D&D General Developing a Homebrew Pantheon: Another word for "Saint?"

el-remmen

Moderator Emeritus
As I am working on my Vanity Frankenstein 5E rules, I also also developing a homebrew setting that the rules changes are built from - or sometimes creating aspects of the world to correspond with rule changes I am making - so it is a lot of back and forth that I actually enjoy (when I get tired to working on mechanics I switch to lore which usually inspires mechanics, which in turn makes me make more lore).

Anyway, one of the aspects of the 13 Gods, is that they are broad and abstract beings who have a range of servants, most of whom are mortals who were raised up into celestial service for their great acts in life. While clerics (and paladins) may directly venerate one of the 13 gods, they are just as likely to more directly serve one of those lesser beings (many of which have connections to particular locales and/or Peoples). For now I am calling them "Saints" and they are a kind of demi-god - but I would love a better term than "saint" or "demi-god" and I definitely don't like "angel."

Anyone have some suggestions? I have been googling around for possibilities and have been coming up flat. I will continue to use "saint" if I must - but want to consider options.

A friend of mine suggested "Divines" (since they are mortals risen up to divine status) but while I think that is moving in the right direction, the word "divine" itself is too commonly used for the gods and things related to them that it feels too generic and potentially confusing.

Similarly, another I considered "Exalted," felt like it had baggage from another RPG.

So I guess, what I want is a recognizable word with clear religious significance but that is not tied to a specific real-world faith (though that is not why I don't like saint, I just find the word awkward in some constructions) and might suggest a mortal blessed with a portion of their god's divine spark to help guide others or act as a go-between for mortals and immortals.
 
Last edited:

log in or register to remove this ad




Exalted, Companion, Paragon?

A saint normally is essentially a role model, might have luck with synonyms for role model (that's where I got Paragon).
I like Paragon. That also feels like it is in the right direction and it might win me over. Thanks.

Still would love to hear any suggestions - sometimes even one that doesn't seem quite right can shake something else loose.
 





I would go "old school" (shocking, I know) for a mortal raised to "divine/demi-god" status and use "Immortal."

I am also fond of both "Paragon" and "Exarch" (and use both of those terms in my homebrew, but not in/for this situation) as suggested above.
 

Remove ads

Top