398 strange gods

8/2/2019 398 Strange Gods

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TM & 2011 Wizars of the Coast LLC. All rights reserve.

Unearthed Arcana

Mued drums beat out a nerve-scratching rhythm, and red lights

fickered hypnotically in the undergroundTemple o Hates, where ve thousandragged worshipers knelt and abasedthemselves and ecstatically pressed

oreheads against the cold and grit ty

cobbles as the trance took hold and thehuman venom rose in them.Fritz Leiber, The Cloud o Hate

Divi pw i th Dneon & Dron gam is

a pwful wap ad a gat spsibility. Clics,

avgs, ad th dvts swa t fllw th tts

f thi faith ad t act as hly missais, spadig

thi ditis if luc. Such ppl usually v-

at thi gds; thy might v ad thm. Gds

attituds, th th had, a t s mlithic.

By Ken Hart

Illus tratio n by Noah Brad ley

Diffig divi utlks ca lad t vaiats i

bliv xpics ad capacitis.

Mst f th ditis i th Rules Compendium ad

th Players Handbook pay attti t th mtal

wld ad, ccasi, hd th plas f thi cl-

ics ad th divi agts. Ev vil gds, such as

Llth ad Tiamat, d s. Wh ditis itv i

th mtal wld, dictly thw is, thy g-

ally sk t hlp thmslvs thugh th succss

f thi svats. Ma y pws ad fatus f th

divi classs flct a att itud f W i this

tgth.

O th th had, mythlgy ad fatasy ficti

a full f jalus, dak, lazy ditis wh culdt

b bthd t aid thi fllws. M tha a fw

Gk ad Rma gds succumb t ptty vics ad

spd much f thi tim ctstig with ach th.

Thy dt csid th ds f th pists withi

th ld, p-Vatica Cllg f Ptiffs. Thi mai

IgnoranceIs BlessedDivine power in the ervice of uncring,unknowble, or underpowered god


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Unearthed Arcana: Ignorance is Blessed

pastims a sducig mtals, dikig havily,

ad btayig thi fllw gdsthMelrose Place f

acit civilizati.

Oth ucaig disdaiful gds cm i th

fm f pwful bigs fm ath dimsi,

such as th Gat Old Os f H.P. Lvcafts

Cthulhu myths. Ths alis disdai th lif

fms, icludig thi w fllws. Thi svats

bdic divs fm fa madss, t lv.

F this lyalty, th cultists a typically wadd

with slavmt, saig dath, cvsi it

mstus, ttacld hybids. Similaly, th dmic

Lds f Chas i Michal Mccks classic Elic

Saga gad mst mtals th way a cat might a

wudd bid.

Oth fictial ditis a mtals wh gt ally,ally lucky wh ihitd divi gy at bith.

Ths gds ( dmigds) might pssss thwldly

stgth ad attact wships wh accss divi

pw thugh thi faith, but th attitud f ths

ditis ca b dciddly athbud. I Fitz Libs

vd Fafhd ad th Gay Mus tals, ctai

gds sid i th city f Lakhma. Why bth

payig t a us fc wh yu ca mak a

appitmt?

All th xampls abv hav b maj ispia-tis f lplays ad f th D&D gam, gig

back t 1979 ad Gay Gygaxs Appdix N i th

1st EditiDungeon Mas ter's Guid e. Yu sm-

i yu gamig cicl might dcid t cat

a divily pwd h basd ths ccpts,

ith as a hmag bcaus it suds lik a

itstig ida.

S, wuld a babaic clic f a ufgivig gd,

such as Cm i Rbt E. Hwads Ca tals,

hav full accss t th 4th Editi clics walth f

ApAtheticAndSelfiSh GodS:

WhAtSin itfor Me?Chapt 9 f thDungeon Masters Guid e, Th Wld,ffs idas altig c assumptis t cat a

vaiat sttig, such as Gds A Distat. Ulik

stadad, smi-ivlvd D&D ditis, th gds i this

vaiat a dtachd fm wldly ccs. A iff

this ida culd ivlv slfish gds wh itact with

mtals, but csid ly thi w whims. A hav-

ly hads-ff slfish plicy culd b th wt f

all ditis (as suggstd i Gds A Distat), it

culd b slctivly applid.

Aft csultati with yu DM, yu culd cata divi h wh wships a slf ish gd wh

v gts ivlvd i mtal affais. Idd, that

dity might t b awa that it has wships.

A gds mssag might b ugh t cvic

sm ppl t wa th cmial gamts ad

swa t spad th hly wd. Pfmig acts t

h thi gd might b ugh t satisfy ths

pius suls. Smitig a f with split the sky t h

yu gd, hwv, is much cl. Yu chaacts

chic f a divi path culd b mtivatd by slfish

dsi f pwight i li with may apathtic

ad slfish gds that culd appa i yu gam.

halig abilitis? Wuld a avg i th svic

f a slfish Shadwfll dmigd dig t us divi

pw t lt sm ls mak a attack, as with th

chal diviity pw divine guidance? Accdig

th basic 4th Editi uls, th asw t bth qus-

tis is a sudig Ys! Difft builds asid,

mmbs f a paticula class pssss simila class

fatus.

This Uathd Acaa aticl taks a difft

appach, aswig ths qustis with a tmptig

What if . . .? It bgis with sampl gds ad l-

playig suggstis addssig divi advtus i

th svic f distat, disdaiful, dw-t-ath

ditis. Chal diviity pws, class fatu alt-

ativs, ad th ptis a ffd t implmt

such a chaact cati slat. Fially, aids f flsh-

ig ut yu w divi catis a pvidd.

What Is appenDIx n?

In the 1st Eition of Add D

& D, Gary Gygax inclue several

appenices in the Dungeon Masters Guide.Appenix N was a list of the great fantasy

authors an works that inspire him. These

classic stories remain wonerful inspiration for

toays gamer.

Only a hanful of Appenix N authors an

stories are cite here, but you can fin the full

list at http://www.wizars.com/DnD/Article.

aspx?x=n/4n/Appenix/N. With that com-

pilation in han, begin exploring your local

library, use-book seller, an frienly online

merchant.


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Mythology nd FictionTh paths f th acit Gks, Rmas, ad

Ns fatud distat ditis, such as th Gk

gd f blacksmithig, Hphastus (Rma am:

Vulca). M wd a ths gds whs ava-ic ad slfishss fuld may tals m s

tha th ul f th Gk gds, Zus (Jupit). Zus

cstatly chatd his wif, Ha, fathig a slw

f ditis, dmigds, ad divi skimishs i th

pcss. As it tus ut, mt Hphastus, thugh

his lv f caftig, had m itst i his wship-

s tha did th tp dg Zus, wh iically psidd

v law ad justic. This dpicti f ctai Gk

gds as slfish ad flawd cais v it Rick

Ridas md fatasy sis, Percy Jackson and the

Olympians.

Th gd Cm is mtid ft i Rbt E.

Hwads Ca talsusually as pat f a agy

ath a shckd xclamati. Ca claims that

Cm is ucaig. H v ds aythig, ith

a lag scal (atual disasts) a small (aid t

a dvtd fllw). Cm pvids humas at bi th

with th cuag ad dtmiati t vcm

bstacls. Thats ugh f Ca. S hw culd

a uivlvd Cm mpw yu h? Ca

wuld b th fist t admit, if duk, that h dstudstad lik magic. It wuldt b supisig

t discv that h was uawa f spcially taid

svats f Cm wh accssd divi pw.

Yu campaig culd b st i a aalg f

acit Gc Rm duig th hyday f th

Vikigs. Altativly, yu advtu culd wship

a distat wakd gd fm a aly fgtt

path pattd aft mythlgical s.

Remote DeitieA vaiat campaig culd iclud m f th

c ditis big xtmly alf, thus altig th

mssag ad pactics f thi ligis. Imagi a

fiy tmpl f Pl i a wld wh Pl laglydst ca what mtals d. I such a sttig,

Pls pists call th shts, wapig his mssag

f watchfulss ad cmpassi it a dcti f

saig spiitual itlac. Badig th haths

wh dt bw t thi will culd b th last f thi

dpdatis.

A campaigs csmlgy d t b altd

much, hwv, t add th ccpt f apatht ic gds.

Pwful titis i th Fywild, Shadwfll, ad

lswh a wshipd i th mtal wld ad

pssss gdlik qualitis. Thy might (whth by

igac disdai) mak a habit f failig t cm

t th aid f thi fllws.

Ath pssibility is dad gds: ditis p-

sumd slai duig a calamitus pid, such as th

Tim f Tubls th Spllplagu i th Foro en

Re. Such gds culd hav suvivd, but maid

lagly silt duig t hi cvy.

Th gds f th Dr Sn campaig sttig a

dfiitly silt typs: lmtal pists Athas

wship achtypically mt gds. Takig thccpt t lss f a xtm, a divi advtu

Athas i ay th sttig culd wship a pi-

mdial. This appach placs th h smwh

btw th stadad 4th Editi divi chaact

ad Athass lmtal pist.

Yu advtus chs dity culd b m

f a fc f atua itlligt ad iscutabl

big with littl cc f what silly, tmpal

mtals d. Csid th fu lmtal pimdials

i th Foroen Re campaig sttig: Akadi,

Gumba, Istishia, ad Kssuth. Althugh thy a

t tu ditis i Fas cut csmlgy, thy

a wshipd as gds by may tibs. Th u-

pist pti rune o elemental attuning (s blw)

psts suggsti f twakig a divi class t

big this ida t yu gamig tabl.

Roleplying suggetionDivi hs i th svic f a distat vai

gd culd mulat th dity, bcmig clusiv

agat, althugh this appach aly attacts w

fllws. Oth advtus a ggaius ad vla-

til, aly hldig back mtis, almst as thugh

cmpsatig f th gds lss wlcmig qual i-

tis. Ths mtis maifst as fi-ad-bimst

spchs shiig, ispiatial tals.

Altativly, a chaacts dma culd

mi spcific aspcts f t h gd fc w-

shipd. With lmtal gds, f istac, a paladi

wh fllws a ai dity might b lighthatd a d

asily amusd, whil a clic dvtd t a ic-basd

gd might cm acss as usympathtic c ul at

tims. Divily pwd advtus wh wship

a distat gd f dath a ft smb, spakig

i ts, t-t h-pit stcs. Thy li kly avid

pcastiati, udstadig btt tha mstthat lif is a bif, t asity stag. Thy bliv that

ppl shuld gt th mst ut f lif whil it lasts.

Gd ad ualigd hs f this typ ca hav

a calmig f fct ths; chaacts f a dak

bt might tak a sadic, cyical t that is

uvig.

If yu itstd i playig a divi advtu

i a campaig wh th stadad D&D csmlgy

xists, csid takig a multiclass fat catig a

hybid chaact t flct th fact that yu t a


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typical divi h. F istac, a sc multiclass

fat hybid might f it sm wh wships a

lmtal tmpamtal gd. Chsig a shama

wald multiclass fat buildig a hybid with

ith f ths classs culd bst flct a h fm

a tibal militaistic cultu that wships a distat

gd.

dArk , diSdAinfuldeitieS:kiSSth e tentAcleCthulhu, pwful ablths, ad catus fm

Bydwhat thy hav i cmm is a ihuma

attitud twad lif, as wll as thught pcsss

ad mtivs that a had t fathm. What w d

cmphd is that thy dt lik mtals, ulss

pssibly as apptizs. Yt i mythlgy, ficti,

ad lplayig gams, such bigs a wshipd

as gds by dagd, faatical cults. May f ths

cultists act cvtly t cupt if lutial ppl ad

istitutis, pavig th way f widspad subv-

si ivasi.

What if such cultists w t cvt abut it?

A campaig vaiat mtid i Chapt 9 f th

Dungeon Masters Guid e suggsts, What if th pim-dials w? I this cas, th spiitual ladscap f th

uivs wuld b vsd. Faiths basd biza

catus f th Elmtal Chas th Fa Ralm

dmiat th mtal wld, whil wship f th

astal gds is limitd t sctiv cults.

Divi hs wh v ali titis might t

always b vil, but thy ctaily a littl stag. If

yu wat t pactic yu Pt L Chistph

Walk impsati, hs yu pptuity.

Mythology nd FictionDsciptis f ihuma, mslss ditis sttch

fa back i histy. Th acit Egyptias fad ad

spctd St, th dky-hadd gd f stms ad

chas, whs am vlvd it Sata, th alias f thBiblical fall agl Lucif (ad ispid Sutkh th

Dsty, f thDoctor Who fas ut th). Dspit

his bad putati ad his mythlgical stuggls

with th gd Hus, St was wshipd f a lg

tim.

Dak gds f a lss athpmphic atu

aivd duig th hyday f pulp h ficti, wll

pstd by th afmtid H.P. Lvcaft

ad Rbt E. Hwad. I th Cthulhu Myths ad

th tals f Ca, Kull, ad Slm Ka, m-

stus titis ad th ppl wh v thm ft

tak ct stag. Yu divi advtu culd w-

ship such bigs but bliv that cmpmis ad

cpati a pssibl. Yu might s ths f yu

faith wh sk cflict as havig cuptd yu gds

mssag. Ev s, pws that hal aid ths, such

as ths f th stadad 4th Editi clic, a likly

t a high piity f yu h.

Didinful, alien DeitieMay f th pimdials f th Elmtal Chas a

Lvcaftia i atu. Thy a pwful ugh

that dvtd fllws culd pttially accss divi

gy, but a s ali t th atual wld that thy

cat b tuly udstd.

A lack f udstadig is pat ad pacl f th

ld abatis fm th Fa Ralm. Althugh mid

flays ad ablths gally d t wship gds

(sm ablths hav utlivd gds, s thy t

impssd), fusig t ackwldg th supiity

f ath big, a small miity withi ach f

ths mstus acs d pay. Sm mid flays

wship th ttacld Ilssi; a illithid clic is

t ut f th qusti. I 2d Editi AD&D, ab-

lths w tid t t h wship f Juiblx, th dm

ld f slims ad zs. I 4th Editi, th Faclss

Ld, f xampl, culd pfm a divi masqu-

ad, stppig i t hlp ablth cultists gai accss

t divi pw. Aft all, i his viw, th m chas,

th btt.

Oth, lss utladish acs i islatd cmmui-

tis that bga xistc ctuis ali as fm

illithid ablth slavs might pay t th imag f

a illithid a ablth. Clics f such faiths culd

tap it divi pw thugh ith th dificati

f a acit Fa Ralm tity th pptuisticactis f ath dity. Dishst gds such as Llth

ad Vca culd gt plasu ut f masquadig

this way, bcaus it wuld fl mtals, caus stif,

ad iitat th supi illithid ablth ac.

Spakig f divi dcpti, what if f

th stablishd gd ualigd ditis had

b sctly killd ad placd by a masquad-

ig pw fm th Fa Ralm? Th shadwy ad

stagly clakd si clics i Clls mai

tmpl might g uticd f a whil, at last util f th faithful happs t tic slim dippig

fm a clics slvs. I th matim, th divi

abilitis f yu lw-akd advtu i Cl-

ls svic wuld ctiu t wk as mal. Aft

a pid f tim duig which yu suff distub-

ig dams f abadig yu fids, yu might

awak t discv that yu healing word has b

placd by subversive word (dscibd blw).

Nt as pulsiv, but qually as ali as Fa

Ralm catus, a aglic bigs fm th Astal


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mmbs f th d, it might b suf ficit t accss

divi pw i that gds am. Oc giv, divi

pw ist asily tak away. Aft yu h vals

his h tu chaact, th st f th d dubt

dclas th advtu a htic, bigig a w slat

f asty pblms t th campaig. (S Faith ad

Hsy iDragon 397.)

Rgadlss f backgud, hs dvtd t

ihuma gds usually a taid t sk ut wak-

ss. Oc yu udstad th mis f th faith

ad thi flaws, yu ca m asily dsty thm.

As a sult, impvig yu Is ight skill ad pssibly

slctig Skill Taiig (Bluff) culd flct yu

ability t subvt th wak mak plas t scap

yu masts culty. M suptit ius agts

might chs f th gu multiclass fats (suchas Twilight Adpt) th assassi multiclass fat

Shadw Iitiat.

Sa. Rsidts f th havly alms f Clstia ad

Hstava might b batific, but thy a t immu

t tmptati th lust f pw. A f ustatd

agl, bad fm puishig waywad mtals as

fly as it wishs, culd dcid t dvlp a cult t

gt aud th sticti. It culd sk ut igat

mtals tuchd by divi psc at sm pit,

itimidat thm it wshipfulss, ad cvic

thm t act as dadly waps i its stad.

Roleplying suggetionDivi advtus wh wship ihuma ditis

likly pfm thi ligius dutis fvtly ad

act i a dadly sius way v i thi vyday

activitis. May f thm a as atagistic twadth bigs as is thi chs gd/dm/giat

bai. Such a chaact wuld hav a difficult tim

makig fids with ths i th advtuig paty.

A tu bliv i th caus f a udyig ablth

is ulikly t fid cmm gud with a fllw f

Pl th Rav Qu.

A chaact wh chss a ukwabl dity

might hav d s f ass that w psal

pi t th chaacts diati i a divi class.

F istac, a yug advtu might hav iitially

jid th cult hly d bcaus f h hatd

twad a ps scity. I tim, sh sttld

up widspad chas ad dstucti as ffctiv

waps. (Ovkill, phaps, but vg is vg.)

Likwis, a bitt bl whs family was xild f

dubius cims culd wship a gd f dstucti s

that h might challg all slf-ightus ad lawful

authitis. Ths ass dt mak thi faith lss

gui, but ca xplai why thy tu t icmp-

hsibl gds.

F ths plays lkig f backguds thatmight aid paty uity istad, csid a h wh

was slavd by b it slavy udcatus

fm th Elmtal Chas th Fa Ralm. (Amg

ths ulucky ppl, th cmm acs a huma,

lf, githzai, dw, ad gll.) T suviv, yu cha-

act displayd makabl adaptability, ad h sh

was th lvatd t a vs psitidaid

as a divi agt f th gd. Th hs faith i th

ali gd culd hav b a sham, pat f a labat

scap pla, but if it succdd i flig th si

InhuMa n DeItIes

anD RavenloFt

Divine masquerae might be no ifferent tacti-

cally from how ivine power was accesse in the2n an 3r Eition R campaign setting.

Clerics in that shaowy emiplane were able to

use ivine magic normally, even in the case of

outsier clerics from other campaign settings

whose contact with their gos was iminishe.

Either the external gos were answering their

clerics prayers in spite of the mysterious Dark

Powers that maintain the emiplanes barrier,

or those prayers were being answere by the

Dark Powers masqueraing as the external gos.

Conceivably, overly curious clerics who reach thelatter conclusion coul go ma, turn to worship

of the Dark Powers, or both.


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deMiGodS:Wit h GreAt poWercoMeS not Much

reSponSibilityBe not araid o greatness: some are born great, some achieve

greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.

William Shakspa,

Twelth Night,Act II, Sc V

Rplac gatss with gdhd i th Bads

qutati, ad yuv gt th ssc f t h dmigd.

Whth ths bigs a pat f a gds family t

th sult f xpsu t th divi quivalt f

th Fatastic Fus csmic ays, th alms f fatasyad mythlgy a full f immsly pwful bigs

wh mt th qualificatis f gdhd but mai

clsly tid t th mtal wld cduct thmslvs

i dciddly dific ways. Fllws f such di-

tis hav a pptuity that is did t fllws

f th gds: Thy might cut th titis thy

v i th flsh!

May such dmigds, hwv, at v awa

that thy hav wships. Ths that a awa f w-

ships ft hav paticula us dsi f thm.

Mythology nd FictionRcall agai th tals f Eaths acit gds, wh

th scapads, dmd macs, ad xtamaital

affais f Zus ad ths sultd i half-gd, half-

mtal ffspig. Phaps th bst kw f ths is

th Gk Hacls , as h is kw t Rmas ad

TV fas, Hculs. Th s f Zus/Jupit is g-

ally thught f as a supstg ma. H was als

wshipd by Gk ad Rma fllws wh, aft

haig f his (t ci a phas) Hcula thft f

cattl, payd at shis ad tmpls f this big t

pvid fd f thm as wll.

Hidu mythlgy als fs t dmigds,

althugh th dscipti is a littl difft. H,

fm mtals bcam divi bigs kw as dvas

(patially ispiig th Dneon & Dron ac f

that am), wh w wshipd.

Th mythlgy f acit Egypt utily fatud

dmigds. Ths bigs smtims appad as th

sult f a divi dalliac. M cmmly, th

phaahs w tatd as livig gds. Thy civd

pays bth duig thi livs ad aft thi spiit

td th Lads f th Wst.

I ficti, th pviusly mtid Fafhd ad

th Gay Mus tals by Fitz Lib pst auusual situati. Withi th apppiatly amd

dmai f Gdslad, ditis ccasially aidd

mtals. Withi th city f Lakhma sid dmi-

gds wh dt bth with clics. If ppl wat

t shw thi dvti, thy ca lav gifts. (Libs

Nhw csmlgy als icluds Gds f Tubl,

wh d hav clics capabl f usig divi pw,

v if ths gds ca thig f thi fllws.)

If yu gup w t us Libs stis as ispia-

ti f yu campaiga wis mvdivi hsi th svic f such dmigds culd b a lativly

w dvlpmt. Ev th gd i qusti has

ida hw itll tu ut. T balac th ddity fad

pttial DM hadachs sultig fmdivi

advtus fac-t-fac bifigs with thi chs

gds, csid makig sm f th classs pws

fatus a littl lss liabl. This dtimt culd

flct th gds athbud status. F xampl, a

savig thw ul pti is ffd i Nw Divi

Chaact Optis blw.

I a simila vi, th Lds f Chas i M-

ccks Elic sis cm acss as xtmly pwful

dms, as ppsd t high-midd ditis. P-

haps ths dm lds smhw bfitd fm a

widfall f divi pw. As a sult, ths sadistic,

maipulativ bigs hav thi divi fllws.

Dawig up Mccks ficti, yu culd

cat a cult dvtd t a dm that has adptd

th guis f a gd (its a asi way t gab willig

suls). Takig a pag ut f Rbt E. Hwads classic

Slm Ka ad Ca tals, th gd i qusti

culd b a pulsatig, mstus thig fm ith

th dpths f th ath th vilst sw, wh it

cam up a atifact ad absbd divi pw.

Altativly, yu gups achmy culd b a lich

th pwful f aig th fulfillmt f hisfaius pic dstiy. H sks ad has fud svi-

ts t pvid th fial divi sug.

DemigodMay campaig stt igs hav mbacd dmigds

i thi paths. Th Foroen Re st-

tig, f ista c, has divi agts wh v

quasi-ditis such as Gwa Widstm, th Rd

Kight, Shass, ad Vlsha. I th 2d Edi-

ti Brr campaig sttig, t h maj gdshapp t b mtals wh w pst at t h divi

quivalt f th 1908 Tuguska xplsi ad

w tasfmd it ditis th spt .

Fllwig this patt, fl f t mdify th c

path s that m f th gds a physi-

cally maifst, catig a pltha f thlgical ad

plitical cmplicatis. F istac, may wais

ad athlts pay t Kd bf a battl cm-

ptiti, ach sid cfidt that it will civ his

blssig. But if Kd w physically pst at such


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a vt, might h chs a favit? Might h t

th cmptiti th battl himslf, dcidig i th

ths f cmbat wh t fav? Such acts culd shak

th faith f sm blivs whil impssig ths

with th gds suvival-f-th-fittst att itud.

Ctai dms ad dvils hav cuitd ugh

mtal fllws t achiv gdhd a cls

appximati. F wthy xampls, s Y-

ghu, th Dm Pic f Glls (Dragon 364) ad

Baphmt, th Pic f Basts (Dragon 369).

Yu campaig might als icpat gdhd

aisig fm a lucky happstac th culmia-

ti f a mast pla. Th pic dstiis Chs ad

Dmigd, i paticula, mak it pssibl f mtals

t pupsfully achiv a masu f dificati. A

play chaact wh th advtus mt adwkd with at th bgiig f thi cas culd

wid up as a dity with wships by th tim cha-

acts ach th pic ti. Havig kw a dmigd

bf h sh achivd gdly status culd tu ut

t b a b a cus.

Roleplying suggetionYu divi hs bhavi might dpd th

spiitualad physicalpximity f yu chs

dity. If yu gd is sm wh ca b ctactddictly, yu culd b vwhlmd with humility

iflatd with ccit. (Ys, thats all vy itstig,

but as my gd tld m ystday v luch . . .) If

yu gd has a vilt, tmpamtal atu, yu

culd b xtmly axius div t succd.

Ulik mst agts f a gd, yu kw that yu dity

dst lk kidly up failu, bcaus h said s

staight t yu fac pvidd a mmabl gaphic

xampl f yu fm supi.

Fllws f such bigs smtims stat dw

that path bcaus th gd dmigd dictly

itvd thi bhalf that f a lvd .

Altativly, thy lud by th pcivd accss t

diviity ad th pw that such accss culd big.

As is ft th cas wh fllwig chaismatic

ppl wh pmis much, disillusimt s

fllws. Ev if yu playig a divi advtu

wh lg has gat faith i yu gd, yu ca

us divi pw fly, matt wh yu g.

Dpdig yu gds ambitis ad th cult f

psality that dvlps aud that big, f

yu chts might tic that yu g.

neW divine

chArActer optionSAs dscibd abv, th spiitual ccti btw

yu divi h ad his h chs dity th

pw f th dity itslfmight t b as stg as

it is i a stadad D&D campaig. Nmally, this

mtss has littl ffct th way that divi

advtus us thi gifts th atu f thi

pws. H i Uathd Acaa, hwv, ptis

xist t mak such chaacts dimiishd ctact

difft piitis a tagibl, thught-pvkig pat

f th campaig.

For all Divine ChrcterAt th stat f ach day, ll a d20. This ll cat b

mdifid i ay way.

19-20: Yu ccti t divi pw is uusu-

ally stg tday. As a sult, duig yu fist cmbat

cut tday, yu ca us f yu divi

cut attack pws twic.

3-18: Yu ccti t divi pw is as s tg

as v, ad yu ca us yu abilitis as mal.

1-2:Yu ccti is wak tday, sultig i

th lss f us f a divi cut attack pw

duig yu fist cmbat cut tday. Effctivly,

this mas that wh yu hav usd vy divi

cut attack pw yu hav duig that cu-

t xcpt f , yu cat us t h last .

For avengerYu ca substitut th chal diviity pw divine

identiication f divine guidance.

Divine Identification Avenger UtilityBelieving your prey to be close, you whisper the name o yourgod to sharpen your perceptive powers.

EncountertChannel Divinity, Divine

Minor Action Personal

Effect: Until the en of your next turn, you know the location

of your oath of enmity target, an it grants combat avan-

tage to you, even if you cant see it.

Special: You can use only one channel ivinity power per

encounter.

uneaRtheD aRCana

As an Unearthe Arcana article, this text pres-

ents unofficial variants for the D &

D game. You wont fin these options in

the D&D Character Builder, the D&D Compen-

dium, or any printe rulebooks. If you like to

use these ivine hero options for your charac ter,

be sure to iscuss it in avance with your DM

an get his or her approval.


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Ap ri l 201 1 | Dgo 3988


For ClericYu ca substitut th chal diviity pw negate

healing f divine ortune.

Negate Healing Cleric Utility

Calling upon divine power, you deny an opponent a chance toheal during battle.

Encountert Channel Divinity, Divine

Immediate Interrupt Ranged 5

Trigger: An enemy within 5 squares of you regains hit points or

gains temporary hit points.

Target:The triggering enemy

Effect: The target oesnt regain the hit points or gain the tem-

porary hit points.

Special: You can use only one channel ivinity power per

encounter.

I additi, yu ca substitut subversive word f heal-ing word.

Subversive Word Cleric Attack

With a whispered prayer, you call upon destructive di vineenergy to siphon the l ie orce o an enemy.

Encounter (Special) tDivine, Necrotic, Radiant

Minor Action Ranged 5

Requirement: You must have a healing surge remaining.

Target: One enemy

Effect: You lose a healing surge, an the target takes necrotic

an raiant amage equal to your healing surge value.

Level 11:The target takes 16 extra necrotic an raiant

amage.

Level 21: The target takes 26 extra necrotic an raiant

amage.

Special: At 16th level, you can use this power twice per

encounter, but only once per roun.

For ldinYu ca substitut th chal diviity pw spec-

ters shield f divine mettle.

Specters Shield Paladin UtilityAs your enemy strikes, your shield displa ys a distorted, gha stlyrelection, revealing the shadowy, terriying igure that awaitshim in the near uture.

Encountert Divine, Fear

Immediate Reaction Close burst 5

Trigger: An enemy within 5 squares of you attacks you.

Target: The triggering enemy in the burst

Effect: The target takes a penalty to all efenses equal to your

Charisma moifier until the en of your next turn.

For Runepriet

Yu ca substitut rune o elemental attuning f rune omending.

Rune of Elemental Runepriest Utility

Attuning

You invoke this rune to shield you and an ally rom an elemen-tal attack.

EncountertDivine, Runic

Minor Action Close burst 5

Targets: You an one ally in the burst

Effect: Choose aci, col, fire, li ghtning, or thuner. You lose a

healing surge, an each target gains resist 5 to the chosen

amage type until the en of the encounter. Level 11: Resist 10 to the chosen amage type.

Level 21: Resist 15 to the chosen amage type.

Rune of Destruction: The next attack mae by each target

before the en of your next turn eals 4 extra amage of

the chosen type (6 extra amage at 11th level an 8 extra

amage at 21st level).

Rune of Protection: The power can target one aitional ally

in the burst.


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Ap ri l 201 1 | Dgo 3989


creAte you roWn God

Advtuig bhalf f agaista ligius

blif is f th classic mtivatis f hs

with divi pw. Bigig that appach t lif

i yu campaig might qui a dity ligi

that dst xist i histy, ficti, a stablishd

D&D sttig. Th fllwig matial aids i th quick

cati f a vl gd, whth as t h fudati f a

dad ligi th ispiati f a passiat flck

f fllws.

Rll admly chs th ptis that bst

sv th sty yu tllig. May f th sults

1d10 Alignment Origin Goals Personality 1 Personality 2 Appearance Appearance

1 Lawfu l good Far Realm World domination Arrogant Lazy Humanoid Wings

2 Lawfu l good Elemental Chaos Planar domination Coarse Meticulous Avian Horns

3 Good Abyss/demonic To be left alone Cruel Mocking Insectoid Steaming body

4 Good Astral Sea/angelic Fulfillment of lustful urges Curious Positive Mammalian Stinger

5 Unaligned Shadowfell Happiness of followers Energetic Restless Reptilian Tentacles

6 Unaligned Feywild Dedication of followers to Fearful Sharp Plant Shimmering

a certain code (e.g., strength,deception, compassion)

7 Evil Part of divine bloodline Nihilism Gloomy Strict Tentacled Slimy

8 Evil Mortal who has gained power Preservation of the status quo Gregarious Stubborn Ever-changing Glowing eyes

9 Chaotic evil Unknown/amnesiac Recognition by other gods of Indiffer ent Trustworthy Amorphous Metallic parts

excellence, prowess, or power

10 Chaotic evil Alien or technological Vengeance on mortal enemies Jealous Wicked Gaseous Prehensile tongue

or other gods

1d10 Bloodthirstiness Hated By Attitude Sphere of Worship

12 Gentle, passive Gods of differin g alignments Indiffer ent or unaware A few true believers, sworn to total secrecy

34 Even-tempered Gods of the same alignment Encouraging Mostly cults, tribes; referred to in whispers and lost tomes

56 Prone to anger Family members or former allies Tolerant or friendly No more than a few hundred know of it; discovering location of

a cult is one of the initiation tests

78 Enjoys violence and All gods Condescending, manipulative A few thousand worshipers; existence is public, but

bloody sacrifices membership is by invitation only

910 Rip them to shreds! None/not considered worth hating Contemptuous Widespread worship; completely open to new followers

fit th thms pstd abv. Kp i mid that

ths suggstis a statig pits f yu w

baistmig. F istac, if a ll dtmis

that a gds wships shu cats, yu culd us

ay aimal i plac f cats yu culd say that th

wships v cats. Th tabls a mat t spak

yu thikig, t dictat it.


10/10

Ap ri l 201 1 | Dgo 39810


About the Aut horKen Harthas ditd ad witt a umb f RPG

supplmts ad advtus. Past ctibutis iclud

Gdma GamsDungeon Crawl Cla ssics ad Etherscope .With ccspiat Jff LaSala, h wt Faith ad Hsy

iDragon 397. H has als ctibutd t th fthcmig

athlgyForeshadows: The Gh osts o Zero. Hat livs with hiswif ad daug ht i th Nw Jsy ad is tyi g t

cvic his 4-ya-ld that th Dad Dmammu is cl,

dspit his am. H blgs abut gamig, Suviv, ad pp

cultu at k-f-ghastia.livjual.cm.

K wuld als lik t xpss his gatitud t Jff LaSala

f isights ad fdback this aticl.

Updated April 20, 2011

1d20 Significant or Odd Interests Main Flaw Followers Quirks/Superstitions

(roll twice)

1 Arts, literature Narcissistic Avoid mirrors

2 Quest for knowledge Greedy Proudly display facial tattoos/earrings

3 Bravery, fortitude Apathetic Shun cats; nongood followers might attempt to harm them

4 Physical appearance (self and/or mortals) Overconfident Keep hands covered in public5 Dreams Lustful Kiss the doorway on the first visit to a dwelling

6 Enlightenment Curious Wear mummified animal or body part around neck

7 Torture Deranged Respond to a nonbelievers idea with a counterargument , regardless of personal opinion

8 Innocent mortals (as symbols of purity) Inferiorit y complex If offered a knife, give that person a coin, or know that you will one day be enemies

9 Innocent mortals (as delicacies) Reliant upon phylacter y Sleep under the open air or in rooms that do not have corners only

or other item

10 Obsession about the future Haunted by spirits of victims* Hair is often lank and oily, resembling greasy tentacles

11 Dragons Addicted to sensation Collect soil samples from each town visited

12 A particular animal type (e.g., toads, lions) Imprisoned or nearly dead Relish sensations of pain

13 Time travel Part of an inconvenient Rhyme whenever possible, especially during conflict

yet sticky alliance

14 Mortal interaction Recklessness Reluctant to share names; names hold power15 Nature of religion or magic Senile Whisper to unseen people

16 Physical combat Envious Greet everyone with strong hugs (motives vary depending on god)

17 Extreme heat and/or cold Paranoid Settle debates with contest, e.g., Three-Dragon Ante, arm wrestling, poison tolerance

18 Eyes Merciful Must enter a home through the darkest/brightest entrance visible

19 Doorways Theatrical React vehemently to any insult

20 Arguments Proud Believe that 7 is a holy number; hail its appearance

* Either those slain by the go (irectly or inirectly) or those whom the go faile to protect.

1d6 1d6 again Domain*

1 1 Arcana

2 Change

3 Civilization

4 Creation

5 Darkness

6 Death

2 1 Destruc tion

2 Earth

3 Fate

4 Freedom

5 Hope

6 Justice


3 1 Knowledge

2 Life

3 Love

4 Luck

5 Madness

6 Moon

4 1 Poison

2 Protection

3 Sea

4 Skill

5 Storm

6 Strength


5 1 Strife

2 Sun

3 Torment

4 Trickery

5 Tyranny

6 Reroll this d6

6 1 Undeath

2 Vengeance

3 War

4 Wilderness

5 Winter

6 Reroll this d6

* See relate feats an channel ivinity powers in Divine Powerselect two or three omains for the go

398 strange gods

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