Rules of the deities? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rules of the deities? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Saft
10-08-07, 12:37 PM I was wondering...
What does actually keep the deities for destroying Faerūn, I know that Ao actually do not care what the deities do to the mortals of Faerūn as long as the stick to the rule of: that only one deity per pantheon may have the certain portfolios.

So what are the rules, which keep these deities from running wild, or returning in mortal forms etc.
I was just thinking that there must be some rules that also keep the deities from giving the worshipping mortals too many divine powers - even though Ao is the only one that can promote mortals to deities.

I really hope that some of you have some information, which you would like to share with me.

- Thanks,
Alediran
10-08-07, 12:55 PM The other deities, and that is all that is needed.
Saft
10-08-07, 02:09 PM Of course, there is a balance among the deities, and they fight each other through the mortal world of Faerūn.

But are there no rules to at least keep them a bit passive - else I don't see why Faerūn are not one big battlefield and a living chaos - even though that there are many deities with different portfolios and dogmas.
Alediran
10-08-07, 02:21 PM Actually they are constantly fighting, just that is more Cloak & Dagger action that armies against armies.

And AO has decreed that gods can't upset the balance themselves or they would be punished by him. That is why the death of Mystra 2 is considered so negatively by the board members, because it ignores previous lore.
Saft
10-08-07, 02:42 PM Reply:
I only thought Ao punished them, because they did stop focusing on their portfolios. But I do not disagree with you - I was just wondering if there was some kind of conduct of laws.
So basically the only way for a deity to become more in focus as domination-minded is if he/she breaks his/her portfolio and start having too close contacts with his clerics and worshippers?

Background:
The reason for my concerns of this matter, is that I was brainstorming a campaign with a friend of mine, and we started to explorer the spiritualism of Faerūn – focusing the question if a deity could consume so much power from his/her believers that he would be able to affect the territories of Faerūn - for instance like a psychic-plague having an influence on all citizens to have nightmares and turning people into more greedy, evil and aggressive people - Depending of the deities’ portfolios.
Alediran
10-08-07, 02:47 PM IF you took an individual god and leaved the rest out, then even demigods could do something like that. The problem is that other gods, those whose portfolios would put them at odds with the first god, will react to counter that threat (this applies to good, neutral and evil gods) by emissaries, dreams to his/her priesthood, etc. It is a very rare event when a god's avatar shows to fix something.
Dimensional_Drifter
10-08-07, 02:56 PM Actually they are constantly fighting, just that is more Cloak & Dagger action that armies against armies.

And AO has decreed that gods can't upset the balance themselves or they would be punished by him. That is why the death of Mystra 2 is considered so negatively by the board members, because it ignores previous lore.

Yes, they are always fighting. (rather flawed and human-like most of them)
I don't think any of them aren't conflicting with another one, they simply all have different ways of dealing with such conflicts. The only one whose doctrine specifically mentions avoidance of conflict is Eldath. Even deities like Liira are at odds with other deities (against Loviatar whose followers attacked her's, and I think this ties in with the Scarlet Mummers)

The keeping the balance seems to be the only thing preventing total chaos...
Saft
10-08-07, 03:08 PM Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation?
Alediran
10-08-07, 03:37 PM Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation?

It's not only possible, it's somewhat usual, but it is more usual to send omens through dreams in the minds of their clergy.
Bonzai
10-08-07, 05:54 PM Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation?

As the above poster said, that happens all the time. Look no further than the Chosen of the various gods. They are constantly meddling in mortal affairs, and carring out various missions. Divine intervention through visions, augurys, and in rare cases visitation, is very common in the realms.
selunatic2397
10-08-07, 06:01 PM In most campaigns, it is the agreement of the DM and the players...

In the novels, it is the sole resposibility of the author...

In the published campaign settings...it seems to be the responsibility of game designers who seem to view their customers base with veiled contempt.
The Ubbergeek
10-08-07, 10:18 PM In the published campaign settings...it seems to be the responsibility of game designers who seem to view their customers base with veiled contempt.

Bitter much?

No. Game designers can love the base. Capitalist focus do not exclude genuine care.

You need money to make cool fluff, and artists need mecenes.
Saft
10-09-07, 12:46 PM Yeah I thought so, was just trying to pull out some point of views.

Would you recommend any books, where I might to find any other useful information about the deities?

I have read, Forgotten Realms Campaign Settings - Faiths and Pantheons - incl. players guide to Fearūn.

- Thanks,
Alediran
10-09-07, 12:54 PM Try to get the 2nd edition books about the gods. Of those I only have Demihuman Powers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Saft 10-08-07, 12:37 PM	I was wondering... What does actually keep the deities for destroying Faerūn, I know that Ao actually do not care what the deities do to the mortals of Faerūn as long as the stick to the rule of: that only one deity per pantheon may have the certain portfolios. So what are the rules, which keep these deities from running wild, or returning in mortal forms etc. I was just thinking that there must be some rules that also keep the deities from giving the worshipping mortals too many divine powers - even though Ao is the only one that can promote mortals to deities. I really hope that some of you have some information, which you would like to share with me. - Thanks,
Alediran 10-08-07, 12:55 PM	The other deities, and that is all that is needed.
Saft 10-08-07, 02:09 PM	Of course, there is a balance among the deities, and they fight each other through the mortal world of Faerūn. But are there no rules to at least keep them a bit passive - else I don't see why Faerūn are not one big battlefield and a living chaos - even though that there are many deities with different portfolios and dogmas.
Alediran 10-08-07, 02:21 PM	Actually they are constantly fighting, just that is more Cloak & Dagger action that armies against armies. And AO has decreed that gods can't upset the balance themselves or they would be punished by him. That is why the death of Mystra 2 is considered so negatively by the board members, because it ignores previous lore.
Saft 10-08-07, 02:42 PM	Reply: I only thought Ao punished them, because they did stop focusing on their portfolios. But I do not disagree with you - I was just wondering if there was some kind of conduct of laws. So basically the only way for a deity to become more in focus as domination-minded is if he/she breaks his/her portfolio and start having too close contacts with his clerics and worshippers? Background: The reason for my concerns of this matter, is that I was brainstorming a campaign with a friend of mine, and we started to explorer the spiritualism of Faerūn – focusing the question if a deity could consume so much power from his/her believers that he would be able to affect the territories of Faerūn - for instance like a psychic-plague having an influence on all citizens to have nightmares and turning people into more greedy, evil and aggressive people - Depending of the deities’ portfolios.
Alediran 10-08-07, 02:47 PM	IF you took an individual god and leaved the rest out, then even demigods could do something like that. The problem is that other gods, those whose portfolios would put them at odds with the first god, will react to counter that threat (this applies to good, neutral and evil gods) by emissaries, dreams to his/her priesthood, etc. It is a very rare event when a god's avatar shows to fix something.
Dimensional_Drifter 10-08-07, 02:56 PM	Actually they are constantly fighting, just that is more Cloak & Dagger action that armies against armies. And AO has decreed that gods can't upset the balance themselves or they would be punished by him. That is why the death of Mystra 2 is considered so negatively by the board members, because it ignores previous lore. Yes, they are always fighting. (rather flawed and human-like most of them) I don't think any of them aren't conflicting with another one, they simply all have different ways of dealing with such conflicts. The only one whose doctrine specifically mentions avoidance of conflict is Eldath. Even deities like Liira are at odds with other deities (against Loviatar whose followers attacked her's, and I think this ties in with the Scarlet Mummers) The keeping the balance seems to be the only thing preventing total chaos...
Saft 10-08-07, 03:08 PM	Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation?
Alediran 10-08-07, 03:37 PM	Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation? It's not only possible, it's somewhat usual, but it is more usual to send omens through dreams in the minds of their clergy.
Bonzai 10-08-07, 05:54 PM	Would it possible for a deity to get a close contact to some of his/her worshippers? - And is it even imaginable that the deities would ask their followers to strike at a certain location or perform an assassination or like - on a mortal person that seems to threaten the current situation? As the above poster said, that happens all the time. Look no further than the Chosen of the various gods. They are constantly meddling in mortal affairs, and carring out various missions. Divine intervention through visions, augurys, and in rare cases visitation, is very common in the realms.
selunatic2397 10-08-07, 06:01 PM	In most campaigns, it is the agreement of the DM and the players... In the novels, it is the sole resposibility of the author... In the published campaign settings...it seems to be the responsibility of game designers who seem to view their customers base with veiled contempt.
The Ubbergeek 10-08-07, 10:18 PM	In the published campaign settings...it seems to be the responsibility of game designers who seem to view their customers base with veiled contempt. Bitter much? No. Game designers can love the base. Capitalist focus do not exclude genuine care. You need money to make cool fluff, and artists need mecenes.
Saft 10-09-07, 12:46 PM	Yeah I thought so, was just trying to pull out some point of views. Would you recommend any books, where I might to find any other useful information about the deities? I have read, Forgotten Realms Campaign Settings - Faiths and Pantheons - incl. players guide to Fearūn. - Thanks,
Alediran 10-09-07, 12:54 PM	Try to get the 2nd edition books about the gods. Of those I only have Demihuman Powers.