Gods and Demons and Daedra (Oh my!)...and an update in general

Wazzap everybody! It's my first blog post! Which is...kinda sad, actually, seeing as my profile's been here so long.

First thing's first. I'd like to apologize to my watchers (what few of you there are...). I have been unbelievably inactive for far, far too long. It certainly hasn't been a voluntary hiatus, though. Combine rediculous amounts of schoolwork, a computer that decided to just fart out and die, and a bipolar muse and you've got...well...me. That said, I have finally gotten back to work on The Silver Giant. The going is slow, but its going nonetheless. For that I'll need to thank a friend of mine. Talking with him cured my writer's block.

Unfortunately, due to the way I write, I can't say how close the next chapter is to being done because I don't know that anymore than you guys do. The way I write, the chapter's done when its done, and that's it.

Also, some mite unfortunate news for fans of From the Inferno, Into Redemption. Sorry guys, but I don't think this story's salvageable. If someone wants to take the idea and run with it, be my guest (though I'd appreciate it if you notified me that you're doing so). I'd also be more than willing to give insight into what my original plan had been for the story if anyone would like to know.

Anywho, to the main point of this post...

I got an idea earlier. It hasn't come quite far enough to be called a story just yet, but its getting there. For the moment, the name for it is Of Gods and Daedra, and it will primarily involve Celestia, Luna, and some other characters (including some OCs) that spend significant amounts of time around them. The story itself I only have some bits, pieces, and scraps of so far, but I've gotten enough to come up with an idea for an Equestrian religion, Avarianism, which would have a large role in the story. Below is some basic information (a rough draft of it, anyway) on the various deity figures that I've come up with. If anyone has a suggestion or two, don't hesitate to tell me. Suggestions are always welcome.

Note: In parentheses are the various gods'/daedra's/demons' True Names, which will play a part in the story (a part that I don't really want to spoil, especially since I'm just now starting to boot up this idea). Their True Names are what any griffons in the story will call them by...Oh, and if you just so happen to be a Magic: the Gathering player, you may notice a few shout outs with the True Names of some of the deities.

Of Gods and Daedra

Gods

Avarius (Quz'Nvoth), the All-Father- King of the Gods and creator of all Equestria. Notable for being revered or worshipped in nearly every religion/cult on Equestria, though His percieved nature differs in each belief system. In Avarianism, He is the Father of the Gods, including the once-deified Daedric Lords, and the judge of the afterlife. Usually depicted as an alicorn or high-caste griffon in black, red, and white plate armor. His symbol is the cross.

Amira (Ses'Neya), the Handmaiden- Goddess of love and mercy, symbolized by the weeping lotus (a rare flower). Patron Goddess of marriage and family. Households normally have a small shrine to Amira that contains a wax or wood-carved weeping lotus; not the real flower, due to its rarity (and thus its high price). The Canterlot Royal Palace, however, has a shrine in its grand throne room that contains a living, magically preserved weeping lotus. Usually depicted as a robed earth pony wearing a half-mask that covers her eyes. Amira's priesthood is strictly limited to females.

Kaela (Iv'Ryzzet), the Morning Sage- Goddess of wisdom and intellect, as well as the patron Goddess of magic and magic users. Most schools and universities contain a bronze image of her symbol; a pyramid with a stylized eye hovering above it. Kaela is primarily revered by unicorns and zebras, and is usually depicted as one of the two.

Oerek (Ro'Kydas), the Lord of Battle- God of honor, bravery, and war as well as the patron God of hunters. Normally depicted as a pegasus or griffon in modern full-body three-quarter plate armor, with his face covered by the helmet. Primarily worshipped by pegasi and griffons. His symbol is the flaming scepter.

Zenith (Azor'Aius), the Essence of Law- Goddess of justice and order. Generally held in high esteem (at the very least) by politicians and guards. It is rumored that Celestia had a small shrine to Zenith built in her chambers, though if true it was probably done only out of respect for what the Goddess stands for, since the princess makes it no secret that she is an atheist. Zenith's symbol is the sun, and she is typically depicted as a pure white alicorn (by ponies) or a silver high-caste griffon (by griffons).

Moradin (Os'Zosov), the Midnight Prince- God of the night, of life, and of death, as well as the protector of the Honored Dead. Nearly all settlements, from the smallest town to the largest city, have a Grey Hall - a church dedicated to Moradin - where Moradin's priests and priestesses handle all burials. Canterlot's Pale Guard - an elite guard unit charged with rooting out daedra worship - is known for their strong reverence for Moradin. His symbol is the moon.

Tartaros (Kel'Demos), the Reaper from the Abyss- Demon God of loyalty, retribution, and punishment, as well as the Prince of the Underworld and the patron god of soldiers/warriors. Usually depicted as a pegasus-like or griffon-like demon, Tartaros is feared more than he is worshipped, though he has a surprisingly large following amongst pegasi soldiers and guards. His symbol is the scythe.

Daedra

Epona (Kye'Ismet), the Shadowed Voice- originally created as the Septim (protector) of ponykind, Epona rebelled along with the other Septims and became the Daedric Lord of corruption, betrayal, and shadows. She is often mistakenly associated with black magic, when it is really the domain of Moradin, the God of life and death. Her domain is actually that of red magic - a corruptive, forbidden magic that is powered by souls and the life force of living beings rather than Equestria's leylines, allowing it to be used by anyone, not just magic sensitive races. Red mages are a common sight wherever Epona's followers are found. Some believe that Luna's transformation into Nightmare Moon happened because she turned to Epona in a fit of jealousy and anger. Epona's symbol is the black star.

Numinox (Gol'Gargal), the Lord of the Flies- once the Septim of tieflings (changelings), now the Daedric Lord of disease, decay, and pestilence. Numinox is unique amongst the former Septims in that he is still openly worshipped by the race he was originally created to protect, while the other Septims are despised and abhorred by most of their former wards. Additionally, he is the only Daedric Lord known to appear physically to his followers; albeit as a weak avatar, since he (like the other Daedric Lords) are confined to the Hells. When his avatar appears, it typically takes the form of a grotesque mass of rotting plant-like tentacles. Necromancers are often found amongst Numinox's followers, who seek to foster death and decay all over Equestria, including themselves. The most "honored" and high-ranked followers of this daedroth are often infested with numerous diseases, parasites, and rots, though for some reason (some say the the intervention of Numinox himself), they seem not to suffer many of the blights' negative effects. Numinox's symbol is a skull and snake.

Bahamut (Dei'Kyr), the Blood Prince- the former Septim of dragons, now the Daedric Lord of blood, murder, and violence. Bahamut is easily the most violent (and predictable) of the Daedric Lords. Unlike his brethren, he has no wish for revenge on his Father, Avarius. In fact, he has no wish for anything but violence and killing, and he does not care who kills or who is killed, so long as someone dies (preferrably in a massively bloody fashion). His berserker followers are eager to accommodate him in this desire, and are known perpetrators of a number of exceedingly violent mass murders, which usually end with the cultists themselves just as dead as their victims. As with other Septims, Bahamut's most fanatical (if small) following is from the race he once protected - dragons. His symbol is an axe.

Vaetel (Droeth'Ka), the Dark Lady- the former griffon Septim, now the Daedric Lord of pain, lust, and forbidden desires. Vaetel is the patron of the darkest desires and the sinful debauchery of mortals, and has the largest number of cultists of the Daedric Lords. This is partially due to the fact that Vaetel is not what one would call a jealous daedroth. She has no issue with her followers also worshipping other Daedric Lords, since their goals are the same as her's as far as she is concerned. Griffons that worship Vaetel are especially hated by their non-daedra worshipping brethren, due to their not-uncommon practice of cannibalism, something griffons see in an even more negative light than any other race.

Deciever (Dae'Drioth), King of the Pit- the Daedric Prince of the Hells and sworn enemy of Avarius. It was Deciever that put the first thoughts of rebellion into the Septims' minds, and the resulting rebellion was led by him. Avarianist scriptures claim that Deciever was created by Avarius long before Equestria came to be, and that he was cast down from Godhood by his Father for trying to take away the gift of Choice from Equestria, given by the All-Father, who had promised that it would never be taken away. Daedra cultists claim otherwise, saying that Deciever, like Avarius, was created by no one. It is unknown exactly what Deciever's goals are, as his cult's actions appear completely random, if violent and deadly, without any rhyme or reason to them.