I have a query.

Can a person have a deity as their patron without realising it, simply by embracing that deity’s dogma?

As an example, my CoA character, Edana, is a Tymoran. Much of her outlook on life is based around trusting her luck, and hoping that everything will work out alright, but this is due to her personality, and she took Tymora as her patron as this fit her outlook.

However, supposing she grew up in a place where she had never heard of Tymora. Perhaps she’s never chosen a patron at all, or perhaps she outwardly worships a different deity, in the sense of going to the temple and praying. If she still, however, has that same trust-to-luck personality, and it’s the driving force in her life, could it be said that Tymora is her patron anyhow, despite her not realising it? Or do you have to knowingly embrace a deity as your patron for it to count?

If it's possible to outwardly worship one deity, but have another as a character's real patron, which should be put in the Deity Field at character creation?

Its pretty obvious though in this setting, unless the character grew up in a hole in the ground <,< >,>

that since Tymora is the embodiment of luck, that anyone who believes luck is the driving force in their life would worship Tymora.

I can't see you worship Bane (the embodiment of terror) and think luck is the driving force of the world. You'ld have to know the name Tymora is synonomous with luck unless the character somehow has really grown up under a rock <,< >,>

and somehow doesn't know the name of a major goddess.

Well, that's simply an example. The actual deity I'm thinking of is one that isn't quite so open about herself and about what she stands for.

If someone has grown up in a drow city where worship of Lolth is the only kind of worship allowed, I'd imagine said person might not know a whole lot about surface gods and goddesses.

But maybe the scenerio isn't as likely as I'm thinking, in which case, all input is welcome :)

I believe that the Patron Deity is the Deity you worship. For example, a Zentharim Sailor would always have Bane as his Patron Deity, because he believes in Bane's ideals, even if it would be more logic for a sailor to pick Valkur or Umberlee. I don't think I am getting my point across with this, but whatever.

Your Patron Deity, is the Diety you chose to follow. If you haven't heard of the Deity before, you can't worship/ pay tribute to him/ her, thus is the logic conclusion he/ she can not be your Patron Deity.

I agree with Coldburn. It seems a strech that you could worship a diety and just not know it.

Also, a patron deity is probably not the only one you worship, Faerun being a polytheistic world. It's just the one you worship the most or agree with their ideals more than the others.

Alright, if that's the consensus, that's helpful. Thanks :)

I might be wrong, but I believe that even if you don't actively worship someone, you still get a favored deity, due to your actions being close to some deity's dogma.

I'm almost sure I read that either on FRCS or PHB. Somewhere where it explains about patron deity.

Actually, if you worship no one you risk joining the Faithless in the Fugue Plane for eternity.

outcrowd1 Actually, if you worship no one you risk joining the Faithless in the Fugue Plane for eternity.