Should I bother making gods at all?

[Soup Nazi]

I like making pantheons too, and I really want them to mesh with Sulos, so I'll probably just make them myself. Or possible steal the ones I've been helping you make.

[Ninja D!]

Do all of the above.  You made it seem as though there were many dead religions.

[Soup Nazi]

Here's a preliminary run down of the Ancient (dead) gods of Sulos. I tried to keep things simple with nine greater powers each coresponding to a particular alignment and portfolio, that have universal application, and all core PHB domains. I figure that if I want to add other domains, I can allocate them to intermediate or lesser dieties, and fill them out as I go. I also added a sample lost church that focuses on a group of three gods. My idea for these churches is that in various lands there were different religious institutes that combined aspects of multiple gods into groupings of three. I want these churches to overlap in some ways, tying individual gods to different faiths simultaneously.

Mernia
Greater Power
Alignment: Lawful Good
Titles: The Protector
Symbol: Folded Hands
Portfolio: Community, Hearth, and Home
Domains: Good, Law, Protection
Favored Weapon: The Long Bow

Kadrukar
Greater Power
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Titles: The Sovereign
Symbol: A Golden Circlet
Portfolio: Leadership, Justice, and Kings
Domains: Knowledge, Law, and Strength
Favored Weapon: The Halberd

Roshun
Greater Power
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Titles: The Warrior
Symbol: A Heavily Worn Sword
Portfolio: Tactics, Determination, and Battle
Domains: Evil, Law, and War
Favored Weapon: The Bastard Sword

Cadrulon
Greater Power
Titles: The Wanderer
Alignment: Neutral Good
Symbol: A Walking Stick
Portfolio: Travel, Selflessness, and Wisdom
Domains: Good, Healing, and Travel
Favored Weapon: Quarter Staff

Orum
Greater Power
Alignment: True Neutral
Titles: The Watcher
Symbol: A Radiant Orb
Portfolio: Magic, Power, and Creation
Domains: Magic, Sun, Elements (All)
Favored Weapon: The Morning Star

Deschler
Greater Power
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Titles: The Destroyer
Symbol: A Clenched Gauntlet
Portfolio: Hate, Malice, and Violence
Domains: Death, Destruction, and Evil
Favored Weapon: The Flail

Kronis
Greater Power
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Titles: The Hand of Destiny
Symbol: A Pyramid
Portfolio: Providence, Chance, and Benevolence
Domains: Chaos, Good, and Luck
Favored Weapon: The Mace

Mugrinar
Greater Power
Titles: The Beast
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Symbol: A Talon
Portfolio: Nature, Chaos, and Independence
Domains: Animal, Chaos, and Plant
Favored Weapon: Natural Attacks or Unarmed Strikes

Shemeloth
Greater Power
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Titles: The Deceiver
Symbol: A Cracked Mirror
Portfolio: Deception, Greed, and Murder
Domains: Chaos, Evil, and Trickery
Favored Weapon: The Dagger

The Exalted Order of Hazraâ,¬,,¢Ghalduur

Dieties: Kadrukar, Roshun, and Dreschler
Domains: Death, Destruction, Evil, Knowledge, Law, Strength, and War

The Exalted Order was once the principle faith of the goblinoids, though it has long since faded into obscurity. The general dogma of the Exalted Order was that only through conquest and war could the goblinoids get closer to their patron deities. The followers of the order were expected to ruthlessly combat the enemies of the empire, and loyally serve their warlords and emperor. Established during the foundation of Hazraâ,¬,,¢Ghalduur the church was supported and sanctioned by the dynastic clans as the official religion of the empire, and it remained as such for nearly five centuries.

The Clerics of the Exalted Order were respected men throughout Hazraâ,¬,,¢Ghalduur for their military expertise, and ruthless devotion to the empire. However when it was discovered that Kadrukar, the Sovereign, was also supporting the human kings of Sancrist, the goblinoids were infuriated. They felt as though their very own priesthood had betrayed them, and that their gods had intentionally mislead them. Already embroiled in a devastating war with Sancrist, for nearly four hundred years, the goblinoids questioned the commitment of their priests to victory at all.

Angry mobs burned the churches of the Order, and goblinoid soldiers, loyal to the Dynastic Clans turned on the priests. Within a matter of perhaps only a few decades, the entire faith was but a fuzzy memory within the empire, and it was considered treasonous not only to continue to practice the religion, but to even mention its existence. A handful of faithful followers continued to practice the dogmas of the order for a number of years, but in time the soldiers of the empire rooted them out and executed them one by one. The Exalted Order simply faded away, and was replaced entirely with a sense of national pride, and commitment to the emperor. The deities themselves were dismissed as traitors to the goblinoid people, and religion died in Hazraâ,¬,,¢Ghalduur.

The Order of Light

Deities: Kadrukar, Orum, and Mernia
Domains: Elemental (All), Good, Knowledge, Law, Magic, Protection, Strength, and Sun

The most important of the ancient faiths of Sancrist during the prime of this once magnificent and powerful human kingdom, was the Order of Light. The Order of light was devoted to protection of the human race, and her kingdoms. Though they were represented within the ancient republic of Leshaar as well, it was in Sancrist where the power of their following was greatest. Followers of the faith viewed themselves as the sculptors and builders of civilization, and the defenders of all civilized lands. They were constantly at odds with the Exalted order of Hazra'Ghalduur, who sought to destroy all they had created.

It is thought that when Sancrist fell to the goblinoids some 500 years ago, the Order of Light was forever destroyed, but many of their most sacred scrolls were saved by the humans who fled to the lands now known as Rhoenheim. Additionally the paladins of the order led many of the refugees of Sancrist to the remote lands noerth-east of Sancrist, which are now called Kashra. The Paladins did not have their scrolls or texts, but they did still have their ideals and determination. The Knights of Kashra very much resemble the ancient Order of Light in their methods and dogmas, even if they no longer swear allegiance to the deities of the ancient kingdoms.

The Sacred Cabal has put the scrolls and texts of this ancient church to use in the modern era, and if there is any faith to whom they would most likely trace their roots, it would be the Order of Light. Of all the lost faiths of Sulos more is known of this ancient religion than any other. Some whispers among those of the Cabal say that the ancient gods of the Order of Light, though theoretically only fictional manifestations of human ideoligies, have begun to stir. A chosen few, have started to develop the ability to spontaneosly manifest divine power, and they claim that the gods of Order of Light are the source of this power. For now these individuals are quite rare, so they pose no substantial threat to the sacred priests, but there has been intense research into the phenominon to unlock their secrets.

I intend to oppose this church with the order of light, which will contain aspects of Mernia, the Protector, Kadrukar, the Sovereign, and Orum, the Watcher. While it won't be the only other lost church, the Order of Light was the principle opposition to the Exalted Order during the 1000 year war between Hazra'Ghalduur and Sancrist (this makes way more sense if you've read my stuff on Sulos).

Any and all feedback and suggestions are welcome. Particularly those that pertain to possible three god combinations that would make strong foundations for a church.

-Nasty-

[Ninja D!]

You seem to have gotten pretty detailed considering you didn't want to make these gods at all a couple of days ago.  It looks pretty good to me.

[Soup Nazi]

I'm an all or nothing kind of guy.

[Soup Nazi]

I added another 3 god church, the Order of Light. Anybody have any good ideas for other 3 god combos?

[Ninja D!]

I added another 3 god church, the Order of Light. Anybody have any good ideas for other 3 god combos?

That is actually harder to come up with than it sounds.

[Túrin]

I know. I tried it too for my Orden's Mysteries setting. Only once I came to these boards asking for help did I get back to speed again. For me, the solution was simple: make a short list of what kind of churches you want. In my case, this turned out to be seven: two for the common folk, two for the nobility (one tyrannic-like, one more benevolent), one for merchants and thieves, one based around nature, and one other that I can't seem to recall.

[Soup Nazi]

I know. I tried it too for my Orden's Mysteries setting. Only once I came to these boards asking for help did I get back to speed again. For me, the solution was simple: make a short list of what kind of churches you want. In my case, this turned out to be seven: two for the common folk, two for the nobility (one tyrannic-like, one more benevolent), one for merchants and thieves, one based around nature, and one other that I can't seem to recall.

Unlike Orden's Mysteries I have the luxury of these faiths not actually being practiced any longer. I can establish the basics, and move on to the next, without worrying too much about how they actually worked within society. Your churches still have followers, and your PCs will actually belong to these religious entities. Mine are simply background information, and more a tool for telling the history of Sulos, than active parts of the world.

Did you by any chance take a look at any of the stuff I came up with for Orden's Mysteries? I'd love to think I was helpful, but I won't really know until I see some updates. Get back to work on Orden's Mysteries you lazy bum! (JK)   :halo: No really, take your time.

-Peace-

[Túrin]

Your suggestions for the churches were much appreciated, but don't expect to see full church writeups anytime soon. I don't seem to find time to work on my setting at all these days. We'll just have to wait and see when I decide to pick it up again. But thanks for your ideas, they have been recorded in my Word-file with ideas to be developed (which currently lists over 60 blurbs that I really should do something with :D).

[Soup Nazi]

Hey all! I'm pretty sure I've got the Churches all wrapped up for Sulos, but feel free to swing by my thread at WotC to check them out.

-Peace-