Devil's Whisper Lore Thread: The World of Cagia

[Asardia]

Devil’s Whisper

Premise

Civil war is brewing over the land of Cagia. The House of Allegrod, the royal family that ruled over Cagia for a half a millennium, was recently deposed in a coup d'etat by their rivals: The Esquoria Family. Luther Esquoria, the head of the House of Esquoria and now the Archmage of the Empire, has created the Shadow Assassins: A group of mages with extremely rare but powerful magic (known as Esoteric Mages). One of these Esoteric Mages is Jasmine Taulra, a mage with an ability known as Devil's Whisper, which allows her to enter the mind of anyone she chooses. Using Jasmine as an "adviser" for the state, Luther Esquoria was able to seize power relatively peacefully and prevented any major uprisings. But Julian Sayuga has created the Sidiroú in order to counter the Esquorias. He is planning on deposing the new government and taking power himself.

Now, a couple of months after the coup, the new Red Dawn Army has been created to stamp out any opposition. The Shadow Assassins act as a secret police, assassinating any major threats. The journey is now yours. Will you faithfully serve the Esquoria Family as a mage? Will you be the one leading the counter revolution? Or will you attempt to seize power yourself?

Discord Link

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OOC

Lore
Cagia was once a land that was separated into hundreds of separate kingdoms and tribes. The early history of Cagia was defined by constant wars and disputes among the kingdoms. But one nation, the Iuashani Kingdom, was able to unite the tribes after decades of war. Dyfores Allegrodo, a poor farmer from the southern Iuashani Kingdom, quickly rose through the ranks of the political realm due to his mastery of the Esoteric Art of Lightning, an ability that was believed only the gods possessed. Two other mages, Baesu Sayuga and Yucella Esquoria, allied with Dyfores Allegrodo. Baesu and Yucella were Water and Earth mages respectively.

After the Unification Wars, the Iuashani Kingdom was transformed into the Cagian Commonwealth, with Dyfores Allegrodo, Baesu Sayuga, and Yucella Esquoria ruling over the Commonwealth in a triumvirate known as the Three Elites. They jointly ruled the Commonwealth until their deaths, where their descendants would carry on the tradition. Over the years, the three houses began to drift and grew resentment towards one another. Despite being allies, the Allegrodo and Esquoria never got along as as the centuries passed, and ultimately, the Esquoria was kicked out the government and the Three Elites. However, on the night of May 25, 525 ATU (525 years after the unification of Cagia, and the year the RP takes place), the Esqouria Family, headed by Luther Esquoria, had initiated a coup d’etat and removed the House of Allegrod Archmage from power, thus bring the Esqouria Family back into the government. The House of Allegrod had two legitimate heirs: Ezekiel Allegrodo, and his twin sister, Annora Allegrodo. Both disappeared without a trace and hasn’t been heard from since, so they’ve been presumed dead.

The Cagian Commonwealth is the name of the empire ruling over the continent of Cagia. The Commonwealth is ruled by Luther Esquoria with an iron fist. Cagia has hundreds of forests and mountain regions in the West and North, while the South is the Desert Region, and the East are the Far Plains.

Table of Contents:

Magic
List of Houses
List of Factions

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Magic in the World of Cagia is divided into three categories: Common Magic, Elemental Magic, and Esoteric Magic. Each magic is unique and allows Mages to access a wide variety of tools to help them in day to day life and battles. The source of Magic is from the four gods: Vultus Ediniem, Hyalascus, Occidere, and Aeternum. Each of these gods gave humans the ability to use magic. Vultus Ediniem gave humans Earth Magic, Hyalascus gave humans Water Magic, Occidere gave humans Fire Magic, and Aeternum gave humans Wind magic.

Common Magic

Common Magic is the most basic type of magic. Think of it as fundamental skills that all mages learn. Some examples of this type of magic are healing potions, sealing magic, transportation magic. Common Magic are spells that anyone can use and are skills that can be learned easily. Mage academies generally require mages in training to learn a vast array of Common Magic in order to prepare them for the real world.

Elemental Magic

Elemental Magic allows a mage access to the Natural Elements, usually the Four Common Elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. There are also subcategories and special Elemental Abilities, like Lightning (derived from Fire) or Sand (derived from Earth). Any person who is able to use this type of magic is known as an Elemental. Elemental magic is hereditary, but no user is restricted to only one Element. If a person has two parents who are Water Elementals, that person usually can also use Water Magic, but they can also learn Earth, Fire, and Wind if they choose. Mastery over the four elements is very rare, and the ones who are able to do this are considered Archmages.

Esoteric Magic

Esoteric Magic is the rarest but most powerful form of magic in the World of Cagia. Esoteric Magic are magical abilities that are unique to one mage. These abilities generally don't fall under Elemental or Common Magic. Esoteric Magic is magic that cannot be replicated by any other mage, even Esoterics.

Sensory Magic

Types of Mages

There are four types of Mages, with each having their own skills.

Mage: A regular Mage is a magic user who has graduated from their respective Academy/School of Magic. They are officially recognized by the Commonwealth as a practitioner of magic. Mages generally graduate between the ages of 16-18.

Inquisitor: An Inquisitor is a Mage who has graduated from an Academy/School of Magic and specializes in a type(s) of Element. Inquisitors are a more powerful version of a Mage and often go on special missions for the Commonwealth. Inquisitors are most skilled in one or two types of Elements. Those with three or four elements are generally considered Archmages. Inquisitors stay at their Academy of Magic for a few years more than a Mage, and graduate between 21-25.

Archmage: An Archmage is a mage of the highest caliber. These type of mages often spend years perfecting their magic and are exceptionally powerful. A common characteristic of an Archmage is that they are proficient in all Four Common Elements (a very rare thing to accomplish) and are usually a politician or the Emperor.

Sensor: A Sensor is a mage with the ability to detect the presence of others. Sensory Mages are born with their abilities and are often most gifted in stealth missions. Sensors can detect their targets from a great distance and can even tell people apart based on their magical aura alone.

Esoteric: An Esoteric Mage is a mage who is a practitioner of the Esoteric Arts. Esoterics have the most powerful and the most unique forms of magic. They are born with their abilities and are often scattered around the Commonwealth. The general public is unaware of Esoteric Mages due to their secretive nature and the fact that they are so rare.

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Familes/Houses in the Cagian Commonwealth are abundant. The Commonwealth has many nobles and wealthy families, such as the Sayuga Family. The Commonwealth is ruled by the Archmage Luther Esquoria from House Esquoria, the current ruling family over the Commonwealth.

List of Houses

House of Allegrod: The House of Allegrod was the dynasty that ruled over the Cagian Commonwealth for over 500 years. This family is well known for their prowess with Fire Magic and their inherited trait of Lightning Magic, a very rare form of Fire Magic. The House of Allegrod was founded by Dyfores Allegrodo after the Unification of the Commonwealth following the conclusion of the Unification Wars. The House of Allegrod's symbol is a Phoenix. The House was known for their Dance of the Phoenix technique, a style of Fire Magic Martial Arts that utilizes the powerful barrage of fire in order to overpower their opponents. The House was the first in the triumvirate known as the Three Elites, a faction whose goal was to unite the Iuashani Kingdom. The House of Allegrod was deposed in a coup d'etat in 525 ATU (525 years after the Unification of the Commonwealth) by their rivals: The Esquoria Family. The Esquorias made sure to wipe out every member of the House of Allegrod to prevent any counter revolutions.

House Sayuga: The Sayuga House are a royal family in the Commonwealth are filled with elite Water Mages who specialize in Ice Magic. The family also operate huge trading posts around the Commonwealth, making them the wealthiest family in the entire nation. Their symbol is a blue dragon on a white background with two black lines on the upper and lower parts of the flag. The House is currently headed by the Inquisitor Julian Sayuga, a Mage who, like the rest of his family, is a specialist in the Elemental Art of Ice. The Sayuga House was allied with the House of Allegrod since the Three Elites Era until the destruction of the House of Allegrod in 525 ATU. In retaliation, Julian Sayuga created the Sidiroú, a faction whose goal is to topple the new Esquoria government.

House Esquoria: The Esquoria House are the current ruling family in the Cagian Commonwealth. They are a family of elite Earth and Wind Mages. The family is split into two branches: the Main House and the Peripheral Branch. Only members of the Main House are ever able to become the head of the family, and the Peripheral Branch's job is always to protect the Main House. Luther Esquoria, the Archmage of the Commonwealth is the current head of the Esquoria. The Esquoria was one the original Three Elites, along with the Sayuga and Allegrod Houses. However, over the centuries, there was a split among the faction, and the Esquoria was kicked out of the government. Eventually, Luther Esquoria, along with Archmage Raberud and Archmage Adelina Larot, overthrew the Allegrod House and put themselves in power.

House Ladon: Before the Unification, the Ladon family was a river fishing tribe originating near the Ladon river that used its water manipulation abilities to control the flow of rivers and catch fish. The tribe was also well trained in the art of the sword. When the Sayuga family rose to power as part of the Three Elites, the Ladon swore their fealty to the Sayuga and acted as bodyguards to the Sayuga nobles. After the alliance among the three strongest houses ended and the Sidiroú was formed, the Sayuga began recruiting powerful inquisitors from the Ladon. To this day, the Ladon continue to serve the Sayuga as bodyguards and assassins.

House Jessant: The Jessants are a very old family, predating the Iuashani unification by centuries. Native to the northern forests, the Jessants trace their origins to the mages of Clan Bloodthorn, who competed with the other northern clans and tribes for dominance over the forests. The Bloodthorn mage-kings used a particularly brutal tactic of forming stone spikes and flechettes out of the earth, then firing them at their enemies to impale them.

When the Three Elites turned their attention to the north, the Bloodthorns knelt in awe of their magical prowess and swore to serve them. They aligned themselves with the conquerors and resultantly received much wealth and land in the north when the Commonwealth was formed. Seeking to win approval and influence in the southern courts, the Bloodthorn aristocracy reinvented themselves as a more "civilized" family, taking the name "Jessant" and adopting southern religion and dress. The Jessants have always had close marital ties with the Esquorias due to their shared affinity for the Earth element, and thus they loyally support Luther Esquoria's regime

House Savros: House Savros was known for being able to wield a fire magic unique to them, referred by the family as “Occidere’s Fire”. It burns with a fierce, violet flame; brighter and hotter then normal fire; and family records have told of users of the fire that have been able to burn through metal. No Savros mage has been capable of wielding this legendary fire in generations, however.

House Amorghetta: Up until recently, House Amorghetta didn’t even exist. Before the coup, they were nothing but a rogue clan of mercenaries that lived on the outskirts of Cagia. After the Esquoria takeover, however, the new Emperor found a particular interest in the Amorghetta’s abilities. Luther offered money, land, and prestige for service and loyalty, and the Amorghetta’s gladly accepted.

House Megalostrata: hree hundred years ago the Megalostrata Clan was like most other families living among the Adriat Islands, poor farmers or fisherman, part time pirates, and had far to many mouths to feed. This all changed when Gylippos Megalostrata, the first of the clan to attend an academy of magic, discovered Nullification Magic by accident while fooling around with some friends. While his his intellect and above average affinity for magic had gotten him into the academy, his discovery and refinement of his ability to nullify magic was what put his name into the history books. Gylippos, having graduated and moved back to his home island, along with the rest of the Megalostrata quickly took advantage of this newfound magic of their's, ascending to prominence among what where then several island nations off the coast of Cagia. Historians would later point out with great interest how fast the loose collection of blood related families that made up the Megalostrata Clan were able to coalesce and militarize themselves.

Using Gylippos' knowledge from the academy, many within the family able to use magic gained rudimentary skills in its use and its application for violence. They made their first move within the criminal elements of Adriat society, expanding their smuggling, piracy, and their ability to conduct organized crime in general. By the end of Gylippos' life the Megalostrata had established their interests throughout most of Adriat society, in both the legal and illegal aspects. Their roots growing deeper and deeper with each passing year, expanding even on to mainland Cagia. Fast forward to current times those roots have only grown to further depths, the Megalostrata know a common facet of life on the Adriat islands and in many of the port cities of Cagia. With members ranging in occupation from Admirals to politicians to poets, one would say that the many headed hydra symbolizing their Clan is quite appropriate.

The Megalostrata were a driving force behind the creation of the Semi-Autonomous Region of Adriat within the Cagian Commonwealth. Realizing that the current state of near lawlessness and disunity among the island nations was starting to cost them more money than it was worth, the Megalostrata Clan began a grand undertaking to stabilize the islands through their accumulated wealth and power. Not only would they get massive returns for this long term investment it protected them from the inevitable war with the disgruntled Cagian Commonwealth when the second phase of the plan was put into motion.

The people of the Adriat Islands had long plagued the surrounding trade routes, and the mainland itself, with piracy. While kingdoms prior to the Commonwealth had tried their hands at invasions and anti-piracy campaigns all had failed for several reasons. The powerful and now well established Cagian Commonwealth though could provide a real threat to the islands if it could gather a unified force from the mainland. To dissuade the Commonwealth from conducting a war that would be extremely costly to both sides the Megalostrata conducted a successful political campaign that promised a stable and prosperous Adrait Islands to the Commonwealth if given time. While the process was not easy and costed more than a few lives the Megalostrata and other like minded islanders were able to achieve this goal, for the most part. The Adriat Islands are still widely known for their less then legal enterprises, but with the Cagian Commonwealth benefiting they have little to complain about.

The Adriat Islands also contribute a great deal to the Commonwealth's naval power and can field significant amounts of privateers in times of war.

House Tanaka: The Tanaka family has long been supporters of the Esquoria Family and helped it accomplish certain goals before the coup. They are known for their lighting ability and their Esoteric ability the Saṃsāra Eye( control over attractive and repulsive forces, shift spaces within a certain range of himself). There hasn't been a wielder in generations but the family continues to search for one within their ranks.

They send their strongest offspring to join the Red Dawn Army to gain the trust of the Esquoria Family. Their main goal is to gain the good faith of the Esquoria Family and hopefully gain some nobility from their constant support.

There are many internal struggles in the family, mostly dealing with how they divide what the Esquoria Family gives them. They also work to raise the strongest mages. In the background, there is also the problem of the missing child. Hemi Tanaka, the younger brother of the patriarch Nue had a child with a prostitute in Eravil. Nue forced Hemi to abandon him before killing the prostitute. Before Nue killed her she cursed both Hemi and Nue with vengeance and perturbation.

House Deemis: A family with its history rooted in Dacryn. It is a family of inquisitors and even Archmages, though some amongst them wield a strange esoteric power. Their mages are known to be wise, and to be rather free spirits, constant seeking more knowledge no matter the cost. The current head of the family, Cyrin, is the founder and current leader of the freedoms thorn, though he has never revealed himself.

House Allegrede: The history of house Allegrede is a very short one. The last head of house Allegrod, Maximilian Allegrodo was an interesting man. He was not the worst Head of his family but was certainly not the best either. His vices were well known within the family, mostly that of his lust. It was common knowledge that he had several mistresses from highborn to even lowborn. With this came the issue of bastards, which many he tried to sweep under the rug and forget they existed. However, one of his highborn mistresses from House Sovay, came to him with child. This child would not be able to go away so easily, as House Sovay had been very predominant in politics. Thus, much to the anger of his wife, acknowledged the child as his own and took him in. This was child was named Gaius, and was raised at court alongside his half-siblings. His brother and sister, unlike the rest of the court treated him with kindess and he quickly grew to love them as a family.

However, nothing good can last and earlier this year the family he had grown up with vanished in an instant. Gaius was not at the capital during the coup, and had been treating with House Saguya. Once word of the coup reached him, he was furious, outraged. Now only was Gaius a fairly weak mage, but everything he had ever known was taken away in a moment. The head of House Saguya allowed Gaius to remain in hiding while things were sorted out. Eventually House Saguya created the Sidiroú, as a way to oppose their oppressors. Once Gaius joined this organization, he decided he would be the successor to his family, creating the House of Allegrede. He took the sigil of his mother's house and added the phoenix and crown of his father's sigil. Now, House Allegrede stands as an opposing force to the usurpers.

List of Factions

Red Dawn Army: The Red Dawn is the official name of the army of the Commonwealth. The Red Dawn was formed after the Esqouria Family coup d’etat in order to protect the new government from a counter coup. They also oppress the general populace. The army is headed by Luther Esquoria since he’s the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The Shadow Assassins: The Shadow Assassins are the secret police of the Commonwealth. The Shadow Assassins are a small group of Esoteric Mages headed by Adelina Larot, whose goal is to stamp out any opposition to the Commonwealth and assassinate political opponents. The Shadow Assassins were created by Adelina Larot, a poor farmer from the Salyan region of the Commonwealth. She was captured by the Archmage Raberud, a close adviser to Luther Esquoria. Raberud is an Esoteric himself, and is able to sense the abilities of others. Using that, he sensed that Adelina Larot was an Esoteric, and went around the country collecting Esoteric mages to form the Shadow Assassins.

The Sidiroú: The Sidiroú are the anti government faction that was formed in the aftermath of the Esquoria Family coup d’etat. They are secretly headed by the Sayuga Family. Their motto is “Σπάστε τις αλυσίδες” (Break the Chains). Julian Sayuga is the official head of the House.

The Order of the Bearers of the Hammer of Vultus Ediniem and His Holy Works (The Order of the Hammer or the Order of the Bearers for short): The Order has an interesting place in the world today, brought about by hundreds of years of history. Before the conquests of the Iuashani Kingdom the worship of Vultus Ediniem was decentralised and deeply regional in nature. Most cultures had something akin to an Earth deity, but some had these deities split up over multiple personalities, some worshipped the fire and earth deities as one, and Vultus was known by many different names. There was some exchange between the different versions of the religion, but since they were so different, there was little meaningful exchange between the various theologians versed in the matter.

The conquests of the Iuashani Kingdom changed all that. The Triumvirate saw the importance of a unified religious body for all her people, as that was the first step to unifying all the cultures under themselves. In their wisdom, the original Triumvirate saw it as important not just to impose their own views on the world, but to make some kind of compromise on the nature of all deities. The Five Councils of Tangers were held: four for each of the base elements and one final council to demarcate the differences between these deities. The Council of Earth, later called the Council of Vultus Ediniem, was held in Eravil. There, the whole theology of the God was hammered out, his symbols were decided, and Eravil was named as his Holy City. On the place of the Council was build the High Stone Cathedral, one of the most magnificent feats of architecture and engineering in the known world. They also established a crude hierarchy of a unified church, with a council of master theologians at the top. Each master would represent one of the core pillars of the faith: a High Mason, a High Miner, a High Master Builder, a High Theologian and a High Mage. These five Councillors, each elected by their own congregations, would lead this Order.

Over time, however, the Order evolved, both under pressure from politics and from natural evolution. First, as the infrastructure of the Academies expanded, more and more Earth mages were discovered. While not the biggest in membership (that was the Council of Miners), the Council of Mages had the most influence within the Church. After all, the Mages generally performed tasks that made all other work far easier. Master Builders and Master Masons were often also Mages, whose powers were incredibly helpful in day-to-day tasks. Since Mages were admitted in the order from an early age, they were generally more loyal to the Council of Mages than the other Councils. Over the years, the High Mage gained more and more power within the Council of Five, until he overshadowed all others. The Concordat of Eravil reorganised the structure of the Church in this light. From that point on, the Council of Five would become a Council of Six, with a Grand Councillor presiding. This Grand Councillor would always be a Mage, and the structure of the church would intertwine the mages on every level.

This intertwining led to an unprecedented golden age for all professions. Mining tunnels were dug by powerful mages striking through stone to get to veins. Masons carved statues and building stones with the help of mages. Most importantly, the masons erected powerful buildings not only for their own church, but now also in service of the Kingdom. Palaces, churches for all faiths, monuments, fortresses… The Order became the guild hall for magical builders, who could construct the most fantastical buildings with the effort it would take normal builders to construct a simple church. The New Citadel of Kalingway was but one example of their building prowess.

This centralisation, however, did mean the Church would become more detached from the Triumvirate. The Grand Councillor of the Church was a powerful person in their own right, no longer entirely subordinate to the Triumvirate. Being the sole people responsible for building the most splendorous palaces, they were also quite rich, and their financial situation (as well as their disposition to mine gold and build strong fortresses, made them bankers. The addition of a seventh councillor for bankers promoted this fact. This addition also made the Church incredibly corrupt, as favours could just as well be bought as gained through piety. Among the Four Churches, the Order of the Hammer is seen as the most greedy. They financially back the Esquoria-family, as they see them as the way for the Order to gain more political influence.

In short, the Order is a mix of bankers, master-builders and miners, all led by a cabal of mages in it for the money and the grandeur, seeking money and riches most of all. The Order is a Church, a financial institution, a cartel, and a mix of guilds all in one.

Whispering Shadows: The Whispering Shadows were created 24 years ago by a group of thieves wanting to get more money then they were currently earning. They have informants in most other factions, excluding the most secretive ones, to help their cause. They then sell the information for absurd amounts of gold. The information could include battle plans, moral, or even location of the leader. They have only told a handful of politicians how to contact them.

Freedom’s Thorn: Founded by Cyrin Deemis, a former inquisitor mage, and a philosopher who wishes to instate a democratic system of government in place of the Empire. Small but infamous for crimes against the empire, having assassinated a few important mages in Dacryn. They have been established for around a half a year, and news of their presence is still spreading. However, the leader, Cyrin, has become ill, and is transferring authority over the Freedoms Thorn to his son, Elias.

Order of the Shade: After receiving his "revelation," Tenegure created the Order of the Shade in order to facilitate the hunt for esoteric mages. Originally, there were only 5 members (including Tenegure), all capable mages and fighters in their own regard. They'd convene once every month to identify targets and plan their next moves, usually meeting in some spot deep within the wilderness. Now, only Tenegure remains of the original members, though he has managed to expand the Order to 30 members. Now they operate in small cells, which each member of the cell responsible for their own hunt. Meetings between all the cells are now held only once a year.

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The early history of the Cagian Commonwealth was defined by wars and constant disputes among the various tribes and kingdoms. The Iuashani Kingdom was the first major unified kingdom in the entire land of Cagia. The Iuashani ruled over the Serani River Region in the west of the Commonwealth. They quickly expanded due to diplomatic tactics of their leader and their powerful military. Being founded in 200 BTU (before the unification), the Iuashani was able to take control of the entire Western portion of the Commonwealth by 145 BTU. The Narakami kingdom seized control in the East, and the Hugami rose to power in the south. Dyfores Allegrodo, a poor farmer from the southern Iuashani Kingdom, quickly rose to prominence as a result of his Esoteric Lightning Magic in 27 BTU. Baseu Sayuga became the king over the Narakami kingdom, and Yucella Esquoria became the queen over the Hugami. The Iuashani, Narakmi, and Hugami formed an alliance and quickly managed to subjugate the remaining kingdoms by 5 BTU. 5 years later, the three kingdoms united and formed the Cagian Commonwealth, with the leaders of the previous nations ruling together in a triumvirate known as the Three Elites.

The Three Elites ruled over Cagia for the next few decades until their deaths by 45 ATU. The grandson of Dyfores Allegrodo, Ulasen Allegrodo, seized power in a coup in 100 ATU, allowing the House of Allegrod to be the de facto rulers over the Commonwealth. The Esquoria was against the coup and tried to remove Ulasen from power, but in the end, the effort was futile and the Esquorias was kicked out the government two years later. The Sayuga family remained a close ally to the Allegrodo and supported the move to kick out the Esquoria. The Esquoria family was joked about and humiliated over the next few hundred years as the Allegrod dynasty remained in power and bribed various officials to keep them in power. In 520 ATU, The Sayuga family, fearing an insurrection by the Esquoria, warned the Allegrod House to reconsider the expulsion of the Esquoria from the government, which the Allegrod leader tried to do. But his advisers would not listen, and this ultimately proved to be their downfall. In 525 ATU, Luther Esquoria, along with the Archmages Adelina Larot and Raberud, decided to over throw the Allegrod dynasty and take power themselves.

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The Cagian Pantheon

The Four Maxime Princeps ("Most High")
Vultus Ediniem: God of Earth, Strength, War, Victory, and Strategy
Hyaluscus: Goddess of Water, Peace, Justice, Prosperity and Stability
Aeternum: Goddess of Wind, Change, and Transitions
Occidere: God of Fire, Death, and Suffering

The Secundi Deorum (Second generation of Gods)
Etris: Goddess of Harvests, Agriculture, Fertility, and Motherhood:
Jacere: God of Fortune, Commerce, Messages and Communication, Traveling and Trade
Amecias: Goddess of Love, Desire, Beauty and Procreation:
Lucaldir: God of Weather, Rain, Lightning, Thunder, and Life: