Let's Build a World: The Empire of Dragons - Gods of the Subjects

Aspects of Io

In modern religious practices among non-draconic subjects of the Empire, little survives of any pre-conquest faiths. What traditions survive have been subsumed into Ioism, albeit reluctantly. Pelor and the Raven Queen remain popular among humanoids, but the “official” stance is that both deities are just other names for Tiamat and Bahamut, acting in their respective roles as sun-god and death god. Some depictions of Pelor show evidence of another attempt to reconcile the faiths, showing Pelor driving the sun chariot and Tiamat pulling it. Although there are those that say both figures in such depictions are Tiamat. She can easily drive and pull a chariot at the same time in two separate bodies, being as she is a god.

Cultures that are not directly subject to the Empire of Dragons have their own faiths and pantheons, and the official doctrine is that those people are really worshipping various aspects of Bahamut, they just don’t realize that. Patron deities of other races are said to be Tiamat (patron of all foreigners) in various disguises.

Tiamat herself enjoys a strong following among humanoid subjects of the Empire. In her role as god of

(Created with Heromachine)

change, she has come to personify the some-would-say-revolutionary idea that all creatures can be elevated to the standing of a Dragon (more on this later). In this aspect she is depicted as a faceless, androgynous figure held aloft by a pair of mechanical wings.

Kobolds

Some kobolds worship individual dragons as gods, following them and doing their bidding. While some attempt to reconcile this with the  dominant faith, saying that by venerating Io’s greatest creation—a dragon—they are also worshipping Io. But the religious practices of dragon-worshipping kobolds have little to do with Ioism. The most zealous of dragon-worshippers’ fondest desire is to be eaten by the dragon they serve, as it means they can become completely one with their god. They will sometimes anoint themselves with delicious oils and spices and present themselves as an offering. Dragons typically do not object to the kobolds. Unless they make a nuisance of themselves, the dragons usually appreciate the extra servants and snacks.

Demons and Devils

There are small, secretive cults scattered throughout the empire, dedicated to various demons and devils. While the rules and practices for these cults vary widely, the rationale behind them is generally the same. These worshippers acknowledge Io but see Io as a demiurge and tyrant. They say Io coveted the universe and slew the nameless True Creator so that the universe could be added to Io’s horde. Each cult considers their particular patron to be the only being that stands a chance of destroying Io, and so the various fiends are worshipped as perverse saviors and the lesser of a multitude of evils.

There are whispered legends of a human empire whose rulers bred with fiends so that their offspring could be more powerful than any mortal. The empire destroyed itself from within, but it is said that had it survived, it could have destroyed even the Empire of Dragons.

Possibly I’m borrowing too much from Points of Light with this one.

They were called Tieflings—in the language of the old empire, “children of the dark”—and there are some alive today said to be their descendants. Other rumors hold that none from the old Tiefling empire survived, but that the Tieflings alive today prove that fiends still sire children in the mortal world.

Next Time: Beyond the Empire