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, Knowledge, Trickery, War

 

[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.'