Home of the Major Religions Of the Realms and Greyhawk

[Yorik the Great]

Our games have matured some over the last few years and we have been playing more mid to high level campaigns, which has led to more Role playing and character interaction with progressively more powerful NPC's. All of which is good.

The problem is that while the published materials on both the Realms and Greyhawk do an excellent job outlining the social and political structure for the most part there isn't much info on the location or Hierarchy of the major faiths in these worlds.

I assume that for the most part that these religions would follow the same pattern that real world religions do, and that they would develop certain locations of religious importance and those would become the focal points of religions like Vatican City for the Catholics or Mecca for the Muslims. And that the major faiths in the Realms and Greyhawk would have specific ranks within them like real world religions.

Can anyone point out a resource that might contain info like that for Realms/Greyhawk things like where the main temple of Pelor or Hireonious are? and some idea of their hierarchy structure? I remember some of this type of info in the 2nd edition Faiths book for the Realms but I’m not sure if it listed specific locations.

Any info/help on this would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Brother Ezra]

The three "god" books for the forgotten realms lists major centers of worship. Each of these was written for 2nd ed, and uses specialty priest kits to describe the church's clergy, but they can easily be adapted into prestige classes:

Faiths and Avatars
Powers and Pantheons
Demihuman Deities

 

[Henry]

Such a resource would be useful, but I don't know if such exists outside of fan creations.

I can tell you things I have learned just from reading source materials, Such as the major center of worship of Azuth is in Halruaa, for instance, or that some spots such as the Dancing Place in HighDale is holy to at least FIVE different religions, or the Temple to Tymora in Arabel is sort of "The Central Tymora temple" ever since the Time of Troubles, or that Lantan is the major center of Worship of Gond, but the fact is that all this is only gleaned from reading dozens of sources from over the past 15 years for me.

 

[Arnwyn]

Such a resource would be useful, but I don't know if such exists outside of fan creations.

It does (for the Forgotten Realms), and Brother Ezra above has noted the books (which I will reiterate):

Faiths & Avatars
Powers & Pantheons
Demihuman Deities

all note the major centers of worship for each deity, and its specific location in the Realms.

 

[Yorik the Great]

Hey thanks for the Forgotten Realms info guys does any one know if there is any similar stuff for Greyhawk and where?

 

[borc killer]

The World of Grayhawk box set has some regional information about the religions. Not sure why it got left out of the later books as it looks like everything was just cut and pasted from one edition to another with just minor changes.

It is the best source I have found... anyone have a better one?

Borc Killer

 

[grodog]

There isn't really a comprehensive GH set of god references like the FR ones. You can check out Bastion of Faith for some details about the Church of Heironyous, and the Living Greyhawk Gaz for general details about the faiths of the gods, as well as a plethora of OOP products....

You'll probably get a more comprehensive answer over on WotC's GH board at
http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=353 or over at www.canonfire.com

 

[Alzrius]

As has been pointed out, major centers of worship for the FR gods are best found in their 2E resource books. Major centers of worship for GH deities is a bit trickier, since the best thing to work off of there is inference.

I can't remember what city Canon Hazen was in when he used the Crook of Rao to invoke the Flight of the Fiends (I think it was Greyhawk), but that's probably where the home faith of Rao is. Likewise, Lolth's greatest temple on Oerth is the Fane of Lolth in the Vault of the Drow.

 

[Wycen]

For Greyhawk, there are mostly areas known for particular faiths or gods through various deeds and worship.

For example, while you can find the Baklunish deities worshipped by many people, you'll find them the strongest in the Sultanate of Zeif, Ekbir and other areas close to there.

Canon Hazen who used the Crook of Rao I think was in Veluna when he did that and Rao, Cuthbert are probably very important near Veluna, Verbobonc and the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Theocracy of the Pale is pretty much all about Pholtus if I recall correctly.

The Scarlett Brotherhood is all about the Suel gods, while Hepmonland has different Aztec-like deities.

Iuz is obviously big in his own realm and Heiro-whatever is big in areas that were fighting all the fiends released.

Hextor was big in the old country ruled by Xaene, the Great Kingdom.

Finally, when I read your subject I thought, Oh, you want to know where the dieties themselves live, but then I read your text. There is a mythological place in the Drawmij ocean, called Alzor Alq, (I think), which is supposed to be the legendary place on Oerth that the gods, (maybe just Baklunish?) meet and people, if they find the place, can speak with the gods.

 

[vox]

Trithereon

The largest church in Verbobonc is the church of Tritherion. I think that is the main temple for the faith. It's where Fragarach was stored before the battle of Emridy Meadows & the fall of the Temple of Elemental Evil.