Discussion: Pantheon

[Numinous]

I think a totem for each race might be a good idea, as long as we don't do many sub-races.  That way, we can have a totem that represents the cultures values.

[brainface]

i think i'd rather have them along city state/geographic/cultural lines, myself. i like the idea of followers of one totem in a particular city state being of several different races that mostly get along. in another CS, it's a comp. diff. mix. To put it another way, i dont like the idea of
culture being entirely defined by race.

and maybe we cold have a tribe of orcs/whatever that claim their totem IS the universal totem for orcs. (and its a bloody, bloody totem). This causes a conflict with orcs in civilized areas who worship different totems alongside other races.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I have to agree with brainface's statement here.  I'm very against each race having "their own" deity, simple because it implies all members of a particular race share a like culture.  Each city-state, being composed of many different races and several cultures, seems to make more sense to me.

Speaking of which, should we begin conversation on cultural options sometime soon?  I don't know if it needs its own thread yet.

[daggerhart]

Here is the current list of recommended totems:

dragon
    * sphinx
    * roc
    * kraken
    * an elemental
    * island turtle
    * pheonix
    * death
    * gargantuan dire animals
* dwarven titan

If I missed some, just post it here.
I recommend anyone who wants to, to take one of these and develop a culture that worships it, and some small background.
Personally, I'm going to take the sphinx.
I'll post it tomorrow.


If you would rather develop some BFG saints, thats absolutely cool too.

[Numinous]

I suggest we avoid elementals, just because it seems wierd, at least to me to have one and not the others.  Plus to have all of them would be wierd.  I say replace Earth elemental with the dwarven titan or a Xorn, whichever seems most appropriate.

[brainface]

eh, i say its fine, if someone can make it intderesting. we'd be ignoring core fluff for a lot of these guys anyway.  ish's dwarven volcano, for instance, might have a giant fire ele as an 'avatar'. (or might could spit out several if it needed to :))

[daggerhart]

I added the dwarven titan, but I kept the idea of an elemental.

I personally think its really neat to have 1 random ancient elemental.    
Theres no-telling how cool the back-story is on why there aren't 3 more.  ;)

[Numinous]

alright, just putting in my :twocents:

[Ishmayl-Retired]

i like the idea of the dwarves worshipping a volcano instead of a titan ;)

[daggerhart]

well,  call dibs on 'the volcano', and build a dwarven settlement around it .  :)

worst that could happen is we tar and feather you, then ride you up the road.

[Túrin]

Why not have them worshipping both in different cultures? Isn't that what we were going for with races anyway?

What exactly should I picture when you say "death" is a totem god?

[Numinous]

The Reaper! Muahahaha!

*ahem* Is anybody working on the empire's pantheon?  I had some ideas, and i'm gonna put them up before I forget them.  My comp crashes a lot, so I can't save them elsewhere.

The bad-ass empire had a bad-ass totem, went around smashing stuff.  The first God was the man who killed this totem, and then united an empire.  His Son led a great rule of fair-treatment and rights, probably a portfolio of community, good, agriculture, etc.  His son was a tyrant who overtaxed the people, Then was overthrown by the god of liberty and freedom, who usupred the throne afterwards.  This guy's son went out and made the currewntly free city-states pay tribute, becoming god of wealth and good-fortune.  His daughter ended up taking the throne, and as the empire cracked and weathered, she lost her mind, demanding that the portions which were disloyal be burned, becoming goddess of insanity, anarchy and fire.  The empire fell apart after this, as her only child was spirited away by a general fearing for it's safety after his mother's actions.  Now, the grandson of the runaway child and the great-grandson of the general conspire together to rebuild the empire, with the empress's great-granddaughter having his eyes set on godhood.

Any thoughts?  I know it's unorganized, but I had to use it or lose it, y'know?

EDIT: Throw a couple cool saints and generals in there, and you have a pantheon!  Just my thoughts...

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Okay, in that case, I (and maybe nastynate?, since he had some good ideas) will work on a Volcano-worshipping-dwarven-Aztec culture.  Thanks for the permission! ;)

[Túrin]

Critical threat, I thought the badass Empire's pantheon would be based off of saints from the old empire?

[Soup Nazi]

Okay, in that case, I (and maybe nastynate?, since he had some good ideas) will work on a Volcano-worshipping-dwarven-Aztec culture. Thanks for the permission!

I'm game. I tend to spew out ideas rather randomly, but this one struck a chord with me for some reason. I could probably come up with quite a bit more if I put my mind to it. (I never planned to get too wrapped up in this project though)

-Nasty-