Gods of the Vale - Revision history

Talisman: /* Small Gods */

2022-11-03T00:10:55Z

Small Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:10, 3 November 2022
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	* '''Black Anna:''' The queen of the hags, this ancient elven outcast haunts the land, searching for children to eat.		* '''Black Anna:''' The queen of the hags, this ancient elven outcast haunts the land, searching for children to eat.
	* '''Bladderbottom:''' A trickster spirit known to the Wolfsblood goblins, he may come as a hare, a goat, or a toad. You can tell it is him for all the flowers turn their heads away. Do likewise, turn your head and block your ears and you will be safe. And if you want to make your camp safe, pluck up a live plant and pin it to a tree. Its crying will drive Bladderbottom away. But if you need a boon, put a frog in a pot and play with it, Bladderbottom will come and will help. Or not.		* '''Bladderbottom:''' A trickster spirit known to the Wolfsblood goblins, he may come as a hare, a goat, or a toad. You can tell it is him for all the flowers turn their heads away. Do likewise, turn your head and block your ears and you will be safe. And if you want to make your camp safe, pluck up a live plant and pin it to a tree. Its crying will drive Bladderbottom away. But if you need a boon, put a frog in a pot and play with it, Bladderbottom will come and will help. Or not.
			* '''Riddi:''' A small god of forest paths, known to those who dwell in the Harken Wood.
	* '''Rond the Iron Hunter:''' A mighty hunter of witchfolk, he wields a cleaver of supernatural iron which cannot abide the touch of evil. It is said that he tricked this cleaver from Asmodel. All the races claim Iron Rond as their own.		* '''Rond the Iron Hunter:''' A mighty hunter of witchfolk, he wields a cleaver of supernatural iron which cannot abide the touch of evil. It is said that he tricked this cleaver from Asmodel. All the races claim Iron Rond as their own.
	* '''Silver Jon:''' A bard of legendary skill, believed by most to be a halfling, Jon does battle with evil beings wielding a fiddle with silver strings.		* '''Silver Jon:''' A bard of legendary skill, believed by most to be a halfling, Jon does battle with evil beings wielding a fiddle with silver strings.

Talisman: /* Small Gods */

2022-10-29T23:28:44Z

Small Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:28, 29 October 2022
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	* '''Black Anna:''' The queen of the hags, this ancient elven outcast haunts the land, searching for children to eat.		* '''Black Anna:''' The queen of the hags, this ancient elven outcast haunts the land, searching for children to eat.
			* '''Bladderbottom:''' A trickster spirit known to the Wolfsblood goblins, he may come as a hare, a goat, or a toad. You can tell it is him for all the flowers turn their heads away. Do likewise, turn your head and block your ears and you will be safe. And if you want to make your camp safe, pluck up a live plant and pin it to a tree. Its crying will drive Bladderbottom away. But if you need a boon, put a frog in a pot and play with it, Bladderbottom will come and will help. Or not.
	* '''Rond the Iron Hunter:''' A mighty hunter of witchfolk, he wields a cleaver of supernatural iron which cannot abide the touch of evil. It is said that he tricked this cleaver from Asmodel. All the races claim Iron Rond as their own.		* '''Rond the Iron Hunter:''' A mighty hunter of witchfolk, he wields a cleaver of supernatural iron which cannot abide the touch of evil. It is said that he tricked this cleaver from Asmodel. All the races claim Iron Rond as their own.
	* '''Silver Jon:''' A bard of legendary skill, believed by most to be a halfling, Jon does battle with evil beings wielding a fiddle with silver strings.		* '''Silver Jon:''' A bard of legendary skill, believed by most to be a halfling, Jon does battle with evil beings wielding a fiddle with silver strings.

Talisman: /* Small Gods */

2022-10-15T23:54:22Z

Small Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 15 October 2022
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	Saints, folk heroes, and legendary figures are also revered, sometimes as agents of a deity, sometimes just as powerful and charismatic heroes of yore. Some are old gods whose time has passed, lesser survivors from the ancient pantheons; others are mighty elemental spirits, powerful fey, or lost and forgotten things. Although they lack the power of the High Gods, these figures can still have worshipers and grant spells, although most have only a small handful of true clerics. Some act as patrons for warlocks, especially those of a more sinister bent. They tend to be more broadly known as names out of songs and legends, morality tales and ballads of forgotten heritage.		Saints, folk heroes, and legendary figures are also revered, sometimes as agents of a deity, sometimes just as powerful and charismatic heroes of yore. Some are old gods whose time has passed, lesser survivors from the ancient pantheons; others are mighty elemental spirits, powerful fey, or lost and forgotten things. Although they lack the power of the High Gods, these figures can still have worshipers and grant spells, although most have only a small handful of true clerics. Some act as patrons for warlocks, especially those of a more sinister bent. They tend to be more broadly known as names out of songs and legends, morality tales and ballads of forgotten heritage.

	Unlike the true gods, small gods and their kind ~~occasionally~~ meddle in the lives of mortals, and can even be found walking the land in mortal guise at rare times.		Unlike the true gods, small gods and their kind often meddle in the lives of mortals, and can even be found walking the land in mortal guise at rare times.

	There are many small gods, and most villages have a few local legends; only a few are listed here.		There are many small gods, and most villages have a few local legends; only a few are listed here.

Talisman: /* The Dark Ones */

2022-10-15T23:53:13Z

The Dark Ones

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:53, 15 October 2022
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	The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them. Some are holdovers from earlier pantheons, while others are dark and dangerous entities of godlike power but unknown origin. Their followers are the witchfolk as well as certain rare individuals who seek power and wealth without regard to the cost. Occasional cults to the Dark Ones will spring up, preying on the deluded or the desperate, but it is rare for more than a handful of cultists to know the true nature of the being they serve.		The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them. Some are holdovers from earlier pantheons, while others are dark and dangerous entities of godlike power but unknown origin. Their followers are the witchfolk as well as certain rare individuals who seek power and wealth without regard to the cost. Occasional cults to the Dark Ones will spring up, preying on the deluded or the desperate, but it is rare for more than a handful of cultists to know the true nature of the being they serve.

	Unlike the High Gods, the Dark Ones are all too eager to deal with mortals, occasionally walking the land in mortal guise and offering poisoned bargains and ~~two~~-edged gifts to those foolish enough to accept.		Unlike the High Gods, the Dark Ones are all too eager to deal with mortals, occasionally walking the land in mortal guise and offering poisoned bargains and double-edged gifts to those foolish enough to accept.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Talisman: /* The Dark Ones */

2022-10-15T23:52:48Z

The Dark Ones

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 15 October 2022
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	== The Dark Ones ==		== The Dark Ones ==

	The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them. Some are holdovers from earlier pantheons, while others are dark and dangerous entities of godlike power but ~~known~~ origin. Their followers are the witchfolk as well as certain rare individuals who seek power and wealth without regard to the cost. Occasional cults to the Dark Ones will spring up, preying on the deluded or the desperate, but it is rare for more than a handful of cultists to know the true nature of the being they serve.		The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them. Some are holdovers from earlier pantheons, while others are dark and dangerous entities of godlike power but unknown origin. Their followers are the witchfolk as well as certain rare individuals who seek power and wealth without regard to the cost. Occasional cults to the Dark Ones will spring up, preying on the deluded or the desperate, but it is rare for more than a handful of cultists to know the true nature of the being they serve.

	Unlike the High Gods, the Dark Ones are all too eager to deal with mortals, occasionally walking the land in mortal guise and offering poisoned bargains and two-edged gifts to those foolish enough to accept.		Unlike the High Gods, the Dark Ones are all too eager to deal with mortals, occasionally walking the land in mortal guise and offering poisoned bargains and two-edged gifts to those foolish enough to accept.

Talisman: /* The Dark Ones */

2021-12-15T01:16:36Z

The Dark Ones

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:16, 15 December 2021
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	== The Dark Ones ==		== The Dark Ones ==

	The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them.		The gods of evil are little-known to most folk, and never openly worshiped. They are respected, and offerings are made to avert their wrath, but there are no churches to their glory or priests who revere them. Some are holdovers from earlier pantheons, while others are dark and dangerous entities of godlike power but known origin. Their followers are the witchfolk as well as certain rare individuals who seek power and wealth without regard to the cost. Occasional cults to the Dark Ones will spring up, preying on the deluded or the desperate, but it is rare for more than a handful of cultists to know the true nature of the being they serve.

			Unlike the High Gods, the Dark Ones are all too eager to deal with mortals, occasionally walking the land in mortal guise and offering poisoned bargains and two-edged gifts to those foolish enough to accept.

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Talisman: /* The High Gods */

2021-12-15T01:14:02Z

The High Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:14, 15 December 2021
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	The people of Nentir Vale, by and large, worship a syncretic collection of deities known variously as the Lords of the Sky, the High Gods, the Elders, and the Great Ones. They are drawn from the ancestral pantheons of the four dominant races, but have largely been combined into a single unified pantheon over the years.		The people of Nentir Vale, by and large, worship a syncretic collection of deities known variously as the Lords of the Sky, the High Gods, the Elders, and the Great Ones. They are drawn from the ancestral pantheons of the four dominant races, but have largely been combined into a single unified pantheon over the years.
	Some people feel especially drawn to one individual deity or another, but most respect and revere the pantheon as a whole, and most churches are dedicated to the gods in general. There are regional variances, of course; a given deity may have especial prominence in one community, only to be relegated to secondary status in another, but it’s a rare community that doesn’t at least acknowledge them all.		Some people feel especially drawn to one individual deity or another, but most respect and revere the pantheon as a whole, and most churches are dedicated to the gods in general. Collectively, this is known as the High Church. There are regional variances, of course; a given deity may have especial prominence in one community, only to be relegated to secondary status in another, but it’s a rare community that doesn’t at least acknowledge them all.

	Direct signs and miracles from the High Gods are rare to the point of being legendary (although small gods are less remote). While most communities have a cleric or two with some healing spells, many priests lack spellcasting power, but are not less respected for it. Rare and powerful clerics are said to be able to cure diseases with a touch and call upon angelic beings for aid, but such people are near-mythic.		Direct signs and miracles from the High Gods are rare to the point of being legendary (although small gods are less remote). While most communities have a cleric or two with some healing spells, many priests lack spellcasting power, but are not less respected for it. Rare and powerful clerics are said to be able to cure diseases with a touch and call upon angelic beings for aid, but such people are near-mythic.

Talisman: /* The Old Faith */

2021-12-15T01:10:54Z

The Old Faith

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 15 December 2021
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	== The Old Faith ==		== The Old Faith ==

			An animistic religion dating back to before recorded history, the Old Faith - sometimes known as the Old Way, the Green Path, the Way of Balance and the History - is often described as nature-worship. In fact, this is not entirely true; while those who follow the Old Faith do venerate the natural world to some degree, it is untrue to claim they worship nature and hate civilization. There are as many ways to follow the Old Faith as there are people who follow it. Broadly speaking, the Old Faith has two basic tenets: ''all things have souls,'' and ''seek balance in all things.''

			A follower of one of the High Gods might pray to Rayge to avert the destruction of a thunderstorm, or to Soleus for a bountiful harvest. A follower of the Old Faith would direct their prayers to the thunderstorm itself, or to a local spirit associated with wind and rain; they might make an offering to the field itself, rather than praying to a deity. Whereas the followers of the gods seen the beneficence of their patrons as a peasant might a king, those of the Old Faith hold a more transactional view of the supernatural, believing that to gain the blessings of the spirits, one must make a token offering. Many households have a variety of small rituals meant to encourage such blessings.

			The Old Faith can be a darker religion than the High Church. Since the Old Faith is based on the ideal of balance, this means a great blessing requires a correspondingly great sacrifice. Token sacrifice, such as a few drops of blood, a cup of alcohol, or a piece of food, is common in the Old Faith, with high holy days or unexpected disasters calling for more - animal sacrifice, the offering of a large value of material goods, or possibly even a sapient life. This has given the Old Faith a dark reputation to some.

			While the High Church has its demigods and saints, those who follow the Old Faith revere the spirits of the land, often embodied in the form of particularly impressive animals or natural features. A tree that has stood for hundreds of years, a famous, one-eyed grizzly bear, a particular stream believed to be the abode of a powerful spirit, all may be "saints" of the Old Faith. Unlike the High Church, the Old Faith holds no illusions on the immortality of its patrons - the spirits are mighty, but the can be slain. All things die in time.

			While the Old Faith has no true priests, those who dedicate their lives to it are known as '''druids.''' Often misunderstood as "priests of nature," druids are more akin to wizards, for their power comes from accumulated knowledge. A druid is one who lives their lives to the rhythms of nature and balance, and in so doing learns to draw upon the power of the natural world. Druids tend to learn much of the spirit world as well, and in so doing learn how best to approach and interact with the spirits of beast and bird, the trees and the elements.

	== The Dark Ones ==		== The Dark Ones ==

Talisman at 00:51, 15 December 2021

2021-12-15T00:51:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:51, 15 December 2021
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	\|}		\|}

			== The Old Faith ==




	== The Dark Ones ==		== The Dark Ones ==

Talisman: /* Small Gods */

2021-02-07T22:55:09Z

Small Gods

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:55, 7 February 2021
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	== Small Gods ==		== Small Gods ==

			[[File:SmallGod01.jpg\|right]]
	Saints, folk heroes, and legendary figures are also revered, sometimes as agents of a deity, sometimes just as powerful and charismatic heroes of yore. Some are old gods whose time has passed, lesser survivors from the ancient pantheons; others are mighty elemental spirits, powerful fey, or lost and forgotten things. Although they lack the power of the High Gods, these figures can still have worshipers and grant spells, although most have only a small handful of true clerics. Some act as patrons for warlocks, especially those of a more sinister bent. They tend to be more broadly known as names out of songs and legends, morality tales and ballads of forgotten heritage.		Saints, folk heroes, and legendary figures are also revered, sometimes as agents of a deity, sometimes just as powerful and charismatic heroes of yore. Some are old gods whose time has passed, lesser survivors from the ancient pantheons; others are mighty elemental spirits, powerful fey, or lost and forgotten things. Although they lack the power of the High Gods, these figures can still have worshipers and grant spells, although most have only a small handful of true clerics. Some act as patrons for warlocks, especially those of a more sinister bent. They tend to be more broadly known as names out of songs and legends, morality tales and ballads of forgotten heritage.