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Post by Admin on Dec 31, 2016 3:00:05 GMT
Has anyone made a pantheon for their campaign? Myself, I haven't, yet: but I am interested in the concept. Prespos Ps. Presposia does have a pantheon: there is only 1 god (so far), and, his Name is chris107  |
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Post by dragonspipe on Dec 31, 2016 3:04:03 GMT
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Post by tmao on Dec 31, 2016 13:38:19 GMT
I have made 2 diff pantheons for my games, the first one was kinda boring but the second was linda cool, the story was that 99% of the gods were killed and only very minor gods survived picking up the pieces as best they could, for example representing the Norse mythos was a Valkyre who had been a sgt. and Munin , Odins raven.
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Post by distortedhumor on Dec 31, 2016 18:19:49 GMT
Yep
Preface:
There are three types of beings worshiped by the inhabitants of Azure Sea. The first is the Adunite Gods, or the traditional gods. These are the descendants of Adune, the creator god of Azure Sea. The second is the Haraindiko, or simply the others. These in many cultures are called demons or devils. Finally, there is the foreign gods, beings who are not part of the Adunite pantheon, ranging from mortals gaining Apotheosis to idols brought on lost ships.
Religion is split into three "Brands" - the Adunite faith, which consists of 12 major gods, and a number of smaller gods. Secondly their are Sects, these are faiths that worship foreign gods, mystery schools, and Adunite worship that is so odd that it falls outside the norms of ritual. Finally their are the cults, who worship the one or more of the Haraindiko.
One thing to remember about the Adunite faith is that the gods range from lawful to chaotic, and just because it is lawful does not mean it is nice, nor if it is chaotic it is evil. Lest not forget that executions for criminal acts or oath-breaking are offerings to the lawful Adpeh, while the priests of Cameral run the Cameral houses for the insane. While few if any claim to worship no god, as only fools are atheists in the Azure sea, most are not that devout. Most will follow one, at most two gods, and occasionally take part in festivals (For example, Illumin "Night of lights" is a highly popular celebration across the Azure Sea) As long as they are not cultists, most in the Azure Sea choose who and what way they will worship their chosen gods. Cities will have usually a number of temples and shrines, larger ones may very well have temples for all 12 major gods and shrines for very many others.
In addition, each of the major god has 53 aspects, sometimes going by not the same name. Cultists and their shrines and temples are almost always hidden, and due to many cities age and building over the ruins of the past, some religious rites require long passages under cities to get to the holy sites.
Common Adunite Mythos:
While each of the major gods have variations of the common story, and sometimes the ritual for aspects of the same god might disagree there is a common creation myth, this is a summary of the creation myth that is taught across the Azure Sea.
Adune sat on his throne in the high heavens, in time he had many children, many of great note. Many great and wondrous things where created in these high heavens, and while the children and grandchildren squabbled, it was mostly peaceful.
Then came the unknowable Haraindiko, who tried to invade, and then laid siege to the high heavens. There was a great war of power unimaginable. The gods created beings in their own image, elves, humans, and beings more odd to fight the Haraindiko. Adune knew that the siege could not be lifted, but understood that though great sacrifice he could protect his children, and his many creations.
Adune created (or in some versions, organized) the world from his very essence, and locked the Haraindiko to the outer planes, using the elemental planes he built the physical world, and then with his godly force breathed life into it. The great work caused him to forever become one with the world. His offspring, the Adunite gods, gained powers as Adune saw fit, giving each a role to play, some to organize, some to keep peace, and others to spark creation though chaos.
As for the servants of Adune and the Haraindiko, they where placed on world to be born, to live and to die. In the Adunite faith, souls go to the god they served, and those who where heroic in that regard may become saints or great angels.
The Major Adunite gods:
Lawful
Adpeh – The God of Knowledge and Law
Miphic – God of Magic and mystical secrets
Evangeline - Goddess of healing
Yulia – Goddess of Peace
Neutral
Kralic – God of peaceful death
Vassa – Goddess of Divination, Justice, and Truth
The Unknown one – god of the unknown
Steenhoth – Goddess of the Hearth
Choatic
Xi the Unpredictable
Cameral – God of madness
Alexis – Goddess of Taboo
Janos – God of Battle
Minor
Kithal, the Dwarf-father – God of the Dwarves
Concorda – Goddess of Truces
Jasper – God of Charity
Cansor the Robed – god of darkness
Illumin - Goddess of light
Haros – God of Fire
Harkas – Goddess of the hunt
Hefron Stormbringer – Goddess of Storms
Haraindiko Lords
Akella (Magic)
Lekkli the Shapeless (Slimes)
Mortica the Pale (Undead)
Orkfather (Patron of Orcs)
Slaymon (Worm of Wisdom)
Zug (Might)
Linsat (Treachery)
Marcos (Corruption)
Jessafas (Flaming Truth)
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Post by Malcadon on Jan 4, 2017 22:00:52 GMT
For the most part, I try to take what deity I can find form some fantasy or RPG setting that feels "different" or "original" and change them enough to fit my taste. I generally avoid the "game-centric" gods you'll find in settings like Greyhawk or Forgotten Realms, who are based largely on alignment or adventurer classes, as I want by settings to not feel like adventuring and dungeon-crawls are at the center of the cosmos. I usually like to have dimorphic contrast, sacrifice and sex as a common theme with my gods.
For those who want ideas on how to make interesting pantheons, I recommend picking-up the book Petty Gods and reading (the late) Prof. M.A.R. Barker's RPG essay Create a Religion in Your Spare Time for Fun and Profit. Prof. Barker, being the creator of the richly deep setting Tékumel: The World of the Petal Throne, was great at world-building cultures that are far removed from what we could make, blinded by our own modern sensibilities. Petty Gods is a free PDF file, and in inexpensive book on Lulu.com.
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Post by Admin on Jan 5, 2017 7:19:30 GMT
I was able to find a few articles in Dragon, about this:
Pantheon: Designing, "Do-It-Yourself Deities", Stephen Kenson, 283(32), D&D3
"Down-To-Earth Divinity", Ed Greenwood, 54(6), D&D1
Power: Assigning appropriate, "How To Make a Pantheon You Can Have Faith In!", Len Lakofka, 36(17), D&D1
The article in Dragon #54 is the first mention of the Forgotten Realms pantheon, where it is used an example pantheon.
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Post by distortedhumor on Jan 6, 2017 3:53:15 GMT
 Our Lady Alexis - Goddess of Taboo
The devotees of Lady Alexis are famous, perhaps infamous. Who has not seen woman in green or yellow robes singing songs as they walk to the temple at dusk, wondering what orgy of hedoism happens within those walls. Or was their taboo to remain chaste, and debate creation. Those outside the temple will never know.
"What is your Taboo?"
That is the question many a citizen has heard, many times from a young woman who might steal your heart. Is that the real her? or is she a old hag bewitched by glamour so that she only seems to be young. One might not know, but they will still ask the question. "What is your Taboo?"
Worship of Lady Alexis is not about breaking taboos as much as identifying, exploring, and then if needed, breaking those taboos. She finds as much pleasure as a monk who carefully thinks about his meatless ways, eats a rasher of bacon, experiences the joy, and then once again accepts his taboo then what one would suppose is a hedonistic orgies of flesh satisfying the most base desires. Not to say that those festivals do not exist.
Priests: Most priests and priestesses are foundlings or otherwise unwanted children who are taken in by the Temples of Alexis to be fed. These are known as "Trueborn" and make up at least 60% of the priesthood is of this Trueborn section.
Temples: The temples are normally stone structures who have passages underground, where rites of Alexis are carried out. Thus the term "Going down with the Lady" as she resides deep in the mother earth, to give her followers privacy as they explore their Taboos. It is rumored that some of her most only shrines are deep underground, and sometimes the temples hire select persons to protect the priest and priestesses as they head to the depths. The above ground area is open to public unless services are ongoing.
Hymns
The most famous hymn is most likely "Our Lady of play" which is sung by female devotee's and priestesses to call worshipers to the temple.
As I went down with our lady of play
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lady, show me the way!
O sisters, let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down
O sisters, let's go down
Down with our lady of play
As I went down with our lady of play
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lady, show me the way!
O brothers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
Come on, brothers, let's go down
Down in with our lady of play
As I went down with our lady of play
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lady, show me the way!
O fathers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O fathers, let's go down
Down with our lady of play
As I went down with our lady of play
Studying about…
Important feast days.
1. First day of the month is the regular "Service"
2. Third month, 15th day is the festival of the mind.
3. ninth month, 15 day is the festival of the body.
4. Leap Day is the "Day of Taboo"
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