wives by empowering priests and inspiring heroes devoted to those absent godesses. Yet there have also been many purges. Over 97% of the deities once active in the world are now unable to grant prayers, physically manifest, or otherwise intervene.
 In the modern age, all holy magic is under the control of twenty-five active deities. Collectively known as the Fivesquare Pantheon, these deities are all survivors of cosmic struggles for control of the world. Five dominions of contiguous ethnic homelands each embrace a distinct body of traditions inspired by a leader among gods -- Odin for the Norish, Dagda for the Sylvanians, Zeus for the Truscans, Ra for the Serpians, and Shang-Ti for the people of the Orient. Some additional gods survived the Great Consolidation as stalwart allies of their leaders. Others made a place for themselves as adversaries or foils.
 Within each cultural group, ongoing tensions facilitate narratives priests employ to inspire the faithful and illustrate moral arguments. Highly educated people are aware of which twenty-five gods remain real forces active in the world today, though common folk may only know much about a personal patron and a few deities prominent in local religious practice. Most human communities are home to clergy eager to promote their faith and provide selective instruction in religious lore. Followings of laypeople accumulate through the performance of useful work, the delivery of inspiring public orations, and the growth of religious institutions. Artists of all sorts can find commissions if they are willing to glorify the sacred stories of a faith ministering to a large congregation.
 Each deity answers prayers from more than one approach to worship. Some religious practices are governed by earthly organizations that take official positions on even the smallest points of doctrine. Others are only traditions or philosophies that advance and diversify faith whenever exceptional individuals make their mark. If a prayer pleases them, deities may channel magical energy to supplicants. The subsequent connection will make the most of similar prayers in while also easing the effort needed to work miracles through mortal conduits. Each member of the Fivesquare Pantheon employs layers of unearthly minions to coordinate routine activity along spiritual flows. Only the most ambitious invocations of divine power require personal thought or effort from an actual god.

Divine Spellcasting The Immaculate System sees the acts of prayer and devotion conveying energy into one of twenty-five heavenly fountains. Each god draws incalculable power from a connection to one of these features. When a holy plea is expressed by a supplicant in the mortal realm, an opportunity for outreach emerges. Granting a miracle in answer to prayer either creates or improves a spiritual channel. These channels transmit energy flowing down from a heavenly fountain to a place where a deity wishes to empower magic. This process only serves practitioners who understand the fundamentals of spellcasting with particular emphasis on humbling themselves before a greater power.  The best priests wish to be instruments of a divine being. The most effective religions drive their adherents to advance the agenda of such a being. Prayer, meditation, and/or ritual sacrifice become routine activities for every cleric. Sincerity is not optional. Even the most flexible philosophies fail a spellcaster who no longer embraces their core values. Holy orders explicitly forbid certain acts, leaving transgressors without magical support until sufficient atonement has been made. Some practitioners of spiritual magic recover from every crisis of faith, restoring good relations with their divine patrons. Others may embrace a different set of beliefs. If newfound convictions are heartfelt, a cleric may discover a different path to familiar power.

 ∀ Holy orders are formal approaches to worship demanding prayers dedicated to the explicit language of one divine portfolio. Participation in specific rituals may be required. Many holy orders feature rigid codes of conduct. Flagrant disregard for these strictures alienates the divine patron as well as others of the same faith. More than a few of these groups achieved global scope by developing a body of practices and scripture that allows them to provide superior goods or services to the public. Yet their trade secrets are always secondary to the sacred purpose that each member must pursue passionately. True devotion is the only path into the clergy of these organizations. Some select new members from regular classes of hopefuls put through demanding training and testing procedures. Other holy orders remain strong without much in the way of infrastructure because their miraculous feats inspire spontaneous religious conversions.
 φ Philosophies are promoted by deities even though prayers may be directed at an abstract entity or a general aspiration. Some scholars believe any philosophy compatible with spellcasting is a holy order that has yet to be defined by its core revelations. Others believe they are subtle tools of the gods, piloting new spiritual channels without building a rigid addition to the network. Most magical philosophies have few adherents, gathering in small discussion groups or passing on their knowledge through master-student pairings. Each philosophy dictates a set of core values and a general way of thinking about the world. Yet spellcasting adherents may hold diverse opinions in many areas, including the language of prayer. Even for practioners who believe otherwise, each of these empowered philosophies channels energy from a specific deity.
 ∈ Polytheisms are systems of belief that embrace entire pantheons of deities. Though each is empowered by a regal deity, the use of traditional names in prayers allows for a mix of living and dead gods to be venerated. Official institutions and educational enclaves provide havens for these decidedly moderate religions. Each is devoted to a huge body of scriptures, mostly archaic. The endless contradictions of so much gospel drive these clerics to serve as checks against extremism one another. Polytheists rarely draw congregations or collect tithes with the kind of intensity seen in evangelists from the largest sects. Yet many holy orders offer support to organizations that sustain a polytheism. Troves of ancient knowledge makes polytheist compounds invaluable resources for historians, theologists, and other priests. Each collection is so diverse that the full spectrum of clerical possibilities can emerge from its ancient lore.
 What follows is an overview of the Fivesquare Pantheon along with the most prominent religions active in the world today. Most deities also support many minor holy orders, exploiting those rare convergences of zeal and innovation in great leaders who might pioneer new approaches to faith. Also, religious tolerance is a fairly common value, with many places of worship housing shrines or altars to an entire group of deities.

E V I L	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	G O O D
	L A W F U L
	Arawn	Set	Shang-Ti	Osiris	Chung Kuel
	Lei Kung	Oghma	Ptah	Ching Sung-Tzu	Tyr
	Hel	Hades	Dagda	Ra	Odin
	Loki	Silvanus	Dionysus	Geb	Thor
	Ma Yuan	Ares	Mannanan Mac Lir	Apollo	Zeus
	C H A O T I C
	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir

Divine Healing In a world of abundant danger and sickness, the miraculous healing accomplished through acts of faith is a vital part of most societies. Many clerics cultivate support in the surrounding community by offering relief to people in poor health. Large organizations often rely on these spiritual spellcasters to keep their members fit and functional. The most gifted healers sometimes attract the patronage of wealthy and powerful figures in need of remedies. In some circles, no application of magic earns greater respect than healing.  All holy orders provide this service to likeminded worshipers and valuable allies. Some also share it with strangers in need, but only a few orders operate facilities explicitly intended for medical purposes. This has long been an important part of promoting and expanding competitive sects. Many sick or injured people will seek clerical remedy. This gives healers an opportunity for outreach when others are at their most susceptible. Yet this practice of recruiting the desperate and downtrodden is not widely criticized. Most people believe the presence of strong organized religions signifies that a locale is a safe place to raise a family.

Apollo (Chaotic Good) The God of the Setting Sun is especially revered by musicians and archers as well as practitioners of medicine. Though a Truscan deity, Apollo is worshiped in all places people seek relief from their injuries and maladies. His clergy are often held in high esteem, and community support tends to be robust. Apollo's worshipers have no formal ecclesiastical structure, though they tend to resolve differences, or at least achieve mutual respect, through cheerful debate.
 ∀ Each Temple of Apollo is broadly similar to the others, staffed by Light clerics who offer healing and counsel to supplicants in need. Their customs promote charity and mercy while upholding enlightenment and education as important values. These temples may serve as the centerpiece of an emerging frontier town, yet they are often eclipsed by less modest religious establishments as urbanization sets in. Individual temples are only loosely aligned, and competing institutions have been known to operate mere blocks apart. As they do much to support public health, other community leaders typically welcome senior members of this holy order. Even so, Temple of Apollo congregations have been known to publicly protest political oppression and excesses of preventable poverty.
 ∀ Apollonian Institutes, mainly found in large cities, are colleges for the study of the healing arts as well as a place where Life clerics work miracles on the afflicted and injured. Offering help to people of all faiths, these Institutes are often funded by a cadre of wealthy benefactors. Requiring substantial libraries, specialized equipment, and robust support services; such facilities are rare outside large cities. This holy order strongly promotes pacificism. Some members take an absolute pledge of non-violence. Past kindnesses typically generate plenty of powerful allies limit the impact of this vulnerability. All manner of constables as well as other priests may be quick to take up arms whenever there is a threat to a nearby Apollonian Institute.
 φ The Sagittarian Way is a philosophy practiced by War clerics specializing in the synergy of spiritual magic with techniques of marksmanship. They find peace and kinship in reverence for the arc of a true shot. Precision is their highest virtue. Sagittarians generally do not gather in congregations or operate institutions, but they will mentor seekers eager to follow this path. Famed masters may have a coterie of novices honing their ability to find their mark both as archers and as purpose-driven people. Some elves find these beliefs particularly inspiring. Practitioners often earn income as military archers or professional hunters. They draw power by chanting mantras like "one shot one kill." Many sport such phrases engraved on their bows or inked onto headbands.
 ∀ The Lycoctonian Keepers are experts on the subject of lycanthropy. They view the disease as an unholy curse, yet they can be extremely sympathetic toward the afflicted. These Forge clerics build sanctuaries over sturdy stone structures that can confine werebeasts throughout a nocturnal transformation. Though cooperative individuals may earn blessings through this sequestration, the Lycoctonian Oath obligates members of this holy order to hunt lycanthropes who refuse to be confined before sundown when a full moon is expected. Major Lycoctonian strongholds also trade in silvered and magical weapons to support such hunts. Wherever a werebeast menaces the innocent, members of this holy order will be eager to strike back with all the expertise and zeal they can muster.
 ∀ The Analemmic Harvesters all carry holy symbols that double as instruments for studying the position of the Sun in the sky. Noon and sunset are traditional times of prayer for these Nature clerics. Their observations inform decisions about the timing of agricultural cycles, and they understand the geometry of proper sundial placement. Though not pacifists, these priests tend to be peaceful and reclusive. Many Analemmic Harvesters band together in small farming communes, while others plan urban gardens to make the best use of available light while infusing a neighborhood with fresh flowers and produce. The most distinguished members of this order may advise great leaders and coordinate agricultural policy to sustain the multitudes of modern nations.

Death and Afterlife Five different deities each have a formal connection to death. In joining The Immaculate System, each Death God assumed a rigidly defined role. These roles are reflected in the rites, symbolism, and sermons of clergy. Hel dispenses death by sickness and other gradual methods, including poison. Ma Yuan takes a more direct approach, violently slaughtering the doomed. Hades oversees passage into the afterlife, consecrating every proper burial. Arawn roams that afterlife, dispensing harsh punishments to the wicked and tempting more noble souls with corruption. Osiris is foremost in providing that rarest of miracles -- passage back from death into life renewed.

Arawn (Lawful Evil) The God of Final Rewards is said to be certain the cruel are tormented in the afterlife even as he schemes to recategorize the most benevolent souls as slated for punishment. The old Sylvanian god of death, he has since become the recipient of prayers from all around the world whenever people seek to communicate with dead ancestors or plead for their favorable treatment. Anyone who supports the idea of karmic retribution may find satisfaction in praying to Arawn.
 φ Solicitous Drafters are experts in the language of legal contracts as well as traditional forms of obligation. Most seek personal enrichment by getting others to sign documents with ramifications they do not fully understand. Some exploit severe debtor penalties to acquire stock for slave auctions. Others finance businesses, waging a relentless battle of wits until original owners are reduced to working tenants. Even in cultures lacking institutional support for contract law enforcement, obligations of honor and other traditions may be brought to bear in the effort to achieve dominion over others. Solicitous Drafters appeal to the sanctity of agreements as the foundation of all meaningful things, including spiritual magic itself. They pray to concepts like "the Universal Accord," "the Law of Heavens and Hells," or simply, "the Deal."
 ∀ Small cells of reclusive Nature clerics known as Shrineminders maintain monuments on or near burial grounds. They discretely collect accumulated donations intended for departed loved ones. Their scriptures are rich with specifics on gardening and flower arranging. Some even carve or enchant stately monuments to adorn important tombs. Members of this softspoken holy order only unleash their full fury on those who dare to vandalize grave sites. Given sufficient support, these priests will dutifully organize maintenance and security for nearby cemeteries. Yet, when no donations or visitations are in recent memory, it is said Shrineminders will make their coin from necromancers seeking access to forgotten corpses.
 ∀ Reconciliators are Grave clerics dedicated to making all transitions into the afterlife smooth and permanent. Where practical, they use public notice boards to post obituaries. Because one of their holy commandments requires dilligent adherence to the will of the deceased, they are called upon to settle disputes about estates. For a small fee, Reconciliators work with a living individual to prepare a written guide detailing the particulars of those intentions. For a huge fee, they may interrogate a departed spirit. Yet always their aim is to settle matters with finality rather than sustain any unearthly dialogue. Where inheritance leads to intractable conflict, Reconciliators may take up arms for the sacred purpose of putting the matter to rest once and for all.
 ∀ The Deathriders are a scattered order of War clerics dedicated to slaying formidable enemies with lethal magic. Swift steeds enable them to maintain skirmishing distance until their enemies are sufficiently accursed and weakened. Widely feared, they thrive when able to band together as elite mercenaries or find a place among the cavalry of a regular army. Despite murderous ways, Deathriders kill according to an elaborate protocol that eschews surprise attacks. To their way of thinking, the advantage of an ambush is minor compared to the terror that can be inspired by deploying divine wrath in plain view. Their holy purpose is to send spirits into the afterlife so frightened that they will embrace any fate that does not involve return to the mortal world.
 φ The Rites of the Medium are a body of hocus pocus facilitating grift of false reports from beyond the grave. Practiced by a sect of Trickery clerics, the underlying philosophy provides a lucrative lifestyle for many. Keen insights and vague reassurances are transformed into a compelling supernatural experience through generous use of ancient lore and cantrips. Practitioners are able to work miracles by praying to "the spirit realm," "the other side," or simply "beyond." Many people view Mediums as charlatans because they reserve actual communion for personal friends and the most generous sponsors. These practitioners support a tranquil afterlife by deflecting most attempts to interrupt the final rest of deceased spirits.
 ∀ Echo Journalists magically scour the past in the pursuit of historical accuracy. These Knowledge clerics believe spirits cannot achieve final rest while false tales of their lives remain in circulation. Some investigate controversial deaths to compose the most accurate chronicle of underlying events. Those with greater resources scry into the past and commune with the spirits of the dead. The most esteemed Echo Journalists may insert themselves into political struggles with expert opinions about historic events. Their faith demands that each claim of fact in their accounts be verified, but skilled storytellers know that many narratives can be forged from the same set of givens. Despite their editorial capabilities, members of this holy order are regarded as authorities on what really happened in days gone by.

The War Gods If an outside entity should ever imperil the world itself, Odin would lead a coordinated team featuring Thor, Tyr, Ares, and Lei Kung. These "Heavenly Generals" are pledged to set aside their grudges long enough to drive off any threat to The Immaculate System. Mortal wars are games to them, proxies for the direct hostility now forbidden. In playing out so many conflicts, the War Gods have forged a fellowship along with endless lists of scores to settle.

Ares (Chaotic Evil) The God of Untamed War is worshiped by those in pursuit of physical perfection as well as people inclined toward bloodlust. As his followers tend to resist discipline, large military organizations do not officially encourage this faith. Yet most commanders going into battle would much rather be allied with a priest of Ares than facing such an enemy.
 ∀ The Order Indomitable is a fellowship of War clerics who combine aggressive physical training with secret rituals involving bloodsport and human sacrifice. They think it unseemly to end the day with healing magic to spare, so they conclude ordinary nights with a frenzy of brawling and bloodletting. Comments about the trail of destruction in their wake often prompt the rebuke, "only the weak hide their tracks." Members of the Order Indomitable are infamous for their volatile moods and extreme tempers. They celebrate gladiators, warlords, and violence for its own sake. Wise innkeepers know to feign a shortage of booze at the sight of an O.I. insignia.
 φ Tempest clerics known as Waveriders specialize in nautical warfare. Taking cues from an ancient tales about Aphrodite and Ares intertwined, adherents pursue their own passions above all other concerns. Their prayers sometimes simply appeal to "the Wave," while others can be specific about "swells," "hollows," "curls," "breakers," and so forth. Yet they never call upon the sea as a larger entity. These habitual swimmers are typically lithe and aggressive. When not in battle, Waveriders can often be found flaunting their physiques at the best convergence of surf and sun in the area. Most join up with small groups that alternate between wild beach parties and even wilder acts of coastal piracy. When overwhelmed local authorities garner support for enforcement action, these itinerant hedonists slip away in search of calmer waters to disturb.
 ∀ Martial Manhunters are Knowledge clerics who express their devotion to Ares by selecting worthy adversaries then gathering information to achieve a tactical advantage against that foe. They often excel as trackers and investigators. Successful Manhunters will inevitably attempt to kill their chosen targets when they believe they have accumulated enough of an edge. Unlike other spiritually-inclined trackers, these priests casually employ intimidation and violence in pursuit of their quarry. The obscure training academies where this order shares it secrets are often well-funded, since wealthy individuals may issue bounties on their enemies and some criminal fugitives tithe just to avoid appearing as the guest of honor in a hunt.
 ∀ The Phoenix Phalanx is named for an ancient mercenary army that made extensive use of healing magic to withstand hordes of rampaging demons and legions of the elite infantry. Today their traditions live on inside other military units. Vividly painted shields make these spellcasters stand out from their comrades. Adherents happily dish out damage whenever there is no need for healing among allies at hand. Extensive exposure to battlefield trauma teaches these Life clerics as much about anatomy as any classroom could. The goodwill they generate through service only lasts until Phoenix Phalanx medics switch sides in service to their holy purpose -- perpetuating violent conflicts.
 ∀ Blazing Dervishes practice frenetic dances to better maintain their bearings in the thick of combat. These Light clerics command an acrobatic fighting style that doubles as a spectacular entertainment. Constant motion makes them difficult targets while enabling arcing attacks from unpredictable angles. Holy power is both weapon and distraction in their hands. During peacetime Blazing Dervishes may burn off excess energy with exhibitions of illuminated acrobatics, dazzling large crowds. Yet these shows also endanger bystanders who stray to close to the action. Right at home in battle, the flourishes and finishing moves of a Dervish can be truly explosive.

The Sky Gods Some say the lack of Sylvanian Sky Gods reflects the fact that much of the region is blanketed by a thick forest canopy. Ra, Zeus, Odin, Shang-Ti, Apollo, Thor, Set, Ching Sung-Tzu, and Lei Kung compose a committee that governs the heavens. Pantheon domes typically feature a tablaeu of the nine spread out around the ceiling of the central chamber. Legend has it that the Sky Gods convene at midday each solstice and equinox in order to negotiate a plan for the weather in the season ahead. Presumably these plans are subject to change as subsequent events unfold.

Ching Sung-Tzu (Neutral) The God of Falling Rain always hears prayers from areas in need of drought relief as well as those facing a flood due to excessive rain. Farmers the world over look to him as the giver of their bounty, and water festivals held in his name provide welcome relief from midsummer's heat. He has the power to move mountains, yet he is by far the most humble of the Sky Gods.
 ∀ The Rain Dancers are a broad category of Trickery clerics who, loudly and in public, pray according to local religious custom in order to bring rain where it is needed. Their pageantry often includes praise crediting sponsors for the drought relief. Even if these prayers involve no dancing, a jig is sure to follow when success is achieved. Rain Dancing groups often provide a lively way to spend an afternoon, though the best practitioners may command exhorbitant fees for their efforts.
 φ Maidens of the Grail, while not exclusively young women, are Life clerics who seek out places of healing to study the local waters. Revering naturally occuring rainfall as sacred, they despise no misdeed more than the poisoning of water supplies. They often use the phrase "Water of Life," though their prayers feature all combinations of "healing," "livegiving," "blessed," and "sacred" with "rains," "spring," "lake," and "bath." Maidens of the Grail become ecstatic whenever given the chance to sprinkle, splash, or submerge others. Individuals may make public spectacles of themselves. Gatherings take turns delivering oratory that is literally never dry. Though sometimes regarded as frivolous, Maidens of the Grail are widely renowned for their the curative powers.
 ∀ Seers of the Ponds rely on natural bodies of water to perform powerful scrying rituals. Traditionally they remain aloof from political matters, yet they are respected as finders of fact. The holy order is also known for the affordability of their services, as priests may accept a service or a vow in place of the substantial fees normally associated with scrying. Thus these Knowledge clerics are a popular choice for those looking to reconnect with old acquaintances or scout out distant locales prior to visiting. If menaced, Seers of the Ponds may also deploy the dreaded ducking stool. This interrogation measure is said to pry the truth from even the most stubborn person. The same apparatus also functions as an undignified method of execution.
 ∀ Floodminders operate small outposts at key junctures along major waterways. Collecting reports from upstream, they keep logs of rainfall and water depth to better warn of deadly floods in time enough to minimize loss of life. Since performing this vital civic function requires little attention most days, these Nature clerics minister to nearby fishers and farmers. Wherever they are able to rally a proper congregation, Floodminder boathouses expand into modern churches with attached schools. Some of these outposts keep supplies of rockets or magical signaling devices near the roof, ready to raise the alarm when a dangerous surge is predicted.
 ∀ The Cloudstriders are a league of Tempest clerics relying primarily on heroic exploits to promote their beloved patron. They ally with armies or adventurers, providing a flexible array of support options. They work both proactively and reactively to gain advantage by reshaping clashes. Grand master Cloudstriders walk above their battles, raining down blessings and curses as they see fit. An intense surge of new recruiting may follow a public victory earned in this manner. The novices they mentor may lash out directly with furious energy, but the journey of a Cloudstrider is a series of lessons revealing the inexorable power of a gentle deluge.

Ceremonial Oathtaking Many religious ceremonies leave enduring magical traces on key participants. With an ordained acolyte present, any heartfelt vow sworn to a specific deity may generate this sort of mark. These holy residues are composed of an insignificant quantity of divine energy, not visible to normal sight. Yet any priest with the applicable divine patron is able to percieve them clearly. These marks will gradually fade if an associated commitment is broken.  While they endure, these traces of sacred magic can be detected and identified. Backed by an actual deity, such marks cannot be erased so long as the relevant oath is upheld. Ritual vows and spiritual markings give clergy the means to act in a timely fashion when guidance or inspiration may help one of the faithful renew an important bond with family, community, army, or sect. Clergy may attempt to detect lies with this basic technique, though the approach is only useful when scrutinizing individuals earnestly devoted to the faith.

Chung Kuel (Lawful Good) The God of Just Trials is no less willing to bless a brutal ordeal by fire than he is to sanctify a court hearing bound by rigorous rules of due process. His scripture and teachings feature a blend of cryptic riddles with profoundly probing questions. He is invoked most earnestly by those who hope to make fair decisions. He is invoked most loudly by those who want to seem like they have made fair decisions. Either way, he is the preferred patron of vengeful paladins and others who seek justice at any cost.
 φ Just Lawgivers feel intense admiration for legal scholars and law enforcers who perform their duties faithfully. Some advance into positions as courtiers to aristocrats or members of a legislative body. Others take up the cause of the downtrodden, organizing protests against arbitrary abuses of power and providing expert legal defense. This varies from one culture to another, as trials by combat are no less common than trials by judicial hearing. Regardless of emphasis, magic derived from this philosophy requires explicit reverence for "righteous compassion," "fair outcomes," "equal justice," or another variation on that theme. Some become wealthy by defending the powerful individuals and popular causes. Yet Just Lawgivers are always mindful of the consequences of their advocacy. The most esteemed practioners employ their fame to mount protests against the worst abuses of power.
 ∀ The Unlying are a sect of Knowledge clerics bound by vows to speak only the truth. Though some may be adept at misleading through tone and omission, they have a reputation that makes their testimony beyond reproach in many systems of justice. Unlying priests can be extremely popular with their congregations, as their practice of giving starkly candid personal advice in a unique path to self-improvement. Major dignitaries sometimes sponsor an Unlying priest in their entourage as a means to preserve an honest chronicle and prevent disputes about the particulars of important events. They may also be dispatched abroad, taking advantage of well-funded travel as a chance to spread the faith while gathering reliable reports of conditions in a distant land.
 ∀ Brass Enforcers specialize in the production of equipment for constables and guards. Their scriptures detail many tactics for subduing and handling criminal suspects. These Forge clerics sometimes accept badges authorizing them to supplement the local constabulary. Their headquarters may cast those badges alongside the crafting of weapons and armor. Specialties of this holy order include modern innovations like lightweight manacles and braided silk nets. Some leaders authorize Brass Enforcers to deal with official corruption. Wherever these famously honorable priests are shunned by the constabulary, it is likely that the aristocracy supports corrupt practices.
 ∀ Zealous punishment of liars is personal mission embraced by Light clerics who call themselves Beacons of Truth. These relentless inquisitors are drawn to trouble spots where authorities investigate rampant criminal activity or political disloyalty. Each has a unique approach to extracting information, yet there is always a fairness to their methods. It is often joined by cruelty, since these astute interrogators are not troubled when torture bridges the gap between suspicion and confession. In the worst cases they work healing magic to facilitate more misery than could otherwise be endured. Ritual self-flagellation atones for feelings of guilt while inuring Beacons to the painful suffering they inflict.
 ∀ Civil Manhunters see it as their holy purpose to apprehend or dispatch criminal fugitives. These Nature clerics spend much of their time tracking down leads and searching for hideouts. Most are comfortable dealing with unsavory characters to cultivate insights into the criminal underworld. They have no sacred duty to enforce laws, only to resolve the danger posed by convicted or suspected fugitives from just authorities. They fund their temples by collecting bounties, but Civil Manhunters will decline opportunities to serve corrupt officials. They sometimes follow captives through any adjudication to ensure a fair legal process. Yet these priests do not hesitate to employ lethal methods when a fugitive has been duly sentenced to death.
 φ Ironically named Scalpels of the Law seek perfection in the use of huge axes or swords. Their skills and wisdom are both put to use in performing legal executions. Scalpels are honor-bound to minimize the suffering of the condemned. Practioners may become War clerics able to call upon magic through citation of a legal entity and its claim of divine authority. They take it as a huge personal failure when carrying out a sentence involves more than a single quick clean cut. Open combat allows for greater flexibility. There, driven by a sense of righteousness, Scalpels' massive blades carve swaths through the forces of wickedness. Adherents of this philosophy remain true to its name, taking up arms only for leaders who act in accordance with their own laws.

The Old Faith The spellcasting of druids and rangers is a verifiable reality. Yet many of them do no more than commune with the natural world to call for miracles. Scholars remain divided about the source of these energies, since the magic is equally effective whether the practioner worships a nature concept like Gaia or merely shows reverence for the myriad forms of life in wild places. This sort of animistic spirituality may be even older than the arcana of dragons. Alas, its origins, like its true nature, remain controversial even among the foremost experts.  Outside Sylvania, the Old Faith is typically discouraged by both local and national leaders. Standing Stones are ideal venues for Old Faith rituals. Modern zealots have toppled some and repurposed others. Urbane people tend to regard Old Faith teachings as foolish superstition. Some theologists promote the idea that the Old Faith is a vestige from ancient history and somehow inferior to deity worship.  Nonetheless, druids wander anywhere a healthy natural environment flourishes, and they often minister to people in rural areas where modern religions lack an institutional presence. Druids and rangers may be disrespected or even persecuted when they visit urban centers. Notably, this is untrue in Sylvania, where worship of the Gods harmonizes with reverence for primal spirits. Sylvanian megalithic circles are venerated as hubs for active communities of faith, and druids perform sacred rites right alongside conventional Sylvanian clergy.

Dagda (Neutral) The God of Limitless Might is chief among the Sylvanian deities. He is revered not only by the physically strong, from common laborers to legendary warriors; but also by leaders endowed with an iron will. He never launched an attack against Zeus or Odin, but he did not yield on either occasion one of them came for him. Unlike the other Regal Deities, Dagda is happy to see the Old Faith flourishing right alongside modern religion.
 ∈ When gods sympathetic to the fey established control over the wilderness of southweastern Mainland, their ealiest devotees simply referred to this pantheon as "The Tribe." Dagda and his many divine associates did not frame the usual conflict between primal and civilized norms. Even as they promoted their own religions, The Tribe restrained emerging cities to preserve natural harmonies. Early in the Age of Heroes, little of their lore took written form. Each gospel of The Tribe is expressed as one or more epic poems each several hours in length. These poems were the backbone of the earliest bardic traditions as well as assorted sylvan religions. Sometimes depicted as a cadre of antlered deities, The Tribe inspires a modern polytheism dedicated to teaching the old epics and performing the most ancient of religious rituals.
 φ Agents of Equilibrium see the world as dependent on a constant turbulence of good blending with evil and order blending with chaos. To them, all that makes life interesting and all that betters the human condition can be traced back to struggles between competing values and different perspectives. This motivates them to act against moral and ethical positions so dominant as to crowd out alternative views. Agents of Equilibrium are as likely to venerate "clash" or "dialectic" as some variation on "balance." In societies where tolerance and healthy debate allow people of strongly opposed beliefs to coexist in harmony, Agents of Equilibrium may devote themselves to keeping the peace. It is only in the absence of balance that practitioners of this philosophy see the imperative to undermine dominant forces and rally resistance movements.
 ∀ The Long-Armed Legion is fabled for the persistence of its War clerics. They teach that each choice to fight for a cause should be made with discretion and restraint, but the Legion tolerates only victory or death. The organization takes its name from the idea of spending years crossing thousands of miles to conclude an interrupted battle with a specific enemy. Their sacred targets are not to be selected for pay, and no creature comfort is to be savored while a hunt is underway. The holy order sustains itself because the recruitment and training of novices is the among the few acceptable reasons to take a long hiatus during an ongoing pursuit.
 ∀ Seers of the Stones are Knowledge clerics fond of performing cryptic rituals among ancient monuments. Their order executes elaborate mystical protocols spanning generations, often inviting druids to assist. Their scriptures explain the methods behind each major calendar, and the sect is famed for predicting unusual celestial events. Visionaries in this holy order evolve a body of oral traditions purporting to tell the future of the world. Seers of the Stones teach that praying for Dagda's guidance is the shortest path to earning his blessings. On rare occasions, they perform ritual sacrifice of condemned criminals in search of that guidance and those blessings.
 ∀ Landwardens are Nature clerics who share the values and traditions of the Old Faith. They wander wild areas, sometimes systematically patrolling a locale. Each embraces a holy mission to prevent the destruction or corruption of thriving natural habitats. Some do this by regulating harmonious economic development, while others simply run off any visitors who overstay their welcome. Landwardens work easily with actual druids, finding unity in their sense of shared purpose. For some paladins devoted to nature, this sect provides essential guidance and inspiration.
 φ Animism is the belief that the natural world is full of intelligent spirits able to be placated or even motivated through supplication. Adherents may pray to a volcano, dedicate festivals to a tree, or make sacrifices to a waterfall. Some see their locale as governed by a small pantheon of nature spirits, while others see every stone and shrub as harboring a mind of its own. Scholars in the Age of Heroes believed this primitive religious practice could never produce magical effects. Yet the modern era sees many Animists fully empowered as Nature clerics. The same belief system facilitates real spellcasting for a variety of reclusive tribes. Practitioners venturing far from home will be keen to meditate in wilderness areas so that they might learn the names and expectations of local nature spirits.
 ∀ Artful Squatters move into unoccupied properties at the edges of civilization, driven by a sacred desire to see wildnerness reclaim lost land. These Trickery clerics have no qualms about concealing their true purpose or dispatching false messages in order that neglected holdings should remain so while vegetation naturally overruns a venue. Yet they are not warlike, and most Artful Squatters will vacate before putting up a fight. Their goal is to leave a home or series of homes fit for wildlife that will complete the reclamation they have started. Partially overgrown structures may double as gathering places where Artful Squatter congregations indulge in primal rituals.
 ∀ Schooled by scriptures with passages of Ancient Elven, the Wild Embers are an order of Light clerics who call upon Dagda to work otherwise lost magics through their prayers. They often fight like wizards, blazing a trail of destruction as they advance. Some elves see this sect as the traditional faith of their people despite elven culture far preceding any religious practices. Wild Embers are drawn to the most ancient ruins, especially those of fey construction. Whenever one among their order feels the need for spiritual renewal, a deep delve in search of lore and treasure may also yield a rewarding catharsis.

Dionysus (Chaotic Neutral) The God of Drunken Revels is particularly popular with wealthy young cityfolk. Those who can afford to drink as well as they like are often not so far away from finding religion in the depths of a bottle. Beyond the traditional Dionysian springtime fertility festival, followers of this deity are always happy to stage ad hoc celebrations for their own sake.
 ∀ Heavenly Vintners are Nature clerics with a strict religious approach to winemaking that is at odds with their generally libertine attitudes. Planting, irrigation, tending, harvesting, fermenting, and bottling processes are all dictated by scripture as refined through painstaking theological debates and practical experiments. Much of their time is consumed with manual labor at Heavenly Vintner compounds. All agree it is worthwhile, since they tend to be drinking the finest wines in the world when they are not busy making them.
 φ The Blushing Fools are a whimsical variety of Trickery clerics who teach that a good life is lived either pretending to be drunk or in a state of actual drunkenness. To have minimal responsibility and be routinely underestimated as a common man holds more pleasure than carrying the weight of the world and being known as a formidable king. Jesters and bards are prone to seek the counsel of this sort of priest. Some see Blushing Fools as a mystical order privy to cosmic secrets. Others have suggested that the aim of this utterly irreverent philosophy is to avoid developing a reputation for any holy purpose. A toast before imbibing is all the prayer these practitioners need to work holy magic.
 ∀ Sabre Dancers practice a peculiar martial art that involves swaying and lurching about while wielding a sword or two. Fluid yet unpredictable motions paired with wild intuitions about the best moments to strike make these War clerics surprisingly deadly foes. Their holy vows do not require intoxication in combat, but part of their training involves wildly swinging blades about in a state of extreme drunkenness. Even members of the order admit that it takes a special sort of crazy to become a Sabre Dancer. For such people, these dangerous exercises may double as an extreme form of recreation.
 ∀ Liquid Quartermasters are a popular addition to any military officer corp. Not only are they experts in procuring and shipping beer, but these Knowledge clerics can make the most of valuable wine cellar contents in captured structures. When supplies are scarce, their scripture provides excellent guidance on how to balance the priorities of rationing for the long term and indulging to elevate morale. After other interrogation techniques fail, relieved captives may spill their secrets to a Liquid Quartermaster armed with only cask and cups or a generous flask of some strong spirit.
 ∀ A Salutary Brigade is the name for a loose affiliation of Life clerics who partake vigorously of every available opportunity to celebrate then linger after to assist with recovery and cleanup efforts. Their magic makes it easy to harmonize heavy drinking with a healthy lifestyle. In times of peace and prosperity, decadent nobles will sponsor Salutary Brigades to ensure, for them at least, the party never need truly come to a halt. When the land is overcome by turmoil, these same groups will bring the festivities to refugee camps and pillaged communities as part of a hollistic relief effort.

Religious Edifices The array of structures raised for purposes of worship reflects the diversity of religious practice. The Old Faith is full of stories about the creation of enormous stone circles marking major convergences of ley lines ancient elves used to bewitch the world itself. The earliest holy sites were marked by crude shrines, but houses of worship evolved into countless forms over time. With the imposition of The Immaculate System, faith itself was consolidated. Modern temples and churches are normally among the largest stuctures in their communities. Yet some holy orders function without much in the way of permanent shelters. A healthy religion can take root in any place there is freedom to pray.

Geb (Neutral) The God of the Solid Earth is patron to miners, masons, and engineers. Farmers and builders particularly concerned with the condition of the soil may also pray to him. Various sects are united by Geb's teaching that a battle is won not always by the fighter best at lashing out, but always by the fighter who remains standing strong at the end of the clash. Large buildings often have the mark of Geb above their entrances -- a sign that an expert approves of the structure's integrity and durability.
 ∀ Mudminders typically wear practical common attire even when they are not engaged in their sacred work. These Nature clerics perform acts of worship by digging at various spots in soft ground, especially when and where it is wet. This filthy endeavor enlightens them about the health of the soil. Systematic study over time allows Mudminders to recommend which crops will do best on a particular patch of ground in the next growing season as well as what precautions will best guard against blights. Even when excellent pay is available for supporting efforts to fight pestilence and rehabilitate withered lands, these humble priests sometimes request nothing more than a spade and a bucket as compensation.
 φ An Earth Mother may be of either gender, but all are Life clerics who draw power from the ground to heal the afflicted. Though not absolute pacifists, their philosophy favors supporting allies over acts of aggression. A great Earth Mother instinctively makes a place of calm sanctuary amidst grave turmoil. Highly accomplished practitioners may establish homes where free healing is available to the poor. Their interiors accumulate colorful objects of folk art, and evenings there may provide opportunities to study a craft as part of a small class. Earth Mothers sometimes cast their prayers upward in remembrance of the storm goddess Tefnut, Geb's own departed mother. Almost any exasperated utterance can call down holy power for practitioners truly in need.
 ∀ The Shields of Geb are War clerics who provide staying power for the military forces they accompany. It is their preference to disperse among the general rank and file. There they may hold their own as soldiers while helping fallen comrades get back in the fight. Massive expansion of Serpian armed forces created a huge growth opportunity for this sect. It is now among the ten largest in the world by number of ordained clerics, though not by number of practicing worshipers. Shields of Geb are notoriously awkward when ministering to civilians. Their holy purpose may feel unclear without a formal military command structure or worshipers struggling with the rigors of combat duty.
 ∀ Bladesmelters combine the power of prayer with simple earthen furnaces to produce quality steel equipment. Their process is a fantastically advanced version of the most primitive techniques for working with iron ore. Yet these Forge clerics are more than highly productive smiths. They worship the earth by studying minerals in all their permutations. Bladesmelter scripture is laced with tidbits of metallurgy, alchemy, and and prospecting techniques. They are fascinated with enchanting and eager to exercise that ability as opportunities permit. Though some blacksmiths respect this holy order, others see them as business rivals unfairly exploiting a connection to the divine.
 ∀ For major construction projects, the planning of a Knowledge cleric certified as a Reverend Architect tends to be an excellent investment. Century after century of lore has shaped elements of their theology into a modern science of stone engineering. Their holy symbols have several applications while drawing up or evaluating building plans. The considerable fees of a Reverend Architect will be more than offset by savings on material cost, accident avoidance, and upkeep requirements of any major project. For the financier with deep enough coffers, Reverend Architects can supervise the construction of marvels that push the boundaries of what stonework can sustain. The symbol of this order sculpted over the entrance to a building indicates construction consistent with a duly consecrated design.

Necromancy Necromancers will be the first to explain that their calling is a matter of study and learning, not prayer and pacts. Yet popular superstitions about death and the undead cause common folk to assume any necromancer is dangerous and evil if not also profoundly insane. From zombie hordes to vampire lairs, civilized people regard all undead creatures as menaces to be eradicated by armies and heroes.  Most civilized places have strict rules regarding the disposing of corpses. Even acting with the best of intentions, a necromancer may become an outlaw by treating a cemetery or a fresh battlefield as a resource. Students of this school of magic often find it difficult to obtain instruction. Accomplished practitioners typically maintain the pretense of being some other sort of wizard. Very rarely, someone will deliberately seek out this unholy alternative to reincarnation or resurrection as a means of cheating death.

Hades (Neutral Evil) The God of Tranquil Death holds a spiritual monopoly on burial rites. By agreement with all the other death gods, only a priest of Hades can bestow a meaningful blessing on the guest of honor at a funeral. Thus the sinister deity has a small presence in virtually every city. In turn, these funerary halls support a network of travelling undertakers servicing almost all civilized people. They excel at officiating quiet, somber, and dignified events. Perhaps more importantly, they are bound by vows to effectively bury human remains deeply enough to discourage grave robbing or other tampering.
 ∀ Morticians must be Life clerics to fully command modern techniques of corpse restoration. They are expected to maintain formal attire while going about their business. The most skilled can give a badly mutilated body the appearance of a peaceful person apparently asleep. The order also has extensive lore about viewings and memorials extending services beyond a simple funeral. While a single gold coin respects what scripture demands, the bereaved sometimes spend a fortune on consecrated shrouds, upholstered coffins, and "afterlife supplies." Morticians are well-known wherever people bury their dead, though in total their numbers are not overwhelming. Yet this holy order is such a cultural phenomenon that they inspire many disaffected youths to worship Hades.
 ∀ Grave clerics versed in dealing with all types of undead menace, Rekillers believe their holy purpose is to destroy such entities. Students at their elite academies also partake of eclectic studies at other institutions of higher learning. All seek encyclopedic knowledge of undead creatures, with particular emphasis on vulnerabilities. Rekillers see themselves as rampaging destructively against the accomplishments of necromancers, but some members of this holy order become popular heroes due to the happy side effect of increased public safety in the wake of their slaughters.
 ∀ Death Knight may refer to a powerful undead creature, though it is also the term for any priest among an order of War clerics who crave killing with their distinctive blend of precision swordplay and vicious maledictions. Their fanatical devotion to etiquette and protocol is evident in every action. Death Knights are rarely encountered nowadays, though some say legions of them are quietly honing their skills because they would face a hostile crusade if the extent of their power was widely understood. Members of this order often strive for a place in the aristocracy. Where ruthless effectiveness in battle can earn such an honor, they have been known to achieve this goal and promote the worship of Hades among their own troops.
 ∀ Extremely shady people always seem to know how to reach out to a Cleaner. These fastidious Trickery clerics not only see to the respectful disposal of corpses, but they are downright religious about attempting to restore the scene of a death to whatever condition it was in prior to that event. This holy purpose proves remarkably convenient for violent beings with crimes to conceal. An influential secret society in their own right, the Cleaners are privy to the inner workings of many other conspiracies, since nobody is better at converting a bloodbath into a mysterious disappearance. In realms riddled with secrets, these priests literally know where the bodies are buried.
 φ Hellfire Preachers strain the concept of "holy" in both conduct and spellcasting. They often smell of brimstone and soot even when at rest. These Light clerics express their displeasure by venting flames directly from the furnaces of the afterlife. Their sermons can be even more destructive. Incendiary condemnations pervade booming warnings of an infernal apocalypse. Narratives often lack coherence, compensating through pure intensity. Listeners are motivated to condemn the sinfulness of enemies. Some rally and purge the impure from this life to avoid their own eternal damnation. From lynch mobs to rebel riots, Hellfire Preachers are ideally suited to the task of whipping a crowd of non-combatants into a rabble determined to do terrible violence.

Celestial Patriarchy Scholars of religious history believe active female deities, while still a minority, numbered no less than twelvescore during the Age of Heroes. An important provision of The Immaculate System allowed for one deity to represent a married couple in the emergent pantheon. The wives of several gods voluntarily departed, securing their husbands' places in the new order. Some remaining deities favored the idea of an exclusively male peer group.  Hel did not share this accord. A dangerous enemy responsible for untold death, she was also a logical addition to Shang-Ti's unfolding scheme. A place was made for Hel, though it was not to be a position of glory. She was assigned to rule gradual aspects of death, and she would have no involvement with more sociable teams of her peers. The Immaculate System may be considered intensely patriarchal since the only female in its divine power structure appears to hold the lowest level of prestige.

Hel (Neutral Evil) The Goddess of Cursed Afflictions, thwarted in her quest to rule the afterlife, purportedly leads a solitary existence at the center of an icy vortex blowing about the region bearing her name. She is nonetheless a death goddess, her portfolio covering plagues, poisons, curses, and progressive infirmities. Hel worship is never widely celebrated, but she is sustained by the passion of scorned outcasts and hateful secret societies.
 φ Vicious Malefactors believe the world exists to torment its inhabitants. Clerical pracitioners work holy magic even while profaning the gods aloud. They do harm to others based on the notion that fulfilling this role will minimize their own suffering. Deceptions, disguises, and minions are favored tools of Vicious Malefactors. The most cunning adherents will unravel great institutions with whatever mix of betrayals and direct attacks will get the job done. Despite its pernicious nature, attitudes about this philosophy are surprisingly varied. Some cultures tolerate popular literature skewering the hypocrisies of mainstream religions while promoting a destructive moral outlook. Much like unholy rites hidden in various occult texts, the deeper meaning of these modern polemics can unlock the powers of a Vicious Malefactor.
 ∀ The Mushroom Hunters are Nature clerics studied in much more than mycology, though some seek religious ecstasy through the consumption of consecrated mushroom beverages. Most of these priests cultivate patches of various medicinal precursors near their shrines and homes. Some even harvest venom from wild beasts. Dwarves tend to do well in this holy order that routinely handles toxic substances. Habitually gathering ingredients and brewing concoctions, they serve and support their faith as vendors of poison. Mushroom Hunter scriptures contain many parables instructive in the delicate business of selling supplies to assassins. The most accomplished members of this holy order may branch out into love potions and other elixirs.
 ∀ Plaguemongers are widely despised Life clerics who immerse themselves in the most virulent epidemics. They explain their actions as healers in search of a better understanding of disease. Selectively curing defenders and operatives, members of this sect quickly establish their own support networks inside striken communities. Yet observers have noted that these outbreaks sometimes occur well after a Plaguemonger's arrival. Educated people today understand that these priests are driven by a holy mission to cause the largest contagions they can. History judges few as harshly as unscrupulous lords known to employ this holy order as a means of subjugating hostile cities. Wherever any true religions are forbidden, this holy order is sure to be included in the ban.
 ∀ Spirit Shepherds pair a reassuring name with a horrifying specialty. Venting Hel's resentment at her low place in the cosmic hierarchy, these Grave clerics happily consort with intelligent undead. They also manipulate large assemblies of mindless creatures, often driving these hordes into civilized areas. Typically working in cells similar to witches' covens, this order closely guards the secrets of its scriptures. Some say their holy purpose is to eradicate the undead by orchestrating conflicts with the living, though others believe Spirit Shepherds are motivated purely by the destruction itself. When they are not ministering to vampires or steering a skeletal army, these malevolent priests may yet keep one or two mindless thralls on hand as disposable servants.
 φ Trickery clerics obsessed with concealing all signs of aging and injury, Face Painters are often employed by aristocrats and prostitutes alike. Their philosophy demands quality in the production and application of cosmetic enhancements. Many refuse to be seen in public without elaborate makeup. Their prayers often call upon "style," "glamor," or "allure," in the search for spiritual power. Face Painters earn goodwill in some communities by donating beautiful masks to people with facial deformities. Others may buy these skillfully crafted masks and gift them as a form of insult. These priests are particularly kind to the elderly and some sorts of outcasts, donning disguises to inflict severe cruelties on anyone known to mock or assault others on the basis of physical appearance.
 ∀ Oracles of Doom are Knowledge clerics who do immense damage by sharing insightful warnings of danger with hostile powers able to exploit these prophecies. Barring that, the priests attempt to incite panic with false warnings of catastrophe. Oracles of Doom also directly curse their foes, in both conversation and combat. They seem relentlessly devoted to spreading misery for its own sake. Yet members of this order often avoid mistreatment by calling attention to some more pressing threat than their presence. Any non-clerical followers of this faith tend to be dejected thralls. Past tragedy leaves them convinced that loyalty to an Oracle of Doom is the least awful among an array of desperately bleak options.

Lei Kung (Lawful Evil) The God of Troubling Storms is worshiped mainly by spiteful and destructive people. His is not the trouble of anarchy. Those who would destroy only to clear a path for a new and more severe order -- Lei Kung strikes with them. His temples are simultaneously bases of support for warmongers and sources of protection against bandits. The most ruthless generals work well with priests of this faith.
 ∀ The Calamitous Thunderbirds are an order of militant Tempest clerics focused on doing as much damage as possible in as little time as possible. They crave mounts and magic to provide additional speed, and they often supplement electrical assaults with archery. Their tactics almost always involve a swift and direct assault with concentrated destructive power. When a band of Calamitous Thunderbirds strikes in unison, there may be no survivors. Those who endure a seemingly apocalyptic blitz may live out the rest of their days trembling at the sound of approaching hoofbeats. They make highly effective shock troops for employers who agree to allow unlimited destruction in the area around each objective.
 ∀ Stormsmiths often train as blacksmiths and always train as Forge clerics. Charging into battle with hammers in hand, their mix of faith and brawn is invariably an intimidating sight. After great victories, they sometimes linger on the battlefield to pound their enemies into flattened remnants of themselves. When worthy allies are unarmed, these priests can call down cold-forged iron in a bolt from the sky. Many Stormsmiths sport heavy suits fashioned from the remains of fallen foes' armor . . . if not also the foes themselves. Some produce menacing clangs and booms without any need to beat on their own shields. This holy order is particularly fervent in their emnity for Thor and his devotees.
 ∀ The Tsunami Force has its roots the Elatolian Hegemony's efforts to annex To-Shin. These War clerics seal their scriptures in waterproof containers. The literature itself is rich with lore about amphibious assaults and ship to ship combat. Members of this holy order often train and support marine combatants. Their sacred purpose is to remind coastal communities that the sea may surge up and overwhelm them with little warning. They do not condone raiding parties, but Tsunami Force teachings strongly favor invaders over defenders. Though they can channel miracles even in the dryest deserts, daily prayers for a reunion with the ocean are a must whenever these priests travel far inland.
 ∀ Recovery Squads present themselves as civic-minded priests eager to help, but these Life clerics take advantage of opportunities created by natural disasters. In the worst cases, the disasters are not entirely natural. Still, in the aftermath these seemingly compassionate spellcasters will provide healing and restoration services -- to those survivors best able to finance the costly operations of the Squad, of course. Recovery Squads are dependable in honoring relief agreements once payment has been accepted. Some aristocrats fund them in advance to prevent competing interests from outbidding in time of crisis. This order is often able to establish itself in egalitarian communities through conventional ministry and premium tithing, which is enough to justify subsequent helpful deeds by their creed so long as payments remain up to date.
 φ The Eyes of the Storm are Grave clerics who see life as a competition to win a favorable place in the afterlife. The tally of enemies slain and allies revived from the brink of death is balanced against a litany of personal shortcomings. Adherents to this philosophy seek out violent clashes and create a place of calm right at the heart of great battles. Many miracles have followed from the rush of religious fervor an overwhelmed squad feels while literally living on a prayer. Said prayers inveriably involve bragging out past kills or glorifying dealy intentions. Deaths are common and conversions are rare for this holy order. It goes one because those conversions take place in huge swarms when survivors of a harrowing battle suddenly understand that they too have a destiny to compete for a high score on judgement day.

Atheism Doubting that the gods exist is considered insanity. They plainly do exist, and their miracles can be witnessed even by common folk. However, there are those who believe that the gods are not actually beings of vast cosmic power playing vital roles in the spirituality of the universe. Some see all clerics as tricksters, divine magic nothing more than the whim of extremely learned alien wizards or guileful demons. A famous philosopher once suggested, "any sufficiently advanced enchantment is indistinguishable from divinity."  Just as some people make a choice not to eat meat, atheists are individuals who will refuse the benefits of divine magic, thinking it immoral or even unhealthy. In fact, the most strident of atheists talk of "faith dependence" as if repeated exposure to holy benedictions could create a dangerous need for more. There is at least a little evidence this might actually be the case. Extremely pious people who abandon or are cast out of their churches seem especially prone to both mental and physical ailments.

Loki (Chaotic Evil) For the God of Endless Disguises, this world is but one of many venues where other deities may be deceived and humiliated. He is especially popular with charlatans, bandits, and other renegades. He is considered a villainous figure not just by the Norish, but nearly all who know the name "Loki." Their congregations often masquerade as other organizations to avoid hostile interference with worship and other gatherings. This often leads to alliances with outlaws and other fringe groups.
 ∀ Deranged Jester Mob is, against all logic and reason, a wildly popular global organization. These Trickery clerics wear bizarre or comical facepaint whenever they are out in public. They often approach strangers in a menacing way, though they do not engage in unprovoked public attacks. Disaffected youths may become infaturated by these displays of bold impropriety. The gratuitously zany antics of Jesters appeal to ordinary folk starved for entertainment, drawing a well-defined subculture to their outdoor religious revival events. Known to insiders simply as DJM. Authorities are often alarmed by the presence of this holy order, but public outrage is always wildly disproportionate to actual criminal activity.
 φ Lycanthropes who regard shapeshifters as superior beings are welcome among the Unbreakable Pack. This fellowship of Nature clerics venerates werecreatures and a variety of other entities not bound to a single form. In some lands these priests prepare feeding grounds so that fledgeling werebeasts can develop their skills in relative safety. Aspiring to support shapeshifters, these spellcasters may operate hideouts, supply caches, and secure sanctuaries. Members of the Unbreakable Pack sometimes find ecstasy in sacrificing victims to rampaging monsters in residence. Engaging in various illegal practices dictates remote locations for compounds run according to this philosophy. Yet Unbreakable Pack strongholds sometimes become the heart of larger outlaw communities.
 ∀ The Wildfires are a sect of explosively violent Light clerics known for leaving trails of char and ash in their wake. Their primary tactical preference is revealed by the name of their most esteemed gospel, The Book of Scorched Earth. Some military men respect this order because its power can be harnessed to damage the enemy, but this is a rare exception to the broad public contempt for all things related to Loki. Wildfires only make matters worse by occasionally immolating strangers over petty grievances. Their holy purpose is to achieve inner peace, yet their teachings idealize achieving this through the incineration of anything that disturbs a priest's personal tranquility. They learn to take solace in whatever flames linger after their troubles have been silenced.
 ∀ Though the term now refers to any soldier who switches sides during an ongoing conflict, the original Turncoats sustain a holy order of specialists in this form of duplicity. These Forge clerics may appear as neutral bystanders tending to the wounded and fallen. They offer vital aid to distract from pilferage of tabards, badges, and other military paraphernalia. Miracles of faith equip them with just the right weapons and armor to complete a uniformed look. Turncoats allow personal whims and arbitrary coin tosses to guide their choices when wreaking havoc by fighting for one side or betraying it to another. This sect sees zero demand for mercenary work. No fee actually buys their loyalty. Yet the order continues to recruit from deserters and outlaws unable to find any other sanctuary.
 ∀ The Discordians are a sect of Knowledge clerics intent on disrupting any and all forms of government. Before departing this world, the goddess Eris wed Loki in an effort to muddle The Immaculate System. As a result, Discordian priests pray effectively in her name. Each member of this order appropriates the loftiest religious rank applicable to the region. True anarchists, they embrace a holy purpose to challenge every orthodoxy and promote individual self-determination. Memorable encounters with these priests often leave witnesses gushing about passionate insights shared during a brief interaction. Whether unravelling a mighty regime or perpetrating an obscure prank, Discordians leave a signature gilded apple to take credit for the upheavals they cause.

Alignment Philosophies Agents of Equilibrium, Just Lawgivers, Merry Hoodlums, Selfless Benefactors, Solicitous Drafters, Sovereign Renegades, Tidal Movers, Upstanding Counselors, and Vicious Malefactors are granted holy blessings by Dagda, Chung Kuel, Zeus, Odin, Arawn, Ma Yuan, Mannanan Mac Lir, Shang Ti, and Hel respectively. Like all philosophers, these spellcasters never need mention any specific god or participate in conventional acts of worship. They channel energy by calling out to an abstract principle or invoking some sort of authority. The best philosophers embrace the intellectual form by becoming well-versed in the reasoning behind their ethical positions. These arguments remain compelling across all domains. Yet philosophical practice remains funamentally spiritual. Divine energy only empowers spellcasters who remain true to relevant beliefs.  Individuals who feel a strong connection to their alignment may also be drawn to one of these nine philosophies. Many practitioners are wellsprings of insight about how to make the most of a commitment to a specific morality. Alignment philosophers are not obliged to spread their beliefs, but the words and deeds of some are extremely influential. Priests of compatible alignment may enjoy discussing ethics with this type of philosopher. Some are former priests themselves, having parted ways with a rigid holy order. Others are seekers open to a divine calling that they have yet to experience. Yet for most philosophers, dedication to these beliefs is a power they know to be personal despite whatever role the Fivesquare Pantheon plays in governing spiritual magic.

Mannanan Mac Lir (Chaotic Neutral) The God of Watery Depths hears prayers from almost every mariner. Having driven off many other great sea deities, his personal domain covers more than half the surface of the world. Countless sailors who make no time for churchgoing still know by heart the Prayer of Aquatic Triumph, once used to beg for mercy in emergencies and now a matter of morning rote aboard ship. His intense interest in the flourishing undersea nations of merfolk, nixies, tritons, et al. causes the surface of Mannanan Mac Lir's oceans to be much less turbulent than the waters of earlier eras.
 ∀ The Sunken Saints are an order of Nature clerics who take their name from an ancient fellowship of sea creatures who thwarted the rise of an unholy aquatic empire. Variety and abundance flowing through constant change is a sacred path they pursue to combat any interest in occult powers. Sunken Saint scripture includes extensive commentaries on the use of nets and traps, both in contexts of monster hunting and gathering food. Today the terrestrial members of this order minister mostly to fishing villages. Worshipers who tithe generously attain bountiful hauls. The Sunken Saints are much more common throughout the Imperium Maris where rank in their order conveys law enforcement authority.
 φ Tidal Movers contend that life is only at its best in the midst of great change. The singular requirement of their belief system is a search for unfamiliar experiences. Enthusiasts of this philosophy are consistent only in their inconsistency. Drawn to warzones and wilderness areas, Tidal Movers tend to stir up trouble wherever none is afoot. Some deliberatly seek outlaw status. To face something entirely new is a treat for these clerics, doubly so if the final outcome is uncertain. Practitioners may be drawn to this philosophy after rejecting a rigid worldview, since one of its core teachings is that mortals will never fully comprehend morality. Spellcasters inspired by these ideas find power faltering only if their prayers or their lifestyles remain constant across a significant span of time.
 ∀ Though it has prior resonance as slang for "sailor," a Spinach-Eater is a Life cleric trained for ministering to seafarers. Their name comes from ritual distribution of the plant, known to ward against afflictions common during long voyages. Sailing with such a priest may extend provisions and guard against contagions. If a port lacks one of their distinctive dockside temple-warehouses, locals in the shipping trade should be able to point out a tavern or drinking hall where Spinach-Eaters are known to congregate. Some take full advantage of special jurisdictions in harbor districts, conducting otherwise illicit trade. This holy order often has ties to local rogues able to facilitate smuggling or the sale of goods stolen in distant lands.
 ∀ Responsible for establishing modern trade routes linking the Orient to Serpia, Cardinal Navigators are Knowledge clerics constantly sharing information to maintain charts of wind patterns and ocean currents. Their scriptures contain methods for anticipating and avoiding gargantua as well as the worst sorts of storms to form between Mainland and the Orient. Transoceanic voyages face likely doom without such expertise on board. Some naval officers are ordained in this faith, though a tendency to speak in technical terms and avoid conflict makes Cardinal Navigators unlikely captains. These priests wear distinctive red robes or coats to discourage attacks against their holy persons during ship to ship combat.
 φ Wild Maelstroms believe drama is so vital to life that they actively seek out conflict and pull their associates into the thick of every personal struggle. With prayers dedicated to their own ambitions, whimsy constantly reshapes the philosophy of these Tempest clerics. They are quick to act disruptively in order to become the center of attention. Even among equals they may behave as if flanked by a team of sidekicks. Yet others may be drawn to the turmoil that constantly swirls around Wild Maelstroms. Time in their company is rarely dull. Some become eclectic performers, travelling widely and integrating an assortment of influences into their own work. Other practitioners are compulsive adventurers, always on the lookout for dramatic obstacles to overcome.
 ∀ Many old Temples of Poseidon are now operated by Retarii, War clerics who equip themselves with tridents and nets. Their sacred duty invovles preserving a fighting style that was a staple of ancient marine warfare. Rituals among this sect strongly resemble the rites of a Dead God, and they are regarded as heretics by some followers of Mannanan Mac Lir. Aquatic raiders have been known to strike Retarii compounds on land. Yet on the sea floor this holy order serves as the spiritual backbone of the only permanent army in the Imperium Maris. From time to time an individual Retarius manages to promote this divinely-inspired martial art by thriving as a celebrity on the gladiatorial circuit.

The Dead Gods There are documented claims of miraculous occurences following prayers to over ten thousand different entities. During the Age of Heroes, hundreds of gods granted power to a myriad of clerics. Today there are exactly twenty-five gods whose worshipers wield verifiably divine magic. Many deities voluntarily departed from a crowded and contentious pantheon. Others ceded their power in this world after losing the sorts of peculiar wagers or contests that only make sense among immortals.  As this Great Consolidation accelerated, some gods took to direct avatar vs. avatar combat. A gargantuan monster named Ma Yuan plunged into these struggles, violently vanquishing deities at an alarming pace. Shang-Ti pledged his support on the condition the ascendant murder god end this deicide spree. Tales of the Dead Gods fill history books today, and modern religious practices contain enormous amounts of material borrowed from defunct sects.

Ma Yuan (Chaotic Evil) The God of Bloody Murder is the only member of the Fivesquare Pantheon who is not widely recognized as a deity across many other planes of existence. During the Age of Heroes, Ma Yuan savagely defeated so many rivals that the Regal Deities feared his might would soon surpass their own. Now he inspires dark faiths that appeal to cravings for death and destruction. Most of his temples and shrines are in remote locations. Powerful monstrous allies may prowl the surrounding wilderness.
 ∀ Though the term also applies to a carnivore that is never prey itself, an Apex Predator may instead be a War cleric devoted to becoming stronger by devouring select body parts harvested from enemies defeated in combat. Many of these priests maintain a set of sacred butchery tools seperate from their weaponry. With scripture and prayers keenly focused on Ma Yuan's unconventional method of divine ascension, members of this holy order believe they will be transformed through the killing and eating of creatures more powerful than themselves. Some Apex Predators abstain from cannibalism, but their empowerment requires at least one weekly meal made from an unconfined creature personally slain. The spiritual value of each feast is derived from the level of threat or technical difficulty overcome during the hunt.
 ∀ The Dragon Gang is a global criminal syndicate that employs dragonborn guards, though it is led by a terrifying sect of Knowledge clerics. This outlaw organization is strongest where harsh authorities create the most lucrative opportunities for professional gangsters. Squads of suicidal fanatics enable this worldwide secret religion to project power even into the most well-regulated of quarters. Little is known about their sacred rituals, since the killing of innocent witnesses appears to be a standard practice. Though fear motivates the payment of protection money to this sect, the Dragon Gang will deploy formidable combat assets when their protectees are under threat. Some actual dragons number among those assets, though most of dragonkind wants nothing to do with this spiritual mafia.
 φ Sovereign Renegades see the world as a collection of resources to exploit however they see fit. Their prayers take the form of grandiose proclamations establishing their personal discretion as superior to all legal authorities. Some are dismissive of all critiques, judgements, and advice they do not interpret as supportive. Any literature that encourages readers to prioritize self-interest above all other concerns may prove inspirational to Sovereign Renegades. No government deliberately fosters this philosophy among its own people, but these teachings sometimes thrive as a reaction to draconian enforcement practices. In oppressive societies, some may see these fiercely independent individuals as role models. Yet everywhere these spellcasters are known, law enforcers regard them as troublemakers.
 ∀ The Savage Talons are a shadowy sect of Trickery clerics who often affiliate with monks and assassins. Remote monasteries provide venues for instilling a code of conduct that demands extremes of subtlety in peace and bloodlust in conflict. Their scriptures are full of fables to impart wisdom and exercises to promote physical ability. Training is a crucial thread in the holy urpose of a Savage Talon. Normally cloaked and furtive, in battle they attack with relentless brutality. Well after victory they may continue to slash and bash the corpses of their enemies. Surviving witnesses of such attacks are often traumatized by the memory. These brutal priests are notoriously difficult to track when they abstain from leaving trails of heavily mutilated bodies.
 φ Monstrous Reavers equate killing with thriving. These Forge clerics make use of superior weapons to achieve the highest possible body count. They embrace a "kill or be killed" outlook. Many academics see this philosophy as devoid of value, yet it is practiced by some of the wisest goblinoids. Arming and protecting allies can convert a starving brood into a burgeoning warband. Yet other Monstrous Reavers may find their passion for violence prevents them from becoming part of any large group. The healing magic of these practitioners often leaves reminders of injuries even after restoring function and fitness. Most proudly accumulate scars over the course of their careers. Though they prefer to settle disputes with steel, these philosophers are entirely capable of arguing the merits of their murderous beliefs.
 ∀ The Bloodthirsty are a sect of Nature clerics known for operating large institutions in major cities for the purpose of placating or diverting gargantuan monsters. Gruesome rites and perilous duties complicate recruiting, though several heroic orcs in Bloodthirsty scripture serve to draw people with that ancestry to this holy order. Their sacred scrolls feature crucial lessons about how to feed and otherwise pacify terrifying creatures on an active rampage. Initiates repeatedly face deadly beasts, steeling themselves to be dutiful despite fear. Bloodthirsty priests track gargantua and study them from afar, sometimes finding fortune amidst the devastation they leave behind. Yet their primary income is provided by city leaders willing to pay dearly to prevent the sight of a gargantua on the horizon bringing a halt to peaceful commerce.

Odin (Neutral Good) The God of the Final Battle is nearly as powerful as Zeus himself. Those two locked in mortal conflict would precipitate a world-ending event known as Ragnorak. Odin is particularly popular with generals and other strategists, as he is thought to be forever planning this grand apocalypse. He is often honored at midwinter yule festivals, with people the world over customarily expressing joy at having survived the year. Earthly representatives of Odin preach that one decisive battle matters more than one thousand inconclusive fights.
  Odin is accustomed to holding supreme being status. On this world he makes due as leader of the War Gods and a cosmic check on the power of Zeus. His recruitment was a delicate matter, since he embraced the position of commander-in-chief for The Immaculate System only to discover the long term plan maintained peaceful harmony among the gods. Now Odin constantly broods over different dramatic possibilities for a celestial endgame while relishing every opportunity he has to rise up against unholy incursions.
 ∈ The Asgardians were a diverse group of deities revered throughout ancient Wotania. Their cosmology of a "middle world" forged from the bones of primordial giants with a history that began at the fall of the Imperium Arcanum. Children of the first human superpower were raised on tales of Asgardian heroism in the face of overwhelming evil. So much of this lore continues to echo all over the world in songs of ancient conflict and battles against ferocious monsters. Asgardian Forge clerics preserve shrines housing runes carved thousands of years ago. They also promote traditional methods of making and using heavy military equipment. Individual cells of Asgardians may develop strong beliefs, but larger gatherings immediately spark disagreements settled either by friendly competitions or deadly duels.
 ∀ Among the largest sects as measured by clergy or worshipers, the All-Father's Shields are an extremely diverse order of War clerics known to travel with barbarians, berzerkers, and other bold warriors. In peacetime this holy order promotes war by sermonizing about battlefield heroism and playing out possible scenarios in the form of elaborate tabletop games. These exercises make them formidable strategists. The most senior priests may become trusted advisors to a general or admiral. All-Father's Shields more typically constitute the leadership of a warband. They meditate often on the capabilities and limitations of their allies. Assorted plans and contingencies enable these priests conceptualize each moment in battle as a puzzle. Solutions to these puzzles are sought through a mix of tactical prayers and calculated analyses.
 φ Selfless Benefactors believe the world exists to help life achieve its potential. They dedicate themselves to making things better on every level. Personally they seek out learning opportunities and sponsor education or training for others when possible. Healing the sick and injured is always a high priority. In their communities they lead efforts to address neglected problems and promote constructive activities. Where these efforts are rewarded, Selfless Benefactors may keep a comfortable home and some financial reserves, yet even their own fortunes primarily fund philanthropic efforts. With prayers directed at all manner of virtues, the unifying theme of this philosophy is a commitment to helping others.
 ∀ The Truthsayers are an influential sect of Knowledge clerics famed for building absurdly large churches. Normally reserved for worship or ceremonial use, when the general public is called to these vast sanctuaries, it is understood that credible omens warn danger is imminent. Much of the funding for these facilities is a reward for giving wise counsel to the elite, though a sly Truthsayer may ocassionally indulge in a binge of professional gambling.
 ∀ The Weathermen are not exclusively male, but they are a sect of Tempest clerics expert in manipulating the sky to influence the outcome of a battle. They consistently venerate Frigga, a Dead Goddess, yet their prayers yield real divine magic. Theologists believe Odin supports the Weathermen, though it is unclear if this is an act of devotion to his departed wife or an action taken for strategic reasons.

Sacred Scriptures Every holy order has chosen one or more books of religious lore to be a guide all the faithful ought study and revere. Fundamentalist sects insist their scripture is flawless and sacrosanct, though disputes may emerge from interpretation. Yet there are faiths that teach scripture as allegory meant to enlighten and inspire rather than dictate explicit commandments. Most religions tolerate some doctrinal flexibility while maintaining that their teachings are divinely inspired and superior to any alternative. A huge portion of traditional art and music retells tales taken from major scriptures, so déjà vu is commonly experienced when perusing holy books. Some scriptures are reproduced in staggering numbers as a means of spreading the faith, though it also reinforces lore and doctrines to working scribes.

Oghma (Neutral) The God of Accumulated Lore is revered by sages and scholars. He is also popular among bards, particularly those committed to memorizing great works of oral history. Respectable libraries often contain a small shrine to Oghma. Illiterate folk know they can look to Oghma's priests for scribe services as well as healing and spiritual advice. Authors and wizards may seek them out for premium papers and inks or even bookbinding assistance. Neat handwriting is a spiritual virtue for followers of Oghma.
 • The Blessed Archivists are soft-spoken Knowledge clerics who adhere to a rigorous code of conduct. This committment is minimally restrictive on broad questions of morality, but it stipulates an elaborate set of best practices for the handling, transcription, and storage of documents. Such expertise is in demand among great leaders, so well-funded Archivist seminaries are hubs for the open exchange of information about current events.
 • The Keymasters are War clerics who maintain living archives in the form of jails and dungeons. Scripture demands that they maintain a clean environment and see to the health of their prisoners. Yet preventing escape is the foremost duty of the Keymaster, so they train and equip for intense close quarters combat.
 • The Whispering Seekers are an order of Nature clerics with an unrivalled reputation for being able to track down fugitives and missing persons, exploiting animals as needed to do this. Though they are not forbidden to lie, their reputations as honest brokers of observations from the wilderness creates much demand for them to serve as spies and scouts. Near their hushed cloisters, Seekers tend to maintain a network of familiar and reliable animal informants.

Cosmic Loopholes The Old Faith gives accomplished druids the power to bring recently deceased people back to life in entirely new bodies. Divine magic enables priests of comparable experience to restore life to an intact corpse. The wisest and holiest of clergy may even possess the means to revive persons from remains long dead. Regime change sometimes involves securing the allegiance of prominent religious figures at least until the return of a slain leader is no longer plausible.  Ordinary approaches to cheating death involve understanding the spiritual flows by which the gods reap souls from this world and sow pregnant wombs with new life. Grand masters of the divine approach supplement extensive learning and devoted prayers with fragments of their own spirits, often enduring an agonizing void until they have recovered from the sacrifice. Though common folk favor the burial or destruction of bodies to prevent necromantic tampering; dignataries often opt for formal tombs. Some make further arrangements, transforming death from an ultimate fate to a temporary setback.

Osiris (Lawful Good) The God of Noble Sacrifice is served by charismatic preachers in every corner of the world. Followers of this deity advocate an extreme and unyielding morality, but the particulars of it make them well-respected in most civilized lands. Osiris is regarded as the embodiment of cyclical life, death, and renewal. Autumn harvest festivals are consecrated in his name, and his worshipers customarily give thanks in prayer before eating a proper meal. Despite high ethical rigor, the doctrine of Osiris also allows for forgiveness and spiritual rebirth -- a fresh start after repudiating and condemning prior bad acts. Even harsh judgements must be sacrificed when a redemption is true and good.
 • Cultivationists are a huge sect of Nature clerics famed for expertise at providing agricultural support. Their scripture offers much guidance on choosing times for the of planting and harvesting various crops. Both activities are part of a sacred cycle that must be perpetuated to nourish worshipers and the communities around them. Countless Cultivationist ministers maintain tiny churches in rural communities.
 • The Martyrs of Osiris are War clerics who believe the road to paradise involves dying in service to a righteous crusade. They are obsessive about spiritual purity, and they can often be found among like-minded paladins. Martyrs teach that sacrifices to good causes are a justification essential for partaking of pleasures in this life or the next.
 • There are no healing specialists more respected than the Order of Ouroboros. If one of their temples does not harbor a Life cleric able to perform the greatest of miracles, the senior priest will at least know how to send a message to a distant specialist in the application of this most holy power. Their rites honor Isis alongside Osiris, and novices often act as midwives in order to better understand how life enters this world.

Funding the Faith Custom holds that one-tenth part of a worshiper's income ought be tithed to a temple or church. The Forked Tongue Society is financed almost entirely by the tithing of well-compensated killers for hire. Some militant holy orders operate units of mercenaries, supporting the ministry with tithed spoils of war. Many religions make it their mission to help local farmers and artisans because more prosperous folk make greater contributions when they attend religious services.  Some funds from outside the sect are considered donations in support of a sacred purpose, but others are openly regarded as the price of a good or service. Cardinal Navigators and Reverend Architects can be hired by anyone, but their terms always require freedom to perform applicable rites. Morticians are trained to tolerate all manner of prayers at a funeral, so long as the God of Tranquil Death is permitted a single mention (and his earthly representative is given at least one gold coin.) Heavenly Vintners and Mushroom Hunters are vendors by religious calling, though often they reserve the best stock for like-minded worshipers. Religious finance is nearly as diverse as the practice of faith itself.

Ptah (Lawful Neutral) The God of the Marvelous Forge is popular with bankers, tinkers, and all sorts of metalworkers. With intense emphasis on precision and consistency, artisans faithful to Ptah show religious devotion in their feats of crafting. His priests are reliable sources of information on where to find the best tools and materials in the area. Some governments entrust his priests to supervise the minting of currency.
 ∀ Synod Jewelers are governed by an incalculably wealthy council of Light clerics who teach a spiritual approach to working with precious metals and gemstones. Notable halflings hold senior positions in this organization. Synod priests stringently enforce standards of business integrity on worshipers' shops as well as their own. This keeps pricing in the treasure trade fair, but it does not prevent a major transaction from being complicated by a assorted additional fees or a long contract of convoluted terms in miniscule writing.
 ∀ Shining Steelmongers are a trade association led by a brawny sect of War clerics. Their holy book has much to say about furnaces and smelting, but it is also packed full of guidance on preparing and working with exotic alloys. Typically they live out a holy quest to procure and flaunt the best custom-made weapons and armor they can forge or commission. Often dwarves are contenders for the top prize at Shining Steelmongers' glittering pageants of heavy combat gear. Though they may use textile greatcloaks for concealment, members of this holy order refuse any application of filth or paint to dim the reverently-polished surfaces of their gear.
 φ Fatesmiths claim to have one eye for metal and the other for mettle. These Forge clerics often have a role in supervising the equipping of armies. Yet they take the greatest satisfactoin from personal relationships with warriors they identify as linked to a great destiny. Willing beneficiaries can expect blessings, equipment, and moral guidance. Some Fatesmiths claim credit for providing kings and generals with the steel to succeed. Others benefit the community by counseling ruffians and outlaws into fighting on the side of civilized authorities.
 ∀ Skygazers are an order of Tempest clerics developing theology that aspires to predict the weather. Keeping journals with sketches and extensive descriptions of clouds is a devotional act for them. Competing models of pattern formation are informed by endless Skygazer debates as well as a growing array of experimental instruments that sample the environment. Scientific measurements inform their predictions, though many druids achieve superior accuracy without benefit of any technology. Of course, the forecasts of Skygazers are 100% accurate when powerful prayers make good on their predictions.
 ∀ The Apparatus Society maintains a network of temple-workshops to support all manner of tinkers, technologists, and engineers. Optics and astronomy are popular interests among this sect of Knowledge clerics. Their gospels elaborate on the workings of machines fabled for perfect exactitude in shaping parts for other machines. Also the group has a fair number of gnomes in its congregations, with some holding positions of clerical seniority. Uninitiatied outsiders are often unwelcome since they have been known to fearfully smash delicate clockwork innovations.

The Sun Gods At the height of the turmoil preceding the Great Consolidation, sun priests were common on the battlefield. It was not easy to overlook their holy radiance and fiery onslaughts. As conditions on the ground stabilized, Ra remained in command of a strong team while the mightiest of all the gods, Zeus, was protective of his loyal ally Apollo. Truscan legions turned back hordes of Ra's zealots as wave after wave rolled westard, but Apollo's crusaders fared no better on their many eastbound campaigns.  In a bargain only the gods could comprehend, a truce was forged designating Ra "God of the Rising Sun" and Apollo "God of the Setting Sun." Though there is still a little tension between followers of these two deities, it is nothing compared to the savage holy wars of an earlier era. Today some cities even see unified sun worship complexes where different holy orders take shifts praising the world's primary source of light and warmth.

Ra (Neutral Good) The God of the Rising Sun is chief among the Serpian deities, worshiped the world over by seekers of enlightenment and moral guidance. Once an overwhelming presence spanning all of Serpia, his worshipers dwindled first during the Truscan Hegemony and again during a flurry of spectacular betrayals by pontiffs turning to Set. Even in harsh times, priests of Ra tend to remain men and women of good cheer, always eager to help those who pair real need with no ill intentions.
 Ra's place in The Immaculate System is sometimes reduced by the language of mortals to cosmic scheduler. It is true that one of his most important duties involves shaping the seasons by choosing the arc of the Sun each morning. Yet he has far greater mastery of time and space. Fundamental forces, like light or heat, are easily bent to Ra's will. His influence inspires the extraordinary arcane and scientific progress of peoples presently affiliated with the Serpian Empire.
 ∈ Though subject to many evolutions, the most popular pantheon in eastern Mainland during the Age of Heroes was anchored by a group of nine constant deities. The much larger group is still known today as the Ennead. Various fellowships and brotherhoods, sometimes reflecting the absolute patriarchy of religious ordination in the archaic versions of these faiths, preserve towering archives of scrolls penned by priests of the Ennead. The clerics are fanatical guardians of ancient monuments and secret treasures as well as their collections of lore. Gatherings of Ennead priests tend to be collegial, with tolerance for almost any opinion that does not promote the destruction of holy relics. When a great pyramid or ancient library is under threat, members of this faith may rally in its defense.
 • Solar Singers are Life clerics committed to delivering five loud vocal performances between sunrise and sunset each day. Their sect once collected tithes from a large majority of Serpians, and today the Singers remain a major force for good in a part of the world plagued by growing darkness. Performances from their lofty minnarets guide people in need to welcoming temples.
 • The Vessels of Light are all educators as well as Knowledge clerics. Acting on a holy mandate to spread literacy, numeracy, and other forms of enlightenment; they serve the community by operating schools and providing excellent personal tutelage to young aristocrats. Nostalgic loyalty drives a great deal of patronage for this sect.
 • The Dawnlords are a flamboyant order of Light clerics known for the huge glittering domes featured prominently atop their sunspire temples. Some children are told that these priests are personally responsible for bringing the Sun up each morning. Dawn rituals in the sect range from somber sermonizing to whimsical pantomimes based on that tall tale.

Divine Villains Hades, Ares, Hel, Loki, Set, Arawn, Lei Kung, and Ma Yuan are all enemies of the gods according to mainstream religious narratives. Yet the real relationship is much more complex. Because each cultural pentad has one or two antagonists, religious parables and sagas gain tension and moral contrast useful in illustrating spiritual arguments. Evil deities may be feared and hated, but on some level they are also needed.  Rarely there is widespread social acceptance of such a sect. Cityfolk in most areas consider it routine to employ a Mortician when disposing of a corpse. Evil religions more typically face a landscape of attitudes ranging from "wildly unpopular" to "forbidden by law." Driven into obscurity, these sects nonetheless hide behind false fronts, lurk as secret societies, or operate facilities and gatherings beyond the grasp of civilized armies. Despite all this contempt, evil divine magic is still termed "holy" in contrast to "unholy" phenomena like aberrations, fiends, and the undead.

Set (Lawful Evil) The God of Darkest Night is so widely despised that hostility toward Hel and Loki seems tame by comparison. Some priests of Set pointedly exploit religious tolerance laws to maintain temples in plain sight, knowing full well that this undermines the authority of permissive leaders. However, the overwhelming majority of worship and organization is covert. Sometimes masquerading as a different sort of group, sometimes assembling in total secrecy, the followers of this malevolent deity are surprisingly abundant in every inhabited land.
 • The Brotherhood of Set accepts both male and female Knowledge clerics, purposefully penetrating noble houses and other power structures. Often the Brotherhood acts indirectly, compelling or misleading "assets" to engage in betrayals. Yet the group strongly prefers to infiltrate and influence rather than actually topple strong leadership.
 • The Forked Tongue Society is an order of War clerics known for running secret monasteries where assassins, ninjas, etc. are trained. These priests impart mystical insights that unlock spectacular martial capabilities, especially in younger and fitter students. Though they do not directly orchestrate murder for hire, the Society makes it their business to match skilled covert operatives with well-funded potential employers.
 • Nightcrawlers are Trickery clerics so named because their initiation involves being broken to such an extent of self-loathing as to feel like a mere earthworm. However, they are also predominantly active at night -- that pair of unseen eyes vagabonds and cat burglars feel upon them in especially unsettling moments. Their sacred mission is to facilitate endeavors so sinister that they could not be sustained in the light of day.

Heavenly Portfolios The critical factor in the language of prayer is no longer the name of the deity. Part of Shang-Ti's Immaculate System drives divine energy to flow along channels dictated by the specifics of each god's assigned portfolio. For example, these assigned roles cause prayers to "the God of the Sun" go to Ra or Apollo depending on what time of day it is. Priests of either are trained to be more precise with sacred invocations.  Though largely unaware of the metaphysics, people of faith are encouraged develop a habit of technical precision when calling out to the gods (e.g. "the God of Tranquil Death" or "the God of Bloody Murder" rather than "the God of Death.") Regional variations in some sects, even with a new name for the patron deity, still appear to produce empowered clergy if practices are exact in identifying the intended portfolio.

Shang-Ti (Lawful Neutral) The God of The Immaculate System is also the architect of the Fivesquare Pantheon. He joined the other Regal Deities in deciding this world could comfortably support twenty-five major gods. As the number of competing candidates plummeted, Shang-Ti studied their tangle of agendas, then constructed a plan for global divine harmony. The chosen gods eliminated all remaining rivals before declaring a truce. Shang-Ti defined and assigned each of the portfolios now governing spheres of divine influence. He is the patron of bureaucrats and organizers, appealing to anyone fond of developing elaborate schemes or studying orderly abstractions.
 The Immaculate System fractures ultimate power in a way mortals often find mysterious. Shang-Ti planned the whole thing, yet he is not the supereme executive authority. Instead he provides organizational guidance with infrequent, sometimes cryptic, messages to other deities. Shang-Ti commands the stature of an elder statesman, but he seldom makes direct contact. Systematically assigning various responsibilities to other gods created conditions that allow Shang-Ti to focus on the sceheming and planning he finds most satisfying. His influence promotes orderly social hierarchies throughout the Orient.
 • Upstanding Counselors can be found wherever common people are permitted to employ Knowledge clerics as legal representatives. The complex ethical system of this sect may make it difficult for outsiders to engage a Counselor, but once business is underway the advocate has a sacred duty never to act on behalf of a conflicting interest or betray the confidence of the client.
 • Celestial Accountants are Light clerics with a strong command of mathematics. Their vows require them to be accurate in the numbering of all things, so they are trustworthy keepers of bankbooks, inventories, and other ledgers. Using distinctive racks of sliding beads, they perform complex calculations at a speed other mortals cannot match.
 • Inscrutible Observers are a ubiquitous order of Nature clerics who wear dull yet fine clothing and frequently take notes on events transpiring nearby. Their intentions are so enigmatic, some speculate they must have a sacred duty to provoke questions and draw people toward the faith through mystery. They are meticulous, law-abiding, and respectful; yet they are also almost always passive monitors.

Animal Spirits Though all living things are animated by the same vital energy, beasts are a special case. People, dragons, fey, fiends -- intelligent beings often act on instinct, but they have the power to make calculated choices and take purposeful actions. The ratio between willpower and vital energy in a simple animal means that beasts are far less able to transcend instinctive drives.  The Old Faith and various holy orders devoted to Nature can provide insights about the way this "green magic" may be exploited to control animals. Sages are skeptical of any argument that beasts have souls carrying into the afterlife. Yet this scholarly understanding is no barrier to priests, many of whom teach that deceased animal companions will be happy to reunite with their beloved keepers in the afterlife. The resurrected generally do not confirm having had such experiences on the other side.

Silvanus (Neutral) The God of the Verdant Wilderness joins Dagda in supporting the Old Faith while encouraging sects devoted to his own worship. No being has done more to restore the wounded land after so much strife during the Age of Heroes. Forest dwellers everywhere utter prayers to Silvanus, and he is also popular with herders, hunters, and carpenters. Artists moved to depict great scenic beauty often dedicate their works to him.
 ∀ Beastminders are Nature clerics who oppose trade in exotic animals despite maintaining personal menageries of exotic animals. After the old way of fighting trappers and inhumane breeders gave way to a campaign of freely placing exotic pets with patient and dutiful keepers, this sect abruptly achieved global popularity. Beastminders also promote zoological learning by welcoming outsiders into their temples for limited interactions with rare creatures.
 φ Nature Worship is almost indistinguishable from the Old Faith. There are no gospel scriptures or uniform taboos. Nonetheless, some Nature clerics are able to wield the power of prayer through appeals to "the Spirit of the Land," "Mother Nature," "the Force of Nature," and variations on that theme. Nature Worship often involves extensive meditation in unspoiled wilderness. Practitioners feel a duty to prevent the destruction or corruption of thriving natural habitats. Many identify with a particular animal spirit or seek wisdom from the study of animal behaviors. Even so, Nature Worship bestows a distinctly spiritual form of magic. This phlosophy also enables assorted tribal priests and some barbarians to draw holy power from reverence for the natural environment.
 ∀ The Well of Thorns is an organization of Warfare clerics adept at using archery along with concealment and primitive traps. Most live as formidable hunters, gathering to support the defense of forests and other wild places. Elves hold positions of prestige in this order, and it claims to have roots in a military unit from the time of the Imperium Arcanum. Many green knights are proud to accept guidance from these priests.
 ∀ Blossoms of Mercy are Life clerics who supplement their magic with an extensive knowledge of herbal remedies. Their sacred gardens are rare outside Sylvania, but each provides a bounty of raw materials for basic medical supplies and more potent elixirs. Blossoms are known for dressing in vibrant colors while strongly scented by the diverse collections of flora scattered among their pockets and pouches.

Weather Magic Some farmers pray rain will revitalize dusty fields. Others pray ongoing deluges will cease before flooding occurs. Sea captains want the wind at their back, and many find spells to alter the course of uncooperative breezes. Even pontiffs and kings are not above beseaching a deity for a nice sunny day to frame an important public event. Constant interventions create ripples of uncertainty, severely limiting the reliable forecasting of weather. Yet its study and manipulation are both important disciplines, since history has been known to turn on control of the skies over a crucial battle. Even the ears of a king remain open to the words of a Sky God high priest. Yet druids and wizards may contribute similar capabilities to weather control efforts.

Thor (Chaotic Good) The God of Rolling Thunder is a popular patron among warriors, gamblers, and anyone else inclined toward sudden and decisive action. He can be a destructive force, but the wicked have far more to fear from him than the innocent. Loki and Lei Kung have each narrowly survived many battles with Thor. He is widely regarded as an exemplar of virtue by people who regard freedom and fairness as important values. Yet his primary doctrine is that one should not be bound by strict doctrine, so his followers are often known for impulsive behavior.
 • The largest and most pervasive of all modern religions, the Church of Thor is an organization of Tempest clerics riding a wave of modern evangelical success. Equally venerating Thor and Sif, their halls of worship are both large and overflowing. Far-flung Thorthodox Church missionaries reach to every corner of the world where Thor's worship is not already an established practice.
 • Hammers of the Gods are War clerics who aggressively smite devils, demons, and any other godless creatures that stand in their way. They despise atheists, and they are generally happy to collaborate with all sorts of priests, regardless of alignment. Many evangelical paladins identify with this order. The Hammers' holy mission is to facilitate all other holy missions.
 • The Stormriders are an organization of Life clerics who seek out trouble spots to better provide comfort and relief. Many travel a circuit of small communities while tending to those in need. They also construct ceremonial pyres for people willing to risk a funeral not sanctified in the name of Hades. Stormriders excel at emergency field medicine, creating demand for them among adventurers and other travelers.

Witch Persecution Warlocks and witches are regarded with at least a little suspicion in every major society. However, those that consort with fiends and aberrations are particularly reviled. Even if a confirmed witch is not accused of doing any specific harm, humiliation and exile are considered light punishments for the crime of making an unholy bargain. Where incriminations fill the air, vigilante mobs can become downright murderous.  Clergy of all stripes, from the most gentle to the most wicked, typically support the brutal persecution of witches. The very nature of witchcraft violates The Immaculate System. In most modern religious circles it is regarded as an anathema. Also, witches are easy scapegoats for afflictions caused by other influences. Some people make a living as witch hunters, though many cases offer no way to distinguish the slaying of a vile menace from the murder of a social outsider.

Tyr (Lawful Good) The God of Relentless Crusades is a patron popular with anyone who must remain far from home for an extended time. Soldiers of foreign wars constitute the bulk of his worshipers. Tyr is the divine embodiment of loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice. Generals often encourage his worship in the ranks, since Tyr's scripture teaches that laconic obedience is a great virtue.
 • The Veterans' Alliance is a network by which Life clerics reach out to old soldiers in need of healing or other support. Though the group is unobtrusive, the sheer number of wounded veterans, with more emerging from each new war, has grown the VA into an enormous global institution with pervasive medical and spiritual outreach. This group is often instrumental in motivating regimes to follow through with promised rewards of bonuses or land grants for veterans.
 • Tyr's Legion commands the loyalty of large clusters of War clerics all around the world. Many turned to the faith at the end of long military campaigns. They are famously dependable team members, and thus sought after by adventuring groups, caraveneers, and explorers in need of a stalwart priest. Anyone eager to hear old war stories need not wait long on a visit to a temple of the Legion.
 • Valiant Justiciars are Light clerics dedicated to imposing a high-minded version of fairness and spiritual purity on the world. With little bureaucracy in the West, there these self-styled paragons of virtue may act as law enforcers or even judges and executioners. Everywhere they are friends to principled paladins as well as anyone dedicated to rooting out and destroying disruptive forces in their own societies.

Marriage Customs Even after the Great Consolidation, the concept of marriage remains incredibly diverse. In all lands any couple may be recognized as husband and wife. Yet it is normal for dignitaries in the Orient to keep vast harems, and Serpian tradition allows for plural marriage even among the common folk. Oriental, Serpian, Truscan, and Norish laws all have different things to say about the relationships between spouses and slaves, including a sort of slave-wife caste applicable in some cases.  Yet the people of Sylvania are staunchly against all forms of slavery, and many there simply do not know what to make of plural marriage. Any marriage blessed by an authentic religious acolyte will leave a lingering trace of divine magic for as long as both partners live to honor their wedding vows. This common phenomenon is well-understood and accepted as legal evidence in most societies.

Zeus (Chaotic Good) The God of the Heavenly Throne is widely regarded as the most powerful being in the world. He is both chief among the Truscan deities and foremost of the Sky Gods. Zeus is known to hurl thunderbolts as deadly as any energy ever unleashed upon the world. His wrath has littered the land with corpses, and his lust has conceived many mortal heroes. Zeus is invoked by all who claim or aspire to great title, and his blessing is sought for almost any important occasion where anti-Truscan sentiment does not run high.
 As an especially powerful and deadly deity, Zeus was a logical choice to rule over the other gods. Even to them, he is an intimidating yet majestic figure. King of the Gods was a familiar role to him, and Zeus was easily enlisted in The Immaculate System. In theory he is the most powerful being in the world, though often what seems a personal whim resolves as action to enforce divine order. Nonetheless, it's good to be the king, and Zeus sees no plausible way to improve his position here. His influence accounts for the audacity and effectiveness of Truscan efforts to conquer the entire world.
 ∈ The Olympians were a dozen deities venerated throughout Thrace during the Age of Heroes. Five of these gods remain active in the world today. Yet the original twelve and further divine associates are collectiely venerated by a polytheism that reflects religious norms in the culture that produced the first great human philosophers. In hilltop halls of ancient marble, Olympian clerics dedicate their lives to archiving and analyzing a body of lore that interprets spiritual traditions through logical dialectics. Enthusiasts of ancient Thracian culture have been known to form substantial congregations of Olympian worshippers. Elsewhere adherents to this faith generate little outside interest beyond the archives of pre-Truscan literature they maintain.
 ∀ The Church of Zeus is a sprawling organization of Life clerics. Once the largest religious faction in the world, it is has since fallen out of favor in many regions. Even so, the Church remains a global organization with coherent ecclesiastical governance and a reputation as the arbiter of disputes between other faiths. Standardized buildings and opulent pageantry mean this sect can offer a touch of old Truscanny to travellers far from home.
 ∀ Agents of Wrath are Tempest clerics trained in techniques of inspiring terror. However, their mission is not malicious. Status in this order is stablished through competitive displays of intimidating spectacle. They make it their business to serve as enforcers wherever oppressive regimes lash out against their own people. With attacks so full of sound and fury, very little actual damage need be done to sate the lord's outrage. Even when such a ruse is uncovered, the arrangement may continue, since these alarming displays reinforce the idea that the ruler is powerful without doing much damage to permanent structures and productive capacity. They may also function as a military auxiliary, generating ominous signs to lower the morale of hostile forces.
 φ Merry Hoodlums believe that they serve a higher moral authority when they address injustice through criminal activity. These clerics idealize festive abundance where even the least fortunate members of a community live comfortably. Their teachings hold that most social unrest has its roots in an unfair or corrupt authority. In the face of oppression, they feel driven to hold action. Merry Hoodlums disguise their identities with common cloaks and hoods. Some pray for "mercy" or "relief" while others invoke concepts like "freedom" and "rights" while acting agsinst a menacing power. These philosophers are rarely without good cheer. In time of struggle they delight at the thought of helping others. More tranquil settings let them bear their smiles and openly celebrate harmonious prosperity.
 ∀ The Order of the Sacred Knot is composed of Knowledge clerics venerating the marriage of Zeus and Hera. They are famously savvy about affairs of the heart, and demand is high for their skill as wedding officiants. Professionals from dressmakers to florists may perform a sort of tithing to this order, prospering through a steady stream of lucrative referrals. Some cultures also employ these priests as matchmakers. Their ministries typically take the form of private sessions with couples intent on improving the quality of their own marriages. Often their temples are annexes to Church of Zeus facilities. Where the Order of the Sacred Knot stands alone, that presence typically takes the form of a shrine at some scenic spot or a luxury retreat at a famously romantic locale.

CULTURAL COLOR KEY
Truscan	Serpian	Sylvanian	Norish	Celedinese
Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir

E V I L	L A W F U L					G O O D
	Arawn	Set	Shang-Ti	Osiris	Chung Kuel
	Lei Kung	Oghma	Ptah	Ching Sung-Tzu	Tyr
	Hel	Hades	Dagda	Ra	Odin
	Loki	Silvanus	Dionysus	Geb	Thor
	Ma Yuan	Ares	Mannanan Mac Lir	Apollo	Zeus
	C H A O T I C
	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir	Mannanan Mac Lir

THE FIVESQUARE PANTHEON
Deity	Alignment	Invocation	Cultural Prominence
Apollo	CG	God of the Setting Sun	Truscanny, Danu, Galloria, Helvetica, Thrace
Ares	CE	God of Untamed War	Truscanny, Helvetica, Ontolon, Transmania, Wabahar
Arawn	LE	God of Final Rewards	Sylvania, Darresteg, Danu, Galloria, Lachland
Ching Sung-Tzu	N	God of Falling Rain	Celedine, Ontolon, Sivales, Xe-shan, Zintu
Chung Kuel	LG	God of Just Trials	Celedine, Elatolia, Kohadesia, Ontolon, Xe-shan
Dagda	N	God of Limitless Might	Sylvania, Albion, Carmatia, Danu, Sivales
Dionysus	CN	God of Drunken Revelry	Truscanny, Albion, Danu, Galloria, Thrace
Geb	N	God of the Solid Earth	Serpia, Fitchland, Helvetica, Kohadesia, Zintu
Hades	NE	God of Tranquil Death	Truscanny, Albion, Ontolon, Transmania, Wabahar
Hel	NE	Goddess of Cursed Afflictions	Norland, Carmatia, Darresteg, Joryanland, Xe-shan
Lei Kung	LE	God of Troubling Storms	Celedine, Elatolia, Joryanland, Kohadesia, To-shin
Loki	CE	God of Endless Disguises	Norland, Carmatia, Fitchland, Joryanland, Transmania
Mannanan Mac Lir	CN	God of Watery Depths	Sylvania, Albion, Iskresh, Lachland, Sivales
Ma Yuan	CE	God of Bloody Murder	Celedine, Joryanland, Sivales, To-shin, Zintu
Odin	NG	God of the Final Battle	Norland, Darresteg, Fitchland, Joryanland, Lachland
Oghma	N	God of Accumulated Lore	Sylvania, Carmatia, Darresteg, Iskresh, Sivales
Osiris	LG	God of Noble Sacrifice	Serpia, Kohadesia, To-shin, Thrace, Wabahar
Ptah	LN	God of the Marvelous Forge	Serpia, Fitchland, Iskresh, Helvetica, To-shin
Ra	NG	God of the Rising Sun	Serpia, Iskresh, Kohadesia, Wabahar, Zintu
Set	LE	God of Darkest Night	Serpia, Iskresh, Thrace, Wabahar, Zintu
Shang-Ti	LN	God of The Immaculate System	Celedine, Elatolia, Ontolon, To-shin, Xe-shan
Silvanus	N	God of Verdant Wilderness	Sylvania, Albion, Carmatia, Danu, Galloria
Thor	CG	God of Rolling Thunder	Norland, Elatolia, Joryanland, Transmania, Xe-shan
Tyr	LG	God of Relentless Crusades	Norland, Carmatia, Darresteg, Elatolia, Fitchland
Zeus	CG	God of the Heavenly Throne	Truscanny, Galloria, Helvetica, Thrace, Transmania

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INDEX OF TOPICS The Age of Dragons, The Age of Heroes, Albion, Alien Nations, Alignment Philosophies, Ancient Magic, Animal Spirits, Apollo, Arawn, Ares, Artillery, Assets, Atheism, Avalanches, Bandits, Banking, Bans, Banks, Bardic Colleges, Bugbears, Bureaucrats, Busking, Cambions, Carmatia, Celedine, Celestial Patriarchy, Ceremonial Oathtaking, Ching Sung-Tzu, Chung Kuel, Clans, Conflict, Coins (equivalencies), Coins of the Realms, Contents, Cosmic Context, Cosmic Loopholes, The Criminal Underground, Dagda, Danu, The Danu Protectorate, The Dead Gods, Death and Afterlife, Debts, The Decline of Magic, Deities (by alignment; by culture), Dionysus, Dispensations, Divine Healing, Divine Spellcasting, Divine Tragedy, Divine Villains, Dominions, Dragonborn, Druids, Dwarves, The Eight Schools, Elatolia, The Elatolian Hegemony, Elemental Beings, Elves, Empires, Estates, Exports, Fighters, Finances, Firbolgs, Fitchland, The Five Eras, The Fivesquare Pantheon, Flood Control, Forbidden Faiths, The Four Elements, Funding the Faith, Galloria, Gear, Geb, Geography, Gnomes, Goblins, Goblinoid Hordes, Gods (by alignment; by culture), Goliaths, The Great Consolidation, Hades, Half-Breeds, Half-Elves, Halflings, Half-Orcs, Heavenly Portfolios, Hel (deity), Hel (place), Helvetica, Heroes, Hidden Communities, Hidden Dwellings, History, Hobgoblins, Homelands, Human Languages, Humans, Illnesses, The Immaculate System, Imperial Training, The Imperium Arcanum (era), The Imperium Arcanum (regime), The Imperium Maris, Imports, Infrastructure, Inspired Magic, Iskresh, Jails, Jewellers, Joryanland, Killers, Kobolds, Kohadesia, Labyrinth, Lachland, Languages, Lei Kung, Lizardfolk, Loki, Lords, Ma Yuan, Magic, Magic Fatigue, Magic Shops, Magical Formulae, Magical Infrastructure, Magical Spectra, Mainland, Mannanan Mac Lir, Marking the Days, Marriage Customs, Mayhem, Mercenaries, Merchant Mariners, Metropolises, Military Education, Minting Practices, Modern Life, The Moon, Monsters, Monstrous Appearance, Mounts, The Nameless Empire, Navigation, Necromancy, The Nine Mysteries, Nomad, Non-human Languages, Non-human Thinking, Norland, Obligations, Odin, Oghma, Officials, The Old Faith, The One Truth, Ontolon, The Orient, The Oriental Empire, Osiris, Personal Wealth, Pinched Magic, Plagues, Points of Interest, Primordial Times, Prisons, Ptah, Races, Raising the Dead, The Regal Deities, Religious Edifices, Resurrection, The River of Time, Rocketry, Rogues, Root Divisions, Sacred Scriptures, Secret Languages, Secret Realms, Secret Societies, Serpia, The Seven Sources, Set, Shang-Ti, Silvanus, Sivales, The Six Forms, The Sky Gods, Slavers, Smuggling, Spellcasting Style, Standing Armies, Standing Stones, Steel Construction, Stone Construction, The Story of Everything, The Sun Gods, Superheroes, Sylvania, Table of Contents, Technology, The Thousand Mile Wall, Thor, Thrace, The Three Components, The Three Unholies, Tieflings, To-Shin, Tourism, Towns, Trade, Trade Languages, Transient Magic, Transmania, Travel, Treasure, Tribes, Tritons, Truscanny, The Two States, Typhonians, Tyr, Underwater Empire, Unholy Persons, Units of Account, Vampire Politics, The Veiled Land, Villains, Wabahar, The War Gods, Warbands, The Way of the World, Weather Magic, What is Magic?, Wildlands, Witch Persecution, Wizards, The World, Wotania, The Wyrmplague, Xe-Shan, Zeus, Zintu