Religion (Hellas Supplement)

Religion in the World

Religion in the Ancient World was very immediate in people's lives. They believed that the gods were constantly among them, and paid homage to all gods (though they often still had patron deities.) Thus, even the most devout priests of Pallas Athena would honor Poseidon before a sea voyage.

This has two major impacts. First, fortune or misfortune were often directly attributed to gods ("We must have lost the battle because Ares came among their army and inspired their warriors to greatness....") The gods were seen as being "among" the people constantly. Secondly, sacrifices to the gods were not only common, but indeed were considered necessary. Without a sacrifice to the gods (or at least a small libation or thoughts of praise), any venture was sure to meet with misfortune.

Finally, magic was entirely inseparable from the working of the gods. To the ancients, divine magic and arcane magic are the same entity. Thus, wizards know they unlock their power through study, but nonetheless believe that the ultimate source of that power is from the gods; they simply access it in a less direct manner than clerics do (through prayer.)

Sacrifice

Any major venture that doesn't begin with homage being paid to the proper deities has a 50% chance of being significantly set back in some way (the Gods, whom are displeased, make this so). Further, an elaborate sacrifice can bestow the following effects, depending upon the Hit Dice of the creature sacrificed. The ceremony must last at least an hour and other offerings (incense, precious metals, etc.) must also be given. The value of the additional offerings must be equal to at least 5gp per Hit Dice of the creature sacrificed. The following are possible benefits from the completion of such a ceremony (other effects are possible at the DM's discretion):

Sacrifice Benefits

HD	Benefit Bestowed
0-5	Bless effect for 24 hours.
6-10	Aid effect for 24 hours.
11-15	Remove Curse or Remove Disease on one target (must be present at the ceremony).
16-20	Restoration.
21-25	Break Enchantment.
25+	Greater Restoration or Resurrection.

Environmental Interference

The gods, as a sign of their pleasure or, more commonly, displeasure, often interfere with the weather in many ways. This includes all sorts of Evil Weather, as well as dramatically planned eclipses, droughts, rains of frogs, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, firestorms, pillars of salt or gold arising from the ground, etc.

List of Major Deities

Ancient Greco-Roman Deities

Greek name	Roman Name	Alignment	Description
Aphrodite	Venus	CG	Goddess of love and beauty.
Apollo	Apollo	NG	God of the sun (light), reason, music, healing, prophecy, and poetry.
Ares	Mars	NE	God of war and bloodshed.
Artemis	Diana	CG	Goddess of hunting and archery.
Athena	Minerva	LG	Goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war.
Demeter	Ceres	NG	Goddess of agriculture, grain, harvest and earth.
Dionysus	Bacchus	CN	God of wine, agriculture, and the theatre.
Hades	Pluto	LN	God of the Dead and lord of the Underworld.
Hephaestus	Vulcan, Mulciber	LN	God of fire and the forge (smiths).
Hera	Juno	CG	Goddess of marriage, family, and motherhood.
Hermes	Mercury	NG	God of travel, thieves, and commerce.
Hestia	Vesta	NG	Goddess of the hearth and domestic life.
Nemesis		LE	Goddess of Revenge.
Pan	Faunus	CG	God of flocks and sheep.
Poseidon	Neptune	CN	God of the sea.
Zeus	Jupiter, Jove	LN	God of air, thunder and lightning.

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