Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6759213" data-attributes="member: 92511">I would certainly go with the cardinal 4 + Spirit as your 5th. When working on a makeshift game system built around "4s", I came up with a pantheon of 8 deities, a lord/king and lady/queen of each of the cardinal elements.I would also direct you to my D&D "Tarot-based" deck of many things that is using an air/earth/fire/water/spirit 5 suit system and the races/elements of life associated with each. It's in my blog, here on ENworld.Off the top of my head, I believe I went with something like this (plus new thoughts for this 5-deity pantheon set up).Humanity, we can presume will worship each of these gods in varying importance from region to region. Seaside communities will, undoubtedly revere the water god/goddess above others, desert empires probably revere the fire and earth deities with their version of the water deity being some kind of savior figure, mining communities/peoples are going to hold the earth god in the highest esteem, etc... Other than that...Air: An Element of Change (Chaos). Most opposed to/by the Deity/Element of Earth. Concerns with: Intellect & wit, Communication and, thereby, Knowledge in general, Inspiration, Individuality, Frivolity, Music/Song, [most] Weather, "the breath of" Life, also Fickleness (ranging from the gentle refreshing breeze to the destructive howling gale). This deity is the patron most revered by Elves but enjoys followers among gnomes, halflings, some dragonborn, and many humans that value intelligence and knowledge.Imagery: a cloud, spiral, or swirling and/or feathered/wing designs. The colors blue, grey, and white. Associated with the flickering stars, the season of Winter, birds in general (eagles in particular), spears, bows and other ranged/missile weapons.I'd go with a sky-god/all-father kind of guy here...but a woman (to counter Earth whom I would make a male god). The Celestial Queen. Uber-ruler/superman/warrior-wizard of the cosmos. Gatherer/Knower of all knowledge. More pensive/thoughtful [female] Odin than lightning-flinging [female] Zeus but very capable in a battle if you force her/she needs to be.Water: An Element of Solidity (Law). Most opposed by the Deity/Element of Fire. Concerns with: Emotions, particularly romantic love, Devotion, Dependability, Peace & the stability thereof, Healing, Weather [in/near coastal areas], more closely associated with Green/Plants and vegetative growth (vs. the stone and ground of the Earth deity), this combined with the area of weather make the Water deity a primary Agricultural figure among many peoples, also Fanaticism and/or Vindictiveness (an over-abundance of devotion or emotions gone imbalanced/out of whack). This deity is the patron most revered by halflings but also enjoys followers among all races that value agriculture, healing powers/prowess, and/or peace.  Imagery: waves, rain/tear drops, fish scales and tails. The colors blue, green and white. Associated with the Moon, the season of Spring, all aquatic/marine life (dolphins in particular), no weaponry but wreathes and wildflowers.I'd probably go with some kind of motherly female, matron spellcaster here. The Healer/Lifegiver type. A water-themed Demeter or Isis type. But I could see going the emotional/scheming/vindictive Hera or Aphrodite types also. Perhaps two faces of the same goddess...a "high tide" and a "low tide", as it were. Fire: An Element of Change (Chaos). Most opposed by the deity/element of Water. Concerns with ["burning"] Passions in the sense of "untamed" emotion, [not surprisingly, this often leads to], personal Power [specifically the accumulation thereof], Battle and War, also Light, Crusading (as in a passion for a cause), the act of "Creation" [and so artistry in many forms], also Destruction and [insatiable] Consumption, in general. This deity is most followed by -and by some races viewed as a race solely for- humans: Burning bright and fast, consuming all in their path, etc... Of course, dwarves and other races that would enjoy empire-building, the arts of [or seeking success in] battles/war or revere the sun would also worship this deity in some form.Imagery: Flames, blood, dragons, lions, swords. The colors red, yellow, and black. Associated (unsurprisingly) with the Sun and the season of Autumn, wild animals in general (lions in particular), and all [bladed/melee] weaponry, in general.The Male [in his youth or prime] Warrior archetype. An Ares or Apollo. A Ra or Horus. A Balder or Frey...in fact, a deity emobidying elements of all six of those would be this guy. Earth: An Element of Solidity (Law). Most opposed by the deity/element of Air. Concerns with [physical and metaphoric] Strength, Immobility, Monetary wealth [and the accumulation thereof], Protection, Mining/Stone-/Metalworking [of course], craft work in general, but also Greed and [limiting/detrimental] Stubborness. This deity, obviously, is the most revered of dwarfkind, but also enjoys many followers among gnomes, halflings, certain dragonborn, many many humans and anyone else obsessed with the acquisition of wealth [and the "earthly power" gained thereby].Imagery: Rocks, mountains, anvils, hammers, and coins (particularly gold). The colors brown, gold, and grey. Associated with the Earth/ground (vs. anything in the sky), the season of Summer, hammers, picks, chisels and other mining or metalworking tools.An aging male, possibly dwarfish or otherwise deformed, but surprisingly effective in battle but often outwitting their opponents versus direct combat. This is Hephaestus with touches of Heimdall and Loki...or just use Moradin. haha.Spirit: An Element of Balance (Neutrality). Not opposed by any of the other four, though there are constant tensions among them all. Concerns with the "spark" of Life, the Afterlife and so the transition thereof, i.e. "Death", the Unkown, particularly unknown Knowledge (e.g. prophecy or fate), Secrets in general, "the Veil" between the living and dead [and maintaining the balance to keep that veil intact! Crossing/breaking it is a biiiig no no, for mortals and spirits], Justice and general fairness in dealings (so often entreated among merchants and those looking to make deals), etc... This deity is probably worshiped the most by humans (whose short lives give them significantly more cause for concern over death and the afterlife), but enjoys a degree of reverence among all mortals and particularly those seeking unknown or hidden knowledge and those seeking to fight/destroy the undead.Imagery: the hourglass, the candle, spiders, webs, and curved scythe/sickle-like blade. The colors white, grey, and black. Associated with darkness/night, desolation, those times/dates when one season transitions into another, life & death, shears, scythes, sickles, and [mistakenly] the undead.I'd go with a faceless, sexless, robed figure here. Kind of a Grim Reaper/Ghost of Christmas Future that is embodied/visualized as the figure in the heavy hooded robe, that can communicate its intentions, but never actually "speaks." Just a bottomless blackness within a hood.</blockquote>

Verification