D&D 5E [Forgotten Realms] The Wall of the Faithless

[Saeviomagy]

And the concept that since the wall was created by Ao, the Overgod who certainly isn't good - the question in my mind is, how do the individual faiths react to this?

It's not aos creation, nor does he force kelemvor to use it. It was myrkul's creation.

Since the good gods can't tear it down, wouldn't that just make them proselytise that much harder?

Will, since apparently being cursed with madness still counts as being false, they could just go around forcibly mind controlling people into an act of worship before they die, right?

 

[Demetrios1453]

It's not like a few honest prayers and maybe sacrificing a few coins or a stick of incense is a huge burden.
The price asked isn't steep. The return on investment (an eternal afterlife for some honest and true devotion) is huge.

In a world where the power of the gods is manifested openly and with regularity, and people can actually visit (with some difficulty of course) the various locations of the afterlife, Pascal's Wager is a no-brainer...

 

[Mirtek]

Will, since apparently being cursed with madness still counts as being false, they could just go around forcibly mind controlling people into an act of worship before they die, right?

gaining souls equals gaining power. The evil deities would not stand by while the good deities claim more than their share

 

[Klaus]

I'm not keen on the Wall of the Faithless. Not one bit.

 

[Mephista]

The Wall of the Faithless is basically casting a soul into oblivion. Which, if you go by some real world atheists, is exactly what happens when you die - oblivion. I find it rather ironic that people have issues with that.

You don't worship a god, you don't get an afterlife. Its a very simple transaction. Why should anyone welcome a stranger into their home? What reason does anyone have to give you a place?

 

[Irennan]

Some deities teach to help people in need, no matter who they are, who they worship (or don't worship) and so on. Such deities would --and IMO do-- welcome the souls of people who have lived decently (i.e. they didn't go around hurting others for the lulz) in their home, even if ''strangers''.

 

[Mirtek]

But the other deities would not allow that. Welcoming those souls is a blatant power grab to them

Otherwise even Cyric would brawl with Ilmater over who would be allowed to "aid" those poor unfortunate faithless

 

[Irennan]

IIRC, belief (as in active worship and working towards what the deity stands for) and followers give power to a deity, not how many souls populate their realm. Idk if a soul that is welcomed by a god would (or could) become a worshipper (even if the deity would surely have the gratitude of the soul, assuming that their Realm is a pleasant one. I really don't see anyone being grateful for being dragged into Baator, Hades and so on). Does any source cover this topic?

 

[Mirtek]

Souls are a ressource in the afterlife. That's why demons steal then, devils try to entice them and night hags sell while herds of lavae.

Souls don't stay in their patrons realm forever but are eventually consumed by their deity (from being finally merged with your good patron in a loving embrace to be literally devoured by your evil deity)

Even mere mortals can use souls for a variety of stuff (powering spells, items, etc).

Souls are power, especially to outsiders and among then especially to deities and archfiends

 

[Irennan]

Right, was checking ''On Hallowed Ground'' for info on this topic, I didn't think about all of that.