Mythology of the Periphery

Each aspect of existence has a particular resonance to it, and as such energy derives from it and becomes part of the fabric of reality. Each chord is like a wound thread, and each colour is embroidered onto the black cotton void of nothing.
There was absolutely nothing but buzzing energy, but alike energies drew together and formed pools, which formed into sentient thought. The thoughts grew personalities and voices, and soon a consortium of deities meshed together in the void of nothing. They found ways to concentrate their power beyond nothing, into something, and how best these things layered to create existence. 
Each energy can be defined as “(CREATION)”, "(DEATH)”, “(TRIUMPH)” and so on, and within each of these concepts lie a good many hundred or thousand deities who belong to a thriving family community. 
When mortals are born their voices are given the breath of life, and from that moment they gain a soul. Their soul is their anima, and it gives them personality, intelligence, it separates animal from man. And it separates man from god. A mortal can always become immortal, and powerful, and magical, but he will never be created of the same energy as a god. In these cases, they become something far worse than man.
The anima may exist in only one person, no mortal has had their soul rebirthed beyond miracles. The soul is received upon bodily death into the family to which it best aligns, to live in peace and paradise. If no deific family wishes to protect and house the soul, the anima is lost forever as the energy disperses into the fabric of nothing, presumably eaten by the void. Some cultures prefer to think the soul is taken by The Collector to be held onto forever, or destroyed swiftly and painlessly by The Warden to keep the scale in balance, but it is naturally very difficult to ask what happens to a soul that has been lost forever. 

Our Revered Host

The Host is a collective name used to refer to the vast conglomerate of gods who created life, govern the laws of existence, and grant miracles to the most deserving. While unblessed cultures have seen interference from powerful beings, or invented their own stories, The Host is an undeniable presence across the cosmos, and they have directly interposed during times of conflict or great strife. Some maintain residence upon a planet or two, while others simply appear when they are needed by someone worthy. 
The Host is divided into Divine Families, which reflect different aspects of their portfolio within each member. Additionally, more powerful and more widely worshipped Families have more members, likely due to the masses of perspective granting them this power. 
Death (including more and changing name, think power and war), Fate (et al), Travel() and Wealth() are the most popular Families within civilised society. They hold the majority of the power and are capable of granting great strength to those who hold themselves justly within their tenets.
Of course, those who do not follow the tenets for good and true reasons are well known to the Families, and will not be rewarded for their servitude if they are not true believers. 

At one time, Families like Artistry and Creation(life, healing, nature) had been popular, but since the spread of technologic, posthuman, mercenary governments and constant conflict – there has not been enough time to care for these concepts. Most people find arts and hope both to be frivolous, after all, between the power of Death and destruction or the power of the heart, there is a clear winner. Generally forged in titanium. 

All of civilised society, aside from those led astray by cults and misinformation, know of the might of the Families, and it is heavily encouraged to figure out where one would lie in the spectrum, for fear not only of being judged as an improper believer but also accused of being an apostate. In many civilisations, not paying proper tithe to at least one Family is seen as worthy of either shunning or criminal charges. 

Many governments align themselves to one Family or another, especially those who intend on amassing armies for the spreading of their empire or similar. 

Despite this, The Host is a fully other entity, not involved in petty squabbles and politics. The odd specific god may occasionally rule a few planets, though usually this is divorced from what is going on across the rest of the cosmos. And because of this, despite constant conflict and war between the stars, The Host and their places of worship are neutral spaces, to be respected and left well alone. 

In death, a believing but sinful person is allowed into the Family’s paradise, but only to serve and to witness the beauty of it. No harm will come to this individual, but they will be only able to aid in the restful and euphoric afterlife of those who are truly worthy – not to experience it personally. In this way, the afterlife is not so different to life, being stuck behind a veil of circumstances and existing as a number to keep the privileged happy while toiling every day to survive. 

At the head of each Family is a god who aligns most closely with mortals’ understanding of womanhood, and thus most civilised cultures are matriarchal in nature. And certainly within the religious order, roles are fulfilled by women.