A portfolio is a list of things that all true
deities possess. The portfolio of a deity determines the area of interest that it both represents and has power over. Ideas, emotions, races of creatures, schools of magic, and other topics related to mortal existence can all become part of a deity's portfolio.
Nature of Divine Portfolios
Quasi-powers such as archfiends do not have a portfolio, as an entity has to have divine power equivalent to a
demigod in order to gain one. Deities can only have a portfolio with things found on the portfolio of another deity in the same pantheon if either of those deities is a demigod. If this is the case, only one of those deities can become a god of greater power, and the other would remain a demigod until the greater rival is cast down, no matter the devotion or number of their worshipers. Gods in different pantheons are exempt from this restriction.
The gods of Elaris are restricted to certain areas of influence. Outside of that area, different gods can reign with exactly the same portfolio topics as a god in another area. An example of this is
Heschius Ban and
Brinyas—both gods with a portfolio containing the sea, but Heschius Ban is a god of
Cetandar while Brinyas is a goddess of
Estaklyos.
Portfolios can usually only be altered upon the death, resurrection, or otherwise major diruption of the life of a deity of a certain pantheon. Many deities gain the portfolios of others that they have personally killed, though this is not always the case. Power-hungry deities frequently pretend to be dead gods who still have worshipers, in the hope of gaining their portfolio—an act known as 'subsuming'.
Powers Granted by a Portfolio
Gods gain more control over things related to their portfolio depending on their level of power. A deity automatically senses events occurring in relation to their portfolio, though the weaker the power of the deity, the more mortals have to be involved in the event for them to sense it. A god can then experience the event remotely without needing to send an avatar to get directly involved. They can also attempt to block the ability of another god to do the same, but only if that god is less powerful.
A deity is always more powerful when working to influence the world in relation to aspects of their portfolio—they can perform some tasks instantly, enact more powerful magic, and they find it easier to multitask.
