Thoughts on the gods and religion

[HackMonkey]

When I find the time to finish my research and type it all up, the OP page(s) on the gods and religion will be probably the biggest update to the site.

We know from posts on the KCo forums by DSK and others that the PHB will cover around 14 clerics/gods/religions, so all of these will be fair game for you to play. If you fancy playing a cleric of a different Tellene/Kalamar god we can work something out.

There are some variations for this game compared with by-the-book clerics, which are to help them feel more a part of Kandaarian culture.

Divine North
Kandaarians believe the gods* dwell in their own divine land (not yet named) beyond the arctic north. Thus all* religious ceremonies take place with the participants facing north.

Rune Staves
All* priests carry a wooden staff, made from a single branch of a tree - the type of wood/tree used is specific to each religion. The branch used must split naturally into three at one end - these ends are sharpened and tied together to 'spear' the staff into soft ground, or left 'free' as a tripod to support the staff when placed on hard ground. The other end is carved with a likeness of the god and/or their symbol(s). Below this runes are carved with sayings/prayers/etc. of the faith. The staff is placed on/in the ground with the carved god facing south as a focus for worshippers to face north.

*all/some/tbc - depends on details of religion per PHB

This is a work in progress, I'd welcome any thoughts you have on the above...

[antonios]

Do you have the previous edition Kingdoms of Kalamar? Or the 4th edition pdf (10 USD cost if I recall correctly)? It could be mighty useful for the fluff.

Should you get lucky and the Kalamar products get unpacked this weekend, I have a very big part of the 3E products. I can tell you anything you need to know on the issue. Also I would recommend, if you have them, two products for 3E. www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG3204.php as well as another one, I think it was from Green Ronin whose name now escapes me and I can't find on their page. Wrong system, of course, but unbelievably good ideas. If you get lucky, they get unpacked this w/e too.

My question is, will we perceive this as true polytheism (all gods exist, you revere, ignore or are afraid of them), or will we go the lighter gamist way 'you believe in one god only out of many'?

[HackMonkey]

I have the KoK campaign setting PDF they put out recently but that's all - other than scraps of information gleaned from non-KoK specific books such as Goods & Gear. I may well take the opportunity to tap you for KoK knowledge if I find what I have insufficient, thanks.

Regarding your question - it's more polytheism lite, similar to the Ancient Roman view. There are many gods and most Kandaarians at least acknowledge their existence, even if they choose not to revere a particular god or gods.

Some may worship one god more than others but still pay tribute to other, often allied gods (Anointed follower).

The 'one god out of many' path is more for those who have a special affinity with one god and devote their life to that god exclusively (Investiture). Although they do not disbelieve in other gods, they 'know' that their god/religion is best.

Ok?

[antonios]

Bad news on the move front. The super big library of the gf apparently is not stable at all and needs fixing. Meaning that we are set back two weeks for access to material from my side, since I simply cannot open any god damn book boxes because I don't have where to put the content (this gift keeps on giving).

However, there was a speck of light. I opened randomly two boxes before moving them aside for the last bedroom to start being cleaned. Apart from my collection of Dungeon and some other totally irrelevant stuff, I found the Kalamar Atlas (but not my other Kalamar or HM items) and The Book of The Righteous by Green Ronin (GRR1015). Effectively that was the book I was talking to you about. 320 pages of religious goodness for 20 different deities. It's d20 and not written for Kalamar. However the fluff and inspirational content in there is just off the scale. There are things that you can copy/paste verbatim without thinking twice about it until Kenzer covers us with its proper stuff. I had paid full price back in the day (27 GBP from Leisure Games), but you can find it on ebay for a minor fraction of that or as a pdf for 20 USD here: www.greenronin.com/store/product/grr1015e.html. Previews here: www.greenronin.com/tree_of_life/index.php?x=info.htm#WHAT

If we speak on Monday, anything particular you wish from it, I have no problem to expand upon.

[finsteel]

By the way if I haven't mentioned it before I have also good collection of Kalamar stuff in my shelf. I miss only few latest adventures from the D&D 3.5 era, like Garden of the plantmaster. And they are not packed in boxes if you want some information from them.

[HackMonkey]

Cool, thanks guys.

Unless/until somebody wants to play a cleric, or another PC with a particular interest in a religion (e.g. annointed) working up this stuff is not high on my list of priorities.

It will be developed as it influences the ongoing campaign (e.g. if an adventure hook is doing a job for a priest or church, that religion will be expanded upon).

[HackMonkey]

The following are apparently going to be the gods in the PHB, so these are probably best to concentrate on for now.

• The True
  
• The Guardian
  
• Caregiver
  
• Dark One
  
• Thrain (Wise One)
  
• Grawdyng (Harvester of Souls)
  
• Locust Lord
  
• Creator of Strife
  
• Mangrus (Rotlord)
  
• Eternal Lantern
  
• Overlord
  
• Traveler
  
• Draper (Risk)
  
• Raconteur
  
• Vengeful One
  

Those of you with access to KoK books may know something about these gods already, and some of the new HM cleric classes have been previewed in HJ & KODT.

Some will be known by other names in Kandaaria, but we can use those above for now - at least for you to choose your characters' patron gods.

[HackMonkey]

Sept 30, 2011 10:55:18 GMT HackMonkey said:

... priests carry a wooden staff, made from a single branch of a tree - the type of wood/tree used is specific to each religion...

Done a bit more on this yesterday:

The True - pine
The Guardian - hawthorn
Caregiver - birch
Dark One - willow
Thrain (Wise One) - holly
Grawdyng (Harvester of Souls) - poplar
Locust Lord - alder
Creator of Strife - elder
Mangrus (Rotlord) - beech
Eternal Lantern - elm
Overlord - yew
Traveler - ash
Draper (Risk) - hazel
Raconteur - apple
Vengeful One - blackthorn
Great Huntress - spruce
The Bear - oak
Riftmaster - rowan

The keen eyed amongst you will notice I've added three gods to our list: The Great Huntress, The Bear* and The Riftmaster.

*Just noticed Clerics of The Bear as a preview in HackJournal 37.