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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GlassEye" data-source="post: 4046004" data-attributes="member: 40413">This turned into more of a free association of (unrelated?) ideas than a critique, sorry.When I craft a pantheon I try to have some sort of unifying theme: elemental, or celestial bodies, etc.  Looking over yours the theme seems to be oriented around human pursuits and then a kind of wild/elemental counterpoint.  Even if it requires a bit of shuffling I would try to work with this divide. I also like to use politics and familial bonds to make links between the gods.  Maybe eliminate some of the duplication in the portfolios of the gods.A dead god and a broken church?  I'm seeing huge derelict cathedrals and a multitude of squabbling cults vying for control and a resurgence of old, supposedly forgotten, godlike beings.So you have Aarishem, the prime god (now dead. How?  And what happened after? I'll say a bit more about this later.) and his Court of Pursuits.  However, Aarishem dies and the Court of Pursuits is broken.The opposition would be old gods/spirits of natural forces which would include the Fey Court.[sblock=The Broken Court: Light]1) Aarden, the Recorder.  I think the idea of a divine archivist and recorder of deeds is neat.  I just don't get a firm sense of LG from it.  I think he would be great as the primary god of neutrality with his priests dispassionately recording the deeds of men and Aarden recording the deeds of the gods.2) Hirax, the Right Hand of Aarishem.  Good stuff you got for this guy.  But if he is protector/defender, what happens to him when Aarishem dies?  Supposition: Consumed with guilt over his failure to protect Aarishem he becomes obsessed with vengeance and falls from favor as the god of paladins.  Now LN.  Keep War, add Fire.3) Chaldan, the Sainted.  Like this stuff, too.  Not so sure about the water imagery unless you play her off as the opposite of Aanyar; make her the life-giver.  Ascended mortal, wife to Aarishem, and portfolio as you've detailed, but has the role of arming the warriors as they go to battle.  Now, however, with Hirax flipping out, takes on more active role of defender and becomes patron of paladins.  Obviously, LG but the primary god of good.4) Maelbine/Prothus, the White Smith, the Binder and Forger.  Like this guy, too.  But what if he was the only fey god to give his allegience to Aarishem?  What if his wife were Laerith?  What if you merged him with Prothus?  It would be a good fit: secrets of the mountain, ancient magics, and crafting.  Father of giants, yet joining Aarishem's court might cause a split amongst giant-kind so, good and bad giants.  Would also be a good god for dwarves.[/sblock][sblock=The Broken Court: Dark]1) Asmodai.  Not sure what to think of this guy.  Seems kind of redundant with Astaroth, Dispater, and Churcainn all having a similar piece of the action.  Initial thought: former Chancellor to Aarishem, now the god of treachery as he opened the gates for Astaroth, so to speak.  Hmm, maybe deceit, trickery, and secrets.  Absorb Malacai?2) Astaroth.  Ah, the true darling of this entire pantheon (imo, of course).  Give him Asmodai's fluff on contracts and lawyers; it fits with his role as patron of warlocks.  You never said how Aarishem died but it struck me that Astaroth would be just the sort of guy to plot it with Asmodai and Maglaura and then be present when Aarishem dies to steal the divine spark and taint it so that it manifests as hellfire.  A snake wrapped around one arm/hand is an interesting image and makes me wonder what it represents.  Token of a pact between him and Maglaura?  As mentioned by a previous poster: I'm not too keen on spiked chain as a favored weapon.  Perhaps the snake is a serpent rod and, therefore, favored weapon of quarterstaff.[/sblock][sblock=The Wild Court]1) Aanyar, Lord of Misfortune and master of just about any sort of calamity.  I really like the one-eyed old man (very Odin-ish, but hey, it's a classic).  What happened to his eye?  Who knows, but I like the idea of hexing people with the Eye of Aanyar.  Seems perfect for the primary god of chaos.  Could also work as a primal fey deity of the waters; Laerith's brother?2) Laerith/Amarel, the Silver Queen.  Seems like these could be easily combined into one goddess and doing so would make a nice whole.  And the idea of worshippers of a (formerly) monolithic church unwittingly calling upon a fey goddess for luck just appeals to me.  Would also include Air in her portfolio.3) Maglaura/Khaastratha.  A big overlap here that could be combined.  I kinda like the idea that she was some cthonic goddess of a less 'civilized' group of people now (mostly?) destroyed and that she uses their angry spirits.  So, previously CN, now CE.  Plots with Astaroth for the fall of Aarishem, etc.  Add Cult of Khaastratha, a more active vengeance/destruction cult.[/sblock]Would've written a few more ideas out but my brain got tired.</blockquote>

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