The Twelve
Twelve elemental forces that breathe life into Etheirys and guide the fate of all who walk its lands.
The Twelve are a pantheon of deities that were created after Hydaelyn, existing as vast concentrations of aetheric energy that oversee the fundamental elements shaping Etheirys and governing its natural laws. Unlike traditional gods who dwell in a distant heaven, these entities often manifest through avatars or artifacts to interact with mortals. They represent concepts such as light, fire, water, wind, earth, and ice, but notably do not include a single lightning deity; Rhalgr, for instance, is associated with destruction and storms rather than lightning alone.
Quick Facts
- Nature
- Aetheric Entities; Primordial Deities
- Domain
- Etheirys (The World)
- Manifestation
- Avatars
- Crystals
- and Artifacts
- Worshippers
- Various Nations and Orders across the source world
- Status
- Active but often distant from mortal affairs
Lore & Background
Despite their immense power, the Twelve are not omnipotent in a human sense; they are sustained by mortal faith and prayers, and their power wanes without worship. This reliance on belief means that as civilizations rise and fall, the Twelve's ability to intervene fluctuates, though their direct interventions are rare and not canonically tied to events such as the conflicts surrounding the Garlean Empire or the aftermath of the Seventh Umbral Calamity.
Reader's Guide
The Twelve function as the ultimate source of magical power within Etheirys. Mages and summoners do not generate magic internally but instead draw upon the ambient aether that these deities permeate throughout the world. To wield their power, practitioners must align their own spirit with a specific deity's domain through study, faith, or ritual. This connection allows them to channel elemental forces like fire, ice, or lightning into spells and abilities. While any mage can tap into this energy, true masters often act as vessels for the gods' will. In extreme cases, such as during the summoning of primal-like manifestations, a deity may temporarily inhabit an avatar to fight alongside mortals against existential threats.
Did You Know?
- The Twelve are distinct from Primals; while Primals are created by mortal belief and can be summoned into physical forms, the Twelve are native to the world's structure.
- Contrary to some claims, there is no canonical list of exclusive crystal types for each deity; their manifestations vary.
- The concept of the Twelve varies slightly between different regions of Etheirys due to cultural interpretations and historical schisms.
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