Designing A Skyrim Style Campaign – Side Bar – Deities & Demons

Designing A Skyrim Style Campaign – Side Bar – Deities & Demons

One of the things I need to address is whether or not I want to import the Elder Scroll Deities into ACK. The Cosmology of Elder Scrolls actual has a number of similarities to the default setting for the ACK System, known as Auran. The problem with Skyrim is that the Eight Divines, the modern pantheon is actually a fusion of two different pantheons, the Aldmeri Pantheon and the Nordic Pantheon. To make it even more complex, the Nordic Pantheon evolved from an older Ancient Nordic Pantheon. Then there is the fact that my world is based on Anglo-Saxon / Anglo-Danish culture, which gods of these should I use? I am certain I want to keep it to just eight.

Elder Scrolls			Ancient Earth
Ancient Nordic	Nordic	Eight Divines	Anglo Saxon	Old German	Norse equivalent
Dragon (Alduin)	Shor	Akatosh	Wōden	Wodan/Wotan	Odin
Hawk (Kyne)	Tsun	Arkay	Thunor	Donar	Thórr
Fox (Shor)	Kyne	Dibella	Tíw	Zîu	Týr
Snake (Orkey)	Mara	Kyrnareth	Seaxnéat	Saxnôte	none
Whale (Stuhn)	Dibella	Shezaar	Géat	dfaasf	Gautr
Bear (Tsun)	Orkey	Mara	*Fríge	Freja	Frigg
Owl (Jhunal)	Herma-Mora	Morihaus	Éostre	*Ôstara	Possibly Idunn
Wolf (Mara)	Alduin	Reman	Ing	none	Yngvi-Freyr
Moth (Dibella)	Ysmir	Stendarr	Baldaeg	Baldere	Baldr
	Jhunal	Talos	Hama	Heime	Heimdallr
	Stuhn	Zenithar

I am certain I want to keep it to just eight but then I remembered that there are four other nations, each are going to have slightly different pantheons

Norðrodor, Gods and Goddess

The Pantheon of the Sælíðenda (Sea-Folke)

Name	Symbol	Sphere	Analogue
Wōden, the High Father	Raven	Sky, War, Death, Wisdom, Magic	Shor & Jhunal
Thunor, the Thunderer	Wolf	Storms, War	Tsun
Fríge the Fair	Hawk	Marriage, Motherhood, Hearth	Kyne & Mara
Frey the Defender	Bear	Defender, Prosperity	Ysmir
Njord the Wave Maker	Whale	Sea, Fishing, Water	None
Baldaeg the Bright	Owl	Sun, Radiance, Peace	None
Lothar the Trickster	Snake	Lies, Riddles, Tricks, Thieves	Orkey
Freya the Maiden	Moth	Beauty, Moon, Love	Dibella
Hel	Skull	Death, Cold, Darkness	Daedra

The Pantheon of the Trisagion (Dark Elves)

Name	Symbol	Sphere
Hyperion	Sun	Sun, Stars, Cosmos, Magic,
Ōkeanós	Kraken	Oceans, Rivers, Sea Monsters, Slavery, Dominance
Kratos	Dragon	Earth, Fire, Stone, War, Power
Pandeia	Moon	Moon, Children, Motherhood
Silvanus	Oak Tree	Forests, Woodland Creatures, Merriment
Harmonia	Swan	Peace, Wisdom, Knowledge (Outlawed Deity)
Orcus	Skull	Death, Darkness, Torture

The Pantheon of the Dwefar (Dwarves)

Name	Symbol	Sphere	Analogue
Kivenhakkaaja	Pick and Shovel	Cold, Dark, Stone, Gems, Mining	Kratos
Rautakauppias	Anvil and Hammer	Fire, Metalworking Forges	Kratos
Oluenpanija	Cask or Drinking Horn	Beer, Mead, Good Cheer	Silvanus
Lumiimpi	Snowflake	Beauty, Love, Snow, Ice	Pandeia
Sielun Syöjä	Goblet of Blood	Death, Terror, Rust	Orcus

The Pantheon of the Olfar (Orcs)

Name	Symbol	Sphere	Analogue
Anu the Sky Father	Eagle	Sky, Sun, Lordship	Hyperion
Enki the Maker	Waves	Rivers, Streams, Crafts	Ōkeanós
Enlil the Storm	Crossed Lightning Bolts	Wind Storms, Thunder Lighting	None
Ninhursag	Mountain	Mountains, Stone, Metal	Kratos
Tiamar	7 Headed Serpent	Death, Terror, Slaughter, Murder	Orcus

 

 I am getting to the point where I want to wrap up this little essay. It is becoming more and more work, for something I never intend on actually running as a campaign. If the inspiration hits, I may comeback and finish the write-up on Wulf Dunland, some sample settlements and few adventures.

I think in the end I feel that I have given the ACK Rules System world building rules a proper test run. It can be used to great effect to create real vibrant worlds. I recommend to anyone reading this to check out these rules. The Campaign rules can easily be used with any other RPG system as they are almost system agnostic. 

I hope if you have been read these posts, that it was helpful in someway to your ongoing gaming efforts. 

Have Fun!