Unearthed Arcana: Strange Gods (Dragon #398)
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Incenjucar
Legend
Hound archons?
Nemesis Destiny
Adventurer
Great article, and the second one from this guy. I think they need to use his stuff more often. I don't like divine classes much, or the fluff that goes with them, but this guy's stuff makes me want to use divine things more.
FreeXenon
American Male (he/him); INTP ADHD Introverted Geek
Iltanistar the Destroyer, the Bloodied Guardian, The Rage Father
I am in the process of writing a campaign and I have a massive tribe(s) of orcs that live on a deserty steppe area that is surrounded by mountains with 3 "entrances" into the steppes. I am thinking I will take what I have written here and make it chaotic evil and it will have a large following of orcish barabarian nomads riding wild-eyed and borderline insane horses that are scarred and flayed and near death, but still powerful and able to perform.
What follows is what I have written in response to the what I rolled from the tables of the "Strange Gods" article when just trying to generate a random god for fun. The actual rolls are at the bottom of the post. This is a bit disjointed but I think you get the idea.
Iltanistar the Destroyer, the Bloodied Guardian, The Rage Father
Evil (Rage, Wrath, Destruction, Entropy, Vengeance, Slaughter)
Iltanistar the Destroyer, the Bloodied Guardian, The Rage Father, is a remote sentient plant-like being composed of a mass of writing tentacles that make it look like a living and ever-moving tree with an erie set of wicked glowing blue eyes. Iltanistar does not know how it came into being or that it bears divine power, nor does it know that it has followers, and on the same token other divine beings do not care about its existence. It exists to destroy and consume all that it encounters in vengeance for its (and their) very existence.
Iltanistar is evil, wicked, and prone to great fits of wrathful destruction. If it is not destroying something or fuming with anger, it is gloomy and despondent, awaiting for something to trigger its anger. It seeks the destruction of anything that it encouters. Sometimes it will choose an entrance like area and just sit there for as long as it takes for someone or something to pass through and trigger its anger, and then goes on an rampage of mindless destruction even ripping its way through non-living barriers to find something living to destroy. This is especially possible if it has been a while since it has encountered something sentient to destroy.
It is sometimes worshippped by gladiators and slavers who find the Rage Father's merciless and evil ways convenient; vengeful treants, elves, orcs, and barabarian clans will sometimes be found dedicated to it. It has very few followers simply by the fact that no one has heard of it, and its followers tend to have a very, very short lifespan.
Followers
Many of his followers are barabarians or those of the more wild or malicious types of elves. His followers are dedicated to destruction and being at the center of a blood drenched rage fest, moving from village to village, or war to war; or they are dedicated to hunting down any violaters of their ever expanding territory to capture and torture them for the nerve of entering; or violently and zealously protecting Iltanistar's very few shrines and hallowed sites. Iltanistar portends the ends of all things and sees itself as the end all things, and its followers will often be treated with violent and blood drenched dreams that may lead them to their next cycle of devastation and blood.
Followers sometimes like areas with doorways or defined entrances that can clearly mark their territory for once someone passes through it will trigger their rage to destroy and relentlessly pursue the violater's destruction as well as anyone who gets in the way. Followers are easy to take offense at any perceived slight as an excuse to cut down someone or something. "Are you looking at me, boy?" *twitch, twitch*
Areas surrounding a cult or tribe of Iltanistar tends to be flat and devoid of all things. Trees will be chopped down, rocks will be broken down into pebbles or smaller if it can be managed, hills will be leveled, plants will be ripped up or scorched, lands will be salted or poisoned, living critters wil be hunted down, slain, and left to rot (or even eaten if they can manage that much forethought). When their current area is devoid of everything they can move onto the next area or village to start the endless cycle of destruction.
Devout followers' hair is often lank and oily, resembling tentacles due to lack of care or specifically working towards that look to emulate their Rage Father's tentacular appearance. Many will also paint the area's around their eyes blue too or wear masks with blue eyes and vines or rooots for hair. Followers tend to prefer bludgeoning or flail weapons to resemble branches and vines. They also will take feats and powers that will allow them to attack non-living objects to for even the inert things need to be destroyed and comsumed by the Rage Father. They also will be granted the Negate Healing and Subversive Word powers as a blessed gift of the Rage Father's unknowing granted gifts.
From the Unearthed Arcana article "Strange Gods"
7 align: evil
9 origin: unknown/amnesiac
4 goals: fulfillment of lustful urges
7 gloomy
0 wicked
6 plant
8 glowing eyes
5 prone to anger
9 none/not considered worth hating
2 indifferent/unaware
6 no more than a few hundred know of it; discovering the location of the culst is one of the tests
19 Doorways
11 addicted to sensations
10 hair is often lank and oily, resembling tentacles
6
2 vengeance
I am in the process of writing a campaign and I have a massive tribe(s) of orcs that live on a deserty steppe area that is surrounded by mountains with 3 "entrances" into the steppes. I am thinking I will take what I have written here and make it chaotic evil and it will have a large following of orcish barabarian nomads riding wild-eyed and borderline insane horses that are scarred and flayed and near death, but still powerful and able to perform.
What follows is what I have written in response to the what I rolled from the tables of the "Strange Gods" article when just trying to generate a random god for fun. The actual rolls are at the bottom of the post. This is a bit disjointed but I think you get the idea.
Iltanistar the Destroyer, the Bloodied Guardian, The Rage Father
Evil (Rage, Wrath, Destruction, Entropy, Vengeance, Slaughter)
Iltanistar the Destroyer, the Bloodied Guardian, The Rage Father, is a remote sentient plant-like being composed of a mass of writing tentacles that make it look like a living and ever-moving tree with an erie set of wicked glowing blue eyes. Iltanistar does not know how it came into being or that it bears divine power, nor does it know that it has followers, and on the same token other divine beings do not care about its existence. It exists to destroy and consume all that it encounters in vengeance for its (and their) very existence.
Iltanistar is evil, wicked, and prone to great fits of wrathful destruction. If it is not destroying something or fuming with anger, it is gloomy and despondent, awaiting for something to trigger its anger. It seeks the destruction of anything that it encouters. Sometimes it will choose an entrance like area and just sit there for as long as it takes for someone or something to pass through and trigger its anger, and then goes on an rampage of mindless destruction even ripping its way through non-living barriers to find something living to destroy. This is especially possible if it has been a while since it has encountered something sentient to destroy.
It is sometimes worshippped by gladiators and slavers who find the Rage Father's merciless and evil ways convenient; vengeful treants, elves, orcs, and barabarian clans will sometimes be found dedicated to it. It has very few followers simply by the fact that no one has heard of it, and its followers tend to have a very, very short lifespan.
Followers
Many of his followers are barabarians or those of the more wild or malicious types of elves. His followers are dedicated to destruction and being at the center of a blood drenched rage fest, moving from village to village, or war to war; or they are dedicated to hunting down any violaters of their ever expanding territory to capture and torture them for the nerve of entering; or violently and zealously protecting Iltanistar's very few shrines and hallowed sites. Iltanistar portends the ends of all things and sees itself as the end all things, and its followers will often be treated with violent and blood drenched dreams that may lead them to their next cycle of devastation and blood.
Followers sometimes like areas with doorways or defined entrances that can clearly mark their territory for once someone passes through it will trigger their rage to destroy and relentlessly pursue the violater's destruction as well as anyone who gets in the way. Followers are easy to take offense at any perceived slight as an excuse to cut down someone or something. "Are you looking at me, boy?" *twitch, twitch*
Areas surrounding a cult or tribe of Iltanistar tends to be flat and devoid of all things. Trees will be chopped down, rocks will be broken down into pebbles or smaller if it can be managed, hills will be leveled, plants will be ripped up or scorched, lands will be salted or poisoned, living critters wil be hunted down, slain, and left to rot (or even eaten if they can manage that much forethought). When their current area is devoid of everything they can move onto the next area or village to start the endless cycle of destruction.
Devout followers' hair is often lank and oily, resembling tentacles due to lack of care or specifically working towards that look to emulate their Rage Father's tentacular appearance. Many will also paint the area's around their eyes blue too or wear masks with blue eyes and vines or rooots for hair. Followers tend to prefer bludgeoning or flail weapons to resemble branches and vines. They also will take feats and powers that will allow them to attack non-living objects to for even the inert things need to be destroyed and comsumed by the Rage Father. They also will be granted the Negate Healing and Subversive Word powers as a blessed gift of the Rage Father's unknowing granted gifts.
From the Unearthed Arcana article "Strange Gods"
7 align: evil
9 origin: unknown/amnesiac
4 goals: fulfillment of lustful urges
7 gloomy
0 wicked
6 plant
8 glowing eyes
5 prone to anger
9 none/not considered worth hating
2 indifferent/unaware
6 no more than a few hundred know of it; discovering the location of the culst is one of the tests
19 Doorways
11 addicted to sensations
10 hair is often lank and oily, resembling tentacles
6
2 vengeance
Peraion Graufalke
First Post
That's correct. IIRC Steve Winter (WotC_Huscarl) wrote that in an editorial when UA was announced.
chitzk0i
Explorer
The problem is you give up your healing ability to get it. In encounters without acid, cold, fire or lightning damage, you can trigger zero healing surges. But when it applies, you'll prevent a huge amount of damage.
I haven't played a Runepriest, though. With careful coordination, maybe you can make it work. But I do know that if you're playing the enabling leader while there's a healing leader in the party, this would be an awesome option. Your dinky heals wouldn't come up as often, so giving them up for a situationally awesome alternative would be much easier to stomach.
So, I rolled up a deity via these charts, which was awesome. And, surprisingly, it all fit together reasonably well, for the most part:
Alignment: 8 - Evil
Origin: 8 - Mortal who has gained power
Goals: 9 - Recognition by other gods of excellence, prowess or power
Personality: 9 - Indifferent
Personality: 4 - Positive
Appearance: 7 - Tentacled
Appearance: 5 - Tentacles
Bloodthirstiness: 10 - "Rip them to shreds!"
Hated by: 3 - Gods of the same alignment
Attitude: 3 - Encouraging
Sphere of Worship: 5 - no more than a few hundred know of it; discovering location of a cult is one of the initiation tests
Significant or Odd Interests: 6 - Enlightenment
Main flaw: 6 - Curious
Follower's Quirks/Superstitions: 20 - Believe that “7” is a holy number; hail its appearance
Follower's Quirks/Superstitions: 3 - Shun cats; nongood followers may attempt to harm them
Domains: 6/5 - Winter; 2/1 - Destruction; 2/6 - Justice
So, of the above, a lot of the early elements work well together. We've got a mortal who ascended to godhood covered in tentacles - clearly having gained power via the far realm. Despite being evil and bloodthirsty, he's positive and encouraging - so based on his own rise to power, he clearly is all about self-improvement (through whatever means are available.)
Probably not even especially cruel - just amoral and indifferent to the needs of those not worth caring about. And, of course, as a newcomer god - and one with an unusual origin - he is eager to prove himself to the rest of the pantheon and receive his proper recognition, perhaps only flying into a maddened rage when he feels he isn't granted his due deference.
He is hindered, of course, by how the other evil gods despise him - he may well have been an adventurer who foiled many of their own schemes, and though having fallen into the temptation of alien magics, still considers himself on the side of the good guys, despite his madness.
He continues to seek his alien enlightenment, his curious nature leading him to pursue ever more dangerous research, even as his own cult spreads, regarding the number 7 as sacred - his holy symbol, presumaly, being a face with 7 tentacles or thelike. And, apparently, they hate cats - so maybe his form isn't just covered in tentacles, but specifically fishlike in appearance, maybe abolethic in a fashion, and so cats - which, of course, eat fish - are hated by his followers.
This leaves us with only domains to explain, and that is where things get a bit weird.
Winter is actually the easiest. One can imagine our deity, back when he was a mortal man, finding the source of his power - an ancient alien deity frozen in the ice of the far north, buried far from the lands of men. And though our new god now claims its power, that ancient being is slowly waking from its slumber, and will one day rise to consume the earth...
...which brings us to domain two, Destruction. Easily fits with the themes of madness, as well.
The final domain, though, is the real sticking point - Justice. I suppose he could represent a desire for everyone to be on equal footing to pursue their own dreams and achieve whatever they are capable of... but that seems to be stretching it a bit, and the theme is at odds with pretty much the rest of his personality.
Perhaps the domain is simply a typo, and it should instead be "just ice", and tie into his winter theme and the alien horror frozen in the far north...
Alignment: 8 - Evil
Origin: 8 - Mortal who has gained power
Goals: 9 - Recognition by other gods of excellence, prowess or power
Personality: 9 - Indifferent
Personality: 4 - Positive
Appearance: 7 - Tentacled
Appearance: 5 - Tentacles
Bloodthirstiness: 10 - "Rip them to shreds!"
Hated by: 3 - Gods of the same alignment
Attitude: 3 - Encouraging
Sphere of Worship: 5 - no more than a few hundred know of it; discovering location of a cult is one of the initiation tests
Significant or Odd Interests: 6 - Enlightenment
Main flaw: 6 - Curious
Follower's Quirks/Superstitions: 20 - Believe that “7” is a holy number; hail its appearance
Follower's Quirks/Superstitions: 3 - Shun cats; nongood followers may attempt to harm them
Domains: 6/5 - Winter; 2/1 - Destruction; 2/6 - Justice
So, of the above, a lot of the early elements work well together. We've got a mortal who ascended to godhood covered in tentacles - clearly having gained power via the far realm. Despite being evil and bloodthirsty, he's positive and encouraging - so based on his own rise to power, he clearly is all about self-improvement (through whatever means are available.)
Probably not even especially cruel - just amoral and indifferent to the needs of those not worth caring about. And, of course, as a newcomer god - and one with an unusual origin - he is eager to prove himself to the rest of the pantheon and receive his proper recognition, perhaps only flying into a maddened rage when he feels he isn't granted his due deference.
He is hindered, of course, by how the other evil gods despise him - he may well have been an adventurer who foiled many of their own schemes, and though having fallen into the temptation of alien magics, still considers himself on the side of the good guys, despite his madness.
He continues to seek his alien enlightenment, his curious nature leading him to pursue ever more dangerous research, even as his own cult spreads, regarding the number 7 as sacred - his holy symbol, presumaly, being a face with 7 tentacles or thelike. And, apparently, they hate cats - so maybe his form isn't just covered in tentacles, but specifically fishlike in appearance, maybe abolethic in a fashion, and so cats - which, of course, eat fish - are hated by his followers.
This leaves us with only domains to explain, and that is where things get a bit weird.
Winter is actually the easiest. One can imagine our deity, back when he was a mortal man, finding the source of his power - an ancient alien deity frozen in the ice of the far north, buried far from the lands of men. And though our new god now claims its power, that ancient being is slowly waking from its slumber, and will one day rise to consume the earth...
...which brings us to domain two, Destruction. Easily fits with the themes of madness, as well.
The final domain, though, is the real sticking point - Justice. I suppose he could represent a desire for everyone to be on equal footing to pursue their own dreams and achieve whatever they are capable of... but that seems to be stretching it a bit, and the theme is at odds with pretty much the rest of his personality.
Perhaps the domain is simply a typo, and it should instead be "just ice", and tie into his winter theme and the alien horror frozen in the far north...
Sounds like you rolled up Ayn Rand, but with tentacles. Ewwwwww.
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