Greater Beings (Rift Magic Patrons)

Greater Beings and Rift Magic

Rift magic is the innate manipulation of the world via “magical”shifts in time and space. This power is exceptionally rare and can only be achieved through dedicated study and the greater alteration of a player’s self. Separate from Ascension, the ability to engage in Rift Magic (even on the most basic level that players may attain from the cred book) is a direct result of being altered by a “greater being”. To work Rift magic, you need to call upon your patron's Rift using their name, or in the case of the Quartet you may choose between their name or their title. Each greater being also has simple iconography associated with them.

Greater Beings, that is innate planar manipulators, are viewed as gods, demons, or similar mythological creatures within the world of Ascended Terra, and may not fit neatly into one category or another. While mortal morality does not truly apply to Greater Beings, those that amass large followings are considered mostly benevolent by mortal standards while existing completely outside any concept of good or evil. They simply are.


The Quartet

The four most powerful of these Greater Beings are androgynous (thus playable by any storyteller with permission) and are as follows:

Naeth the Shaman - God? Dragon?
Patron of Primal Magic, Sustainability and Harmony
Symbol: A leaf on a blue circle
If Naeth the Shaman is your patron, your incant would be "By Naeth's rift, I…" or “By The Shaman’s rift, I…”
Said to be a shape-shifting reptilian with wood-patterned scales and mossy hair, Naeth is usually depicted as a four-armed bipedal being with features similar to a skink. Idealizing balance between nature and society, Naeth teaches sustainable living and favours Primal magic. Naeth is said to have healed the land after the world’s rebirth, calling both plants and animals back from memory to multiply. Naeth’s teachings are at the core of Sei diplomacy.

Aechus the Keeper - Aetheric God
Patron of Aetheric Magic, Time and Spontaneity
Symbol: A grouping of 5 stars. Often shown as one larger star surrounded by 4 smaller stars symbolizing the authority of the passage of time and the 4 aethers.
If Aechus the Keeper is your patron, your incant would be "By Aechus' Rift, I…" or  “By The Keeper’s rift, I…”
Best described as a being of darkness and starlight, Aechus is both the balance and combination of the aethers, of light and dark, and apparent keeper of time viewing all possibilities simultaneously. Idealizing spontaneity, Aechus’ followers seem to live in the moment (though are not necessarily careless) and favour Aetheric magic. Aechus is said to have balanced the aethers after the world’s rebirth, extinguishing the fires and cooling the sea. The Keeper’s children understand that our perception of time is merely where the boundless ebb and flow of the aethers intersects with the limited senses of the non-aetheric, and thus are willing to trust in powers beyond their ken.

B’Gath the Teacher - God? Demon?
Patron of Spirit Magic, Knowledge, History and Morality
Symbol: A book surrounded by a halo of light
If B’Gath the Teacher is your patron, your incant would be “By B’Gath’s rift, I…” or "By The Teacher's rift, I…"
A skull suspended in a body of white ash and garbed in black linen, B’Gath the Teacher entered the world through the bowels of the Ketski Necropolis and is rumoured to have taught the first Spirit wielders their craft. Only appearing in the twilight before dawn or just following dusk, B’Gath is above all a patient and kind teacher. Idealizing the quest for knowledge, B’Gathi adherents must balance their thirst for knowledge with the moral applications of it. After all, to be kind is not necessarily to be nice, and knowledge is power. Whether or not that power corrupts, is a B’Gathi’s true test.

Liamspeare the Bard- God
Patron of Augmentation Magic, Tact and Practicality
Symbol: Drama masks, representing comedy and tragedy
If Liamspeare the Bard is your patron, your incant would be "By Liamspeare’s Rift, I…" or “By The Bard’s rift, I…”
The youngest of the Quartet, Liamspeare assumed the Mantle of Augment after overthrowing the previous Master of Augment in 1480 NE. Usually depicted as a mature Surface Dweller Gen in minstrel’s garb and tattered cloak with masks on both face and crown; Liamspeare is rumoured to have two or more faces which depict each view of every situation. Reflective, charming and cunning, Liamspeare teaches their followers to consider every decision carefully without letting on their true feelings until their decision is made. Subterfuge and deception are just as powerful as candor; it is up to the Bardling to determine which is more useful to achieve their goals. Favouring Augment magic, Bardlings lean towards a more pragmatic, and often materialistic, world view.

The Myriad
Other greater beings who have amassed significant followings, but may not be globally known or as powerful as the Quartet. The following are the most popular, but others with small followings may exist:

Argo’Lest - The Great Sea Serpent - Coral Dragon
Patron of Sailors, Fishers and Pirates
Symbol: An anchor, often encircled by rope.
If Argo’Lest is your patron, your incant would be "By Argo’Lest’s Rift, I…"
Centuries old and said to control the waves and tides, Argo’Lest is both revered and feared by those who live on or near the sea and rivers.  Argo’Lest represents the nature of the sea, both in its untamed nature but the bountiful harvest it brings to those who place faith in it.  The Sea gives and takes, it is both calm and a raging storm.  The Argos tend to the sea and those who sail upon it. The sea embodies the dynamic nature of their patron, both able to fill with passion while also being able to provide for others.  While a dragon, it is said that Argo’Lest also takes the form of a swashbuckling peach-scaled Seafolk with long blue hair, and the occasional barnacle. ((Archetype: The Privateer))  

Adleria - The Wandering Albatross - Aether? Extraplanar?
Patron of Travelers, Merchants and Nomads
Symbol: An albatross, usually depicting above a winding road in tapestries.
If Adleria is your patron, your incant would be "By Adleria ’s Rift, I…"
Adleria is the one that flies high and watches over any who travel by land or air.  Freedom of movement and autonomy are the central message of the winged protector.  Freedom is an absolute concept for Adleria meaning both that no one should hold anything over you, but also that no one owes you anything.  To be free means mastery of one's life, and that no one is responsible for one's life but oneself.  Personal responsibility, resourcefulness, and the promotion and preservation of such for others is often seen as the duty of the faithful.  Adleria has been rumoured to appear as a monstrously large albatross with blue tipped feathers or several motes of glowing down feathers in the shape of a person. ((Archetype: The free Ranger))

Aurelius - Champion of the Sun - Titan
Patron of Warriors and Honourable Competition
Symbol: A shield emblazoned with a sun.
If Aurelius is your patron, your incant would be "By Aurelius’ Rift, I…"
To seek valour, honour and victory,  Aurons follow in the footsteps of the greatest fighter and leader of men.  Legend has it that Aurelius slew great beasts, withstood storms, and bested the dragon Regaset, Lord of the Angel’s Graveyard, the channel running between Angelus and the mainland.  To fight is an opportunity to win honour, to impact the world around you.  When one fights one should seek victory, to defeat one's enemy but also to do so by strength of arms and one's own power and not by duplicity.  To this goal, one should train one’s body and mind to make oneself perfect, golden.   To be garbed in a golden cape or to bear the sun on one's shield is to stand by the oath that one will always fight with honour, to show valour, and to respect victory.  Aurelius takes the form of an armoured Titan when among mortals, and can be seen leading battles or hunts with sword and shield. ((Archetype: the hero))

Dashet - The Daring Raccoon - Shifter
Patron of Scavengers, Survivalists, and Treasure  hunters
Symbol: An open padlock
If Dashet is your patron, your incant would be "By Dashet’s Rift, I…"
Dashet’s followers -Dashers- believe nothing should go to waste and that adaptation is key. A faithful Dasher seeks out long lost treasures, especially those that pose a challenge to surmount. No treasure is safe to Dashet and anyone’s trash may be Dashet's treasure. Washing hands is also an act of worship to a Dasher. Dashet is rumored to appear as a Shifter dressed in grey with a raccoon-like pattern to their skin. ((Archetype: The Rogue))


Divero - The Cunning Monk - Emerald Dragon
Patron of Order, Tactics and Discipline
Symbol: A chess piece. Any piece will do, however Divero's sanctum uses a dark green king over a pale green and white maze.
If Divero is your patron, your incant would be "By Divero’s Rift, I…"
Divero believes in the perfection and mastery of one’s will and over others.  It is said Divero is said to be a perfect Strategist and possesses cunning that allows him to predict and manipulate the moves of others.  Diverites seek first to bring order to themselves then bring order to the world around them, be that thought leadership or force.  The keeping of a perfect garden as a shrine is often seen as both devotion and practice of the ideals, barring this meditation is often practiced. Divero has been described as a massive green scaled dragon, but apparently has also appeared as a Gobkin with facial horns. ((Archetype: The monk))

Marish - The Green Doctor - Fae  
Patron of Healers, Caregivers and of the Innocent
Symbol: A set of deer antlers, often guarding a chemist's flask
If Marish is your patron, your incant would be "By Marish’s  Rift, I…"
Presenting as a gold-freckled Fae with antlers when near among mortals, Marish encourages those around them to think of others and to care for those who are unable to care for themselves.  Marish watches over others and gifts the inspiration to new cures and healing to those who seek to give of themselves.  Building hospitals and philanthropic research are her favoured forms of worship.  ((Archetype: the healer))

Sangin - The Bloody Matchmaker - Dhampyr
Patron of Oracles, Matchmakers and Familial Love
Symbol: A drop of blood
If Sangin is your patron, your incant would be "By Sangin’s Rift, I…"
Presenting as a well-dressed Dhampyr wearing a veil, Sangin is most likely to appear at mortal weddings or festivals within the Necropolis. To Sangin, blood is what binds people together and is the foundation of family. Blood brings people together under both common cause and common understanding, and Sangin demands that their adherents treat others as they wish to be treated, or with compassion. In marriage ceremonies, adoption rites and gang pacts the world over, small amounts of blood are exchanged to symbolize the sacred act of becoming one family. This rite is done with utmost care and must be done with full consent of all participants (even children) leading to most orphans being fostered until they are teenagers. Sanginites also believe that sentience is a gift of the divine, therefore the blood of sentients may give insight into the divine and the wider world. Small offerings of blood are often used for divination purposes or (good) luck charms, etc. Many Sanginites cover their face in mimicry of Sangin and to symbolize it is not about them but the family.  Sangin’s priests have found their way into many governments as neutral, advising Oracles.  ((Archetype: The Oracle))

The Inventor - Chief Horologist - Demonic? Extraplanar?
Patron of Craftsmen, Tinkerers and Invention
Symbol: Two or more interlocking gears. Larger tapestries also include clock and quartz motifs.
If The Inventor is your patron, your incant would be "By The Inventor’s Rift, I…"
The Inventor encourages technological and magical exploration and the union of these trades. A telepathic blue-skinned crystalline being with a tentacled face, The Inventor is said to have given the knowledge to the Clock Makers guild to make sentient automata, called Clockforged.  Their followers are called to be masters of their craft and continually strive for new discoveries. They have a love-hate relationship with Dashers, often using them to gather new materials while trying to protect their new inventions from being taken in service of the Dashing Raccoon. ((Archetype: The Tinkerer))