AI Image generated by Midjourney*
The priests were dizzy and swaying from the plant brew that they had ingested an hour earlier. Now, standing in front of each other, with an obsidian dagger in each of their hands, they were ready to fight to the death. The loser would be the sacrifice that would appease the gods of the rain winds and bring honour on his family and clan. The winner would have to leave the city with his family until the motion of the stars across the sky had completed a full cycle. The circular arena of red stone seated a baying crowd of thousands. They chanted along to the rhythm of their rattles and drums slowly increasing the tempo and volume to a crescendo. Suddenly the high priest-king, from his balcony, dropped a jade encrusted sceptre into the sandy floor below. The combatants lunged at each other, as best they could.
In this post I'll share some tables for learning more about the gods and religions of Sundaland. Use 1d6 if you want to generate random combinations. Many religions will share similar attributes but these tables will help you identify those that are most prominent.
My preference is to have a mixture of these ideas present across the various cultures to give that weird Sword & Sorcery culture shock experience. Embrace the contradictions, it doesn't have to make sense to our 21st century ways of understanding.
Personally, I've never been particularly interested in elaborate religious systems and expansive pantheons of gods in my RPG settings. Similarly to how I think about magic, I believe that by describing this aspect of a setting in systematic detail you remove an element of mystery and wonder. It starts to look like a hierarchical bureaucracy (although some of you may find that fun).
I've written some thoughts on this before and referenced some interesting articles in a previous post which discuss the topic of how people in ancient times really engaged with their religion: Shout Out: Practical Polytheism.
When I use terms such as gods, spirits etc. you can substitute all kinds of things; ancestors, ghosts, demons, beings from other dimensions and realities or even aliens.
Gods, spirits and other supernatural beings are...
1. Social constructs and a figment of people's imagination that are used as part of religion to understand or explain the world and their experiences in it. None of it is real and some people or non-human beings know this.
2. Spirits residing within animate (animals, people) and inanimate objects (tools, weapons, artefacts) or locations of significance such as waterfalls, caves, rivers, strangely shaped rocks etc. They make reality do what it does. Without them water wouldn't be wet, sharp things wouldn't cut and tigers wouldn't hunt deer.
3. Supernatural powers behind natural forces such as typhoons, earthquakes, droughts, volcanoes, wildfires, mudslides and deluges.
4. Elemental beings associated with fire, water, air, earth and spirit.
5. The supernatural powers behind abstract concepts such as war, peace, commerce, music, bountiful hunting and harvests etc.
6. Aliens or beings from other worlds, dimensions, realms, times or realities (Elder Beings: Truth of the Star Gods).
Gods, spirits and other supernatural beings look like...
1. Normal humans, indistinguishable from ourselves.
2. Humans but exceeding us with far greater physical, mental or spiritual attributes. Or humans with some notable difference. For example unusual skin, eye or hair colours (for example blue skin, red eyes and green hair) or different anatomy such as wings, gills or tails.
3. Animals of Southeast Asia. For inspiration about the animals of Southeast Asia look here: The Fauna and Megafauna of Sundaland and here: Ecology Asia. Examples includes crocodiles, tigers, elephants, monkeys, water-buffalo, banteng, vultures, hyena and various birds, reptiles and amphibians.
4. A combination of animal and human anatomy.
5. Combinations of physical attributes of insects, mammals reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates (which range from from insects and worms to jellyfish and octopuses).
6. Things that aren't found in our world, universe or reality; Unusual combinations of what we would describe as wings, tentacles, claws, beaks, exoskeletons, multiple eyes, heads and limbs. Or perhaps material or non-material manifestations that the human mind can't even conceive of.
Gods, spirits and other supernatural beings posses abilities such as...
1. Only being able to affect reality in ways that are plausibly explained by natural forces. Earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires, typhoons, volcano outbursts, migrating animals, disease, famine and warfare.
2. Incredible strength, speed, agility, intelligence, bravery, prowess and other recognisable human or animal attributes and skills.
3. The ability to affect the hearts and minds of humans and animals so that it seems as if it was their own natural motivation at work.
4. The ability to affect or warp time and reality, locally or globally, for individuals or masses.
5. Bend the laws of nature such as making water run up hill, creating flames as cold as ice and making heavy things so light they float in the air.
6. Being able to create technology so advanced it could be considered magic when compared to human engineering. The technology harnesses electricity, steam or nuclear power, magnets, acoustics or magical metals. See also: Orichalcum: The Magical Metals of Sundaland
Religion is for...
1. Giving cultures a shared sense of meaning. It makes communities stronger and more resilient but can be used by some to influence or control people's thoughts and behaviour for ulterior motives.
2. Appeasing the gods and spirits to protect people from their malevolent will and destructive power.
3. Learning about other worlds, realms, the present, the past, predetermined or possible futures.
4. Enhancing or developing individuals, either spiritually, mentally or physically.
5. Improving the material wellbeing of people such as by increasing rainfall, healing the sick, improving the results for hunting and fishing expeditions, delivering success in battle or helping to find resources.
6. Protecting the culture from rival groups, natural forces, animals, diseases, beasts and monsters or other gods and supernatural beings.
People can communicate with the gods or spirits by...
1. Taking hallucinogenic substances or entering a trance state through chanting, dancing, singing, meditating or other forms of mental and physical stress.
2. Through dreams, visions, voices in nature or in their head.
3. Contemplating or observing nature for omens such as the movement of birds, tides and weather patterns. Or through astrology by watching the movement of the sun, moon, stars, planets and comets.
4. Casting bones, shell or stones. Inspecting entrails, burning or otherwise destroying particular objects or substances, or speaking with idols and statues.
5. Creating sigils, glyphs and other patterns with coloured sand, paint, woven materials or carvings.
6. By interacting with magical tools or technology created for the culture or that was lost or left behind by the gods, aliens or other beings.
Rituals involve...
1. Solitary practice.
2. Communal experiences.
3. Being led and guided by particular individuals, groups or castes.
4. Travelling to, or ritualistically walking around religious sites.
5. Sacrifices of offerings of some kind; animals, resources, tools, artefacts, opportunities, social standing or anything else of value.
6. Conflict, debate, discussion, competition, combat, games, sports or races.
Everyday religious practice for the average person involves...
1. Praying, meditating, inducing trance states.
2. Chanting, singing, playing musical instruments, dancing or story-telling.
3. Making sacrifices or offerings.
4. Enduring physical, mental or spiritual trials or hardship.
5. Consulting religious figures for advice or asking them to do rituals on their behalf.
6. Observing strict rules that govern every day activities such as interactions between people, cooking food, crafting, hunting, fishing, tending gardens, trade, commerce and resource extraction.
The religions of other cultures are...
1. Simply untrue and safely ignored.
2. True but less powerful and less consequential than our own.
3. Equally true and powerful as our own but deserves no special respect or treatment.
4. Equally true and powerful, should be respected and have as valid a right to exist as our own.
5. Equally true but more powerful than our own. Should be feared and respected.
6. Whether true or untrue, dangerous and must be destroyed.
Two more relevant sets of tables (there are many more in the Content Overview section found in the side bar):
Random Sundaland Culture Generator
Cultural Flavour Tables
*Using AI images on this blog
How do my readers feel about the use of AI / machine learning / algorithm generated images? I'm an artist myself and I understand the rise of this technology will have an impact on all kinds of artists, whether amateur or professional. However all the content on this blog is provided for free and so I do not have a budget to put towards new artwork. I'm open to opinions.
