There are three separate pantheons in the SWATT universe, each containing 3 gods. There is a tenth god, Balance, who claims membership of all 3 pantheons simultaneously. Each god has a different set of laws and ideals that they wish their followers to adhere to, known as strictures. Those who follow the strictures of their god, especially paladins, will be rewarded in the afterlife, and in this life as well, some say.
A summary of each god is given below, with a link to a more detailed page of information for people thinking about playing members of each church. The Holy symbols of each god are listed, which priests need to use to cast miracles, and which are worn by many of the lay followers of each god. The miracles that each god grants are also listed, with that god's primary miracle set shown in bold. All gods additionally grant access to the blessing miracle set.
The Hammer
You have a duty and a privledge in society. Make the best use of both.
Mallan
Mallan has always been a fairly widely followed god, but has gradually been usurping Aten as the main deity worshipped in Brighthelm since the new royal family took the throne 60 years ago. Mallan teaches that the strong have a duty to lead, and that what holds a community back should either be rectified or eliminated.
Followers of Mallan tend to believe that might is right, and that only those who have fought for their achievements truly deserve the rewards. They are generally loyal to a good leader, but act quickly to displace one who they perceive as failing to show strong leadership or good judgement. Mallanites are found in all walks of life in Brighthelm, but have an established majority in the mercenaries' guild.
The official stance of the church of Mallan is that they are opposed to the creation of undead, despite having the power to create undead themselves. The King's law, which exists to protect people and property, reflects this by recognising undead as neither. While it is not necessarily illegal to raise undead with prior consent from the owner of the body, it is strongly frowned upon and will raise more than a few eyebrows and searching questions, and would be both socially and politically (if not directly) suicidal. Raising undead without prior consent is punishable by death. The church of Mallan acts with extreme prejudice against followers of Vivamort, the worship of whom is punishable by death.
While Mallanite tales boast of vanquishing craven necromancers and establishing an ordered bedrock of society, cynical Atenites are quick to point out that there are more than a few Mallanite legends featuring "departed spirits" returning to bring messages to the living, or warriors of renown being "returned to life" by Mallan to complete some important task.
The Holy Symbol of Mallan is a hammer or a chain.
The strictures of Mallan are:
Suffer no needless rebellion.
Suffer no leader who will not command.
Give all your support or none of it.
Mallan Grants Valour, Smite Body, Mind Control, and Necromancy.
Aten
The church of Aten is also fairly large in Brighthelm, being the devotion of the previous royal family for many generations. The church of Aten teaches that people should lead pure, uncorrupted lives, and that those with the power to have a moral duty to protect the innocent from corruption. Atenite fairytales are common, and generally feature terrible witches, undead, creatures of the night, and, in the more terrifying tales, demons, being overcome by the forces of shining good.
The church of Aten has always been strongly opposed to the use of magic, believing that it is a source of corruption and demonic power. With the growth of the colleges of magic, this particular stricture has been quietly overlooked for some time, but Atenite misgivings about magic have undergone a resurgeance in recent years, due in no small part to the work of continental missionaries to reinvigorate the faith. The church is strongly opposed to the undead, and to the gods Luca, Vivamort and Sordan.
The church of Aten offer some of the most showy and pompous funerals around, stressing the importance of laying the soul to rest. They grudgingly acknowledge the role of the church of Azrael in providing rites to those who cannot afford to set their affairs in order in such a grand way, and remind the faithful that honour and purity in life will aid their soul's flight to their god.
The Holy symbol of Aten is a blazing sun.
The strictures of Aten are:
Defend the innocent from the corruption of the supernatural.
Educate others in the consequences of impurity.
Accept no desecration of the dead.
Aten grants Purity, Knowledge, Smite Body, and Valour.
Astalon
The church of Astalon fulfills an important role within Brighthelm: they are primarily in charge of implementing justice within the city. Astalon charges her followers to take retribution for injustices. The temple of Astalon also operates a small hospital, though unless a person is particularly notable as a champion of what is good and right in the eyes of Astalon, they are likely to be required to make a hefty donation to the church in advance to ensure they are deserving of treatment.
As many as half of the active priests in the temple also have a place in the Order of Judges, with authority to sentence, and where appropriate, to punish, criminals. Those who abuse their power through bribery or corruption are quickly brought to justice themselves by their church, if not their deity. However, even within the church there are some division; some Astalonians believe they are bound to the law, to follow it as far as the letter and no further. Others believe their divine imperative overrides the written constitutions of man and that they should persue justice even at the cost of risking becoming seen as a criminal themselves. Some see the taking of donations for healing a sign of corruption, others say it is at least a better situation than taking no donations and healing noone.
The Holy symbols of Astalon are a pair of scales or an open eye.
The strictures of Astalon are:
Let no crime go unpunished, aid only the truly deserving.
Thou shalt not committ perjury.
Let the punishment fit the crime, let the reward fit the deed.
Astalon grants Knowledge, Cursing, Purity and Smite Soul.
The Dagger
Pain is a necessary part of existance
The Crofter
In terms of sheer numbers, The Crofter is the most widely worshipped god in albion, being followed by the vast majority of the peasantry. The Crofter teaches that in return for hard work and toil in this life, there will be rewards in the next; that the community is what is most important and that everyone should be expected to give of their best.
Priests of The Crofter generally get by without attracting much attention, but can cause a lot of trouble by whipping up support from the local population in support of the wellbeing of their community.
The Holy symbols of The Crofter are pitchforks and ears of corn. The strictures of The Crofter are:
Give no aid save in the name of The Crofter.
A persecution against one is a persecution against all.
Neither be nor tolerate a burden on your community.
The Crofter grants Healing, Purity, Valour and Smite Body.
Nephthys
Nephthys also teaches that pain is necessary – other people's pain. Not in a gratuitous way like the followers of Sordan, but you don't get to the top without stepping on a few toes. Followers of Nephthys are typically shrewd and ruthless, finding themselves in positions of political power. They are not, however, universally despised as members of some other faiths, as when the time comes to make a hard decision, Nephthys followers can generally be relied on to follow through what is best for their interests. The trick is making sure they're on your side.
The Holy Symbol of Nephthys is a dagger. The strictures of Nephthys are:
Know that someone will always have to pay the price.
Use whatever means necessary.
Do something every day to make the world a better place for yourself and the people you care about.
Nephthys grants: Mind Control, Necromancy, Healing, Smite Body
Sordan
The worship of Sordan is illegal throughout Albion, and in many other countries. Sordan is said to be a god who delights in causing pain and suffering. His followers are reputedly depraved and sadistic, delighting in torturing others and self-inflicted pain. The strictures are not generally known and any information that there is about this sect is ruthlessly suppressed or destroyed by the Children of the Undying Sun and the Temple of Justice. It is rumoured that within Brighthelm Sordan has a perverse epicurian following among the local nobility.
The Holy symbols are Sordan are the form of a hook and a whip.
Sordan grants: Smite Soul, Smite Body, Healing, Mind Control
The Moon
Darkness is the true substance of reality. Light is transient. Be prepared.
Vivamort
Worship of Vivamort is illegal in all of Albion, and is punishable by death under the King's Law. Vivamort claims the title of the one true lord of undeath. He commends his followers who seek out power, and enforces a strict heirarchy, though is said to smile upon those who remove their superiors to take their place.
Vivamort is said to hate undead created by other gods and will seek to destroy them.
The strictures of Vivamort are not well-known due to the illegal nature of his worship.
Vivamort grants Necromancy, Smite Body, Smite Soul, Cursing
Azrael
Followers of Azrael claim that it is not an aspect or a god, but death itself. Their lives are spent preparing for their own deaths, and ensuring that others don't succeed in evading their own, which they view as extreme Blasphemy. They detest the undead, and Vivamort in particular.
The strictures of Azrael are:
Death is when the soul leaves the body. Ensure it is permanent.
Accept no slight to the name of Azrael.
Never go without a weapon.
The Holy Symbol of Azrael is a skull.
Azrael grants Smite Body, Cursing, Smite Soul, Valour.
Luca
Luca is the aspect of dreams and nightmares. Her strictures are said to be different for every priest, and that getting a straight answer out of any of her priests is impossible. Lucanites are generally viewed as harmless, or occasionally useful in helping to bring sleep or interpreting dreams, but sometimes are attributed with malicious acts of cursing people with feverish sleep or trying to create chaos.
Lucanites may occasionally be sinister and confusing, but are not "random" or silly.
The Holy Symbol of Luca is a feather.
Luca grants: Cursing, knowledge, Mind Control, smite body.
Balance
Balance is typically depicted in the centre of the pantheon and claims to be an aspect of all gods. Balance is most concerned with ensuring stability of the pantheon, and that one god or aspect does not grow to powerful or too weak. Balance priests have been known to harbour or aid followers of Sordan and Vivamort, but also to shore up other faiths in times of hardship or misfortunte. However, Balance priests are generally distrusted, because the moment they have a habit of switching sides just as their former side starts winning. Balance is also concerned with maintaining the natural order, and so opposes demons, the undead, and any interference with a person's soul.
The Holy Symbol of Balance is an open ring. Balance has six strictures, and his priests choose 3 to adhere to when awakened, though some try to follow them all:
Combat threats to the natural order wherever you may find them.
Give the gods their due worship; all worship due is for the gods alone.
Bring down that which is too high.
Raise up that which is too low.
Victory is when no-one wins. Strive for this.
Do not act against another Balance follower.
Balance grants access to all miracle trees. However, followers of Balance choose 1 miracle tree to be their speciality, and only two other trees.