So i done mucked up, and forgot about the character limit, so i'm going to have to do a little shuffling until i finish this. After that i'll make a new thread and we can finally begin. I'm actually just about done, though i definitely won't spring this out until after christmas, cause, y'know, people have lives.
Your Patron:
Vigath
Vigath is a newly risen God that seeks to dominate all life. He is not a destructive God, but he covets the control of everything. He is associated with War, Death, Domination, Justice and Laws. He takes the form of a human skeleton dressed in the finest armor. Vigath is the only god to once be mortal, a demigod son of a god of war. Born into nobility he sought a knighthood and from there on became a leader of men, he led armies and marched across the land, but was struck down by a dwarven hero. He had prepared for such an eventuality however, and using necromancy that had already been laced into his body rose from the dead. Understanding in death that his army would need to suit his new form he began a campaign to raise and recruit an army of undead. With new perspective he realized that any victory he attained on the material world would be temporary, as there would always be someone more powerful. So he invaded the very heavens and so surprised were the gods that he was able to cut down a god and leech his power. Now a god himself Vigath needs worshipers for more power, before the pantheons regroup and move against him in his moment of vulnerability.
Mame (Force)
Mame has become a harsh spirit of vengeance, and the elves she chooses to grant power are instruments of her vengeance. She no longer has patience for anyone who spoil her forests, and the only punishment she accepts for such is death. She gives her acolytes power over rivers and nature. Mame is worshiped primarily by the elves of Thone Berayi.
Cish Donusath Sutarmuthro Oce
Cish could be called the head of the Zuslenako pantheon. Once a living hero who led the Zuslen people into worship of a new Pantheon, he was a powerful Elementalist, warrior and divine shaman who singlehandedly laid waste to thousands even though his army had been ground to powder. The Zuslen people insist he ascended, but others hold that he was merely killed in battle. Zuslen shamans honour Cish by convincing young goblins to cut their throats in his honor, the shamans annoint themselves in the blood of the fallen and are granted great strength. These goblins commit suicide to join his holy army in the afterlife as part of Cish's honor guard. Cish gives his shamans power over suicide and is worshiped primarily by the scattered goblins of the Zuslenako.
It is accepted (and even a point of pride for some of the invading nations) that the destruction of the Zuslen nation has destroyed knowledge of the more little known "Gods" of the Zuslenako pantheon, so common knowledge is more than incomplete.
Uxu (Forgotten Beast)
Uxu is a petty god who enjoys to inflict debillitation on others. He is not a patron of the deformed, but rather enjoys to prey upon them.
Uxu gives power over Water, Deformity and Caverns.
Arani Ufalo Rupola (Forgotten Beast)
Arani is considered a lesser god in the pantheon and not paid much homage to. Those shamans who do draw power from Arani call upon him in suicide rituals dedicated to Cish, as a sort of religious afterthought. Prayers to Arani are short and to the point, it is this simplicity that has preserved the knowledge of such a minor god in the pantheon.
Arani gives power over Suicide and Caverns.
Thiliri Irugaretho Lomifo (Forgotten Beast)
The Pantheons god of death and funerals, those most respected among the Zuslenako are presided over by Thiliri's priests when they die, who give these heroes to watery graves. Zuslen goblins believe their heroes will be eaten by Thiliri, who will carry them over to a lavish afterlife.
Thiliri gives power over Water, Death, Caverns
Leto (Forgotten Beast)
Zuslen Goblins believe that Leto wants them to consume the entire world, and that the best way to do this is to get in the good graces of other nations, and then to consume them. The followers of Leto see the fallen empire as an oppurtunity to do just that, by spreading their number as citizens of other empires, and then by installing themselves as the heads of power.
Leto gives power over water, treachery and caverns.
Thomo Warosp Oce (Forgotten Beast)
Seen as a kind of big brother Arani, but still a lesser god, he is seen as a kind of handservant to Cish. More often than not priests of Cish also honor Thomo, and an image of Thomo (a kind of mix between a dove and a wasp, the exact details vary) is often used as an honorific of Cish.
Thomo gives power over Water, suicide and caverns.
Cakuth Ewomlaslem (Forgotten Beast)
Cakuth is actually a kind of war god of the Zuslen, followers of Cakuth seek to defeat their enemies by starving them. They destroy crops and livestock, and let the body of the enemy slowly die.
Cakuth gives power over water, caverns and blight.
Nunur Nirurshulmik (Forgotten Beast)
Nunur is sometimes called the whisperer, he tempts others to betray those who get in the way of gathering more power, and he rewards removing such obstacles with yet more power. To a lesser extent he is considered a god of war, but has not been worshiped as such in many years. He is considered a more powerful god in the pantheon.
Nunur gives power over treachery and caverns.
Ricote Vathiwara (Forgotton Beast)
Ricote is a "deity" of vengeance, and requires his servants to avenge every and any slight against them.
Ricote gives power over water, murder and caverns.
Thaci (Forgotten Beast)
Those who worship Thaci honor him through the practice of slavery. They enslave others while themselves being bound by a higher power.
Thaci gives power over water, thralldom and caverns.
Onul (Forgotten Beast)
Knowledge of Onul has been mostly lost but some folklore still exists, stories are still told of a monster named Onul who haunts the dreams of those who slight him, a story told to scare children into behaving.
The Dwarven Pantheon of Vutok Lemis
Kezat (Dwarven God)
Kezat is easily the most powerful deity in the pantheon, he is strict and unyielding, but virtuous. He demands that his people defend themselves and one another with deadly force against any that would threaten them. Kezat takes an active interest in the royalty and war-leaders of Vutok Lemis, and speaks with every king, queen or general within days of reaching the rank. Those who fall to corruption, are those who deny Kezat, and he does not hesitate to punish those he sees as traitorous, and exile them from the "honor of being a dwarf". Kezat priests are warriors and knights.
Kezat gives his warpriests power over war and fortresses.
Os Lertethikal (Dwarven Goddess)
Os may not be as active in the affairs of the nation as Kezat, but she is just as popular and just as culturally important. She demands that her people never oppress and never enslave, but also demands that dwarves live by a highly codified set of ethics. She is extremely popular amongst the commonfolk. While she is not as heavy-handed as Kezat, she has occasionally cursed those who've defied her. The priests of Os are judges of a sort, and have some say in what laws are passed.
Os gives her priests power over Freedom and Laws.
Deler Kadollimul (Dwarven God)
Deler is the God of Light if there ever was one. Not the god of goodness or virtue, but the god of light. He hates anything that the light of fire does not touch (the primary source of firelight being the sun). His priests likewise never leave the touch of light, underground they carry numerous torches, and while abed they light candles. Metal is valued by those who follow Deler not for it's strength or rarity, but it's ability to reflect light.
Deler gives his priests power over Dusk, Twilight, The Dawn, The Sun, Fire and Metals.
Odgub (Dwarven God)
Odgub is the brother of Deler, and he delights in furthering his brothers fear of the dark with stories of what lies within it. Odgub considers himself a kind of adoptive father of night creatures, and eagerly protects and guides them. His approach to mortals is a little more sinister, he enjoys playing on their fears and making them reality, he takes fantasy and shapes it into something twisted and horrifying. Followers of Odgub protect and aid night creatures and vampires.
Odgub gives his priests power over Darkness, the Night, Nightmares and Dreams.
Sikel Nalthishluslem (Dwarven Goddess)
Sikel is most known for he participation in the Titan War, where she tricked Kezat into a titan ambush. She had hoped to fill the power vacuum when he was defeated, but Kezat slew or drove off all of the titans who had been waiting for him, in anger Kezat chained Sikel to a wall in his heavenly fortress. Sikel encourages her followers to trick superiors, but also demands that they are not caught and punished.
Sikel gives her followers power over treachery.
Tobul (dwarven goddess)
Tobul is the dwarven goddess of agriculture, she encourages her followers to treat animals kindly and harvest responsibly, always leaving enough plants and animals to keep the cycle of agriculture going. Her priests are peaceful farmers.
Tobul gives her shamans power over rain, plants and animals.
Egul Tamoltaron (Dwarven God)
The husband of Tobul, Egul is given to bouts of anger. When Tobul and Egul argue it creates great thunderstorms. The priests of Egul situate themselves high in the mountains and brave the wind and rain naked whenever there is a storm. Egul is not a kind god, a great contrast to his wife.
Egul gives his followers power over Wind, Storms, and Thunder.
Comnith Iklistad (Dwarven God)
Comnith is an enigma even to his fellows once a deity of thought and reason, he mediated conflicts between gods, he was once tricked into saying something uncouth, and cut his own tongue out in penance. His priests seek solitude and quiet to think upon the matters of the world and only in great turmoil are they distrubed by others seeking guidance, the most dedicated follow the example of Comnith, cutting out their tongues if they say anything that causes harm, cutting off fingers if what they write does the same.
Comnith gives his monks power over silence.
Shin Shashdonneb Abalonget (Dwarf Goddess)
Shin doesn't have much of an organized religious following, but the average dwarven smith or miner honors her with short prayers constantly. Those who do dedicate their lives to shin are some of the greatest craftsmen in the whole of the empire, creating functional yet extravagant pieces, and never even leaving the mountain underground they call home.
Shin gives her holy craftsmen power over mountains, minerals, jewels and wealth.
Cona Analitheme (Forgotten Beast)
This creature was discovered by the current general Nil not even a decade ago, this being before she was aware of the Kings vampirism she eagerly told him of the creature she encountered. Since then, the King has made worship of Cona public, and is working on establishing a priesthood. Cona is described as "Terrifyingly Dragonlike".
Cona gives power over Thralldom and Caverns.
Thiliri Irugaretho Lomifo (Forogotten Beast)
Digging through the ancient royal records the King discovered a creature discovered by a recently dead hero-general. Though many accept that the general would have despised being honored for it, the king has declared him a national hero for discovering "the newest member of the pantheon". Thiliri does not have much of an established priesthood yet, but it's slowly beginning to take shape.This has attracted some zuslen goblins into the fold, as it is one of the very same "gods" that they worship.
Thiliri gives power over Water, Death and Caverns.
The Human Pantheon of Mong Pis
Caspa Atalcilko: Caspa is a dragonfly god who is quite popular among the common folk. To Caspa, the greatest bounty is the freedom of the sky and all it holds. Caspa is an inspirational figure in the Mong culture because he helps the commonfolk to believe that anyone can be free as long as they look to the sky for example. Though Caspa is proud and sensitive to insult, and prone to petty fits of anger against any who would besmirch him. The image of Caspa is often minted on coins.
Caspa gives his shamans power over the sky.
Slupi: Slupi was once a god much more wild in nature, who merely encouraged his worshipers to indulge in any awful act they desired. Over time his portfolio has expanded, and with it he has gained prominence. Slupi has become the worst kept secret hiding in the closets of more than a few nobles, and while his worship is depraved and wicked no one dares speak ill of it. Now Slupi asks for restraint from his followers, to ensure that they stay within his strict rules, though many find his rules not so restricting, as he allows even the most unspeakable desires to be fulfilled in private. Slupi takes the form of a great panther, and is known to be very shortsighted at times.
Slupi gives his cultists power over lust, depravity and discipline.
Tul Emthaalmef: Tul is the god of fire imps, though is worshiped widely by smiths, fire mages and even some farmers who respect him for his power over the seasons. Tul is mischievous and even a little cruel at times, but can be appeased through sacrifice.
Tul gives his priests power over seasons, volcanoes, fire and metals.
Ledir: Ledir is a goddess greatly respected for her inquisitive and intellectual nature, and is the one closest to the hearts of scholars. The worship of Ledir is commonplace among the high society of Mong Pis, which is ruled primarily by well educated mages. Ledir approves of the arrangement, she says that the intelligent and well educated should be the ones to rule.
Ledir gives her followers power over scholarship and wisdom.
Islas Mogastcusith: Islas is the most powerful and influential god in the pantheon, with Ledir his first and only permanant wife being a close second. Islas is a complicated and at times terrifying god. Islas has great command over the dead and afterlife, he himself once died, killed by his rival Kezat, but he rose himself from the grave. Islas could be considered the one god that the dwarven Kezat fears. Islas is a great warrior and demands that those who follow him fight fairly and valiantly. Though Islas is a god of death he had a great hand in creating the mortal races, and is the one who masterminded the idea of procreation and the rituals surrounding it. He himself has taken mortal wives on occassion, giving powerful demigod children to the world, the most significant of which is the newly annointed god Vigath.
Islas gives his priests power over valor, death, rebirth, creation, birth and marriage.
Gorbe: "She who dwells on the cusp of everything." Her detractors call her a half god, never fully involved in anything, but many see her as an important mediator and facilitator in the divine politics of the Mong pantheon. She never dedicates herself fully to any one side of any argument, but she encourages all involved to set differences aside and put grievances in the past.
Gorbe gives her "Mediators" power over dusk, twilight and forgiveness.
Force of the Renireola Elves: Irene
Irene is kind and patient, even though the felling of trees and the killing of animals in her forest brings her pain she tries her utmost to be tolerant, though will react with force against excessive harm to the forest. Irene has been convinced that night creatures are her foes, and has never aided them, even if she does not directly wage war on them.
Irene gives her acolytes power over rivers and nature.
Civilisations:
I've decided that two important things will influence the cultures of civilisations. Firstly the kinds of gods that they worship, the gods and their portfolios shall define a set of core values to show what the people of a civilization value and respect. Those gods with large followings of worshipers and temples built in their name will be more powerful and more influential to a society. The second deciding factor will be how they interact with other cultures. How often they go to war, why they go to war, etc. The story for goblins and kobolds however, will be different. In lieu of gods, these societies will use whatever megabeasts and titans and such happen to be in or near their territory, of particular influence will be any demons that rule over them, the races may also worship forgotten beasts if a member of their civilization has entered the underground area of a forgotten beast (to tame animals). This helps explain why kobolds are so pathetic, they don't have much in the way of divine magic because demons overlook them and they don't seek out forgotten beasts.
More Information can be discerned either in game, or by picking a civilisation that has at least some dealings with the civilisation in question.
Thone Berayi (Elven Civilisation)
The Thone were once a very peaceful civilisation, but they have become paranoid and xenophobic. They have grown skilled in war and are well known for their hatred of dwarves, particularly those of the Arbostatir, many ethnically Thone elves live with the Arbostatir. The Thone have entered a time of relative peace, something that they have not had for a long time, but they maintain readiness for war, and do not allow dwarves into their territory. The elves maintain that once long ago the dwarves did something unforgivable.
Zuslenako (Goblin Civilisation)
The Zuslen have changed greatly over the span of time, historical records of Zuslenako are known to be confusing and sometimes contradictory. One thing is universally accepted though, once the goblins were led by a powerful champion, and once that champion took to the field of battle thousands were slain by his hands. Now Zuslenako is a battlefield, there is no functioning government and no economy to speak of, several empires regularly march armies through the land to keep them cowed, the armies rarely meet resistance of any kind, they simply take what they can and leave. Zuslen would no longer exist if the empires poised on all sides could agree on how to divy up the territory, though in truth the diplomatic argument is more symbolic then anything, no one wants the wartorn cursed land that is Zuslenako, and even the Zuslen goblins are more common among the people of other races than in their own country.
Vutok Lemis (Dwarven Civilisation)
The Vutok are a people deeply divided on most everything, and their culture is filled with a great many seeming contradictions. Of highest importance to them is freedom, but eqally important to them is the rule of law, values that occassionally conflict. One thing receives the unanimous support of the Vutok, and that is the defence of hearth and home, every able-bodied dwarf is expected to be able to rally to banners and support war in defence of the country. The Vutok treat plants an animals with unusual concern for a dwarf, and are unussually progressive in plant harvest and the treatment of livestock, they also treat night creatures with healthy respect in addition to fear, but will not hesitate to defend themselves from such creatures.
Recently the King of Vutok, a dward named Ushat was revealed to be a vampire. In response, the king declared the killing of vampires to be illegal, and the feeding of vampires legal, he revealed that since he became king he had been searching the royal records for the knowledge he needed to draw power from forgotten beasts, and has released the knowledge he has gathered to the public, as well as his intention to find more. This is not the first time this has happened, but for many many years the kings and queens since this and the last vampire ruler have worked hard to root out the corruption of their empire, and now all their work is undone.
Mong Pis (Human Civilisation)
Mong Pis is an empire ruled by powerful mages, chief among them being the greatest necromancers in the world. For longer than most anyone can remember the Necromancer Thon Ngokeslul has led the empire into achieving great magical power. He teaches some of the most advanced dark magic in the world and has a say in the appointment of most any position of power. He maintains close ties with the only mages tower in the known world Ofacasser but does not stay there, rumor has it that that even the masters of the tower bow to his will. The people of Mong Pis are highly classist, it is very difficult to get anywhere without both magic and money, the common people are often trod upon, but there are some among the countries magical overlords who seem to feel genuine compassion for their subjects, Thon is not among them. Some of the magical knowledge has trickled down however, and the country is riddled with dabblers and folk mystics. While knowledge of truly useful magic is not held by all, cantrips and general knowledge is fairly common, among those with means it is a very simple matter to obtain enchanted goods in Mong Pis.
Renireola (Elven Civilisation)
Renireola is a civilisation that holds strong to elven values and that for the most part manages to remain very peaceful. It's people are kind and friendly, and can remain so partially because they are so attentive to others, it's hard to sneak ill intent past a Renireolan elf. For most of remembered time Renireolans have managed to avoid war entirely, they've had skirmishes with the armies of Mong Pis but such battles have tended to go badly for both sides and so measured silence is all that is ussually exchanged between the nations. The military of Renireola is focused primarily on the battle with creatures of the night, and the night trolls have taken up arms in kind to battle with and torment the elves, it is a guerilla war with no end in sight. The one time Renireola could ever be said to have mobilised true armies is in the battles with the legendary Cish, the elves were the ones to truly turn the tide of battle against Cish, though at great cost, even now they are instrumental in keeping his fallen empire fallen, and are quick to put down any goblin warlock who claims to have found a way to resurrect the ancient hero.
General Rules: If a creature has a portfolio (example "Is associated with fire) then that creature has a certain degree of divine magical power over that thing. That creature can also bestow such powers on others, to a lesser extent.
Titans: Titans are among the three original kinds of creatures to dwell on this plane of existence (alongside Forgotten Beasts and Forces), and were among the first to dabble in the creation of animals and in shaping the landscape of the world. None of the Titans are technically related to one another, but the classification has been made because they did band together to help shape the world, and also to battle against the Forgotten Beasts when boredom took them and war seemed a glorious distraction. Then the gods set their sights on the multiverse, and saw the material plane as a perfect place to set roots. The Titans did not take kindly to the intrusion, and took up arms against the gods, but were ultimately defeated. They have come to accept things as they are, but bear strong grudges against the gods all the same, they have decided to spite them by luring mortals from their worship with the promise of power.
Forgotten Beasts: Forgotten Beasts could be called kin to Titans, though that is inaccurate. Forgotten Beasts are a sort of loose faction formed in opposition of the Titans reckless toying with the world. When the gods came to the material plane the Forgotten Beasts fled into the depths of the world rather than get involved in a conflict they saw as without point. They carved out great caverns and created great lakes beneath the surface of the world and they waited for the conflict to blow over. When it did, the Forgotten beasts no longer had any interest in the landscape above, it was too different than when they had left it, they were much more comfortable in the spaces they created. Over the span of endless time the Forgotten Beasts have grown mad, they create horrifying creatures without purpose, and they do so without intention. Unlike their cousins above the Forgotten Beasts have nursed a hatred of the gods, and would see them all die if they could. The seclusion of the Forgotten Beasts has granted them a unique power, each one may visit the dreams of a depraved mortal and make that mortal their Avatar, giving them power and a piece of the creatures insane personality, once such a mortal dies they may merely select another.
Megabeasts/SemiMegabeasts: Megabeasts and their ilk were created during the war between gods and titans either by accident or as the weapons of war, each of them more or less contains a piece of the essence of both gods and titans and so shares their ability to give worshipers power, to a lesser extent and to a limited number. For Megabeasts this number can be many dozen, but for semi-megabeasts the number rarely reaches ten.
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Topic: In Progress: DF Cultists! (Read 3957 times)