Pantheon

From RainGamersWiki

The Pantheon of The People

The gods of The People are very classical hunter-gatherer gods: spirits that reside in nature and control, somewhat capriciously, the world. There are no "evil" or "good" spirits, simply spirits that are greater or lesser, spirits who want order versus spirits who want chaos (with most simply wanting the world to continue to exist). In point of fact, all things have spirits: the wind, the stars, the moon, the trees, the earth, the rocks...and it's also possible to shape the spirits of things, as you shape the reality of things. A nap of flint has a spirit, and changing the nap into an arrowhead can also change the spirit of the flint -- and how well a Person changes the spirit can sometimes govern how well the arrow flies. The spirit of the deer nourishes The People just as much as the meat of the deer, and not respecting the spirit of food can cause as much trouble as the food going bad (and proper respect of the spirit can keep the food from going bad much longer than it would normally).

Paladins, Clerics, and the like know the secrets of the spirits, just as Wizards and Warlocks and Witches know the secrets of Men, and Shamen and Druids and medicine People know the secrets of the Earth. Of course, there is much overlap between the various roles -- Clerics know what herbs help with healing and sleep, and a Shaman can call upon spirits to aid in battle, and learning the Languages of Men can help with understanding in all areas. There are even some clans within the various bloodlines who specialize in certain knowledge: the Cagawakonda Wolf clan and their Winter Magics, the Marseguro Wildcat clan and their seafaring, and the like.

There are several major spirits in the belief system of The People, who serve as mythmakers and story roots for the many, many, many creation myths of The People. But in general, they all agree on these:

Queen Raven: Arbiter of life and death, keeper of the loom of fate, and ruler of departed spirits. Her wings shelter all who die, and her beak is sharp for those who try to cheat her. (Use the Raven Queen from the PHB for special abilities)

Mother Moon: She who watches in the night, who sees all, but does not always share. Her face turns away from The People in her dance with Father Sun, but always she turns back. (Use Sehanine from the PHB for special abilities)

Father Sun: He who watches during the day, who helps the plants grow and bakes the land, whose baleful eye grows dim in the winter seasons, and bright in the summer. He dances the dance with Mother Moon, but always his eye is on The People. (Use Pelor from the PHB for special abilities)

Brother Crow: The spirit of conflict and resolution, the arbiter of arguments and the key of resolution. The Old Stories of Men talk of great clashes, and Brother Crow sits in the center of these. (Use Kord from the PHB for special abilites)

Aunt Ocean: The sea is her own mistress, cold and dark and unforgiving, but generous with her bounty and protection. Her children of the water feed many of The People, and keep them safe, but she is merciless to mistakes and misfortune. (Use Melora from the PHB for special abilities)

The Unmaker: Mischief; Trickster; Sneakthief; Troublemaker -- these are all names of the Unmaker, who sowed the seeds of discord in the world...but also sowed the seeds of change and growth and evolution. The Unmaker delights in the tumbled wind, the jumbled ruins, the result of destruction, but also the growth after the fire and the life that springs from the wreckage. (Use Avandra from the PHB for special abilities)

Wise Owl: Knowledge and skill, patience and stealth, care and time are the ways of the Wise Owl, who knows much and sees much and says little. It is Wise Owl who first told the stories of The People, and whose avatars still watch over The Island and The People. (Use Ioun from the PHB for special abilities)

Cousin Rat: The cities of Man have fallen, but the cities still stand in ruins, and those that live among the ruins are clever and active, and they are all the children of Cousin Rat, who keeps the places of Man alive until their return, if ever. (Use Erathis from the PHB for special abilities)

Fierce Kestrel: The eye of the Kestrel watches all, and her judgement is fierce and swift. Mercy to the swift or the righteous, quick ends to the slow and unrighteous. Her wings spread in protection of those who need it, and her beak and claws are sharp to those who deserve it. (Use Bahamut from the PHB for special abilities)

Blue Heron: The brother of the waters, mastery of the arcane lore, and keeper of magic secrets, Blue Heron has close ties to the Wolves and other magic users. Blue Heron travels the coasts of the land, visiting The Island in the Spring and Fall, and brings with him the breath of blessings. (Use Corellon from the PHB for special abilities)