In my previous posts on calendar building, I have referred to the fact that they were built for a general, catch-all fantasy setting that would incorporate a lot of the popular figures that D&D players were used to appearing, but that would organize them into a mythos that had some coherence and some unique twists that made the world more satisfying to my mind. In fact that world takes up the assumptions of monotheism and Christian incarnationalism, but then builds a mythos out of figures of D&D settings and earthly mythology with a pantheon of created immortal beings acting as agents of the divine. It also assumes the two-axis alignment system, instead of the Law-Neutral-Chaos alignment system that I favor for old school games. I offer it here as an example of pantheon building and adaptation of published materials, but in particular because it makes sense of the calendar that I posted. In the future, I will follow this up with its accompanying Fiendish Hierarchy.
D&D Deities adapted for use in
The Celestial Hierarchy
aka "The Shining Host" (i.e., celestial powers under the Deity and the Incarnations of the Divine.)
Greater Powers (The Celestial Septet, The Seven Sovereigns)
- Pelor, the Archangel, the celestial sun, soul of the sun, light, strength & healing. More humans honor him than any other power, most widely honored among the good of all races.
- Taiia, the Angel-wife, the celestial corona, consort of Pelor, goddess of knowledge and solar effects. Patron of dancers and martial artists (the "monk" class).
- Ehlonna, aka Ehlenestra, Queen of elves, forests, woodlands, natural flora & fauna, and the waning crescent moon.
- Moradin, Lord of dwarves and stone giants, the element of earth, and the terrestrial seas. Patron of smiths, miners, and stonemasons. (Artifice Domain)
- Olidammara, Arche of music, ornamentation, revels, wine, rogues, humor, satyrs, gnomes, and tricks. (Essentially a combination of Olidammara & Garl Glittergold. Called by gnomes, “Oli Glittergold.”)
- Bahamut, Lord of dragons, wisdom, riches well-used, and the wind. Patron of sorcerers. First of Serpentkind. Widely honored by the good of other races.
- The Great Mother, reincarnated as the mothers of the incarnate Lord of each race, though she never remembers her previous earthly life (and hence is known by multiple names). The only member of the greater powers who ascended from the lower races, rather than being created on their level. The number of the seven was incomplete until her apothesosis.
Lesser Powers (The Heptet of Holy Helpers)
- Corellon Larethian, Lord of elven warcraft, elven magic, and all elven arts. The champion of Ehlonna and defender of all fey. Patron of elven fighter/sorcerers and eldritch knights and arcane archers. The waxing crescent moon.
- Eilistraee, Lady of good (renegade) drow, song, beauty, dance, swordwork, hunting, the full moon, and moonlight. Daughter of Corellon and Lloth (conceived before her fall, born after her fall).
- Ginerva, the Mermaid, Queen of the Seas, Siren of the Waves. Get ideas from Calypso, Aphrodite, Amphitrite, Thalassa, and Tethys. Wife of Moradin.
- Kord, Lord of athletics, sports, brawling, strength, and courage. Patron of giantkind and the manly ideal.
- Obad-Hai, aka "The Shalm," Lord of nature, woodlands, freedom, hunting, and beasts. Son of Olidammara and one of Ehlonna's dryads. Chief of non-female and non-Elven druids and rangers. Forester of Ehlonna. The Green man, the horned god.
- Set, guardian of the dead, underworld, the dark side of the moon, storms, the desert, and scourge of undead (especially mummies). Lord of Hound Archons. Original patron of Miżraim. Had his earthly seat at Djew (Mt) Sutekh, which stands now at the headwaters of the Satet.
- Yondalla, first tolk (halfling) and Mother of Kora, patron of halflings, agriculture, gardening, harvest, and maternity. (Think Demeter/Ceres figure.)
Minor Powers
- Anqet, daughter of Set and Nephthys. Sacrificed her body to make the River Satet, so that the people of Deshret might have a less harsh life.
- Anubis, castellan of the house of Set, Captain of the Hound Archons, Gate Keeper of the Blessed Dead.
- Diactoros, divine guide and messenger, prince of good air elementals. (Cf. Hermes, Mercury, Raphael. Takes the place of Fharlanghn, god of horizons, distance, travel, and roads.)
- Kora, daugher of Yondalla, patron of Spring. Special: Multiple-Personality Disorder, Psychosis. See the Lady of Pain.
Patron Saints
- Boccob, secondary patron of magic, arcane knowledge, balance and foresight. Patron of Wizards. Disciple of Corellon, Taiia, and Bahamut: therefore referred to as "the Triple Master."
- Saint Cuthbert, patron of common sense, wisdom, zeal, honesty, truth, and discipline.
- Heironeous, patron saint of chivalry, justice, honor, just war, daring, and valor.
- Nephthys, patron of loyal wives, of respect for the dead, and of mortuary science. Consort of Set, mother of Anubis and Anqet.
