[Greyhawk] Four Oeridian Deities

This post presents the deities as if they existed in a (pseudo-)historical context where people's understanding of them might have changed and evolved with time. Obviously, Greyhawk presents a world where gods are demonstrably real. I don't think that precludes the approach I take here, but it may not fit every readers' conception of how the gods interact with the world.

Pholtus

Pholtus seems to have originally been a solar god or dawn god. Likely coincident with the development of Aerdian Nomism, Pholtus came to be seen as primeval deity who "brought forth the light" of Law, separating Order from Chaos and giving birth to the universe. 

Despite this important mythological role, Pholtus is seldom directly worshipped in the current era, with Pale is an exception.

Hieroneous and Hextor

Two of the best-attested tribal Oeridian deities, the two are an example of the Divine Twin motif. Many folk tales are legends are told about them. They are as popular among the common people as the hero gods.  Hextor represents the brutal side of war: destruction, bloodlust, and brutality. These traits might suggest he is more Chaotic than Lawful, but in the Oeridian mind, his actions are traits are a contingent and circumscribed chaos, only unleashed in service of Law. In fact, some Oeridian theologians argue that his actions are Lawful at their core, representing expression of the primal Law of Battle. In the modern era, Hextor has come to represent Law at its most obdurate and brutal, and so tyranny has been added to his portfolio.

Hieroneous represents the more positive aspects of conflict: justice such justice, valor, and skill at arms. He has also been associated with the knightly class and the cult of chivalry.

Zilchus

Zilchus seems to have been a minor, chthonic deity of the tribal Oeridians. He was associated with wealth and primarily riches drawn from the earth. While he developed as role as judge and ruler the dead (perhaps by extension from his existing role of ruling things in the ground) he has never been a god of death directly. Instead, he came to be viewed as the ultimate worldly power and his purview over wealth came to extend to markets and business.

In modern times, Zilchus is a commonly worshipped deity as he is believed to bring material prosperity to this faithful.