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perm
Acolyte
11 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 05:24:53
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my campaign is set in a large town built on the river Chionthar that is mainly a trading town thanks to the river. Would the sailors that pass through worship valkur, or is valkur more of a sea god? I am trying to think of a god's shrine to put on the waterfront. Waukeen already has a proper temple.
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4686 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 06:04:03
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Well you are building so in the end it is up to you.
I will however offer that sailing up river tends not to work well unless a strong wind, there are no waves. Now if trade comes in from the sea, there clearly is no reason a small temple might exist. The people honor many deities and sailors certainly can be on fresh and salt water. Also winds might make it easy to sail up a river at times.
My quick research appears to indicate he is more a sea god, however is a deity of all sailors. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7981 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 07:28:54
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The Chionthar passes through a large area. The temples and shrines in the major settlements built along its banks (Baldur's Gate, Berdusk, Elturel, Scornubel, Iriaebor) are already detailed well enough. Baldur's Gate is a major port on the Sword Coast and so would worship Valkur/Umberlee, whereas the inland cities wouldn't place as much emphasis on the sea; they actually tend to worship deities who aren't related to water at all.
The Chionthar could easily be the domain of a local river deity, or even an overpowered water creature with entry level divine stature, serving the needs of Eldath or Selūne or even Valkur. Perhaps even a self-serving sovereign entity, allied with the more powerful water deities only as necessary or convenient.
Sailors tend to be a very superstitious lot, and it seems to me that a temple dedicated to a water god would best be built on or under the water ... every large ship would likely carry some sort of shrine, small vessels might have holy symbols inscribed on their rudders and masts, many vessels would mount figureheads and other ornamentation glorifying (or appeasing) the water gods. Land cannot serve as well as water for such temples, even in a port city ... although no doubt most ports would install temples serving this purpose to help fill the city coffers. I think merchant (and pirate) captains would prefer to pray onboard their own vessels, although the common sailors might have to make do with whatever local shrines are offered. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 07:32:44
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| Shaundakul, Umberlee, Valkur, Talos, Eldath, they all should have shrines there. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2011 : 18:38:52
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Slightly off-topic.
Magic sails that work in-reverse: they are drawn toward the wind.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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MrHedgehog
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2011 : 02:08:49
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| Yes because they sail. The God of Sailors would be worshiped by sailors on lakes, rivers, etc. in my opinion. Especially major rivers like Chionthar. |
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Would river-traders worship Valkur?
