Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Journals
 Running the Realms
 Clerical Power and Avatars
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

NightElf
Seeker

United Kingdom
97 Posts

Posted - 29 Aug 2003 :  12:36:30  Show Profile  Visit NightElf's Homepage Send NightElf a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Clerics are given the ability by their gods to cast clerical spells, but this requires the Deity to give up a slight portion of their power so that the clerics can use it.

In some texts it mentions that certain deities make a presence as an avatar during religious holy days. If this happens, surely the clerics would lose their spells during this period because the deity is no longer there to provide.

Secondly, if a Deity was slain by some means while they were prowling the Forgotten Realms as an Avatar, would that kill the actual god themselves? After all, the avatar is the god.

Any ideas on that?

"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front"

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 29 Aug 2003 :  13:43:53  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The one important thing to remember about avatars is that they are (in most cases) only a portion of the deity's power given physical form (obviously the Time of Troubles was a unique case). The deity still exists in his/her home plane, and is still able to grant divine powers to all his/her followers (clerics).


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 29 Aug 2003 :  13:49:14  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
As for the second part of your post, well that is really also answered by my last post.

Another important thing to remember to ask yourself is, what planar cosmology you are using for your deities in FR? - 2e (Planescape cosmology), or 3e (FR cosmology). If it is 2e, then killing an avatar of a deity only affects the deity for that particular plane. The deity is still able to create avatars on another prime material plane. In 3e it is somewhat different since the planes for the FR cosmology are separate from the standard D&D structure.

Again the Time of Troubles was a unique case. This was because all of the essence of the deities were forced into avatar form. If a deity/avatar was destroyed during that period (and had not planned ahead to resolve his/her demise like Bane and Mystra), then that particular deity would be absolutely destroyed (like Myrkul and Bhaal), and sent to drift upon the Astral Plane.


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

Bookwyrm
Great Reader

USA
4740 Posts

Posted - 30 Aug 2003 :  06:07:19  Show Profile  Visit Bookwyrm's Homepage Send Bookwyrm a Private Message  Reply with Quote
If you recall an example from the books, specifically Song of the Saurials, Moander (god of decay) was destroyed as an avatar twice; then he was killed on his home plane right after the second time.

Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.

Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more.
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 30 Aug 2003 :  13:46:18  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That's right. Destroying a deity on his/her own home plane is the one main way (there are a few others) to completely erase a deity from active power.


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 30 Aug 2003 :  13:50:30  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Also remember that although the deity may be 'destroyed' in the traditional sense, most 'dead gods' are left to float through the Astral Plane as husks with access to only very...very limited abilities that can only affect those creatures in direct physical contact with the husk (although the deity is usually not conscious of this contact since it is purely instinct).

In some very rare cases (Aoskar) for example, a deity may be resurrected from the status of 'dead god', but the process is long and complicated, and has only ever been attempted once successfully.


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

Fibura Gauntlet
Seeker

United Kingdom
50 Posts

Posted - 01 Sep 2003 :  12:08:45  Show Profile  Visit Fibura Gauntlet's Homepage Send Fibura Gauntlet a Private Message  Reply with Quote
If someone could lure Tiamat into fully manifesting herself on the Prime Material Plane by challenging her in her own Plane and then retreating through a portal back here leaving it open for her to follow, she could be destroyed permanently. You'd be able to take her place amongst the Gods too.

I couldn't help myself sorry

- Fibura Gauntlet
A scrib(bl)e on the margins of Candlekeep
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 01 Sep 2003 :  15:03:12  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That is okay..."Raistlin"...


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page

The Cardinal
Senior Scribe

Canada
647 Posts

Posted - 01 Sep 2003 :  15:10:13  Show Profile  Visit The Cardinal's Homepage Send The Cardinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sorry for intruding, But I can't help myself when Deities are concerned ( and their deaths)
Aoskar... Who is he?
Umm In what tome is this process described... Just cause I'm curious
and Say you provoked a deity into fighting you on their own plane then say... gated into the Material with that big bad..... well anyways, they followed you and by quirk of Luck, you managed to defeat them... Would that be considered a true or avatarial death?


It has to be Certain, the Gods Hate Me. For whatever irrevokable Fate, I have been made the walking Joke. Either that, or Beshaba is overlyfond Of Me.
-Unknown
Go to Top of Page

The Sage
Procrastinator Most High

Australia
31701 Posts

Posted - 01 Sep 2003 :  15:23:40  Show Profile Send The Sage a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Aoskar was (is???) the God of Portals, at least in the Planescape setting. He was destroyed by the Lady of Pain (for reasons too long and complex to type here) because his 'ambition exceeded his reach'...


Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)

"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood

Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000