The Alphabet of Outer Beings - X is for Xenophobia

X is for Xenophobia

Xenophobia is a fear or hatred of foreigners and people from other cultures. In this instance it assumes that there are many deities and/or pantheons at work in the world and that the worship of a particular religion is a major defining characteristic of the people's culture. As such xenophobia represents not just a fear or hatred of other cultures but is conflated with the fear and/or hatred of followers of other deities. What follows is a means to determine how the deity and it's followers see and treat other religions and their followers.

Table X1: Attitude Toward Other Gods (roll 2d4)
Roll to determine how the god views another deity. This is often influenced by the cosmology of their religion; a god who exist as part of a pantheon of deities will have closer relations with others within their pantheon, and tend to be more distrustful of those gods from outside the pantheon. When rolling to determine the deity's attitude apply a -2 modifier to the roll for gods within their pantheon, and a +2 modifier for gods outside their pantheon. Lone gods without a pantheon gain a +3 modifier on all rolls. If the gods have opposing domains (such as a god of light and one of darkness) the roll is always +4. If the gods have opposing cosmic views (e.g. Law vs Chaos) apply an additional +1 atop any other modifier.

• 2 or less: Friendly - The deity has a friendly relation with the other deity. They consider each other stalwart allies.
• Apply a modifier of -3 to the roll on Table X2
• 3: Accepted - The deity accepts the other deity. They are allied in most respects.
• Apply a modifier of -2 to the roll on Table X2
• 4: Tolerated - The deity generally tolerates the other deity, but they are allies only in certain circumstances.
• Apply a modifier of -1 to the roll on Table X2
• 5: Neutral - The deity has no strong relationship either way with the other deity. They generally will entreat when circumstances require, and ignore each other otherwise.
• No modifier to the roll on Table X2
• 6: Wary - The deity is war of the other and their relationship is, at best, strained.
• Apply a modifier of +1 to the roll on Table X2
• 7: Rejected - The deity generally rejects the other deity and avoids contact. They are enemies and only entreat when a great enemy forces their cooperation.
• Apply a modifier of +2 to the roll on Table X2
• 8:+ Hatred - The two deities hate each other to the very core of their beings. The will never entreat and will always seek the destruction of the other.
• Apply a modifier of +3 to the roll on Table X2

Table X2: Typical Response to Followers of Other Religions (roll 2d4)

• 2 or less: Friendly - Members of the other deity's religious cultures and viewpoints are welcomed and viewed as an opportunity to learn more about the nature of the world.
• 3: Accepted - Members of other deity's religions live in peaceful coexistence.
• 4: Tolerated - Members of the other deity's religions are not enemies, but there is not an active dialog between cultures.
• 5: Neutral - The two religions generally ignore each other and do not interact.
• 6: Wary - The two religions are not enemies, but they are often in conflict.
• 7: Rejected - The religions are enemies, and conflict nearly always breaks out when they interact.
• 8+: Hatred - Followers of the other religion are to be immediately slain without mercy as heretics and blasphemers.