Gods & Pantheons

Contents

Note: Some gods & pantheon information has been added to this page from a different Open Game Content source. Consult your GM to see if that god or faith is allowed in his or her campaign.

The Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, and Norse pantheons are fantasy interpretations of historical religions from our world’s ancient times. They include deities that are most appropriate for use in a game, divorced from their historical context in the real world and united into pantheons that serve the needs of the game.

The Celtic Pantheon

It’s said that something wild lurks in the heart of every soul, a space that thrills to the sound of geese calling at night, to the whispering wind through the pines, to the unexpected red of mistletoe on an oak—and it is in this space that the Celtic gods dwell. They sprang from the brook and stream, their might heightened by the strength of the oak and the beauty of the woodlands and open moor. When the first forester dared put a name to the face seen in the bole of a tree or the voice babbling in a brook, these gods forced themselves into being.

The Celtic gods are as often served by druids as by clerics, for they are closely aligned with the forces of nature that druids revere.

The Greek Pantheon

The gods of Olympus make themselves known with the gentle lap of waves against the shores and the crash of the thunder among the cloud–enshrouded peaks. The thick boar–infested woods and the sere, olive–covered hillsides hold evidence of their passing. Every aspect of nature echoes with their presence, and they’ve made a place for themselves inside the human heart, too.

The Egyptian Pantheon

These gods are a young dynasty of an ancient divine family, heirs to the rulership of the cosmos and the maintenance of the divine principle of Ma’at—the fundamental order of truth, justice, law, and order that puts gods, mortal pharaohs, and ordinary men and women in their logical and rightful place in the universe.

The Egyptian pantheon is unusual in having three gods responsible for death, each with different alignments. Anubis is the lawful neutral god of the afterlife, who judges the souls of the dead. Set is a chaotic evil god of murder, perhaps best known for killing his brother Osiris. And Nephthys is a chaotic good goddess of mourning.

The Norse Pantheon

Where the land plummets from the snowy hills into the icy fjords below, where the longboats draw up on to the beach, where the glaciers flow forward and retreat with every fall and spring—this is the land of the Vikings, the home of the Norse pantheon. It’s a brutal clime, and one that calls for brutal living. The warriors of the land have had to adapt to the harsh conditions in order to survive, but they haven’t been too twisted by the needs of their environment. Given the necessity of raiding for food and wealth, it’s surprising the mortals turned out as well as they did. Their powers reflect the need these warriors had for strong leadership and decisive action. Thus, they see their deities in every bend of a river, hear them in the crash of the thunder and the booming of the glaciers, and smell them in the smoke of a burning longhouse.

The Norse pantheon includes two main families, the Aesir (deities of war and destiny) and the Vanir (gods of fertility and prosperity). Once enemies, these two families are now closely allied against their common enemies, the giants (including the gods Surtur and Thrym).

Table: Celtic Deities
Deity Alignment Suggested Domains Symbol Source
The Daghdha, god of weather and crops CG Nature, Trickery Bubbling cauldron or shield SRD
Arawn, god of life and death NE Life, Death Black star on gray background SRD
Belenus, god of sun, light, and warmth NG Light Solar disk and standing stones SRD
Brigantia, goddess of rivers and livestock NG Life Footbridge SRD
Diancecht, god of medicine and healing LG Life Crossed oak and mistletoe branches SRD
Dunatis, god of mountains and peaks N Nature Red sun-­capped mountain peak SRD
Goibhniu, god of smiths and healing NG Knowledge, Life Giant mallet over sword SRD
Lugh, god of arts, travel, and commerce CN Knowledge, Life Pair of long hands SRD
Manannan mac Lir, god of oceans and sea creatures LN Nature, Tempest Wave of white water on green SRD
Math Mathonwy, god of magic NE Knowledge Staff SRD
Morrigan, goddess of battle CE War Two crossed spears SRD
Nuada, god of war and warriors N War Silver hand on black background SRD
Oghma, god of speech and writing NG Knowledge Unfurled scroll SRD
Silvanus, god of nature and forests N Nature Summer oak tree SRD
Table: Greek Deities
Deity Alignment Suggested Domains Symbol Source
Zeus, god of the sky, ruler of the gods N Tempest Fist full of lightning bolts SRD
Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty CG Light Sea shell SRD
Apollo, god of light, music, and healing CG Knowledge, Life, Light Lyre SRD
Ares, god of war and strife CE War Spear SRD
Artemis, goddess of hunting and childbirth NG Life, Nature Bow and arrow on lunar disk SRD
Athena, goddess of wisdom and civilization LG Knowledge, War Owl SRD
Demeter, goddess of agriculture NG Life Mare’s head SRD
Dionysus, god of mirth and wine CN Life Thyrsus (staff tipped with pine cone) SRD
Hades, god of the underworld LE Death Black ram SRD
Hecate, goddess of magic and the moon CE Knowledge, Trickery Setting moon SRD
Hephaestus, god of smithing and craft NG Knowledge Hammer and anvil SRD
Hera, goddess of marriage and intrigue CN Trickery Fan of peacock feathers SRD
Hercules, god of strength and adventure CG Tempest, War Lion’s head SRD
Hermes, god of travel and commerce CG Trickery Caduceus (winged staff and serpents) SRD
Hestia, goddess of home and family NG Life Hearth SRD
Nike, goddess of victory LN War Winged woman SRD
Pan, god of nature CN Nature Syrinx (pan pipes) SRD
Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes CN Tempest Trident SRD
Tyche, goddess of good fortune N Trickery Red pentagram SRD
Table: Egyptian Deities
Deity Alignment Suggested Domains Symbol Source
Re-­Horakhty, god of the sun, ruler of the gods LG Life, Light Solar disk encircled by serpent SRD
Anubis, god of judgment and death LN Death Black jackal SRD
Apep, god of evil, fire, and serpents NE Trickery Flaming snake SRD
Bast, goddess of cats and vengeance CG War Cat SRD
Bes, god of luck and music CN Trickery Image of the misshapen deity SRD
Hathor, goddess of love, music, and motherhood NG Life, Light Horned cow’s head with lunar disk SRD
Horus LN Rulership, the sky, the sun Air, Animal, Law, Nobility, Sun PBlog
Imhotep, god of crafts and medicine NG Knowledge Step pyramid SRD
Isis, goddess of fertility and magic NG Knowledge, Life Ankh and star SRD
Khepri NG Freedom, the rising sun, work Artifice, Good, Liberation, Sun, Trickery PBlog
Maat LN Justice, law, order, truth Knowledge, Law, Protection, Void, Weather PBlog
Neith NG Hunting, war, weaving Animal, Artifice, Good, War, Water PBlog
Nephthys, goddess of death and grief CG Death Horns around a lunar disk SRD
Osiris, god of nature and the underworld LG Life, Nature Crook and flail SRD
Ptah, god of crafts, knowledge, and secrets LN Knowledge Bull SRD
Sekhmet CN Fire, healing, vengeance, war Chaos, Destruction, Fire, Healing, War PBlog
Selket CG Embalming, healing, scorpions Chaos, Good, Healing, Protection, Repose PBlog
Set, god of darkness and desert storms CE Death, Tempest, Trickery Coiled cobra SRD
Sobek, god of water and crocodiles LE Nature, Tempest Crocodile head with horns and plumes SRD
Thoth, god of knowledge and wisdom N Knowledge Ibis SRD
Re-­Horakhty, god of the sun, ruler of the gods LG Life, Light Solar disk encircled by serpent SRD
Anubis, god of judgment and death LN Death Black jackal SRD
Apep, god of evil, fire, and serpents NE Trickery Flaming snake SRD
Bast, goddess of cats and vengeance CG War Cat SRD
Bes, god of luck and music CN Trickery Image of the misshapen deity SRD
Hathor, goddess of love, music, and motherhood NG Life, Light Horned cow’s head with lunar disk SRD
Imhotep, god of crafts and medicine NG Knowledge Step pyramid SRD
Isis, goddess of fertility and magic NG Knowledge, Life Ankh and star SRD
Nephthys, goddess of death and grief CG Death Horns around a lunar disk SRD
Osiris, god of nature and the underworld LG Life, Nature Crook and flail SRD
Ptah, god of crafts, knowledge, and secrets LN Knowledge Bull SRD
Set, god of darkness and desert storms CE Death, Tempest, Trickery Coiled cobra SRD
Sobek, god of water and crocodiles LE Nature, Tempest Crocodile head with horns and plumes SRD
Thoth, god of knowledge and wisdom N Knowledge Ibis SRD
Wadjet LG Good, Law, Protection, Travel, Water Light mace PBlog

Norse Deities

Aegir

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Tempest

Weapon: Trident

Aegir is the god of the seashore or ocean and sometimes called the ruler of the sea. Aegir appears as a very old man with white hair and claw-like fingers. He is a personification of the ocean, be it good or evil. Aegir can cause storms in his anger.

Balder

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Life, Light

Weapon: Longsword

One of the Aesir, Balder’s name means “glorious.” A son of Odin and Frigga, he is a very handsome and wise deity.

Balder is so bright, light shines from his face. He was made invulnerable to injury or death by Frigga, who extracted a promise from all things that he not be harmed, but she omitted the insignificant mistletoe. Loki used the blind god Hoder to cause Balder’s death by tricking Hoder into throwing a dart made of mistletoe, killing him.

Bragi

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Protection*

Weapon: Longsword

Bragi is the god of poetry, a son of Odin and the giantess Gunlod. He is Odin’s chief poet and is considered very wise. Bragi appears as an old bearded man carrying a harp.

He is married to Idun and has runes carved into his tongue.

Forseti

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Godi (see Cleric Domains)

Weapon: Longsword

Forseti owns a gold and silver hall called Glitnir and it is here she is known as a law maker and arbiter of disputes.

Frey

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Nature, Tempest

Weapon: Longsword

An elven deity, Frey is the god of weather and fertility.

He is married to the giantess Gerd and rules over the land of the light elves, Alfheim. He has a golden boar named Gullinbursti, a stable of magical horses at Thrandheim, and a magical ship large enough to hold all the gods (but small enough to fold into a pocket) named Skidlbadnir.

Freyja

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Patronage: Voelva (see Warlock Patrons)

Weapon: Longsword

An elven deity, Freyja is Frey’s twin sister. Like him, she is a Vanir goddess, daughter of Njord. She is concerned with love, marriage, and prosperity. She drives a chariot pulled by two cats and roams at night the form of a goat.

She also rids a boar with gold bristles, the Hildeswin.

Unlike her brother, Freyja’s domain is the fields outside of Asgard, where she tends to the neutral-aligned souls who end up there. She is associated with witchcraft and seithr.

Frigga

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Order, Tempest

Weapon: Spear

Frigga is the goddess of marriage. She is the wife of Odin, mother of Balder, and is known as the weaver of clouds.

Fulla

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Protection

Weapon: Spear

Fulla is one of Frigga’s maids and her primary responsibility is taking care of her mistress’ shoes.

However, she is also known as the goddess of stones and that she is gladdened by those who stand unafraid in a rain of spears.

Gefjon

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Life, Knowledge

Weapon: Spear

Gefjon is a prophetic virgin goddess and a member of both the Aesir and Vanir. All women who die virgins go to her hall. She is also known as a fertility goddess, despite her virginal reputation.

Groa

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Arcana, Knowledge, Magic, Nature

Weapon: Sling

Groa is a seeress and fertility goddess who tried to help Thor remove the remains of a whetstone from his forehead.

She was unable to remove it by magic despite her best efforts.

Heimdal

Alignment: Lawful Good

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: War, Order, Protection*

Weapon: Longsword

Heimdal best known for his guardianship of Bifrost bridge. It is there he awaits the coming of the frost giants at Ragnarok. He is known to never sleep, can see in total darkness, and can even hear sheep wool growing. His symbol is the Gjallarhorn, which he will blow to alert the gods at the time of Ragnarok.

Hel

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Death, Grave*

Weapon: Dagger

Hel appears as a half-white, half-black being that presides over the underworld. She is the daughter of Loki and the giant Angrboda.

Hermond

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Tempest

Weapon: Spear

Hermond is the messenger who was sent to Hel to release Balder, but ultimately failed because one creature in the world failed to weep a Balder’s loss.

Hoder

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Death, Trickery

Weapon: Dart

Hoder is known as the blind god. It was he who slew Balder by hurling a piece of mistletoe. Hoder himself was slain by Vali.

Hoenir

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Trickery

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Hoenir is the teacher of godi. He acts as keeper of the blood wands, which allows godi to divine future events. He is also known for his inability to make up his mind.

Idun

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Life, Protection*

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Idun is the goddess of youth and her name means “Rejuvenating One”. She is married to Bragi and is the keeper of the apples that keep the gods eternally young.

Iord

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity Circles: Land

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Literally, mother earth. She is also the mother of Thor.

Kvasir

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Knowledge

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Kvasir was created from the saliva of both the Aesir and Vanir, combining their collective knowledge into a single being. It is his blood that acts as the special ingredient in divine mead, from which skalds draw their inspiration.

Loki

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Trickery

Weapon: Dagger

Loki is an adopted member of the Aesir when Odin made Loki his blood brother. He is the god of mischief, trickery, and cunning. He is the son of the giant Farbauti and the father of Sleipnir, Hel, Fenrir, and the world serpent.

Lothur

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Life

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Lothur is the god of the physical senses, primarily concerned with sight, hearing, and speech.

Magni

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Strength, War

Weapon: Warhammer

Magni is Thor’s son and is known for his incredible strength even at three years of age.

Mani

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Rank: Lesser Deity Circles: Moon

Weapon: Dagger

Mani drives the chariot of the moon through the night sky. He is believed to be involved in the downfall of Ragnarok.

Mimir

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Tempest, Protection*

Weapon: Battleaxe

Mimir is an Aesir, living in the world of the frost giants.

He guards the well of knowledge. Odin forfeited his eye to Mimir gain such knowledge by drinking from the well.

Nanna

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Nature

Weapon: Quarterstaff

Nanna is a vegetarian goddess and consort to Balder.

Njord

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Protection*, Tempest

Weapon: Trident

Njord is the deity of wind and sea. He is also known as the god of chariots and the giving god. Sailors pray to him when wishing protection in their travels or hoping for a good catch when fishing. He is married to Skadi … until she leaves him because she cannot decide on where to live with him. Frey and Freyja are their children.

Odin

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Rank: Greater Deity

Schools: Vitki (see Wizard Schools)

Weapon: Spear

Odin is the leader of the Norse pantheon. It is he who fasted upside-down on the world tree Yggdrasil for nine nights with a spear in his side. It is he who discovered the secret of the runes. The All-Father, Odin knows all and sees all … but he only imparts such knowledge at a terrible price. He is known for wandering about in disguise to test mortals, a trait that ensures the Norse always welcome guests to their home.

Ran

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Death, Tempest

Weapon: Net

Ran is the goddess of storms. She collects drowned sailors in her mighty net.

Rind

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Death, Nature

Weapon: Dagger

Rind is a chthonic goddess who is one of the many consorts of Odin. She is the mother of Vali.

Sif

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Knowledge, Life, Nature

Weapon: Longsword

Sif is Thor’s consort and is best known for her golden hair. When Loki chopped her hair off, Thor forced him to make a magical wig of pure gold that permanently replaced her hair. Her sons are Uller and Loridi.

Sigyn

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Nature, Protection*

Weapon: Dagger

Sigyn is the consort to Loki, an Aesir goddess. She foiled Skadi’s plans to poison Loki by capturing a venomous snake and gathering its venom in a bowl.

Skadi

Alignment: Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Conclave: Skadipewaz (see Ranger)

Weapon: Shortbow

Frequently referred to as the goddess of skis or snowshoes, she travels on skis, carries a bow, and hunts.

She is notorious for her high demands and superficial attitude. She is constantly at odds with Loki and has tried to poison him on more than one occasion.

Sol

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Light

Weapon: Longsword

Sol, an Aesir goddess, drives the horses that draw the sun chariot across the sky.

Surtr

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Light, War

Weapon: Longsword Surtr is a great fire giant who will one day set the cosmos alight in every direction with his flaming sword.

Thor

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Rank: Greater Deity

Domains: Strength, Tempest

Weapon: Warhammer

The son of Odin and a member of the Aesir, Thor is the god of thunder and an implacable enemy of jotun. He is first and foremost a deity of the common man, who sometimes call upon him to ensure fertility. He rides the heavens in a chariot drawn by two goats, Tanngniost and Tanngrisnir; the sound of its movement makes thunder.

Tyr

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Rank: Intermediate Deity

Domains: Order, Protection*, War

Weapon: Longsword

Tyr is a deity of war, but he is best known for being the only god brave enough to put his hand into the Fenris wolf’s mouth so the gods could bind it. He lost his right hand in the ordeal.

Uller

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Rank: Lesser Deity

Conclave: Ullerpewaz (see Ranger)

Weapon: Longbow

Uller is a master archer and hunter. He is also called upon for help in duels. Shields are sometimes called “Uller’s ship” by skalds.

Vali

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: War, Trickery

Weapon: Longbow

Vali is a hardened warrior and an incredible marksman.

He is one of the sons of Odin. He intends to have his vengeance on Hoder for killing Balder.

Vidar

Alignment: Neutral Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Strength, War

Weapon: Longsword

Vidar, an Aesir deity known as the silent one, is the son of Thor and the giantess Gird. He is said to be the god who will avenge Odin by slaying the Fenris wolf at Ragnarok.

Vor

Alignment: Lawful Good

Rank: Lesser Deity

Domains: Order

Weapon: Dagger

Vor is an Aesir goddess whose primary occupation is with the oaths of marriage. She watches closely those who uphold their oaths and punishes those who break their wedding vows.

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