Hard Alignments Gods for D&D 5

The Hard Alignment system reduces Alignment to four: Lawful, Unaligned, True Neutral, and Chaotic. Most deities use the nine-alignment system introduced in Advanced D&D. Adapting deities to the new system may prove challenging.

Bypassing that, I propose a system based on the simple alignments, and another with a set of multiversal “lords” of each Alignment.

Powers That Be

A Cleric may dedicate themselves to the unnamed Powers of their Alignment. Below are the alternate names for the Powers of each Alignment and their primary Domains.

Lords of Law

Law can accommodate every Domain except the forbidden ones of Arcana and Death.

Each Domain is the province of one of the Virtues, an order of Angels.

Each angel is portrayed as a human face with its eyes closed surrounded by four wings, with the symbol of their Domain on their forhead.

Lords of Balance

Balance can accomodate every domain but the forbidden ones of Death and Order.

Despite the legalism of the doctrines of Law, the three primary entities of the Balance have roles akin to a court of mundane law. While conceptually impartial, one “Justice” accuses a soul, one defends the soul, and one weighs the evidence to break the tie. The fourth “Justice” is, by this analogy, more like a court reporter.

Ma’at

Despite their relatively few domains, Ma’at is the most honored Justice, for it is their responsibility to weigh the evidence and declare which way the Cosmic Balance tilts, both in a world and in a mortal’s heart. Their name allegedly means “truth”, “order”, and “justice” in an ancient language.

Their symbol is a pair of scales or a stylized representation of scales. The same symbole represents the Powers of Balance, leading some to believe Ma’at is the true Power of Balance.

Amah

Amah is the Justice of mercy, compassion, art, eloquence, and peace. Their role is to counsel little or no action and to give mortals and worlds alike the benefit of the doubt. They are also the patron of those who “shade” the truth and bend the rules.

Their symbol is a stylized smiling face, usually white or silver.

Zephna

Zephna is the Justice of retribution, harsh measures, and final sanctions. Their role is to counsel swift and decisive action and to give no quarter. They are the patron of those who defend their worlds and their hearts against Chaos and who sometimes use the tactics of the enemy to defeat the enemy.

Their symbol is a stylized frowning face, usually black or iron.

Quaranthune

Quaranthunë is allegedly a minor Chaos antigod who threw in their lot with Balance. They oversee the formerly forbidden domain of Arcana.

Many proponents of Balance view all forms of magic as disruptive to the natural order as untempered Law or umbridled Chaos. Not all Masters of Balance welcome users of magic into their ranks, but the Judges, supreme leaders of the faction of Balance second only to the Justices, allow judicious use of magic as a way to combat hostile magic.

Quaranthunë’s symbol is a conical wizard’s hat with a brim and a single eye in the center.

Lords of Chaos

Chaos accomodates all Domains except the forbidden ones of Order and Peace.

The antigods of Chaos oppose all stasis and all order. They take on the aspects of human tragedies and fears so as to oppose Law and Balance. Their nature and role in the ranks of Chaos beings is unclear, as is typical for Chaos.

The symbol for each Antigod is a complex sigil.