Sanctuary Religion

Sanctuary has been accused of suffering from "a surfeit of old gods", the inhabitants seemly unwilling to give up venerating gods that have not even been referred to in the greater Western Kingdom for generations, alongside more current deities and powers. Whether this is from respect, some hidden understanding, or just hedging their bets against their unlikely return is hard to discern, but the position of being trading port for ports all over the known world for over 500 years has left it with a very rich and contradictory religious life. At the apex of this contradiction, Molin Torchholder is both the representative of the Unified Church of Light and the head priest of the cult of Berith: the Savage Duke. His appointment is seen as a acknowledgement that to effectively implement the traditional response to such flagrant heresy would deprive Ranke of a sea-port, and most likely, much of its coast-line. In the words of one Rankan theologian "If one were to sunder hell itself, where would all the sinners go then?"

Cults

• Bael - a small cult supported by Samlor.
• Berith - the patron god of Sanctuary. His violence, subtle voice, knowledge of past and future, and ability to turn all to gold make him a common patron in Sanctuary. Having Molin Torchholder as head priest hasn't hurt either. The recent loss of Tempus's authority is a sign that his time is passing.
• Gremory - she has the best and most popular services at her temple.
• Gusion - strongly promoted by Hazroah, this cult of wisdom is on the rise.
• Labolas - a traditional favourite, if discreetly worshiped.
• Malphas - deception is surprisingly popular in Sanctuary.
• Michael - a new trend. Many Rankenes prefer Michael over the demons. Many locals prefer not to be put to the sword.
• Odin - this one is more for the northern sailors.
• Sammael - the redeemed mage is worshiped by a select but powerful few.
• Seir - adventure, thievery, stolen goods. For Seir, Sanctuary is a holiday resort.
• Uriel - there is a lot of work for Uriel in Sanctuary, although Rashan isn't helping the cause of Justice.
• Valefor - The Duke of Thieves has a surprisingly small congregation - perhaps Arbalest isn't the priest he thinks he is.
• a truly surprising number of various fire cults.

Old Gods

• Ayzuna - The Betrayer. She is worshipped only by desperate men who find no other aid. Azyuna seeks to sleep with mortals, and then betrays her lovers to Vashanka.
• Dyareela - the Goddess of Blood and Lust, the waiting goddess, the bringer of deserts, the soul of entropy, the great dark. Dyareela has two aspects. The first is wanton debauchery; the second is consumption and death. Above all else, Dyareela consumes, corrupts, and perverts.
• Eshi - the Goddess of Love & Passion, Eshi's shrines exist in every brothel and cathouse in Sanctuary and the amorous whisper her a prayer to assist them in their endeavors.
• Ils - the chief God of the old pantheon. Ils is dubbed Lord of a Thousand Eyes, and presides over knowledge and wisdoms. In Sanctuary, those having a reputation for gathering rumours and secrets are still described as having "more eyes than Ils".
• Shipri - All-Mother, Ils' wife and co-ruler. Shipri is a fertility goddess. She is also the goddess of healing and of family.
• Vashanka - this Ilsigi God of storms and war is still worshipped by some locals. He is a god of violence and war. That which he touches causes death and destruction. Vashanka is a limited god, for anything he does must be violent. He cannot make love, only rape; he cannot harvest, only pillage; he does not rest. He is an ideal god for war but impossible god for peace.