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Some background:
In developing my North American-styled homebrew setting, I decided two things relating to religion: that there is a cultural analogue to Christianity, and that it does not teach that it is the only true religion. This left room open for other pantheons, which worked out well, because I also wanted to have a nod to the influence of ancient Greece and Rome on the art and philosophy of the US, leading to the creation of a pantheon of original deities.
I went with original ones for several reasons, mostly personal, but I also wanted to try to avoid falling into the trap of creating an original pantheon that was full of gods real people would never choose to worship (a pretty common problem with pantheons in games, in my opinion). I hope I've achieved something that seems organic, while still being original and useful for games.
I welcome comments, criticisms, corrections of typos, and use of these in your own games!
Asphodelos, Flower of the Underworld:
ASPHODELOS (THEOI KTHONIOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: The afterlife,
Domains: Death (Undead subdomain only), Healing, Plant, Repose, Scalykind
Symbol: A stalk of asphodel
Favored Weapon: Trident
Eighty years ago, the original gods of the dead fell in battle, becoming mere shades lost among the throngs of the afterlife; in the confusion that followed, the nymph of the flower asphodel has risen to a position of authority, her role as feeder of the multitudes of spirits placing her in a position of recognition. The reprecussions of this are still being felt among mortals, who are struggling to deal with revisions to ancient temples and determining proper rites, while the ascended goddess copes with her new position.
ASPHODELOS (THEOI KTHONIOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: The afterlife,
Domains: Death (Undead subdomain only), Healing, Plant, Repose, Scalykind
Symbol: A stalk of asphodel
Favored Weapon: Trident
Eighty years ago, the original gods of the dead fell in battle, becoming mere shades lost among the throngs of the afterlife; in the confusion that followed, the nymph of the flower asphodel has risen to a position of authority, her role as feeder of the multitudes of spirits placing her in a position of recognition. The reprecussions of this are still being felt among mortals, who are struggling to deal with revisions to ancient temples and determining proper rites, while the ascended goddess copes with her new position.
Avissa, Queen of the Wine-Dark Sea:
AVISSA (THEOI KTHONIOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: The ocean, springs, deep caverns, secret lore, the depths of the night sky
Domains: Earth (Caves subdomain only) Knowledge, Rune, Water, Void (Dark Tapestry subdomain only)
Symbol: A hand with two fingers pointing downwards
Favored Weapon: Harpoon
The strange and unpredictable goddess of the deepest seas and darkest pits is also the ruler of the dark spaces between the stars. She is said to have borne children by Kyranos–the lesser gods Ephialti and Kuon–as well as (somehow) by the goddess Polias Zea: the goddess of alleyways and secret passages, Dioda. This has made her a patroness of forbidden romances; however, she is also said to have many stranger children, monsters and abominations not easily defined, and to be the creatrix of hags, and is thusly feared.
AVISSA (THEOI KTHONIOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: The ocean, springs, deep caverns, secret lore, the depths of the night sky
Domains: Earth (Caves subdomain only) Knowledge, Rune, Water, Void (Dark Tapestry subdomain only)
Symbol: A hand with two fingers pointing downwards
Favored Weapon: Harpoon
The strange and unpredictable goddess of the deepest seas and darkest pits is also the ruler of the dark spaces between the stars. She is said to have borne children by Kyranos–the lesser gods Ephialti and Kuon–as well as (somehow) by the goddess Polias Zea: the goddess of alleyways and secret passages, Dioda. This has made her a patroness of forbidden romances; however, she is also said to have many stranger children, monsters and abominations not easily defined, and to be the creatrix of hags, and is thusly feared.
Deiros Pater, the Mountain Father:
DEIROS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Fatherhood, rulership, wealth, thieves and beggars
Domains: Air, Community, Earth, Nobility, Trickery
Symbol: A staff with a cap of unpolished gold
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Deiros is the god of high mountains, and as such is the ruler of the city of the gods, Korife. However, he is also said to be fond of sneaking out in disguise and acting like a common beggar, or attempting to steal from his own vaults and treasuries by sneaking past his cloud giant guards in the form of a mortal.
DEIROS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: True Neutral
Portfolio: Fatherhood, rulership, wealth, thieves and beggars
Domains: Air, Community, Earth, Nobility, Trickery
Symbol: A staff with a cap of unpolished gold
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Deiros is the god of high mountains, and as such is the ruler of the city of the gods, Korife. However, he is also said to be fond of sneaking out in disguise and acting like a common beggar, or attempting to steal from his own vaults and treasuries by sneaking past his cloud giant guards in the form of a mortal.
Cauyo, The Sun That Shines Over All:
CAUYO (PROTOGENOI)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Portfolio: Light, heat, judgement, balance, medicine, herbs
Domains: Fire, Glory, Healing, Law, Sun
Symbol: A sunburst
Favored Weapon: Kukri
Cauyo (spelled Kauio in older texts) is the ancient embodiment of the blazing sun, particularly when highest in the sky. She is seen as a stern goddess, whose wrath burns to ash, and whose distance in cold winter bites just as viciously, yet who is also beloved of plants, and whose light warms and cheers. Oaths sworn in Cauyo's name are taken most seriously of all, for far too often are violators known to combust in the rays of the sun.
CAUYO (PROTOGENOI)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Portfolio: Light, heat, judgement, balance, medicine, herbs
Domains: Fire, Glory, Healing, Law, Sun
Symbol: A sunburst
Favored Weapon: Kukri
Cauyo (spelled Kauio in older texts) is the ancient embodiment of the blazing sun, particularly when highest in the sky. She is seen as a stern goddess, whose wrath burns to ash, and whose distance in cold winter bites just as viciously, yet who is also beloved of plants, and whose light warms and cheers. Oaths sworn in Cauyo's name are taken most seriously of all, for far too often are violators known to combust in the rays of the sun.
Ceraunos, The Wandering Champion:
CERAUNOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Heroism, travellers and nomadic peoples, thunderstorms, lightning, goatherds
Domains: Glory, Liberation, Strength, Travel, Weather
Symbol: A stormcloud
Favored Weapon: Greataxe
Among the nine gods of Korife, Ceraunos is the most beloved by the common folk: a boisterous, fun-loving god believed to often appear among mortals in pursuit of adventure or pleasure, his appetites are just as legendary as his storied deeds.
CERAUNOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Heroism, travellers and nomadic peoples, thunderstorms, lightning, goatherds
Domains: Glory, Liberation, Strength, Travel, Weather
Symbol: A stormcloud
Favored Weapon: Greataxe
Among the nine gods of Korife, Ceraunos is the most beloved by the common folk: a boisterous, fun-loving god believed to often appear among mortals in pursuit of adventure or pleasure, his appetites are just as legendary as his storied deeds.
Exypne, Skillful Creatrix:
EXYPNE (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Crafts, machinery, fishing, magic, inspiration
Domains: Artifice, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Trickery
Symbol: A net
Favored Weapon: Snag net
When the gods created mortals, Exypne designed their hands and fingers (and their tongues, some jest with a wink), and when she saw that their clever but slender hands were ill-suited for catching game, she taught them to make nets, and how to speak the correct words and motion properly to cast spells. Her creations are numerous, and it is said her mansion in the city of the gods is littered with half-finished devices ranging from the simple to the unspeakably wonderous, overseen by inevitables and axiomites who eternally labor to bring some organization to it.
EXYPNE (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Crafts, machinery, fishing, magic, inspiration
Domains: Artifice, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Trickery
Symbol: A net
Favored Weapon: Snag net
When the gods created mortals, Exypne designed their hands and fingers (and their tongues, some jest with a wink), and when she saw that their clever but slender hands were ill-suited for catching game, she taught them to make nets, and how to speak the correct words and motion properly to cast spells. Her creations are numerous, and it is said her mansion in the city of the gods is littered with half-finished devices ranging from the simple to the unspeakably wonderous, overseen by inevitables and axiomites who eternally labor to bring some organization to it.
Kyranos, The Master of Bloodlust:
KYRANOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil (Clerics may be any alignment)
Portfolio: Berserker rages, destruction of evil
Domains: Death, Destruction, Madness, Protection, War
Symbol: The severed head of a demon
Favored Weapon: Falcata
Among the nine gods of Korife, Kyranos is something of an oddity, a plainly wicked god who is none the less seen as necessary, unleashed upon the enemies of the gods in order to destroy them utterly. Indeed, many of his clerics pray to keep his influence at bay, rather than to invite his power. Despite his murderous madness, Kyranos is said to dearly love his fellow gods of Korife, and to despise other evildoers; clerics speak of visions of him wearing the still-bleeding hides of fiends who thought to seek his allegiance.
KYRANOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Evil (Clerics may be any alignment)
Portfolio: Berserker rages, destruction of evil
Domains: Death, Destruction, Madness, Protection, War
Symbol: The severed head of a demon
Favored Weapon: Falcata
Among the nine gods of Korife, Kyranos is something of an oddity, a plainly wicked god who is none the less seen as necessary, unleashed upon the enemies of the gods in order to destroy them utterly. Indeed, many of his clerics pray to keep his influence at bay, rather than to invite his power. Despite his murderous madness, Kyranos is said to dearly love his fellow gods of Korife, and to despise other evildoers; clerics speak of visions of him wearing the still-bleeding hides of fiends who thought to seek his allegiance.
Menos, the Moon:
MENOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: The moon, the tides, the night sky, revelry
Domains: Chaos (Whimsy subdomain only), Darkness (Moon subdomain only), Void, Water
Symbol: A silver disc
Favored Weapon: Shortbow
Among the primal protogenoi, Menos is the only one to have deigned to join the younger gods in Korife, and enjoys a position of high status as one of the Nonatheoi ruling the city. Often appearing as a handsome young man made of nebulous darkness with one eye held shut and the other gleaming silver, he is known to have many dalliances with mortals, and few of his priests cannot think of a time when their relationship with their god has become more intimate.
MENOS (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: The moon, the tides, the night sky, revelry
Domains: Chaos (Whimsy subdomain only), Darkness (Moon subdomain only), Void, Water
Symbol: A silver disc
Favored Weapon: Shortbow
Among the primal protogenoi, Menos is the only one to have deigned to join the younger gods in Korife, and enjoys a position of high status as one of the Nonatheoi ruling the city. Often appearing as a handsome young man made of nebulous darkness with one eye held shut and the other gleaming silver, he is known to have many dalliances with mortals, and few of his priests cannot think of a time when their relationship with their god has become more intimate.
Polias Zea; Magna Thea, the Great Goddess of the City:
POLIAS ZEA (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Knowledge, love, family, tactics, defense, cities
Domains: Charm, Community, Knowledge, Protection, War (Tactics subdomain only)
Symbol: A drafting compass
Favored Weapon: Longspear
Popularly known simply as Zea, she has several aspects: maiden, virgin, wife, mother, matron. In all of these, she is portrayed as unusually wise and bright-eyed, prone to investigating things. Myth tells that in the war of the gods, Zea rose from her studies and rallied the other goddesses and the young and elderly of Korife to its defense while the male gods sallied forth. She is said to have had many suitors, heedless of gender, and in her curiosity over the subject created a great tome analyzing matters of love, romance, and lust in systematic detail.
POLIAS ZEA (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Knowledge, love, family, tactics, defense, cities
Domains: Charm, Community, Knowledge, Protection, War (Tactics subdomain only)
Symbol: A drafting compass
Favored Weapon: Longspear
Popularly known simply as Zea, she has several aspects: maiden, virgin, wife, mother, matron. In all of these, she is portrayed as unusually wise and bright-eyed, prone to investigating things. Myth tells that in the war of the gods, Zea rose from her studies and rallied the other goddesses and the young and elderly of Korife to its defense while the male gods sallied forth. She is said to have had many suitors, heedless of gender, and in her curiosity over the subject created a great tome analyzing matters of love, romance, and lust in systematic detail.
Scula, Veiled Oracle of Kerafi:
SCULA (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: TN
Portfolio: Prophecy, birds, divination, marriage
Domains: Animal (Feather subdomain only), Fire (Smoke subdomain only), Knowledge, Rune, Void
Symbol: A strip of hide inscribed with runes
Favored Weapon: War razor
Seer of the sacred fires of the city of the gods, Scula is the wife of Deiros, said to appear clad in animal hides that mask her eyes, yet to move with greater precision and speed than most with eyes unclouded. Her relationship with Deiros is believed to be founded on his inability to fool her, and those hoping to be able to trust their spouses often consult priests and oracles of Scula, waiting their turn among philosophers and lesser spellcasters.
SCULA (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: TN
Portfolio: Prophecy, birds, divination, marriage
Domains: Animal (Feather subdomain only), Fire (Smoke subdomain only), Knowledge, Rune, Void
Symbol: A strip of hide inscribed with runes
Favored Weapon: War razor
Seer of the sacred fires of the city of the gods, Scula is the wife of Deiros, said to appear clad in animal hides that mask her eyes, yet to move with greater precision and speed than most with eyes unclouded. Her relationship with Deiros is believed to be founded on his inability to fool her, and those hoping to be able to trust their spouses often consult priests and oracles of Scula, waiting their turn among philosophers and lesser spellcasters.
Thumos, Breath of the Earth:
THUMOS (TITAN)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Portfolio: Volcanos, dragons
Domains: Earth, Evil, Fire, Scalykind, Weather
Symbol: A piece of volcanic stone
Favored Weapon: Terbutje
The dragon-titan, Thumos is the ancient enemy of the gods. Although driven down into the earth in mythic times, it is said that this obsidian-scaled horror remains in the depths of the planet, mellowed by time and defeat from a force of pure destruction into one of smoldering hatred, whose plots reach throughout the centuries. Many lesser dragon-cults are in actuality fronts for his worship, with few but the highest initiates aware of the truth.
THUMOS (TITAN)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Portfolio: Volcanos, dragons
Domains: Earth, Evil, Fire, Scalykind, Weather
Symbol: A piece of volcanic stone
Favored Weapon: Terbutje
The dragon-titan, Thumos is the ancient enemy of the gods. Although driven down into the earth in mythic times, it is said that this obsidian-scaled horror remains in the depths of the planet, mellowed by time and defeat from a force of pure destruction into one of smoldering hatred, whose plots reach throughout the centuries. Many lesser dragon-cults are in actuality fronts for his worship, with few but the highest initiates aware of the truth.
Thymomeni, Wrath of the Divine:
THYMOMENI (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Lawful Evil (Clerics may be any alignment)
Portfolio: Punishment of oathbreakers, blasphemers, and heretics
Domains: Death, Destruction, Glory, Evil (Fear subdomain only), Luck (Curse subdomain only)
Symbol: A broken chain
Favored Weapon: Spiked chain
Like Kyranos, Thymomeni is an evildoer among good gods, yet her character is more reserved and even seen as noble in purpose. In ages past, Thymomeni unwittingly betrayed secrets of the city of the gods to its enemies, and as sentence swore to act as the agent of divine justice. Embodying the notion of evil acts for good purposes, her creations–the kytons–specialize in tormenting the most evil of souls in the afterlife, and it is said that she personally rides forth astride a cowed demon in order to punish those who steal from temples of the gods.
THYMOMENI (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Lawful Evil (Clerics may be any alignment)
Portfolio: Punishment of oathbreakers, blasphemers, and heretics
Domains: Death, Destruction, Glory, Evil (Fear subdomain only), Luck (Curse subdomain only)
Symbol: A broken chain
Favored Weapon: Spiked chain
Like Kyranos, Thymomeni is an evildoer among good gods, yet her character is more reserved and even seen as noble in purpose. In ages past, Thymomeni unwittingly betrayed secrets of the city of the gods to its enemies, and as sentence swore to act as the agent of divine justice. Embodying the notion of evil acts for good purposes, her creations–the kytons–specialize in tormenting the most evil of souls in the afterlife, and it is said that she personally rides forth astride a cowed demon in order to punish those who steal from temples of the gods.
Tryfilli, The Thriceformed God:
TRIFYLLI (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Animals, cowherds, beauty, plants, snakes
Domains: Animal, Charm, Earth, Plant, Scalykind
Symbol: A wreath of clover
Favored Weapon: Sickle
A deity of plants and animals both domesticated and wild, Trifylli often appears to worshippers in three aspects, as a satyr, nymph, and an androgynous faun clad in green. A pastoral deity, they are favored by farmers, rangers, and druids; this has brought their faithful into conflict with the ruling class of Hyraxia and its colonies (including the states of Nueva Rhoa), where satyrs and fauns are deemed low-caste.
TRIFYLLI (NONATHEOI)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Animals, cowherds, beauty, plants, snakes
Domains: Animal, Charm, Earth, Plant, Scalykind
Symbol: A wreath of clover
Favored Weapon: Sickle
A deity of plants and animals both domesticated and wild, Trifylli often appears to worshippers in three aspects, as a satyr, nymph, and an androgynous faun clad in green. A pastoral deity, they are favored by farmers, rangers, and druids; this has brought their faithful into conflict with the ruling class of Hyraxia and its colonies (including the states of Nueva Rhoa), where satyrs and fauns are deemed low-caste.
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Quick question, why does the NG goddess of Death have Undead subdomain? Just curious to the story behind it.
Two reasons: first, I tend to ignore the characterization/rulings that undead, negative energy, and necromancy are innately evil when I'm worldbuilding or DMing. Second, the Death domain's Bleeding Touch granted power was not what I wanted to evoke with Asphodelos's clerics. Given a little time, I may create a different subdomain ("Shades" or something like that) to better reflect benevolent rule over the dead.
I suppose one could also call it an artifact of assuming a dead god's portfolio, as well....