Shades of Eternity
Hero
Murphy, God of Chaos, Uncertainty, and Irony
Titles: The Great Spoiler, Lord of Unintended Consequences, The Trickster of Tangles
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Symbol: A broken gear or a knot in a string
Portfolio: Chaos, chance, accidents, irony, and unintended consequences
Domains:
Trickery (representing pranks, mischief, and irony)
Knowledge (Murphy knows everything that could go wrong)
Luck (chaos and serendipity)
Forge (representing the tools and creations that always fail at the worst time)
---
Dogma
Murphy’s teachings revolve around accepting chaos, embracing uncertainty, and finding humor or resilience in disaster. Key tenets include:
1. Nothing is Foolproof: The universe always finds a way to challenge hubris.
2. Prepare for the Worst: But accept it may still surprise you.
3. Expect the Unexpected: And don’t be shocked when it’s worse than you expected.
4. Find Joy in Irony: Even in failure, there is a cosmic punchline.
Followers of Murphy are encouraged to approach life with a mix of pragmatism, fatalism, and humor. They may sabotage overly rigid systems as acts of devotion, believing that over-preparation offends Murphy.
---
Rituals and Practices
1. The Offering of Oops: Devotees bring broken tools, spoiled potions, or failed inventions to Murphy’s altars as offerings. These are often humorously displayed in the temple.
2. The Day of Chaos: An annual holy day where followers engage in chaotic pranks and sabotage, often targeting systems or institutions seen as overly strict or organized.
3. The Flip of the Coin: Before making any important decision, followers flip a coin or roll dice, leaving the outcome to chance.
4. The Chant of Murphy’s Laws: Devotees recite a litany of Murphy’s Laws during services, improvising new verses based on their own misfortunes.
---
Temples and Clergy
Temple Appearance:
Murphy’s temples are ramshackle structures full of intentional design flaws: doors that don’t quite close, crooked walls, and fountains that spray the wrong way. Inside, the decor is a chaotic collection of broken objects, tools, and failed inventions.
Typical Setup:
The Hall of Consequences: A gallery displaying humorous or tragic mishaps from history.
The Coin of Chaos: A giant coin mounted on a pedestal, spun by visitors seeking divine guidance.
The Workshop of Errors: A space where visitors and clergy tinker with creations destined to fail spectacularly.
Clergy Appearance:
Clerics and priests of Murphy often wear mismatched clothing or armor, leaning into chaos and irony. They might carry tools or devices designed to malfunction in amusing ways.
---
Spells and Boons
Murphy grants spells that reflect his portfolio:
Bane: To subtly sabotage an opponent's efforts.
Chaos Bolt: A spell as unpredictable as Murphy himself.
Dispel Magic: To break systems that are too orderly.
Mislead: To embody irony and misdirection.
Divine Boon: Followers blessed by Murphy may gain a re-roll mechanic, such as the ability to reroll a failed check or saving throw—but with the caveat that if they roll lower, they must live with it.
---
Holy Texts
Murphy’s teachings are collected in The Codex of Chaos, a disorganized set of scrolls and books filled with tales of cosmic irony, mishaps, and pranks. The margins are full of scribbled annotations, often contradicting the main text.
---
Role in the World
Murphy’s influence is felt everywhere, from the adventurer who rolls a natural 1 at the worst time to the wizard whose spell misfires. His worshipers are both beloved and feared, as their presence often signals the arrival of chaos.
Last edited:
