The Gods of Lights are the beings who sit behind the ideas which civilized folk have developed about gods and angels and heaven. Neither Christian nor any other religion, the Gods of Light nevertheless wear the trapping of Abrahamic religions amongst many other hierarchical civilized religions like a shaman wearing the skins of animals to invoke their power for the tribe. The Gods of Light present themselves as beings of honesty and transparency, but psychonauts must remember that light can blind the viewer.
Hierarchy of the Gods of Light
The Tetrarch Lords
The Tetrarch Lords are the rulers of the Realms of light, these four Courts of Gods share the rule of the Realms of light- and do so with much conflict and internal strife. The Ruler of each Court is the Father, with the Son the active lieutenant and Heir Apparent. The Grandfather serves as Advisor and frequently attempts to be the power behind the Throne.
Archons
Archons are the highest of the Lesser Gods of Light, Archons could be though of as the nobility- Dukes and Barons and Counts and so on.
Archons look like a glorious and monstrous mix of insect and machine. wheels and wires, carapace and compound eyes, built upon the bodies of internal combustion engines and clockwork halos. surrounded by dragonfly wings arranged in parody of the feathers of great birds of prey with inverted masks of human faces somewhere near where a head should sit. Frequently a Television screen or another sort of monitor is visible on the Angel’s body and will provide a means of communication and display the emotion that they expressionless mask cannot.
Angels
Angels are the least of the Gods of light and are frequently mistaken for something other than Gods. But Gods they are, and they yearn for greater power than they have. Scheming and plotting and rebellious, angels are power hungry messengers and foot soldiers. In truth, there is always a rebellion in heaven.
Angels bear a similar appearance to the Archons. Typical Angels are blank faced golden constructs with insect wings made of light. Minor Angels are more insectile and robot like with blank faced masks, acting as drone surveillance for the Tetrarch Lords.
Souls
Souls are the Inhabitants of the Realms of the Afterlife. Beings who pledged their souls to Gods of Light find that their souls end up in the Realms of the Afterlife upon the death of the individual- this applies to the Souls of Psychonauts should their aura shatter in the Shadowlands as well- if they have made deals where their soul was pledged. All souls are grey, and where smiling masks. They act out stepford wives style traditional values lifestyles and if challenged or scolded, they cry bloody tears.
Notable Gods of Lights
The Gods of Light are not a unified collective, divided instead into the Gods of Smoke, Gods of Fire, Gods of Thunder, and Gods of Lightning.
Gods of the Realm of Smoke
As smoke rises from the earth to Heaven, the Gods of the Realm of Smoke are revered as being unique in their connecting heaven and earth.
The Tetrarch Lords
The Rulers of the Realm of Smoke.
- Grandfather Smoke on the Mountain
- Father Pillar of Smoke
- Son of the Burnt Offering
The Archons
The Highest of the Lesser Gods of Smoke. The Archons spill black oily smoke from their bodies are the move through the air.
The Angels
The Minor Gods of the Realms of Smoke, often mistaken for something other than gods.A thick grey smoke engulfs the Angels only occasionally leaving parts of them visible to observers.
Gods of the Realm of Fire
Once the most powerful group of the Gods of Light, the Gods of Fire are the Gods of the Sun and of combustion. They are exalted for the rising of the sun and the life giving and purifying power of fire.
The Tetrarch Lords
The Rulers of the Realms of Light.
- Grandfather Fire on the Mountain
- Father Chariot of Light
- Son of the Lighted Altar
The Archons
The Highest of the Lesser Gods of Fire, they are constantly combusting, spewing fire and light, but no smoke.
The Angels
The Minor Gods of the Realms of Fire, often mistaken for something other than gods. The Angels are so bright from the fire they generate that they are nearly impossible to look at directly.
Gods of the Realm of Thunder
The Tetrarch Lords
The Rulers of the Realms of Thunder.
- Grandfather Iron Staff
- Father Iron Gloves
- Son of the Iron Boots
The Archons
The Highest of the Lesser Gods of Thunder, the fluttering of their wings sounds of distant thunder.
The Angels
The Minor Gods of the Realms of Thunder, often mistaken for something other than gods. The Angels of Thunder constantly generate the sound of thunder with every movement, so loud that being near can deafen the unwary.
Gods of the Realm of Lightning
The Tetrarch Lords
The Rulers of the Realms of Light.
- Grandfather Stormy Sky
- Father
- Son
The Archons
The Highest of the Lesser Gods of Light.
The Angels
The Minor Gods of the Realms of Light, often mistaken for something other than gods.
Deals with the Gods of Light
An avatar who deals with a god and fail to avoid a soul pledge will lose all their avatar progress should their aura be shattered. Their soul will become one of those in one of the Heavens, mask and all. Retrieving a soul from the realms of light is like retrieving a blood stain in Dark Souls, like Oropheus’ journey to the Udnerworld. Psychonauts must quest to the appropriate Afterlife and retrieve the soul or start all over again with the first Ring Excursion and the unlocking Excursions in the Foglands.
Professor Harbinger's School for Villains 