====== Religion ======

===== The Pantheon =====

The seventeen "true" [[deities]] of this world are typically worshiped as a pantheon. There are no “good” or “bad” deities. It is common for individuals and settlements to a patron deity, maybe two. Often, settlements of town-size or larger will have a House of Shrines which contains a small altar to every deity.

===== Cults and Temples =====

A deity's worshippers are collectively called a “cult” or “temple”. The phrase “the cult of Riswa” would be taken to mean “all those who worship Riswa as a patron deity,” and the phrase “the temple of Riswa” would be taken to mean “those clerics and acolytes in service to Riswa.” The “cult” is the people, the religious following. The “temple” are the divinely-empowered leaders.

===== Aspects and Sects =====

Each of the seventeen gods has many "aspects" or forms. Different sects of a cult may focus their worship on different aspects of their patron deity.

===== Divine Intervention =====

Deities are not unwilling to aid their worshippers. However, they typically prefer to apply their influence more widely and generally, since broader strokes will often affect more of their worshipers. Deities providing assistance toward individuals is quite rare, but not unheard of.