Demigods and their issues

[Unicorn-Girl]

So I've been working on developing at least a loose form of religion for my world. Right now the idea is to have a very generalized "Creator", who doesn't really get directly involved with things, but observes, and is assumed to be generally benevolent.

Beneath this Creator, I have 7 demigods/goddesses, currently unnamed. These are more active in worldly affairs, for good or ill. But I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to divvy up their responsibilities. I have the obvious ones nailed down, like for harvest or war, but need a few more to fill out the 7. Any thoughts?

I also have a general idea of people who can be acolytes or in some way pledged to particular demigods, but again, this needs more work to develop it properly.

 

[Ireth]

A guardian/guide of the dead is always a useful deity. Also maybe something to do with destiny or fate, or the reverse, randomness and chance.

 

[TheKillerBs]

Off the top of my head... Earth, sky, sea, rain/storms, day/light/sun, night/darkness/moon, forests, hunting, knowledge, fire, craftsmanship, trading, time, love and yea.

 

[Unicorn-Girl]

Thanks! Right now I think I have harvest, war, love, "the wild", and perhaps something to do with earth. I'm also thinking of doing something with the forge, but that might be too cliche. I can't believe I didn't think of associating one of them with death/dying process.

 

[K.S. Crooks]

How about Transformation (for the way different life changes eg. caterpillar into butterfly), Life, Fear, Wisdom or Knowledge, Foresight or Precognition, Elements (earth, air, fire, water all together), Darkness and Light. Hope this sparks a few ideas.

 

[La Volpe]

I second the Guardian of the Dead suggestion.

Then I'd also say that you might not want to get so specific on them if you're only going to have seven. Unless this culture is very limited in its activities (or the gods play favourites). What I mean is, if you have something like the god of Fertility, that could be someone who looks over the growths of plants and trees, and animal life, as well as human fertility. If you have separate gods for each of those, then you're already three down, and a lot of bakers are going to be unhappy that they don't get a patron god.

Unless your pantheon prefers the people to be doing certain things. Or, if your culture has very specific specialisations, you could skew them in a certain direction as well. E.g. a culture known for its blacksmithing might have more focus on that.

Some wide angled suggestions: Death (as mentioned), Fertility, War (or the Hunt), Health (i.e. recovery of the sick etc.), Knowledge, Nature (or animals, the Wild, etc.), and maybe one for the Sun and/or Moon.

 

[Saigonnus]

Pure Chaos!!! A demigoddess that does whatever she wants to, actions that might have good effects or ill.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Miskatonic]

Demi-gods are not an enviable group in my series. It's like THE one thing the gods will not tolerate, above all else. Basically if you end up a demi-god, you better hope the gods don't find out or your fate will make what happened to Prometheus look like a walk in the park.

 

[ThinkerX]

Demi-gods are not an enviable group in my series. It's like THE one thing the gods will not tolerate, above all else. Basically if you end up a demi-god, you better hope the gods don't find out or your fate will make what happened to Prometheus look like a walk in the park.

But your gods, by and large, are Lovecraftian abominations, correct? Meaning they have horrid fates in mind for pretty much everybody.

 

[ThinkerX]

But as to the OP, my suggestion would be a 'trickster' or 'rogue' demigod, like Loki (Norse mythos) or Coyote/Raven (American Indians.)

 

[Miskatonic]

Nope. Think more classical Greek or Norse pantheon. Not exactly the same but not Lovecraftian.

 

[Unicorn-Girl]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. What I'm thinking of is having these demigods be over broader areas of interest, for the most part. Just trying to cover most of my bases as far as who might choose them as patrons. I also plan to have traveling acolytes who serve other people in various capacities, in honor of their chosen patron.

 

[ThinkerX]

Nope. Think more classical Greek or Norse pantheon. Not exactly the same but not Lovecraftian.

Username like 'Miskatonic' and you're NOT writing Lovecraftian type tales? Or is it just the deities?

On the other hand, from what I recollect, most of the Greek Pantheon was pretty seriously screwed up. And the Norse deities were often downright murderous.

 

[Ankari]

I've created quite a few religions. The concept of a distant creator god without reason for the distance never sat well with me. Everything has a reason. Be sure to give each god a reason and purpose.

As far as major deities, they would be whatever the culture values most. A god of corn may be as important as a god of fertility.

If you want classic themes, use the ocean, sun, moon, fertility (harvest), earth, death, sky, and war.

 

[Miskatonic]

Username like 'Miskatonic' and you're NOT writing Lovecraftian type tales? Or is it just the deities?

On the other hand, from what I recollect, most of the Greek Pantheon was pretty seriously screwed up. And the Norse deities were often downright murderous.

Not for this series. Saving the Lovecraft Mythos stuff for something else. The gods in my story see any kind of demi-god as a potential challenger to their authority and perhaps someone working with their parent to usurp power. I have angelic and demonic type beings which were created by the gods as their "children", but that's a different matter entirely.

 

[FifthView]

I don't think that creating a mythology, with living, breathing gods/demigods, is as simple as picking some broad areas like Death, Harvest, War, etc., and plugging those holes first.

I think you should look at the kind of story you are trying to tell and choose the demigods that will make that story the most interesting.

Decide who the main players will be, protagonists and their antagonists, decide the thematic scope you want, decide how to best tie characters, setting, and theme together, and then create the demigods that will support your aim or accentuate the things you are trying to achieve.

 

[Miskatonic]

I don't think that creating a mythology, with living, breathing gods/demigods, is as simple as picking some broad areas like Death, Harvest, War, etc., and plugging those holes first.

I think you should look at the kind of story you are trying to tell and choose the demigods that will make that story the most interesting.

Decide who the main players will be, protagonists and their antagonists, decide the thematic scope you want, decide how to best tie characters, setting, and theme together, and then create the demigods that will support your aim or accentuate the things you are trying to achieve.

But you just have to have a god of war yes?

 

[FifthView]

But you just have to have a god of war yes?

I can easily imagine a mythology without a god of war. Or a mythology with more than one god of war.

 

[Miskatonic]

I can easily imagine a mythology without a god of war. Or a mythology with more than one god of war.

I need the god of war so that the dragons one of his fellow gods created don't destroy the Earth before it can be fully established for other forms of life. The dragons are too big so he's got to kill em' off while the other god goes back to the drawing board. It's like a Godzilla movie.

 

[skip.knox]

Well, the obvious thing would be to take the twelve gods of the Greco-Romans and collapse them into seven. Or go Norse and adjust until you get seven. Or American Indian. Whatever system tickles you.

One thing to keep in mind, pre-modern humans were not very precise about these things (or most things, really). Any given got any number of responsibilities and attributes assigned, and these varied over time and distance. So, the Goddess of War might also be viewed as the goddess of storms or of horses, or any number of "lesser" items. Conversely, the God of Harvest might also be the God of Blades or of horses or ... you get the idea.

>Just trying to cover most of my bases as far as who might choose them as patrons.
This line struck me as another way to go about it. Decide what major patron groups you have. I can think of different cities, the Army, various trades, gender, all sorts of divisions. Give each group the god or goddess that best fits their needs.

Finally, are these gods who must be propitiated? Revered or worshipped? Do they provide spiritual nurture? So often I encounter fantasy gods who are gods of this or that, without any real implication or consequence.