There are a lot of the historical gods missing from the land above the north wind. Just look at the Norse Parthenon completely gone.

Remember this is a world that has been in a way,  disconnected from the old world.

Last edited by BlackKnight (11/30/2018 7:34 pm)

Revengeancer wrote:

Has anyone here imported Nodens into Hyperborea in any way? I'm definitely considering finding a way to fit him in. Bealltainn is approaching in our world, and my party who is comprised of three Kelts might enjoy it. I know my huntsman will!

I am hardly an authority on Hyperborea but in my humble opinion just do it. From what I can glean from the underlying metaphysics in the sourcebook, Hyperborea has all manner of spirits and entities that offer supernatural aid in exchange for worship and offerings. Perhaps Nodens is diminished but still active, his worship obscure or forbidden. The same could be said for other Old Earth deities (I'm looking at you, Thor).  

The true nature of anthropomorphic deities in Hyperborea (Apollo, Artemis, Rel etc) has wisely been left open to interpretation. They could be aliens, cyborgs, ascended mortals, Elder Gods, or even imaginary yet still fit with the theme and existing lore. Further muddying the waters, AS&SH draws upon Old Earth shamanic and druidic animistic traditions where animals, objects, and places can have a spirit. Animism, ancestor worship, and totemism are all practiced by sorcerers in Hyperborea so it's safe to say at least some of these beliefs are "real" enough to produce results.  On the heels of that, it is implied that Underborea is the Mythic Underworld with Thaumagorgon akin to Hades. All of this ensures a rich metaphysical playground for a DM to draw upon.

BlackKnight wrote:

There are a lot of the historical gods missing from the land above the north wind. Just look at the Norse Parthenon completely gone.
 
Remember this is a world that has been in a way, disconnected from the old world.

BlackKnight nailed it. Hyperborea exists in what remains of our solar system 5 billion years in the future. Old Earth is long gone and with it, I presume, the Dreamlands and most or all of the Elder Gods*. 

DMPrata wrote:

I wonder if Nodens could be one of the transmundane….

 
An excellent suggestion. In my campaign, the transmundane often present themselves as gods, heroes, and saints to mortals. One of my players belongs to a cult of monastic Lawful knights headed by a transmundane who masquerades as a saint.
 


*I realize that the Elder Gods were shoe-horned into the Mythos after Lovecraft's death and Nodens was retroactively assigned to this category. The Mythos has a vast body of pastiche work (a lot of it is just awful, too) but I tend to stick to the interpretations of Fantasy Flight's Arkham Horror Files or Chaosium.

Last edited by Brock Savage (12/01/2018 3:47 pm)

Yes, do it.  Gods/Old Ones/Whatever the Hell trying to make an incursion and gain worshippers/followers in Hyperborea/GreyHawk/My homebrew is almost always an underlying theme in my campaigns.  It works well because the "new blood" of any religion are usually the most zealous, and will go to great ends to fulfill the wishes of their newfound diety and set themselve up as king of men.

Last edited by francisca (12/03/2018 3:33 pm)

Q-sub wrote:

When I hear the name Nodens, I envision an imposing fellow (indeed Kelt-like) with steely eyes and hoary beard, careening across the wintry plains in a strange sort of chariot drawn by hardy boreal critters...

Why, just put a red robe on him and he can be the main NPC in my upcoming holiday module 

Something like this?