The Pantheon
Faenos, Morphaeos, Aethiros, and Erebos are gods of immense power, each with their own distinct sphere of influence. Mortals have tried for centuries to understand them and their motivations, but ultimately, the gods remain beyond mortal comprehension.
Faenos, the god of creation, destruction, life, and chaos, is a force to be reckoned with. Some mortals interpret his influence as a call to create, innovate, and explore new horizons. Others view him as a destructive force, whose influence is responsible for war, famine, and destruction.
Morphaeos, the god of darkness, dreams, art, and inspiration, is a fascinating figure. Mortals interpret his influence in many ways, from a muse inspiring great works of art to a harbinger of nightmares and fear. Morphaeos is a deity that brings out the deepest emotions in mortals, leading to both great beauty and great terror.
Aethiros, the god of light, heat, industry, and pride, is a god that is often worshipped by those seeking success in their lives. Some mortals view his influence as a call to industry, to work hard and achieve great things. Others may view him as a god of vanity and pride, whose influence leads to arrogance and a sense of superiority over others.
Erebos, the god of death, stillness, peace, and liberation, is a figure that mortals often fear and avoid. However, his influence is not necessarily evil, despite its association with death. Some mortals interpret his influence as a call for stillness, to rest and reflect on one's life. Others view him as a liberator, freeing souls from the cycle of life and death.
However, mortal interpretations of these gods can be misguided or even dangerous. For example, a cult that interprets Faenos' influence as a call to destroy everything in their path, even innocent lives, would use their gods name to commit terrible acts. Similarly, a society that views Aethiros' influence as a call for extreme individualism, without regard for the well-being of others, can lead to societal unrest and inequality.
The gods themselves do not care about mortal interpretations of their influence, nor do they actively seek the worship of mortals. They exist on a plane beyond mortal comprehension, their motivations and nature beyond mortal understanding. The people's understanding of them is limited by their own biases and cultural context, leading to vastly different interpretations and forms of worship.
Ultimately, the concepts of good and evil are not attributed to the gods themselves, but to mortal actions and interpretations, as well as the potential harm that can arise from misinterpretation and misguided worship.
Associated Religions
While these gods do not directly observe or seem to care about the lives of mortals, worshipers who seek boons, signs, or judgement from them are occasionally rewarded. Whether these rewards for their servitude are granted by the Old Gods themselves, by powerful otherworldly servants of them, or whether they're just misinterpreted mundane coincidences is unknown.
In the Empire of Aarden, the dominant religious force in the Empire is the Church of the Creator - a monotheistic faith that rose to power over the nation after the bloody events of the Reclamation, when competing belief systems and religions were silenced in a bloody intra-national religious war. Whether "The Creator" as he is known in their faith refers to Faenos or any of the other gods of the pantheon is uncertain; however it's unlikely any of the Tenets of Nostor or other religious texts or teachings were handed down from on high as they're purported to have been.
In Xulthraxis, the Arcanists were well aware of the Old Gods and of their complete indifference to the lives of mortals. As such, over millennia even those dwelling within the surface nations of Gosusia have become aware of the greater Pantheon, and many churches espousing devotion to one god or another are fairly common - though their interpretations of their Patrons will may vary from place to place based on the intentions or beliefs of the church in question's foundation.