Gods, the True Immortals, and the Power of their Boons:

From what we know and have been told by the Gods themselves, the truly divine beings of our world can either be born, created, or rise to divinity. Most, however, we know about were born at the start of time, year 0 of the Hydric Age. There are four known pantheons and a few gods that ally to none. Explanations of other boons are to the best of my abilities, but please forgive me reader if I misinterpret some or explain in less detail than I can.

Pantheon of Force: This is a pantheon of gods that joined together under their prime god Lucius. Plenty of daily prayers for everyday activities go to them.

• Lucius, Prime God of Force and Belief: This god rules the pantheon and has power over belief itself. He is generous in that he answers desperate pleas most often but doesn’t deign to answer those of middling faith frequently. You need to believe your prayers will be answered is all I believe. As the god of belief itself, his Boon is one of the only ones confirmed to grant godhood by it. He opens a series of divine nodes that need to be unlocked with Saintly Energy, or Se. These nodes require immense and deep understanding of the divine individuals to open. By opening a node, you increase Se you can channel for strength and use the opened nodes to access a portion of that god’s Boon. The most notable node of these is also the most unique as it is one representing you, as well as the hardest to unlock, having an unknown amount of sub nodes within it that need to be opened as well. No one I have spoken to has ever opened this node fully yet although some may have gotten close.

• May the Breadwinner, Goddess of Fertility and Gambling: Wife to Lucius, she rose to divinity as a mortal when she bet a passing merchant that her fields were better than any ambrosia and won. Lucius took this bet and lost, thus granting her godhood. Her Boon ties a Worshipper to their land and the care put into it. Over time, energy is stored from this and can be used for specific abilities and magics. Psst, also called May the Gathering... meh, that'll never catch on. I guess Garden Magic works well too. I have had plenty a delicious meals served from foods produced under the domain of a worshipper of May. A very flexible Boon, even minerals and hostile lands have been able to be claimed as a Boon's land. Ha! And Lucius bet I wouldn't be able to cover that too!

• Bison the Everclear, God of Weather and Animals: A god who ruled his domain from the moment he was born in the Hydric Age, he is known to have bipolar properties worse than the weather he sends forth. Argh, still they say this. Rather than give Boons as strongly as others of his brethren, he chose to form links between Worshippers and Animals. While many did like this, and still do, he has recently lost followers because of his lackluster efforts. The major effort he is known to make in history is his continued attempts to win May as his wife in the LOGICAL belief she matches with him and his domain.

• Silva the Housewife, Goddess of Love and Family: Being born from the moment Lucius and May married, Silva is a kindhearted and attentive goddess who seeks to help any relationship, just come ask me yourself! Her Boon allows a person to manifest a heart of karma and store positive and negative karma with it. Worshippers can change fate with this and manifest Red Strings of Fate as numerous and powerful as the interpersonal relationships the wielder has. Many rulers like to worship her, but plenty of housewives and husbands benefit greatly with her Boon due to their strong personal relationships. She often appears as a kind and caring elf with an otherworldly beauty (Oh, you charmer. I'll blush) that can even frequently be seen in any of her churches. Most historical information about ancient times and gods comes from her gossip. All benign, don't fret you divine worrywarts. I have yet to meet anyone who dislikes her openly, although more than a few have asked for her hand in marriage.

• Gnat the Runt, God of Speed and Craftmanship: A goblin from the Berries Era that became a god when he crafted a trap to best one. GODS. In current times he traverses the world creating powerful and/or bizarre crafts in his wake. HE. He rarely stops and is usually seen as a blur but is described by Silva as “delicately handsome and sociable.” WRITES. (Aww. Thanks, Silva.) He grants his Worshippers the ability to craft magical brews and creations such as him. SO. Their speed and senses are also increased by the most amount compared to any others. SLOW. Kid could do with my Boon, maybe he'd get more practice done like me. Heh.

The Church of Stone: Most of the gods that I’ve heard of for this pantheon are primal ones that are worshipped, if not for their Boons, for the afterlives. This church is extraordinarily friendly, helping stranger, Worshipper, explorer, and adventurer alike. I, personally, enjoy visiting and giving occasional praise for their works.

• Gaia, Mother Maja: The Goddess who governs, or perhaps is, the planet itself. She considers all her children, including gods. Rarely seen, but ever felt, her Boon allows one to feel themselves through Maja itself and control stone and rock through telekinetic fashion, not unlike most other Church of Stone Gods' Boons. Those who worship her casually are said to be offered an eternal afterlife in her embrace far below. Fully comforted by the one who carried you, I would never let you carry anything else again.

• Aeros, the Skyhold: A fleeting god who represents the sky and clouds, he rarely interferes in 'earthly' affairs. Looking down forever on all, Gods and mortals alike, he guards us from a fate worse than the heavens beyond the skies. He grants the ability to control winds and even allows for some of the most effortless flying of any Boon. Praying to him allows you to have peace in the above and beyond. One of the truest pleasures I could grant after a life weighed down on earth.

• Hadron, the Soaked: An incredibly powerful God who wept tears during the Divine Wars that created all water. This humble writer has been lucky enough to have seen him on his rare visits to seek counsel from Silva. He strikes the image of a beautiful merfolk, however has a surprisingly somber air about him and weeps constantly for those he cares for. He allows one to be at peace in water with his Boon, giving the ability to breath underwater, swim supernaturally, and shape water. Those lucky enough to die worshipping him are left in his care at the edge of the world, with the most magnificent view at the farthest reaches where even the gods struggle to reach.

• Sol, the Lightthief: The Elder of the Twin Goddesses in the sky, she rules the Sun and Light itself. While I won't go too in-depth into the tale of her and her sister, to be featured in my Mysterious Maja Tales and Truths guidebook later this year, I can cover in basics her story. In ancient history told by Silva, it is said that she stole the spot as the first light in Maja from Luna, granting her title as Lightthief. To this day she continues wandering the skies seeking out the occasionally unlucky passerby to play a trick upon, but she has learned to be nicer about it! Kind of. Her Boon simply allows a Worshipper flame control and resistance, favored by flame elementals and smiths and kids and parents and doctors and even the Gods themselves! Everyone loves her Boon along with her beauty more than her sister! Those in her care live an afterlife forever in her warm embrace, where we can laugh in a joyous chase together in glee till the night where we may settle down to rest.

• Luna, the Victim: Ruling the Moon, the night, and darkness itself, Luna is the younger twin goddess of the two mentioned. A vengeful goddess, she still chases her sister in the skies to pay her back for stealing her spot after all these years. Unlike nowadays, I have read accounts of past events known as the Day-Night Wars during the Hydric Era where they chased each other recklessly, creating chaos with Maja and time itself. She isn't actually all that wrathful, truth be told, and considers herself more justice seeking if anything. However, she doesn't like being CHIDED WORLDWIDE BY AN UNGRATEFUL, WANNA BE, ELDER SIST- grants magic in it's raw form as a Boon and allows for one more life after death as an undead, increasing strength through transforming types over time. Further death after this allows one to rest in her cold ,caring, and comforting arms.

The Dungeon’s Pantheon: Saving maybe not the best, but your favorite author's personal preference (that would be myself in layman's speak) for last, would be the Dungeon's Pantheon. Ironically named after the the divine phenomena known across Maja as "dungeons", being ironic as Seku is no longer the only god known to craft these since the Berries Era (≈200Be) after Gnat created a trap, later known as the second dungeon, for a god. Not to take away from my current pantheon's greatness, however! I merely wish to inform behind the history of this diverse and powerful set of gods, should Seku succeed in his wish to recruit Gnat for us.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

• Seku, the Cataclysm: The Prime God of the Dungeon's Pantheon and the holder of my daily worship! So noisy, ugh. His power over conflict and struggle grants many individuals like yours truly a "leveling system" as it has been called across the land and throughout the realms. By participating in, simply put, conflict and struggle throughout life you gain access to [classes] and [skills] as it appears to us worshippers. FOR EXAMPLE! In an extremely generous act of kindness of mine own, I am willing to indulge all the benefits of his divine Boon I have received as a [warrior poet]! The first of my numerous skills in alphabetical order would be way too much to put here. Sigh. He gets overexcited, sorry. He goes on for another three pages, if he insists on this I'll send a [prophetic message] to him to put it in another pamphlet. In short! It is a boon for those who seek to or know they will face struggles in life. Many benefits for all, although civilian classes don't always work out under his watch. Regular worshippers that used to follow Bison have recently begun to give daily prayer to him instead.

• Kyoru, the Calm: A surprisingly calm god considering his pantheon, Kyoru rules over peace and music after creating the first sound in history. While I have never born witness to his divine image because you don't promote peace or music clearly, he has been known to appear in his avatar as a blue-skinned elven bard to those who forward his own ideals. Followers of his will journey the world as artists or the occasional magical bard with the ears and tongue of the divine granted to them. With these new abilities they are able to pick up on the emotions of those around them with supernatural clarity, or so I hear. Kyoru's Auditorium, where he first played sound in, and created the Notes, wonderful children they are, actually still lies in fantastic condition near Tarset, a smaller settlement in Aurora. A wonderful little settlement ruled by my follower, actually. I highly recommended a visit as I promote many fledgling young artists to play in my auditorium free-of-charge.

• Tigers Dragonbane: One of the more... unique... gods, as he was born an actual tiger. And better for it! Hrrgh. When, as a smaller creature too, he ate the tongue and heart of a dragon he gained divinity. Now known as the god of battle and war, his physical form resides in the Dragonsbane Mountains or so it's told. Told by Silva. Truthfully, duh. Listen to her. She is smart. His Boon is one of the most physically powerful innately, as it grant increasing physical ability for each, literal, heart and tongue of an enemy defeated. Some of the most powerful have even ran through their god's mountains in search of him. Tickled, heh.

• Toriga, the Chaser: Goddess of the Hunt and Culinary Arts, Toriga represents the chase of anything most of all. She was originally born when the moon chased the sun for the first time and appparently sees the two as her parents for it. Ehh, aunts more than not, but I suppose that works too. Look, honey! I'm in the papers! She is said to have later chased a nest of dragons towards Tigers to battle them together for his eventual hand in marriage. Another interesting Boon, her followers have two distinct abilities. The commonly known trait is the bestowal of an aura. With this they can hide their presence or enhance it. More devout followers are even able to manipulate it into a specific solid and visible mass or grant special properties to it. However, lest you forget, it is the secondary part of their Boon that has tripped up more than one attacker, for they can set limiters on themselves for any period of time. Once set, it cannot be removed except by Toriga herself, and I don't take kindly to quitters either, but can grant any number of abilities, and I mean ANY, in exchange for limits or removals of the individuals power. Always look out if you ever upset a Worshiper of Toriga is all I say.

Draconic Pantheon: Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a Follower of one of these gods with a Boon. Despite the lack of Boons granted by these deities, they do still garner plenty of worship from daily prayer. While lacking information, I will do my best to describe the few known draconic deities to the best of my abilities.

• Io, the First Void: The Draconic Supreme Deity, An incredibly powerful god that created the nearly divine race of dragons. Io represents the blending of all into one, and it was for this reason that they created the dragons to gather all into one sacred hoard. This sparked what is known as the Divine Wars in which the Draconic Pantheon and their creations fought against the rest of the Gods, Giants, and Notes until they stopped for an unknown reason. They actually do live in an easily visible and calm location known as the shrine of Io, where you can view them in all their glory. I have visited this sacred sight, for you, of course, readers, and the massive figure of a crystalline dragon with scales that shimmer like the brightest prism that strikes like nearly no other. Hmmph. Fine words. Maybe you might be worthy after all...

• Tiamat, the Dragon Queen: The draconic goddess that represents greed and created what are known as the chaotic chromatic dragons, Tiamat is the eldest of Io's creations. Her kind caused much of the havoc that occurred earthbound during the Day-Night Wars of the Hydric Era. Not much else can be said here, dear reader, other than that no mention of her has happened since the first few eras of time. Even the gods and most ancient of elves have no clue what has happened to this lost Goddess.

• Bahamut, Justice Maker: Bahamut is one of the few gods with kind retellings of in present day, and I thank all my worshippers in the name of the Sacred Hoard for that, being the God of Justice and Law itself. A common sight in any draconic church, you may find his mortal image of an elderly sage who looks to add to the sacred hoard according to law and rules. Dragons don't change much it seems after all, although you may donate to the Hoard freely if any chooses to do so.

Other Deities: Ah, ha! And now we get to the two known gods that have no known pantheon. These two individuals are both the youngest and oldest ones to exist and hold special properties even amongst the gods for this. Having worked closely with a Follower of both these gods, I hope to give the best descriptions I can for these powerful deities!

• Flow, the Change: Flow is the very first god to be born, existing before time itself in infinity. They govern time and change, existing in an everchanging female and male state with all the power of a full pantheon at their disposal. Hence my lack of need to join one, clearly. Any change is said to be guided through their hand. Unfortunately, despite this author's best attempts, I have been unable to gather more information from this god, for good reason, my existence itself is change. You'd just deliver wrong or old information. Everything I have told is all that even Silva herself could, or would, tell me. Despite this lack of knowledge regarding them, Flow does grant Boons as easily as most other gods. While worshipping them, individuals are given a future sight that allows the instinctual ability to predict short term events, such as attacks or gambling, while the more gifted Worshippers can see extended, albeit more changing, visions. What is known as "Time Magic" is also unlocked to them. Basic phenomena this allows is the ability to "still" something time and put it into stasis or forcing said object to go into it's own past and/or future. Other more powerful abilities are unknown to myself unfortunately, but having worked with someone with said Boon, they make for some of the most agile and skilled of warriors.

• Shutter, the Doorman: Alright! Since everyone else has been editing their bits for the public, I'm gonna do the whole thing! Ok.. so. I'm the youngest around (that I know of), but also one of the strongest. Like, not even bragging, all these portals opening up? Yeah, each one makes me stronger. Oh, yeah! God of Magic and Portals, by the way. Even all the "magic" that's being given out? Time Magic, Bardic Magic, [Magic], Garden Magic, Alchemy, and even Se has been adding to my power. Whether I want to or not. Heaven and Hell opening up when I was born, around... late 400B, actually sparked my birth. Or maybe I opened them up when I was born. No one quite knows yet. But if you want to find out for me, you could get my Boon! With just one Boon, you too can be a magician! Not [magician] either. This one's different. Straight up magic. Study and learn the mana I give you to learn ANYTHING you want to. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! I'll fill you're body up with internal portals, that don't hurt I swear (although I have god blood so I can't verify), and you can link up these portals to any you find to access the energies within for yourself. Want heavenly divine power? Find it and link up! Want to breath and element and control it? There's an element for that too! Think of the possibilities? Even I can't and I'M A GOD.

Final Thoughts:

To any newly born, created, and arrival of Maja, I hope this well-crafted and flawless pamphlet finds itself into your helpless hands guided by Flow from me to you. I have extensively searched far and wide to give an in-depth to present this information to you and hope it helps as sincerely as I can be. May you find the Boon that best fits you!

[Editor's Notes: While these changes you may see differ quite obviously from the original document, the editors on both the Adventurer's and Explorer's side unanimously agreed this change was for the best, and frankly better than what Mr. Heavyspeaker produced. Hopefully he levels up well from this as he has us in contract for at least one more document to be displayed helpfully beside this one.]