D&D 5E Domains of the Valar

[Hriston]

Keeping in mind that cleric domains are for describing clerics, rather than their deities who are complex individuals whose personalities cannot be captured with just a few descriptor words, I would like to present to you, dear ENWorlders, a list of suggested domains for the Valar. For this purpose, I've used the ten domains found in the PHB, DMG, and XGtE. I've also tried to limit the number of domains for each Vala in keeping as much as possible with the lists found in the "Gods of the Multiverse" appendix in the PHB which have between one and three domains for each deity. Some of the Valar on my list have more, but there are other domains that could fit which I edited down to what I felt was essential.

Now, of course, there is only one god in JRR Tolkien's setting, but I didn't put him on the list. The Valar are explicitly (in the texts) not gods and not meant to be worshipped. Personally, I refer to most of them as "Archfey" when using D&D terminology to describe them. However, characters in Tolkien's stories do sometimes call upon them by name and, at times, receive their intercessions. In this way, I think they are apt to fulfil the function of a pantheon of beings of godlike stature for D&D purposes, such as serving as the patrons of clerics. I'm following the D&D convention of categorizing gods as "greater" or "lesser" but have used the word power instead of god/goddess.

So here's the list roughly in order of power or "majesty", except for Melkor/Morgoth whom I've put last, enjoy:

Domains of the Valar

1. Manwë Súlimo, the "Elder King", greater power, suggested domains: Knowledge, Life, Light, Tempest, War
2. Varda Elentári, Queen of the Stars, greater power, suggested domains: Knowledge, Life, Light
3. Ulmo, Lord of Waters, greater power, suggested domains: Life, Nature, Tempest
4. Yavanna Kementári, Queen of the Earth, greater power, suggested domains: Life, Light, Nature
5. Aulë the smith and master of crafts, greater power, suggested domains: Forge, Knowledge, Light
6. Mandos (Námo) the Judge, Doomsman of the Valar, greater power, suggested domains: Grave, Knowledge
7. Nienna, Lady of pity and mourning, greater power, suggested domains: Grave, Life
8. Oromë, Aldaron, "Lord of Trees", greater power, suggested domains: Nature, War
9. Lórien (Irmo), master of visions and dreams, lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
10. Estë the Gentle, healer of hurts and weariness, lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
11. Vairë the Weaver, responsible for weaving the story of the World, lesser power, suggested domain: Knowledge
12. Tulkas Astaldo, "greatest in strength and deeds of prowess", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Tempest, War
13. Vána the Ever-young,"all flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them; and all birds sing at her coming", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Light, Nature
14. Nessa, "swift as an arrow", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
15. Melkor (Morgoth), greatest of the Ainur, no longer counted among the Valar in later days, greater power, suggested domains: Death, Forge, Knowledge, Tempest, Trickery, War

Edited to add Forge and Tempest to Melkor's portfolio in accordance with post #5.

 

[dave2008]

Keeping in mind that cleric domains are for describing clerics, rather than their deities who are complex individuals whose personalities cannot be captured with just a few descriptor words, I would like to present to you, dear ENWorlders, a list of suggested domains for the Valar. For this purpose, I've used the ten domains found in the PHB, DMG, and XGtE. I've also tried to limit the number of domains for each Vala in keeping as much as possible with the lists found in the "Gods of the Multiverse" appendix in the PHB which have between one and three domains for each deity. Some of the Valar on my list have more, but there are other domains that could fit which I edited down to what I felt was essential.

Now, of course, there is only one god in JRR Tolkien's setting, but I didn't put him on the list. The Valar are explicitly (in the texts) not gods and not meant to be worshipped. Personally, I refer to most of them as "Archfey" when using D&D terminology to describe them. However, characters in Tolkien's stories do sometimes call upon them by name and, at times, receive their intercessions. In this way, I think they are apt to fulfil the function of a pantheon of beings of godlike stature for D&D purposes, such as serving as the patrons of clerics. I'm following the D&D convention of categorizing gods as "greater" or "lesser" but have used the word power instead of god/goddess.

So here's the list roughly in order of power or "majesty", except for Melkor/Morgoth whom I've put last, enjoy:

Domains of the Valar

1. Manwë Súlimo, the "Elder King", greater power, suggested domains: Knowledge, Life, Light, Tempest, War
2. Varda Elentári, Queen of the Stars, greater power, suggested domains: Knowledge, Life, Light
3. Ulmo, Lord of Waters, greater power, suggested domains: Life, Nature, Tempest
4. Yavanna Kementári, Queen of the Earth, greater power, suggested domains: Life, Light, Nature
5. Aulë the smith and master of crafts, greater power, suggested domains: Forge, Knowledge, Light
6. Mandos (Námo) the Judge, Doomsman of the Valar, greater power, suggested domains: Grave, Knowledge
7. Nienna, Lady of pity and mourning, greater power, suggested domains: Grave, Life
8. Oromë, Aldaron, "Lord of Trees", greater power, suggested domains: Nature, War
9. Lórien (Irmo), master of visions and dreams, lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
10. Estë the Gentle, healer of hurts and weariness, lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
11. Vairë the Weaver, responsible for weaving the story of the World, lesser power, suggested domain: Knowledge
12. Tulkas Astaldo, "greatest in strength and deeds of prowess", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Tempest, War
13. Vána the Ever-young,"all flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them; and all birds sing at her coming", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Light, Nature
14. Nessa, "swift as an arrow", lesser power, suggested domains: Life, Nature
15. Melkor (Morgoth), greatest of the Ainur, no longer counted among the Valar in later days, greater power, suggested domains: Death, Knowledge, Trickery, War

I might suggest Forge for Melkor too. Or whatever corresponds to making terrific monsters!

 

[Hriston]

I might suggest Forge for Melkor too. Or whatever corresponds to making terrific monsters!

That's one of the domains I'd assigned but cut for him because the domain is very focused on actual metal forging, and we just don't see Melkor doing all that much forging himself onscreen. That was more Sauron's thing, I guess. However, Aulë and Melkor are described as being similar, and it's notable that they each "created" their own race of humanoids. I think of Melkor as a hearth spirit essentially, more fire to Aulë's earth, and I think the domains I chose depict him as a destroyer rather than a creator because, as the Professor liked to say, evil cannot truly create anything of its own making.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Giving Melkor the widest spread of domains makes sense, as "he had a share in the gifts of all his brethren." He might have Tempest as well, but excluding him from Life, Light, and Nature makes sense, at least in his downfall: He can't create life and doesn't have the concern for others to do healing (and indeed, never healed from the one wound he received from Fingolfin); he "began with the desire for light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended into Darkness;" and Tolkien describes him in his later stages as 'being far more capable of coping with something like a volcanic eruption than anything like a tree.'

 

[Hriston]

Giving Melkor the widest spread of domains makes sense, as "he had a share in the gifts of all his brethren." He might have Tempest as well, but excluding him from Life, Light, and Nature makes sense, at least in his downfall: He can't create life and doesn't have the concern for others to do healing (and indeed, never healed from the one wound he received from Fingolfin); he "began with the desire for light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended into Darkness;" and Tolkien describes him in his later stages as 'being far more capable of coping with something like a volcanic eruption than anything like a tree.'

This is an excellent point. Tempest is the other domain I was considering for him that I cut along with Forge. The full list was Death, Forge, Knowledge, Tempest, Trickery, and War. (I also considered giving Tempest to Oromë because of his terrible wrath.)

I removed Forge because I couldn't see him as a patron of artisans who teaches "patience and hard work," but the subclass abilities, especially the fire damage and resistance/immunity, are quite thematic for Melkor. He's described as forging the Iron Crown and possibly Grond, so I think there's a good basis for keeping it.

Tempest is a good fit too. Again, I was having trouble finding references connecting Melkor to actual storms, but I see earthquakes, fire, and violence are all part of the portfolio for this domain. He temporarily seduced Ossë who is probably the purest expression of the Tempest domain, but since, in later conceptions, that Maia is considered a vassal of Ulmo, I'm not sure the association argues for giving Melkor access to the domain. I suppose it's quite similar to the possible relationship between his seduction of Sauron and his affinity with the Forge domain. Clearly, from the discord he introduced into the Music of the Ainur to the wrath with which he is prophesied to return at the End of the World, destroying the Sun and Moon, the fire, confusion, and turmoil instigated by Melkor very much resemble the violence of a storm. His sudden attack, flooding Ard-galen with rivers of flame at the beginning of the Dagor Bragollach, is a good example. Some of the best storm imagery for Melkor comes from his duel with Fingolfin. His footsteps were like thunder as he strode out to meet the High King, and the shadow of his shield was like a stormcloud.

With that being said, I'm going to edit the OP to add these domains back to his portfolio because having a share in the gifts of the other Valar certainly justifies him having a larger number of domains.

 

[RealAlHazred]

I might have given Varda the Arcana domain rather than Knowledge. It's been a dog's age since I read the books, but doesn't somebody abjure a horror by calling upon her? That's the Arcana Channel Divinity power.