From the introduction: There are countless Lesser Immortals who are directly in charge of the daily running of the world on a local and specific basis, whereas the Greater Immortals set policy and oversee the bigger picture. So it is believed in the Empire of Splendour, at least. Across the Imperial and former-Imperial lands there are thousands of little shrines to these Lesser Immortals, usually erected where a holy man had a vision, or where some miracle occurred that could be attributed to an Immortal. Citizens make it a matter of routine to at least pay lip service to the spirit of a shrine, just in case they cause offence otherwise.