Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter, Apollo

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cthulhudarren
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Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter, Apollo

Post by cthulhudarren »

This is my first attempt at describing a diety for clerics in DCC RPG. I decided to try the Roman pantheon. Here is Jupiter, I think it provides some decent flavor. Critique and comments welcome!

Jupiter/Jove/Zeus (The Great Father of Heaven, Ruler, The Strengthener, Sender of Rain/Lightningbolts, Defender of Boundaries, Divine Witness of Oaths)

Greater God

Alignment: Lawful

Portfolio: Law, Sky, Rulership, Strength, Lightning, Boundaries, Oaths

Symbol: An eagle holding a thunderbolt in its claws

Clerical Raiment: There is no specific clerical raiment, though clerics of Jupiter prefer robes of regal golden appearance maintained in good condition. They must keep their heads covered in the out of doors with helmet, hat, or cloak. They use weapons hafted from oak. They may use staff, club, mace, morningstar, warhammer, axe, and bow.

Places of Worship: Columned temples in high places.

Details of Power: Jupiter is the ruler of heaven and king of the gods. His spouse is his sister Juno, and he is the sky provider of the people. He sends the rain, the thunder and lightning; he strengthens men for battle and gives strength to rule. He is the divine witness of oaths and the defender of boundaries and civilization. He is the father of his people.

Associations: Clerics of Jupiter associate with rulers, lawgivers, civic leaders, and victories armies, but they are exempt from military duty. They preside over oath swearing in the temples of Jupiter and various sacrifices to Jupiter. Only Oaths sworn in Jupiter's temples are legally binding. Clerics of Jupiter do not associate with criminals, thieves or lawbreakers.

Jupiter is a member of The Archaic Triad; a theological structure or system consisting of the gods Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus. The triad represents the model of civilization, divided into three classes: priests (Jupiter), warriors (Mars), and craftsmen (Quirinus).

He is also a member of the central guardians of the state with Juno and Minerva.

Allies: In their aspects of maintaining/builing civilization; Mars, Quirinus, Juno and Minerva.

Enemies: gods/powers of chaos, bringers of civil unrest or wanton destruction.

Holy Days: Vinalia (Jupiter as provider of rain for growing wine grapes) altera on August 19, Meditrinalia on October 11, urbana on April 23. Regifugium ("King's Flight") on February 24, Poplifugia ("flight of the people"), on July 5. Ludi Plebei, ("Peoples games") held on November 13

What is Sacred: The Oak, The Eagle, Lightning, Oaths, Civilization, the Ruling State.

Sacrifices: Oxen (castrated bull), Wether (castrated ram), Lamb, all of which must be male, unblemished and pure white. In some festivals wine is also sacrificed.

What is Profane: The breaking of an Oath, challenging legitimate authority, causing civil unrest, breaking laws, weakness, killing of an eagle or oak tree.

What is Sin: For a cleric, as above except they are forbidden from swearing oaths, also uncovering out of doors, of either head or body, as it is exposing your nakedness to Jupiter. They must also maintain ritual purity; He can not have contacts with anything deceased or connected with death: corpses, funerals, funeral fires, raw meat. These restrictions reflect the fullness of life and freedom that Jupiter provides. Not challenging and punishing other sinners to the best of the cleric's abilities is also considered a sin.

Ritual Purification involves an hour long ritual which includes prayer, washing oneself with clean water, and changing into clean (purified) clothes. This can not be done in view of the sky. Disapproval does not reset for ritually impure clerics of Jupiter.

Omens: Lightning and thunder; A priest of Jupiter, upon witnessing/hearing a natural occurance of lightning or thunder must stop everything and placate (pray) before resuming their previous activity. How long is up to the Judge.

Spells:

Note: all lightning/thunder/rain effects manifest as coming from the sky, not the caster.

Level 1 Blessing, Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Food of the Gods, Protection from Evil, Word of Command
Level 2 Banish, Binding, Curse, Divine Symbol, Restore Vitality, Thunder Clap*
Level 3 Remove Curse, Bolt from the Blue, Spiritual Weapon, Gust of Wind (as wizard spell)
Level 4 Cause Earthquake, Santify, Fly (as wizard spell)
Level 5 Righteous Fire, Weather Control, Whirling Doom

* as Shatter, flavored appropriately.

Unholy: Undead, Chaos Primes, Demons of Destruction.

Invoke Patron: Jupiter does not respond to calls requesting that he become a patron.
Last edited by cthulhudarren on Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
cthulhudarren
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Re: Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter

Post by cthulhudarren »

Comments? Feedback? This is the first god writeup I've ever done and was hoping for some feedback as I continue the pantheon.
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Raven_Crowking
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Re: Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter

Post by Raven_Crowking »

By Jove! A worthy start. :D
SoBH pbp:

Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
cthulhudarren
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Re: Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter

Post by cthulhudarren »

Not much interest, but here is Apollo.

Apollo/Phoebus (God of Shining Youth, The Radiant One, Bringer of Truth, The Prophet, Protector from Evil, The Great Shepherd)
Greater God

Alignment: Lawful

Portfolio: Light/Sun, Good, Medicine, Healing, Prophecy, Truth, Plague, Music, Poetry, Moderation and Reason

Symbol: The Kithara/Lyre, A Tapered Column shaped similar to a pawn, Sacrifical Tripod

Clerical Raiment: None specific, though usually robes of bright colors are worn over all. Favored weapons include Bow and Arrow, staff, club, mace.

Places of Worship: Columned Temples, Remote Oracular Shrines.

Details of Power: The ideal of the kouros (a beardless, athletic youth), Apollo has been variously recognized as a god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, healing, plague, music, poetry, and more. Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto, and has a twin sister, the chaste huntress Artemis.

Medicine and healing are associated with Apollo, whether through the god himself or mediated through his son Asclepius, yet Apollo was also seen as a god who could bring ill-health and deadly plague. Amongst the god's custodial charges, Apollo became associated with dominion over colonists, and as the patron defender of herds and flocks. As the leader of the Muses (Apollon Musegetes) and director of their choir, Apollo functioned as the patron god of music and poetry. Hermes created the lyre for him, and the instrument became a common attribute of Apollo. Hymns sung to Apollo were called paeans.

Associations: Oracles and prophets, colonists, herds and flocks, musicians and poets, philosophy of moderation, harmony.


Allies: Asclepius, Leto, Jupiter, Helios, Artemis

Enemies: Gods/bringers of Disharmony, chaos, gluttony, Evil Dragons, Bacchus

Holy Days: Boedromia, Carneia, Carpiae, Daphnephoria, Delia, Hyacinthia, Metageitnia, Pyanepsia, Pythia and Thargelia

What is Sacred: Horses, Palm Tree, Hyacinth, Swans, Hawk, Roe Deer, Springs

Sacrifices: Incenses, Songs and poems

What is Profane: Disharmony, chaos, gluttony, ignorance.

What is Sin: Disharmony, chaos, gluttony, or the killing of Hyacinth, Swans, and Hawk; choosing ignorance over reason

Omens: Appearances of things sacred to Apollo. Light

Spells:

Level 1 Blessing, Light*, Comprehend Languages#,Protection from Evil, Detect Evil, Detect Magic, Food of the Gods, Second Sight, Holy Sanctuary
Level 2 Cure Paralysis, Curse, Divine Symbol, Lotus Stare, Neutralize Poison or Desease, Restore Vitality, Snake Charm
Level 3 Bolt from the Blue, Exorcise, Remove Curse, Speak With Dead, True Name
Level 4 Affliction of the Gods, Sanctify, Vermin Blight
Level 5 Righteous Fire, Whirling Doom


* New spell
# as wizard spell

Unholy: Evil Dragons, Chaos Primes, Creatures of Darkness, chaos and/or Gluttony.

Invoke Patron: Apollo does not respond to calls requesting that he become a patron.
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Skars
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Re: Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter, Apollo

Post by Skars »

I love it, keep em coming! They would definitely mesh well with an Isle of the Unknown Campaign.
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Rythwold
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Re: Roman Pantheon detailed: Jupiter, Apollo

Post by Rythwold »

These are great. One suggestion, would it be interesting to put some of the capriciousness of the gods that you see in poetry and tragedies (specifically Ovid and Euripides, rather than, say, Virgil)? Could there be a spell in there which calls on the aid of Jupiter you could come down in the form of either a swan or bull? ...but of course you risk him making off with the daughter of a local noble and have to take the rap? Or he could make off with one of the prettier PC - and we know from the legend of Ganymede that could include male PCs. Or you could pray for his aid to help you escape, but risk being turned into a bush!

You've clearly done a lot of work already, but I'll love to see the rules of Dionysus!
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