| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Pluddon |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 00:58:12
I have done some reading and I don't think I ever came across a god of sports/competition/athletes. I feel like one such god would exist in the realms and I just haven't found him/her. |
| 29 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aldrick |
Posted - 24 Apr 2014 : 05:13:44
Here is how things would go down... Let's say you have a gladiator who is a weapon master. He's an athlete that has spent years honing his craft. He's preparing for a big gladiatorial combat. He was trained in Chessenta but has spent much of his career fighting in Westgate. Who does he pray to?
As he was trained in Chessenta, he will certainly offer prayers to Lathander. The focus on Lathander's portfolio of athletics primarily comes from Chessenta.
Next, he will certainly be offering a great many prayers to Garagos, who is well known in Westgate. Not only is the deities temperament well suited to gladiators, one of his portfolios is skill-at-arms, which is why he is known as the Master of All Weapons. As a result, Garagos may even be his patron deity.
He will also be offering prayers to both Tymora and Beshaba. Tymora obviously for good luck, and Beshaba to appease her to ward off bad luck.
He will offer a prayer to Kelemvor, asking that if he should fall that his death should be glorious and spectacular, worthy of someone of his standing. As well, should he fall, that he be judged fairly, as a man of the gods, and not false.
There are any number of other deities that he'd likely pray too, depending on the events surrounding the particular battle he's about to fight. However, the point is people in the Realms pray to all the gods. They don't just pick one and stick with it. They pray to them all, whenever is appropriate. They pray to good gods as well as evil gods.
Of course, there are some special cases, but those are exceptions and not the rule.
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| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 23 Apr 2014 : 20:06:45
This topic seems to need to be reminded that people in the realms worship many or all the gods not just one or a few! (@ "All referees worship Helm".)
Since this is general chat I think I can say something non-canonical from my own realms. In my realms when Lathander became Amaunatar some new deities emerged. I always felt it was unfair that Adon was the only one of the Avatar Series characters not to become a god. I gave him much of Lathander's portfolio related to athletics, sports, and physical perfection. Adon is also similar, and I assume a reference to, to "Adonis" which seems like a very appropriate name for a deity of athletics/sports given the myth of Adonis and how we use the word nowawdays. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 23 Apr 2014 : 15:40:13
-Duh. I forgot Kavaki and his affinity for goatball. |
| Ateth Istarlin |
Posted - 23 Apr 2014 : 14:42:37
I seem to remember that Anhur was also listed as a god of athletics in the 2nd edition deity books. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Apr 2014 : 02:50:34
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Is halfling-tossing similar to kobold-punting? I suppose theyre the same thing, really, except that kobolds offer a more satisfying yelp. And halfling vermin will try to steal your boot in mid-kick.
It can't be anything worse than the time my Thorn Knight in a DRAGONLANCE campaign once tried [and I doubly emphasise tried] to toss a kender!  |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 22:49:20
Is halfling-tossing similar to kobold-punting? I suppose theyre the same thing, really, except that kobolds offer a more satisfying yelp. And halfling vermin will try to steal your boot in mid-kick. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 17:11:56
quote:
Originally posted by Sill Alias
quote:
Originally posted by Demzer
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
So what deity would you pray to before the Halfling-toss events?
Vaprak the Destroyer.
I am pretty sure one of giant deities would be glad to have competitions like that in his/her name.
I am reminded of one of my fave bits from Dragon magazine... Page 96 of Dragon 187:
quote:
My favorite question was the one about the fighter and the gnome who are trapped in a dungeon with no equipment, and the fighter is forced to pick up the gnome and use him like a club. The question was, “How much damage would that cause?” In response, Zeb wanted to know, “To whom?” Jeff Grubb replied, “Is he using the gnome one-handed or twohanded?” After four days of conventioning, this was quite funny.
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| Barastir |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 12:33:42
Well, if you consider gladitorial games, remember that Waterdeedp's arena, the Fields of Triumph, is mantained by the clergy of Tempus. Tempus' specialty priests in Faiths & Avatars also get "charioteering" as a bonus proficiency, and by the way the Fields are constructed (its format in the maps), I'm pretty sure they run there.  |
| Sill Alias |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 12:21:24
quote:
Originally posted by Demzer
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
So what deity would you pray to before the Halfling-toss events?
Vaprak the Destroyer.
I am pretty sure one of giant deities would be glad to have competitions like that in his/her name. |
| Demzer |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 09:46:16
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
So what deity would you pray to before the Halfling-toss events?
Vaprak the Destroyer. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 08:42:10
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
So what deity would you pray to before the Halfling-toss events?
I'd say either Arvoreen [tossed halflings count as weapons, right?], Brandobaris [tossing halflings could be construed as a method of stealth], or Sheela Peryroyl [I'd imagine there's probably a lot of song and dance involved with tossing halflings] would qualify. Dependent upon how "serious" the character would be about the halfling toss. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 05:23:18
So what deity would you pray to before the Halfling-toss events? Just wondering.... (Oh, and I just remembered that Eilistraee hosts the Dancing With the Stars Fearun Edition competition- or is that Dancing UNDER the Stars?! Meh, whatever....) |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 04:24:57
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I would say Tempus is a viable alternative -- dependent upon the type of sport, for example, those inclined toward a more martial/combative prowess.
Really, I only suggest Tempus because, if I'm remembering correctly, the deity, Kord, of the GREYHAWK setting, has both sports AND combat listed in his portfolios. This could be a platform used to suggest the same for Tempus as well.
And a lot of sports have martial roots. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 03:17:15
I wonder if Sumo wrestlers in Shou worship Oghma, hmmm ...
Worshippers of Tempus might enjoy gladiatorial contests and various blood sports. And of course charioteering.
But martial arts emphasizing skill and style, along with such things as fencing and archery, might better suit those who worship the Red Knight, methinks.
Faerûnian deities don‘t seem as inclined towards grand competitions as, say, the Olympic deities. Each deity might attract certain types of athletes, indeed each particular athlete might pay lip service to a number of deities. Dancers might offer prayers to Milil, Sharess, Tymora, and even Akadi; hammer-throwing strongmen might hold faith with Lathander, Silvanus, and stodgy old Tyr. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 02:15:01
I would say Tempus is a viable alternative -- dependent upon the type of sport, for example, those inclined toward a more martial/combative prowess.
Really, I only suggest Tempus because, if I'm remembering correctly, the deity, Kord, of the GREYHAWK setting, has both sports AND combat listed in his portfolios. This could be a platform used to suggest the same for Tempus as well. |
| Mapolq |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 00:28:33
No way, there's a bunch of Cyricist and Maskarran referees. |
| Cbad285 |
Posted - 22 Apr 2014 : 00:11:20
all referees worship helm... |
| Xnella Moonblade-Thann |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 23:42:03
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Priests of Oghma are expert wrestlers? Learn something new, heh, my bad.
What, you expect them to just sit on their arses all day and have an extra bit of flab?
From what I can find in Faiths and Pantheons, a 3.x supplement for the Realms: Lathander has Athletics (athlete would obviously worship him), and Uthgar has Physical Strength (a lot of athletes could worship him for strength for the event they are participating in). I can't get to my 2e Faiths and Avatars and related books, so I can't find anything for previous Realms. And my 4e Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide is also packed away, so i have no information from that source either. (I have pdfs of just about every 3.x D&D book, so that's how I was able to look up the deities.)
I do seem to remember that those who worship Lliira are usually people who are among the most physically toned, so perhaps some athletes would at least pay lip service to her? |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 22:35:56
Priests of Oghma are expert wrestlers? Learn something new, heh, my bad. |
| Barastir |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 19:06:47
I'd say Lathander too, but we must also consider that in 2e Faiths & Avatars Oghma's priests are expert wrestlers, and Lliira's priests are very good with an unarmed style that mixes wrestling and kicks. |
| rangerstranger |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 19:02:20
3.0 FRCS lists Athletics in Lathander's portfolio. |
| Thauranil |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 14:43:01
Well I figure Lathandar for the normal sports and Tempus for the more martial ones(fencing , wrestling etc) are probably the best choices. |
| Sill Alias |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 05:20:19
I am sure Tempus can be mentioned if you go by any contest involving martial prowess. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 21 Apr 2014 : 02:17:28
Lathander is definitely the closest fit. There may be other gods more fitting for specific sports (fencing for instance would find favoritism with many war-like deities, Auril may bless ice skaters and skiers, Umberlee may actually see some favoritism with fishermen, swimmers and divers, then hunters would be favored by Malar). Ironically, through this you can see how communities might welcome in what would normally be considered evil and vile deities (i.e. Auril, Umberlee, and Malar) because of their involvement with sports. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 06:42:10
-That's a really general and broad category. When you break it down, by sport/competition and by race/racial group, things get a little clearer. Solonar Thelandira, for example, is associated with archery among Elves. Clangeddin Silverbeard is associated with 'valor', which I don't think is a stretch to apply to sports and competition. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 05:58:06
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I'd go with Lathander since he has Athletics. :)
I will echo this one.  |
| xaeyruudh |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 04:40:52
Gilgeam works well, though only for characters in the Pre-Spellplague Old Empires... unless you allow his priests to spread his "glory" around the Inner Sea and into surrounding lands. Individuals who honor Gilgeam could pop up anywhere in the Realms, and the further they are from Unther the more likely they would be unaware of his paranoia, bloodlust, tyranny, etc. A cult of Gilgeam on the Sword Coast might even be CG.  |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 03:26:38
Oghma, according to the Celts, was the god of wrestling. Utterly unbeatable in any contest of wrestling, even against the most magnificent, skilled, or belligerent among gods and mortals alike.
Oghma, as written in Realmslore, seems disinterested in wrestling. Aside from his double-entendre sobriquet as “The Binder“, no wrestlemania whatsoever seems applicable. |
| Kuje |
Posted - 20 Apr 2014 : 01:47:06
I'd go with Lathander since he has Athletics. :) |
