Aserdian pantheon

The Aserdian pantheon (pronounced ah-SER-dee-an) is one of the major regional pantheons on Kishar. Followed primarily by peoples living in Brightmarch and the Laqto Rainforest, the theology of the Aserdian pantheon emphasizes systems of cyclical change and rebirth.

Overview

The Aserdian pantheon foregoes any origin story of the mortal realm. Instead, followers of this pantheon hold that the universe has no beginning and no end. Cyclical change is a fundamental part of their theology - the world and everything within it decays and grows anew, never remaining static yet simultaneously never really coming to an end. Deities in the Aserdian pantheon are thought of in much the same way. They are not unchanging entities with defined beginnings, but rather are endlessly shifting in interests, tenets, depictions, and even names as the cultures that venerate them encounter new challenges and opportunities. Perhaps as a result of this, the adherents of the Aserdian pantheon tend to be extremely tolerant of divergent beliefs and quite willing to syncretize their deities with those of other cultures.

As a general rule, followers of the Aserdian pantheon eschew holy texts. Many deities are not considered to have sacred written or oral works, and amongst those that do it is rarely seen as prescriptive in matters of worship.

Religious tensions are largely absent amongst followers of Aserdian gods, both with the adherents of other deities in the pantheon and with followers of other pantheons. It is common to pray to many gods simultaneously, in fact, instead of primarily focusing the object of one's veneration on a single deity.

Deities

Name	Alignment	Areas of Concern	Description
Saclateni	LG	Death, rebirth, change, renewal, plants, natural and cosmic cycles	Saclateni is seen as the bringer of change, the god who ensures the world never stands still. Followers of the Aserdian pantheon credit Saclateni not only with the creation of the universe but also with the establishment of the cycles through which new things are brought into being. Saclateni is often worshiped alongside Errai, one the destruction to the other's re-creation. Saclateni has relatively few clerics of his own. He and Errai are often the invoked in prayers and sacrifices by the devoted followers of other gods, however, as together they are widely considered to be fundamental forces underpinning the world, worthy of worship and respect even if not necessarily the primary target of one's veneration. Depictions of Saclateni are split. Some prefer to picture the god in an anthropomorphized form, typically as a humble figure wearing the garb of a common person who causes new life to spring into being as he passes. Roughly an equal number of followers instead consider the god to be a cosmic force too broad and all-encompassing to be reduced to a simple depiction - these followers generally see Saclateni in all life, pervading everything and everyone.
Tarazet	NG	Families, protection, dreams, hospitality, visions, hallucinogens	Tarazet is a goddess of the family and community first and foremost, a gentle guide and fierce protector of her followers. Her clergy often perform marriage ceremonies, exhorting their goddess to watch over the new family, and she is invoked to protect one's dwelling. Unlike many other deities in the Aserdian pantheon, she is thought to take a very active role in the lives of her faithful. Tarazet is believed to play a strong influence on all dreams and visions, including those induced by the consumption of certain plants. Devotees of Tarazet often use hallucinogens as part of their prayers in order to form a closer connection to their goddess. Still, the clergy of Tarazet teach moderation of this practice, as one should not become too consumed with the world of dreams. Tarazet's clergy typically take very active roles in their communities, often serving not only as religious figures but also as public servants, offering whatever aid they can to the needy. Temples are usually austere, as they place far more emphasis on feeding and healing those that request assistance than on displays of wealth or piety. Devout followers of Tarazet often maintain dream journals, in which they interpret the dreams granted to them by their goddess. Tarazet is typically depicted in animalistic forms, most often as an elephant.
Anka'a	NG	Curiosity, art, music, invention, philosophy, sun, light, color, language
Izar	CG
Tucana	CG
Nashira	LN
Rasalas	LN
Saiph	N
Markab	N
Auva	N
Errai	CN
Kalausi	CN
Mothallah	LE
Eltanin	NE
Nusakan	NE
Blind Witness	Unaligned

Area of worship

The Aserdian pantheon is the predominant pantheon amongst those living in Brightmarch and the Laqto Rainforest, with sizable numbers of followers as far east as Laniobriga and Oscan. It is not, however, the dominant faith in these areas, as is the case for many other pantheons in locations in which they are present. The Aserdian emphasis on religious fluidity has resulted in many adopting the gods of the pantheon in addition to other religious beliefs that are held simultaneously, sometimes significantly altering the portrayal of a deity of the practices of worship as they do so.

Connections to other pantheons

The Aserdian pantheon has many notable similarities in beliefs with the Elven pantheon, such as their shared emphasis on cosmic and spiritual cycles, developed over time as a result of the close proximity of the two pantheons' followers. Many scholars of religious matters have suggested that one pantheon's set of beliefs diverged from the other at some point in the past, but these are purely matters of conjecture.