A God of Pestulence and Disease [Archive] - Wizards Community

A God of Pestulence and Disease [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mikelr
10-06-07, 05:49 PM Okay I wasn't sure where to post this because I need help with both a god and magic item.

First off I've been running with this idea in my head for an adventure for my players and wanted a little help expanding on it. The idea is this: The PCs are contacted or hear rumors of a strange new disease spreading in some back water community and they go to investigate. What's going on is a cult has formed around a minor god of disease and it's worshipers are the ones spreading disease. The players will deal with the cultists and find an intelligent magic weapon (the god is the trapped personality of the god) and I'd like the item to be cursed and intelligent. The weapon would inflict the wielder with a magical version of the disease, but the wielder would be given the option to have the disease cured by the god if it helps it escape imprisonment in the weapon. That'd open up more possibilities for adventure as the PC and it's party slowly begin to spread the disease.

Now what I'd like is some help putting together said god. Is it possible to have a Deity trapped in such a way? Or should i just use an intelligent sword that tricks others into thinking it's a Deity. That there is no cure and its goal is to use the PCs to spread the disease all over the world.

What domains would such a god have?
What alignment?
Powers?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Demon_Paladin
10-06-07, 05:55 PM I'd just use Nerull. Complete Divine has a pestilence domain which it attributes to Nerull.
The Ubbergeek
10-06-07, 07:08 PM Incabulos in Greyhawk - a baklunish god.

There is also a pestilance and plague goddess in FR - Talona.

And one in Dragonlance.
Shemeska the Marauder
10-06-07, 11:10 PM Incabulos in Greyhawk - a baklunish god.

There is also a pestilance and plague goddess in FR - Talona.

And Kiputytto, the Finnish pantheon's god of plagues (who in the context of D&D, was killed by Talona. His corpse is currently drifting in the Astral, and FWIW, it was a really awesome site for a campaign plot arc in my current campaign. Mmm... disease and a very weak gravity well...)
Kamin_Majere
10-07-07, 02:19 PM Papa Nurgel loves his children.

One of the best disease gods (IMO) can be found in the game warhammer (or warhammer 40K both contain the god)

Nurgel is one of the 4 chaos gods and among other things he is the god of decay and disease. He is a god of status quo and decay. He is the essence of the ideal that all things can and will die and corrode away. But unlike most of the chaos gods he actually seems to like his followers. He "blesses" them with all forms of malady and decay, but also grants them boon for it.

His followers worship him because they see the ultimate futility in life and can enjoy it more for that reason.

The cancer mage prestige class is a good one for a follower of Nurgel.

as far as various domains and powers that he would have... i couldnt begin to tell you, but if your making it a minor god then i wouldnt go overboard.
Sledgerosaur
10-07-07, 02:39 PM I also heartily recommend a custom-rules NurGLE.. He is by far THE best plague god I know of (and I know a few)
setekh
10-07-07, 02:43 PM Ahhh Nurgle.
The Jolly green giant.

Lord of Despair, bringer of entropy and Decay, he personifies all that brings about ruin and Despair.

Nurgle is the Great Lord of Decay and the Master of Plague and Pestilence, his carcass riddled with disease and infestation. Nurgle is also the Lord of All because all things, no matter how solid and permanent they seem, are liable to physical corruption. Indeed, the very processes of construction and creation foreshadow destruction and decay. The palace of today is tomorrow's ruin, the maiden of the morning is the crone of the night, and the hope of a moment is but the foundation stone of everlasting regret.

What is the response of living men to the undeniable and inevitable futility of life? Is it to lie down and accept death and the coming to naught of their every endeavour? No it is not! Faced with the inevitability of death what answer can there be but to run through life at a great and unstoppable pace, cramming each day with hope, laughter, noise and bustle. Thus, human happiness and human endeavour are sired by a coming to terms with decay and futility. This realisation is the key to understanding the Great Lord of Decay and his worshippers.

Once we comprehend what it is that the Chaos Power Nurgle embodies, it becomes easier to understand what might otherwise seem a contradictory or even perverse nature. On the one hand he is the Lord of Decay, whose body is wracked with disease; on the other he is full of unexpected energy and a desire to organise and enlighten.

The living know that they will die, and many know that they will live with disease or other torment, yet they drive this knowledge into a corner of their minds and keep it pinioned there with all manner of dreams and activity. Nurgle is the embodiment of that knowledge and of the unconscious response to it, of the hidden fear of disease and decay, and of the power of life which that fear generates.

Nurgle is the eternal enemy of the Chaos Power Tzeentch, the Lord of Change. Nurgle and Tzeentch draw their energy from opposing beliefs. While the energy of Tzeentch comes from hope and changing fortune, that of Nurgle comes from defiance born of despair and hopelessness..."
(Copy write Games Workshop, used under fair use)
Kamin_Majere
10-07-07, 02:51 PM NurGLE..

lol... with as long as i've played that game i knew the spelling looked wrong and i couldnt for the life of me figure out why :weep:
setekh
10-07-07, 02:52 PM lol... with as long as i've played that game i knew the spelling looked wrong and i couldnt for the life of me figure out why :weep:

... You on Warseer by any chance? :dancin:

Edit:
I'd Give papa Nurgle Pestilence (Spell compendium) Entropy (Fiendish Codex 1) and Chaos Domains myself.
I generally despise the Alignment domains, but it does seem to fit him.
Kamin_Majere
10-07-07, 03:19 PM Yep, been a warseer since a month after Portent originally started up. Havent been on much lately though. After i had to close my game store i havent had much oppertunity to keep up with the game or the community.:weep:

As to the domains... those fit Nurgle pretty well.

All hail papa Nurgle, for he loves us:P
setekh
10-07-07, 03:22 PM Yep, been a warseer since a month after Portent originally started up. Havent been on much lately though. After i had to close my game store i havent had much oppertunity to keep up with the game or the community.:weep:

As to the domains... those fit Nurgle pretty well.

All hail papa Nurgle, for he loves us:P

Hyeah, since about 01/02 I think for me.
(I'm The Pestilent 1, so my allegiance should be clear :P )

Oh... Demonic domain too maybe (FC1 again) Or even Corruption..
Kamin_Majere
10-07-07, 03:28 PM Hyeah, since about 01/02 I think for me.
(I'm The Pestilent 1, so my allegiance should be clear :P )
oh ok cool, we've spoke a few times in the past. I just havent been active in a while due to everything.

Oh... Demonic domain too maybe (FC1 again) Or even Corruption..

I would say corruption over demonic. Nurgle uses fewer deamons than the other gods do. (with only 3 if i remember correctly and one not really being more than a dretch or mane)
Using the Chaos gods would allow for some intresting custom deamons to be added to the world. With Plague bearers and great unclean ones, nurglings would pretty much be dretches or manes, but the other two would be intresting to have to deal with in campaigns
Angel Black
10-07-07, 03:28 PM Okay I wasn't sure where to post this because I need help with both a god and magic item.

First off I've been running with this idea in my head for an adventure for my players and wanted a little help expanding on it. The idea is this: The PCs are contacted or hear rumors of a strange new disease spreading in some back water community and they go to investigate. What's going on is a cult has formed around a minor god of disease and it's worshipers are the ones spreading disease. The players will deal with the cultists and find an intelligent magic weapon (the god is the trapped personality of the god) and I'd like the item to be cursed and intelligent. The weapon would inflict the wielder with a magical version of the disease, but the wielder would be given the option to have the disease cured by the god if it helps it escape imprisonment in the weapon. That'd open up more possibilities for adventure as the PC and it's party slowly begin to spread the disease.

Now what I'd like is some help putting together said god. Is it possible to have a Deity trapped in such a way? Or should i just use an intelligent sword that tricks others into thinking it's a Deity. That there is no cure and its goal is to use the PCs to spread the disease all over the world.

What domains would such a god have?
What alignment?
Powers?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

For diseases :
http://www.cdc.gov/

Alignment:
Neutral (if nature oriented), or evil (if he is well....evil)

Domains:

any evil/nature like, but add one like Pestilence (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040502a&page=3) .

As for weapons check: Weapons of Legacy (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050701a&page=3)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mikelr 10-06-07, 05:49 PM	Okay I wasn't sure where to post this because I need help with both a god and magic item. First off I've been running with this idea in my head for an adventure for my players and wanted a little help expanding on it. The idea is this: The PCs are contacted or hear rumors of a strange new disease spreading in some back water community and they go to investigate. What's going on is a cult has formed around a minor god of disease and it's worshipers are the ones spreading disease. The players will deal with the cultists and find an intelligent magic weapon (the god is the trapped personality of the god) and I'd like the item to be cursed and intelligent. The weapon would inflict the wielder with a magical version of the disease, but the wielder would be given the option to have the disease cured by the god if it helps it escape imprisonment in the weapon. That'd open up more possibilities for adventure as the PC and it's party slowly begin to spread the disease. Now what I'd like is some help putting together said god. Is it possible to have a Deity trapped in such a way? Or should i just use an intelligent sword that tricks others into thinking it's a Deity. That there is no cure and its goal is to use the PCs to spread the disease all over the world. What domains would such a god have? What alignment? Powers? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Demon_Paladin 10-06-07, 05:55 PM	I'd just use Nerull. Complete Divine has a pestilence domain which it attributes to Nerull.
The Ubbergeek 10-06-07, 07:08 PM	Incabulos in Greyhawk - a baklunish god. There is also a pestilance and plague goddess in FR - Talona. And one in Dragonlance.
Shemeska the Marauder 10-06-07, 11:10 PM	Incabulos in Greyhawk - a baklunish god. There is also a pestilance and plague goddess in FR - Talona. And Kiputytto, the Finnish pantheon's god of plagues (who in the context of D&D, was killed by Talona. His corpse is currently drifting in the Astral, and FWIW, it was a really awesome site for a campaign plot arc in my current campaign. Mmm... disease and a very weak gravity well...)
Kamin_Majere 10-07-07, 02:19 PM	Papa Nurgel loves his children. One of the best disease gods (IMO) can be found in the game warhammer (or warhammer 40K both contain the god) Nurgel is one of the 4 chaos gods and among other things he is the god of decay and disease. He is a god of status quo and decay. He is the essence of the ideal that all things can and will die and corrode away. But unlike most of the chaos gods he actually seems to like his followers. He "blesses" them with all forms of malady and decay, but also grants them boon for it. His followers worship him because they see the ultimate futility in life and can enjoy it more for that reason. The cancer mage prestige class is a good one for a follower of Nurgel. as far as various domains and powers that he would have... i couldnt begin to tell you, but if your making it a minor god then i wouldnt go overboard.
Sledgerosaur 10-07-07, 02:39 PM	I also heartily recommend a custom-rules NurGLE.. He is by far THE best plague god I know of (and I know a few)
setekh 10-07-07, 02:43 PM	Ahhh Nurgle. The Jolly green giant. Lord of Despair, bringer of entropy and Decay, he personifies all that brings about ruin and Despair. Nurgle is the Great Lord of Decay and the Master of Plague and Pestilence, his carcass riddled with disease and infestation. Nurgle is also the Lord of All because all things, no matter how solid and permanent they seem, are liable to physical corruption. Indeed, the very processes of construction and creation foreshadow destruction and decay. The palace of today is tomorrow's ruin, the maiden of the morning is the crone of the night, and the hope of a moment is but the foundation stone of everlasting regret. What is the response of living men to the undeniable and inevitable futility of life? Is it to lie down and accept death and the coming to naught of their every endeavour? No it is not! Faced with the inevitability of death what answer can there be but to run through life at a great and unstoppable pace, cramming each day with hope, laughter, noise and bustle. Thus, human happiness and human endeavour are sired by a coming to terms with decay and futility. This realisation is the key to understanding the Great Lord of Decay and his worshippers. Once we comprehend what it is that the Chaos Power Nurgle embodies, it becomes easier to understand what might otherwise seem a contradictory or even perverse nature. On the one hand he is the Lord of Decay, whose body is wracked with disease; on the other he is full of unexpected energy and a desire to organise and enlighten. The living know that they will die, and many know that they will live with disease or other torment, yet they drive this knowledge into a corner of their minds and keep it pinioned there with all manner of dreams and activity. Nurgle is the embodiment of that knowledge and of the unconscious response to it, of the hidden fear of disease and decay, and of the power of life which that fear generates. Nurgle is the eternal enemy of the Chaos Power Tzeentch, the Lord of Change. Nurgle and Tzeentch draw their energy from opposing beliefs. While the energy of Tzeentch comes from hope and changing fortune, that of Nurgle comes from defiance born of despair and hopelessness..." (Copy write Games Workshop, used under fair use)
Kamin_Majere 10-07-07, 02:51 PM	NurGLE.. lol... with as long as i've played that game i knew the spelling looked wrong and i couldnt for the life of me figure out why :weep:
setekh 10-07-07, 02:52 PM	lol... with as long as i've played that game i knew the spelling looked wrong and i couldnt for the life of me figure out why :weep: ... You on Warseer by any chance? :dancin: Edit: I'd Give papa Nurgle Pestilence (Spell compendium) Entropy (Fiendish Codex 1) and Chaos Domains myself. I generally despise the Alignment domains, but it does seem to fit him.
Kamin_Majere 10-07-07, 03:19 PM	Yep, been a warseer since a month after Portent originally started up. Havent been on much lately though. After i had to close my game store i havent had much oppertunity to keep up with the game or the community.:weep: As to the domains... those fit Nurgle pretty well. All hail papa Nurgle, for he loves us:P
setekh 10-07-07, 03:22 PM	Yep, been a warseer since a month after Portent originally started up. Havent been on much lately though. After i had to close my game store i havent had much oppertunity to keep up with the game or the community.:weep: As to the domains... those fit Nurgle pretty well. All hail papa Nurgle, for he loves us:P Hyeah, since about 01/02 I think for me. (I'm The Pestilent 1, so my allegiance should be clear :P ) Oh... Demonic domain too maybe (FC1 again) Or even Corruption..
Kamin_Majere 10-07-07, 03:28 PM	Hyeah, since about 01/02 I think for me. (I'm The Pestilent 1, so my allegiance should be clear :P ) oh ok cool, we've spoke a few times in the past. I just havent been active in a while due to everything. Oh... Demonic domain too maybe (FC1 again) Or even Corruption.. I would say corruption over demonic. Nurgle uses fewer deamons than the other gods do. (with only 3 if i remember correctly and one not really being more than a dretch or mane) Using the Chaos gods would allow for some intresting custom deamons to be added to the world. With Plague bearers and great unclean ones, nurglings would pretty much be dretches or manes, but the other two would be intresting to have to deal with in campaigns
Angel Black 10-07-07, 03:28 PM	Okay I wasn't sure where to post this because I need help with both a god and magic item. First off I've been running with this idea in my head for an adventure for my players and wanted a little help expanding on it. The idea is this: The PCs are contacted or hear rumors of a strange new disease spreading in some back water community and they go to investigate. What's going on is a cult has formed around a minor god of disease and it's worshipers are the ones spreading disease. The players will deal with the cultists and find an intelligent magic weapon (the god is the trapped personality of the god) and I'd like the item to be cursed and intelligent. The weapon would inflict the wielder with a magical version of the disease, but the wielder would be given the option to have the disease cured by the god if it helps it escape imprisonment in the weapon. That'd open up more possibilities for adventure as the PC and it's party slowly begin to spread the disease. Now what I'd like is some help putting together said god. Is it possible to have a Deity trapped in such a way? Or should i just use an intelligent sword that tricks others into thinking it's a Deity. That there is no cure and its goal is to use the PCs to spread the disease all over the world. What domains would such a god have? What alignment? Powers? Any help would be greatly appreciated. For diseases : http://www.cdc.gov/ Alignment: Neutral (if nature oriented), or evil (if he is well....evil) Domains: any evil/nature like, but add one like Pestilence (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20040502a&page=3) . As for weapons check: Weapons of Legacy (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050701a&page=3)