Age of Upheaval 2 - Icons of the Realms (FR + 13th Age)

Introduction

I've decided on 13 Icons for the Age of Upheaval. The number 13 is actually a coincidence. As I went through the list of greater powers in the 4E Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide I realised that I had actually chosen 13 to be Icons. Even after a second round of adding and subtracting I still ended up with 13.

Clearly, 13th Age wants to be the engine for the Age of Upheaval!

I've tried to focus these brief write-ups on the deity's response to the Age of Upheaval. I think this is the best way to approach the design of their individual goals and which the PCs will either share or try to stop.

This is very much a first draft which I will no doubt revisit several times, particularly when I sit down to actually sketch out the opening adventure.

Amaunator, Keeper of the Yellow Sun

The keeper of time and the deity of the sun, Amaunator stands against chaos and darkness. The Age of Upheaval is a challenge to him; he prefers that the ages do not change.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Crusader and Emperor.)

Bane, The Black Lord

Bane exists to rule and to reign. He brings order where there is strife, and law where there is lawlessness. But the price for his rule is total subjugation and he longs to hold all of Toril within his iron grasp and the Age of Upheaval offers a chance for him to provide stability in the face of chaotic change.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Crusader and Emperor.)

Chauntea, The Great Mother

As the Great Mother who nurtures life and who holds sway over the way in which sentient mortals interact with the world, the Age of Upheaval is a time when Chauntea's efforts are bent toward the preservation of life in the midst of upheaval.

(She has some similarities to 13th Age's High Druid and Priestess.)

Corellon, First of the Seldarine

With Mystra's death, in many ways Corellon inherited responsibility for magic, even if unofficially, and he sees himself still as a guardian and steward of the Weave even though it no longer exists. But he also believes it will return - as will Mystra - and his primary concern during the Age of Upheaval is that the Weave return as part of the Balance and not as a thing of destruction in the hands of Bane or like powers.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Elf Queen.)

Gruumsh, The One-Eyed

The One-Eyed has no grand plots or schemes. A time of chaos is a time for destruction, and destruction pleases him. It's all that pleases him, in fact, so the Age of Upheaval is a time of pleasure for Gruumsh.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Orc Lord.)

Kelemvor, Lord of the Dead

Fate demands a changing of the ages, and all that the Lord of the Dead is concerned with is there is an orderly transition between one age and the next. That which must be must be allowed to take place, and that which is not meant to be is to be stopped.

(He has doesn't seem to have any parallels with 13th Age Icons.)

Moradin, The Soul Forger

The All-Father forged the dwarven people from gems and precious metals in a furnace at the heart of the world, and he also knows that, as the ages turn, he must re-forge his people in the crucible that each new age provides. The Age of Upheaval is a time of testing for the dwarves, but they will not only endure the Age of Upheaval but become better for it.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Dwarf King.)

Oghma, The Binder of What is Known

The Binder of What is Known is an avowed traditionalist but he also thrives on new ideas and the Age of Upheaval is a time of much that is new and even revolutionary. The Age of Upheaval must, as it were, prosper. Change must take place… and sometimes even be helped along.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Archmage but only very loosely.)

Selûne, The Moonmaiden

The Moonmaiden's very nature is to provide a light of hope in the midst of darkness. The Age of Upheaval is a time when hope is difficult to come back and when the powers of darkness are strong. Selûne's light is needed now more than even, especially in the face of Shar's malignant nihilism.

(She has some similarities to 13th Age's Priestess.)

Shar, Mistress of the Night

For the Mistress of the Night, the Age of Upheaval offers her the chance to end everything. That's it. the end of everything. Shar is driven by an utter nihilism that is beyond evil. All she wants is to return everything to darkness and the chaos and hopelessness of the Age of Upheaval offers her her best chance of doing so.

(She has some similarities to 13th Age's The Three.)

Silvanus, The Forest Father

Disasters for civilisation are often times when the wildlands flourish and the Forest Father sees the Age of Upheaval as a chance for the forest and wilderness to flourish once more. But there must be balance. Too much chaos not only destroys civilisation but can render the wilderness into a wasteland especially when Gruumsh the One-Eyed finds his power and influence increasing....

 

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's High Druid.)

Torm, The Loyal Fury

The Loyal Fury stands to protect Toril from the Age of Upheaval and, in doing so, to inspire paladins and heroes to faithfully stand for justice and all that is good. Torm knows his special task is to counter the Black Lord and so he tasks his followers to watch carefully the followers of Bane. The Age of Upheaval will take place - that is Ao's will - but Torm knows it is his task to protect as many as possible from whatever evil will soon be unleashed.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Great Gold Wyrm.)

The Thirteenth Icon: Cyric, Prince of Lies

Cyric wants to be free. A side-effect of his imprisonment is that he is now outside of Ao's ability to control. If he is freed he will be largely unstoppable. He cannot be constrained by the Tablets of Fate. He doesn't want a new age because at the precise moment that the ages change, reality cracks and he believes he can escape through that crack... so he wants to extend that moment for as long as possible.

Cyric is, in many ways, the cause of the Age of Upheaval but he is also the result. He is ultimate chaos and is only just beginning to come into an understanding of what that means.

(He has some similarities to 13th Age's Diabolist, Lich King and Prince of Shadows.)