The Enemy Within - Developer Diary #9.pdf

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River Gods of the Empire
—By Graeme Davis
WA R H A M M E R FA N TA S Y R O L E P L AY
DEVELOPER DIARY
IX
G
ods
We can't pack everything we want into every book - there will always be more cool ideas than will fit. However,
Graeme's pitch for some extra information on the regional river gods of the Empire and some of the miracles they
grant was way to good to pass up. We may feature some of this content in a future publication, but for now they are
yours alone to enjoy!
on the
R
eik
RIVER GODS OF THE EMPIRE
by Graeme Davis
As noted in the WRP rulebook, the people of the Old World recognise many deities, both great and small. River
gods are typical of the local gods and spirits of place that may be encountered throughout the Empire and beyond.
Anyone who lives near a river or travels by water will know the name and nature of the local river god.
Theologians debate whether these local gods are aspects of Taal or Mannan, or local names by which they are
known, or minor deities in their own right. Those who live on the river do not concern themselves with such
abstractions. They just know that it is sensible to keep the local river god happy.
River gods are minor deities, and normally do not have a fixed seat of power, a recognised leader of their cult,
religious orders, or holy books. As the most powerful of the river deities, Grandfather Reik is a partial exception. The
chief priest of the Reikgott Temple (see
Holy Sites
below) claims authority over all who pray to the Reikgott and
all the riverside temples and shrines. While no one actively disputes these claims, many local priests ignore them.
All of the Reikgott’s priests are riverfolk — as are all of his followers — and the river life, they say, makes it hard for
them to learn of new edicts and pronouncements.
M
ajoR
F
estivals
s
yMbols
The followers of most river deities make offerings when the spring floods bring the year’s first meltwater down from
the mountains. This is both to avert floods and to celebrate the fertility brought to the river in the form of silt and mud.
In rivers with an annual run of salmon or other edible fish, a festival is normally held to mark the bounty they bring.
Religious symbols worn by followers of the river deities vary widely, and in many cases it is hard to distinguish
between a holy symbol and a lucky charm.
A common practice among all riverfolk is to mount the skull of a drowning victim on the prow of their boat.
Explanations for this custom vary, but most riverfolk believe that the deity will recognise the skull as belonging to
someone they had already punished, and leave the boat and its crew alone.
Other tokens include otter or duck skulls, pieces of coloured glass worn smooth by the water, crawfish claws, and
the shells of freshwater snails.
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WA R H A M M E R FA N TA S Y R O L E P L AY
DEVELOPER DIARY
IX
MAIN RIVER GODS OF THE EMPIRE
God
Altaver
Aach
Bögenauer
Gorol
Grandfather Reik
Karog, aspect of
Taal
Manann
Spheres
River Aver
Aach River, Ostland
River Bögen
Streams, Ostermark
River Reik
Rivers (Talabecland),
inc. R. Talabec
Rivers (tidal reaches,
and where there is
no local river god)
Worshippers
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Boatmen, merchants,
river folk
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Boatmen, merchants,
riverfolk
Offerings
Food, drink, coins
Food, drink, coins
Coins, sheaves of
reeds, rolled stones
Food, drink, coins
Beer, eels, silver
Food, drink, coins
Food, drink, coins
Notes
Cave Day (1 Brauzeit) sacrifice of a wheel
of aged cheese (Bernloch, Averland).
A single temple in Bögenhafen with no
full-time clerics; shrines line the river.
—
Shrines dot the length of the river
Reik, but there is no formal cult.
See
WFRP,
page 212
See
WFRP,
page 205
W
oRshiPPeRs
All riverfolk pay their respects to the local river gods along their routes, and most farmers and others who live by a
river make offerings and follow strictures in the hope of averting floods, fish famines, or worse. Many travellers make
offerings before and after a journey, as well.
The worship of the river gods is not formally organised, and with a handful of exceptions (explained below) they do
not usually have a dedicated priesthood. Almost all priests have at least one Career in the Riverfolk class, and many
riverfolk are lay priests, following a Riverfolk class but gaining
Bless, Pray,
and other priestly Skills and Talents
independently through the
Training
and
Unusual Learning
Endeavours (WFRP, pages 199–200).
Riverfolk and some travellers may wear small pendants bearing the stylised face of a river god or some other emblem
such as an oar or a fish. Others, more superstitious, string bags around their necks holding fish bones, river pebbles,
or other tokens.
h
oly
s
ites
It has been said that the river is a river god’s temple, although small shrines dot the banks of most rivers and port
towns may have small temples maintained by the community.
The Reikgott Temple
Reikgott (or, more commonly, ‘the Reikgott’) is one of the ancient names for the spirit-god of the river Reik. It is
an ancient spirit with many names and has been worshipped in the Reikland for millennia. Nowadays it is generally
indistinguishable from Manann. To the common supplicant, the Reikgott is just another name for Manann.
This temple is situated on a small rock island in the middle of the Reik, half a mile or so downstream from Altdorf.
It can only be safely reached by boat. Fortunately, an initiate of Manann is always on hand to pick up any visitors
from the bank and row them to the temple. Very little of the temple is built, as such — most of it seems to have
been carved from the island itself by the force of the Reik, and the smooth walls are a spectacular site and stand
testament to the power of Manann.
It is accepted practice that the occupants of any vessel passing the temple stop briefly to pay their respects or offer
a sacrifice to Manann, or, if they are in a hurry, to simply throw their sacrifice overboard towards the temple as they
pass. Because of the impressive natural architecture and its proximity to Altdorf, the temple is a very lucrative one.
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IX
The Rock at Split Waters
The Rock at Split Waters is the name of a sacred temple of Taal and Rhya in Talabecland. It is so named for the way
in which two tributaries of the River Stir come together at a waterfall, punctuated by a jutting monolith of black
granite at the junction of these streams. Over untold generations, worshippers of Taal and Rhya have come here,
risking their lives to swim through the turbulent waters and scale the rock to carve words and pictures of praise to
Taal and Rhya. Some of the carvings are ancient beyond compare, harkening back to the time when Ishneros ruled
the land.
The Rock at Split Waters bolsters the power of Spells that deal with water in some way. Magisters who cast Spells
of this nature within view of the Rock add an additional +1 SL to Casting Tests.
The Temple of Bögenauer
Bögenauer is the god of the River Bögen, which rises in the Grey Mountains and flows through Bögenhafen to join
the Reik at Carroburg. His temple in Bögenhafen consists of a hall with two colonnaded wings enclosing a three-
sided court, within which stands a statue depicting Bögenauer in the guise of a merchant-boatman.
Within the colonnades are several small shrines reflecting various aspects of the deity’s influence over the town’s
fortunes. There is a chapel where prayers are offered for the safety of the town’s boatmen, another dedicated to the
prosperity of its merchants, a third dedicated to the security of its walls, and so on. The temple is maintained by the
local guilds, each responsible for the upkeep of the shrine or shrines most relevant to their members. The rival guilds
strive to outdo one another in the magnificence of their shrines.
There is no priest at the temple, but on festival days priests of Bögenauer come from Bögensee to conduct services.
Bögensee
The small town of Bögensee overlooks the lake from which it takes its name, at the source of the River Bögen in
the Grey Mountains. A small monastery stands on the lake shore, and is home to the priesthood of the river-god
Bögenauer. A dozen or so priests and initiates are in residence at any given time: the remainder travel the length of
the river attending local festivals, overseeing sacrifices, and conducting services.
P
enances
Penances made to river gods usually involve sacrifices, which are usually of two kinds. Sacrifices of food, drink,
and sometimes live animals are dropped into the river, usually at the same spot where the penitent committed the
transgression for which they are atoning. Gifts of coin or labour are delivered at shrines, helping to maintain and
enhance them.
s
tRictuRes
It is almost impossible to distinguish between strictures imposed by a river deity and superstitions followed by
riverfolk. Here are a few of the most common observances.
0
When setting out on a journey, and when moving from one river to another, drop a copper penny in the water
to show respect and as a prayer for a safe journey.
0
Do not whistle aboard a boat, as this may summon up a dangerous wind.
0
To locate something (or someone) lost in a river, speak the name of the item or person while driving a nail into
a loaf of bread. Drop the bread into the river, and it will be drawn to the spot where the object of the search lies.
0
Never blow out a lantern or candle aboard a boat; snuff it out instead. Blown flames anger the river gods, and
your boat may catch fire.
0
When stopping for the night, the first drop of everyone’s first drink must be poured into the water. The deity
has worked just as hard as you have, and deserves a drink just as much as you do.
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IX
Characters who have the
Bless
Talent and follow one of the river deities above gain the Blessings of
Breath,
Conscience, Courage, Fortune, Hardiness,
and
Healing.
See pages 220–1 of the
WFRP
rulebook for more information
on Blessings.
b
lessinGs
oF the
R
iveR
G
ods
M
iRacles
These miracles are common to the most favoured
followers of many river gods. Replace the word
'Rivergod' with your Character's chosen deity.
Range:
You
Target:
You
Duration:
1 Hour
Rivergod’s
Protection
Range:
You
Target:
Area of Effect
Duration:
1 Hour
Rivergod’s
Wisdom
You implore the god to guide you, and your
mind fills with an intimate knowledge of the river
and its hazards. Every
Row
or
Sail
Test you make
gains one additional SL while this Miracle is active.
Range:
Initiative Bonus Miles
Target:
One boat on which you are embarked.
Duration:
1 Hour
Theologians disagree over this Miracle. Some claim
it is
Fair Winds,
the Miracle of Manann (WFRP,
page 222), while others maintain that it is a
separate and unique Miracle granted only by river
gods. While this Miracle is active, the boat has a
tailwind (see
Death on the Reik Companion)
and
the river’s current is steady and free of debris.
You claim protection in the name of the river god,
and the creatures of the river take heed. While this
Miracle is active, no aquatic creature can come within
Willpower Bonus Yards of you or do anything to
attack you.
Calm River
Lower Flood
Range:
Willpower Bonus Miles
Target:
Area of Effect
Duration:
1 Day
You implore the river god to show mercy, and
raging waters begin to subside. Within a few
minutes the river is back within its banks, or does
not rise above them. This Miracle is equally
effective against natural and magically-created floods.
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