Create-A-Pantheon

[DorostheConqueror]

So, we all know by now that one of the big themes in Skyrim is that religion, and the changes that can take place towards a society's understanding of the subject. Well, if the Empire can ban Talos, why not re-write the ENTIRE Pantheon? If you could take the existing Aedra, Daedra, Tribunal, and other divine beings, and rework them into your own Pantheon of gods- whether for personal use, for your allies, or for everyone in Skyrim to worship- who would be in it? Does your Skyrim character honor these gods?

You can feel free to include as many or as few divine beings as you like, but I think the traditional eight or nine would be a good number to shoot for.



Sithis
The Dread Lord is not just a god of murder and Khajiit heavy metal bands; He is The Creator. He is The Void, above all Gods and Daedra, and it is from His spark- the blessing of instability- that all things were made possible. Sithis will be the High God, held above all others, but perhaps not worshiped as widely or openly due to the fact that He's largely unconcerned with the pitiful lives of mortals. His inclusion as the undisputed head of the Pantheon really needs no commentary, but I would like to address the matter of the Night Mother, if only for a moment. While I respect the Night Mother as much as the next man, she will remain an aspect of the DB, and not be given any special position of authority or reverence within the Pantheon itself. The Night Mother is not Sithis; she is neither Aedra nor Daedra. While her role as a conduit for the Will of Sithis is laudable and worthy of respect, there is a danger that she could become a papal-figure within the Pantheon; an object of worship in and of herself and the acting voice of the God-head. Therefor, it is important that the Pantheon downplay or ignore the Night Mother in all matters not directly related to the Dark Brotherhood and it's hierarchy.

Lorkhan
As the son of Sithis, focus of the Psijic Endeavor, and creator of Dawn's Beauty, Lorkhan is an obvious choice. The fact that he's loved by Nords and hated by elves is great, too! Within the Pantheon, he shall assume a place of special reverence, similar to that enjoyed by Akatosh- the "first among equals", second only to Sithis Himself.

Kyne
The wife of Lorkhan and goddess of storms; what's not to love? She will be recognized within her ancient Nordic aspect; while people will inevitably continue to view Kyne as Kynareth at first, steps should be taken to remove her Elven-Alessian trappings over time.

Talos
As a man who ascended to godhood, Talos' worth as an object of veneration is obvious. While he will not be as popular as he was, back when he was part of the Nine and the focus of the Imperial's "Cult of the Emperor", Talos will still be worshiped, freely and proudly.

Azura
As an elven goddess, one might wonder what she's doing here, but she's Azura dammit. In addition to her traditional aspects, Azura will assume the role as guardian of all mer, at least the ones left alive after I deal with the Thalmor.

Dibella
For fun. The functions of both Dibella and Mara will be fused together, and within the Pantheon she will assume the role of an "upstanding" love goddess, representing both purity and beauty, as opposed to the more base functions of...

Sanguine
Also for fun. Sanguine is Bacchus, and I doubt we'll have to encourage people to accept his worship.

Sheogorath
Assuming he's the Champion of Cyrodiil, this one is obvious. Even if he isn't, what the hell.

Hermaeous Mora
As the Daedric Prince of knowledge, memory, and tentacle-rape, there's not a lot known about him, but that's all the more reason to encourage people to pursue his mysteries.



All other Aedra and Daedra will be at least tolerated, except Nocturnal. Nocturnal will be banned and her followers actively hunted down- I was originally going to include her in place of Hermie on the grounds that she's been one of my favorite Daedra for years, but then that Nightingale Oath crap went down and ruined the otherwise wonderful relationship I've had going for three games straight now.

[bostyt50]

well i am going to steal ur sithis one but id would add hircine in there as well some hoe he is my fav daedric prince and all

[Will Zurmacht]

From a post-Alduinian, post-Dovahkiinian, post-Thalmoric, imperial perspective.

Akatosh
The Unconquered Sun; the one who bridges the divide between Might and Right. The facilitating, sustaining All-Father. One god to rule them all, as a good father would. The symbol of an emperor who secures the future through strength and good governance.

Talos
Symbol of apotheosis (one of the most potent religious ideas ever expressed). Embodiment of what lofty goals and great actions can achieve in Tamriel. Patron of heroes, pioneers, innovators, and the ambitious (all of which are highly valuable types).

Auri-El
To shut the Thalmor up. To cater to Aldmeri tastes, his temples would be separated and placed on higher ground. Priests of Auri-El would be allowed to preach whatever theology they wished, so long as they accepted the right of all imperial citizens to worship the other members of the pantheon freely, and continued to discourage Daedra worship (it is very important that the most extreme impulses of Man and Mer be demonized).

Dibella
For the common run, goddess of motherly virtues, the hearth, and love. For the refined, goddess of high art, aestheticism, fine taste, and exotic pleasures.

Sanguine
Rehabilitated as the god of passion, (temporary) abandon, instinct, wine, music, and wild creation. Patron of letting your hair down and relieving workaday tension. Incidentally, Sheogorath is to be heavily demonized. The standard interpretation of the pantheon should do its best to distinguish between insanity and creativity/inspiration/originality, no matter how close those things are to madness in actuality.

Kynareth
Earth Mother. Necessary patron goddess of farmers, sailors, and anyone else who lives close to the land.

Zenithar
Industriousness and entrepreneurship are very good values to promote. The Empire can only be insured by a solid core of productivity. Protestant work ethic, in my fantasy world? Yes!

Julianos
Wisdom, logic, science, scholarship. Patron of some of the rarest and most valuable qualities.


The Khajiit have regional variants of the major deities of the Monomyth, and don't require special representation in the imperial pantheon.

Argonians are too marginal and exotic to have central pantheon representation. They should feel grateful to have contact with civilization in the first place.

P.S Special thanks to all the editors of the Lore wiki pages.

[NLN]

Not going to list them because I'm still forming it mentally (and will probably for another year or so), but

Sithis: I respect him, kind of, but more like the antithesis of the gods, would more represent the devil I think.

Kyne/Kynareth: I don't care about regional names, she's definitely in.

Talos: I found myself activating every one Talos shrine on my way, for no apparent reason AND left some dragon bones/scales on one of them. I didn't really notice him in previous games, but Skyrim changed that. I guess there's a nice psychological description for my madness, but I don't care, I want him in the Pantheon.

I'd say Nocturnal for the shady characters, but I haven't done that quest yet and I don't know if it will change my opinion too. I liked her in Oblivion...

Sanguine. No description needed XD

As for Azura, I was in awe with her in Oblivion, but as of Morrowind (played Oblivion first), I can't mention her name without spitting. I want nothing else but her to be struck out of history and never to be mentioned again. I mad, yes.

...this developed into a list, wow. So let's not leave out Akatosh, as someone actually reliable and mostly useful.

[Talamare]

The leaders of the Pantheon are considered above the 8 Divines
Akatosh
Sheor/Lorkhan (tho now he is dead, he is still acknowledged)

The 8 Divines who sit in the Pantheon
Azura - Representing a hidden darkness and a hidden light
Julianos - Representing Knowledge
Malacath - Representing Strength
Magnus - Representing Wisdom
Mara - Representing Love
Mehrunes Dagon - Representing Destruction
Sheogorath - Representing Chaos
Zenithar - Representing Prosperity

I heavily oppose "Mortal" Gods such as Talos, Arkay, Tribunal (Vivec, Nerevar, Sotha Sil, Alamaxia, Dagoth Ur), Stendarr

I slightly believe Mara and Dibella to be one and the same, One being her virgin form and the other her... not... virgin form

I should probably include Kynareth over someone else, but its hard to decide who to replace

[Narzul]

My personal pantheon, still heavily influenced by my time spent in Morrowind. Very Dunmeri in nature.

Boethiah, representing the cunning and daring that are imperative to survive and conquer against the odds and the competitiveness that drives men to rise above their station and become truly great. Patron of assassins, warriors and other deceivers.

Molag Bal, Lord of Domination, representing the drive to superiority and the will to dominate. Works in tandem with Boethiah's sphere. Patron of warlords and conquerors.

Mehrunes Dagon, who, of course, represents energy, devastation, ambition and the intense focus on one's goals. Not specifically a patron to anyone, as these traits would be deemed important for everyone.

Vivec, Warrior-Poet, the calculating, wise and thoughtful aspect of the pantheon. Patron of tacticians and politicians.

Sotha Sil, the Mystic. Lord of (spiritual) knowledge and intelligence. Patron of sorcerers and mages.

Azura, guardian and caretaker. The pantheon's mother-figure, if you will. Patron of mothers, beauty and lifewards.

Dagoth Ur, God of dreams and secrets. Not worshiped, but acknowledged as the pantheon's universal demon.

[Talamare]

My personal pantheon, still heavily influenced by my time spent in Morrowind. Very Dunmeri in nature.

Boethiah, representing the cunning and daring that are imperative to survive and conquer against the odds and the competitiveness that drives men to rise above their station and become truly great. Patron of assassins, warriors and other deceivers.

Molag Bal, Lord of Domination, representing the drive to superiority and the will to dominate. Works in tandem with Boethiah's sphere. Patron of warlords and conquerors.

Mehrunes Dagon, who, of course, represents energy, devastation, ambition and the intense focus on one's goals. Not specifically a patron to anyone, as these traits would be deemed important for everyone.

Vivec, Warrior-Poet, the calculating, wise and thoughtful aspect of the pantheon. Patron of tacticians and politicians.

Sotha Sil, the Mystic. Lord of (spiritual) knowledge and intelligence. Patron of sorcerers and mages.

Azura, guardian and caretaker. The pantheon's mother-figure, if you will. Patron of mothers, beauty and lifewards.

Dagoth Ur, God of dreams and secrets. Not worshiped, but acknowledged as the pantheon's universal demon.

No love for Nerevar?

[adamly]

Thats a cool idea, but i would add Hircine. I say he is one of the more powerful and awesome daedric princes.

[Narzul]

My personal pantheon, still heavily influenced by my time spent in Morrowind. Very Dunmeri in nature.

Boethiah, representing the cunning and daring that are imperative to survive and conquer against the odds and the competitiveness that drives men to rise above their station and become truly great. Patron of assassins, warriors and other deceivers.

Molag Bal, Lord of Domination, representing the drive to superiority and the will to dominate. Works in tandem with Boethiah's sphere. Patron of warlords and conquerors.

Mehrunes Dagon, who, of course, represents energy, devastation, ambition and the intense focus on one's goals. Not specifically a patron to anyone, as these traits would be deemed important for everyone.

Vivec, Warrior-Poet, the calculating, wise and thoughtful aspect of the pantheon. Patron of tacticians and politicians.

Sotha Sil, the Mystic. Lord of (spiritual) knowledge and intelligence. Patron of sorcerers and mages.

Azura, guardian and caretaker. The pantheon's mother-figure, if you will. Patron of mothers, beauty and lifewards.

Dagoth Ur, God of dreams and secrets. Not worshiped, but acknowledged as the pantheon's universal demon.

No love for Nerevar?

Doesn't really have a place in the pantheon, being a normal mortal and all that. But I respect him greatly. He's my religion's Odysseus, if you will. And I didn't include Hircine because I have no affinity with his mindless hunts and beasts.

[Oasis23]

Zenithar
One of the more important gods, he is worshiped to encourage hard work. He is generally worshiped by the working and merchant classes

Talos
Also worshiped above most, he is used as a role model, so people try to do great things in life to achieve godhood in death. Worshiped mainly by soldiers.

Sotha Sil
Another of the main gods, he is a favorite among mages. He is also a role model, encouraging mages to discover great things that improve life for all.

Lorkhan
The last of the four main gods, he is worshiped as the creator.

Hircine
A lesser god, he is there only to control the few werewolves. They could be useful to society, so his worship encourages them not to go feral and leave society.

Sanguine
He is used as the god of good times, but he should be worshiped sparingly. People are encouraged to only worship him during holidays.

Hermaeus Mora
He is used to encourage people to learn, so that they are educated and can contribute more to society.

Mara
The god of love, worshiped to encourage peace and kindness.

Malacath
He is only put in there to please the Orcs

Boethiah, Molag Bal, and Sheogorath worship is outlawed, with a punishment of death. Anyone who follows these devils are a threat to society.(Although personally, Sheogorath and Boethiah are two of my favorite gods.)

[cypruss11]

My character, Crahsnongk Rogzuhsk (Orc), worships Mara and Malacath. He does not believe Talos (Ysmir, Tiber Septim) is a god.


I think this would be interesting.... (Note: I left all of the others out because I got tired of writing this, not because they are not important.)

Mara - Goddess of love, marriage, and obedience. (Major)
85% of the population of Skyrim worship Mara.
Those who do not worship Mara will be sentenced to death. Although,
about 15% of the population secretly do not worship her.

Hircine - God of the wilds, the hunt, and animals. (Minor)
15% of the population of Skyrim worship Hircine.
Hircine created Lycanthropy as a gift for men. Men blessed with this gift will be sent to his plane upon death.

Julianos - God of wisdom, magic, and the written word. (Major)
30% of the population of Skyrim worship Julianos.
Julianos worshippers often are mages, alchemists, and scholars.

Dibella - Goddess of sex, seduction, and prostitution. (Minor)
10% of the population of Skyrim illegally worship Dibella.
Dibella worship is illegal and worshippers will be sentenced with a month in jail and a fine of a hundred septims.

Arkay - God of life and death (Major)
97% of the population of Skyrim worship Arkay.
Arkay is the most popular god in Skyrim.

Sheogorath - God of madness, mania, and dementia. (Minor)
18% of the population of Skyrim worship Sheogorath.
His worship is not supported but neither is it illegal.

Lorkhan - God of men. (Formerly Major, Now Minor)
2% of the population of Skyrim worship Lorkhan.
Lorkhan was once said to be the hero of men, the reason for their existence, but now he is all but forgotten.

[AeraDunmerMoon]

Kynareth: Goddess of the earth, the winds, storms. Could be interpreted as a giver of life, of breath, of the flow of the world. Chief goddess of my pantheon. Mother and guide.

Lorkhan: Mate to Kynareth, essence of the earth and the coming and going of life. A deity of change, and of sacrifice. Patron of the cunning, the innovators, the inspired heros.

Azura: Functioning here as a goddess of wisdom, tween times, beauty, and mystery. She is a light in the dark for those who would follow her, and guardian of oaths. Kind of like a wise but stern aunt.

Hircine: God of the chase, the hunt, and instincts. Patron of hunters, assassins (for they have their prey as well), law enforcement, and those who stand at the top of the food chain.

Vaermina: Goddess of dreaming, of nightmares. As a side to dreams, she is also a goddess of inspiration, insight, prophetic dreams, and a minor goddess of chaos and madness. All give themselves to her in sleep, and it is through her mercy that we are sane upon waking...if we are sane.

Dibella: Goddess of passion, beauty, inspiration, and appreciation. She directs us to appreciate the little things in life.

Malacath: God of trials and tribulations. Malacath and all of his followers have gone through hardships time and time again, reforging themselves to be stronger each time. He is a god of willpower, courage, honor, and inner strength. He serves with Azura as guardian of oaths, and is patron of the ostracized. He drives all to become greater than they are.

Hermaeus Mora: God of knowledge and learning, at any cost. He seeks to know all there is in the universe, and outside of it. He lays bare secrets, and reads into souls. Patron of mages, of seekers, and scribes.

Nocturnal: The antithesis of Hermaeus Mora, goddess of unsolvable mysteries. She seeks to shoud her favored in their doings, and favors discretion and silence. She keeps secrets, and scorns the light.

Sithis: The void, both concious and unconcious, with no gender. He works to undermine the world, both through chaos and stillness. While there are many afterlives, his is the one under all, and he claims the unclaimed. He also waits for the claimers to fall, so he might claim them and theirs.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

The Hoon Ding guides me. All others can make way.

More seriously though...

The One - In accordance to the teachings of the Monkey Prophey named Marukh, only The One is worthy of worship. All are guilty until proven innocent. Tam! RUGH!


Okay...for real serious this time....

I'd reinforce the Imperial Pantheon, but bring back Talos and strengthen his connection to Shezarr, going so far as to openly refer to him as such for an alternate title. I'd reinforce the cults of Reman Cyrodill, Alessia, Morihaus and Pelinal Whitestrake as well. These figures are not part of the main pantheon of the Nine Divines but are often revered as culture gods in Cyrodill.

I'd also slightly modify certain gods. For instance, as Julianos is a god of wisdom and knowledge, I'd incorporate elements of the Daedra princes Jyggalag and Hermaeus Mora into his church. This would help strengthen the pantheon and attract some of the more benign and helpful potential Daedra worshipers towards the Nine instead.

[mulder]

Y'ffre - Creator of the Land and the Trees. Protector of Nature. Husband to Kynareth. (Major)

Kynareth - Goddess of Nature, Guardian of the Forests and Mother to the Spriggans. Also wife to Y'ffre. (Major)

Hircine - God of the Hunt and Menbeasts. All kinds of lycans and hunters praise him. He is also cunning and good at plots. (Minor)

Sotha Sil - A Master of Knowledge and Wisdom. He is the Holder of all the Knowledge in the World and is worshipped by scholars and mages. (Major)

Boethiah - Godess of Plots and Secrets. Worshiped secretly, she is also the Goddess of Assassins and Politics. (Minor)

Magnus - God of Magic. Gifter of Mana to the mages on Nirn and Creator of the Stars too. (Major)

Mara - Goddess of Love and Family. (Major)