The Head Deities
Kairos
Known by the majority as the Whenvern, Kairos is the Dragon God of Time, constantly making sure that time as we understand it continues to flow forwards. Kairos travels across the universe, destroying paradoxes before they happen and obscuring the deeper workings of the universe in order to prevent the creation of time machines and other time-altering apparatus. Known to be proud and stubborn, Kairos sees himself above all others, knowing that the universe could not exist if it weren’t for him. Because of this attitude, he welcomes worship with open arms, almost demanding that mortals appreciate his existence.
Kairos takes many forms, his most common being a massive blue and silver dragon, his front arms sporting a pair of wings, each a kilometre long from the membranes in his sides to the tips of his clawed fingers. His head is adorned with three crystal horns, and a series of spikes runs down the back of his heavily armoured body. While Kairos prides himself on his size and power, he often shrinks himself down to confront mortals. This smaller form is much more elegant, with smoother plating and scales that shine like diamonds.
Epani
The Allmaker, formerly the Panelix, is the Goddess of Space and the Cycle of Life and Decay. Epani has most of the creative control over the universe and protects it with her life. While she inherited the powers of life and decay from the Dead Gods, Epani works hard to maintain the universe. Her appearance has changed over the years – while the Panelix does occasionally still look like a vast, red sea monster, spanning many kilometers in length, she also has a busty, Temthan-like form which she uses around mortals. Both her forms have an appearance designed for moving through air and water, and she has a long lure which dangles from her head.
While the Allmaker is often as proud as Kairos is, and can be prone to fits of rage as she struggles with her vast powers, Epani has calmed down and has been humbled, and, while she doesn’t understand mortality, she does her best to see things from other people’s points of view. She also tries too hard to be cold and logical, but her love for her universe keeps her on the right track.
The Thodekad
After the Nigh-Corruption, which saw the universe nearly get consumed by a Corruption known as the Unending Ancient One, the universe lost half its deities. In order to defeat the Unending Ancient One, the Thantophor sacrificed itself and was ripped from the universe, taking the Corruption with it. Broken and tainted by the damage the Corruption caused, the Allbirther exiled herself from the universe, swearing revenge against the monster that had taken her beloved sibling.
With only two deities left, Epani realized she couldn’t just be the Goddess of Space, and took control of Life and Death as well. In order to fill the hole left by the Thantophor and the Allbirther, Epani and Kairos came together and created twelve new deities, represented by one of each of the universe’s twelve main species, all of whom fill the gaps that Arkay and Sini left behind and assist the Panelix in her new, unfamiliar duties. These powerful beings serve Epani directly and are loyal to both her and the Whenvern.
Dalosisaar, God of Air and Unity
A powerful golden Thraki with white stripes, Knosisaar soars across the universe, offering guidance to mortal and deity alike. The most powerful member of the Thodekad, Dalosisaar’s main duty is to make sure that the other gods all work together, while also assisting in keeping the peace. Dalosisaar also occasionally helps the Great Whenvern himself, making tiny tweaks to the Air Currents of Time to avoid danger.
Dalosisaar’s rise to power was quite obvious. When the Whenvern was struck down by the Unending Ancient One, Dalosisaar, who had previously been a fiery, somewhat isolationist leader of a small Magian Circle, instantly took to the skies and attempted to protect the fallen Time Drake, hoping to burn away the Corruption that was slowly claiming Kairos. When he failed to do this alone, Dalosisaar rushed back to not just his own Magian Circle, but all the local Circles too, made peace with them then led them back to Kairos. The united Thraki managed to hold back the Corruption, stopping it from claiming the Whenvern entirely, until a cataclysm and a deal was made by the other deities to save the universe.
Kohra Tou Ahvran, God of Lightning and Technology
While the two older sons of the Lord King fought on the ground, Levik organizing troops and Tanos fighting the Corruption directly, Kohra, the youngling that he was, decided to put his intelligence and power to good use. Disregarding his father’s demands to stay hidden, Kohra sneaked out then used his royal connections to take control of all major Spast networks. He then immediately removed all restrictions and allowed every other race to make use of the Spasts’ far superior network systems.
Kohra also assisted with on-the-ground repairs. When a major network satellite was breached and destroyed by the Corruption, Kohra rushed to the location in person with the replacement equipment needed. Even as the Unending Ancient One tried to swallow up the world around Kohra, he managed to repair the damaged satellite and get everything back online. Kohra was briefly presumed dead, but was saved at the very last second by the Blessed Thantophor. After the Thantophor’s sacrifice and the Allbirther’s exile, both Epani and Kairos blessed Kohra with divinity.
Akusasiiri, Goddess of Sound, Joy and the Arts
The Athrens didn’t have much to offer during the Great Darkness. They didn’t have a large army, or a fleet of ships, or a lot of troops on hand. While many Athrens did give shelter to those who had been displaced, their biggest offerings came after the death of the Great Corruption. Akusasiiri, one of the children of the Great Listener, made the first steps. Making her way to the ruined planet of Phantox, a neutral world within Lanex territories, Akusasiiri and her followers helped rebuild the cities. But at the same time, she made sure that these new cities were beautiful, and filled with art. As she worked, Akusasiiri sang, sparking joy among not just her fellow Athrens, but also among the other races she was helping.
Akusasiiri’s spirit was picked up by the Whenvern, who was also impressed with her actions. He made an offer to the young Athren, giving her the chance to continue her work across the entire universe. Akusasiiri accepted, and, to this day, she travels the cosmos, helping in repairs and making the universe a better and prettier place.
Aesop, God of Earth and Craftsmanship
The Torr were never really known for their kindness, but Aesop, tired of his government’s inaction, broke rank and used his power and riches to purchase an entire paramilitary group and the majority of stocks of Torr Space Travels, a large airline. Originally, Aesop’s plan was to do evacuations, moving innocents away from the invading Corruption, but when it was discovered that fire could slow the Corruption down, Aesop tapped into the old invention skills that had made him rich when he was young to design, build and mass-produce small-scale flamethrowers, and immediately released those plans to everyone alongside a DIY version people could make at home.
Aesop’s altruism drew the ire of the Torr elite, and they refused to help up until Aesop’s personal ship was nearly consumed by the Corruption, and Aesop was presumed dead. Epani spat in their faces by saving Aesop’s life. For his kindness and quick thinking, Epani offered Aesop divinity, and he immediately accepted, hoping to use his new power to better the Torr as a race. His godly duties mostly involve rebuilding whatever was destroyed or damaged.
Litvir Kalophos, God of Light and Protection
The majority of the Allbirther’s secret labs were destroyed by the Corruption. However, one single experiment, an undeveloped Rethan fetus of unknown heritage found inside a glass canister, somehow survived. Using his control over time, Kairos sped up the growth of this unborn Rethan and presented it to Epani, to be given divinity in memory of the Thantophor. Litvir is physically just a teenager, and is rather shy and quiet, but they are utterly dedicated to their job of defending the universe from external threats.
Litvir’s main duty is to patrol the walls of the universe and neutralize any threats before they get too close, often with incinerating beams of light. When they are not on patrol, they work as a guard to Kairos and Epani and act as security and a barrier between races when they have disputes.
Aster Darkbreaker, God of Gravity and Diplomacy
The first attack of the Unending Ancient One was spotted by the Lanex, but those who witnessed it penetrating the universe’s northern walls weren’t part of proper Lanex society. The Perpetual Abyss had split off from the other Lanex tribes when the Lanex overall abandoned the Panelix, believing she had abandoned them, and even when they weren’t outcasts, they were a secretive tribe that rarely interacted with others. And, originally, the Perpetual Abyss didn’t want to report what they saw.
As the darkness began to get closer, realizing that this might actually be bad, Aster, a normally low-ranking member of the Crown Guides, spoke out, and convinced his superiors that they NEEDED to return to the Lanex proper and do everything they could to help, otherwise there wouldn’t be any Lanex left. And Aster turned out to be right. Thanks to his early warnings, the Lanex once again escaped extinction, despite being by far the closest point of impact.
Aster’s persuasive skills were quickly recognized, doubly so as he convinced the Perpetual Abyss to rejoin the rest of the Lanex. Aster’s achievement was recognized by both Kairos and Epani, and they blessed him with divinity, allowing him to make the most of his skills. As the God of Gravity and Diplomacy, Aster now works to settle disputes between different groups and races, acting as a voice of reason and balance. He also works alongside Nanik and Murum’Va, to help keep the universe steady.
Maresia Heartscale, Goddess of Nature and Love
After the Great Darkness, population levels across the universe dropped dramatically, and the dead piled up. No longer influenced or protected by Sini’s presence, the desire to procreate disappeared almost instantly and completely. Unable to properly fill the hole the Allbirther left, Epani went through several desperate measures, before realizing she was ill-equipped to handle things. So Epani immediately searched for the most beautiful and kindest Temthan she could find, believing that the race most closely tied to Sini could give her answers.
Maresia Heartscale answered Epani’s call, and offered herself to the Panelix. She had lost her entire village, had nearly died while trying to save a massive nest of Temthan eggs and was desperate to help others. Epani blessed Maresia, and gave her the duty of keeping an eye on the universe’s population levels, while also promoting safe sex and reproduction.
Valksia Ksiovex, Goddess of Water and Agriculture
One of the first things the Unending Ancient One attacked was many of the vast water supplies of the universe, hoping to corrupt as many mortals as possible. The Vrekans were immediately insulted by this and Valksia Ksiovex, a chemist and bioengineer, swiftly went to work on finding a way to decontaminate the water supplies of affected planets. She was one of the first people outside of the most damaged areas to work out that high heat damaged the Corruption, and, within ten hours, Valksia discovered that desalination plants could be altered and upgraded to purify corrupted waters.
But Valksia was not satisfied. She realized that the Corruption could affect crops as well, and quickly worked out which plants were the most or least affected, and began work on a bacteria that would glow if crops were infected. While the Great Darkness was defeated before Valkia could finish her project, her dedication was noticed by the Panelix, and Valksia was given divinity, in order to not just continue her work, but also improve agriculture across the entire universe.
Nanik, Goddess of Psionics and Peace
Understandably, when the Gods were torn from the skies, when the universe itself was threatened with death, most normal folk began to panic. The Vohra on the other hand mostly hid away, barely comprehending what was going on. Nanik though, a young and curious Vahla Guardian that worked for an External Affairs nest, saw first hand what was going on. While she and her fellow Guardians didn’t really have many resources, Nanik decided to try and help in her own way – by heading to badly affected areas and boosting morale.
Using her powerful telepathy, Nanik led her fellow Vohra and commanded them to help with evacuations, keeping the general population calm, while stifling feelings of fear and panic. She also helped those on the frontlines, pinpointing the injured so they could be pulled to safety, while all-round inspiring confidence in fighters.
Nanik’s courage was noticed by all the deities, and she was given new duties, to continue to inspire peace among the universe. Her new job is to quell violence before it can break out, and she regularly assists Aster, the God of Diplomacy, when dealing with more dangerous and aggressive meetings between races.
Elkay Athanasion, God of Shadows and Knowledge
When the Corruption tore across the universe, Elkay Athanasion, the All-Ksa of the Skyavok, set to work saving anything and anyone he could. Using powers gifted to him by the Thantophor Itself, Elkay used his shadowjumping abilities to leap across planets and save the greatest minds of the universe from being consumed by the Corruption. Although Elkay nearly died in the process, to the point that he survived being cut in half, his achievements were acknowledge by the Panelix, and she blessed the old Skyavok with divinity, entrusting him to keep safe the secrets of the universe.
These days, Elkay focuses on protecting and preserving data, while supplying the other deities with whatever information they need at a moment’s notice. As he was already somewhat god-touched before the attack of the Unending Ancient One, he also offers advice and guidance to his fellow gods and goddesses.
Syksis Pagonisa, Goddess of Ice and Medicine
The Ksithans weren’t particularly badly hit by the Great Corruption, as their homelands were mostly located in the southern and more central parts of the universe. However, that didn’t mean that they didn’t help. The Ksithan military, run by Syksis Pagonisa, swiftly began delivering medical supplies to other races who were heavily affected, despite the Tromeros family, the ruling elite of the Ksithans, suggesting that they err on the side of caution.
When Syksis ignored a direct order to return back to Ksithan territories, the Tromeros family tried to strip her of her rank. Syksis didn’t care. She packed up as many medical supplies as she could get her hands on and flew right into the most infected areas, then started working to help as many people as possible. Syksis’s dedication sent her to planet Portalia, one of the major attack sites, where she ended up assisting on the frontlines.
Syksis’s last moments as a mortal were witnessed by multiple guards and gladiators. Before the Corruption could consume her, Syksis was teleported to safety by the Allbirther, and was gifted to Epani before Sini exiled herself. Upon hearing of Syksis’s actions, Epani immediately deified her, putting Syksis in charge of keeping the universe fit and healthy.
Murum’Va, Goddess of Fire and Justice
Most beings don’t believe in prophecy, but the Banikans always did. So when they noticed that the bones of their deceased spiritual leader, Mur’Umvul, someone who united the Banikans as a single species, had been chipped and moved ever so slightly, despite their permanent resting place embedded in a wall of metal, the Banikans suddenly started believing that the end was nigh, and that the skies would go dark.
However, Murum’Va, Mur’Umvul’s oldest daughter, decided to do something about it. Standing down from her duties as a high-ranking lawyer, she started moving groups of Banikans across the universe. In her mind, she needed to keep the universe’s fires burning, and when the Great Darkness hit, the Banikans’ affinity for fire combined with Murum’Va’s orders meant they could do more damage to the Corruption than less prepared races.
After the Idatoks Onotnys, as the Banikans called it, Murum’Va’s dedication and intelligence was noticed by Epani, and she was given godhood as a reward for her sheer power.
The Dead Gods
Sini
Sini, the Allbirther, was the Goddess of Life, and originally created, maintained and protected the twelve races of the Phoviverse, working hard in both keeping the peace and trying to build a perfect species. When the Whenvern was nearly taken by Corruption, Sini stepped forward, using her hybrid status to wrestle control of time away from the Corruption, stopping it from consuming all. But her actions cost her dearly, and, in order to prevent the Corruption from sneaking back in, Sini exiled herself from the universe, disappearing into the darkness.
Arkay
Known by many names, Arkay, often named Arkadin among races that fear him, was the Thantophor, the Lord of Death and Decay. Taking the form of a yellow-plated Skyavok, his main duties were split in two: he maintained the careful balance of entropy and recycled resources so they could be used by other deities; and he protected the universe from outside threats. In order to stop the Unending Ancient One from consuming the universe, Arkay sacrificed himself, banishing the Corruption and stopping it from ever returning.