Those who pray at a shrine can enter into a contract with the God there- receiving a temporary benefit based on the God's domain in exchange for service, sacrifice, or obedience.
The God of war may help your success in a coming battle but he may ask for you bloodstained weapon afterwards or to taste the heart of your foe. Likewise, running from a battle while under his guidance will not only remove the benefit but could result in moral backlash from the divine. Expect further loses as the fate of your fights turn against you.
Mechanically speaking the boons can vary from straight bonuses to different die rolls, the ability to reroll unfavorable results or it could something more interesting like being able to use mundane items as effective weapons, never being without light, or really anything.
Generally speaking the Gods do not prefer those who ask for too much or too often unless the person is very loyal. The greater the boon the greater the cost and, as the petty things they are, Gods often refuse service for past transgressions or working for their rivals. Divine characters who are devout to the particular God will have an easier time negotiating but will also suffer a greater backlash if they go back on their word.
Finally, here's some shrines. I was going to make this a multi-level chart with items that can mix and match, but I'm tired so that might come later. Feel free to use these to dress up your dungeon a little.
Instead:
1- A trickster God, one must put on a jester's hat and say there prayers in the forms of jokes in this shrine.
2- A statue of the God/Goddess of love, lust, and sex. Prayer consists of sexual favors to be performed on the statue.
3- A statue with a gaping mouth represents the God sustenance. One must "give back" to the God by vomiting their stomach contents into the statue before prayer. Where the vomit goes, no one knows.
4- A shrine of the God of drink and brewing- do not even think of entering here sober. Be prepared to do shots. Feel free to pair this with 3 since people will probably be puking anyway.
5- The God of flame is represented by a bonfire that must never go out. Staring at the fire allows one to enter into communion.
6- Killers who enter into the God of life's shrine must have their hands and faces painted red for a day before entering the shrine so all may know of their deeds.
7- The God of death does not enjoy birth, those with children must cut their hands on his scythe.
8- Those praying to the God of the hunt must shoot targets while doing so.
9- They say the rain God's shrine can only be found while water falls from the sky and sometimes just afterwards while the air is filled with petrichor.
10- The God of conquest also doubles as a prison. Those there are actually praying and submitting themselves to their lords will. They do not know when they will be released and must trust him.
11- The Goddess of the wilderness does not enjoy shrines. But any hallowed tree is said to house her. Her followers often prayer there and leave her gifts.
12- You will never walk out of the shrine of the God of change the same.
Yup, you only get twelve right now because I'm going to go to bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment