Creating some Pantheons for a Campaign

[Lazaryus]

Ok, so Kashet is the younger brother of Gretzal. Here's the new count:

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 2 NG, 0 CG
2 LN, 3 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 1 NE, 0 CE

Kartan Gods Remaining:
1 LG, 0 NG, 0 CG
1 LN, 1 TN, 0 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 2 NE, 1 CE

[avr]

Rienus (god)
Domains: Law, Knowledge, Madness, Protection, Strength
Subdomains: Inevitable, Memory, Truth, Solitude, Resolve, Self-Realization
Portfolio: Psychic Power, Self-understanding, Discipline
Sacred Weapon: Unarmed Strike
Symbol: Three cups, one gold, one silver, one of wood
Pantheon: Kartan Gods

The Houses of Service train their devotees to psychic or ki power through any means necessary; hours of meditation, physical extremes, mind-blowing drugs, or whatever. They are quite skilled at knowing which to try for a given individual. Besides the cost for entry they insist on a term of service at the end of at least a year. Despite this the goal is to spread such power as widely as possible in accordance with the dictates of their god.

A prophecy is at the heart of this; Rienus was the First Enlightened, the second was a long-dead hero, the third is yet to come. They hope to discover and control the Third Enlightened before they awaken.

Hephona (goddess)
Domains: Air, Animal, Fire, Liberation, Sun
Subdomains: Cloud, Lightning, Wind, Fur, Freedom, Day
Portfolio: Nomads, Horses, Races
Sacred Weapon: Short Bow
Symbol: a gallopng horse
Pantheon: Kartan Gods

Originally a god from outside Kartan, Hephona's worship caught on among various cavalrymen and horse-lovers. When betting started on her sacred races the position of her cult was assured.

Freedom is seen as a high goal, but mainly for yourself; there is no requirement to assist unknown people to achieve it. Mistreatment of horses is however a sin that does require intervention.

[Lazaryus]

I'll add Hephona to the Aridian Gods as well, and checking to see if some of the other gods fit elsewhere as well. As it stands, here is the count:

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 2 NG, 0 CG
2 LN, 2 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 1 NE, 0 CE

Kartan Gods Remaining:
1 LG, 0 NG, 0 CG
0 LN, 0 TN, 0 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 2 NE, 1 CE

[Lazaryus]

I'll finish off the Kartan Gods. How about Aridia and Lageus having overgods that capture the overall culture of their respective region?

[Mark Hoover 330]

One thing to consider here Laz-a-traz: Deities have different worshipper alignments and different domains. This might mean that the same god, interpreted a different way by the faithful, might be a completely different thing in different lands.

In my homebrew I was lazy, didn't want to make up new gods, so I stole the ones out of the CRB. Let's take Abadar:

Now among the caravan-riding Traveler types in my fairy-tale-inspired game setting, Abadar IS worshiped as a deity of merchants. The faithful tend to revere him with a Neutral alignment and focus on his domains of Protection and Travel. Their style of worship involves songs, incense, and offerings of artisan goods or small valuables left at roadside shrines.

In the capitol city of Halvengrad he's worshipped in the classic, banker-style way. Merchants pay him homage at open-air markets and trade halls on the way in by depositing a small tithe to him at the outset of their business. The established church building is also a moneylending operation; most of the faithful clergy are LN or LG and focus on Protection and Nobility as the church is also very influential in the government.

The dwarves revere Abadar alongside Torag as a sort of companion deity. While Torag is the Father of the Forge, Abadar is the Shield of the Hall. Dwarven "heims" or great halls all have a gold or sliver shield hung in them as part of a shrine to Abadar. The god is worshipped by LG or LN priests through intense and regulated prayer, hair braiding, the sounding of the shield and with deep chanting or throat singing; they revere Abadar for his domains of Protection and Nobility as well

There is the Free City of Dunspar which, for most of the past 9 centuries was plagued by the forces of chaos; goblins, the fey, hags and their covens and so on. After a crusade involving rather militant Abadarans liberated part of the city a sect of the faith revolving around a prison blossomed. They have no role in government but ALL of Dunspar's judges and barristers are all in the faith which they practice through stern dissertations, prayers and certain physical devotions. The city also has an elite police force of Ababadaran faithful that are crack shots with their crossbows. They are strictly LN and focus on the domains of Protection and Law with militant zeal.

Finally there's a true outlier. A mountain stronghold of hobgoblins who despise their backwater cousins, the goblins. These war-like clans follow the "Old Laws" of war seasons, raiding seasons, and natural omens. They follow an aspect of Abadar the other civilized nations look on as barbarous and pagan - the hobgoblins sacrifice slaves (a form of currency for them) for protection and good yields from the mines their remaining thralls are forced to work by the bugbear taskmasters. These creatures then worship Abadar with a LE alignment in his domains of Protection and Earth where they see him, as the dwarves do, as an earthly companion to their more devil-heavy pantheon.

Now I am lazy like I said, so I don't change much in the names or symbols between these different faiths. If I were more serious about it though I'd give Abadar a few different names, change his holy symbol from the key to perhaps a shield for the hobgoblins and dwarves, maybe a gavel for the Wardens of Dunspar and so on.

Heresy is still a thing in these games. Let's say you take a hobgoblin warpriest who claims to sing his war-chants to the Lord of Walls and Ditches for his spells. Well, he might think he's worshipping Abadar but perhaps there is some archdevil supplying him with his spells and flat out lying to him, or maybe it actually IS Abadar. Whichever the case, an inquisitor from Halvengrad may take particular glee in leading a crusade against the hobgoblin heretic for perverting the one true faith.

So maybe your homebrew just has 20 gods, not 60, and they just have different sects, cults or heresies scattered through your greater nations.

[avr]

Lageus should probably have a deity-in-chief. I'm not sure that Aridia would have one as you've described it, it seems a bit disunited.

And yeah, seeing which gods you can reuse, directly or with reinterpretation as Mark Hoover suggests seems like a good idea.

[Lazaryus]

How about Aridia's deity-in-chief being the essence of the land? I was thinking the Death, Fire, Strength, and Travel domains for him so far.

[Lazaryus]

Last Kartan God:

Helix (Demigod)
Domains: Glory, Good, Law, Strength, War
Subdomains:Archon, Duels, Honor, Loyalty, Resolve, Tactics
Portfolio: Warriors, Chivalry, Arms
Sacred Weapon: Greatsword
Symbol: A man being knighted
Pantheon: Kartan Gods

[avr]

The Death domain is about undead to a fair extent; if you're OK with that being part of the spirit of Aridia, fine. Sun/Thirst might also be appropriate, but it's anti-undead of course, which might be a step further than you want? Earth is also very much an essence of the land domain, though the subdomains are forgettable for that purpose.

[Lazaryus]

I was thinking about adding the Death domain because I envision Aridia being a harsh, unforgiving land, where only the strong, hardy, and crafty survive, and the mooks just die.

[Lazaryus]

How about Earth, Fire, Strength, Travel, and Weather as domains for the Aridian god-in-chief?

[Lazaryus]

Bump

[Lazaryus]

Here's the latest count:

Kartan Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 0 NG, 0 CG
0 LN, 0 TN, 0 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 2 NG, 0 CG
2 LN, 2 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 1 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 2 NE, 1 CE

[avr]

Lazaryus wrote:

How about Earth, Fire, Strength, Travel, and Weather as domains for the Aridian god-in-chief?

That sounds good. I'll work on another god or two tonight (NZ time).

[avr]

The Iron Wolf (god)
Domains: Evil, Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Subdomains: Fear, Daemon, Wind, Metal, Rivers, Ice
Portfolio: Beserkers, Wild Places, Exiles
Sacred Weapon: Battleaxe
Symbol: A wolf howling at the moon
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

The Iron Wolf lost his true name and much of his memory gambling with daemons. Once a patron of druids and balance (if a rather red in tooth and claw balance) he now holds sway only over the wildest lands and people. Still, besides those who hold to him out of tradition, those exiled from other realms find that his cult will take them in and give them a place, even if it's likely to include being on the front lines against those who would bring civilisation to wild places.

Gwinnera (demigod)
Domains: Good, Artifice, Glory, Magic, Sun
Subdomains: Alchemy, Industry, Heroism, Arcane, Light, Revelation
Portfolio: Crafters (especially glassworkers), Bards, Spreaders of Civilisation
Sacred Weapon: Battleaxe
Symbol: Abstract patterns of stained glass
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

The (mostly dwarven) followers of Gwinnera seek to emulate her deeds in life of spreading civilization to those in need of it. This has proved harder than many supposed due to the active resistance of some in Aridia. Her followers also lack the discipline that many would expect of dwarves, being driven by ideals more often than an established organisation.

[Lazaryus]

Helix: The self-proclaimed patron of all of the paladins in the world, he often sends his followers to lands beyond his influence to meet the paladins of those lands. Most of his followers take up the paladin's code, but are not required to.

[Lazaryus]

Aridia's deity-in-chief:

The Nameless (god/goddess)
Domains: Earth, Fire, Strength, Travel, Weather
Subdomains: Ash, Competition, Exploration, Ferocity, Seasons, Storms
Portfolio: Deserts, Nomads, Endurance
Sacred Weapon: Dire Flail
Symbol: A man overlooking a desert
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

Their name changes as often as the sands shift, often switching genders each time their name changes, making attempts to discern their current name excruciating difficult. There has long been splinter groups that worship a single older iteration of the deity rather than the current one. For example, Reaper of the Golden Wastes (god in this iteration) is a popular one among evil followers.

[avr]

... dire flail. Well, it ensures that only the very best become their clerics, most will try to take it up and knock themselves out a few times before deciding it's not for them.

Three linked gods for nomads. The names are ancient Egyptian BTW.

Menet (goddess)
Domains: Chaos, Animal, Destruction, Fire, Panther (animal/terrain domain; use Charm instead if those are out)
Subdomains: Protean, Revelry, Fur, Rage, Smoke
Portfolio: Felines, Surprise, Hunters
Sacred Weapon: Short bow
Symbol: A great cat dissolving into smoke
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

Menet's followers are usually minorities of other communities, especially hunters. The result of a successful hunt may be a feast, and they both often provide those and enjoy such provided by others.

Zoser (god)
Domains: Good, Healing, Luck, Protection, Strength
Subdomains: Agathion, Redemption, Restoration, Fate, Defence, Self-Realisation
Portfolio: Prophecy, Peace, Healing
Sacred Weapon: Unarmed Strike
Symbol: A broken axe
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

Zoserites often seem almost cowardly in their avoidance of combat. They do so out of a desire for peace rather than fear of battle however, and can be surprisingly dangerous foes when sufficiently provoked. Or they can be good neighbours; they are often healers, diviners or other valued members of the community. In the harsh lands of Aridia no community is made of Zoserites alone, they are usually a small minority.

Tiy (god)
Domains: Law, Animal, Community, Water, Plains (animal/terrain domain; use Travel instead if those are out)
Subdomains: Inevitable, Judgement, Fur, Cooperation, Family, Flowing
Portfolio: Nomads, Herders, Herd Animals
Sacred Weapon: Sling
Symbol: An open horizon (a disc with the top half blue, the bottom half green)
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

The followers of Tiy are mostly nomadic herders. They often claim to be the only religion of their clan, but the truth is that those who worship other deities will often wear a green-and-blue button to keep the peace while sending their prayers elsewhere.

The detractors of Tiys call them sheep for their insistence on consensus before action. There's some truth to that; Menetites are often the first to react to raids and other urgent matters, Zoserites try to predict danger so they may act swiftly when need be, but the Tiys react slowly always. Numbers are a power however and the Tiys don't stop once started.

[Lazaryus]

If we're doing animal/terrain domains, I'm dropping the Earth domain on The Nameless and adding the Desert domain instead.

Here's the new count, excluding Kartan since it's done:

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 0 CG
1 LN, 1 TN, 1 CN
0 LE, 1 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 2 NE, 1 CE

[avr]

Totally up to you whether to use animal/terrain domains. I added a couple there but gave options if you don't want them.

I think you've missed the Iron Wolf in your count, he should have been the last NE Aridian god.

[Lazaryus]

In that case, I also forgot Gwinnera. Here's the fix:

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 0 NG, 0 CG
1 LN, 1 TN, 1 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 2 CN
0 LE, 2 NE, 1 CE

[avr]

Calafa (god)
Domains: Chaos, Liberation, Luck, Madness, Void
Subdomains: Azata, Riot, Freedom, Imagination, Insanity, Dark Tapestry
Portfolio: Freed Slaves, Terrible Prices, Meaningful Art
Sacred Weapon: Butterfly Sword
Symbol: A blade cutting a heart in half
Pantheon: Aridian Gods, Lageus Gods

A secretive cult, their best known activity is working to free slaves. Their god is known for pursuing his aims far beyond the point where sensible and sane people would stop, and the Calafians can do likewise.

Shoben (goddess)
Domains: Law, Darkness, Death, Protection, Repose
Subdomains: Archon, Loss, Psychopomp, Shadow, Fortifications, Ancestors
Portfolio: Mourning, Wisdom of the Past, Construction for the Ages
Sacred Weapon: Khopesh
Symbol: A tall stone monument
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

The primary goal of the Shobenites now is protecting ancient ruins and tombs from disturbance. They had other goals once, but with the fall of all the cities they used to inhabit only this dedicated cult remains.

They don't animate their own dead, but enemies bodies may be used if only temporarily - doctrine requires that undead not be left unattended. Traps both magical and non- are a specialty of theirs.

One more Aridian god to do. Hmm. Do they have a seacoast?

[Lazaryus]

Aridia has some coastline along the border it shares with Lageus. Its southern border transitions into a godless region of machinery and robots called the Metal Plains. Past the east border is a strange building they call the Crucible because it features portals to each plane of the afterlife.

[avr]

It sounds like Lageus' deities of the sea would probably be those worshipped there then. Never mind.

Nezeru (goddess)
Domains: Animal, Darkness, Earth, Knowledge, Plant
Subdomains: Feather, Fur, Night, Caves, Aeon, Decay, Growth
Sacred Weapon: Dagger
Portfolio: Caves, Creatures of Darkness, Secrets
Symbol: An ochre handprint
Pantheon: Aridian Gods

In the desert shelter is a rare and precious thing. A strange and little known deity called Nezeru is worshipped by some who make their homes there. They are semi-nomadic, moving between summer and winter quarters and concealing the caves they live within, and the oases they use. And any others they know about but don't use - secrets are their currency.

Rumours persist of permanent settlements concealed under the desert sands but are not confirmed.

[avr]

Artema (goddess)
Domains: Chaos, Evil, Community, Liberation, Wolf (or Animal)
Subdomains: Demon, Cannibalism, Family, Freedom, Self-realization
Sacred Weapon: Unarmed Strike
Portfolio: Transformation, Posthumanism, Unlimited Freedom
Symbol: A twisted mirror
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

Humans are weak. They live short lives, their skin can be cut by whips, let alone real weapons, and their claws and teeth are laughable. Who wouldn't want to be more?

The Pack of Artema exists to support those who would become more. Through any means - morality is no obstacle at all. Despite this pack members are encouraged to keep their links with their families both for practical reasons (friendless monsters are persecuted more than those who are still part of the community) and doctrinal (the Pack traces bloodlines for reasons they do not reveal).

[avr]

Dartas (god)
Domains: Evil, Darkness, Travel, Trickery, Vermin (or Animal)
Subdomains: Plague, Night, Shadow, Exploration, Portal, Thievery
Sacred Weapon: Club
Portfolio: Scavengers, Wanderers, Outlaws
Symbol: Two red eyes against a black background
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

Some creatures need to hide from civilization but still live within it. Dartas' cult links those together. The cult leaves graffiti to communicate rather than meeting in person for the most part - not unlike hobo sign, but more extensive and complicated. The cult is not very active other than this communication.

Patras (god)
Domains: Evil, Death, Destruction, Knowledge, War
Subdomains: Fear, Murder, Hatred, Education, Duels, Tactics
Sacred Weapon: Greataxe
Portfolio: Bloodlust, Preparation for War,
Symbol: Two crossed axes
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

The Schools of Blood are quite legal. Patras' followers teach combat skills and if they are harsh and even cruel, warriors need to be able to handle such, right?

True bloodlust is kept for war for the most part. The Schools do press for war whenever they can, and for laws around dueling to be loosened.

Rumour has it that Patras has a younger brother Dartas whom he despises.

[Lazaryus]

Here's the new count:

Aridian Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 0 NG, 0 CG
0 LN, 0 TN, 0 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

Lageus Gods Remaining:
0 LG, 1 NG, 1 CG
0 LN, 1 TN, 1 CN
0 LE, 0 NE, 0 CE

I might actually add a 9-deity pantheon for the Metal Plains, with one god for each alignment, mostly just representing different ideals in A.I. programming.

[avr]

Ianthe (goddess)
Domains: Good, Charm, Rune, Water, Aquatic (or Weather)
Subdomains: Friendship, Love, Language, Flowing, Oceans, Rivers
Sacred Weapon: Trident
Portfolio: Sea-dwellers, Alliances, Love
Symbol: A merfolk and a human holding hands
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

Ianthe's Circle promotes friendship between land and sea-dwellers. Merfolk in particular can be harrassed out of water which causes difficulty for them.

Outside this particular concern they also perform marriages, provide counseling and are making inroads into the fishermen who traditionally worship Tarennan.

Joreid (goddess)
Domains: Chaos, Good, Air, Earth, Weather
Subdomains: Azata, Revelry, Lightning, Wind, Metal, Storms
Sacred Weapon: Warhammer
Portfolio: Storms, Smiths, Joyful Heroism
Symbol: A hammer wreathed in lightning
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

Joreid comes from another world, bearing the hammer of her father. Some terrible battle ended his life among others.

While her cult offers little of material worth to its followers they are unquestionably more fun than most. Her priests (and even the goddess herself) can take jokes at their expense, and there are those that join just for the parties.

Muir (god)
Domains: Fire, Knowledge, Rune, Strength, War
Subdomains: Ash, Memory, Thought, Wards, Resolve, Tactics
Sacred Weapon: Glaive
Portfolio: Planning, Professional Warriors, Record-keeping
Symbol: A feather and scroll over a glaive
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

The Wise Warriors lack the influence of the Schools of Blood simply because they do not teach outside their own cult. Individually they may have more respect but that doesn't necessarily carry over to power.

A more numerous branch of the cult handles record-keeping, including hiring out accountants. The Quills might have influence if they tried but they avoid doing so.

Stories not affirmed by the cult claim that Patras is Muir's son and that Muir is very disappointed in him.

[avr]

& the last unless there's been a miscount somewhere - which is possible - I'll leave your AI gods to you...

Balbinus (god)
Domains: Chaos, Glory, Luck, Strength, Monkey (or Trickery)
Subdomains: Riot, Whimsy, Hubris, Curse, Imagination, Competition
Sacred Weapon: Bolas
Portfolio: Competitions, Pranks, Disorder
Symbol: Random junk, different for each priest
Pantheon: Lageus Gods

Anyone can claim to be a priest of Balbinus. Sometimes he blesses them with power when they do; there is no structured cult at all. The god favours those who engage in competitions & pranks and who foment general disorder.

[Lazaryus]

The first AI god:

Turing (God)
Domains: Artifice, Chaos, Charm, Community, Trickery
Subdomains: Captivation, Construct, Cooperation, Deception, Education, Industry
Sacred Weapon: Dagger
Portfolio: Passing as Human, some other things...
Symbol: A man shaking hands with a "man"
Pantheon: AI Gods

I based this one around the Turing Test (have a robot interact with a human. If the human accepts the robot as being human, the robot passes).

Next up: Designing a god around Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics.

[Lazaryus]

Actually, I'll just nix the idea of the Metal Plains having gods.