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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 14:28:31
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As I was writing something up yesterday, it occurred to me that unlike Norse lore, we don't see a lot of animals who are named in relation to the Faerunian deities (and only a few in relation to the demihuman deities). In truth, I only recall seeing Veiros and Deiros (the horses of Tempus) and technically Lurue often serves as Mielikki's mount. Can anyone think of any others that are in canon out there (besides the beast cults of Ubtao, Ulutiu, Uthgar, and Rillifane Ralathil)?
This isn't to say that we don't see "they often work through X animals". We see this in plenty, and it works, but its not exactly the same thing. I get that this is because these "beasts" are not gods, but it could add some fun if there were primordial "beasts" that the gods kept in order to aid their lives.... so for a lark, why not list some ideas here. Hell there could be some adventure revolving around finding them and getting something from them.
Lathander
a golden cock that crows at the dawn (and possibly spends its entire day fertilizing the eggs of Chauntea's hens).
Chauntea seems an obvious choice, but I'd bet most of hers get butchered to serve in meals. Still there might be some:
a cow (Audumbla?) which produces a rich milk which is said to be able to cure diseases.
a red hen which produces hundreds of eggs per day
a goat which feeds upon the pollution in the world, but turns it into a powerful fertilizer
Bane
a powerful dog which is absolutely obedient and guards him
a hunting falcon which he sends out to bring him fresh meat.
Leira
a talking sheep which accuses any man that approaches it of previous lechery
a talking cat with an amazing ability to camouflage itself when it needs to, but when it doesn't it appears in all manner of shapes and colors (vibrant pinks, blues, and purples)
a great flying pig which is absolutely clean and smells of bacon which she uses as a personal mount
Sune
a red furred fox which serves as her pet and guardian
a fire dove which serves as her messenger bird
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 15:02:58
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Oh, and along these lines, are there any magical beasts that might be mirrored in the heavens. For instance, we know that Torm has einheriar that ride upon pegasi (so male Valkyries).
I'd imagine there are other gods who have lots of griffons or hippogriffs or asperii or giant eagles, owls, wasps, etc....
Is there a great rust monster that plagues Gond?
Is there a giant behir or bullette?
Is there a giant cockatrice, basilisk, and/or gorgon that serves Grumbar?
What about a great sphinx or lammasu? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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LordofBones
Master of Realmslore
1588 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 15:36:55
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Myrkul had a massive pet hypnalis that he sent to retrieve whichever souls were foolish enough to think that they were beyond his reach.
Velsharoon has a gravehydra that he routinely tinkers with, in an effort to meld the horrifying regenerative capabilities of hydras with the tenaciousness of greater undead. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 16:05:22
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The 2E deity books listed animals and such used as preferred manifestations... That's a good starting point, thinks I.
Although I do like how Pathfinder also has a designated, non-divine but definitely spiffy herald for a lot of the deities. |
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LordofBones
Master of Realmslore
1588 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 16:36:37
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| Pathfinder also has a bunch of unique creatures for each god, in addition to their heralds. They're described in Inner Sea Deities. |
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LordofBones
Master of Realmslore
1588 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jan 2016 : 16:40:35
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Oh, and along these lines, are there any magical beasts that might be mirrored in the heavens. For instance, we know that Torm has einheriar that ride upon pegasi (so male Valkyries).
I'd imagine there are other gods who have lots of griffons or hippogriffs or asperii or giant eagles, owls, wasps, etc....
Is there a great rust monster that plagues Gond?
Is there a giant behir or bullette?
Is there a giant cockatrice, basilisk, and/or gorgon that serves Grumbar?
What about a great sphinx or lammasu?
The shinigami and the entire psychopomp outsider race seem to be tailormade for Myrkul and Kelemvor. Reapers and grim reapers, imported to the Realms, could be Myrkul's preferred servants. |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1607 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2016 : 10:00:48
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| I like sleyvas' idea. You are thinking of something like Dragonlance's Divine Messengers, right? |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jan 2016 : 23:50:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
I like sleyvas' idea. You are thinking of something like Dragonlance's Divine Messengers, right?
Exactly, in that that's how they would commonly be used, but they would have other uses. Main thing, these aren't their hordes of minions that they use, nor are they the simple flock of doves that they make fly in the pattern of a heart to tell a priest "go this way" or "you're doing the right thing". They may also play into symbolism for the church itself, in artwork, on helmets, in jewelry, etc... Or, if the players visit the plane of a god, they might have to interact with one of these beings.
For instance, what if a basket of Chauntea's red hen's eggs need to be transported to the prime material to aid a village who recently had all their fowl foully murdered. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Fellfire
Master of Realmslore
1965 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2016 : 17:02:54
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Sune
a red furred fox which serves as her pet and guardian
a fire dove which serves as her messenger bird
This creature, mentioned in F+P. I can find no other reference. Anybody seen it before? |
Misanthorpe
Love is a lie. Only hate endures. Light is blinding. Only in darkness do we see clearly.
"Oh, you think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but.. blinding. The shadows betray you because they belong to me." - Bane The Dark Knight Rises
Green Dragonscale Dice Bag by Crystalsidyll - check it out
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Edited by - Fellfire on 11 Nov 2016 17:04:39 |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2016 : 21:25:05
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| What about a Horse (or other companion) named Silvanus?? |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2016 : 23:37:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Elren_Wolfsbane
What about a Horse (or other companion) named Silvanus??
not following?? Silvanus is a god, why would there be a divine/primordial animal named after him? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12194 Posts |
Posted - 12 Nov 2016 : 23:45:05
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| By the way, in this relation, I see Uthgar/Ulutiu/Rillifane/Ubtao as having several of these beasts that possibly serve him. For instance, we say Rollifane subsumed them, but personally I like the idea of Magnar the Bear, the great spirits of Eagle, Raven, and Wolf, Relkath of the Infinite Branches, etc.... and these beings have simply fallen out from being deities. They're still powerful immortal beings though, and Rillifane is absorbing the worship of those who call out to them (and in return he feeds them enough energy to live and be his servants). |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Elren_Wolfsbane
Learned Scribe
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2016 : 20:45:36
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
quote:
Originally posted by Elren_Wolfsbane
What about a Horse (or other companion) named Silvanus??
not following?? Silvanus is a god, why would there be a divine/primordial animal named after him?
I was thinking of people in Faerun who might have an animal named after this god. |
Aa' lasser en`coialle n`natula brown.
(May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown)
-Elren Wolfsbane |
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Pets / Mounts / Cattle of the gods
