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D&D General What do your gods actually do day to day?


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Weiley31

Legend
Well, Corellon Larethian kinda lounges around all day most of the time doing nothing. In fact, the rest of the Seldarine are more active than he is most days of the week. Not to say he's "completely" lazy, but most of the time he just does what he does and that's that. Oh, sure there is the occasional clash with Gruumsh, MAJOR Elven matters, and dealing with Lolth crap. Plus he doesn't lock himself up in his room constantly so there's that. The one thing that "kinda" annoys the rest of the Seldarine and Sehanine is how he isn't taking the "current" situation with the Drow Schism, due to the Silence of Lolth, serious enough. Or the fact that he seems really *DISTANT/INDIFFERENT to the whole thing or this new breed of "Seldarine Drow." If his attitude toward the whole thing was better, the rest of the Seldarine wouldn't be feeling so unsure about that whole thing. (Opinions are mixed when asked about the subject matter.)

But Corellon Larethian is gonna Corellon Larethian. And there's nothing really anybody can do about that. With Sehanine Moonbow/Angharradh actually having the "best" chance (Advantage) on those Charisma checks to achieve such a thing.

The Raven Queen is busy keeping to herself, doing her job of making sure the dead arrive at the Fuge Plane so they can be assigned to their proper Afterlife. She runs that as a tight ship within her Fortress of Black Ice known as Letherna while also going back and forth through said fortress and the Fortress of Memories. There she reviews through the various memories/mementos/shards that her Shadar-Kai have found/gathered across their journeys and tasks she has provided to them. Occasionally she'll hold a meeting amongst her Sorrowsworn and highest ranked/renowned Raven Knights. Her attitude is like that of a burned out Store Manager of a retail Superstore.(Kelevmor would be the equivalent of being Corporate and her "boss that is the pay grade above her." She answers to him directly in all matters concerning the dead/afterlife). Long as she does the job she "agreed" to, she'll be left alone/to her own devices/autonomy. Which she prefers despite never really wanting the position, in the first place, to begin with.

She's been doing this job for so long that a lot of things annoy her easily and she constantly has to deal with crap from the likes of Vecna, Orcus, Lolth, Khala, and their associated cults/followers. (All four hating her the most, especially in regard to hate towards another Deity. So far, her Shadar-Kai followers have done a good job making sure that all death plots against the Raven Queen have failed.)

She maintains a "lukewarm" rapport with Corelleon, Sehanine, Pelor, and Moradin. Ya they pretty much got her into her role as "Shepard of the Dead," but they pretty much "vouched" for her when all the other Deities wanted the Raven Queen dead at first. Despite that, their interactions are more "business/professional" at best (Think more "kiss, kiss, hug, hug, at big deal dinner parties while flipping the bird behind their backs. Although, Sehanine and Pelor are "okay, I guess" in the Raven Queen's attitude towards them.)

Orcus has a deep, guttural mafia Boston Accent and is constantly complaining about the Raven Queen. Zuggtymoy is constantly being annoyed by Jubliex who legit hounds/trolls/pranks her constantly while rubbing it in her face that her Layer has already become his or is about to. The guy straight up warps straight to her throne room and just constantly circles around/follows her while mucking up her entire decor/floor with his slime. Imagine the most annoying Roommate ever possible and that's EXACTLY how Jubliex is towards Zuggtmoy.(Also his constant laughing gets on her nerves. But that whole Temple of Elemental Evil incident really put her in a tight bind with the whole thing and having such difficulty trying to even kick Jubliex out. So, she's stuck right now).
 

dave2008

Legend
Most of the time they are bored, that is why the meddle in the affairs of mortals ;)

On top of gathering and maintain worshipers and dealing with political affairs within their pantheon and others, they are actively saving the cosmos from destruction from the Far Realm. Unlike mortals who just play at it (and fool themselves into think they actually make a difference).
 
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Scribe

Legend
try to take over the world GIF
 



steeldragons

Steeliest of the dragons
Epic
As per the myths of the mortal species is all we can say. However, some corroboration from elves, dragons, or other immortal (or nearly so) beings that can/have noted things through the ages is possible.

It is a well known fact by the majority of humans on Orea that Desri, the Grey Lady, elder goddess of death, judgement of souls, fate and prophecy sits upon her throne on the Isle of the Dead (which an island formed of coins, jewels, and grave treasures), weaving her eternal tapestry - every thread weaving the pictorial record of every mortal life -only she knows when that thread ends/should be cut. It is her judgement and unspoken proclamation that sends souls down one fork of the river that brings the souls of the dead to Desri's island/land -on to the bright, peaceful, pleasure-filled upper planes- or the other fork -down the rough rock-filled waters into the dark, fiery, agony-striking lower planes.

In the aged (and declining) "Green Kingdom" of Mostrial, however, Desri is said to exist in an impenetrable spired keep. Passing judgement from her throne. One of the towers of the keep, the "tallest," is an infinite tower, the interior of which is lined with innumerable candles in little niches, nooks, alcoves and shelves. Every flame a mortal soul. Only Desri knows -and/or sends her thunder-ravens- the appropriate moment to snuff out a candle's flame (at that mortal soul's physical death). At which point, the soul will begin to make its way to the Isle of the Dead for their judgement -to eternal rest or strife.

The Gorunduun barbarian clans know, and accept as irrefutable truth, that only the Stone Raven shamans (a clan/order of their own) may speak for or to Charalli, the Stone Raven, Queen of (Noble/Honorable) Death. Her days are spent sending out, receiving, and/or seeing through the eyes of the ravens (rooks, crows, other corvids) that witness and report on the deeds and hearts of all Gorunduun. She then extols their valor/honor or condemns their lack of thereof in life and (particularly) on the battlefield, upon their death. It is Charalli's shrill declarations that inform the collection of other clan totems (the Sky Lion, the River Stag, et al) whether a new soul is to be welcomed into the golden ever-feasting halls of the honorable dead or become [eternal, undying] feed for her (literally) ravenous thunderbirds.

And so it goes for all deities, across various cultures or religions, of Orea (though not necessarily all gods have facets/iterations in all cultures, among all species, or even all communities within a culture.).

Astar, the King of the Gods, the Shining Knight, the North Star, is god of kings, benevolent rule, wisdom (in law and justice), good/just leadership, defense/protection (of your people/lands) against Chaos and Evil, light, good, civilization (in a general sense of community and order). He is essentially thought of as on his throne at nearly all times, at the top the sky (the unwavering northern pole star), overseeing the orderly function of the world/Creation and the forces of Good. He receives reports of the goings-on of mortals (other than his own clerics who are kept up on by his armies of celestial servants, except for the highest leveled priests of his largest temples, with whom he communes directly, on occasion), and any immortals that seek to cause trouble or wreak havoc in the ordered heavens or mortal realms. There's not a lot of freedom or free time for those who would be responsible and good leaders.

Sorilore, the All Knowing, Scribe of the Gods, is generally thought to spend his days recording all history of mortals and immortals alike. He studies and organizes all knowledge, constantly being brought to him by the immortal zepharim (his winged servants/agents). At times, he gazes into his Rainbow Mirror to witness events, in any time or space, himself. These often happen to be pivotal moments/events/decisions for creation. This is all done from his crystalline library upon (or within or hidden behind, depending on the tale being told) Orea's smaller, secondary, green moon. Twice per year, at the green moon's newness, Sorilore weeps and his tears fall to Orea's mortal world. Occasionally those tears fall upon/find a soul and it is those individuals -so it is said- that exhibit the most acute psychic awareness/powers. Hence, the well-known pseudo-religious order of seers (and assorted other psychics) known as "The Emerald Tear" has come to be.

The seasonal deities, clearly have a great deal to do in their certain times of the year. But have three quarters of the year to pursue their own interests/pleasures. The Spring Maiden, Jasralne (Bysdan's twin sister), is also goddess of love, beauty, the visual arts, and dance. So, whether it is spring or not, you can imagine the many enjoyable activities her myths tell of how she spends her time. For the halflings, Jasralne is Jepsabelle, the daughter of their divine matron goddess, a demi-goddess of spring, love, flowers and songbirds. She is "known"/said to spend time -moreso than other deities of any species- appearing in visions and even wandering through halfling communities -in mortal/physical halfling form!- in spring time to bring couples together and rekindle older/lost/forgotten loves (among people, for the arts, pleasure, enjyoment of life, etc...).

Syar, the Stag Lord and Summer Prince, god of untamed Nature (particularly animals) and the Hunt spends most of his time (throughout the year), not surprisingly, hunting. This might be after wicked monsters, unknown horrors or demonic villains, as easily as a particular celestial boar or stag who is challenging/clever/"fun" prey.

While the Twilight Prince, Bysdan, god of music and oration (patron deity of bards), trickery and wit, change and Autumn, is has a rather carefree existence at any time. He is likely to be playing tricks or jokes on his brother Syar or generating mischief for other deities. Bysdan feasts, drinks, and is always up for some love-making with nymphs, fae nobles, or other deities (of any gender). The only real "structure" to his existence is his mandatory attendance to any summons to Astar's court, usually to perform in his role as Minstrel of the Gods.

[might as well round out the year, and gives an example of a -generally thought of as- Evil deity]
Winter is the providence of Wyslia, the Veiled Lady, Queen of Winter, is primarily thought of as goddess of winter, but also goddess of despair, hopelessness, and source/causer of woe and strife. All creatures and hardships of the winter fall under her yoke: starvation, winter predators, illness, deathly cold/freezing conditions, and such are all believed to be Wyslia's pleasurable doing. Stories abound of her schemes against her sibling season deities (or other gods), to usurp their allotted roles, so she may enshroud the world in endless winter. According to those who serve her, and among the farthest northern realms, Wyslia [is believed to] actually "descends" to the mortal plane during the winter months to rule over her season, personally, from a palatial fortress of ice somewhere in the impassable giant lands beyond the top of the world. So, scheming, controlling winter, and creating hardship/strife is what she spends her time doing.
 
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darkwillow

Explorer
Faerun or your home brew that has bog standard gods. The gods are granting prayers to high level clerics. They are on a plane in their castle.
But what are they doing day to day? I understand time is different but how do you envision it?
I'm thinking time for them is like a year = 100 or 1000 years. So yeah while they are stuck in their norse gods outfit, it doesn't seem long at all.
In which case they do the usual day to day stuff, which also includes zipping around different worlds, helping move their people chess pieces around, etc.
 

Blue

Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
What do they do? They do everything.

The god of nature is individually growing every sapling and vine, deciding how it will twist and turn and exulting as it turns it's leaves or flowers to the sun. The god of lies motivates each silver tongue, each well-meaning lie of omission, and thunders behind each bold untruth. The god of storms dances with each and every raindrop, faster and faster until each is a tiny part of a might maelstrom.

What do they do? They do nothing.

The god of honor has long put in place what is honorable and what is not, and even gifted most of the civilized races positive reinforcement when it happens. Now they lie back and let the acts of honor draw together, soemtimes a light misting, sometimes a tsunami. The god of time watches it flow, undividable and yet everchanging.

What do they do? They mimic their worshipers.

The father of the gods is like his chosen people but more. He speaks louder, he plans bolder, he lust harder, he cousils wiser, his anger is more magestic and more fear-inspiring. What the people do are pale echoes of what her does all day.

What do they do? Nothing mortals are capable of understanding.

The gods are as farther beyond the people as we are to ants. We at least can see an ant's industry and draw some parallel to our own, even if their mindset and reason for doing such is alien. The gods are beyond that, and we not only don't know what they do, we are incapable of understanding it.

That is what the gods do.
 

cbwjm

Seb-wejem
I've decided that the gods in my homebrew are a lot like the Asgardians in Marvel comics. They may lead assaults against the fiendish lords if they appear to be growing in power; they watch over their brothers, the titans who were imprisoned by the gods; they live, laugh, love, party it up with great feasts; and travel the realm eternal watching for fiendish influence. Their immortal brothers, those without godhood, often travel the planes, sometimes even settling down in the prime for a time which lead to bloodlines of aasimar.
 

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