Religion Resource Thread

[MAB77]

Shamanism

Shamanism is practised in various forms across the domains of Ravenloft and beyond. Consult the Shamanistic Beliefs - Roleplay Resources thread for more details and the complete rules to devise your character's patron spirit. The following list contains examples of valid patron spirits.

Examples of patron spirits	Suggested domains
Ancestral spirit (Benign)	Healing, Protection
Ancestral spirit (Warlike)	Fire, War
Beast spirit	Animal, Strength
Celestial spirit	Good, Sun
Eldritch spirit	Death, Magic
Fiendish spirit	Death, Evil
Mountain kami / Earth spirit	Earth, Law
Nightmare Lands spirit	Dream, Plant
River kami / Water spirit	Trickery, Water
Spirit of Fate	Luck, Repose
Storm kami / Air spirit	Air, Travel
Sun spirit	Sun, Time
Undead spirit	Darkness, Undeath
Vermin spirit	Destruction, Plant
Volcano kami / Fire spirit	Destruction, Fire

Source: D&D 3e Oriental Adventures, Dragon Magazine #318 (Oriental Adventures, Eastern Flavor - Update to 3.5)

[MAB77]

Pharaonic (Egyptian) Pantheon

Note: Any player wishing to portray a divine caster originating from Gothic Earth must first read this.

This D&D pantheon is inspired by the religions of historical Egypt in ancient times. In the 3rd edition D&D continuity, Re-Horakhty, formerly known as Horus, has ascended to replace Ra as the head of the pantheon and several of the older generation of Pharaonic deities are no longer worshipped. This pantheon provides options to characters from the Gothic Earth and Planescape settings.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Symbol	Portfolio
Re-Horakhty [m]	Good, Law, Sun, War	LG	Khopesh (Scimitar)	Solar Disk encircled by a Serpent	Nobility, Sun, Supreme, Vengeance
Anubis [m]	Law, Magic, Repose	LN	Mace	Black Jackal	Judgement, Death, Werejackals
Apep* [m]	Evil, Fire	NE	Heavy Pick	Flaming Snake	Evil, Fire, Serpents
Bast [f]	Chaos, Destruction, Protection, Strength, War	CG	Tiger Claws (Bagh-Nakh)	Cat	Cats, Vengeance
Bes [m]	Luck, Protection, Trickery	CN	Shortsword	Image of the Deity	Luck, Music, Protection
Hathor [f]	Good, Luck	NG	Longsword	Horned Cow's Head with a Lunar Disc	Love, Music, Dance, Moon, Fate, Motherhood
Imhotep [m]	Healing, Knowledge	NG	Quarterstaff	Step Pyramid	Crafts, Medicine
Isis [f]	Good, Magic, Protection, Water	NG	Quarterstaff	Ankh and Star	Fertility, Magic, Marriage
Nephthys [f]	Chaos, Good, Protection, Repose	CG	Mace	Horns around a Lunar Disc	Death, Grief
Osiris [m]	Air, Earth, Good, Law, Plant, Repose	NG	Light Flail	Crossed Crook and Flail	Harvest, Nature, Underworld
Ptah [m]	Knowledge, Law, Travel	LN	Light Mace	Bull	Crafts, Knowledge, Secrets, Travel
Set [m]	Air, Chaos, Darkness, Destruction, Evil, Death	CE	Spear	Coiled Cobra	Darkness, Evil, Night, Desert Storms, Drought
Sobek [m]	Animal, Evil, Water	LE	Spear	Crocodile Head with Horned & Plumed Headdress	Water, River Hazards, Crocodiles, Wetlands
Thoth [m]	Knowledge, Magic	TN	Quarterstaff	Ibis	Knowledge, Wisdom, Learning

* Apep is also known as Apophis.

Gothic Earth Options

Gothic Earth characters are allowed to come from a period of time where these other Egyptian gods were worshipped.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Amun [m]	Sun, Protection, Law, War, Strength	LG	Composite Bow	Sun
Anhur [m]	Chaos, Strength, War	CG	Falchion	War, Warriors
Apshai [m]	Animal, Plant	TN	Dagger	Insects
Aten [m]	Knowledge, Magic, Sun	NG	Quarterstaff	Sun
Atum [m]	Sun, Earth, Protection	NG	Quarterstaff	Sun
Geb [m]	Earth, Plant, Protection, Strength	TN	Quarterstaff or Unarmed Strike	The Earth
Horus [m]	Good, Chaos, Sun, War	CG	Khopesh (Scimitar)	Sun, Vengeance
Khonsu [m]	Magic, Protection, Travel	LN	Flail	Magic, Moon, Mysteries
Khumn [m]	Earth, Protection, Water	LG	Mace	Floods
Mihos [m]	Destruction, Protection, Sun	LN	Dagger	Retribution
Mut [f]	Animal, Magic, Healing, Good	NG	Flail	Life, Healing
Neith [f]	Death, Sun, War	TN	Shortbow	Guide to Spirits, Hunting Evil Spirits
Nut [f]	Air, Healing, Good, Protection	NG	Flail	The Sky, Couples forbidden to marry
Seker [m]	Good, Protection, Sun	NG	Light Mace	Light
Sekhmet [f]	Animal, Magic, War	CN	Composite Bow	War, Vengeance
Shu [m]	Air, Good, Law, Sun	LG	Quarterstaff, Mace	Winds, the Atmosphere
Taueret [f]	Protection, Healing, Water	NG	Dagger	Fertility, the Northern Stars
Tefnut [f]	Air, Destruction, Law, Water	LG	Dagger	Moisture, Rain
Tutu [m]	Good, Protection, Strength	NG	Dagger	Vanquishing Demons

Sources: Deities & Demigods (AD&D 1st ed. & D&D 3e), Legends & Lore, Mythic Vistas - Testament, Dragon Magazine #283 (Do-it-yourself deities)

[MAB77]

The Celtic Pantheon (Standard D&D variant)

Note: Any player wishing to portray a divine caster originating from Gothic Earth must first read this.

In the D&D multiverse, the Celtic pantheon, also known as the Tuatha De Danann, is one of the most adaptable and influential in all the Outer Planes. This pantheon is inspired by the beliefs of the ancient Celts and their descendants. It provides options to characters from the Gothic Earth and Planescape settings. It is also worshipped by a large number of elves on Ravenloft.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Arawn [m]	Death, Evil, Magic	LE	Scythe	Death, the Underworld
Balor [m]	Destruction, Evil, Law	LE	Gaze Attacks (None)	Fomorians
Belenus [m]	Animal, Good, Fire, Plant, Sun	NG	Sickle	Sun
Brigantia [f]	Air, Animal, Plant, Water	NG	Warhammer	Rivers, Livestock
Brigit [f]	Chaos, Fire, Knowledge	CG	Quarterstaff	Fire, Poetry
Cairbre [m]	Chaos, Knowledge, Luck	CG	Longsword	Music
Cernunnos [m]	Animal, Strength	TN	Spear	Beast, Hunting, Night
Daghda [m]	Good, Protection, Strength	NG	Club	Chieftain of the Gods, Crops, Weather
Danu [f]	Good, Healing, Magic	NG	Dagger	Fertility, Wisdom
Diancecht [m]	Good, Healing, Protection	NG	Dagger	Healing
Dunatis [m]	Destruction, Earth	TN	Unarmed Strike	Mountains, Peaks
Epona [f]	Animal, Travel, Healing	NG	None	Fertility, Horses
Goibhniu / Gobannon [m]	Magic, Protection, Strength	NG	Spear	Smithing
Lugh [m]	Knowledge, Luck, Magic, Sun	NG	Mace	Arts, Crafts, Travel, Commerce, War, Horsemanship
Manannan mac Lir [m]	Air, Magic, Water, Trickery	CG	Trident	Oceans, Sea Creatures
Math Mathonwy [m]	Evil, Knowledge, Magic	NE	Quarterstaff	Sorcery
Nuada [m]	Good, Law, War	LG	Longsword	War
Oghma / Ogmios [m]	Knowledge, Luck, Magic, Trickery	TN	Unarmed Strike	Eloquence, Knowledge, Speech
Silvanus [m]	Animal, Earth, Plant	TN	Wooden Mallet (Light Hammer)	Forests, Nature
Taranis [m]	Air, Chaos, Strength, Water	CN	Spear	Storms, Lightnings
Teutates [m]	Protection, Strength, War	TN	Longsword	The Gauls, Protection
The Morrigan [f]	Chaos, Destruction, War	CN	Greatsword	War

Sources: Dragon Magazines #283 (Do-it-yourself deities), #342 (The Wild Hunt), Deities & Demigods (AD&D 1st ed.), Legends & Lore, HR3 Celts Campaign Sourcebook.

[MAB77]

Draconic Deities

These are the standard draconic deities of the D&D multiverse. They may serve as patron deities to native characters of the Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms and Planescape settings. Note that Io and Lendys are not known to have non-draconic followers. In the Forgotten Realms setting, Aasterinian is an aspect of Hlal, Chronespsis and Falazure are aspects of Null, and Io is not present at all.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Aasterinian [m]	Chaos, Luck, Travel, Trickery	CN	Scimitar	Learning, Invention, Pleasure
Astilabor [f]	Protection	TN	Scimitar	Acquisitiveness, Status, Wealth
Bahamut [m]	Air, Good, Luck, Protection	LG	Heavy Pick	Good Dragons, Wind, Wisdom
Chronepsis [m]	Death, Knowledge	TN	Scythe	Fate, Death, Judgment
Falazure [m]	Death, Evil	NE	Scimitar	Decay, Undeath, Exhaustion
Garyx [m]	Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Fire	CE	Sickle	Fire, Destruction, Renewal
Hlal [f]	Chaos, Good, Trickery	CG	Shortsword	Humor, Inspiration, Messages, Storytelling, Tricks
Io [m]	Knowledge, Magic, Strength, Travel	TN	Scimitar	Dragonkind, Balance, Peace
Lendys [m]	Destruction, Law, Protection	LN	Longsword	Balance, Justice
Tamara [f]	Good, Healing, Strength, Sun	NG	Scimitar	Life, Light, Mercy
Tiamat [f]	Destruction, Evil, Law, Trickery	LE	Heavy Pick	Evil Dragons, Conquest, Greed

Source: Races of the Dragon

[MAB77]

Ghostwalk Deities

These are the deities of the Ghostwalk setting. The setting mainly takes place in the city of Manifest which the living shares with ghosts. Native characters follow the rules of Generic D&D settings for the purpose of character creation.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Aluvan [m]	Good, Protection, Repose	NG	Shortsword	Death, Guarding & Protecting Souls, Ghosts
Chaniud [m]	Healing, Knowledge, Law	LN	Longsword	Laws, Order, Structure
Dracanish [m]	Law, Protection, Repose	LN	Scimitar	Death, Endings, Finality
Durann [f]	Good, Healing, Law	LG	Warhammer	Truth, Righteousness, Honor
Eanius [m]	Air, Good, Healing	NG	Quarterstaff	Growth, Life, Animals
Galaedros [m]	Animal, Earth, Plant	TN	Quarterstaff	Nature, Wood
Khostren [m]	Destruction, Evil, Trickery	NE	Spiked Gauntlet (Unarmed Strike)	Plague, Stench, Vermin
Nessek [f]	Destruction, Fire, Magic	TN	Dagger	Fire, Sorcerers, Magic
Orcus [m]	Chaos, Death, Evil	CE	Light Mace	Necromancy, Torture, Pain, Undeath
Phaant [f]	Evil, Law, Luck	LE	Greataxe	Bad luck, Inevitability, Oppression
Soggelos [m]	Chaos, Good, Water	CG	Trident	Creativity, Water
Tephaneron [m]	Chaos, Luck, Strength, War	CN	Battleaxe	Battle, Success, Athletes, Warriors
Uhanam [f]	Knowledge, Law, Magic	LN	Light Flail	Skill, Planning, Magic
Wyst [f]	Chaos, Good, Protection, Travel	CG	Spear	Roads, Travelers

Source: Ghostwalk

[MAB77]

African Faiths

Note: Any player wishing to portray a divine caster originating from Gothic Earth must first read this.

The faiths of Africa form a rich cultural mosaic across the whole continent, each with their own unique myths and legends. Animistic beliefs build the core concept of traditional African religions. They often include the worship of tutelary deities, nature worship, and ancestor worship. Some religions adopted a pantheistic worldview with a supreme creator god next to other gods and spirits. Others followed a polytheistic system with various gods, spirits, and other supernatural beings.

The following deities are inspired by various African mythologies. Each of them may serve as a patron deity to clerics and druids. The various ancestral and natural spirits associated with these faiths may also serve as patrons to shamans.

Of the faiths presented below, the Yoruba pantheon is of particular interest. It is inspired by the beliefs of the Yoruba people and Ibo civilizations that developed over a thousand years ago in the rainforests of Nigeria. Their faith is made of thousands of Orishas, deities and spiritual entities acting as intermediaries between men and their creator gods, and covering everything from pottery to contagious diseases. Fragments of the Yoruba beliefs made it to the New World through African slaves. Olorun is one of the names by which the greater god that created the universe is known in the voodan traditions of Gothic Earth, and some of their Orishas, notably Ogun, are recognized as part of the loa.

Deity [gender]	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Gods of the Ashante
Ananse [m]	Animal, Protection, Trickery	LG	Blowgun (Dart)	Spider People, Ashante Warriors, Spiders, Messengers, Craftsman, Ugly People
Asase Ya [f]	Animal, Plant, Sun	TN	Spear	Earth, Tree & Water Spirits, Beauty, Childbirth, Nature, Fidelity
Nyame [m]	Healing, Sun	LG	Quarterstaff	Moon, Sun, Sky, Rain, Eclipses, Healing, Beholders
Spirits of the Bushmen
Lion Man [m]	Animal, Plant	LN	Spear	Lions
Antelope Man [m]	Animal, Plant	CG	Spear	Antelopes
Porcupine Man[m]	Animal, Plant	TN	Blowgun (Dart)	Porcupines
Chameleon Man [m]	Animal, Plant	NG	Spear	Chameleons
Cagn (Mantis, Kageen) [m]	Animal, Trickery	CN	Spear	Birds, Insects, Mischief, Mantis Men, Snake Men (Nagas)
Gauna (Gawa, Gamab, Gaunab) [m]	Death, Evil	CE	Obsidian Shortsword	Death, Assassination, Cannibalism, Evil, Chaos, Bad Weather, Disease
Gods of the Pygmies
Bumba [m]	Animal, Fire, Law, Knowledge	LN	Torch (Club)	Law, Animal Spirits, Stars, Planets, Fire, Teaching
Khonvum [m]	Air, Animal	NG	Shortbow	Hunters, The Sky, Birds, Animals, Thunder, Elephants and Chameleon Men, Rainbows
God to the Benin of Nigeria
So [m]	Air, Law, Magic	LG	Battleaxe	Lightning, Retribution, Thunder, Zande Witches, Ram-Men
Supreme-being of the Kanem-Bornu
Leza [m]	Animal, Air, Protection	CG	Mace	Birds, Bird Men, Sky, Wind, Dwarves
Orishas of the Yoriba
Ala [f]	Earth, Protection, Repose	TN	Pick	Earth, Fertility, Love, Death
Eshu [m]	Air, Luck, Travel, Trickery	CN	Club	Chance, Trickery, Messengers, Travelers
Obatala [m]	Air, Earth, Good, Law	LG	Spear	Creation, the Earth
Oduduwan [m]	Good, Law	LG	Spear	The Ancestral Father, The First Man
Ogun [m]	Earth, Law, War	LN	Warhammer	Iron, Warriors, Hunters, Metalsmiths
Orunmilla [f]	Air, Knowledge, Magic	NG	Quarterstaff	Divination, Art, Knowledge, Diplomacy
Olokun [f]	Death, Evil, Water	NE	Trident	Sea, River, Marshes
Olorun [m]	Air, Sun, Protection, Time	TN	Spear	The Heavens, the Gods
Olu-Igbo [m]	Earth, Good, Plant	NG	Spear	Bushes, Jungle
Orisha-Oka [m]	Animal, Good, Plant	NG	Flail	Agriculture
Osanyin [m]	Good, Healing, Protection	NG	Quarterstaff	Curative Medicine
Oran Miyan [m]	Good, Law, Protection	LG	Spear	Justice, Righteous Indignation
Shango [m]	Air, Destruction, Evil, Strength	CE	Battleaxe	Power, Storms
Sonponno [f]	Evil, Death, Destruction	NE	Dagger	Smallpox, Disease
Yemoja [f]	Water, Plant	TN	Net (Unarmed Strike)	Ogun River

Sources: Dragon Magazines #191 (An African Genesis), #215 (The Deities of Africa)

[MAB77]

Native American Faiths

Note: Any player wishing to portray a divine caster originating from Gothic Earth must first read this.

The mythologies of North America are as varied and numerous as the different nations that inhabited the land. From the Iroquois who inhabited the lush woodlands of Northeast United States/Southeast Canada, to the Apache who lived in the deserts of northern Mexico, the people of each tribe had their own peculiar interpretation of the supernatural world and their place in it.

Without exception, Native American faiths had a deep connection with the natural and the spiritual worlds. Druids and shamans compose the bulk of their divine casters, but clerics are also possible. It is important to note that the pantheon below is not specific to a given culture. These entries represent recurring concepts within various Native American cultures. It may be used as is, in which case you are invited to consult the source material, AD&D 2nd ed. Legends and Lore in regards to their respective beliefs and practices.

You may also research the mythos of a given culture for a more faithful interpretation of Native American faiths. A non-exhaustive list of Native American deities and spirits that may correspond to one of these templates is provided below. The role of coyotes, ravens and snakes spirits in Native American mythologies is also well documented.

Deity	Domains	Alignment	Favored Weapon	Portfolio
Great Spirit	Animal, Good, Law, Plant, Sun	LG	Handaxe	Life, Nature, Creature, Light
Sun	Chaos, Sun, Fire	CN	Shortbow	Light, Heat
Moon	Law, Good, Protection	LG	Dagger	Light, Protection, Women
Earth	Earth, Healing, Plant, Water	N	Sickle	Life, Nature, Food
Morning Star	Law, Good, Healing, Sun	LG	Net (Unarmed Strike)	Life, Morning
Wind	Air, Chaos, Plant, Water	CN	Spear	Weather, Agriculture
Fire	Law, Destruction, Evil, Fire	LE	Spear (flamed tip)	Fire, Destruction
Thunder	Air, Chaos, Good, Luck	CG	Handaxe	Good Fortune
Raven	Chaos, Good, Trickery	CG	Dagger	Trickery and Deception
Coyote	Chaos, Trickery	CN	Dagger	Thievery
Snake	Animal, Good, Time	NG	Shortbow (poisonned arrows)	Reptiles and Aging

Native American Deities
Note: If you select an actual Native American deity, you may change its alignment if the one listed above would not fit your chosen patron's behavior. The chaos, evil, good and law clerical domains are dropped if they do not correspond to the new alignment, all other clerical domains remain unchanged.

• The Great Spirit: Areskoui [m] (Wyandot), Dayunsi [m] (Cherokee), Hahgwehdiyu [m] (Iroquois), Manitou [n/a] (Algonquin)
• Sun: Alkuntam [m] (Nuxalk), Hisakitaimisi [m] (Creek/Muskogee), Tamit [m] (Tongva), Tsohanoai [m] (Navajo), Unelanuki [f] (Cherokee), Shakuru [f] (Pawnee)
• Moon: Abaangui [m] (Guarani), Aningan [m] (Inuit), Moar [f] (Tongva), Pah [m] (Pawnee), Snoqualm [m] (Snoqualmie)
• Earth: Hayicanako [f] (Tlingit), Nokomis [f] (Algonquin, Ojibwe)
• Morning Star: Gendenwitha [f] (Iroquois)
• Wind: Ahsonnutli [m] (Navajo), Gaoh [m] (Iroquois)
• Fire: Anaseski Anayehi [f] (Cherokee)
• Thunder: Asgaya Gigagei [m] (Cherokee), Ehlaumel [m] (Yuki), Haokah [m] (Sioux), Hinu [m] (Iroquois), Kapoonis [m] (Nisqually)

Sources: Legends & Lore, Native American Pantheons Database