Antitheos: Deific Blasphemers

[Xuldarinar]

ANTITHEOS
Deific Blasphemers

-Since time immemorial, gods have ruled as the pinnacles of reality, garnering worship from mortal life for their own hubris and sustenance. But, so long as there has been worship, there have been those that reject the notion. It is said that from the deeds and dreams of these individuals were born the Antitheos. Entities of personified apostasy. Where gods thrive on worship, antitheos thrive on its rejection.
-Because they are not born from reverence, but rather the rejection there of, antitheos seldom attract mortal servants. Rather, they come to recognize mortals who further their ends and provide boons to them. Typically such mortals never realize the boons they have been bestowed with, let alone the patron who guides them to spread their brand of apostasy.
-While most scholars aware of the existence of antitheos believe them to be malevolent entities seeking the downfall of the gods, there is another school of thought. It is believed that some or even all of antitheos are actually benevolent of nature, acting as protectors of those whom reject the gods.
-Any intelligent creature can come into the service of an antitheos, provided the creature rejects religion as a whole. The creature does not need to know of the existence of the antitheos to come into their service, though doing so allows them to better tailor their actions to garner their favor. A creature that has the favor of an antitheos is treated as a Champion of Apostasy (See "Champion of Apostasy" below).

KNOWN ANTITHEOS
-While no antitheos is widely known by mortal or deity alike, there are those whom most frequently touch upon the mortal plane. While not deliberately revealed to mortal-ken, some scholars have touched upon these entities, and as such knowledge can be found on them if they know where to look. (These sections at present are placeholders. They will be filled out further as ideas come to me. If anyone wants to do a full and flavorful write up, I'd be happy to take it.)

???, Antitheos of Heresies
-The antitheos ??? is the antitheos of Heresies, thriving off of revelations that turn followers from their deities.

???, Antitheos of Ignorance
-The antitheos ??? is the antitheos of Ignorance, thriving off of the rejection of knowledge of the gods, both by those that reject knowledge and those whom such knowledge is denied to.

???, Antitheos of Law
-The antitheos ??? is the antitheos of Law, thriving off of the lawful forbiddance of religion.

???, Antitheos of War
-The antitheos ??? is the antitheos of War, thriving off of armed conflict declared against religions, both armed conflict against specific religions and faith as a whole.

CHAMPION OF APOSTASY
-While most disciplines stand as distinct practices, there are those blessed with more subtle gifts. Champions of Apostasy are those baring such gifts, granted power both to allow them to spread their brand of apostasy and to vanguard them against the wrath of the faithful.
-Where most classes advance by class level, champions of apostasy are granted abilities based upon their character level.

Champion of Apostasy Progression


Level
Boon


1st



5th



10th



15th



20th

[umbrapolaris]

So if i understand well Antitheos are god-like entities that despise gods?

could be a good idea, especially concerning Far Realm or obscure/dark entities like "the Shadevari" (13 shadow entities that ruled the Shadow Plane and predated Shar & Selune) in Forgotten Realms setting.

[nonsi]

So, if you serve them and they grant you power, leaving campaign story line aside for a moment, in what way are they different than gods? (purely on the mechanical level)

[Xuldarinar]

So, if you serve them and they grant you power, leaving campaign story line aside for a moment, in what way are they different than gods? (purely on the mechanical level)


A deity is a powerful (deific, for lack of a better term) entity that on some level depends upon the worship of mortals for power. This can range from them being directly dependent upon the power supplied through worship (no worship and they die), to them being entities that pursue being worshiped out of hubris and "political" power. Those of the former group that are robbed of their worship can lose power or even perish, depending upon dependency.

An antitheos is a powerful entity that depends upon mortal conduct in relation to deities, rather than conduct in relation to themselves. Lets use the concept of an antitheos of war for an example; Your traditional war god could thrive on worship, and would be pleased when their worshipers go to war. An antitheos of war could rise from, and would derive power/sustenance/ect. from those at war against religion, be it against a singular religion or religion as a whole. They don't gain anything from a worshiper, if their name is even revealed to mortals to begin with. One may garner their favor, but this would seldom be by traditional worship and in fact would likely be more frequently something unknown to the one favored. Where daemons feed upon souls for sustenance, and thus both loathe and depend upon mortals; antitheos thrive on the rejection of, and conflict against, the gods similar entities. One such entity might be an antitheos that has risen from, or at least thrives off of, the activities of Rahadoum. This being the Antitheos of Law (I.E. the outlawing of religion).



Strictly from a mechanical standpoint; Gods serve a direct function for Clerics and similar classes. Antitheos would serve a more narrow mechanical standpoint if any. Gods offer domains and spells, antitheos -might- eventually have an associated Archetype, PrC, feat chain, or something akin to swearing one's self to 3.5's Elder Evils. Gods stand as concrete examples of things people revere and are influenced by it, Antitheos would stand as less material things.

An apostate curiously hasn't been stuck down by the gods or their servants. Every attempt to find them has fallen flat, or when encounters do occur, something seems to have their favor.

[nonsi]

A deity is a powerful (deific, for lack of a better term) entity that on some level depends upon the worship of mortals for power. This can range from them being directly dependent upon the power supplied through worship (no worship and they die), to them being entities that pursue being worshiped out of hubris and "political" power. Those of the former group that are robbed of their worship can lose power or even perish, depending upon dependency.

An antitheos is a powerful entity that depends upon mortal conduct in relation to deities, rather than conduct in relation to themselves. Lets use the concept of an antitheos of war for an example; Your traditional war god could thrive on worship, and would be pleased when their worshipers go to war. An antitheos of war could rise from, and would derive power/sustenance/ect. from those at war against religion, be it against a singular religion or religion as a whole. They don't gain anything from a worshiper, if their name is even revealed to mortals to begin with. One may garner their favor, but this would seldom be by traditional worship and in fact would likely be more frequently something unknown to the one favored. Where daemons feed upon souls for sustenance, and thus both loathe and depend upon mortals; antitheos thrive on the rejection of, and conflict against, the gods similar entities. One such entity might be an antitheos that has risen from, or at least thrives off of, the activities of Rahadoum. This being the Antitheos of Law (I.E. the outlawing of religion).



Strictly from a mechanical standpoint; Gods serve a direct function for Clerics and similar classes. Antitheos would serve a more narrow mechanical standpoint if any. Gods offer domains and spells, antitheos -might- eventually have an associated Archetype, PrC, feat chain, or something akin to swearing one's self to 3.5's Elder Evils. Gods stand as concrete examples of things people revere and are influenced by it, Antitheos would stand as less material things.

An apostate curiously hasn't been stuck down by the gods or their servants. Every attempt to find them has fallen flat, or when encounters do occur, something seems to have their favor.

This still seems to me like a plot thing rather than a mechanical thing.
I still don't see what you intend for a potential player to be able to do with this.