Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gnomemaster 04-17-07, 12:13 AM	Elves are always done a certain way, so part of my campaign setting is taking a classic DnD aspect and mashing it with something completely different. For the orcs I wanted them to be huge green samurai. For the elves I combined them with a Polynesian/Hawaiian theme. Here is the pantheon I made, please leave some good comments. The Italicized names are their names in elvish. Gods of the Elves The Makamae Jungles are home to hidden stone temples, their walls covered with the images of various exotic animals. The feral pantheon of Makamae represents the various aspects of Elven Culture. Creation myth: When the seas still boiled from the fiery birth of Alacaron, an island rose from the depths, covered in lush jungle. The seven deities named the land Makamae (which in the ancient tongue they taught the elves means cherished) and divided the land amongst them. Shark, fierce and brutal, chose the unforgiving sea for his domain. “To teach them to fear nature’s wrath, and to strive to protect it.” Eagle, wise and idealistic, chose the lofty sky for his domain. “To teach them of the cycles of life, and to strive to be better.” Monkey, smart and crafty, chose the dense treetops for his domain. “To teach them to create, and to protect them from evil.” Serpent, beautiful and deadly, chose the dense treetop for his domain. “To teach them to hunt, and to protect themselves from others.” Panther, sleek and nimble, took to the cool mountain for his domain. “To teach them valor, honor, and to keep the fires of the volcano at bay.” Leopard, tough and predatory, took the white plumed volcano for his domain. “To teach them passion, temper, and to keep the ice of the mountain at bay.” The six gods stood at ends against each other, each bickering over their lands, fighting and squabbling in terrible wars that would light up the night sky with white fire and rattle the trunks of the trees. Tiger, wise and fair, smart and fierce, quick and strong stood by watching his siblings kill each other. He knew this war would tear their family apart, so he did something drastic. With a roar that pierced the night, silencing everything on the island, he tore at the ground with massive paw and ripped a hole so deep no light touched the bottom. From this well sprang the first elves, small and childlike to the gods, they were in awe of what they saw in these gods. They bowed to the wisdom of Tiger and the six gods put their war aside and worked together (for the most part) to care for their new children. Deities of the Elves Shark (Ikaika) Greater Deity Symbol: A shark with many teeth, or a shark’s tooth on a leather string. Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Portfolio: The Ocean, strength, war, warriors, nature Cleric Alignments: Any Domains: Strength, War, Chaos, Water, Ocean* Favored Weapon: “Oki” +1 Long Spear Eagle (Aeko) Greater Deity Symbol: An eagle with huge wings, or an eagle feather. Alignment: Neutral Good Portfolio: The sky, day, night, death, life, wisdom Cleric Alignments: CG, NG, LG Domains: Sun, Air, Death, Healing, Moon* Favored Weapon: “Kekahiaka” +1 Longbow Monkey (Akamai) Greater Deity Symbol: A grinning monkey or a preserved monkey paw. Alignment: Neutral Good Portfolio: Knowledge, craftsmen, artists, bards, songs Cleric Alignment: CG, NG, LG Domains: Knowledge, Craft*, Good, Protection, Mind* Favored Weapon: “Kumulaau” +1 Quarterstaff Serpent (Laaumake) Greater Deity Symbol: A twisted snake or a snake’s fang Alignment: Neutral Evil Portfolio: Hunting, poison, vanity, beauty, tricksters Cleric Alignments: CE, NE, LE Domains: Trickery, Evil, Destruction, Luck, Vanity* Favored Weapon: “Uwepa” +1 Whip Panther (Poeleeke) Greater Deity Symbol: A black cat or a tooth on a black string. Alignment: Lawful Neutral Portfolio: Ice, valor, honor, bravery, heroes Cleric Alignments: LG, NG, CG Domains: Air, Law, Protection, Courage*, Cold* Favored Weapon: “Pahikaua” +1 Scimitar Leopard (Kupahu) Greater Deity Symbol: A spotted cat or a tooth on a yellow string Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Portfolio: Fire, luck, rogues, trickery, guile Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, CE Domains: Fire, Luck, Chaos, Trickery, Celerity* Favored Weapon: “Kila” +1 Longsword Tiger (Apanapana) Overdeity Symbol: A huge striped cat or a thick Tiger’s claw on a beaded string Alignment: Lawful Neutral Portfolio: Elves, magic, the universe, creation, Makamae Cleric Alignments: Any Domains: Law, Balance*, Magic, Animal, Elf*, Spell* Favored Weapon:”Lehulehu” +1 Spear
Return of the Flumph 04-17-07, 12:26 AM	Its a good pantheon, but I would be careful to avoid making the elves too gimmicky. Don't make them total Pacific Island look alikes with pointy ears; make sure to keep them distinctly elvish.
Gnomemaster 04-17-07, 01:02 AM	Well, the idea was to make them very different culturally from what we think about Elves traditionally. When a player thinks about my elves, Legolas doesn't come to mind, instead they see a much more feral creature. The Elves have the same racial abilities. But they do not live in beautiful homes like Rivendell from LOTR, instead they live WITH nature, their religion is so focused on nature itself (from the fact that their deities take the shapes of animals found in the jungle). Their role to humans, iin the world of Alacaron, is that of an older brother to a younger brother. Part of Elven culture is that you should care for everything, just like the gods cared for them. So when humans and other races discovered the Elves they were welcomed with open arms. That was 400 years ago, not Elves permeate society, but even metropolitan elves cling to their ancient roots.
Return of the Flumph 04-17-07, 01:19 AM	Just make sure they aren't Polynesians with longer life spans.
The Ubbergeek 04-18-07, 12:09 AM	And again, why elves have to be Tolkienesque to be elves? Always the same thing - one want to create a variation on elves, and when he stray from the Tolkienesque ideal, it's not elves anymore. :rolleyes:
Gnomemaster 04-18-07, 12:13 AM	I guess you could say that. But if I make humans a race but give them the Polynesian flavor rather then the england flavor are they still humans?
The Ubbergeek 04-18-07, 04:33 PM	I guess you could say that. But if I make humans a race but give them the Polynesian flavor rather then the england flavor are they still humans? Indeed, and it's my point. Behind the cultural veneers, we all have common basic designs, due to our very biology. Change the culture of the elves, deep in them, they will be similar to what they where before - they will still be elves.
Return of the Flumph 04-18-07, 11:40 PM	I guess you could say that. But if I make humans a race but give them the Polynesian flavor rather then the england flavor are they still humans? Yes. Because the Polynesians were a real world human culture, and fantasy human society might easily develop along the same lines. The other races are inherently different from humanity, though, so they're cultures should never mirror the real world as much as humans do. I'm not saying elves have to be Tolkienesque or dwarves have to be gruff, surly miners who carry axes everywhere. I'm just saying that different races should be different. Just my 2 cents.
Millennium 04-19-07, 07:13 AM	Monkey and Serpent both said to have "the dense treetops" as their domains; is that intentional.
Gnomemaster 05-15-07, 01:11 AM	yes, because each of the six tend to offset the others. Shark and eagle (sea and ocean) the two mountains (jaguar and panther) however, monkey and snake have always been shoved together, often tricking the other in horrible ways (they are rivals and would love nothing more then to see the other embarrassed.
Adrez Nesnsid 06-14-07, 06:39 PM	Its a good pantheon, but I would be careful to avoid making the elves too gimmicky. Don't make them total Pacific Island look alikes with pointy ears; make sure to keep them distinctly elvish. They're... They're already pretty damn gimmicky. I don't think that this concept is any more gimmicky than the existing one, (or, at least, this one is actually a good gimmick)
ElberethSilverleaf 06-24-07, 02:16 PM	The best switcheraoo I think I've seen so far regarding rethinking a fantasy races flavor is what Eberron has done to the Drow.....