Pantheon: The Celestial Bureaucracy

Pantheon: The Celestial Bureaucracy

While working on the "oriental" parts of my setting, I realized that the standard D&D deities do not really work thematically. So, I had to read how Planescape, Forgotten Realms, and Dominions did it, and wrote up a quite generic pantheon. Nothing inspired, but at least now there are statblocks for deities, and that's important for the clerics and other characters with divine powers.

Jade Emperor, The
Greater deity
Alignment: Lawful Good
Symbol: jade dragon
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: creation, social order
Domain (-10%): air spells, water spells, weather spells, knowledge spells
Worshipers: ministers, rulers

The Jade Emperor is an ancient deity and the head of the Celestial Bureaucracy. He appears as an old, bearded man of huge proportions, dressed in the robes of a bureaucrat. He has few direct worshipers, as most of them direct their prayers to other members of the Celestial Bureaucracy, while the Jade Emperor rules over the pantheon.

Celestial General, The
Intermediate deity
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Symbol: jade sword
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: war, honor, courage, martial prowess, loyalty
Domain (-30%): spells that improve physical characteristics, martial prowess; spells that repair weapons and armor; spells that grant bravery; spells that conjure weapons and armor; spells that improve weapons and armor
Worshipers: generals, soldiers, fighters

The Celestial General is the right hand of the Jade Emperor. He embodies honor, courage, discipline, and martial prowess. Many – from lowly peasants to soldiers and samurais to shoguns and other warlords worship him.

Jinyu
Lesser deity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Symbol: golden carp
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: water, secrets, consumption, hunger
Domain (-20%): food spells, knowledge spells, water spells
Worshipers: spies, imperial agents, sages of forbidden lore, lung dragons, carp hengeyokai

Jinyu once was a carp dwelling in a decorative pond in the gardens of the Jade Emperor. For eternities, he lurked under the surface of those still waters, occasionally surfacing to spy on the ruler of all, learning forbidden names and the secrets of the divine. When the Jade Emperor left his palace to inspect the mortal realms, Jinyu used the secrets he had gleaned during his patient wait to attain immortality. Upon his return, the Jade Emperor was furious with this betrayal, but he forgave Jinyu and made him part of the Celestial Bureaucracy. Now Jinyu feeds on the flesh of those that displeased his master and serves as the Emperor’s spymaster.
    Jinyu appears as a gigantic, fat human with the head of a carp. He wears loose robes and uses no weapons.
    Jinyu is worshiped by spies, imperial agents, and sages of forbidden lore. He also has some lung dragon worshipers, and some consider Jinyu part of the draconic pantheon as well. Carp hengeyokai often worship Jinyu.

Rijie
Lesser deity
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Symbol: yellow sun
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: sun, fire, healing
Domain (-20%): light spells, fire spells, healing spells
Worshipers: farmers, healers

Rijie is one of the Jade Emperor’s daughters. She was given the mandate of the sun and health. She oversees the health of all living beings, the light of the sun, and embodies the fiery wrath of the Jade Emperor.

Tege
Lesser deity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Symbol: two crossed lightning bolts
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: earth, vengeance, storm, disaster
Domain (-20%): earth spells, air spells, weather spells
Worshipers: fishermen, peasants

Tege is one of the Jade Emperor’s sons. He was given the mandate of the storms, retribution, and cataclysms. He oversees natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes.

Yuejie
Lesser deity
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Symbol: blue crescent
Home plane: Spirit World
Portfolio: moon, harvest, time, souls
Domain (-30%): spirit spells, moon spells, time spells, plant spells.
Worshipers: farmers, ministers

Yuejie is one of the Jade Emperor’s daughters. She was given the mandate of the moon and harvest. She oversees the passage of time, growth of plants, and the departed souls.