A question about patron gods...

I've noticed that the attribute panel on 'h' not only lists your attributes, but what god you're associated with. How is this determined?

What's confusing me is that I'm a R/Mo, yet I'm listed as worshipping not Melandru, not even Dwayna, but Balthazar. What's even more confusing is that my boyfriend's Me/R ALSO seems to worship Balthazar!

I seem to remember some NPC in Pre-Searing (Master Ranger Nente, I think) who mentioned Balthazar to me - was he choosing for me? Does it depend on which NPCs you end up visiting first?

It's the system to unlock items / skills / upgrades for PVP Characters. It has nothing to do with PvE story or events.

What in the hell are you talking about?

It's the same for everyone, Rox...you don't get to choose and you can't change it.

I'm just wondering because the user's manual talks about how different professions are associated with different gods (Mesmer = Lyssa, Monk=Dwayna, Necro=Grenth, etc.). Yet the god my character is technically associated with doesn't correspond to the patron god of either my Primary or my Secondary profession (as is true with the R/Me I mentioned also associated with Balthazar).

Balthazar is the God of War, therefore the points earned from killing players would logically be redeemed with him.

Your character isn't associated with Balthazar in any way. The word "faction" is a total misnomer in this case. What it means is that Balthazar and his priests like you to a certain degree based on your PVPing, and that's measured in points which you can spend to unlock stuff.

Wrong. The Gods don't like me at all, and I don't PvP, so it can't be based on that. But I'm still listed as a Balthazar "associate", or whatever.