User:Paleomancer/Emerald Sun (3.5e Campaign Setting)/Pantheon

Emerald Sun has a system of faith and religion more similar to WOTC's Rokugan setting, the Cthluhu Mythos, or the anime Slayers, in which the "gods" of the setting are powerful alien or spirit creatures that are seen as gods and receive tribute, but may not be divine in the sense of distinctness from the natures of mortals and lesser spirits. Depending on how they sustain themselves, such beings may or may not require belief to maintain their power. Spirit beings generally require belief for more than a basic level of power, while the Fremd indirectly feed on mortal thought, emotion, and sensation (The Fremd defeated many spirit deities by denying them their worship). Note that the chief pantheon, the Grand Old Ones, would in other campaigns be the nigh unstoppable Elder Evils, and as such are more free to directly enforce their will upon the mortal realm than powerful spirit and ascended beings.

Religion

Generally, most people have a rather middling approach to religion (just like real life). They may pay homage to certain entities because of family or cultural tradition, or because of certain yearly or lifelong events, but they rarely think much about theology beyond that point. For followers of the Grand Old Ones, this is actually a very good survival strategy, since anyone who becomes an object of interest for the Elder Fremd tends to live in "interesting times" (Mid or high-level characters can automatically assume they are in this category). Spirit creatures can be even more touchy about mortal curiosity and inflict disproportionate retribution for no apparent reason, while most Fremd, ironically, are more careless than malevolent in dealing with inquisitive mortals (though there are exceptions).

Individual Deities

Grand Old Ones

The chief pantheon of Tellur is that of the Grand Old Ones, the oldest and most powerful union of the Fremd. These nightmarish entities possess considerable domains in the Dreamlands, but the focus point of their worship is the island state of R'laeh, their sanctum for many millions of years. The Grand Old Ones have learned to balance their insatiable appetites for the sanity of mortal life with a recognition that mindless ravening rarely results in stable sources of nourishment, and most have learned to cultivate a decent amount of respect and terror from their subjects as a renewable substitute. Many have even grown perversely attached to their mortal livestock; the most extreme example is Yob-Zatoth, the crawling eye and overlord of magic and vision, who has frequently imbued mortal lines with fragments of its being to better understand their struggles and add to its knowledge. Obviously, all the Grand Old Ones believe the mortal races are best served by subjugation under their rule, so they seek to solidify their control over all of Tellur, and from there, the multiverse.

Alkazoth (The Source of Ultimate Anarchy)

Alkazoth is one of the most powerful Fremd lords, albeit one that has very little to do with the mortal realm. It lies at the Multiversal Core, a location outside time and space that is the birthplace of all realities. Followers of this potent entity are usually associated with creativity and transformation, especially music, and many seek to spread this philosophy to all beings. Its attendants are strange Fremd who continually play a cacophony of random notes and chords, guarding Alkazoth in its slumber.

Forbidden Lore: Alkazoth is the personification of uncontrolled creation and the source of life itself. Even in its slumber, it unconsciously generates multiverse spanning changes and transformations. When conscious, Alkazoth instigates constant universal creation, a rapid succession of multiple Big Bangs that create new universes from nothing. As a result, its awakening would be nothing less than cataclysmic and even the Fremd have no intention of awakening their progenitor any time soon. Its "attendants" are employed by the Grand Old Ones to keep it from awakening, and even its holy symbol is little more than a containment glyph used to seal most of its power away. The only reason the Grand Old Ones even tolerate the presence of Alkazoth's cultists is that their creative acts channel a portion of their patron's creative urges in a localized form, keeping its power from building up to unstoppable levels.

• Rank: Overdeity (Unknown).
• Symbol: A fang-like entwined with a tentacle.
• Alignment: True Neutral.
• Typical Priest Alignment: Any.
• Portfolio: Art, chaos, creation, medicine, music, transformation.
• Domains: TBA.

Jathasteur (The One Whose Name Must Never Be Spoken, the Unspeakable King)

Jathasteur is a mysterious entity who reacts with extreme hostility to its name being spoken, usually killing the profaner instantly. Jathasteur is associated with consumption and the destruction of decadence, which, when combined with its omnicidal tendencies, leaves it very few cultists.

Forbidden Lore: TBA.

• Rank: Overdeity (Unknown).
• Symbol: The Jaundiced Icon (Inspires insanity if seen).
• Alignment: True Neutral.
• Typical Priest Alignment: Any.
• Portfolio: TBA.
• Domains: TBA.

Nyghlarotep (The Trickster, the Creeping Anarchy, the Master of Shapes)

Perhaps the most sinister of all the Great Old Ones, Nyghlarotep is a trickster and black ops agent for the Great Old Ones, who delights in spreading destruction and hatred. It is knowingly and joyfully evil, unlike most of its fellow Fremd, but it is also considerably weaker, for which many mortals are extremely grateful. The Trickster does possess a small coterie of cultists who have proven their worth, but no one is irreplaceable to the the Creeping Anarchy, a fact of which its followers are all too aware.

Forbidden Lore: Nyghlarotep was created by several more powerful Grand Old Ones as a servant to manipulate mortals in a byegone age. Originally a mere servant with little in the way of free will, Nyghlarotep eventually became more self-willed and took to studying mortal behavior, especially that which would aid the rise of its masters. Over time, Nyghlarotep grew to appreciate mortal depravity and self-destructive tendencies, and now seeks to inspire as much conflict and madness as possible, just for the fun of it.

• Rank: Lesser.
• Symbol: Black spider with eight tentacles.
• Alignment: NE.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nongood.
• Portfolio: Tactics, trickery, war, anarchy, destruction, insanity.
• Domains: Insanity, War, 5 more.

Q’thulhu (The Dreadful One)

Commonly seen as the ruler of the Great Old Ones and the personal patron of R'leah, Q’thulhu is a cruel and vindictive entity obsessed with increasing its power, and to some degree, that of its vassals. It is the patron of power, tyranny, and warfare. It usually takes the form of an octopus-headed humanoid with bat wings. Its worshipers are among the most vocal in expanding the realm of R'leah over all Tellur, and eventually, the galaxy, although its propensity to consume its own followers does hinder their efforts.

Forbidden Lore: Q’thulhu's is a figurehead, widely feared, but in actuality manipulated by other entities, such as Aphorjomon, who greatly exceed Q’thulhu in power and in intelligence. This says little, since could argue that even puny humans are on average smarter than Q’thulhu.

• Symbol: Humanoid skull with tentacles.
• Alignment: LE.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nongood.
• Portfolio: Power, sacrifice, war.
• Domains: Blood, Conquest, Evil, Insanity, Law, Strength, Tyranny, War.

Shub-Aggoruth (The Star-Ewe with a Million Lambs)

The Great Old One counterpart to Gaia, as well as family and community. As a nearly unstoppable Elder Fremd, it is a force of vengeance and conformity largely responsible for indoctrinating mortals into the worship of (or at least obedience to) itself and its allies.

Forbidden Lore: If you want to use the sheeple, Shub-Aggoruth is their patron. It has spawned numerous lesser Fremd and Great Old Ones, and oscillates between relative amiability and vicious plotting against its rivals.

• Rank: Greater.
• Symbol: Black sheep head with three eyes.
• Alignment: N.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any.
• Portfolio: Kinship, family, brainwashing, conformatity.
• Domains: Blood, Family, Solidarity, Insanity, 3 more.

Sukhet (Father Hydra)

The nine-headed serpent god of the Ophidians and affiliate of the R'leahan Pantheon, Sukhet appears as a normal ophidian of unnatural size, but with nine heads, the central head of which is largest and bears the hood of a cobra. Aside from his concerns with the survival of the ophidian people, Sukhet is also a patron of arcane magic and technology, and as such counts many non-ophidians as followers.

Forbidden Lore: Sukhet was once one of the greatest adversaries of the Great Old Ones, and the alliance between the two is fraught with treachery and suspicion. He does have an more-or-less honest alliance with Yob-Zatoth (if only because machinations against a foe who can predict every possible move you can make before you make it tend to end badly), as well as emissaries of the Coleopterans. Sukhet was manipulated by Yob-Zatoth into joining the Grand Old Ones as a means to counter the more destructive Fremd, such as Q’thulhu.

• Rank: Intermediate.
• Symbol: A snake twisted into an infinity symbol while biting its own tail.
• Alignment: LG.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any non-chaotic.
• Portfolio: Arcane magic, manipulation, ophidians, reptiles.
• Domains: Contract, Dragon, Good, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Trickery

Yob-Zatoth (The Key and Gate, The Gaze Beyond, the Lurking Eye)

A mysterious and terrible Fremd entity, who appears to its worshipers as a conglomeration of floating, iridescent eyes (which may be humanoid, insectoid, flaming eye, etc.) phasing in and out of reality. It is said that Yob-Zatoth can see throughout time and space, simultaneously perceiving every possible word, deed, and action, and as such is the patron of knowledge, time, travel, and destiny. Yob-Zatoth is also the patron of law, since it is responsible for unifying the Grand Old Ones and enforcing their laws.

Forbidden Lore: In spite of its power and completely alien nature, Yob-Zatoth is perhaps the most sympathetic of the Great Old Ones, with an honest, if misplaced, admiration and affection for mortal races. Notably, it will appear in forms chosen to avoid shredding the sanity of mortals, whom he affectionately refers to as "My little beasts." He also has close ties to a number of non-Fremd Grand Old Ones, including Sukhet.

• Rank: Overdeity (Rank 25).
• Symbol: A stylized human eye with a key-like prong.
• Alignment: LN.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Non-evil.
• Portfolio: Destiny, knowledge, wandering.
• Domains: Contract, Insanity, Knowledge, Law, Protection, Time.

Ubboth (The Primal Slime)

Ubboth is not technically a member of the Great Old Ones, but her alliance with Yob-Zatoth means that she is worshiped as a lesser deity by his followers. Ubboth is sometimes called the progenitor of life, and she is associated with healing, protection, and metamorphosis. Her priests preach the need for life to seek out its full potential, even in the face of unimaginable adversity, and while she acknowledges the need for living things to prey upon or compete with one another, she has little patience for needless destruction.

Forbidden Lore: Ubboth is the guardian of the Obsidian Tablets, and dwells in the deepest abyss of Tellur. The doppelgangers are her adopted children. She has little interest in most of the other Grand Old One, save for Yob-Zatoth, who shares her interest in mortal struggles and successes.

• Rank: Lesser.
• Symbol: Amoeba surrounding two black tablets.
• Alignment: N.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Non-evil.
• Portfolio: Evolution, organisms, protection, competition.
• Domains: Acid, Chance, Healing, Plant, Protection, Slime, Vermin.

Unaligned Deities

C'talpa (Fire Mother/Burning One)

An elemental of magma and stone, patron of the Talpa and of mining. Those who work underground seek her favor, and those who live next to volcanoes make frequent sacrifices to keep her happy.

Forbidden Lore: C'talpa has little interest in creatures not of the Talpa people, unless of course they oppress the Talpa, in which case, she seeks to bring about their extermination; her "alliance" with the Grand Old Ones is geared towards revenging her offspring's enslavement on them. She does have a soft spot for the helpless and vulnerable, and as such counts many ghouls and laborers as followers. She has tolerable relations with Yob-Zatoth, and gets along well with Sukhet, whose priesthood aids her followers in disrupting slavers.

• Rank: Lesser.
• Symbol: Claw enveloped in flame.
• Alignment: CN.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nonlawful.
• Portfolio: Talpa, underground, volcanos.
• Domains: Earth, Hatred, Hellfire, Metal, Sorrow, Vengeance.

Kryogenia (The Lady of Ice/The Frost Traitor)

Ruler of the frozen lands, a powerful Fremd who is the patron of the Jotun. She most commonly takes the form of human or trollish female made of ice, and seeks to spread winter's chill across the planet.

Forbidden Lore: Once a powerful member of Grand Old Ones, her attempts at independent power has marked her as a traitor, and her followers face considerable antagonism from almost every other faction and people on Tellur, but especially Sukhet and his followers, and the trolls, who blame her for leading their kin astray.

• Rank: Greater.
• Symbol: Snowflake with six dagger-like blades.
• Alignment: CE.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nongood.
• Portfolio: Entropy, winter.
• Domains: Air, Anarchy, Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Hatred, Hellrime, Pain, Shadow

Oryann (Lord of the Hunt)

A Fremd patron of the hunt with little interest in the mortal realm, focusing instead on his realms in the Dreamlands. His most common worshipers are nightghaunts, and he rarely chooses to involve himself in mortal affairs, save in warfare, which his priesthood depicts as the ultimate hunting experience.

Forbidden Lore: At least once a century, the Lord of the Hunt seeks out a talented mortal and offers him or her a bargain (three wish spells) if that individual manages to elude the Lord of the Hunt in a hunt. He is vaguely affiliated with the Lady of Ice, but has never affirmed the alliance enough for the other Grand Old Ones to seek his downfall.

• Rank: Lesser.
• Symbol: A rectangular mask with an oak leaf on the forehead and two glowing yellow eyes only as facial features.
• Alignment: CN.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nongood.
• Portfolio: Hunting, competition, war.
• Domains: Blood, Chance, Conquest, Strength, War.

Shadowstar Spirits and Independents

Renegade Fremd

The Fremd who seek to carve their own domain on Tellur and eventually surpass the Great Old Ones. Grant a maximum of three domains.

Forbidden Lore:

• Rank: Minor.
• Symbol: Varies, though most of the shadow star use the obsidian star emblem.
• Alignment: Any nongood.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any nongood.
• Portfolio: Varies, though madness is common.
• Domains: Any, except for Family, Good, Healing, Solidarity, and Time.

Elemental Patron

These are spirits of the elements, a remnant of the elementalism once practiced by the Bathyians. Humans, Talpa, Ghouls, and Bathyians are the most common worshipers of these spirits. These spirits can grant a maximum of two domains to their worshippers.

Forbidden Lore:

• Rank: Minor.
• Symbol: A stone or crystal for earth, melted glass or metal for fire, a bell or chime for air, and a vial of water for water.
• Alignment: Usually N.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any.
• Portfolio: Natural balance, survival.
• Domains: Varies by elemental kind. Air elementals grant Air and Hellrime; earth elementals grant Earth and Metal; fire elementals grant Fire and Sun; water elementals grant Acid and Water.

Ancestor Patron

These are spirits of mortal ancestors, undead beings that remain on Tellur in the hope of facilitating cultural goals, aiding their descendants, or raising themselves to godhood. Many mortal cultures practice ancestor worship, although ghouls and Bathyians have a stronger tendency to do so. Select one-two domains from the list below for a particular spirit (although exceptions do exist).

Forbidden Lore:

• Rank: Minor.
• Symbol: Depends on culture. Examples include a sword for a warrior spirit, a book for a spirit of learning, and the like.
• Alignment: Any.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Any.
• Portfolio: Mortal endeavor.
• Domains: Warrior (Blood, Conquest, Hatred, Solidarity, Strength), Craftsman (Contract, Greed, Metal), Ancestor (Family, Healing, Protection, Solidarity).

Infernal Patron

Spirits interested in corruption and destruction, may or may not be of fiendish origin.

Forbidden Lore: Infernal Patrons are a combination of fallen undead spirits and actual fiendish spirits seeking to enter into this world. They rarely keep followers for long.

• Rank: Minor.
• Symbol: Varies, usually grim or bloody.
• Alignment: Any evil.
• Typical Priest Alignments: Nongood.
• Portfolio: Entropy, sin, destruction.
• Domains (Select two or three of the following): Anarchy (nonlawful only), Blood, Chaos, Corrupt (nonlawful spirits only), Destruction, Diabolic (nonchaotic spirits only), Evil, Gluttony, Greed, Hatred, Hellfire, Hellrime, Insanity, Pain, Seduction, Shadow, Sorrow, Strength, Trickery, Tyranny, Undeath, Vengeance, War.