The origins of Babylonian mythology are extremely ancient. Because of this, misconceptions, duality among the gods and goddesses, and similarities between their deities and those of other pantheons exist. In formulating this list for your use, we have consulted many sources, and some of these conflict with each other. This version is designed to be close to historically accurate and still playable in AD&D terms.
(NOTE: If you wish to look hard enough, we are sure that you will find many points of disagreement with certain historical sources. This is unavoidable, when so many sources conflict.)
The high priest of this religion is often the king of the country and must be a combination magic-user/cleric of great power. All clerical types must remain aloof from the normal populace in temples or shrines and work to further the state politically as well as spiritually.
Through Anu and the priest-king, all money collected by the shrines and temples is dealt out. The ruler also distributes all political power through appointments. The new moon is looked on as a time of great ceremony, and also a time for the people to pay money to the temples as a sort of tithe to appease the gods. Kings are expected to go forth occassionally on quests with other clerics of differing levels and bring back riches (usually through conquest) to further the sect.
Punishment for failing in duties is always severe for the cleric. The breaking of minor laws requires fasting, prayers, meditation and sacrifices of animals and goods the cleric owns until the deity makes it known through the higher-level clerics that everything is forgiven. Sacrifices are commonly made in gold or precious jewels. Major clerical transgressions include helping the enemies of the sect, communicationg with intelligent creatures or demi-humans ( all of whom are considered "demons") other than humans, and dealing with humans of the opposite alignment. These crimes are all dealt with in the same manner, by complete denial of spells at all levels and excommunication from the sect, unless the erring one will take up a quest which will greatly aid the sect (either in terms of monetary riches or loss of power to other cults).
The traditional attire of all Babylonian clerics is a wraparound kilt of white with red cuneiform writing along the hem. They have been known to enter battle, but always in the rear of the action as support. Advancement within a sect is through the payment of gold to the high-priest's court. Note that this is not the same as level advancement. Increase in ability does not guarantee increase in temporal power. Priests of a successful nature were known to be given great (and highly dangerous) quests to prove their worthiness to stand by the King.
Deities & Demigods, alternately known as Legends & Lore, is a reference book for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game (D&D). The book provides descriptions and game statistics of gods and legendary creatures from various sources in mythology and fiction. The book allows dungeon masters to incorporate aspects of religions and myth into their D&D campaigns.
For the first 1980 printing, TSR obtained permission from Michael Moorcock for inclusion of Melnibonean material (from his Elric series of books). The Cthulhu Mythos was believed to be in the public domain, so TSR assumed they could legally use it without any special permission. However, Arkham House, who held the copyright on most Cthulhu books had already licensed the Cthulhu property to the game company Chaosium. Furthermore, Chaosium had also licensed the Melnibonéan copyright from Moorcock. When Chaosium threatened legal action, the first printing was halted and the two companies agreed on a compromise: TSR could continue to use the material but must provide a credit to Chaosium to do so. TSR added the credit for the second printing of the book.
For the sixth printing in 1985, the name was changed to Legends & Lore to avoid potential conflicts with fundamentalist Christian groups such as Patricia Pulling's BADD. Despite the name change and new cover artwork (by Jeff Easley), the interior material was nearly identical to the fifth printing.
Deities & Demigods was one of many items named in a 1992 lawsuit between TSR and Game Designers' Workshop regarding the Dangerous Journeys role-playing game and various rulebooks/sourcebooks designed for that game. Once section of this lawsuit argued that "The Plane of Shadow in MYTHUS (pages 190 and 402) and MYTHUS MAGICK (pages 21-22, ...) is derived from the Plane of Shadow in the AD&D DEITIES & DEMIGODS book (Appendix 1, page 129); ..."[2]
Anu (god of the sky) "Chief of all the Babylonian Deities"
This god appears as a man. A strong breeze constantly blows in the direction of his gaze. Beings casting things at this god must make a saving throw against disintegration at -4 to resist his commands. He can summon any dragon type (except for the king and queen and any other types of dragon royalty) to fight for him once a week, per dragon type.
He uses a brass mace in battle that strikes for 2-20 points of damage plus his bonus of 7 points.
Anu is said to have created the heavens and the earth. All of the other Babylonian gods bow to his authority.
~ AD&D SPECIAL REFERENCE WORK
DEITIES AND DEMIGODS
CYCLOPEDIA
by James M. Ward with Robert J. Kuntz
1980 TSR Games
page 22
