Dungeon Gods

2024/11/28: In a cool coincidence, The Nothic's Eye also posted some dungeon gods today! I totally recommend you check them out here!

 

Seasoned adventurers know to respect the dungeon gods, those who's house is the Underworld. Regardless of what one beleives on the surface, it is good to stay in their graces.

  • Characters who preform the proper rights at the shrine of a dungeon god will receive +5% XP for the duration of the delve. This blessing is low stakes, and will not lock you into anything.

  • Those seeking power may pursue boons from the gods of the underworld; however, once blessed, these boons are not shed lightly.

Burning Shrine by John Tenniel, re-coloured by me

 

The King of Coins

A covetous thing, always watching, always listening. His shrine is carved in smooth stone, a hunched figure in a cloak of eyes, ears, and hands.

To make a prayer to him, leave behind a coin for his hoard. Coins disappear quickly when the shrine is unwatched.

To gain his boon, you must promise him more.  Your full share of an expedition's fruits, left at the alter. In your sleep, he will visit you.

You gain a 1-in-6 chance to automatically detect secrets and hidden doors, always on the lookout for more precious treasures. In exchange, you must always offer him the finest of your share of treasures. The shiniest coin, the brightest jewel. Toss it into a chasm, and he will find it.

 

The Lady of Blood

A goddess of war and strife, clad in black armour. A patron goddess of berserkers and vampires. Hanging from her shrine are strips of bloodstained cloth, beneath it sit broken teeth.

To make a prayer to her, blood must be left at the shrine. It can be yours, or another's, but you must have earned it in battle.

To gain her boon, you must offer your wounds to the Lady of Blood. You must be below 1/6th of your maximum hit points, and shed your armour before the shrine.

Gain +1 to weapon damage; however, your wounds may no longer be tended. You can only restore hit points at the usual rate of 1/day. To cure your wounds through magic would be blasphemous, for they are not your own anymore, but her's.


Nyx

She is worshiped only in utter darkness. Light must be left behind at a curtained threshold, for bringing a torch to her shrine is the ultimate sacrilege.

To make a prayer to her, you must simply enter her sacred darkness. Grasping, hungry hands find their devotion in the inky dark. No two worship her in the same way.

To gain her boon, in the darkness, promise that you will go with her alone. Carry no light again, renounce the sun, travel only in darkness, and you will learn to find your way. First by feeling, then by seeing. Your pupils will grow to become great inky orbs, a pair of black planets.

If you forsake her motherly love, she will never forgive you. The light of torches will sting your eyes and make you weak. The light of the sun will make you writhe in unbearable agony.

Comments

  1. Ian CoakleyNovember 28, 2024 at 6:54 PM

    These are awesome! I love the idea of these sorts of petty gods, and the prayer/boon mechanic feels like it could have some real juice to it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aliceNovember 29, 2024 at 5:26 PM

      thanks for reading and commenting! i'm glad you liked it :)

      Delete

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