D&D 5E Domains of the Valar

[Hriston]

I feel like there might be a place for Arcane Abjuration in the Valar domains, just not sure where.

For me, Arcana, as the domain of pure magic, would be associated with the Music of the Ainur, the original "spell" the effect of which was to create the World, and the Valar associated with that domain would be those who had the chiefest parts in the Music and are described as strong singers or as receiving the most musical instruction and having the most knowledge of music. Magic is also described in Tolkien's works in terms of craft and making. The list would comprise many of the most powerful of the Valar: Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Nienna, and Melkor. I might also include Vána, the younger sister of Yavanna, "at whose song the flowers arise and open", who is described as singing a song of spring that helped bring forth the golden tree Laurelin.

 

[jayoungr]

However, there is a Vala who I think would be a good fit for Trickery, and that's Vairë the Weaver, the spouse of Mandos. There isn't much about her except that she weaves tapestries that depict every event from the beginning of Time, which is why I chose Knowledge for her. This left her as the only entry in the list with just one domain. She has a clear connection to the spinning Fates, however, and I don't think it's too far from there to a deity like Fortuna, the embodiment of the whims of fate, both good and bad. So while there isn't much, if any, textual support for it -- I don't think there are any stories of Vairë doing anything tricky -- I think I'll edit the OP to add Trickery to her portfolio.

You might think of it as not so much that she herself is tricky, but that her gifts may manifest or be used in tricky ways by those who look to her.

 

[RealAlHazred]

For me, Arcana, as the domain of pure magic, would be associated with the Music of the Ainur, the original "spell" the effect of which was to create the World, and the Valar associated with that domain would be those who had the chiefest parts in the Music and are described as strong singers or as receiving the most musical instruction and having the most knowledge of music. Magic is also described in Tolkien's works in terms of craft and making. The list would comprise many of the most powerful of the Valar: Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Nienna, and Melkor. I might also include Vána, the younger sister of Yavanna, "at whose song the flowers arise and open", who is described as singing a song of spring that helped bring forth the golden tree Laurelin.

You could make Arcana the "default" domain for these clerics instead of Life. That seems more appropriate -- harkening back to the Song, and keeping healing more rare, as it is in the books.