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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MechaPilot" data-source="post: 6890225" data-attributes="member: 82779">Don't limit yourself to just one religion per deity, especially if that deity is worshiped by more than one race.  Religions are social institutions created by the worshipers, and it makes sense for there to be different religions, or at least different denominations, in different areas.Here's an example from my Homebrew world of Tenesia:Necris is the Goddess of Death.  She is depicted in many forms, with paleness being one of the common threads.  In areas where starvation is a big concern, she is usually depicted as being woefully emaciated (imagine the pictures of the Nazi concentration camp survivors).  In war torn areas, she is often depicted as carrying her own severed head in one hand and a sword in the other.  Elves (who are immortal and more like fey in Tenesia than on other worlds) see her very much in the form of a ghoul, and they find it offensive to even craft an image of her, because they think it invites tragedy.  Dwarves (who are immortal beings of elemental fire and stone in Tenesia) see her as a specter that no stone or fire can hold at bay if she wishes to come for you.There are a few religions around Necris.The first focuses on appeasing her so she doesn't bring death and ruin upon the living.  The dogma of the religion involves the belief that her vanity rivals the pleasure she takes in killing the living, and they offer prayers and sacrifices in the hope that doing so will persuade her to stay her hand if only for another day.  This religion is not exclusive of most other religions, and people who are sick or elderly may engage in such worship even if they are of other religions.  Hiring priests to pray and sacrifice on one's behalf is a common practice for the wealthy, particularly among kings and queens.Another religion sees her not just as the embodiment of death, but they also believe that death is the door to new life.  They see Necris as a goddess of "endings and beginnings."  The acceptance of a perpetual cycle of death and rebirth is a central tenant of this religion, and accepting death when it comes for you is considered by them as one of the highest acts of faith.  This religion also has a high rate of suicides, as those who are in truly desperate straights may see death and rebirth as a way out of an existence they despise.  The religion tries to mitigate how often this happens by teaching that suicide is only an act of faith if it is not quick: you must have time to be able to regret or accept death when you see it coming.  Therefore the most common methods of suicide approved by the religion are being buried alive, or being burned alive.A third religion sees Necris, whose realm is one of demons and the damned, as a jailer of all that is unclean.  They worship her and offer sacrifice so that she may keep a tight reign on the demons and the ghosts of the evil dead that would otherwise walk the earth without her intervention.</blockquote>

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