Religion and the Gods
Portavens favour Gods who reign over travel and commerce but religion is very personal in Portavas. The Jester, the Smith, the Muse, the Traveler, and the Shadow are all widely worshipped with focus on travel, paths, navigation, growth, change, secrets, uncovering secrets, wealth, the sea, boats, trade, hidden places. While there are gods that have a more popular following, you can usually find representatives of all deities in and around the cities. The only time this may cause friction is when it is time to dedicate a new Ship.
Priests provide guidance to the people who need it, but tend to focus on the philosophical nature of religion.
Many Portavian priests love nothing more than sitting back with a large bottle of wine and discussing the nature of the gods in length. Portavians do not believe that the gods have any definitive final say in their life’s journey, rather that they play a role similar to a head of a Family, each able to influence or hinder the soul on its path, but ultimately it is the soul’s choice where it will eventually make port.
Portavian priests use a practice called Anchoring. When a person is actively being besieged by evil forces or soul threatening curses. The Portavian priest acts like a lighthouse, and takes on a portion of the suffering. It is meant to help guide followers back to themselves, but has been known to be fatal to the priest if the entity or curse is strong.
