So, I set myself to the task of trying to discover as much about them as I could. Mr. Kipper Snifferdoo helped me on one of the other threads, but there still didn't appear to be much information floating about...
Thus did I decide that I would try to write up my own description of the god Rakris, the one which seemed to most closely fit the kind of deity my friend was looking for.
Just thought I'd share:
Rakris
Hunter’s God
Intermediate Deity
Home Plane: ?
Symbol: An arrow
Colors: Saffron and sepia ?
Alignment: Neutral good
Portfolio: Desert creatures, hunting, stewardship, oases, desert wilderness
Worshipers: Hunters, druids, desert dwellers, rangers
Cleric Alignments: CG, LG, NG, N
Domains: Animal, Good, Plant, Water
Favored Weapon: Shortbow (“Hunter’s Guard”)
Preferred Vesments: ?
Rakris, also known as Hunter’s God to his worshipers, is patron of the vast tracts of desert wilderness that make up Khur and steward of the oases. Rakris is revered throughout Khur, because the tribes believe it is he who sustains life in the desert through the gifts of precious water, and animal and plant life. Without these necessities Khur would be barren. Rakris embodies the balance of predator and prey, hunter and hunted. He is a vigilant defender of desert life and acts ruthlessly against those that would disrupt it through over-hunting or abuses of the land. Rakris is cunning life the desert fox, ruthless as a sandstorm, and gentle as the cool waters of the oases.
The church of Rakris is divided between druids and clerics. Clerics of Rakris are defenders of desert communities and nomadic clans; assisting in hunting, preventing animal attacks, and caring for herd animals. Also, they often know the location of a number of oases and can act as guides through the desert. As a result, the clerics of Rakris are greatly respected in the land of Khur.
The druids, on the other hand, live apart from others, often secluding themselves in the desert or secret oases. Druids honor Rakris’ role as steward of the desert and its creatures, they often claim certain stretches of desert and oases as protected and fiercely defend the “protected” areas from poachers and other unlawful hunters. They spend the majority of their time tending hidden shrines and maintaining the oases, and contemplating the mysteries of the desert.
Once during her lifetime, clerics and druids of Rakris must leave the safety of the community or protected oases and wander the desert, taking nothing but a green robe, a bow, and a quiver with but one arrow. During this time the harsh climate and loneliness of the desert purifies the supplicant and teaches him the true value of the oasis, the hunt, and the teachings of Rakris. The walkabout ends when the priest receives a sign from the god or has achieved a great goal in the name of Rakris.
All clerics and druids of Rakris are called upon to protect the oases from those who would destroy or squander them.
The clerics of Rakris are not a well-organized group, in fact they have no central authority which they must answer to. Most clerics learn the ways of the Hunter’s God from a mentor, though some are said to learn from the god himself if they seek him out in faith and humility.
Dogma
Live in harmony with the desert, and respect all its creatures. Treat the desert creatures with respect and admiration, for they are your best teachers as to the ways of survival in the harshest of climates. Oases are holy places, do not despoil or take more than is needed, they are a gift to you– and gifts can be taken away. Protect the oases and my creatures at all costs, they are your survival.
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As you can see, there are still some gaps here and there where I'm not quite sure what would fit.
The pseudo-deity, Rakris, is a combined manifestation of Chislev and Habbakuk, and I tried to show that as best I could through the description of the deity, his clergy, and his dogma.
I'm really interested in any comments and suggestions on my Rakris write-up. Please share, I'd appreciate any and all kudos or constructive criticism.
As an after thought, would anyone like to share their descriptions of the other Khurish gods? Or make ones if there aren't ones floating around out there?
Yours truly,
Shade
I am not saying that Rakris is a seperate entity, or a 22nd (rather, a 19th) god in the pantheon...He is an aspect of Chislev and Habbakuk fused together.
Originally posted by Shadowalk Nimblefeet
Rakris
Hunter’s God
Intermediate Deity
Home Plane: ?
Symbol: An arrow
Colors: Saffron and sepia ?
Alignment: Neutral good
Portfolio: Desert creatures, hunting, stewardship, oases, desert wilderness
Worshipers: Hunters, druids, desert dwellers, rangers
Cleric Alignments: CG, LG, NG, N
Domains: Animal, Good, Plant, Water
Favored Weapon: Shortbow (“Hunter’s Guard”)
Preferred Vesments: ?
Well, I like where you're going with this, but I do have one problem (which I think is easily fixed).
Since, techincally, it is the same god (either Habbakuk, Chislev, or Zeboim) as what the rest of the world worships...I think the above information should be null-in-void.
All your flavor text write up works well, because that's usually just "in world" stuff. The Khurish people worship the gods differently than the rest of the world. But when it comes right down to it...the god that is granting their spells and what not...they're aren't going to (read: "can't") change their portfolio just for this one culture. So, I think all the information I quoted above can't technically work.
Then again...that's just me, and this is your game, so it's your choice. But that's just my opinion.
However, I wouldn't say that the portfolio is changing. It's only becoming more focused.
Habbakuk is god of all animals, a god of water and sea and a champion of nature. Chislev is goddess of nature in all its forms and a defender of the wilderness.
The portfolio information merely focuses the general notion of nature and animals down to desert wilderness, desert creatures, etc. Its merely a more refined and specific portfolio, that still falls under the portfolios of both Chislev and Habbakuk.
As for favored vestments and symbol, I think that those aspects would change from culture to culture. The elves have a different symbol for E'li (a platinum pine tree) than the Solamnics have for Paladine (a platinum disk inscribed with a dragon), though both recognize him as the same deity.
The domains I chose belong to Chislev and Habbakuk, and so clerics of Rakris (who is a cultural fusion of the two) should have access to domains from either deity.
I think any non-metaphysical aspect of what you quoted, such as favored weapon, worshipers, colors, vestents, etc. could change from culture to culture.
Thanks for the input, please keep it coming.
Any other suggestions? Any other cultural differences that should be considered (even for different deities)?
Originally posted by Shadowalk Nimblefeet
However, I wouldn't say that the portfolio is changing. It's only becoming more focused.
You're right...I was using in appropriate terminology.
I agree that the vestiments and symbols could change for the Khurish people. For they believe that Rukis is still one god (when actually it's two).
I'd say, you can keep everything you have up there in the "gaming info" area except that the the good aligned characters have to choose from domains that are Habbakuk specific and neutral aligned characters have to pick from the domains that are Chislev specific.
If you are using the possible cleric alignments from the DLCS then I suggest instead that the clerics can choose from either set of domains...but they cannot receive domains from more than one specific true god. Meaning that all their domains have to either come from Habbakuk or Chislev, but they can't come from both.
The two gods can treat the clergy as their own...but I think in my game, I'd have to draw the line at receiving magic from both gods. It'd have to be one or the other.
The two gods can treat the clergy as their own...but I think in my game, I'd have to draw the line at receiving magic from both gods. It'd have to be one or the other.
That's a good observation, and one I may have to consider. Combining the two sets of domains, like I did, does make Rakris seem to much like another whole and true deity- not just a cultural perspective.
Any suggestions on preferred vestments or colors? I'm not quite sure I like saffron and sepia, yellow-orange and brown just seem a tad to cliche for a desert culture.
On a slightly different note, does anyone have a link to the Holy Order of the Stars info Wizards used to have on their website? The article had illustrations of the robes of the different Order priesthoods. It might lend some inspiration.
Thanks in advance,
Shade.