Rostillans and Viridians worship the "five true Gods":  Legis, Crescens, Dulcea, Bella, and Askelius.  Philosophers say that the Gods are ideals, personifications of divine qualities that men aspire towards.  Many commoners believe that the Gods are just big people who live in the sky.  The Gods never appear in the world, though their blessings are plain to see.

Rostillans believe that the Gods will bless men as long as men give them proper worship, following the due rites and rituals laid down in ancient times.  Since both Rostillans and Viridians perform some version of these rites, both are blessed.  Viridians, of course, turn everything on its head.  They insist that the first emperor of Viridia went to the Holy Mounds and forged a contract with the Gods (a precursor, they say, to the contract that St. Cavallius would create for the paladins).  Viridia, alone in all the world, secured blessings for men.  Rostillans reply, then why is Rostilla just as blessed as Viridia?  Rostilla has no foolish "contract".  Viridians respond that this is because Rostilla is properly a province of the Empire, and thus covered by Viridia's contract.

Theologians say that each God has many "faces."  Aspects or personalities, if you will, that are slightly different from their other faces.  Most people simply believe that the Gods have many titles;  Legis is Legis, no matter what you call him.  But the pontifices (priests) insist that Legis Pater (Legis the Father) is not exactly the same as Legis Iurisprudens (Legis Law-Giver).  Legis Iurisprudens is harshly, less compassionate, less loving.  The wise will consider these things closely, they say, when addressing their prayers.

In Rostilla, each of the Gods has "Mysteries", private rites and rituals which teach initiates to understand the deeper lore of the Gods, things too complex for simple believers.  These rites are often expensive, and so most Initiates come from the upper classes.  Generally speaking, the Mysteries are very popular amongst the clergy.  They increase piety and devotion, encourage support of the temples, and teach more complex theology.  There are some critics, however, who fuss that the Mysteries introduce heterodox rites and beliefs.  Plus there are many self-styled "Initiates" who lead highly irregular, even blasphemous "Mysteries".

Legis is, to most people, the head of the Pentad.  He is the Law-Giver, the Divine Father, the Eternal Sun, Oath-Keeper, Warden of Boundaries.  Legis is portrayed as a bearded, stern man, usually sitting upon a throne with a sceptre in his hand (the symbol of authority and rulership).  The world's existance depends upon him.  Law, order, and justice are his gifts.  He keeps the chaos of the Witch-Lights at bay.  Lands blessed by him prosper because all know their place.  Slaves, commoners, knights, lords... all show honor to their betters, and grace to those below them.  Legis is not the kindest of gods, though some of his faces are compassionate.  He is law, stern and unforgiving to wrongdoers.

Legis' holy days are the Festival of Doors on January 1st and Legis Day on June 25th.  The Festival of Doors celebrates Legis as the Warden of Boundaries.  Legis Day, the greatest holiday in both the Viridian and Rostillan calendars, is the day on which all vows and oaths of fealty are renewed.

Connections to other Gods:  Some radical theologians argue that Legis is a kinder face of the Dulsanian god, Reese.  Most priests believe this is foolish, however.  Reese is too capricious, too cruel to be any form of Legis.  Others suggest that Legis is the dwarvish god Kos -- a comparison that annoys every dwarf who hears it.  Finally a few say that Legis is another face of an obscure Altanian deity, the Sleeping God.  Critics complain that Legis and the Sleeping God have nothing in common;  one is the god of law, the other a patron of pleasant dreams and restful sleep.  The only "connection" is an odd similarity in holy symbols.  The Sleeping God's symbol is an up-raised hand with an eye in its palm.  Initiates of the Mysteries of Legis wear an up-raised hand with a pentagon in its palm.  (The normal holy symbol, for all the Pentad, is a pentagon.)  Most theologians believe this is nothing more than a coincidence.

Crescens (called Crescentia in Viridia) is the Grain Mother.  Many people call her the wife of Legis, though theologians insist the Gods are not human and do not marry as men do.  She is the Divine Mother, the Growing One, Queen of Delights, Blesser of Plows, the Spring of Fertility.  All that lives and grows owes its existance to her.  A land blessed by Crescens has green fields, herds of animals, and enormous families.  Crescens is usually portrayed as a laughing, happy woman, surrounded by children and young animals, wreathed with a garland of wheat ears.  She is one of the kindest gods, though even she can be angered.  When she is, she withholds the rains and children.

Crescens has two official holidays (Ambarvalis, the Blessing of Plows, on April 15th and the Harvest Festival, which falls around September 21st, depending when the harvest is in).  But her most popular celebration is an unofficial holiday, Veneralia, the Festival of the Green on May 1st.  Veneralia often turns into something of an orgy;  the official clergy therefore frown upon it, though most counts think it's harmless.

Connections to Other Gods:  Most theologians agree that Crescens is a more refined, cultured face of the Altanian goddess Hedonae, the Dancing Lady of Pleasure.  Indeed, Initiates of Crescens' Mysteries call her "Crescens the Dancer."  Some even keep Altanian holy symbols in Crescens' honor.  The few flakes and weirdos who compare Legis and Reese also say that Crescens is the same as the Dulsanian goddess the Weeping Woman, the bringer of rain.

Dulcea ("the Sweet One") is the most controversial deity of the Pentad.  In fact, Viridia has gone so far as to outlaw her worship (leaving Rostillans snickering at their neighbors who venerate a "Pentad" with four gods in it...).  Portrayed as a cowled, faceless woman (often accompanied by a large black dog), Dulcea is the goddess of vengeance and passion.  She is called the Witch Queen, the Faceless One, Mother Night, Moon-Walker, Avenger, the Blood-Stained, Mother of Curses.  Dulcea is cruel and malign.  The souls of the damned are given to her keeping, and she punishes them in the Outer Darkness for all of eternity.  Dulcea doesn't bless lands... or anything else for that matter.  She curses.  Some would say that we give her sacrifice not to ask for favor but to avert her wrath.

Many would ask, why is such a being worshipped?  Paladins swear to honor the Pentad and must eschew evil.  Yet if Dulcea is part of the Pentad, and is evil (which all admit)... does this not create an insurmountable paradox?

One hundred years ago, Viridia decided that that logic was too powerful.  The Emperor declared Dulcea a demoness and forbade her worhip.  Paladins are technically Viridian knights and therefore they are no longer forced to honor Dulcea.  Rostilla has maintained the older, more traditional explanation.  We worship Dulcea, the theologians say, because we have to.  She is part of the Pentad and a goddess;  she is due honor.  She is Legis' dark sister.  When law fails, there is no place else to turn except to vengeance.  If good is too weak, a darker path may still prevail.

Dulcea enjoys her greatest popularity amongst the common folk.  The other gods are very formal.  They require rites, and rituals, and sacrifices.  If you want your prayers to be heard, you must perform the rites perfectly.  Any mistake, any slip, and all is for naught.  Dulcea, in contrast, is said to hear anyone who screams their pain to the moon.

Dulcea has two official holidays.  The first is a minor holiday, the Day of Blood (November 15th), when animals are slaughtered before winter sets in.  The second is Mother-Night (December 28th), second only to Legis Day amongst the holidays.  In addition, the dark of the moon (the first of each month) is considered blessed by Dulcea.

Connections to Other Gods:  Dulcea is more frequently compared to demons than to gods.  However all agree that Dulcea is the same as the Drow goddess Tacita (the Silent One).  Even the Drow admit this (though they believe humans do not truly understand their own goddess).  When the Drow went to war against the Illythid, the elvish gods would not grant them the power they desired.  And so they abandoned them and turned to a human goddess:  Dulcea/Tacita.  Dulcea's Mysteries promise that they will allow Initiates to finally see the Faceless One's true visage.  However the party has uncovered evidence that Dulcea's Mysteries have become tainted with the worship of a demon called Lil, Strangler of Babies.

Bella (Bellona in Viridia) is the goddess of war.  Sword-Dancer, Shield-Maiden, Aegis of Hosts, Conqueror.  She is normally portrayed as a beautiful woman wearing a breastplate, with a spear or sword and a tower shield.  Bella grants victory in battle.  Peace is her gift.  Lands blessed by Bella are safe, because they are strong enough to defend themselves.  Those she curses fall beneath the swords of other lands.  They say that the doors of the great Temple of Bella in Rostilla open of their own accord when the country is at war, and will not close until peace is won.

Bella is something of a contradiction.  On the one hand, her statues are almost invariably pretty.  Cute, sweet, smiling... she looks like a soldier's paramour, not a warrior.  Most consider her a kind and protective goddess.  Yet theologians insist that many of her faces are bloody and cruel;  in traditional drawings of the Pentad, she stands at Dulcea's right hand.  War's true face is too horrible to bear, they say, and so we clothe her in pretty dresses and paint a smile upon her lips.

Bella's holidays mark the opening and the close of the campaign season.  Bellatorius (March 25th) is when new recruits join the army;  the bloody rites of Equestria (October 25th) crown the traditional end of warring, as winter approaches.

Connections to Other Gods:  Other people have gods of war.  But since most are gods, not goddesses, they don't usually get compared to Bella.  (Philosophers see the gods as concepts and ideals;  most people, however, would be very upset by the suggestion that Bella was "really" a god in a dress.)  The Mysteries of Bella are popular amongst soldiers, but not the nobility;  they're one of the few Mysteries available to the poor.

Askelius is the Lord of the Dead.  Yet paradoxically, he is also the god of healing and wine.  He is called Guide of Souls, the Drunken God, Healer, Fever's Balm, Snake-Wielder.  He is portrayed as a smiling young man in grey robes;  he either has serpents wrapped around his wrists or holds a snake-wreathed staff.  While the wicked are handed over to Dulcea after death, Askelius guides the just to the Elysian Fields.  He chooses who will live and who will die;  if he holds back his hand, a man will recover no matter how grievous his wounds.  Lands blessed by Askleius are free of plague and ghosts -- for Askelius hates the undead.

Rostillans and Viridians believe that burial rites make a great difference to the dead.  When a person dies, their relatives place a coin in their hands (a gift for Askelius).  Priests pray for Askelius to guide the soul to its eternal home;  without these prayers, there is a danger that Askelius will not find the soul, and it will wander as a ghost.  Then, the body must be buried with proper ritual as well.  Rostillans and Viridians teach that the quality of a man's tomb affects the quality of his home in the Afterlife.  Paupers are tossed in charnal pits and doome to wander naked and cold through all time.  The poor are cremated and buried in urns full of wine and food;  this assures that they will not hunger in the Beyond.  Buying a tomb grants you a house in the Afterlife;  the grander your tomb is, the greater your spiritual home.  Nobles generally bury their dead in marble mausoleums in their estates, tombs that have seen countless generations of dead buried in them.

Askelius' two holidays are the Feast of Purification (February 2nd) which protects the kingdom from plague, and the Parentalia of February 15th.  Parentalia honors the blessed dead.  Families share a meal with their lost loved ones, creating binding ties between the dead and the living.

Connections to Other Gods:  Askelius' spheres, healing and death, are such an odd combination that few other gods are compared to him.  Pazzur, the Dulsanian god of plagues, is sometimes considered a malign face of Askelius.