Wretches & the Old Dead Gods
In Pontifex, the main enemy of the aforementioned Church are the Old Dead Gods. These gods are a multitude of deities, demigods, and minor spirits that have fallen out of favor due to the popularity of the Church. The Old Dead Gods still hold power, however, partly due to secretive cult worship, and partly due to their allegiance under the banner of obscurity caused by the Church. Essentially, the Old Dead Gods have united their powers in distaste for the Church.
There are no real central Old Dead Gods. That is, it would be hard to create a definitive pantheon that would effectively represent the multitude of religious traditions that were once practiced throughout the realm. Rather, Old Dead Gods should be created and named by the DM when they feature prominently in the adventures of the characters. Such Gods can be used as quest-givers, contacts, enemies, allies, tricksters, guardians, and so on. Examples of this shall be given later when I actually fucking write a concrete adventure for Pontifex.
One of the major results of the conglomerate known as the Old Dead Gods are Wretches. A Wretch is essentially a humanoid creature—usually a minor spirit, ancestor, or other ghostly figure—that has been given form and shape by the power of the Old Dead Gods. Wretches, for the purposes of simplicity, are the footsoldiers of the Old Dead Gods, and they do their masters' bidding in the material world. Wretches are humanoid in shape, often with black or grey skin that seems to be shredded and cut, and sometimes flow in the wind like a torn tapestry. They can range anywhere from the size of a small fey creature to 7 or 8 feet tall.
Wretches can take the shape of other monsters. There might be a four-legged wretch, for example, but they generally take the shape of mammals. The DM might make them in familiar shapes; a Wretch might be strong and feral like a bloodthirsty Orc, or be crafty and cruel like a Goblin, or be as evil and all-knowing as a Lich.
I was considering the name of the Old Dead Gods, and how the terms "old gods" and "dead gods" seem to be overused in fantasy RPGs. So I've decided to merge them into one, clunky, annoying title. Until I come up with a catchier name, I'm using this one.
There are no real central Old Dead Gods. That is, it would be hard to create a definitive pantheon that would effectively represent the multitude of religious traditions that were once practiced throughout the realm. Rather, Old Dead Gods should be created and named by the DM when they feature prominently in the adventures of the characters. Such Gods can be used as quest-givers, contacts, enemies, allies, tricksters, guardians, and so on. Examples of this shall be given later when I actually fucking write a concrete adventure for Pontifex.
One of the major results of the conglomerate known as the Old Dead Gods are Wretches. A Wretch is essentially a humanoid creature—usually a minor spirit, ancestor, or other ghostly figure—that has been given form and shape by the power of the Old Dead Gods. Wretches, for the purposes of simplicity, are the footsoldiers of the Old Dead Gods, and they do their masters' bidding in the material world. Wretches are humanoid in shape, often with black or grey skin that seems to be shredded and cut, and sometimes flow in the wind like a torn tapestry. They can range anywhere from the size of a small fey creature to 7 or 8 feet tall.
Wretches can take the shape of other monsters. There might be a four-legged wretch, for example, but they generally take the shape of mammals. The DM might make them in familiar shapes; a Wretch might be strong and feral like a bloodthirsty Orc, or be crafty and cruel like a Goblin, or be as evil and all-knowing as a Lich.
I was considering the name of the Old Dead Gods, and how the terms "old gods" and "dead gods" seem to be overused in fantasy RPGs. So I've decided to merge them into one, clunky, annoying title. Until I come up with a catchier name, I'm using this one.
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