Allthough its possible to find worshippers of nearly all gods in Cormyr the following deities are the ones with the biggest followings and temples in the major cities:

The gods of Forgotten Realms are central to life in Faerûn, influencing everything from daily survival to grand political conflicts. Across the world, people worship a vast array of deities—some benevolent, others feared, and many somewhere in between. Worship can take the form of large, organized churches or secret cults devoted to obscure or dangerous powers.

Unlike many fantasy settings, the gods of Forgotten Realms are not truly immortal. They can die, be reborn, or fade into obscurity. Some deities have vanished entirely, while others linger as forgotten powers or await resurrection.

Above all stands Ao, the Overgod, who governs the divine order. Ao rarely intervenes directly, but ensures that each deity maintains its divine role (portfolio), preventing overlap and enforcing cosmic balance.

The gods of Forgotten Realms are organized into pantheons, which are typically tied to race, culture, or geography.

Types of Pantheons

• Racial pantheons (e.g., elven or dwarven gods)
• Cultural pantheons (e.g., human regional beliefs)
• Geographic pantheons tied to specific regions

A deity may have followers outside its primary pantheon, but such worship rarely grows beyond a cult unless it challenges the dominant gods of that region.

Pantheon Conflict and Evolution

Pantheons are not static. As cultures merge through trade or conquest, their gods may:

• Compete for dominance
• Merge portfolios
• Defeat or destroy rival deities

For example, when cultures combined, rival war gods fought for supremacy—sometimes resulting in one deity’s death or demotion.

A well-known example is the clash between Tempus and Garagos, both war deities from different human pantheons. Tempus belonged to the Talfiric tradition, while Garagos was worshiped in the Netherese pantheon. As these cultures blended, the two gods fought for dominance over the concept of war. Tempus ultimately prevailed, and Garagos was reduced to the status of a demigod, demonstrating how even powerful deities could be diminished when they lost such struggles.

Another example involves Talona, the goddess of disease and poison, who came into conflict with the interloper deity Kiputytto when their spheres of influence overlapped. Unlike the outcome between Tempus and Garagos, this struggle ended more decisively. Talona defeated her rival outright, and Kiputytto was destroyed. This illustrates that divine conflicts in the Forgotten Realms can result not only in demotion but in the complete annihilation of a competing god.

The merging of entire pantheons provides an even broader example of this process. The decline of the Untheric pantheon occurred as cultures shifted and the Faerûnian pantheon expanded its influence. Some Untheric deities did not survive these changes, dying either before or during the upheavals known as the Time of Troubles. Others adapted by becoming part of the dominant pantheon, such as Assuran, who reemerged as Hoar, and Tiamat, who continued her existence within the Faerûnian structure. This shows that when belief systems collide, divine survival often depends on adaptation, submission, or conquest.

Over time, many human pantheons merged into the Faerûnian pantheon, showing how religion evolves alongside civilization.

Worship in the Forgotten Realms is deeply personal yet structured through organized faiths. Nearly everyone pays homage to at least one deity—whether out of devotion, necessity, or fear.

Also worship is essential to the gods of Forgotten Realms because it is directly tied to their power, survival, and influence.

First and most importantly, a god’s strength depends on the number and devotion of their followers. Deities with many worshipers can rise to greater levels of divine power, while those who lose followers weaken over time. At the highest levels, powerful gods may command millions of worshipers, while lesser deities survive on only a few thousand.

Worship also determines whether a god continues to exist at all. In the Forgotten Realms, gods are not truly eternal—if they are forgotten or abandoned, they can fade, die, or become little more than lingering echoes. This is why even dead or fallen deities sometimes have small cults trying to restore them, as belief can help sustain or even revive divine power.

In addition, worship anchors a god to the world. Through their followers—especially clergy—gods can act in the mortal realm, spread their influence, and maintain control over their portfolio (such as war, death, or knowledge). Without worshipers, a god loses its presence in everyday life and risks being replaced by a rival deity with a stronger following.

Forms of Worship

• Large temples and organized churches
• Small cults or secret societies
• Personal devotion to a patron deity

Importantly, religion in Faerûn focuses less on the gods themselves and more on their churches and followers. These institutions shape how divine power is expressed in the mortal world.

Faiths and Sects

Each deity may have multiple sects with different interpretations:

• Some are unified and structured
• Others are divided or even hostile toward each other
• Extremist sects may lose divine favor if they stray too far from doctrine

Conflicts between faiths in the Forgotten Realms are often fueled by the rivalries of their patron deities, and these tensions can easily escalate into open warfare.

One clear example is the clash between followers of different war gods when pantheons merged. As seen with Tempus and Garagos, their rivalry did not remain purely divine—it manifested among their followers, with church-led armies fighting in battles where the survival of a deity’s influence was at stake.

Even within a single faith, divisions can grow into dangerous internal conflicts. The church of Cyric is a prime example of this instability. Cyric’s erratic and contradictory teachings caused his clergy to interpret his will in wildly different ways. As a result, rival factions within the same religion constantly scheme against one another, sometimes turning violent in their struggle for power and influence. These internal conflicts can be just as destructive as wars between separate religions, as each faction believes it represents the true will of the deity.

Similar tensions can arise between sects of lawful deities, where disagreements over doctrine lead to fierce disputes. Followers may argue over the “correct” interpretation of their god’s teachings, and these disagreements can escalate into open hostility. In some cases, both sides claim divine approval, making compromise nearly impossible and turning theological disputes into prolonged conflicts that affect entire regions.

There are also cases where sects stray so far from their deity’s teachings that they lose divine favor, creating further conflict. For example, certain extremist groups within established faiths have adopted practices that contradict their god’s core beliefs. When this happens, they may be rejected by the wider church or even hunted by other followers of the same deity. Such situations can lead to purges, schisms, or even violent confrontations as the faithful attempt to restore what they see as the true path.

These examples show that in the Forgotten Realms, religion is not a passive force. Whether between rival faiths or within a single church, divine influence often drives conflict, and those conflicts can shape the political and cultural landscape of entire regions.

Clergy serve as the mortal agents of the gods of Forgotten Realms, carrying out divine will in everyday life.

Core Responsibilities

• Uphold the deity’s teachings and portfolio
• Guide and lead worshipers
• Perform rituals, ceremonies, and prayers
• Spread the faith and influence of their god

Clergy are often bound by strict codes of conduct. For example, followers of duty-oriented deities must demonstrate loyalty, discipline, and service in all aspects of life.

Religious Authority and Structure

Religious authority and structure in the Forgotten Realms vary widely from faith to faith, and this diversity shapes how each religion operates in practice.

Some faiths maintain strict hierarchies, where authority flows from high-ranking clergy down to local priests. A good example is the church of Torm, which emphasizes duty, obedience, and clearly defined responsibilities. Its clergy follow structured codes such as the Penance of Duty, and advancement is tied to fulfilling obligations, proving loyalty, and serving both superiors and the wider good.

Other religions are far more decentralized or fragmented, often due to the nature of their deity. The church of Cyric is a prime example, lacking a single unified leadership. Instead, multiple powerful clerics each believe they are chosen to lead, resulting in constant internal strife and competing factions. This fragmentation creates instability, with temples and sects operating independently and often working against one another.

Advancement within a faith typically requires rituals, trials, or demonstrations of devotion, and these vary depending on the deity’s values. In the church of Helm, for instance, progression involves formal ceremonies such as the Consecration of a Postulant or the Holy Vigil, which mark a cleric’s rise in rank and reaffirm their dedication. These rituals serve both as spiritual milestones and as public recognition of authority within the church.

Even in more informal or less hierarchical faiths, expectations for advancement still exist. Clergy may need to demonstrate skill, devotion, or adherence to their deity’s ideals through actions—such as promoting harmony, aiding others, or embodying the values of their god in daily life. In this way, religious authority in the Forgotten Realms is not only granted through rank, but earned through visible commitment to the faith.

Clerics who stray from their deity’s teachings risk:

• Losing divine powers
• Being cast out of their faith
• Needing to atone or change allegiance
• Daily Religious Life

Clergy duties also include:

• Conducting ceremonies and holy days
• Training new members
• Maintaining temples
• Acting as political or moral leaders in society

The gods of Forgotten Realms are not distant, passive beings—they are active forces shaping history, culture, and individual lives. Their influence is felt through pantheons, faiths, and especially through the clergy who act in their name.

Understanding these divine systems reveals a world where religion is dynamic, conflict-driven, and deeply woven into the fabric of everyday life in Faerûn.

The gods of Forgotten Realms are not just background lore—they are tools you can actively use to shape stories, conflicts, and characters. By focusing on pantheons, rival faiths, and the actions of clergy, you can bring the setting to life in a way that feels immediate and meaningful.

Instead of treating deities as mythical figures, use their influence through temples, followers, and religious institutions. Conflicting beliefs, competing churches, and divine agendas can drive plots, create tension, and define entire regions.

Understanding how these divine systems operate allows you to build a world where religion is not static, but a living force—full of ambition, conflict, and impact on everyday life in Faerûn.