pantheon :: mythologies :: iconography :: gateways
In the Heavens above, the Celestial Court rules the earth below. Under the Emperor of Heaven, all things are their domain, each diety with his own realm of rule, from the smallest concerns to the largest. The Courts are endlessly confusing, and infinitely large, owing to the different types of gods from around the world.

Important figures in the Celestial Pantheon

The Emperor of Heaven - The Ultimate in the power structure of the Celestial Court. Only the highest of the court can even get in to see the emperor. Your garden-variety shinigami or raven has a better chance of being reborn as a toad.

Death - Believed to be the twin or another face of the Emperor, he is the only equal in power to the head of the Celestial Court. Death is more like a cold chill in the hallway, and a half-spoken whisper among the gods..;) Death is scary. Hou'oh's the only one, other than the Emperor who actually ever sees death on a regular basis. For the most part, the other Gods ignore the dealings of Death and his aides, the shinigami and ravens.

Hou'oh , the Heavenly Phoenix- Hou'oh is Death's own shadow and a goddess of rebirth in her own right. She's the "mother" of the Ravens..and administers them and the shinigami in their duties ;)

The Agents of Death

Shinigami - culled from mortal souls, the shinigami act as Death's agents on earth, monitoring the normal passage of life, sheparding souls that can't find their way to the underworld, and seeing to it that the dead do not interfere with the living. Occasionally, shinigami unable to let go of their previous mortal existences, get more involved with human affairs than is recommended.

Ravens : created as partners for the shinigami, the ravens shadow the demigods, acting as shield, advisor, assistant, and even transportation. While their "true form" can only be percieved as formless shadow, the ravens normally take on whatever form their shinigami desires.
The relationship between shinigami and raven is not a true partnership, however. While the shinigami require the raven's power for the successful completion of their duties, they are still fairly powerful without them. The ravens, on the other hand, are nearly helpless when cut off from their bonded partners. Many of the shinigami look upon their ravens as more tools or servants, than partners - although some bonds, the strongest, are akin to love between the two.

Lackeys : Lackeys. 'Nuff said. Generally, the recipients for most of Hou'oh's foul moods.