Religion (Hellas Supplement)
Religion in the World
Religion in the Ancient World was very immediate in people's lives. They believed that the gods were constantly among them, and paid homage to all gods (though they often still had patron deities.) Thus, even the most devout priests of Pallas Athena would honor Poseidon before a sea voyage.
This has two major impacts. First, fortune or misfortune were often directly attributed to gods ("We must have lost the battle because Ares came among their army and inspired their warriors to greatness....") The gods were seen as being "among" the people constantly. Secondly, sacrifices to the gods were not only common, but indeed were considered necessary. Without a sacrifice to the gods (or at least a small libation or thoughts of praise), any venture was sure to meet with misfortune.
Finally, magic was entirely inseparable from the working of the gods. To the ancients, divine magic and arcane magic are the same entity. Thus, wizards know they unlock their power through study, but nonetheless believe that the ultimate source of that power is from the gods; they simply access it in a less direct manner than clerics do (through prayer.)
Sacrifice
Any major venture that doesn't begin with homage being paid to the proper deities has a 50% chance of being significantly set back in some way (the Gods, whom are displeased, make this so). Further, an elaborate sacrifice can bestow the following effects, depending upon the Hit Dice of the creature sacrificed. The ceremony must last at least an hour and other offerings (incense, precious metals, etc.) must also be given. The value of the additional offerings must be equal to at least 5gp per Hit Dice of the creature sacrificed. The following are possible benefits from the completion of such a ceremony (other effects are possible at the DM's discretion):
| HD | Benefit Bestowed |
|---|---|
| 0-5 | Bless effect for 24 hours. |
| 6-10 | Aid effect for 24 hours. |
| 11-15 | Remove Curse or Remove Disease on one target (must be present at the ceremony). |
| 16-20 | Restoration. |
| 21-25 | Break Enchantment. |
| 25+ | Greater Restoration or Resurrection. |
Environmental Interference
The gods, as a sign of their pleasure or, more commonly, displeasure, often interfere with the weather in many ways. This includes all sorts of Evil Weather, as well as dramatically planned eclipses, droughts, rains of frogs, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, firestorms, pillars of salt or gold arising from the ground, etc.
List of Major Deities
| Greek name | Roman Name | Alignment | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aphrodite | Venus | CG | Goddess of love and beauty. |
| Apollo | Apollo | NG | God of the sun (light), reason, music, healing, prophecy, and poetry. |
| Ares | Mars | NE | God of war and bloodshed. |
| Artemis | Diana | CG | Goddess of hunting and archery. |
| Athena | Minerva | LG | Goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war. |
| Demeter | Ceres | NG | Goddess of agriculture, grain, harvest and earth. |
| Dionysus | Bacchus | CN | God of wine, agriculture, and the theatre. |
| Hades | Pluto | LN | God of the Dead and lord of the Underworld. |
| Hephaestus | Vulcan, Mulciber | LN | God of fire and the forge (smiths). |
| Hera | Juno | CG | Goddess of marriage, family, and motherhood. |
| Hermes | Mercury | NG | God of travel, thieves, and commerce. |
| Hestia | Vesta | NG | Goddess of the hearth and domestic life. |
| Nemesis | LE | Goddess of Revenge. | |
| Pan | Faunus | CG | God of flocks and sheep. |
| Poseidon | Neptune | CN | God of the sea. |
| Zeus | Jupiter, Jove | LN | God of air, thunder and lightning. |
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