I’ve put a lot of time into making pantheons. The process is straightforward but a full pantheon is time-consuming.
Small gods should be easy enough to create at need. Their limited power and expected scope means I want them to be easy to write.
Normally I’d expect to have a specific niche to fill. Since I don’t yet, I’m going to trigger one of my imagination helpers (Tome of Adventure Design). Let’s get a list of names and epithets, and work up.
In no particular order, I see and have picked…
- Zyr-Atoli, Dreamer of the Forgotten
- Dhameph, Serpent of Mercy
- Gilatem, Singer of Souls
- Hephtyaak, Echo of the Abyss
- Hephta, Watcher of the Full Moon
- Kirh’uotara, Weaver of Wrath
- Tholzza, Herald of Mercy
- Ra-eesh Barza, Child of Thieves [Thief of Children?]
- Tsza, Caller of the Midnight Dar
- Quareus, Worm of the Seasons
- Zia-Pheth Mitratep, Sister of Destiny
- Soth, Watcher in the High Tower
- Quarashaoteph, Sword of the Ancient Ones
- Ishteph, Angel of Bells
- Tamol, Rider of Souls
- Herakakles Herdaya, Wind of Souls
- Aunros, Hawk of the Titans
- Shala-Phetha-Pheth, Saint of Nightmares
- Samdaya, Arbitrator of the Seasons
- Da-Gauillir, Keeper who Weeps
- Buh-Tor-Ichola, Servitor of Summer
- Phask, Slayer of Sorrow
- Iqu’Ator, Wind of Destiny
- Gila-at Mda, Fire of the Forgotten
- Kabil, Prince of the Full Moon
I picked most of these based on their epithets. They either inspired an image immediately, or intrigue me and I’m interested in finding out what they mean. Either way, I expect to be able to work with them.
One observation, though: given two 50-row tables of epithet components I see a lot of common strings. Much as I dislike really long tables, I’m going to need more epithet components. I feel it would be best to have a several tables of thematically-related epithet components.
Next step will be to pick one and flesh it out. That’s tomorrow’s task.
The next question, though… which one do I start with?