Pantheon of Champions [Rate, advise, point out gaps, etc] ~~(Pethros

[BlueCherryFizz]

Wrapped up the first draft of my pantheon last night, and I was hoping to get some outside perspective. Specifically wondering if the shape looks good, the domains balanced, and portfolios well rounded. Happy to receive feedback of any kind.
The campaign was written for a 3.5/PF hybrid, but I soon realized my players didn't know 3.5 like I do, so this write-up will be for a homebrew Pathfinder world.


History

Spoiler: Before Immortal Revolution (BIR)

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When the world was young, it was ruled by four immortal races - undead, elementals, dragons, and aboleths. Even Elves could not count the millennia over which these ancient forces ruled.


The dragon kingdoms were the most free. Dragons being over-sized cats, they preferred to establish a predator/prey dynamic. Still, at the end of the day, if the dragon felt like winning, they won.

The undead kept their humanoids for sustenance and reproduction. They were bred to be physically strong so that they would make the best undead soldiers after they were drained of all unnecessary food stuffs.

Elementals essentially kept humanoids as markers of wealth, taking pride in training their servants, dressing them up in silly mortal garb, and battling them against each other.

Aboleths did not keep humans. Though fewer in number, they acted from the shadows to destroy mortals, and their "peers."

Spoiler: The Immortal Revolution

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Divine Spark, a force previously unknown to the planet [Planet]. When the spark within thousands of oppressed mortals suddenly ignited, a massive shift in power rolled over the land. Across all nations, humanoid slaves were inexplicably bestowed immense power. Their natural or learned abilities were amplified 20x. The Divine Spark gave its wielders a hightened awareness. They were each able to see past their position, across the globe, and some even through time. With their divine insight, many lead their people to rise against the lords of the millennia-old empires.

Lots of stuff happened.

Once the old gods were slain, the new ones looked to each other. There were still hundreds of the new immortals, and divinity is lessened by sharing. Some had already been picking off their rivals during the uprising, and hastened their pace once the others started to realize the next stage of the game.

Worldwide Battle Royal happened between the new immortals.

A team of new immortals calling themselves The Prime, conquered the continents, and lived as kings and queens for nearly a thousand years. Their declaration of leadership marks the beginning of the new era, After Prime Unification (APU). Together, they built Pethros, then retired, ascending to the heavens so the peoples of [Planet] could rule themselves under their guidance.

A handful of others with the divine spark survived, finding enough followers to sustain themselves, spreading what influence they could, under the towering presence of The Prime.

Spoiler: The Magitec City of Pethros

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This is the forward I'm giving my players.
I believe my players already know, but it's supposed to be a secret that the magics of the city are supplied unwittingly by its citizens.


Pethros is a magic-powered trade metropolis in the figurative middle of the world. It's been thriving for over 1,000 years, leading the way in magitech advancements, social reform, trade, and travel. Pethros is a series of islands, with a vast underwater/underground network of districts, tunnels, and secrets. One would have to travel the rest of the world to get the variety of life found in Pethros. The guilds hold most of the power, but the town is officially run by Mayor Amorg Fanas, a drow devoted to the church of The Prime.

The city is about 2,000 square miles across, up to 11,000 miles above sea level, and over 5,000 miles below at some points. In all that space, there's a lot of room for diversity. Just about any kind of urban environment is found in Pethros. Whether your character is from the mid slums, the lower slums, straight out of a drain pipe, or born with a silver spoon, think of how it impacted their view on the trade mecha of the world. Do they see more of the crime-riddled, corrupt, and desperate, Gotham-like side, or the industrious, polished, and hard-working, Metropolis-like side? How has your character positively or negatively impacted the city? How has the city positively or negatively impacted your character? Good or evil, super or mundane, your character needs to want one thing; To solve problems that occur in the city. What else are we playing this game for?

Many career options are availabe in Pethros, including private investigations, working the merchant squares, taking political office, super heroism, endless crime options, city maintenance, jobs from your guild, etc, etc. The adventurer life made way for super heroes, but it just doesn't pay out the same. Many vigilantes have second identities in which they work actual jobs to make ends meet. You will begin with a home (if you so choose), and it can be anywhere, but you'll have to maintain upkeep costs. Residences in higher-class districts will have to pay more. These will be automagically deducted from your wealth each month to avoid the monotony of paying bills. Even if you're in to that sort of thing.

The game is sandboxy, with plots and time-sensitive events. Sometimes you'll be looking for clues to your next heroic act, and others the villains will kick down your door and insult your mother. Skills of all variety will be very useful, so don't neglect any if you can help it. Traps will be present regardless of how prepared your party is to deal with them. Though, they're not the most common thing. Expect them from dungeons, rich people, and shops, not every inch of the sidewalk, or the beggar's cap.


Long-range (over 1 mile) teleportation is unfeasible.

Spoiler: Map of Pethros

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Not sure how to stop the pic from being cut off..

The Prime

Spoiler: Bolae Kekth

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- Type: Goliath
- Alignment: Lawful Good
- Portfolio: Redemption, Action, Muscles, Soldiers
- Domains: Glory (all), Good (all), Law (Archon, Inevitable, Loyalty), Liberation (all), Protection (Defense, Fortification), Strength (all), War (Blood, Tactics), Water (Ice only)
- Favored Weapons: Spiked Chain, Spinning Sword, Unarmed Strike, Kusari-Gama
- Dogma: "Whenever one seeks to accomplish a task, one must put forward every effort towards executing it perfectly. Push aside the limitations we set for ourselves; do not accept anything but your best."
- Places of Worship Predominantly worshipped in temples to The Prime, but has many shrines and churches in impoverished, or industrial districts.

Spoiler: Aeleen Pentant

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- Type: Colossal Mechanical Golem
- Alignment: Neutral
- Portfolio: Androids, Magic Items, Magitech, Invention
- Domains: Artifice (All), Earth (Metal only), Knowledge (Aeon, Education, Memory, Thought), Law (Legislation, Inevitable)
- Favored Weapons: All Hammers
- Dogma: "If history does not contain the solution, it is up to you to make history."
- Places of Worship: Mostly worshipped in temples to The Prime, and at home.

Spoiler: Seliccio Lenn

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- Type: Halfling
- Alignment: Chaotic Good
- Portfolio: Adventure, Taverns, Duels, Passion, Luck, Wit, Swordplay, Pranks, Seafare, Boats
- Domains: Chaos (not Demodand or Devil), Charm (all), Glory (Heroism, Hubris, Legend), Good (Elysium, Friendship), Luck (Imagination), Nobility (all), Travel (Exploration, Trade), War (Duels), Water (not Ice)
- Favored Weapons: All Swords
- Dogma: "Freedom is thrust upon us against our will. What we do with it is what defines us."
- Places of Worship: Counted amongst the prime. Independently, temples and shrines to Seliccio can be found in all corners and crannies of the world.

Spoiler: Awhen Valore

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- Type: Half Elf
- Alignment: Lawful Neutral
- Portfolio: Assassins, Schemes, Hunt, Bows, Perfection
- Domains: Air (All), Animal (Feather only), Darkness (All), Death (Murder), Glory (All), Knowledge (Education, Espionage)
- Favored Weapons: Short Bow, Long Bow, Great Bow, Battle Bow, Foot Bow, etc
- Dogma: "The battle begins long before blades meet. Warriors are only as strong as their country."
- Places of Worship:

Spoiler: Johan Silversmyth

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- Type: Human
- Alignment: Lawful Good
- Portfolio: Cultural heritage, Social progress, Hierarchy, Battle tactis
- Domains: Law (Archon, Judgement, Loyalty), Nobility (All), Protection (All), War (All), Weather (All)
- Favored Weapons: Lance, spears, and light crossbows
- Dogma: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
- Places of Worship:

Spoiler: Hilda Goodpenny

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- Type: Halfling
- Alignment: Neutral Good
- Portfolio: Roads, Economy, Globalisation
- Domains: Charm (Captivation, Love), Community (All), Earth (Caves, Petrification), Nobility (All), Travel (Trade)
- Favored Weapons: Clubs, staves, slings, cudgels, etc
- Dogma: Take what you can, give what you can.
- Curches:

Spoiler: Kalen Avar

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- Type: Human
- Alignment: NE
- Portfolio: Consequence, governance, taxes,
- PF Domains:
- 3.5 Domains: Cavern, Cold, Death, Deathbound, Domination, Evil, Hatred, Mysticism, Nobility, Spider, Undeath
- Favored Weapons: Scythe & similar weapons
- Dogma: "Empires don't build themselves."
- Places of Worship:

Gotta go through the PF domains again since making this one.

Outsider Deities

Spoiler: Eve

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- Type: Dryad
- Alignment: Neutral Good
- Portfolio: Sub-Conscious Thought, Cycles, Seasons, Nature, Growth
- Domains: Death (None), Good (Azata, Friendship, Redemption), Healing (All), Plant (All), Repose (All), Sun (All)
- Favored Weapons: Spells, staves, natural weapons.
- Dogma: "Listen to your heart, and hear the flow of events. You will know what is right with time."
- Places of Worship:

Spoiler: Zhaolei Duskwatch

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- Type: Illumian
- Alignment: Neutral Evil
- Portfolio: Divination, Books, Records, Symbology
- Domains: Darkness (All), Death (Psychopomp), Evil (Corruption, Daemon, Demodand, Devil, Fear), Knowledge (Memory, Thought), Madness (All), Magic (All), Rune (All), Void, (All),
- Favored Weapons: Short sword, spells,
- Dogma: "Your enemy may rest, but it will be with you always."
- Places of Worship: Libraries exist because of Duskwatch, but the Prime has removed his likeness. The devout of Zhaolei Duskwatch carry their patron with them.

Spoiler: Rakitik

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- Type: Goblin
- Alignment: Chaotic Evil
- Portfolio: Goblins, Abundance, Chaos, Fire, Envy, Madness, Revelry, Slaughter
- Domains: Chaos (Demodand, Demon, Revelry, Riot, Whimsy), Destruction (All), Evil (Cannibalism, Demodand, Demon), Fire (Arson), Magic (Alchemy, Arcane)
- Favored Weapons: Axes and fire spells.
- Dogma: "Big is best, but size is relative." (needs work)
- Places of Worship: Rakitik is called on by barbarians in battle, and guides fools with power. Structures do not suit The Destroyer.

Spoiler: Worb

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- Type: Changeling
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Portfolio: Science, Grafts, Mutations, Progress,
- Domains: Destruction (Rage, Torture), Fire (All), Healing (All) Void (Isolation)
- Favored Weapons: Natural Attacks, Unarmed Strikes, Spell-Like Abilities.
- Dogma: "Discard that which does not suit you. What comes next is beautiful."
- Places of Worship:

Spoiler: Skivven Ter

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- Type: Ratfolk
- Alignment: Chaotic Evil
- Portfolio: Darkness, Disease, Madness, Plague, Pestilence, Famine
- Domains: Animal (Insect), Chaos (Entropy, Protean, Riot, Whimsy), Death (Plague), Destruction (Catastrophe, Hatred, Torture), Madness (Insanity, Truth), Vermin
- Favored Weapons: Hand crossbow, dagger, knives in general, dart.
- Dogma: "Focus on not dying. Everything else is fun."
- Places of Worship: Wherever filth rests, followers of Skivven can be found.

Spoiler: Geiji, The Parent

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- Type: Elemental
- Alignment: Neutral
- Portfolio: Elements, nature,
- Domains: Air (All), Earth (All), Fire (All), Water (All), Weather (All)
- Favored Weapons: Natural Weapons, and Unarmed Strikes
- Dogma: "For strength, look not from within, but to your home, and community. The environment you live in has a grand, yet subtle influence on your ability."
- Places of Worship: Sealed away during the immortal revolution. Still grants divine power to druids, but has little influence.

[Composer99]

It appears that dwarves are excluded from the list of deities. Is that deliberate? Even if it isn't, I wouldn't say you have to have a dwarven deity. That could lead to interesting world-building or roleplaying implications.

As for the deities themselves, it's worth noting most of your information for each deity is game-mechanic, with not a whole lot of setting lore. If that's all your players need, well and good, but depending on your players you might want to come up with a few more lore details:
- What deeds or offerings does the deity favour or abhor?
- Does the deity have any well-known heralds or other servants?
- Does the deity tend to send signs and wonders to servitors? If so, in what form?
- Are there any stories of the deity's deeds from the days before their ascension, or stories of afterward, that are common knowledge?
- Are there any turns of phrase, epithets, or the like that people use in reference to any deities? For instance, in our own world, we have "zounds" which comes from "(God)'s wounds", "By Jove", or Québecois cussing, which is very... eucharistic, let's say.

Actually, depending on the kind of game your players like to play, you might want to flesh out some of those details even if the players don't need or want it early on, in order to help the setting come alive.