Deity profiles/governances

[Nekrostench]

Forgive me if this has been brought up before, it may have in the long history this server has. BUT, it's something that I have been curious about...for a long while actually, but was unsure how to approach it, so now, finally, I felt asking those who would have a better chance of knowing..

When a Deity posses several portfolios, sometimes related to one another, or sometimes seemingly different, in respects to the mulhorandi deities. Is the deity's portfolios as a whole, all of them - taken into consideration, when worshiping a deity or having an interest in said deity? For a hypothetical example, when Bane is worshiped by an establish fortress temple full of clerics, are -all- his portfolios/divine governance taken into consideration? Vs a cult existing that may only take some of his portfolios into consideration? The fortress temple would see him as Bane, god of hatred, fear, and tyranny. Vs a Cult in the woods or a basement, that would primarily only see him as just a deity of hatred, or just fear? and not really focus on the other portfolios? This just being a random made up example question.. Or Cyric, would there be major temples that see him for the deity he is, vs a cult that sees him as a deity of -just- lies, deception and strife, with less, if (strangely) no emphasis on his murder profile as another hypothetical example?

Could there be a deity of, (for another hypothetical example) - cruelty, political corruption, power-brokers and betrayal, but a cult or church simply sees that deity as JUST a deity of cruelty and betrayal? Or more so a deity associated primarily with -just- power-brokers and political corruption and facilitating said corruption and less about brute cruelty and the betrayal associated with cruelty in terms of physically brutalization?

I have tried to word my question as best I could..Thank you in advance for those willing to take on the silly meanderings. I very much look forward to what a more learned mind in respects to forgotten realms lore and theology can tell me =]

[Munroe]

Jul 15, 2020 19:11:40 GMT -5 Nekrostench said:

Forgive me if this has been brought up before, it may have in the long history this server has. BUT, it's something that I have been curious about...for a long while actually, but was unsure how to approach it, so now, finally, I felt asking those who would have a better chance of knowing..

When a Deity posses several portfolios, sometimes related to one another, or sometimes seemingly different, in respects to the mulhorandi deities. Is the deity's portfolios as a whole, all of them - taken into consideration, when worshiping a deity or having an interest in said deity? For a hypothetical example, when Bane is worshiped by an establish fortress temple full of clerics, are -all- his portfolios/divine governance taken into consideration? Vs a cult existing that may only take some of his portfolios into consideration? The fortress temple would see him as Bane, god of hatred, fear, and tyranny. Vs a Cult in the woods or a basement, that would primarily only see him as just a deity of hatred, or just fear? and not really focus on the other portfolios? This just being a random made up example question.. Or Cyric, would there be major temples that see him for the deity he is, vs a cult that sees him as a deity of -just- lies, deception and strife, with less, if (strangely) no emphasis on his murder profile as another hypothetical example?

Could there be a deity of, (for another hypothetical example) - cruelty, political corruption, power-brokers and betrayal, but a cult or church simply sees that deity as JUST a deity of cruelty and betrayal? Or more so a deity associated primarily with -just- power-brokers and political corruption and facilitating said corruption and less about brute cruelty and the betrayal associated with cruelty in terms of physically brutalization?

I have tried to word my question as best I could..Thank you in advance for those willing to take on the silly meanderings. I very much look forward to what a more learned mind in respects to forgotten realms lore and theology can tell me =]

A cleric might choose to venerate one aspect of a deity more than other aspects, and could certainly choose to promote only a certain aspect among worshipers, but would likely be aware of the deity's entire portfolio and not work against the portfolio. Of course not all clerics are the same, so there could be exceptions.

In Gargauth's case, his main body of worshipers is very rigid and organized, and operates in secret cabal within an organization, that is also a secret organization. Gargauth speaks directly to this cult through a magical artifact. Many members of the secret organization in question do not realize that their organization is actually dedicated to Gargauth, instead believing its ultimate goal is the accumulation of wealth and prosperity for members. FRC doesn't require that all Gargauth worshipers on FRC belong to that organization though, since it's not functioning as a religious organization for day-to-day members. Worship of Gargauth outside the organization is most likely to occur among people already interested in his portfolio since he's not the most common deity to stumble upon by accident. He is called The Hidden Lord, after all.

[malclave]

I would think that any religious community like a temple of monastery would at least acknowledge the whole portfolio (except in some rare situations... IIRC, there was a time when Leira's followers didn't know themselves they were worshipping Cyric), but they certainly might only be primarily concerned with a portion of it.

For example, a group of midwives tending a shrine of Lathander might be focused on Childbirth, Youth, and Vitality. They'd probably observe Dawn and Spring, but not really care too much about Athletics.

[Nekrostench]

Thank you very much for the concise answers on this! and again, apologies for the poor wording of my question. =] I very much enjoy hungrily reading what is posted by those far more learned than me in regards to forgotten realms lore!