Path Skills: Athletics, Survival
Virtues: Conscience and Duty
Scent of the Divine: Incense, with a low humming
Deva Motif
By chanting spells and undergoing austerities, one may create or become a miracle.
The yogás are disciplines that cultivate the liberation of the spirit and realization of the ultimate self through selfless action (kárma yóga), personal devotion to divinities (bhakti yóga) and the pursuit of understanding the divine (jñana yóga). With this Purview, the Devá and their Scions may acquire divine favor and blessings through the practice of these austerities and selfless service. Conveniently, the scriptures and epics in which the Devá feature are full of tales in which the reward of selfless service just happens to be, say, a bow that shoots nukes.
Deva Signature Purview: Yoga
This pivotal religious practice is a set or system of activities which unmake attachment, ego, and desire and elevate the self unto the divine. Yoga’s ultimate reward is unity with the Godhead and escape from life, death, and rebirth. Some seekers practice karma yoga, the yoga of selfless action, purifying themselves of any hope of recouping their efforts’ fruits in order to help others more perfectly. Some practice jnana yoga, the yoga of selfless meditation, dissociating from their own minds’ depredations and the misery of pain, desire, and misfortune. Some practice bhākti yoga, the yoga of ecstatic love and devotion to God, expressed through art, sex, or weirder things. Some practice two or all three.
Yoga Innate Power
Once per scene, when you act selflessly despite hardships in order to uphold a duty or serve someone else, you may allow another player to spend Momentum on an action without having to draw on one of their Virtues. Every point of Momentum they spend also adds another free die, as though they had the Virtuous Condition.
Deva, of South Asia
Duty vs. Conscience
Devá Scions must uphold the Duty expected of them by their society, religion, and pantheon, but cannot ignore when it conflicts with their individual Conscience. Like Arjuna, who balked at fighting his own kinsman, they must choose between doing their duty even when they know it is wrong or doing the right thing even when it’s a terrible idea.
PRINCIPAL MEMBERS
AGNI
AGNI
THE SACRIFICIAL FLAME OF KNOWLEDGE
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Aliases: Aggi, Jataveda, Kravyada, Abhimani, Atithi, Vaisvanara
Callings: Guardian, Liminal, Sage, Primeval
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Fire, Journeys, Prosperity, Water
SHIVA
SHIVA
THE DESTROYER
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Aliases: Lingam, Maheshvara, Nataraja, and 1,000 or so other names
Callings: Hunter, Lover, Sage, Destroyer
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Dance), Beasts (Monkeys), Chaos, Death, Deception, Fertility, Fire, Moon, Sky, Magic
VISHNU
VISHNU
THE PRESERVER
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Aliases: Jagannatha, Gorakh, Bichu-ten, and 1,000 or so other names
Callings: Guardian, Lover, Trickster, Shepherd
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Dance, Wind Instruments), Beauty, Deception, Order, Passion (Hope)
GANESHA
GANESHA
THE LORD OF OBSTACLES
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Aliases: Ganapati, Pillaiyar, Maha Peinne, Phra Phikanet, Kangiten, and 108 other names
Callings: Guardian, Liminal, Sage, Shepherd, Psychopomp
Purviews: Artistry (Dance, Writing), Beasts (Elephants), Chaos, Fortune, Journeys, Prosperity
DURGA
DURGA
THE MOTHER OF VICTORY
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Aliases: Adi Parashakti, Devi, Mahamaya
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Deception, Fertility, War
SARASVATI
SARASVATI
GODDESS OF ARTS AND LETTERS
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Aliases: Thurathadi, Benzaiten, Biancaitian
Callings: Creator, Healer, Sage
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Artistry, Health, Water
KALLIKANTZAROS
KALLIKANTZAROS
Purview: Wild
Virtues: Dominance, RapacityKALI
THE DARK MOTHER
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Aliases: Bhavatarini, Chamunda, Kaalratri
Callings: Guardian, Liminal, Warrior, Destroyer
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Dance), Chaos, Darkness, Death, Deception, Fire
KARTTIKEYA
KARTTIKEYA
FIELD MARSHAL OF THE GODS
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Aliases: Murugan, Skanda, Tamill Kadavull, Subrahmanya, Kataragama Deviyo
Callings: Leader, Sage, Warrior, Shepherd
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Beauty, Stars, War
LAKSHMI
LAKSHMI
GODDESS OF FORTUNE
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Aliases: Shri, Thirumagal, Vasudhara, Sita, Rukmini, Kisshoten
Callings: Judge, Leader, Lover
Purviews: Epic Strength, Beauty, Earth, Fertility, Fortune, Order, Passion (Joy, Love), Prosperity
PARVATI
PARVATI
GODDESS OF LOVE AND FERTILITY
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Aliases: Uma, Lalita, Sati, and 1,000 or so other names
Callings: Creator, Lover, Trickster
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Artistry (Dance), Beauty, Earth, Fertility, Frost, Passion (Devotion, Love)
INDRA
INDRA
THE STORM KING
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Aliases: Inthiran, Indera, Vrishan, Vritrahan, Devaraja, Vajrapani, Shakra, Sakka, Phra In, Dishitian, Taishakuten
Callings: Guardian, Leader, Warrior, Shepherd
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Beasts (Cattle), Fertility, Order, Wild, Sky, War
SURYA
SURYA
THE VIVIFYING SUN
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Aliases: Ravi, Bhanu, Savitr
Callings: Healer, Leader, Sage
Purviews: Epic Strength, Epic Dexterity, Fire, Health, Journeys, Stars, Sun
VARUNA
VARUNA
THE FACE OF THE WATERS
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Aliases: Baruna, Suiten
Callings: Guardian, Judge, Leader
Purviews: Epic Strength, Darkness, Fertility, Order, Sky, Sun, Water
YAMARAJA
YAMARAJA
THE KING OF DEATH
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Aliases: Imra, Yanluowang, Enma Dai-o, Yeomna Daewang, Shinje
Callings: Judge, Leader, Liminal
Purviews: Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Darkness, Death, Journeys, Order
VISHVAKARMAN
VISHVAKARMAN
DIVINE ARCHITECT
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Aliases: Bishukatsuma-ten, Brahmanaspathi, Tvastar
Callings: Creator, Guardian, Liminal
Purviews: Artistry (All), Beasts (Doves), Chaos, Forge,
Order, Prosperity
TITAN
BANASURA
BANASURA
THE THOUSAND–ARMED KING
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Aliases: Bana
Callings: Adversary, Guardian, Tyrant
Purviews: Deception, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Epic Strength, Order
RANGDA
RANGDA
THE WITCH–QUEEN OF BALI
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Aliases: Calon Arang, (controversially) Queen Mahendradatta
Callings: Guardian, Judge, Monster
Purviews: Death, Fertility, Health, Passion (Spite)
SAITA
SAITA
THE UNTOLD STORY
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Aliases: None
Callings: Adversary, Leader, Monster
Purviews: Artistry, Beauty, Deception, Earth, Epic Dexterity, Epic Stamina, Order, War
RAVANA
RAVANA
THE DEMON KING OF LANKA
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Purviews: Artistry or Epic Stamina, nobody’s quite sure which
Virtues: Dominance, Rapacity