Saga of the Ortegids: The Nine Gods, Part 1

Following up from last post, it's high time we began to lay out the pantheon we're working with for The Saga of the Ortegids. For the primary religion of the setting, I've arbitrarily decided on a set of nine gods, all of whom are traditionally regarded as siblings. These gods are worshipped more or less universally throughout Erdland and Torland, and any holy man will likely know a few prayers to each of them, even if they may focus on a single patron (though some are generalists). There are other gods that coexist with the Nine Gods, and may even be worshiped alongside them in some temples, but are not considered a part of the same group; these will be discussed in a later post.

The Dragon Quest games do give us some gods to work with, but most of this is me filling in the space between the broad strokes with my own creations, and striving to create something with a suitably sword-and-sorcery feel. There will inevitably be some overlap with the gods of the Lunar Lands, but I've done my best to make this pantheon feel distinct.

Rubiss, the Allmother, is the goddess of life, creation, and fertility. One of the most popular of the Nine Gods, idols dedicated to her can be found throughout the two worlds, and there is at least one temple devoted to her in just about every major city. Fittingly, her portfolio is broad, and she is favored by farmers, craftsmen, midwives, and healers - just about anyone who creates things or preserves life. It is said that she created all living things in the worlds, and treats them as a mother does her children - with nurturing respect, and with discipline for those who misuse the gift of life. She is one of the patrons of the legendary Ortegid Dynasty, who carry a sacred crest gifted to Erdrick the Aliahanian by Rubiss herself as a family heirloom.

• Rubiss appears as a beautiful woman with red hair - people with red hair are regarded as having the blessings of Rubiss. Her symbol is a set of three rubies laid in an upside-down triangle, typically worked into an amulet.
• Alignment: Neutral Good
• Domains: Life, Peace, Protection
• Oaths: Devotion, Redemption

Estark, the Eternal Swordsman, is the god of war and battle. According to legend, he dwells atop a mountain (where exactly this mountain is varies from region to region) on a throne of iron awaiting a worthy challenger, and the souls of all warriors who die in battle must face him in a duel. Though no mortal can beat him, if he is impressed with their strength, he will let them into Valhalla; if he is not, he throws them down the mountain, where they must fight their way back up against all other hopefuls to earn another chance against him. Estark is not usually called upon in battle, as it is considered a sign of weakness to rely on him; nonetheless, he does bless weapons and sword-arms, and his clerics often study martial magic.

• Estark takes the form of a giant clad in armor, wielding a weapon in each hand and bearing two horns on his head, along with a third eye that beholds all battles in the world. His symbol is a set of brazen horns hung from a pendant, either worn or dangling from the hilt of a weapon.
• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
• Domains: Strength, War
• Oaths: Conquest, Glory, Vengeance

Melisine, the Queen of the Night, is the goddess of night, the moon, the dead, and the underworld. She rules over all the sun does not touch, including both the night (and nocturnal creatures) and the underground (and any creatures that dwell there). She also rules over the souls of all those who do not die in battle. Note that while she is the goddess of the dead, she is not the goddess of death; she only has sway over those who have died, not the means of their death. Though her portfolio is a macabre one, and she is often worshiped by subterranean clans of beastmen, she is not regarded as one of the Forbidden Gods, and offerings made to the ancestors pass through her. She is also a patron of dwarves, hobbits, and gemcutters, as gems come from the earth.

• Melisine is depicted as a pallid woman in dark robes and the veil of a mourner. Her symbol is a skull with gems set in the eye sockets.
• Alignment: True Neutral
• Domains: Grave, Twilight
• Oaths: Ancients, Watchers

Art by Juan del Pino

Boros, the Tidefather, is the god of the sky, the sea, and the storms. He dwells beneath the waves, and the merfolk are of his blood, but he is also a god of thunder and lightning, calling down storms and winds for his amusement. As he is of a tempestuous and unpredictable nature, his clerics are sought out by merchants and sailors to protect their vessels, and he has a large temple in Ashalam, as well as in the Torlandic port city-state of Lianport. It is held that anything that falls into the sea belongs to him, and retrieving treasure from shipwrecks may garner his wrath. For that matter, there are many unique beasts of the sea and air that are Boros's favored children, such as the Condors of Hades, which are capable of summoning a great gust of wind from the beating of their wings that can divert the course of ships. Those these beasts are great and deadly, he will not take kindly to any of them being harmed.

• Boros appears as a weather-beaten man with a long beard, often with either the tail of the fish or the lower legs of a bird. He always has bird-like feathers along his arms, or wings on his back. His symbol is a set of wings.
• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
• Domains: Nature, Tempest
• Oaths: Ancients, Open Sea