Renduaz
2017-04-02, 03:17 PM
I have been thinking about ways in which a player might be able to obtain Divine Rank 0 as officially as possible, specifically within the Forgotten Realms campaign in 5e ( Yes, I know all about the rules of attaining divine rank in 3.5 and 4.0, no need to tell me ) , and I've arrived at a few insights:
Since the mechanics of how a player might rise to divinity are mostly absent or at best not officially defined in 5e, that leaves the action of actually ascending to divinity strictly in the hands of DM fiat. Whether he chooses to use suggestions from previous editions books on deities, to create his own way, or flat out forbid it. However, if your DM might be inclined to permit it, there are canonical 5e ways to persuade him with the least amount of fiat possible ( E.G if your DM doesn't just easily bestow divine rank upon you by another deity or lays out a clear quest for you to obtain it ), and below is the most convincing way that I could research by which a character might be able to ascend:
1.Both from previous edition handbooks and simple rationality, the likeliest way to divinity is through direct interaction with a being which already achieved it. Whether it be through killing the deity and stealing his divine spark, subduing the deity into surrendering his divinity to you, or performing a service for them, or simply asking them if they might know a method for you to join their ranks yourself.
2.Assuming that your DM is going to make you work for it as hard as possible, then confronting Asmodeus will earn you an instant incineration rather than your DM even statting him for you to get destroyed, and other powerful deities are never going to pay any attention to you. So whichever interaction we have, the best bet is the lowest ranked deities, also known as demigods. Whether we want to kill them or draw their attention, that would be the easiest.
3.And now we reach the canonical guide. In order to have an interaction with our demigod of choice, he must fulfill two criteria - He needs to mentioned in a 5E core book, and we must also know how to reach him. I have identified some options which are available, in ascending order of difficulty:
Gargauth - A powerful arch-devil turned demigod and then trapped within an artifact known as "The Shield of the Hidden Lord" ( SCAG, p.139 ), Gargauth is almost the perfect candidate for our aims, since he is described in the FR wiki as "the lawful evil demigod of betrayal, cruelty, political corruption and powerbrokers. He embodied the inevitable decay and corruption that accompanied all self-serving, greedy, and power-hungry leaders and groups. Gargauth held to the letter of any agreement, not the spirit, and relished betraying anyone with whom he forged a pact by twisting the contract to serve his own ends." and is currently trapped in an artifact, so he would almost certainly be partial to any deal from the player. The only catch is that he lost his divinity when he became trapped. But former deities usually have a habit of knowing best of all how to regain their former powers, especially a powerful arch-devil. The Shield of the Hidden Lord was, in previous editions, last held by the leader of the "Knights of the Shield" in the Sword Coast, and thanks to SCAG we know it's still around in 5E, so if you could track them down and then the shield, you would be able to consult Gargauth.
Gwaeron Windstrom - A demigod of rangers and tracking, he is mentioned in 5e ( SCAG p.29 ) and was last known to dwell in the Prime Material, according to previous editions "He is said to sleep in a stand of trees just to the west of the town of Triboar, known as Gwaeron's Slumber" on the Prime Material, making him easily accessible if he's still there.
Haela Brightaxe - Demi-goddess of battle and luck, she is mentioned in 5e as well ( SCAG p.22 ) and since she is a good Dwarven deity, and under the World Axis cosmology used in 5E, they are found in the plane of Dwarfhome, that's where you will find her.
Selvetarm - The champion of Lloth, he is mentioned in 5e ( SCAG p.23 ) and will almost certainly be found in the Demonweb pits.
In order to reach the demigods in the planes, there are a variety of spells or portals in 5e which allow you to journey across the Astral Sea and the Planes. A major drawback for choosing a hostile confrontation with any of the demigods except Gargauth ( Who is no longer a demigod ), is that they all have patron deities who might protect them. Gwaeron is subservient to Mielikki, Haela to Moradin, and Selvetarm to Lloth.
4. Once you find these demigods, it will be up to the DM to decide if there's any way you can ascend through your interaction with them.
Can anyone else think of ways to gain Divine Rank 0 which are compatible with 5th edition books and deities?
Since the mechanics of how a player might rise to divinity are mostly absent or at best not officially defined in 5e, that leaves the action of actually ascending to divinity strictly in the hands of DM fiat. Whether he chooses to use suggestions from previous editions books on deities, to create his own way, or flat out forbid it. However, if your DM might be inclined to permit it, there are canonical 5e ways to persuade him with the least amount of fiat possible ( E.G if your DM doesn't just easily bestow divine rank upon you by another deity or lays out a clear quest for you to obtain it ), and below is the most convincing way that I could research by which a character might be able to ascend:
1.Both from previous edition handbooks and simple rationality, the likeliest way to divinity is through direct interaction with a being which already achieved it. Whether it be through killing the deity and stealing his divine spark, subduing the deity into surrendering his divinity to you, or performing a service for them, or simply asking them if they might know a method for you to join their ranks yourself.
2.Assuming that your DM is going to make you work for it as hard as possible, then confronting Asmodeus will earn you an instant incineration rather than your DM even statting him for you to get destroyed, and other powerful deities are never going to pay any attention to you. So whichever interaction we have, the best bet is the lowest ranked deities, also known as demigods. Whether we want to kill them or draw their attention, that would be the easiest.
3.And now we reach the canonical guide. In order to have an interaction with our demigod of choice, he must fulfill two criteria - He needs to mentioned in a 5E core book, and we must also know how to reach him. I have identified some options which are available, in ascending order of difficulty:
Gargauth - A powerful arch-devil turned demigod and then trapped within an artifact known as "The Shield of the Hidden Lord" ( SCAG, p.139 ), Gargauth is almost the perfect candidate for our aims, since he is described in the FR wiki as "the lawful evil demigod of betrayal, cruelty, political corruption and powerbrokers. He embodied the inevitable decay and corruption that accompanied all self-serving, greedy, and power-hungry leaders and groups. Gargauth held to the letter of any agreement, not the spirit, and relished betraying anyone with whom he forged a pact by twisting the contract to serve his own ends." and is currently trapped in an artifact, so he would almost certainly be partial to any deal from the player. The only catch is that he lost his divinity when he became trapped. But former deities usually have a habit of knowing best of all how to regain their former powers, especially a powerful arch-devil. The Shield of the Hidden Lord was, in previous editions, last held by the leader of the "Knights of the Shield" in the Sword Coast, and thanks to SCAG we know it's still around in 5E, so if you could track them down and then the shield, you would be able to consult Gargauth.
Gwaeron Windstrom - A demigod of rangers and tracking, he is mentioned in 5e ( SCAG p.29 ) and was last known to dwell in the Prime Material, according to previous editions "He is said to sleep in a stand of trees just to the west of the town of Triboar, known as Gwaeron's Slumber" on the Prime Material, making him easily accessible if he's still there.
Haela Brightaxe - Demi-goddess of battle and luck, she is mentioned in 5e as well ( SCAG p.22 ) and since she is a good Dwarven deity, and under the World Axis cosmology used in 5E, they are found in the plane of Dwarfhome, that's where you will find her.
Selvetarm - The champion of Lloth, he is mentioned in 5e ( SCAG p.23 ) and will almost certainly be found in the Demonweb pits.
In order to reach the demigods in the planes, there are a variety of spells or portals in 5e which allow you to journey across the Astral Sea and the Planes. A major drawback for choosing a hostile confrontation with any of the demigods except Gargauth ( Who is no longer a demigod ), is that they all have patron deities who might protect them. Gwaeron is subservient to Mielikki, Haela to Moradin, and Selvetarm to Lloth.
4. Once you find these demigods, it will be up to the DM to decide if there's any way you can ascend through your interaction with them.
Can anyone else think of ways to gain Divine Rank 0 which are compatible with 5th edition books and deities?