Theme:FFAC-1 Divines

THE GODS

In the First Age, there were the primordial Gods. Those who eventually died to become the world fought fiercely against the legions of Chaos, the Enemy, alongside their progeny both mortal and divine. But they were slain in a final act of self-sacrifice, leaving their children, the Second Divines, to take up the task of ruling the world.

The Second Divines are the primary gods of the world. People do not often worship Odin, Bahamut, and the others, as dead gods need no worship; instead, it is to the Second Divines people send their prayers. A list of the Second Divines is below.

RAIDEN

The oldest of the Second Gods, Raiden is their King, taking up where Odin left off. He is called the Lightning Blade, the Swift Horse Of Justice, and the Steel-Born Soldier; he is the patron saint of warriors, soldiers, weapons, and warfare. Raiden is forever vigilant against the incursions of the beasts of Chaos, and fights a never-ending battle against their foul ilk.

SIREN

The wife of Raiden, Siren is the Enthralling Queen, the Temptation, the Sly Lady. Her beauty is as legendary as her wit, and both have, according to legend, led astray those who are chosen by her husband many times over. However, the legends also say that there is no malice in Siren’s temptations; she tempts and tests out of love, for the blade cannot be strongest without testing, and the knight cannot be strongest without temptation. Siren loves her husband fiercely, and aids him whenever she is able in his infinite war on Chaos.

FENRIR

The Guardian Wolf is the eternal companion of the Phoenix, his brother, born from Ifrit and Shiva’s brief union before the forging of the world. Fenrir stands at the gates of Heaven itself, defending the realm of the Divines with his zealous fang and claw. Fenrir’s chosen people tend to be wildlings, loners, ill-fit for society but willing to stand against the wild to defend it.

PHOENIX

The All-Forgiving Fury, the brother of Fenrir the Guardian Wolf, Phoenix lights the way to Heaven for the souls of the dead just as he lights the day in his role as the sun itself. Though Phoenix is a raging fire, dangerous to approach and dangerous to wield, he is also a life-giver, kind beyond measure; he tempers his unrestrained fury with unbridled mercy, granted dominion over the life and death of humekind by Raiden’s decree. Healers and doctors are loved by the Phoenix, as are undertakers and gravediggers.

MIDGARDSORMR

The Coiling Serpent, The Binding-Snake was crafted by Titan’s hand at the end of the Core’s creation. The Binding-Snake is wrapped eternally around the deepest parts of the Core of Galianda, reinforcing it against the machinations of Chaos and his dark designs. Midgardsormr hates Chaos more than any other Divine, even Raiden; his favored are those who hunt Chaos in all its forms, and he lends his power to them, to be used for the extermination of all of Chaos’s works.

WHYT

The Ever-Shifting, The Infinite Whimsy, Whyt is the youngest Divine born of the First Gods (Doomtrain is younger than Whyt, though such things are relative to timeless, eternal beings), formed of Leviathan’s waters as the First Flood became the Tenebrous Deep. Whyt is potential given form; he is highly unstable, prone to whimsy and childlike wonder, his powers changing to suit his mood. Whyt is the patron of artists and writers, of the creative; he loves those who are passionate.

SYLPH

The Wise Wind, The Whispering Lady, Sylph was made by Bahamut, to defend the skies. She was granted dominion over the winds and the rains and the storms by Raiden; from her flows the wisdom of Bahamut, passed down by the First Sky’s magic. She whispers wisdom in the ear of shaman and fortune-teller, planting what must be known in the ear of those who must know it; she keeps secrets and spreads rumors. Sylph is the patron of spies and liars, of secret-keepers and knowledge-dealers.

BISMARK

The Lantern-In-Dark-Places, He-Who-Finds-The-Way, Bismark came not from the gods, but from the stars, sailing to the world as it was forged, sensing a need for his power. A great golden whale, Bismark shines in the dark places of the world, granting his soft and protective glow to all who are lost. Those who need him are Bismark’s favored; those who lose their way, who suffer, pray for Bismark’s kindness to show them back to their chosen path.

DIABOLOS

The Black Chancellor, The Shadow-Prince, Diabolos is the cruelest of the Divines, born when Odin struck out at Chaos and cut off a piece of him. As a result he is the child of both Odin and Chaos, and jealously covets Raiden’s throne and wife for his own. Still, he is a child of Odin, which means that the Divines cannot simply disregard him; he is honored as a Prince of the Divines, and was given position of chancellor as both a peace offering and a way to keep an eye on him. Though he is born of Chaos, Diabolos has no desire to be of Chaos nor serve Chaos’s whims. Diabolos desires Raiden’s throne, and schemers, the ambitious, and those who live in the darkness beyond darkness are his chosen and favored.

DOOMTRAIN

The Rail Journey, the Great Machine, Doomtrain is the youngest of the Second Gods. It is not the child of any First or Second God, but instead the child of Humekind as a whole; Humekind’s obsessive need to better itself and shape the world gave birth to the power of the Doomtrain, and Doomtrain in exchange offers humekind power over machines. Inventors and wanderers, engineers and wayfarers are Doomtrain’s favored.

CARBUNCLE

The Aegis Of The First Word, the Law-Shield, Carbuncle was born of the oaths struck between the First Gods and their pacts to defend the world. Carbuncle is the embodiment of law; unlike the other Divines, he was not given his dominion by Raiden, but rather exists to reinforce Raiden’s decrees, protecting Raiden’s Word with his existence. Carbuncle is the patron of magistrates, lawyers, and judges.

RAGNAROK

The Blessed Heavenly Sword, the Blade Passed Down From Odin’s Hand, Ragnarok is Diabolos’s twin brother and the younger brother of Raiden, created when Chaos struck out Odin’s eye. As the son of Odin, Ragnarok is also the Lynchpin Blade; in its physical, mortal existence, it is the weapon rammed into the core of the world to hold back Chaos. In its existence as an Esper, however, it is his duty to cleave through those who stand against his brother and clear the way, and so he imparts that same duty to his chosen; Ragnarok is the patron of locksmiths, keysmiths, and those who open paths.

GILGAMESH

It is rumored that the mysterious Gilgamesh came from another world. He is worshipped as the patron of the Great Span, but never answers his calls. It is highly unorthodox to worship him, but people still occasionally offer him prayers, and the Great Span is consecrated to him for protection. Gilgamesh keeps no favored, probably because he isn’t really a god.