is there a case in which Clerics have had their patron deity die, but still receive Cleric abilities without patronage of another deity or using the ritual that allows one to receive powers from dead deities? More or less a truly godless Cleric with no obvious source? Realms deities gain more power with more worshippers, so often when a deity dies, another grants spells to the “orphaned” clerics to gain their devotion. Those clerics may not be aware of the source of the granting for a time. But sooner or later the deity asks for their loyalty.
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 12, 2019
A pleasure!
I see, so there’s no getting around deities at that point, especially since a new Cleric is too valuable to divorce from doing what a Cleric does. Thanks Ed 🙂 Yes, the powers that make up being a cleric are a direct result of the support (patronage) of a deity, so you can't be one without the other. (You can be part of the clergy, but not a "cleric" as in the D&D spellcasting character class.)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 12, 2019
I know deity portfolios can be taken or shared (Dead Three). But, does Ao determine the number and type of deity portfolios? Or, does it change based upon the worshippers (~Gaiman’s American Gods)? A portfolio can only be taken if a deity is dead or too weakened to hold it. So "yes" to your second q (under the terms of my preceding sentence). As to how much say Ao has in the matter: no mortal knows, and the gods aren't saying.
(If they did, we couldn't trust em)#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) May 12, 2019