Faerun - Trimming down the diety list

[Aaron L]

The Greeks alone had more gods than then all of the Realms pantheons combined.

Why are there too many gods in the Realms, again?

 

[Nyaricus]

20-30 deities... *rolls up sleeves*... lets see what we can do here...

okay, first off, we want the 4 elemental lords and ladies:

• Akadi (air)
• Grumbar (earth)
• Istishia (water)
• Kossuth (fire)

reasoning: D&D puts a lot of importance into the elements, so we might as well get 'em out of the way, right? Eldath and Umberlee were both subsumed by Istishia and Talos (with Talos getting the destructive part of the portfolio) during an epic battle during the time of troubles in which Istishia took them both out. Likewise, Valkur was killed during the Time of Troubles and Istishia again stepped in and took his portfolio - though Talos nabbed soem of his followers too. They are all still Greater Gods.

Then we have the seasonal deities:

• Auril (winter)
• Lathander (spring)
• Chauntea (summer)
• Mielikki (autumn)

reasoning: it only makes sense to have a god for every season: so here they are. Ulutiu was finally killed by Auril. Lurue was subsumed by Mielikki after being killed by Malar during the Time of Troubles. Auril is still a Lesser God, Mielikki is still Intermediate, Lathander is Still a Greater God and Chauntea is still Greater as well.

Then we have the gods of life and death:

• Lathander (life)
• Kelemvor (death)

reasoning: people are born and people do die, so these gods make sense. Jergals portfolio gets subsumed by Kelemvor. Both are still Greater Gods.

Then we have the deities of the sun and the moon:

• Lathander (sun)
• Selune (moon)

reasoning: these are around as well, so these deities stay. lathander is a Greater God, Selune is still Intermediate.

Then we have the deities of good and bad luck:

• Beshaba (bad)
• Tymora (good)

Alternatively, you could use the old deity Tyche which was both good and bad luck before being split in half. Both are still Intermediate. If using Tyche, then Greater.

The we have the gods of Justice and of Tyranny:

• Torm
• Bane

reasoning: these two had the big duke-out in the Time of Troubles, so ret-con it and say that Torm took over the Triad when he fought Bane, and the two other gods gave Torm all their power and their portfolios too - and a bunch of minor deities helped out as well. Thus, Torm has taken over Tyr, Imater, Red Knight and Siamorphe. During the battle Bane forced Gargauth and Loviatar to give him their powers during this battle, and even killed Oghma to try to find out how to kill Torm - though he still lost in the end (Azuth came and got the knowledge part of the portfolio before Bane could and Bane didn't want any of the other parts of the portfolio). Bane was pretty peeved at this, and after he killed and took over from his son, Iyachtu Xvim, Bane killed Hoar and took on the portfoilos of revenge and retribution. Torm has now swelled up to being a Greater God from a Lesser, and Bane is still a Greater God.

*whew* that was a good 10 gods and goddess down

Then we have some nature deities:

• Malar
• Shaundakul
• Talos
• Silvanus

Malar killed many during the Time of Troubles: Shillia and Lurue first, whos portfolios were largely taken by Chauntea, as well as Nobanion and Sharess who were making kittens in a thicket when Malar came in and slaughtered them. He then went down to Chult and ripped out Ubtaos heart at the top of a pyramid, taking over his portfolios.
Shaundakul subsumed both Finder and Gwaeron throughout the Time of Troubles, when it became apparent that they wouldn't be able to defend themselves if they ran into Malar.
Talos took over much of Umberlees church when she was killed by Istishia, and even siphoned off a bit of Valkurs followers.
Silvanus witnessed Malar killing Shillia, but he could not (or would not, perhaps) help the dying goddess. He took over her portfolio, increasing his patronism of woodlands and foirests.
Malar is now a Greater God alongside Talos and Silvanus, and Shaundakul is still intermediate - though his church has grown a bit.

Then we have a bunch of disjointed, but important deitites:

• Azuth

Mystra was infact killed during the time of troubles, but was mostly dissolved into the weave. He also took out Velsharoon (though Shar took his portfolios) at this point and tookout Savras as well, forcing him back into that staff of his. When Oghma (who had since subsumed Deneir, who despaired at not being able to be at his scribing table in The House of Knowledge and commited dei-suicide) was killed by Bane (who hoped to find the knowledge on how to kill Torm), Azuth came by and snatched the knowledge part of his portfolio, as well as all of Deneirs. His church has swelled up to be one of the largest in Faerun, contested only by Bane, Cyric, Lathander and Torm. *Done, done, done, done and done.*

• Cyric

Cyric really went psycho and killed off quite a few gods and goddesses in the Time of Troubles. Among them were Mask and Talona. Now, Cyric is even more powerful with thievery and poison in his portfolio.

• Tempus

Tempus came upon Garagos and Uthgar fighting during the Time of Troubles and stood aside as the combatants fought. Uthgar eventually killed Garagos and took his portfolio and immediatly attacked Tempus - who fought a harried battle which he finally won. He is still a Greater God.

• Gond

When Oghma was killed by Bane, Oghma took over the Insiration and Invention parts of his portfolio, and his church is flourishing now. He is still an intermediate deity, but is on the verge of becoming a Greater God.

• Milil

Milil is much the same as before the time of troubles, but he is a much more reserved now that both Deneir and Oghma are gone. He took in many of Oghma's and Deneir's bardic followers and his church has been doing quite well since - so much so that Milil is now and Intermediate God.

• Shar

Shar is still here, lurking and waiting. She is happy that he eternal foe Mystra is now finally gone, but is seething with rage to see how well Azuths church is doing - though she smiles at the fact that she stole Velsharoons portfolio. She eyes Cyric ver closely now, waiting for her chance to take him out and become more powerful, and she is likewise angry at the fact that he killed both Mask and Talona without her even having a chance at them (she was in particular eyeing Talona, for her poisons). With followers growing from Velsharoon and general Shadow Weave users, she is content that her church is safe... for now.

• Sune

Sune is still her beautiful, perfect self, but she is a little more cautious in how attached she gets to her lovers, now that more than half he clientele has been killed in one way or another.

• Waukeen

Waukeen's church is thriving off of all the new gold coming in from Maztica, and is likewise very close to Helms church now, who are one of the main fores in Maztica at this time. Still and Intermediate Goddess.

• Helm

Helm is the same old Iron-clad warrior he always was, and he maintains many of the same ties he did before the Time of Troubles.

--------------------------------

wow, that was a huge long process, but there's your pantheon, less than 30 deities by my count. Enjoy!!!!

 

[BOZ]

I'd kill off ALL the gods and just let the Archfiends and other powers of the planes be the new gods of Faerun.

you know, oddly enough, one DM just about did that to greyhawk instead.

basically, orcus is trying to destroy the world, and graz'zt is trying to save it (for himself, of course)... and the rest of the party (those who aren't graz'zt worshippers, at least) are going to wind up having to help lolth to get home. oy vey!

 

[danbuter]

One thing you could consider doing is relegating gods to certain areas. Maybe Bane is only worshipped around the Moonsea and Waterdeep. Elsewhere, he is considered a minor god at best. etc.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

The we have the gods of Justice and of Tyranny:
Torm
Bane
reasoning: these two had the big duke-out in the Time of Troubles, so ret-con it and say that Torm took over the Triad when he fought Bane, and the two other gods gave Torm all their power and their portfolios too - and a bunch of minor deities helped out as well. Thus, Torm has taken over Tyr, Imater, Red Knight and Siamorphe. During the battle Bane forced Gargauth and Loviatar to give him their powers during this battle, and even killed Oghma to try to find out how to kill Torm - though he still lost in the end (Azuth came and got the knowledge part of the portfolio before Bane could and Bane didn't want any of the other parts of the portfolio). Bane was pretty peeved at this, and after he killed and took over from his son, Iyachtu Xvim, Bane killed Hoar and took on the portfoilos of revenge and retribution. Torm has now swelled up to being a Greater God from a Lesser, and Bane is still a Greater God.

That sounds pretty cool!

 

[Dark Psion]

Another way to trim the deity list down is to assume that some gods are worshiped by different names and aspects.

Maybe Azuth, Deneir, Savras, Leira and Velsharoon are all aspects of Mystra and just different forms she uses in different lands or to expand her faith to those that might not acept her as Mystra.

 

[Nyaricus]

That sounds pretty cool!

Thanks, I actually just made that entire thing up as I went along, going alphabetically To me, alot of that actually even helps the proper plotline - like Bane subsuming hoar and taking over retribution and revenge and whatnot (did you know Hoar even lives on the same out plane as Bane does ). Anyways, glad I have at least one fan

Going on, I took a second glance, and I actually think I'd keep Silvanus in - there isn't a proper Neutral deity for Druids to worship in Faerun otherwise, so just ignore the bit about him dissapearing and Chauntea taking over his portfolio. He's still kicking around

I'll just go edit that now

 

[Nightfall]

Boz,

Really? Huh. I'd think GH is fine with it's gods. Most of them don't interfere that much anyway.

 

[Ciaran]

I'd just go back to the list of 1e deities. The old Gray Box will never steer you wrong!

 

[Nightfall]

Yeah well some times you want to keep a few. I mean a N Kelvemor makes more sense to me.