What is your Tav/Durge's relationship/view on the Gods?
Oooooo thank you SO much for the tag @missfortunetherogue!! You're right, I do have angst locked + loaded for this topic 😌
Jamie giving prayer another shot and feeling exceptionally awkward about it.
General thoughts on the gods
Jamie tries not to waste too many thoughts on the gods. What have they ever done for Jamie? Nothing. Later, Jamie learns how the gods ignored Astarion, too, and used/abused their friends. They know (most of) these deities exist but have no respect for any of them.
People who aren't claimed by a deity when they die become residents of the City of Judgement and work in Kelemvor's service. Jamie would be alright with that, but they also don't think it pertains to them; because of their pact, they're pretty sure that if they ever kick it their soul is going straight to their patron's domain anyway.
The other piece of this is that Jamie's anti-hierarchy. They don't believe godhood is valid and don't support anyone, mortal or otherwise, wielding that kind of power. They don't get why people are so damn willing to serve, either, but Jamie's generally ambivalent about other people's choices... until now. Because now their patron AND their new wizard friend are BOTH chasing godhood?? And everyone they know is trying to "ascend" in some way??? Everybody PLEASE calm down!
Gods who merit a special callout
Tyr: Jamie spent their early years in an orphanage run by clerics/clergy of Tyr. Life in the orphanage was okay until Jamie's blood magic manifested itself. Unable to control their powers, baby Jamie accidentally caused someone's death. They were devastated, but the clergy kicked them out onto the streets instead of trying to understand or help them. Jamie still resents Tyr, and most of his followers, for that.
Talona: Later, priests of Talona lured young-adult Jamie into a temple after seeing how potent their blood is and how much vitality they have as a result. They captured Jamie and experimented on them for [an amount of time I am still determining lol], testing poisons and diseases on Jamie since they could withstand it far better than most. They also tattooed Talona's symbol on Jamie's neck. Jamie doesn't actually think Talona exists, but her worshippers sure are real. If there's anyone in the Realms that Jamie will kill on sight, it's a follower of Talona.
Mystra/Shar/Vlaakith/Lolth: Fuck 'em, dead to me, catch these hands, etc.
Selûne: On thin ice. Why didn't she intervene when Shadowheart was abducted? Why didn't she help Aylin and Isobel? Why didn't she save Shadowheart's parents? What's she even up to?
Bane: Deeply unserious. Jamie thinks he's absurd. Like, imagine becoming the god of tyranny. Jamie understands that oppression and villainy aren't going anywhere, with or without Bane, so they think of Bane as opportunistic and thoughtless in choosing that as his domain. Of all possible dominions, this guy chose the main force that people fight and defeat in pretty much every story ever? Loser.
Bhaal: Jamie is more sympathetic to Bhaal and Bhaalspawn, partly because they feel connected to anything that involves blood and partly because Jamie understands being born with fucked-up magic in you and having some entity weaponize you. Jamie does think Bhaalists are wasteful, and obviously it's not acceptable that Bhaal is trying to destroy Baldur's Gate. (In my first playthrough, Jamie became an Unholy Assassin lol oops)
Myrkul: Jamie's cool with necromancy, and someone's gotta be the god of it, I guess... but he's dead now too, so who cares?
Lathander: Jamie has beef with Lathander—or rather, Lathander has beef with Jamie, simply because Lathander and Jamie's patron do not get along. (Jamie thinks Lathander's anti-undead crusade is stupid anyway, and tbh most gods don't get along with Jamie's patron either.) Every time Jamie mentions Lathander by name, he zaps them with a little mote of radiant damage just because he can. Rude.
Corellon: As a genderqueer person, artist, and magic user, Jamie respects Corellon. But as a half-elf and not a "full" elf, they're not sure Corellon cares for them.
Eilistraee: While Jamie doesn't exactly worship Eilistraee, they do come to appreciate her. She'll help them out in a big way later in my fic.
Honorable mentions: Jamie also feels favorable towards Tymora and fearful/reverent towards Umberlee. They don't trust Chauntea but appreciate that she has drama with Talona.
