The Twelve

As well as being aligned in military and economic terms, all the nations that make up the Merebian Empire also share a common religion: The Church of the Twelve.

As the name suggests, this is a pantheon of a dozen deities, split into three equal sized groups, called “Planes”.

The deities in the “First Plane” represent the aspects of life that all mortals should hold to be essential. The four deities in this plane are as follows:

• Zeus: The All-father – Ruler of the pantheon, God of the Air and Storms, God of Leadership
• Apollo: The Radiant – God of the Sun, God of Healing, God of Music
• Athena The Just –

Goddess of Law Goddess of Wisdom Goddess of (righteous) battle

• Demeter The Bringer –

Goddess of Summer Goddess of Harvests Goddess of Nature

The deities in the “Second Plane” represent those aspects of life that are important but not vital to everyday life.

Deity Title and Domain Hephaestus The Engineer God of Invention God of Engineering/ Science God of Fire Hera The Mother – Goddess of Marriage Goddess of Family bonds Goddess of (child)birth Poseidon The Tempest – God of the Sea God of Horses God of Sacrifice Hades The Watcher – God of the Underworld God of Death God of Winter

Players should note that, contrary to portrayal by some sources, neither Hera nor Hades should be considered “evil”.

Lastly there is the “Third Plane”. Deities in this group represent those aspects of daily life that should be discouraged. Worshippers of these deities rarely spend their afterlife in the Elysium Fields.

Deity Title and Domain Ares The Punisher – God of Chaos God of Murder God of Revenge God of (needless) battle Dionysus The Reveller – God of Wine God of Hedonism God of release from society Hermes The Swift – God of Messengers/Travellers God of Trickery and Lies God of Domestic animals Pan The Wild – God of Nature God of Lust God of Wild animals

Again, players should not read the above and think of these deities as “evil”, merely that they are responsible for certain aspects of mortal life.

This pantheon is a little different from most you may be familiar with and that is deliberate. Players are encouraged to pray to the deity that governs what they are doing at that time. For example, a Cleric on a sea voyage may pray to Poseidon for a safe journey, whereas the same Cleric may later pray to Hades to watch over a dying man.

Remember: “Ordinary” people follow the ENTIRE Pantheon, not any individual Deity.