Knave and Patrons

Knave has some, ok well a lot, of random tables to inspire the GM or help quickly fill in the world in front of the players if they end up going somewhere that she didn't expect. Some of these have to do with developing Patrons, which in Knave-terminology are the divinities, small gods, and spirits that PCs can recover relics/perform quests for to get blessings. Since I had some free time and when I had originally developed Castle Mordha for B/X D&D and then for 13th Age this was a space I had left blank before but now need. So off to the random tables to see what we get! 

Each one of these was made with 2 rolls for Domains, 1 for a Symbol, 2 rolls for Personality, and 1 roll for Goals, which were then built upon or discarded as the idea came together. 

Voynich

Domains: Prisoners, Book (roll on a sub-table said it's a book on Botany; this obviously inspired the name as an in joke.)

Symbol: Book made of leaves (actually rolled something else, but given the domains....)

Personality: Proselytizer, Protector

Goals: Didn't bother to roll since the personality made it pretty clear.

In Action: This local god arose in Mordhiem (the large village that used to serve Castle Mordha) as the Mordha family enslaved the local farmers. It is taken on faith that he caused the earthquake that ended the Mordha's reign. His shrine maintains a manuscript of botany and agriculture lore. Voynich very much wants to expand to the other farming villages on Shankill, and to shield people from Mordha threats.

His shrine is the most prominent in Mordha’s town, made of carefully woven together living trees with a canopy so tight no water gets through. There are 10 people tending the shrine, teaching the local farmers how to best tend to their crops and preaching about the release of prisoners (both actual and metaphorical in terms of if you love something set them free and to not be a prisoner to your anger). The priestess is the mediator of local disputes before the mayor is called. 

Voynich will act quickly and harshly if there are any practicing slavery nearby or holding prisoners unjustly or harshly. Similarly, if someone brings Mordha-originated threats (but not coin or other treasure) into Mordha Town the god will not be pleased.

My Notes: This became the "local" god for Mordha's Town, and works as both a local protector and a very practical agriculture god. The PCs can expect that Voynich and his shrine will push for them to join the faith for quests that either defend the town or spread the faith to other local farming communities; they won't help push into the dungeon, but will help stop anything that bubbles out... with a cost to the PCs if they were reckless.  

Manzeryk 

Domains: Doors, Eagles (again the name is a joke off one of the members of The Eagles)

Symbol: Eagles eye pendant (symbol roll was "eye", so making it an eagle eye made sense)

Personality: Courageous, Blunt

Goals: Destroy Monsters

In Action: Widely worshipped, she is the goddess of Doors (as opportunities, engineering-arch-and-keystone, and as transitions as a psychopomp) and Eagles, whose form she takes. Her goal is slaying monsters, and there are endless tales of her or her worshippers killing Monstum Loci, and when you die it is her eagle who carries your spirit to the land of the dead and gives you a very blunt appraisal of how courageously you lived your life. 

While she accepts prayers from and performs blessings for Mordha Town, she’s done her job too well: the extermination of truly threatening monsters in Shankill’s interior means she pays the area little interest. Her shrine is tended by but three acolytes who travel in from her larger Shankill shrine for either training or punishment. All the rites are performed, but without enthusiasm.

When she learns of monsters inside Castle Mordha her shrine will become much more active, likely to the shock of the local acolytes. If there are monsters to be slain, she will be eager to create relics and extend blessings so as to engage in her favorite sport.

My Notes: I loved the way random rolls produce things (as a V&V player I know this comes as a shock to you), and the idea of a Goddess of Doors & Eagles just opened up so much; especially since I knew I needed a contrasting god to Voynich as a powerful but distant Patron. Looking at "doors" in the most expansive way gave her a very broad portfolio, and Eagles gave her a physical form. The personality rolls and goals made her into a real entity of the sort that grew by an accretion of ideas and legends and actions that made her really fit the kind of Discworld small god becoming major religion I wanted. 

The other two gods coming up next week!