pukunui
Legend
I really like the idea introduced in Fizban's that some of the classic dragon gods are really just uber-powerful greatwyrm dragons that have merged with various echoes across the dimensions. I think it would be cool to play in a setting where the "gods" are all just greatwyrm dragons of various types. (There's also a short section on using dragons as gods in the "Dragons in Play" section of the book that has inspired me.)
For fun, I've been attempting to map various dragon types to the religions in my homebrew setting.
Firstly, there's the Andarian Septry, which is a pretty blatant rip-off of the Faith of the Seven from Game of Thrones. It's a religion that preaches devotion to a single deity made up of seven distinct aspects: the Father, Mother, Warrior, Maiden, Smith, Crone, and Stranger. Some of these are easier to map to a dragon type than others.
Next is the Sisterhood, a trio of halfling goddesses. Yes, there's a little bit of a witch's coven vibe there, but it is somewhat unintentional.
Then there are the Lords of the Golden Hills, the all-male pantheon of gnomish deities. I haven't changed any of them from their typical D&D depictions. Some of them are easier to match then others as so often seems to be the case. I like the idea that they are mostly metallic or gem dragons, since that fits with the earthy nature of gnomes.
I'm having the most difficulty with my elven pantheon, since they're all much more nature-oriented than most dragons are.
My dwarves don't worship gods. Taking a page from Dragon Age, my dwarves revere "the Stone" as a Mother Earth-like entity. They also practice a kind of ancestor worship in which the greatest of them become immortalized as Paragons.
The Lightbringers are another of my GoT rip-offs, a dualistic faith that involves a constant struggle between the Lord of Light and the Great Other. I will make these Bahamut and Tiamat respectively. I might work the destruction of Sardior into this religion somehow as well, because I want to adopt the whole Eberron/First World creation myth (in which Khyber/Tiamat kills Siberys/Sardior and is then imprisoned "within" Eberron/Bahamut) into my setting.
Alternatively, I might scrap most/all of the above and just come up with a whole new pantheon of gods based around the full slate of main dragons in Fizban's (so one each for the metallics, gems, and chromatics, plus deep, moonstone, faerie, shadow, and dragon turtle). That would give me 22 "gods". (I like the book's suggestion of taking the gods of Theros and turning them into dragons.)
I've just shared all this for fun, but I'm open to feedback. Please let me know what you think!
For fun, I've been attempting to map various dragon types to the religions in my homebrew setting.
Firstly, there's the Andarian Septry, which is a pretty blatant rip-off of the Faith of the Seven from Game of Thrones. It's a religion that preaches devotion to a single deity made up of seven distinct aspects: the Father, Mother, Warrior, Maiden, Smith, Crone, and Stranger. Some of these are easier to map to a dragon type than others.
- The Father is all about meting out divine justice and offering his protection to his faithful and the like. Bahamut the Platinum Dragon fits the bill nicely here. Otherwise a gold dragon would do the trick.
- The Mother oversees fertility and childbirth and is seen as merciful and kind. A silver dragon is probably the best fit for her.
- The Warrior covers courage, strength, discipline, etc. A pretty perfect match for a bronze dragon.
- The Maiden is all about innocence, love, beauty, etc. She's pretty hard to pick. I think silver is probably the best, but I've already gone with silver for the Mother, and I don't want to double up. Lacking a better reason, I've gone with brass, since brass dragons are all about talking, and we all know how much young women love to talk!
- The Smith oversees creation, craftsmen, strength in labor and that sort of thing. None of the dragons really fit the bill that well. I've put copper simply because I can't think of anything else.
- The Crone's purview is knowledge, wisdom, foresight. If I use Bahamut for the Father, then a gold dragon fits best for the Crone, I think.
- The Stranger is basically the Grim Reaper. While the Father judges the dead, the Stranger is the one who takes them into the next life. The Stranger represents the scariness of the unknown. In my setting, magic (or perhaps just the darker kinds) is also part of the Stranger's portfolio. I was thinking a topaz dragon would work well here, but I could go with a dracolich of some kind instead perhaps. I would say that the Stranger is opposed to undead creatures in general, but given the Grim Reaper connotations, it makes the most sense to depict them as a skeletal dragon at the very least. I suppose a black or shadow dragon could work in a pinch.
Next is the Sisterhood, a trio of halfling goddesses. Yes, there's a little bit of a witch's coven vibe there, but it is somewhat unintentional.
- Yondalla is her classic D&D self, all about protecting/defending halflings and their culture and such. I think either a gold dragon or a silver dragon makes the most sense for her.
- Cyrrollalee is also her classic D&D self, all about hearth, home and hospitality. Brass is probably the best fit, although it is by no means a good match. Perhaps if I make Yondalla a gold dragon, then Cyrrollalee can be a silver one.
- Avandra (aka "The Lady") is inspired by the 4e goddess of that name. She's the goddess of luck and the like. It's considered bad luck to say her name. Obviously a copper dragon.
Then there are the Lords of the Golden Hills, the all-male pantheon of gnomish deities. I haven't changed any of them from their typical D&D depictions. Some of them are easier to match then others as so often seems to be the case. I like the idea that they are mostly metallic or gem dragons, since that fits with the earthy nature of gnomes.
- Garl Glittergold: Despite having "gold" in his name, Garl is all about humor and tricks and such, so he should definitely be a copper dragon.
- Gaerdal Ironhand: The gnomes' warrior deity. Either bronze or sapphire.
- Flandal Steelskin: The gnomes' god of smithing and metallurgy. Again, there isn't a very good fit among dragonkind for this kind of work, so brass or copper or something?
- Baervan Wildwanderer: The gnomish deity of the wilderness. I've gone with a moonstone dragon.
- Baravar Cloakshadow: The gnomish deity of illusions and sneakiness and stuff. Emerald dragon fits well here.
- Callarduran Smoothhands: The gnomish deity of stone and mining (and the patron of deep gnomes). Maybe a deep dragon?
- Segojan Earthcaller: The gnomish god of death, earth, Underdark stuff. Maybe another deep dragon?
- Rill Cleverthrush: He's into inventions but also the sky, so a crystal dragon he shall be.
- Nebelun the Meddler: This guy has got faerie dragon written all over him.
- Urdlen: The gnomish god of all things evil. Probably a black dragon.
I'm having the most difficulty with my elven pantheon, since they're all much more nature-oriented than most dragons are.
My dwarves don't worship gods. Taking a page from Dragon Age, my dwarves revere "the Stone" as a Mother Earth-like entity. They also practice a kind of ancestor worship in which the greatest of them become immortalized as Paragons.
The Lightbringers are another of my GoT rip-offs, a dualistic faith that involves a constant struggle between the Lord of Light and the Great Other. I will make these Bahamut and Tiamat respectively. I might work the destruction of Sardior into this religion somehow as well, because I want to adopt the whole Eberron/First World creation myth (in which Khyber/Tiamat kills Siberys/Sardior and is then imprisoned "within" Eberron/Bahamut) into my setting.
Alternatively, I might scrap most/all of the above and just come up with a whole new pantheon of gods based around the full slate of main dragons in Fizban's (so one each for the metallics, gems, and chromatics, plus deep, moonstone, faerie, shadow, and dragon turtle). That would give me 22 "gods". (I like the book's suggestion of taking the gods of Theros and turning them into dragons.)
I've just shared all this for fun, but I'm open to feedback. Please let me know what you think!
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