Including the Skyrim Pantheon to my Realms of Terrinoth campaign has added great depth to my NPCs, their motivations, and ruins. This also provided a greater connection for any player running a cleric. As the party becomes more familiar with what each holy icon means, they will be able to glean information based on evident methods of worship alone, which is a huge step for immersion and adds new artistic space for GM description. Images and symbols of worship can be found with a Google search for: The Nine Divines, The Daedric Princes.
Notes from my campaign: Some liberties had to be taken in the transfer of Skyrim Pantheon. Kellos is still as present as in canon. Names for clergy of different gods were created because the party “thought it would be cool.” The campaign started with common knowledge of just the Nine Divines. The players then learned about a Daedra (demi-god) when they came across a person or society for whom its worship was a part of the culture. Not all Daedra were incorporated from Skyrim. Both these measures were to prevent overwhelming the players and allow secret cult worship and the like later in the campaign.
The Nine Divines-Most Popular/Common Deities
This pantheon of nine gods hold the most common targets of worship in Terrinoth. The larger the town or village, the larger or more of the temples for these there are. Being a much newer religion than the others, Kellos is commonly referred to as the "10th Divine."
- · Akatosh -God of Time and chief of the pantheon. Faithful claim he was the first Yrthwright, creating time as the first part crafting of Menarra. Associated with the passage of time and the creation of the world. A member of their clergy is known as a "Devout.” Many of these Devout spend their lives in secluded monasteries studying the nature of time, existence, and creation.
- · Arkay -God of the cycle of the Life, Death, and Mortals’ burials and funeral rites. Associated with morticians/undertakers, cemeteries, graveyards, and mausoleums. Fiercely opposes necromancy. A member of their clergy is known as a "Sower.” Most villages and bigger have at least one Sower to handle the deceased, their internment, and investigations regarding the nature of an individual’s death.
- · Dibella -God of Beauty. Associated with artists, bards, and high-end establishments of questionable morality. A member of their clergy is known as an "Admirer.” More common in more metropolitan locales or societies with a large focus on the arts.
- · Julianos -God of Wisdom and Logic. Associated with scholars, wizards, medicine, and engineers. A member of their clergy is known as a "Sage.” Their clergy is actually few in number as they do not host formal services. However, almost every formally trained magic-user has a small amulet or desk-side icon of Julianos.
- · Kynareth -Goddess of Air wind sky and the elements. Associated with sailors, oceans, travel, and the wilderness. A member of their clergy is known as a "Verdant.” Similar to Julianos, their clergy and formal services are fewer than the other divines. However, symbols of this faith are found in the pockets and around the necks of any with no one place to call home.
- · Mara -Goddess of love, compassion, and charity. The mother goddess. Associated with healing, marriage, and tending to the poor. A member of their female-only clergy is known as a "Sister.” Formal marriages are officiated by a Sister, with no regard to gender/orientation. Basic healing services are also offered at these temples, as well as limited lodging for the homeless.
- · Stendarr -God of Mercy, Justice, charity, righteous rule by might, and merciful forbearance. Associated with guards, courts, and purging affliction (by healing or by merciful death). A member of their clergy is known as a "Vigilant.” Many raised dead and uncontrollable shapeshifters have been granted mercy by a Vigilant’s mace.
- · Talos -God of governance, conquerors, honor, state, and war. Believed to have once been a mortal man. Associated with government officials and locations, statecraft, and organized warcraft. A member of their clergy is known as a "Herald.” Most high-ranking judges, elected officials, and generals either are, or keep close counsel with, a Herald of Talos.
- · Zenithar -God of work and commerce. Associated with merchants, artisans, money, and business. A member of their clergy is known as a "Mason.” When phrases like contract, assets, limited set, accounts, vibrant, debt, blasé, or “this/last season” are used, someone there is a Mason.
The Daedra-The Old Gods
Worshiped by more rural, secluded, old-fashioned, or cultish societies or individuals (depending on the deity). The modern word deity comes from the old word Daedra. None have formally recognized clergy.
- · Hircine -Daedra of the hunt. It is believed that all naturally occurring shapeshifting abilities are his blessing (or curse). Associated with hunters, trappers, wild animals, and shapeshifters.
- · Meridia -Daedra of energies and living things. Enemy of the undead. Associated with healers, gardeners, nature, and fighting the undead.
- · Nocturnal -Daedra of night and darkness. Patron of all things secretive. Associated with thieves, assassins, and spies.
- · Sanguine -Daedra of hedonism, debauchery, and further indulgences of one’s darker nature. Associated with gluttony, alcoholism and low-end establishments of questionable morality.
- · Hermaeus Mora -Daedra of knowledge and memory. Associated with forbidden lore, lost texts, and forgotten ruins. Those who seek any knowledge above all else or with reckless abandon often find “guidance” from Hermaeus Mora.
Naming the clergy turned out to be very fun for everyone. It became incorporated into in-character dialogue. This yielded the following phrases:
“Mason Party.” A person or event that is boring.
“Send for the Sower!” Announcing intent to brutally injure and/or kill someone.
“Well, this went from Dibella to Sanguine real quick.” A person or event that takes an acceptable activity to a sudden extreme.
I hope this is helpful to you GMs out there.
Edited by HaphazardNinja
