An Adventures in Terre Preview #2

SATURN, VENUS, AND MARS

AN ADVENTURES IN TERRE PREVIEW

A new preview of the Adventures in Terre module sourcebook for Pathfinder.  The adventures continue in a world that was colonized by Lemurians and Atlanteans.  When the Sky is worshiped, and so called god stars light the night sky.  The pantheon of the Old Gods includes Saturn, Venus, and Mars.  The New Gods, numbering twelve, represent twelve achievements of mankind since the colonization of the Lemurians and Atlanteans on Terre.

Saturn
Greater Deity
Symbol: Circle within a Wheel
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Sky, glory, nobility, liberty
Domains: Air, Community, Good, Law, Liberation
Favored Weapon: Scythe
 
Saturn.  The god that ruled over the age of Virtue, the Age of Perfect Harmony.  Called Kronos of the Greeks, and Saturn of the Romans, the Ancient God is a god of peace and wisdom.  Under his protection, the people of Terre was happy and there were no problems or complaints.  Since Saturn isn't seen in the sky, most people participate in a festival that celebrates a time when Saturn will return to the Earth and restore the age of perfect virtue.

 
Venus
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Star
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Love, beauty, and awe
Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good
Favored Weapon: Dagger

Associated as the mother deity in the Ancient patheon, Venus is a woman to be both loved and feared.  She embodies the ideals of phenomenal beauty, love, and desire.  However, Venus has a dangerous aspect, that of becoming the Dragon (see below).  Venus inspired the Star symbol among Terreans, and her symbol is a five pointed, six pointed, or eight pointed star.




Mars
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Scarred Soldier
Alignment: Lawful Good 
Portfolio: War, protection, agriculture
Domains: Law, Plant, Protection, War
Favored Weapon: Halfspear
 
The god of War and Protection, the Warrior God.  Mars is the eye of God, and the one that fought Chaos and fought the dragon. While farmers pray to him, Warriors sought to learn his weapon arts.  And they sought his protection in war through the armor they wore.  The leather kilt, the crested helmet, and so forth were all seen as ways of getting protection from the war god.






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OGL Section 15
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

Adventures in Terre preview ♡2011 by Elton Robb; Author: Elton Robb. Copying Art is an act of love. Please copy and share.
Based on original content from our Myths and Legends.

God Star Mythology: Using the Ancient Saturn Mythology in your games

WHEN SATURN RULED THE SKY

 Using God Star Mythology in your Dungeons and Dragons (and Pathfinder) Game

Anciently,  Saturn, Venus, and Mars ruled the skies above our planet.  There was so star field and the sky was illuminated by the planet Saturn.  The planets in the sky were so imposing that many people had become heathen and worshiped these planets.

Using this cosmology in your campaign setting is quite easy.  Create a God Star, and have that represent your God of Time.  Be it Chronos, Ra, Shamash, or some other God.  In Pathfinder the God Star would have the following domains and sub-domains.

• Glory
• Honor
• Good
• Archon
• Law
• Inevitable
• Time
• Sun
• Light
• War
• Tactics

The worship of that God Star grants domains, like worshiping an Anthromorphic god.  Planet two, which was Venus, becomes the Mother Goddess.  She is like Kali, Aster, Tiamat, Inanna, Ishtar, Diana, Ashtoroth, Aphrodite, and Venus.  This planet would grant the domains of:

• Chaos
• Protean
• Charm
• Love
• Destruction
• Catastrophe
• Good
• Azata
• Sun
• Light
• Void
• Stars

 The next planet is Mars.  Represented as Ares, Indra, Horus, Huitzilopochtli, Thor, Mars, Star-boy, and Hachiman.  Mars is known as the scarred god.  The god that fought many battles and received many scars across the face.  Mars was the Hero (Ares), who fought the Dragon (Typhon) to save the beautiful Princess (Aphrodite).  His domains would be:

• Chaos
•  Azata
• Destruction
• Rage
• Good
• Archon
• Protection
• Defense
• War
• Blood

From there, you can add to your pantheon of Gods.  As the heathen spread over your campaign setting, the gods they worship in their cultures will multiply.  As this would be the pantheon in Neolithic times, in time you can add the Sun (Apollo) and the Moon (Artemis) and other gods.  gods for traveling, gods for wisdom, and a host of other gods.  However, the original sky worshiping pantheon would number 3 gods and it would be a tight pantheon.  Clerics drawing on the ancient pantheon of the skies can choose any two domains from this list: Chaos, Charm, Destruction, Glory, Good, Law, Time, Protection, Sun, Void, War.

This pantheon, drawing on the ancient skies, would be the pantheon to start from.  For those who are not heathens, I'll be writing an article on Psionics for Pathfinder/D&D 3.5.

Important GM Resources

Studying the epics of the world is important for a Game Master to do to improve his games.  The Ramayana is one epic, and so are the Vedas.  The Ramayana is written, or attributed to, Valmiki.  The stories of Rama and Sita make good watching, and reading.

This series is from 1986.  It's subtitled in English.

And goes on from there.  Also, there is a personal interpretation of the Ramayana by Valmiki done by Nina Paley.  This is, of course, "Sita Sings the Blues."   The Fundamentalists got all in a huff and a puff that it was written and Stated that the Ramayana was owned by them.  Valmiki probably thought it should be owned by the World because the Ramayana is Hinduism's greatest and best known epic.





Enjoy both films. Get inspired.

Here is the beginning of the Anime RG Veda from CLAMP.


Watch Rg Veda OVA_1 [En Sub] 1of2 in Animation  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Here is the not so good, but great in the Day, Hercules! Which is a movie that is based on the Argonautic Expedition.



It's actually a good movie. Steve Reaves is playing Hercules, which is the Danite Judge Samson. Speaking of Samson:



There is Cecil B. Demille's Samson and Deliah! :)

These should be a well rounded start to the World's Mythology. View at your pleasure and get inspired for your games.

A new Cast member . . .

He was known in the Forgotten Realms and the Lord of Justice . . .

And was said to perish during a battle against demons on Mount Celestia . . .

On Earth . . .

He is the God of Single Combat, Victory, and Heroic Glory.  He is the bravest, to brave the jaws of Fenrir and to chase him to the ends of the Earth.

However . . . He has returned . . .

To Galatea.

The Orc Sagas

Who would like to see the Orc creation myths of my campaign world gathered into a small book and printed on the Internet for all to see?  Don't expect a big book like the Ramayana.  More like a small book of all the collected tales from this blog.

I just thought I should ask.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: Clan of the Pheonix

The Clan of the Phoenix.  Another orc tribe, the Phoenix clan was once a tribe that revered its ancestors.  Now, thanks to demonic influence, the tribe has become a tribe of warlocks specializing in deviltry and demonic magic. The Clan of the Phoenix is also the most ancient of the orc clans.

Nwali and the Egg

When Nwali had finished creating the world and filled it with all sorts of plants, animals, and birds Nwali started working on an egg.  The egg was magnificent, for it was made of silver.  It pulsed with all truth and life and Nwali had set it down in a specially prepared area.

The animals marveled at the egg.  As it pulsated with life and energy, they were curious as to see what Nwali had brought them.  The animals asked, "What is the egg, oh wise Nwali?"  Nwali, being all wise and all loving had said; "It is my gift to you, the animals."  And the animals truly marveled at the gift.

The egg continued to pulse in the Garden that Nwali had planted the egg.  The trees began to wonder at the egg and were attracted to the egg.  Nwali said to the trees.  "A gift for you, oh trees."  And the trees marveled at Nwali.

Finally, the pheonix bird was the most curious of all of Nwali's birds and it lighted near the Egg.  Phoenix asked Nwali what the egg is about, and Nwali said it was a surprise.  So, Phoenix sat down on the egg, incubating it with his fires.

In time, the egg hatched, and the Phoenix watched.  And out sprang a man and a woman (meaning, Orcs). The man and the woman were naked and immediately embraced themselves in fear and Consternation.  Nwali then explained that the man and the woman were to have dominion over the plants and the beasts and the Earth.  Pleased with his creations, the man and the woman were in the image of Nwali.  Then the man and the woman went out and went to subdue the Earth and replenish themselves according to Nwali's command.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: The Shattered Sword

The Clan of the Shattered Sword. Ah, a clan with a particular history of being violent against humans. They are a particularly powerful clan of orcs with powerful muscular forms.  The men of the Shattered Sword are often brutish and thuggish in body.  They have freakish hulking bodies.  The females are more slender, but they built themselves up as much as their bodies can allow.   They once were, and are, the Clan of the Cave Bear.


Wacraft Orc by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Bear as a Totem: Bear represents caution, healing, and leadership to the orcs.  Brother Bear is the totem of the Clan of the Shattered Sword.  However, fel corruption in the clan has caused the Clan of the Shattered Sword to forsake and to hunt bears in order to gain the power of the bear.  Now, as part of the horde, they seek to regain the favor of Nwali, the Spirits, and the Ancestors.  Shamans of the Shattered Sword can turn into bears when they gain the Spirit Wolf ability.



Legends of the Clan of the Cave Bear
The Clan of the Cave Bear, or the Clan of the Shattered Sword, were a subarctic clan of orcs. They are a lot like the native tribes of Alaska.  The Athabaskan tribes, being what the Athabaskan tribes are to us the Clan of the Cave Bear are to the Orcs of Archaeron.   These legends tell the story.

Brother Bear
Once, on when the land was crawling with the Woolly Mammoths, the ancient ones moved to the lands of the North.  The Ancient Ones moved here, inspired by Nwali.  Led by the shaman Yurthal, the orcs that followed him were actually following a ghost bear to their promised land.  The people stopped in the forested Northern Wilderness where the Spirit Dance (Dancing Lights) played.  The act of Creation for the Clan of the Cave Bear begins when Nwali started making people out of red, brown, and green mud.  Some he baked too early -- and these were the paleskinned Men (meaning orcs).  Some he baked too long, and these were the darkskinned Men.  But the Clan of the Cave Bear, he baked just right.  He breathed life into all of them and set them upon the world.

Brother Bear asked Nwali if he could have a clan of his own.  Nwali gave him the baked just right people.  So, Brother Bear led the people into the North to a Promised Land that was bountiful of fish, game, and berries.  Yurthal thanked Brother Bear, and called his people the Clan of the Cave Bear afterwards.

The Clan of the Shattered Sword

Before the coming of the Demons, the Clan of the Cave Bear followed the other tribes through the gateway to flee the squid-faces.  We settled in a land like our own.  And had a great rapport with the animals and the game, just as we had.  But the Demon Azarael came to us promising power and strength.  Our shamans listened to him, just like the Shamans of the Burning Blade and the Shadowmoon.  And he bade all of us to hunt the bears.  Some of us would not do it and we split, separating themselves.  But we fell upon the bears, killing them and cutting them open.  We would dine on bear hearts and bathe in bear blood.  After this was done, we drank of the blood of Azarael himself.  Overnight, we became bigger and meaner -- mixing the powers of Demon and Bear.  We made swords and shattered them, taking the name of the Clan of the Shattered Sword and became the most bloodthirsty.

However, we redeemed ourselves when our former clansmen joined with the Humans and the High Elves and slew Azarael's mortal body, ending our bloodlust.  We rejoined the Clan of the Cave Bear, shattering our swords again and becoming one Clan, one Tribe.  The Clan of the Shattered Sword.   

The Clan of the Shattered Sword are the grunts of the New Orc Horde that was led into Killyronde.  Their freakish, muscular forms make up the grunts and much of the warrior tradition.  Although their shamans are once again guided by the Spirits of Bear, the Clan of the Shattered Sword make up the police forces of the new Orc Nation as well as most of the army.  The Clan of the Shattered Sword are still powerful and still overwhelming.  However, they are creating a tradition of honor and integrity to help their disenfranchised clan to regain hope.

Creation Myths of the Orcs: The Silver Fangs

The orcs are a shamanistic society.  They have been since they came to Galatea to flee the Cephalpodic humanoids that conquered their original homeworld of Outland or Archaeron.  Their creation myths are many, as each tribe of the Horde have their own creation myths.  Each tribe subscribes to tribal law, which defaults to family law.  High above the tribes is the Warchief -- a sort of High King of the orc tribes.

Although the orcs revere animals and the animal totems, the orcs do have a chief god, named Nwali.  He figures in all orc creation myths except for the Burning Sword.  The first myth deals with the Silverfangs.

O

Once, there was Nwali, and Nwali was all that there is.  So Nwali spoke and out of his mouth he uttered the Word of Creation.  Out of his mouth came all -- the land, the sea, the air, the plants, the animals.  Now, Brother Wolf was the chief of all of Nwali's creations.  Brother Wolf helped Nwali create all things in the Universe.

When it came time for Nwali to create Men (orcs) Brother Wolf assisted him by hunting and gathering food to make sure Nwali was fed.  However, Nwali did not need to eat, for Nwali is forever.  So, Nwali made men from dirt and sand and breathed life into them.  To reward Brother Wolf for his kindness, he made it so that Brother Wolf would be a companion to both Men and Women to act not only as a servant, but as a Spirit guide and totem to help Men and Women remember Nwali and his statutes and to walk in the ways of Nwali.

Some points to remember:
The Silverfang Orc Tribe hold the Wolf to be their totem.  The creation myth explains how the Silverfangs have the Wolf to be their tribal totem, and why the Orc shamans of the silverfangs often turn into wolves to traverse distances.  Also, wolf is a family oriented totem.  As a result, the Silverfangs are a family oriented tribe.

NEXT: The Desert Vipers and the Dream Snake.

Creation Myths of the Elves: The Wood Elves

The Creation Myth of the Elves of Quel'Lathor

The Elves of Quel'lathor are very primitive.  more primitive than other elves, especially the eladrin.  The world view of the Elves of Quel'lathor is simple -- every being has a spirit, every living thing is alive.

The Quel'lathori teach thus:
In the beginning, there was Spirit Father and Earth Mother.  Spirit Father exists above, while Mother Earth lives below.

One day, Mother Earth complained to Spirit Father that she was barren of Life and needed some company.  So Spirit Father made some plants and planted them into Mother Earth and commanded them to multiply.  And Mother Earth was happy.  Another day, Mother Earth complained to Spirit Father that she was lonely.  So, Spirit Father created all the animals from the majestic lion to the creeping bug.  And Mother Earth was happy.

Another day, Mother Earth said that the animals and the plants were unable to talk.  She complained to Spirit Father that she had no one to talk to.  Spirit father explained that he did give speech to the animals and plants, but Mother Earth complained that they were incapable of reason.  Spirit Father said he was capable of creating things that talk and reason, but forewarned Mother Earth that they will be a burden.  Mother Earth didn't care . . . she wanted beings that were capable of what Spirit Father was able to do.

So, Spirit Father relented and took clay from Mother Earth and Light and made the Elves out of the clay and dirt of Mother Earth.  He first made the Eladrin, and to these He gave the power of Creation.  But the Eladrin didn't care one wit about Mother Earth.  And Mother Earth complained that the Eladrin were too much like Spirit Father.  So Spirit Father tried again and made the Quel'Thalori -- the High Elves.  The High Elves at first listened to Mother Earth but soon began to be puffed up in pride and their own vain imaginations.  And Mother Earth complained that the Quel'Thalori was too vain and too narcissistic to listen to her.  And so Spirit Father made the Quel'lathori -- mixing more Mother Earth than the other two.

And that is why the Quel'lathori are closer to Mother Earth than the vain Quel'thalori and the Eladrin.  We are the chosen people of Mother Earth.  We listen to her and are her most favored children.

Conclusion: even the Wood Elves are narcissistic and vain.  This is the creation myth that separates the Wood Elves from the Eladrin and the High Elves.  It's the current creation myth taught by the druid hierarchy.  However, the shamans teach an earlier creation myth about how Mother Earth and Father Sky made the Elves from clay but animals are their favored children and are to be treated with respect.  Some of the druids break from tradition and teach that all races are sons and daughters of Mother Earth and Father Sky.  Just that the Wood Elves choose to live a life close to Mother Earth and Nature because its simpler to live in such a way.  To them, Mother Earth and Father Sky provide them with simple abundance, and their animistic beliefs allow them to give respect: thanking a game animal that they killed, or taking water from a stream they often express their gratitude.

Next: The Creation Myths of the Orcs, Every Orc Tribe has their own Creation Myth.