Gods
The Gods (also called the Divine) of Aetolia can be likened to what other MUDs might call wizards or admin, and indeed, they are characters that also perform the administrative functions of the game, including coding, bug-fixing, building, and enforcement of the game's rules.
Their in-game involvement varies by god to god, with some preferring to keep a distant but watchful eye on the world and its denizens, whereas some, like Omei, are notorious for meddling in even the smallest affairs of mortals.
Divine Lore
Most of the first Gods were created by Varian, and were given multifarious, yet very specific domains over which they ruled (e.g. Severn's realm concerned lies and deceit; Slyphe governed storms and ocean-based life forms). These beings created the first races of Aetolia, and blessed them with some of Their essence, enabling them to breathe underwater, fly in the air, dig deep into the earth, or other vital qualities.
Power Structure
The Gods are infused with roughly equal power, though they feud often, and are easily capable of gaining the upper hand against another if challenged on their own domains. Lleis, for instance, would be hard-pressed to best Dhar in single combat in the Plane of Souls.
Only three gods are considered indisputably more powerful than the others: these are Varian, Galleus, and Severn, the latter claiming to be the brother of the Celestine. Severn has been bested often in the past, however, so these claims may be only the perpetuations the God of Artifice is known for.
Vessels
All of the Gods of Sapience have a mortal vessel that their essence inhibits. The only exception is Dhar, and the Creator-level Gods (Varian, Galleus). Dhar's form is different to that of His siblings' in that He is a soul - the first created in Aetolia, and done by Varian's own hands. This unique circumstance allows the Underking certain advantages over His siblings, including being able to materalize without a vessel, and visiting the continent of Albedos. While a vessel is not necessary for the Gods to exist, it is necessary should they wish to materalize onto the Prime Material Prime.
Typically, when a God gets injured, it is Their vessel that sustains the injury. Grievous injuries have been known to kill a God's vessel, forcing Them to seek a new one. There have been notable exceptions when a God's essence has been directly damaged. These injuries can usually never be recovered from. Examples include Severn losing His arm to the Kerrithrim in an attack that damaged His very essence, and Lanos being devoured by Ohlsana, the Shadow Mother, forcing His essence to merge with the essence of Arion in order to survive. Another example, Lleis, has had the very fabric of Her essence changed such that She is no longer able to be recognized as a God.
The effect on the God when taking a new shell varies wildly. Some Gods will change little, others will go as far as to change Their name. It is speculated that the degree of this change is influenced by how the God chooses to interact with their vessel's mind and memories. Some Gods will form a communion with their vessel, others will outright suppress or otherwise consume their vessel's mind.
List of Current Gods and their Vessels
| God | Vessel |
|---|---|
| Auresae, Goddess of Fire | Oniala |
| Chakrasul, Child of Twilight | Irijali |
| Damariel, the Unbound | Danerran |
| Dhar, the Underking | None required |
| Galleus, the Voidseer | None required (Creator-level God) |
| Haern, the Hunter | Unknown |
| Iosyne, the Malevolent | Llazuth |
| Ivoln, the Earthen Lord | Unknown |
| Maghak, the Sovereign | Bokag |
| Omei, the Artist | Omei (a mortal of the same name) |
| Severn, the Manipulator | Argas |
| Slyphe, the Maelstrom | Unknown |
List of Past/Deceased/Changed Gods
List of Unknown or Foreign Gods
These Gods have been hinted at in snatches of lore or past events. Their whereabouts, true names, and powers are unknown. It is not even certain they are Gods at all.
| The Shadow Mother | Lanu Du |
List of Non-canonical Gods
These gods have no in-role function, no real lore, and only exist to help with administrative functions of the game.