11.2 NATURE OF THE GODS
The Greater Gods care little for the worship and postulation of mortal
beings. Their existence is one of sacrifice, building and controlling the
universe around them. They balance the forces which threaten to destroy
existence while working to keep the different levels of reality separate.
Their connection is to the fabric of reality and the basic primordial
essence of Midkemia.
Of the Lesser God, they are forces of nature, mind and spirit. They are
beings which are linked directly to the worship and growth of the beings of
the world of Midkemia. The Lesser Gods have a personality which helps
govern their nature.
Although each Lesser God has many names and is worshipped in many ways, the
essence of each is still the same. Whenever there is a large enough group
of mortals or creatures willing to perceive the nature of the God in a
certain way, a personification of the God materializes within the God to
meet that nature. So it is that one God can be seen in many lights and can
carry many different Names.
For example, Banath is known as the Trickster, God of Thieves, the Artful
Dodger, the Prankster, the Night Walker, the Deceiver, Lawbreaker, the
Silent Thief of Precious Commodities -- all are the diverse aspects of
one God.
As long as there are enough mortals worshipping an aspect of a God, that
God's essence can change to suit the aspect. The Midkemian Universe, to
keep balance, has its own restrictions on the nature of the Gods. A God
cannot change their nature: that being a God controls an aspect of reality
in the Midkemian Universe and cannot change that aspect or interact with
other universes where other Gods hold sway. Lims-Kragma cannot suddenly
become a Goddess of Fire, as this realm is controlled by Prandur. In the
process of trying to worship Lims-Kragma as a Goddess of nature, mortals
inexplicitly begin worshiping a different existing divine, even if they
do not realize it.
This is the nature of the Gods of Midkemia.
