The Pantheon of Eights is heavily centric on beliefs held by the peoples of Aurial, with little historical regard to Eqos’ own beliefs. Through millennia of trade and colonization, much of the greater pantheon has taken root in the continent of Eqos. Many of the older Eqosi beliefs have been forgotten, replaced, or assimilated. These individual gods have also intermixed with each other, as the continent’s various different beliefs all intermingled to create multiple versions of the same myths. Here we list some of these Eqosi Gods.

Ahbara / Planetary Primordials

Ancient Eqos used to have its own religion, spirituality and beliefs based on simple worldly gods- Abmarah, the Sun, and the Moons. These 'gods' were primordials, made of the basic building blocks of the universe. The other realms, planets, and moons were also said to be primordials. Above the planetary primordials were the original elemental primordials born from Chaos itself: Jalarid (Water), Prithao (Earth), Agneeti (Fire), and Vayiini (Air). Aeterism is deeply incompatible with the existence of these Primordials, calling them creations of chaos and minor gods instead. Ahbara believes that these celestial bodies are essentially alive, including Abmarah itself.

As the legends go, Sorya (the Sun) and Lunaa (Luna, the largest moon) were soul-sisters, who both fell in love with Abara (Eqosi name for Abmarah). Abara is personified as both male and female in this ancient pantheon, generally depicted as an androgynous parental figure that rules the night sky. Modern day myths generally refer to Abara as a male, paternal figure. Sorya was energetic, ambitious, and visually stunning—showering Abara with warmth and happiness. On the other hand, Lunaa was cold and dull, but calm and peaceful at the same time. She was more reserved as compared to her sister, and was unlikely to win Abara's affection.

Regardless, it came to pass that Abara fell in love with Lunaa, the pair entangling in an eternal orbital dance. Sorya was rejected, and scorned Abara with her heat. The ancient Eqosi believed that this turned their northern land from a lush grassland into the desert it is today, starting from Absorya Parbat where the city of Ammba stands today. Abara and Lunaa had two children, the first being the second moon Hirana, with the second being the third moon Strari. Hirana was personified as a young girl that could turn into a deer, while Strari was personified as a wrathful boy. These were likely influenced by the ancient catfolk religion that personified the three moons as a trio of siblings, listed later in this page.

The creation story aside, the primary beliefs surrounding these gods was that they were mortals, but their souls immortal. They are said to be periodically reborn as mortals, the same souls reincarnating repeatedly through time. Many mythological heroes and minor gods are believed to be the rebirths of these primordials, such as the vanara hero Wemana who is considered to be one of the avatars of Abara. It is believed that the current ‘Avatar’ of Sorya is the goddess Sol Sultana, who tried to break out of this cycle of rebirth and achieve a more traditional and permanent divinity. See the page for the Solism.

Draconic Trio

This religion originates in Eqos, but is spread across Abmarah by dragons and dragonborn alike. It venerates the first dragons- Tidāhi of the metallic dragons, Tiamat of the chromatic dragons, and Theratis of the gem dragons.

It's said that during the realmshatter, the churning chaos birthed dragons. The very first dragons were said to have formed from the nebulous chaos of the original one, Kosmos, often said to be the only "stellar dragon". The first true dragon was the platinum dragon Tidāhi (often known by other names such as Bahamut, Apsu, or Tābo) from whom the metallic dragons followed. The second was the draconic queen, Tiamat, appearing with five heads each of which heralded chromatic dragons. The third and often forgotten was the obsidian serpent Theratis, born of the chaos of the mind. Dread Theratis mysteriously led the gem dragons, and bided her time.

In the Omniborn Crisis, Tiamat was felled by the god-killer Krakus with the help of artifacts that controlled time itself called the Time Gears. Banished to the hells long ago, she was hunted down in the infernal planes by the souls of warriors felled in the war above. In the mortal conquest of the afterlife, the dark custodian Moros soon followed Tiamat in death, his position snatched by the patient matron Theratis.

The metallic light of Tidāhi disappeared following the death of Tiamat, and the first dragon was never seen again. Some think that he was killed by Khaz Draxal, while some believe that Tiamat and Tidāhi were linked and the death of one caused the death of the other. Although, if Theratis and some dragonborn elders are to be believed, "Tidāhi's work is simply completed," and to look out admist the sea of humans for "peculiar old men".

Atakasi / The Bilari Trio

The three catfolk gods were said to be the first mortal champions of their race that came to be revered as gods. Among the first generations of the bilari as the legends go, the three siblings were born to two parents now lost to time. Aatrii, the eldest sister. Aklim, the middle sister. Aesin, the youngest brother. The three were believed to have shaped the continent of Eqos to make the untamed wilderness work for the panshera clans instead of against them. The three gods all represent primal forces- the world, nature & life, as well as mortalkind & death. Later scholars have also seen that they were equivalent to the classic party of three: The Mage, the Rogue, and the Warrior. As time went on, the bilari myths got mixed with the north eqosi legends as well as other eqosi mythologies. The siblings got connected to other gods, such as the brothers Maaset & Mawekh, or the goddess of souls, Aethys, who in modern day is rumored to have helped the sisters take down Aesin. Some even believe that Aethys is a sort-of mother to the trio, having stolen a part of Mawekh’s soul to create them. 

In the modern day, Aatrii was recognised as one of the major order gods in Ashtadharma and Aeterism as a whole not too long ago, while the other two are still considered minor gods. In their classification, Aklim is recognised as a minor balance goddess, while Aesin is recognised as a minor chaos god.