A few months back I posted on Google Plus about another chuckle-worthy find from my days as a tween DM.
Among the coverless Dragon issues and ripped up modules that single
time-misted, roach-infested box found in my mom's garage (the one
with the partial key for Tree Maze of the Twisted Druid) has
several cryptic loose leaf sheets.
This
is perhaps one of the oddest and it took me six months to figure out
what the hell I was thinking 35 years ago: that I tried to develop a
pantheon out of Erol Otus's Deities and Demigods cover.
I loved the shit out that cover (still do) with all its evocative
weirdness and the simple fact that other than those ghostly
pseudo-Egyptian it was totally independent from the contents of the
book. It was a free-floating piece of Otus fever dream.
So
anyway in its unedited glory, this is what I got...
Part 1: The Kutalikean Cover
Pantheon
Halgorr, Major, Glory/Light/Scourging (sic), Lammasu, M/F
clerics, Gold, Sunrise, Temple Hall. 600 hp.
Sinthimaxx, Major, Serpents/Deviousnes (sic), Vipers, M clerics, Secret Hall. 550 hp.
Vortok, Minor, Corruption/Chaos (Evil) , slime priests, lose (?) caverns. 300 hp, AC -10
Hatshepsut (LN), Minor
Shebaka (TN), Minor
Settnaknteh. (CN), Minor
Part 2: The Other Gods
So anywho scanning over Otus's equally
wonderful title page illustration with its own made up gods,
goddesses and divine critters, I just realized 12-year-old Chris
missed a golden opportunity. I mean look how wonderfully this rounds
out the weird fantastical cohort of deities on that cover?
Woe gets the best of it here with that
Sarku-like lichy dead god and ichor-blasting tentacle fell god. Bonus
points though for Weal's laser-ray pigeon god, Quetzalcoatl-ish, and Thundarr.
So who are these deities? What's
their portfolio?
Nekrotus, Lord of Death and Dooms vs. Valarkon, Winged Avenger of Law
ReplyDeleteYazu, the Ooze Worm of the Underworld vs. Glimmerwing, Rainbow-feathered bird of Heaven
Heldraak, Demon Dragon of Destruction vs. Luma, War-Maiden of Light
Malgard, Hell Halberd-wielding, Champion of Evil vs. Radion, Paladin of Good
Baalnaga, Hellwyrm Helpmate of Malraug vs. Gryphax, Feathered Serpent Steed of Radion!
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DeleteThat sounds about right. But now I am wondering whether Glimmerwing and Yazu are sold separately or are bundled in with Valarkon and Necrotus, respectively.
DeleteI think you can get them both ways.
DeleteWhy settle really?
Deletea Yrexil General vs. Hermaphrodites, God of the Middle Air & Tumultuous Sexuality
ReplyDeleteThe Worm That Turns vs. The Bird of Great Value
Ancalagon, the Living Lord of Poison vs. The King of Elfland's Daughter
Agni the Ring-Stealer vs. Red Ralf Stomphouse
Echidna, Mother of Monsters vs. the Sky Serpent
Love it.
DeleteI once saw the original Erol Otus painting at Gen Con many years ago. Looks even better in person.
ReplyDeleteVery efficiently written information. It will be valuable to everyone who uses it, including myself. Thanks
ReplyDeleteGraphic Design Schools - Everything You Need To Know
Yup,I did the same thing too. I wrote up E.O.'s gods in response because it irked me their wasn't any mention of them in the book and a big mistake on TSR's part as far as I'm concerned. After they yanked the cthulhu mythos from Deities, they should of added a whole new chapter with those gods.
ReplyDelete