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

[Xeviat]

4E used "Exarch".

I like Exarch and Paragon. Or Champion?

 

[Li Shenron]

My first instinct thought was "Avatar". I think the original and common meaning is more like a manifestation/aspect or emanation of the deity itself, not another creature chosen by the deity. However I like messing things up a bit and create confusion on anything related to religions in a RPG, and calling saints "avatars" can in fact increase the ambiguity... are they really separate creatures after all? Have they ever been separate from the deity they now serve, or were their mortal lives a decoy? Anything driving inquisitive players nuts is lovely.

After reading the OP, I also had a conversation with a couple of generative AIs on this topic, and they both approved the choice, which makes it even more disturbing...

 

[Aldarc]

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 will try to suggest ones that have not been mentioned yet:

• Devas/Divs/Divines
• Ascendants: I believe the Church of Morrow uses this term in the Iron Kingdoms setting.
• Sanctified: sanctus (Latin) became the basis for "saint"
• Blessed
• Icons

 

[Voadam]

I was originally going to suggest Bodhisattva, but then you said not connected to real world specific faiths.

I think something tied directly into your concept of what they are/do.

Empowered.
Intermediary.
Sanctified.
Glorified.
Godsent.
The Beatific.
Intercessor.

 

[RangerWickett]

Godhand. In the ZEITGEIST setting, the Clergy has some members who are not only supremely pious, but also acknowledged by the community of the faithful as standing for their highest ideals, so they can undergo a ritual investiture that allegedly trans-substantiates their flesh into something holy. Thereafter, they can conjure a visible halo behind their head. Famously, most of them fight unarmed, able to make their hands glow with divine power.

 

[Evaniel]

I like "Exarch" and "Paragon." I think "Exemplar" is also appropriate.

 

[el-remmen]

Right now I am going with Paragon and with (capital H) Hero being a common way to also refer to their time as mortals. This way I can tie the culture of monster fighting adventurers to this ultimate spiritual ideal (at least culturally). It may not be the only way to be a Hero but adventurer stories are the popular ones.

However, I love all the suggestions and may use some as specific titles for some of the example figures. (My idea is that there is an established pantheon in the setting but the players can invent paragons to use as spiritual patrons more specific to their character's background/story/personality/history).

 

[Wolfram stout]

Paragon is probably the best, but I can't help myself from throwing out a couple of angel heirarchy suggestions:

Either Powers or Thrones. There are more obviously, but those two have always resonated with me.

 

[Aldarc]

From what I have seen, I would probably go with Paragons, Icons, or Exarchs.

 

[Yaarel]

As D&D-isms:

Astrals
Supernals
Celestials
Immortals
Positives