Logos Benius (3.5e Pantheon)

Summary::The logos benius are the pantheon of "good" gods who control the world of Maya. They are worshiped at large by the populace as gods of civilization and benevolent activities.

The pantheon of the logos benius consist of the recognized "gods of good", and marked as separate from the tutelary nature gods in their protection over the intelligent and civilized races. They are seen as occasionally working together, but are otherwise worshiped as separate beings with only a vague power structure. First among them is Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun and King of the Gods, the one who often runs meetings between deities. And before him his father, the mysterious creator deity Hiranyagarbha, not well known among the mortals.

Logos benius and logos malius were once one, the first logos. However, war in heaven lead to the logos malius imprisonment and exile.

Unlike the "normal" D&D deity, the deities of both logos are not oft seen. In fact, it is said that no living man has ever seen them in person as they speak through illusion or messenger, or send their subordinates, the scions. Scions are former mortals who were given the grace of godhood and may be reborn if slain. They serve as the material hand of the gods on Maya. In spite of their non-appearance to the world, the logos benius are said to live high upon Mount Etemenanki whose peek rises high above ever-present clouds. It is forbidden land, holy land, and none who have trespassed there have ever returned.

History
In the beginning, the world was dark water, without sun or wind, and endless mist. In this ancient land the flow of time was distorted and confused. In its confusion was born a need for balance, and so the first mind, Hiranyagarbha, appeared and began to sort through the miasma. From its studies light was separated from shadow, the heavens split from water, and earth soon followed to fill the space between. Duality and disparity were created, and the world was formed, ending the Age of Mist. Satisfied, Hiranyagarbha desired to keep understanding the world that was before him. It breathed life onto the waters. From it life sprung, and from formless shapes came complex forms, the mightiest being the dragon.

Among all of nature, it was strong and terrifying. Its blood boiled with molten rock, its wings tore at the land with fierce wings, and its breath was long winter. The other forms of life shuttered in terror at the dragons and were subservient to them. Thus was known as the Age of Dragons. Hiranyagarbha saw the dragons and found them wanting, and so it created beings as unto itself, the Logos. 14 logos, each given dominion over the world, were born. They made war with the dragons and slew them, while the dragons pulled on the beasts loyal unto them into a war which enveloped the world. The dragons stole the secret of eternal life from the gods, and in return the gods smote them and sealed them away to live their immortal lives in prisons of divine fire. The beasts and creatures which fought along side the dragons were reduced to monsters and barbarians, and the threat was defeated.

With the dragons disposed, the logos proceeded to uplift their loyal living creatures, granting them the boons of civilization and knowledge, of machine, and of magic. Each god came upon mortalkind with a gift, and all was well. This was known as the Age of the Gods.

However, not all was well. As time passed, strife broke among the first logos. Arguments on how to run society broke out, and Hiranyagarbha was resting from a long creation. The logos split until logos benius and logos malius, and a second war broke out among them. The logos malius and their methods, once pure, began to degrade in their efforts to achieve victory until they were willing to win at any cost, and in doing so they lost their moral right to rule. At the end of the war, logos malius was defeated and exiled to the netherworld. The other gods saw the devastation of their fight, and agreed to retreat to Mount Etemenanki. They would live the holy Daoloth stones and the religious transcriptions to the mortals, and guide, not rule, them from afar. They trust mortalkind has the fortitude and morals to get along and follow the path of goodness and truth. So began the Age of Mortals.

To this day, logos benius is with us, waiting hidden upon their mountain. Their holy words shall being salvation and comfort to the world.

Deities of the Pantheon
These are the deities (and scions) of logos benius, gods of Maya, as well as Cosmic Egg Hiranyagarbha, first of the gods.