Arelithian Animism

[magistrasa]

So, deities got updated! That's cool, that's cool. As usual, I've decided to have opinions about the part of the update no one really cares about. Let me inflict them upon you.

Nature & Beast Spirits = all alignments, paladin & druid capable
Sneel (the Ratlord) = CE, NE, CN = nature, T&D druid capable
Trishina (the Dolphin Queen) = all good - nature, H&H, druid & paladin capable
Remnis (the Eagle Lord) = all good - nature, H&H, druid & paladin capable
Spider = CE, NE, CN - Nature, T&D = druids (aspect of lolth)
Cat = CG, NG, CN - Nature, T&D = Druids (aspect of Sharess)
Coyote = all neutral - nature, T&D = druids
Raven = all neutral - nature, T&D = druids
Wolf = CN, CG, CE - nature, T&D = druids (aspect of Fenmarel)
Tiger = all neutral - nature, W&D = druids
Horse = all neutral - nature, H&H = druids
Hyena = CE, NE, CN - nature, W&D = druids (aspect of Gorrelik)
Bear = CG, NG, CN - nature, W&D = druids (aspect of Magnar)
Owl = all neutral - nature, K&I = druids

So, what exactly is a spirit supposed to be? Like, when a shaman communes with the spirits of nature, or a druid chooses the path of a totem, what is supposed to be going on there? And how are these beast cults expected to fit into that? If a druid is a member of the "spider cult," are they always worshipping an aspect of Lolth? Can animals not exist independent of some sort of monolithic divine representative? And you can't pay homage to the spirit of the rat or the eagle, it can only be this obscure "lord" that apparently rules them? Why are there so many questions in just this one paragraph?

Furthermore, it doesn't really make sense to me that bears and cats and wolves are all associated with good alignments, whereas spiders and hyenas are associated with evil alignments, considering the fact that these are all beasts with 3 intelligence who have absolutely no concept of morality. It also doesn't make sense to me that the hyena is even on the list, while ravens and snakes are completely omitted! Hyenas don't even exist on Arelith, so how is there supposed to be a local "spirit of the hyena" to commune with (unless you like have it trapped in a fetish or something), and how is a cult of hyena worship going to endure (or reasonably justify their continued existence) when there's neither hide nor hair of their pseudo-divine symbol?

I'm sure there's some obscure lore reasons for these things existing because RedRopes knows all the obscure lore justifications for all kinds of silly nonsense, but I care more about how this update might add to the storytelling tools in a player's arsenal. My impression is that this really doesn't feel like it adds anything to the tools in a shaman or druid or [Nondescript Animist Pagan]'s arsenal - it just muddies the water with seemingly nonsensical additions that serve only to introduce questions and guide those questions to the inherently divisive and ultimately unsatisfactory answer of "it's just whatever you say dude lol it's your story so just do whatever you want with it"

TL;DR - I think all beast cults should be Neutral and decoupled from any association with existing deities and if you disagree with me RedRopes then I have no choice but to challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown. Druid & shaman & [Nondescript Animist Pagan] players, please discuss your experiences with this half-developed corner of fringe pseudo-religion. Mods, please delete any comments that disagree with me.

[Red Ropes]

This category contains some deities who are not necessary to "separate" as they are already natural gods and their cults are indeed beast cults in forgotten realms.

Others are dedicated to what are and is the Metaphysical concept of thing but are not themselves druidic powers. But they do "own it" and there are cults in their names in the Realms but are not aware that it is in fact Lolth or whatever. I am putting notes about aspects here just for the sake of remembering what I will eventually be doing which is [giving deities/pantheons/specific relationships inter-piety synergy and so forth) and I have to keep track of this stuff.

Every deity who is in reality a vestige or aspect of another will be the first go at that system.

Whether we like it or not spiders are the intellectual property of Lolth in the Realms and she has almost complete control over them and so I kept them with the alignment hops. You'll also notice that some of these are racial deities whom are not open to all so I just made a "copy" of them and extrapolated the same thing.

Another note about Beast Cults in the realms is they are not exclusively the things of druids though I did bring along that since these are all nature deities. Beast Cults tend to be "savage cults" worshiped by angry, violent peoples to no surprise gods like Sseth and Lolth have cults among other races as proxy via these and usually work their will through them either to guide them to the main stream or to indulge people to their deaths.

I sort of bridged these two things so it works for both.

I would not indulge meta-physical knowledge in my pc if I want to venerate these powers or establish cults/religions around them but they will find that the ethos' around them are what that godshead appeals to, answers for, and so... Spider Cults and Serpent Cults tend to be evil. But a Cult to the Happy Unicorn will obviously be skewed good.

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Overall what I might do is add true neutral to all aspects who are not nature gods already so there is more room to play but not so much as to disregard that god's sway over a thing.

[chris a gogo]

I thought all this aspect stuff didn't come in until V5 maybe V4 which would mean it not part of the setting anyway?

[White Haven]

You are incorrect. Aspects have existed since 2e. They just became more prevalent in 4/5.