Worldbuilding and Cosmogony
As you might or might not be aware of, I've started a new campaign world to test things like game systems and adventures. It will also be the generic backdrop for adventures in Run This... (whenever that finally gets off the ground - a downturn in the economy is bad when you need funding).
Actual world-building is something I'm fairly proficient at, but naming things is a son-of-a-gun. Right now I'm having trouble naming the various gods and goddesses that run around the world. I'm stumped and my regular idea mines are all tapped out.
So I'm asking for your help.
Below the cut is a basic cosmogony of the world and how the deities came into being. I list what the deities are deities of, but what some actual deific names to give them. I'm also interested if you see any blanks I need to fill or any general feed back you want to offer.
What I'd like to see are names that would believably fill an actual pantheon, that have some sort of linguistic link. I do not need names of deities currently worshiped or worshiped by folks in the past, nor deific names from works of fiction. Any names (or naming scheme) used will get credit when I publish (and there may be a B&N or Amazon.com gift certificate in it for you - we can talk).
Once, there was nothing but Chaos. Then came the Sun, and she shone her light. This light fell upon the Earth, and Darkness appeared behind her as a result. Moon appeared later and lived with her sisters Sun and Earth until Darkness came courting. After a time, Moon consented to marry Darkness, even though she knew she would miss her sisters. As a concession, Darkness became Midnight and agreed Moon could travel between her sister's home and his. Moon traveled between Sun and Earth and Midnight.
Moon and Midnight had several children, the god of Water, the goddess of Love, and the god of Inspiration. Midnight also had a child with Sun, the goddess of Flame, who was born at the same time as Water. While there is some tension between the half siblings, this did not cause unpleasantness between any of the parents. Sun and Inspiration later had a child, the god of Smithies.
Earth became jealous of Moon and Midnight's happiness together (and their willingness to share it with Sun) and started to plan how she might have some of it, spontaneously birthing Trickery. With encouragement from Trickery, Earth seduced Midnight and gave birth to the goddess of Civilization. When this was discovered, a rift formed between Moon and Earth and to this day, Moon only travels between Sun and Midnight.
Civilization gave birth to a daughter, Disease, and while the two have always been close, Civilization wanted more. She saw the happiness between Moon and Midnight and wanted something similar, so she started courting the god of Smithies. Smithies is a quiet god with little to say, but he quickly grew to love Civilization, accepting even her child. After they wed, they gave birth to the twin goddesses of Agriculture and the Hearth. The five of them lived contently for some time.
Trickery eventually decided to be jealous that Civilization never considered Trickery a viable mate and set to seducing her in his male aspect. Carefully and quietly he sowed seeds of discord between the couple and eventually seduced Civilization. She gave birth to Conflict, and it was immediately apparent that Conflict was not Smithies child. Conflict caused a great argument between Civilization and Smithies, such that Disease spontaneously gave birth to the god Death.
Trickery in her female aspect then went to Smithies, while Smithies' heart was full of anger and bile, and seduced him, "to allow him to get even for Civilization's betrayal." When their child, the god of Vengeance, was born, it suddenly became clear who Conflict's real father was and what Trickery had done. Civilization and Smithies made peace with each other, forgiving each other and setting rules for themselves. From this, they gave birth to the twin gods of Gates and Laws.
Even with peace returned to her family, Disease still regretted the birth of Death. Not wanting to cause another division between her parents, she went to her grandmother, Earth, and asked for comfort and guidance. Disease received much solace from Earth and eventually they gave birth to the goddess of the Underworld. They live together still.
In the meantime, Moon and Midnight gave birth to the twin goddesses of Mages and Premonitions and then the triple goddess of Peace, Mercy, and Justice.
With her family now wary of his ways, Trickery turned and looked to the mortals for influence. Trickery arranged the fall of the First Empire and gave her followers Dominion. Trickery's child Vengeance lay with a mortal woman of this Dominion and birthed upon her the demi-god of Wanton Killing, who was terrible to behold.
Earth, ashamed of her daughter's actions, lay with Sun to give birth to the god of Nature. Earth tasked Nature to reduce Trickery's influence and end her worshipers Dominion. Nature's followers, the Druids, did this and they watch against Trickery's actions in the mortal world still. The Druids worship Nature, Earth, and Sun and deeply honor Moon and Midnight. They call this the Old Faith.
Thank you ahead of time for your time and efforts. It is greatly appreciated.
EDIT: Forgot to put a deadline. November 14. Don't deadlines focus the mind? Later!
Actual world-building is something I'm fairly proficient at, but naming things is a son-of-a-gun. Right now I'm having trouble naming the various gods and goddesses that run around the world. I'm stumped and my regular idea mines are all tapped out.
So I'm asking for your help.
Below the cut is a basic cosmogony of the world and how the deities came into being. I list what the deities are deities of, but what some actual deific names to give them. I'm also interested if you see any blanks I need to fill or any general feed back you want to offer.
What I'd like to see are names that would believably fill an actual pantheon, that have some sort of linguistic link. I do not need names of deities currently worshiped or worshiped by folks in the past, nor deific names from works of fiction. Any names (or naming scheme) used will get credit when I publish (and there may be a B&N or Amazon.com gift certificate in it for you - we can talk).
Once, there was nothing but Chaos. Then came the Sun, and she shone her light. This light fell upon the Earth, and Darkness appeared behind her as a result. Moon appeared later and lived with her sisters Sun and Earth until Darkness came courting. After a time, Moon consented to marry Darkness, even though she knew she would miss her sisters. As a concession, Darkness became Midnight and agreed Moon could travel between her sister's home and his. Moon traveled between Sun and Earth and Midnight.
Moon and Midnight had several children, the god of Water, the goddess of Love, and the god of Inspiration. Midnight also had a child with Sun, the goddess of Flame, who was born at the same time as Water. While there is some tension between the half siblings, this did not cause unpleasantness between any of the parents. Sun and Inspiration later had a child, the god of Smithies.
Earth became jealous of Moon and Midnight's happiness together (and their willingness to share it with Sun) and started to plan how she might have some of it, spontaneously birthing Trickery. With encouragement from Trickery, Earth seduced Midnight and gave birth to the goddess of Civilization. When this was discovered, a rift formed between Moon and Earth and to this day, Moon only travels between Sun and Midnight.
Civilization gave birth to a daughter, Disease, and while the two have always been close, Civilization wanted more. She saw the happiness between Moon and Midnight and wanted something similar, so she started courting the god of Smithies. Smithies is a quiet god with little to say, but he quickly grew to love Civilization, accepting even her child. After they wed, they gave birth to the twin goddesses of Agriculture and the Hearth. The five of them lived contently for some time.
Trickery eventually decided to be jealous that Civilization never considered Trickery a viable mate and set to seducing her in his male aspect. Carefully and quietly he sowed seeds of discord between the couple and eventually seduced Civilization. She gave birth to Conflict, and it was immediately apparent that Conflict was not Smithies child. Conflict caused a great argument between Civilization and Smithies, such that Disease spontaneously gave birth to the god Death.
Trickery in her female aspect then went to Smithies, while Smithies' heart was full of anger and bile, and seduced him, "to allow him to get even for Civilization's betrayal." When their child, the god of Vengeance, was born, it suddenly became clear who Conflict's real father was and what Trickery had done. Civilization and Smithies made peace with each other, forgiving each other and setting rules for themselves. From this, they gave birth to the twin gods of Gates and Laws.
Even with peace returned to her family, Disease still regretted the birth of Death. Not wanting to cause another division between her parents, she went to her grandmother, Earth, and asked for comfort and guidance. Disease received much solace from Earth and eventually they gave birth to the goddess of the Underworld. They live together still.
In the meantime, Moon and Midnight gave birth to the twin goddesses of Mages and Premonitions and then the triple goddess of Peace, Mercy, and Justice.
With her family now wary of his ways, Trickery turned and looked to the mortals for influence. Trickery arranged the fall of the First Empire and gave her followers Dominion. Trickery's child Vengeance lay with a mortal woman of this Dominion and birthed upon her the demi-god of Wanton Killing, who was terrible to behold.
Earth, ashamed of her daughter's actions, lay with Sun to give birth to the god of Nature. Earth tasked Nature to reduce Trickery's influence and end her worshipers Dominion. Nature's followers, the Druids, did this and they watch against Trickery's actions in the mortal world still. The Druids worship Nature, Earth, and Sun and deeply honor Moon and Midnight. They call this the Old Faith.
Thank you ahead of time for your time and efforts. It is greatly appreciated.
EDIT: Forgot to put a deadline. November 14. Don't deadlines focus the mind? Later!