Mongobear
2016-09-17, 07:42 PM
Designing a custom Pantheon for my own setting, and have the majority of them figured out, as far as who they are and what they reside over, as far as domains of power and role in the cosmos. However, I am having trouble with coming up with ideas/descriptions of what their followers would use as a holy symbol. I came up with a few ideas, but hoping you guys might hae other perspectives.
Note: A majority of these Dieties are not original. I borrowed from a LOT of different pantheons in the real world and from the various Dieties & Demigods from multiple editions, and renamed/changed things to suit my setting.
Cairidan the Forge-Father, God of Craftsmanship, Artisans, and Fire
Pretty much a combination of Haephestus from the Greek mythology, and Imhotep from the Egyptians. If you are any sort of a craftsman from a lowly carpenter to a master sculptor, you would like pay homage to Cairidan. Also, he is rumored to be the Progenitor of the Forged race (refluffed Warforged in the setting) although these rumors are considered heresy to the Followrs of the God of Magic, who presides over the Knowledge of how to build Constructs.
Current Holy Symbol Ideas: An Anvil wreathed in flames, A Blacksmith's Hammer, Smith Tongs and a Hammer crossed into an X across a stone slab
Aresius, God of the Barbarian Tribes, Open Warfare, and Glory Upon the Battlefield
Aresius is basically Kratos from God of War if he would settle down and stop murdering everyone. He possesses a very Spartan-esque personality, although visually he is closer to Bonan the Barbarian than Leonidas. The closest thing I can find visually to be similar to him is the Barbarian from Diablo 3, although he would be much younger in appearance. Aresius isnt worshipped nearly as often in the heavily civilized areas of the setting, although mercenary bands and professional soldiers do tend to favor him, as well as his sister, the Goddess of Honor and Justice. He does have a larger following on the borderlands, where the less civilized tribes of nomadic Barbarians follow him as their patron War-god, many emulating his look and fighting style out of respect.
Current Holy Synbol Ideas: Two Battle Axes crosses over in an X, A single large Axe with Blood over the Blade
Cerrunos, God of Wealth, Revelry, and Fertility
An amalgamation of Dionysus, Bacchus, and Balder al rolled into a single God. Whether you are a Hedonist, a wealthy Noble living the lifestyle, or even some of a lesser calling stealing what you can to get whatever enjoyment from life you can, you likely praise Cerrunos to some degree.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Goblet full of Wine, a Golden coin with a bearded man smiling, an decorative mask with a sly smile
Gaia, Goddess of the Land, Sea, and Sky; Protecter of the Natural World; Mother Nature
Pretty standard concept. Gaia is the protecter and Guardian of everything outside of civilization. All wild animals, whether on land, sea, or in the sky are under her watch. She looks over farmers and crops, causes the seasons to shift, and ensures the natural world stays the course. She can be equally cruel and oppressive since Nature is often fickle and uncaring, but everything she does happens for a reason.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Celtic Triskele symbolizing Land, Sea, and Air; a Tree or Leaf, a Cornucopia
Hydranos, God of the Oceans, Watcher of the Waves, The Great Helmsman
Pretty much a rewritten Poseidon and folded into a God of sea-faring merchants and Sailors, Hydranos ensures that anyone who makes a lively hood upon the waters of this world are watched over. Fishermen, Royal Navies, Pirates, and any underwater cultures are heavily influenced by Hydranos. He also is in control of the domains of storms such as Hurricanes, Cyclones, and other great disasters, but never intentionally will he wipes out a coastal village who has not openly provoked his ire. He often acts together with Gaia to balance out his great Storms so that those affected come out for the better if too much is lost.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Compass, a Trident within a Wave, a Thunder Cloud with Lightning Bolt
Macaria, Goddess of Life and Death; The Angel of Death; The Eternal Midwife
Macaria is a Goddess with perhaps the most duplicitous aspect of power in the whole setting. She governs over both the life giving nature of fertility and mortal reproduction, as well as the gathering of the dead and dying at the moment of their deaths and ushering their souls into to the afterlife, whether heaven or hell.
She views herself as more of a Shepherd than as a Goddess, and often is depicted in murals and artwork as such. There are some of her followers who only observe one side of her faith, focusing entirely on either the Life or Death aspects of her teachings, which isn't strange, but often these people disrupt the cycle of natural life and death, causing one side to become unbalanced until she must take action to bring it back in line.
She abhors the practice of Necromancy, and both of her aspects believe that Undeath is a defilement of everything that she teaches and all of the work she does across the realm of mortals. She also is quite strict with allowing the dead to return to life via any sort of Raise Dead or Resurrection magic. She believes that the Dead must stay dead, and unless you are one of her faithful, or under go a great burden for her upon your return to life, she will likely not allow your soul to return to life.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A White Lantern with Golden light (Life), a Black Scythe (Death), a Lamb and Wolf chasing one-another (Both)
Morwynn, God of Magic; Keeper of Ancient Knowledge; Master of Golemcraft
Pretty much Merlin, Gandalf, and any other all-powerful old crotchety wizard types all rolled into a single God. It is his job to ensure that magical power stays in check, as well as make sure the Leylines that pass under the material plane remain free-flowing to keep magical power balanced across the whole realm.
He also Chronicles all of the history of the Realm since it was first molded by his fellow Deities and the first sparks of life were started on its surface. He has only recently began to expand his domain to include to creation of artificial beings, Constructs, such as Golems, Homunculi and and such creatures as the next step in Life's evolution.
His followers claim that the race known as the Forged were Morwynn's masterpiece, fully living beings composed entirely of artificial materials, but the followers of Caridan oppose this strongly. No true answer is known, as one day several centures ago, many small groups of 'Forged' started filing into the metropolises and villages all across the realm with no explanation of where they came from. Only seeking a place to stay and offering any sort of aid they were capable of in exchange.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A fancy Tome laying open, a partially unraveled Scroll, a spiraling spell effect
Tarubeth, Goddess of Justice and Honor; The Grand Protector of the Realm; She Who Stands Before the Darkness
Tarubeth is the Goddess charged with the most dangerous of all roles in the grand pantheon. She must protect the realms of mortals against the ever threatening darkness from beyond, so as not to let their evil and corruption take root in the Material Plane. She is also the Patron god of many Paladins, Guards, Magistrates, and any other person who values Law and Order above all else.
She is loosely tied to several bands of mercenaries and travelling warriors, although she has no direct power over open warfare. She does pose as a moral figurehead for honorable combatants and those who take pride in the accomplishments of a well-fought battle.
Holy Symbol Ideas: An Obviously Holy Sword with Angelic Wings or a Sunburst radiating from the Hilt, A Sword surrounded by golden light emblazoned on a shield
Note: A majority of these Dieties are not original. I borrowed from a LOT of different pantheons in the real world and from the various Dieties & Demigods from multiple editions, and renamed/changed things to suit my setting.
Cairidan the Forge-Father, God of Craftsmanship, Artisans, and Fire
Pretty much a combination of Haephestus from the Greek mythology, and Imhotep from the Egyptians. If you are any sort of a craftsman from a lowly carpenter to a master sculptor, you would like pay homage to Cairidan. Also, he is rumored to be the Progenitor of the Forged race (refluffed Warforged in the setting) although these rumors are considered heresy to the Followrs of the God of Magic, who presides over the Knowledge of how to build Constructs.
Current Holy Symbol Ideas: An Anvil wreathed in flames, A Blacksmith's Hammer, Smith Tongs and a Hammer crossed into an X across a stone slab
Aresius, God of the Barbarian Tribes, Open Warfare, and Glory Upon the Battlefield
Aresius is basically Kratos from God of War if he would settle down and stop murdering everyone. He possesses a very Spartan-esque personality, although visually he is closer to Bonan the Barbarian than Leonidas. The closest thing I can find visually to be similar to him is the Barbarian from Diablo 3, although he would be much younger in appearance. Aresius isnt worshipped nearly as often in the heavily civilized areas of the setting, although mercenary bands and professional soldiers do tend to favor him, as well as his sister, the Goddess of Honor and Justice. He does have a larger following on the borderlands, where the less civilized tribes of nomadic Barbarians follow him as their patron War-god, many emulating his look and fighting style out of respect.
Current Holy Synbol Ideas: Two Battle Axes crosses over in an X, A single large Axe with Blood over the Blade
Cerrunos, God of Wealth, Revelry, and Fertility
An amalgamation of Dionysus, Bacchus, and Balder al rolled into a single God. Whether you are a Hedonist, a wealthy Noble living the lifestyle, or even some of a lesser calling stealing what you can to get whatever enjoyment from life you can, you likely praise Cerrunos to some degree.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Goblet full of Wine, a Golden coin with a bearded man smiling, an decorative mask with a sly smile
Gaia, Goddess of the Land, Sea, and Sky; Protecter of the Natural World; Mother Nature
Pretty standard concept. Gaia is the protecter and Guardian of everything outside of civilization. All wild animals, whether on land, sea, or in the sky are under her watch. She looks over farmers and crops, causes the seasons to shift, and ensures the natural world stays the course. She can be equally cruel and oppressive since Nature is often fickle and uncaring, but everything she does happens for a reason.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Celtic Triskele symbolizing Land, Sea, and Air; a Tree or Leaf, a Cornucopia
Hydranos, God of the Oceans, Watcher of the Waves, The Great Helmsman
Pretty much a rewritten Poseidon and folded into a God of sea-faring merchants and Sailors, Hydranos ensures that anyone who makes a lively hood upon the waters of this world are watched over. Fishermen, Royal Navies, Pirates, and any underwater cultures are heavily influenced by Hydranos. He also is in control of the domains of storms such as Hurricanes, Cyclones, and other great disasters, but never intentionally will he wipes out a coastal village who has not openly provoked his ire. He often acts together with Gaia to balance out his great Storms so that those affected come out for the better if too much is lost.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A Compass, a Trident within a Wave, a Thunder Cloud with Lightning Bolt
Macaria, Goddess of Life and Death; The Angel of Death; The Eternal Midwife
Macaria is a Goddess with perhaps the most duplicitous aspect of power in the whole setting. She governs over both the life giving nature of fertility and mortal reproduction, as well as the gathering of the dead and dying at the moment of their deaths and ushering their souls into to the afterlife, whether heaven or hell.
She views herself as more of a Shepherd than as a Goddess, and often is depicted in murals and artwork as such. There are some of her followers who only observe one side of her faith, focusing entirely on either the Life or Death aspects of her teachings, which isn't strange, but often these people disrupt the cycle of natural life and death, causing one side to become unbalanced until she must take action to bring it back in line.
She abhors the practice of Necromancy, and both of her aspects believe that Undeath is a defilement of everything that she teaches and all of the work she does across the realm of mortals. She also is quite strict with allowing the dead to return to life via any sort of Raise Dead or Resurrection magic. She believes that the Dead must stay dead, and unless you are one of her faithful, or under go a great burden for her upon your return to life, she will likely not allow your soul to return to life.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A White Lantern with Golden light (Life), a Black Scythe (Death), a Lamb and Wolf chasing one-another (Both)
Morwynn, God of Magic; Keeper of Ancient Knowledge; Master of Golemcraft
Pretty much Merlin, Gandalf, and any other all-powerful old crotchety wizard types all rolled into a single God. It is his job to ensure that magical power stays in check, as well as make sure the Leylines that pass under the material plane remain free-flowing to keep magical power balanced across the whole realm.
He also Chronicles all of the history of the Realm since it was first molded by his fellow Deities and the first sparks of life were started on its surface. He has only recently began to expand his domain to include to creation of artificial beings, Constructs, such as Golems, Homunculi and and such creatures as the next step in Life's evolution.
His followers claim that the race known as the Forged were Morwynn's masterpiece, fully living beings composed entirely of artificial materials, but the followers of Caridan oppose this strongly. No true answer is known, as one day several centures ago, many small groups of 'Forged' started filing into the metropolises and villages all across the realm with no explanation of where they came from. Only seeking a place to stay and offering any sort of aid they were capable of in exchange.
Holy Symbol Ideas: A fancy Tome laying open, a partially unraveled Scroll, a spiraling spell effect
Tarubeth, Goddess of Justice and Honor; The Grand Protector of the Realm; She Who Stands Before the Darkness
Tarubeth is the Goddess charged with the most dangerous of all roles in the grand pantheon. She must protect the realms of mortals against the ever threatening darkness from beyond, so as not to let their evil and corruption take root in the Material Plane. She is also the Patron god of many Paladins, Guards, Magistrates, and any other person who values Law and Order above all else.
She is loosely tied to several bands of mercenaries and travelling warriors, although she has no direct power over open warfare. She does pose as a moral figurehead for honorable combatants and those who take pride in the accomplishments of a well-fought battle.
Holy Symbol Ideas: An Obviously Holy Sword with Angelic Wings or a Sunburst radiating from the Hilt, A Sword surrounded by golden light emblazoned on a shield