DEITIES : WORLDGODS
Worldgods are deistic beings who are considered to have been the first true gods in Nym. Long ago during the Primordial Times, the Aithereal First Spirits elevated and empowered many of the first Primordials into becoming Worldgods; giving them sentience and power, suited to fight against the rise of the Elemental Titans of the time. After the arrival of the Creators and the defeat of the Elemental Titans, many Worldgods would slumber, travel to the deepest reaches of the Underneaths, or assist the newly born Kith and Kin.
Ever since the Creators arrived in Nym, many Worldgods have since disappeared or died; leaving only a few still living in hidden corners of the world. Worldgods and Creators generally don't like each other because of the events of the War of Eternity, when Creators almost destroyed the world, and the Worldgods tried to actively stop their war. Creators also took most of the Worldgods' worshippers away from them; effectively weakening their position of power in Nym.
A Worldgod is defined as a deistic being who was born of this world, and they were all once Primordial creatures. As Primordial creatures, they don't need worshippers to use any of their godlike abilities, and instead depend on Primordial Aether. Worshippers might help them in various ways, but not through common prayer or belief. Instead worshippers of Worldgods are expected to perform more active tasks, like providing assistance or sacrifices. In the case of Wildgods, the Wildpact is used to tie worshippers into a form of loose but willing servitude, and is essential in the ritual of Wildgod rebirth.
The Worldgods are typically allies of the World Spirits and the Kal'Mar; the two having often fought alongside each other, or helped each other in times of need. There is a noticeable synergy and friendship between Worldgods and most spirits, as both more or less live to see the world thrive and grow, without what they see as unnecessary intervention of outsider gods, like the Creators.
There are many different kinds of Worldgods, such as Wildgods, Earthen Gods, Spiritgods, and similar beings who are considered Nymborn gods. Many of them have lived in the world since around its forming, and it was one of their kind that sparked the creation of the Mortal Soul, and thus the birth and evolution of Nym's many different native Kith and Kin and animal creatures.
The Kal'Mar
The Kal'Mar is the spiritual embodiment and extension of Tariel. What this means specifically, isn't entirely known. It is believed that when Tariel created Solitude and merged themself with the Solstree, they also became one with the Worldsoul. This union is what the Kal'Mar is; Tariel's spiritual form.
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This form is a sort of bridge that connects the Creators to the many spirits of Nym, though the bridge is fairly shaky. At best it allows Creators to at least begin communication with the various spirits, like the Aithereal, though only a few Creators, like Shaar, Akama, and Malendii, are capable of achieving anything through such interactions, and even then it is quite difficult for them.
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The Kal'Mar granted power to the depleted Wildgods and Earthen Gods after the War of Titans, and in return those Worldgods vowed to remain as Nym's closest Guardians. Other than this, it is unknown what purpose or motives the Kal'Mar has. They are mysterious in their ways, as they remain entirely imperceivable through most physical or even magical means.
It is said the Kal'Mar is possibly the embodiment of all Aether in the world, or maybe they're the flowing Aether of the Worldsoul. Most believe the Kal'Mar is the Greater Spirit of the natural lands throughout all of Nym. The Kal'Mar is the sway of the wind, the flow of rivers, the rumbling of the earth, the ebbing waves and sounds of rising day and falling night. They are the warmth and coldness, the darkness and light, the Aether of all things in Nym.
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While Tariel is said to be the Kal'Mar, at the same time they aren't. Tariel is without doubt the physical and Creator form of themself, whilst the Kal'Mar is their spirit, but at the same time they aren't quite the same being. Most agree that they are entirely separate beings, despite their connection to each other.
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Shamans and druids often commune with the lands via the Kal'Mar, as the Kal'Mar is mainly a spirit themself. Most spirits are considered the allies of the Kal'Mar, and by extension so are all the things controlled and guarded by spirits.
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But trying to commune with the Kal'Mar is said to be difficult, as it isn't possible to communicate with them through simple words, and their intentions are spiritually depicted through emotions or vague dreams or imaged metaphors. In that sense the Kal'Mar is very similar to spirits, who also don't communicate through traditional means, especially when it comes to interacting with mortals.
Wildgods
When the Elemental Titans rose to power on Nym, the Aithereal Spirits reached out to the Primordials. Those of the Primordials who possessed more wisdom and intelligence than their fellow Primordials were given power by the greatest of the Aithereals, and through their uplifting they became either Earthen Gods or Wildgods. With their aid the Aithereals hoped to defeat the Elemental Titans, which they eventually did once the Creators arrived.
The Wildgods are the closest descendants of animal Primordials, and they themselves take the form of various animals in the world. There are many Wildgods; the most powerful being constant reincarnations of Wolf, Bear, Lion, Stag, Tiger, Eagle, Snake and Boar gods. Together they are the Last Guardians of Nym, charged by the Kal'Mar to protect their world from all who would do it harm, and forever maintain the Natural Balance.
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After the War of Titans and the creation of Solitude, the Kal'Mar approached the Wildgods. Unlike the Creators, the Wildgods had weakened significantly during the war, as their powers were sapped and spent. The Kal'Mar granted them renewed power directly from the Worldsoul, and in exchange, the Kal'Mar bade the Wildgods to remain the Guardians of Nym, and cooperate with the Creators in healing the world, though the latter wouldn't last after the War of Eternity.
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Given new powers, the Wildgod Zirche, the Phoenix Mother, would create the Mortal Soul, which gave life to creatures that would evolve into the first mortal Kith, known as the Scions. It is believed that Zirche orchestrated the creation of the Kith and Kin to help in protecting and healing the lands of Nym. Over time the Wildgods would guide and watch over the other Kith and Kin that evolved from the Mortal Soul, like the Wildkith, who were the first to join the Wildgods' Wildpact.
Through something called the Wildpact, a Wildgod who dies is reborn as a new Wildgod from its most powerful servant; when the Wildgod's soul and spirit merges with that of its servant. This way there is always a Wildgod present to protect the world, for as long as the Wildpact still remains. But ever since the Creators arrived in Nym, the Wildpact has been slowly declining among the different Kith and Kin of the world.
The Wildgods have grown more distant in their interactions with the mortal Kith, as many of the Kith have evolved to become independent and without the need of the Wildgods' guidance, and simply forgot them. The ever-growing influence of the Creators also turned many of the Kith and Kin to worship them instead of the Wildgods.
This has created a noticeable strain between many of the Wildgods and the Creators, and especially since many Wildgods view the Creators with disdain due to the events of the War of Eternity. In fact, the Wildgod Zirche was so intent on preventing another War of Eternity, that she sacrificed her own soul by merging it and the Mortal Soul with the Worldsoul, to ensure that all life became mortal on Nym, including that of gods, such as the Creators. Wildgods circumvent this mortal weakness through the Wildpact and rebirth, though their numbers have still lessened over the many centuries.
But even so, the Wildgods still exist and guard Nym, just not necessarily in the daily lives of the majority of Kith and Kin any more. Many are believed to be hibernating in the wild and remote corners of the world, while some are still present in distant Wildkith and Scion communities. Throughout history, Wildgods have disappeared and appeared again over and over several times; often returning from wherever they are hiding to assist the lands and Kith of Nym in their time of need.
Earthen Gods
After the Elemental Titans' rise to power, the Aithereals reached out to the wisest and most intelligent Primordials, who they elevated to Wildgods and Earthen Gods. The Earthen Gods were former Stonegaerm Primordials; creatures made of earth and stone and fire, who had shaped the ancient mountains, or even become those mountains. Through their merging with Aithereals, they became powerful beings of immense physical strength.
The most powerful of the Stonegaerm became the Earthen Gods, and over time they developed flesh instead of stone, yet some remained rock-bodied. Of the forces that fought the Elemental Titans, the Earthen Gods were always the ones who were at the the forefront, and many would be consumed by the Titans until the arrival of the Creators, and the end of the War of Titans.
Very few Earthen Gods remain in the world, and no one has truly seen one in many ages, outside of those wandering few found in the Gigantic Lands in Norne. The majority of Earthen Gods went underground, where they guard the Worldsoul, and after the War of Eternity they would also end up guarding the Creator Gaerdras; a promise they made to the Creators; a last favour for the Creators having aided in defeating the Elemental Titans during the War of Titans.
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Those who didn't go underground are said to have entered a slumber and become mountains, although which mountains specifically is unclear and only a few are known. Sometimes certain mountains seem to spawn rich veins of valuable minerals at will, and tribal cultures see this as a sign of an Earthen God's presence. Some Earthborn cultures worship certain mountains that are strong in natural Aether, and tell tales of how their people once spawned from these mountains.
These are ancient stories, but Kith who are of the Earthborn trace their origins to the Earthen Gods, and the likelihood that their people originally came from these ancient mountains, or even from the Earthen Gods of the Under-Realms, is not entirely unbelievable.
Various tribal cultures, like orcish, trollish, goblin or the general Folc worship the Earthen Gods; making long pilgrimages to various mountains said to be sleeping Earthen Gods. The Earthen Wake, a shamanistic order of shamans from various races, tribes, and clans, directly assist in maintaining the safety of these mountains; travelling the lands, communicating with the spirits of these mountains, and teaching the many peoples of the gifts and powers of the Earthen Gods.
Godspirits
Beings known as Godspirits are Worldgods who are related to Wildgods, but often much smaller and less powerful. Most Godspirits serve or used to serve the various Wildgods, and would tend to the Wildgods' domains when they were gone. But since Wildgods are often hibernating to preserve and gather Aether, Godspirits are often left to their own devices.
Godspirits are born from World Spirits or Wyld Spirits, who usually imitate the appearances of animals; only more ethereal or spiritual in nature. Unlike the greater Worldgods, Godspirits are not considered to have originated from Primordials, and instead they are usually made from spirits of the land (like the World Spirits and Wyld Spirits), when the Wildgods infuse them with their own power to elevate them. These empowered Godspirits will then assist their Wildgod masters directly or indirectly, and particularly strong and loyal Godspirits will eventually become the new bodies of their masters, when a Wildgod is due a rebirth.
Those of the Godspirits who don't serve a Wildgod can be found tending to their own packs or broods; typically in distant, wild places of the world, like ancient forests, deep caves, or hidden mountain peaks. Otherwise those who still serve their Wildgod masters can be found guarding a Wildgod's lair, or performing other tasks that assist the Wildgod in its duty to protect the world's natural lands, or to help in maintaining the Wildpact.
Various Godspirits include phoenixes, wyldstags, spirit wolves, saberbeasts, and other similar animal-like creatures. While they might appear as beasts, if not a little spirit-like in appearance, the Godspirits are considerably more intelligent and powerful. Some might possess speech, often through telepathic means, or they might possess certain deistic abilities that empathize their godlike nature.
Druids and shamans often interact with or communicate with Godspirits; as a means of maintaining a connection to the Wildgods, who are more elusive in comparison to Godspirits. Sometimes Godspirits will amass around Nymshards found in the wild, or they will gather in other places where spiritual energy is strong. They have also been known to mobilize in hostile force against various settlements; who often encroach upon and threaten the local lands and forests, and upset the natural balance.
Godspirits, either those who serve Wildgods or those who serve themselves, hold little tolerance for the civilized Kith and their machines, cities, and other modern aspects. Anything that threatens the home of the Godspirits is considered an enemy, and these protectors of the lands will make use of nature itself to defend their territories, as well as protect those animals and races who depend on them.
Malendii is one of few Creators who remain a ally to Godspirits, as she employs several different Godspirits to help protect her Wyldtress on the Nym planet, and she has been known to be a mother of sorts to them, when the Wildgods weren't there to watch over them or guide them. On the other hand, most Godspirits mistrust the Creators, just like some of their Wildgod masters do, and so they often have no allies but themselves.
Godspirits might sometimes reach out to the animals of their local lands, and gather them to help protect Godspirit lairs, or use them as warriors in their wars against the incursions of invasive civilizations.