Just because
a deity has a preference doesn't mean they can't do something outside
of that realm. Take a look at Boreas, god of the wild northern
winds. Boreas is pretty much well known for his power of the cold
and wild northern winds, and to a lesser extent, all winds. However,
his power extends well beyond wind. People come to Boreas for a lot
more than weather predictions and relief from the tempestuous winds.
They come for advice, revenge, and solace; they seek Boreas when in
despair, anger and joy. For those who follow Boreas, they come to
the deity for everything. So Boreas knows about meditation, magic,
growing things, undead things, portals to other worlds, information,
criminal dealings and so on. So, a follower of Boreas, needing
guidance on arcane matters would still call on Boreas to answer it.
Boreas, in turn, may ignore or answer the question or refer them to
another, depending on the whim of the god. Boreas may not be the
best (among the gods, at least) in the particular area, but he will
know/be able to do it. Even in the polytheistic mess that is divine
spectrum of Arduin, this case stands firm. Let me provide another
example. Amarydion, the earth goddess, doesn't provide prayers to
her followers. She universally requires them to employ rituals and
rites. She does, however, have a vast knowledge of prayers, and
could easily answer questions about them. Just as should could about
the moons, demons, or anything else for that matter. Just as Boreas
could. Her focus, however, is NOT those things but instead the
green, growing things and the land that brings forth the life which
everything else depends on.
My point in
providing these examples is to expand your mind and concept of the
deities. They are not simplistic beings, especially in gaming.
Arduin embraces a most complex view of deities and their use in game
play. Boreas and Amarydion, my two examples, both have their
focuses, strengths and weaknesses. They have goals, needs, and
wants, and opposing factors that force them to make choices, just
like a character does. So, Amarydion might allow the land to be
despoiled, for example, to spur forward an act of greater import to
her somewhere or somewhen else. Amarydion may allow the Faerie to
take back land, taking dominion over it even though she's opposed to
them on a general level. It depends on the goddess's goals, needs,
and opposition. Boreas might help Lyrra against her son Megalon,
even though he's not aligned with either – especially if it aligned
with his goals or needs at the moment. That's why its important to
not define them in simplistic terms. Saying Amarydion would never
countenance despoiling of the lands is false: she would let it happen
to make a greater goal occur, howsoever defined. In fact, in CY 303,
she pretty much did exactly that, when she let a large part of the
Oakendark Forest burn though the actions of her followers. It
ravaged the northwest corner of the forest, nearly destroying it. At
the same time it destroyed a contingent of Undgulon Faerie from the
Shadow Court, drove out a nest of Trivern, spread ash to feed the
soil for a massive area around it, brought back one of her artifacts
that had been lost since the Nexus Wars began, and inspired the
people of northern Falohyr even deeper into her faith of her.
