Egregore

Egregore are an ethnic group of amici imaginarium distinguished by the fact that they are born from the thoughts of a collective rather than the thoughts of an individual. They are the false “gods” of the Clarkwoods Literary Universe; the figures of myth and legend who somehow walk amongst us; and the long-dead folk heroes, brought back to life by the power of belief.

As with all amici imaginarium, Egregore rely on the power of belief for their continued existence. That said, because they are the creations of large groups rather than individuals, they have much more leeway in how they interpret what is “true” about them. Only those attributes which are believed by all believers are immutable. Even one voice of dissent amongst the faithful is enough for an Egregore to reshape their being as they see fit.

For instance, because of small bits of disagreement amongst believers, the “family” of Egregore commonly known as the Olympians do not view themselves as blood relatives—no matter what the stories and myths say. Instead, the Olympians see each other as playmates who can use each other for mutual advantage. The crazier they act, the better. The more sordid the stories they inspire in the brains of their believers, the longer they’ll live.

Famous Families

• The Olympians, a family of deities who were originally created by human beings living around the Mediterranean Sea, they are known for their philandering, petty jealousy, and warmongering.
• The Norse Gods, a family of deities who are constantly dealing with the pranks of a certain Loki.
• The Sister Goddesses, Mira and Phina, who rule over the land of Eden and are often looking to one-up each other.