Gnome deities

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the gnome pantheon of gods, also called the Lords of the Golden Hills, consists of the leader, Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun, Segojan Earthcaller, and Urdlen. The Glutton, GELF Darkhearth, Ril Cleverthrush and Sheyanna Flaxenstrand, being introduced in a supplemental book, are not considered canon to the pantheon, although they are included here for completion.

Baervan Wildwanderer

Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnome deity of Forests, Travel, and Nature. He lives in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of Bytopia.

Worshipers

Baervan's clerics wear wood-brown cloths and green caps. His sacred animal is the raccoon. His holy days are on the full moon, and he is worshiped in forest clearings. Treasure items are sacrificed to him monthly.

Other media

Baervan owns a raccoon named Chiktika Fastpaws, according to a female avariel (winged elf) cleric/mage character named Aerie in the AD&D computer role-playing game "Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn".

Callarduran Smoothhands

Callarduran Smoothhands is the gnome god of the earth. He is the patron deity of the svirfneblin (deep gnomes), and is not very popular among other gnome subraces. Unlike other gods of the Underdark, he is not an outcast. He voluntarily led his people to the depths as a means of encouraging diversity among the gnomes.

Callarduran Smoothhands is a True Neutral Intermediate Power. His symbol is a golden ring with a ruby star On It.

Callarduran Smoothhands remains allied with the rest of the gnome pantheon (with the exception of Urdlen), and has also forged alliances with other deities of the Underdark who share a common interest in working together, such as Eilistraee (the drow elven goddess of good drow), Psilofyr (the patron of myconids), and Shevarash (the elven deity of retribution who holds a profound hatred for drow). His primary enemies are the drow deities, especially Lolth. He also opposes deities venerated by evil humanoids also residing in the Underdark, for instance the orc and goblin pantheon, the deities of illithids, kuo-toa, beholders, etcetera.

Worshipers

Priests of Callarduran Smoothhands are regarded by their kin as their dedicated protectors and wise councillors. Many also lead small warbands seeking to neutralise drow threats. They are assisted by the Wardens of the Webspinners, an order of warriors and priests dedicated to combating the followers of Lolth the Spider Queen.

The ceremonial garb of the priests of Callarduran Smoothhands is simple grey robes adorned with small (usually red) gems, a steel or mithral circlet worn on the brow, and steel sandals as footwear. The holy symbol a priest carries is a ruby whose size is indicative of the priest's rank in the church. Novice priests are known as "the Unworked". The ranks of the church (in ascending order) are: First Facet, Second Facet, Third Facet, Fourth Facet, Fifth Facet, Sixth Facet, Seventh Facet, Eighth facet, Ruby, and the Smoothed.

When practicing the rites of the god, the priests only communicate in whispers, and their temples are domed, so as to enhance their echoes.

Flandal Steelskin

Flandal Steelskin is the gnome deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer. He appears as a balding, aging gnome with skin the color of blue mithral steel, eyes like flaming coals, and hair of brilliant blue-silver. He wears a leather apron over the rest of his clothes, and carries Rhondang, an intelligent axe-backed hammer made of yellowish metal. He is the strongest of the gnomish pantheon and is able to sniff out veins of any ore with his prodigious nose. As such, he is the patron of gnomish warriors, miners and metalworkers.

Flandal is friendly with all of the gnomish gods save Urdlen; he is also an ally of the dwarven god Moradin, who shares his interest in the working of metals. He has the ear of Garl, as he helped forge Garl's intelligent axe Arumdina.

Flandal lives in the Mithral Forge in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of Bytopia.

Worshipers

Flandal Steelskin is worshiped in underground forges by those gnomes concerned with mining, smithing, and fitness.

Flandal's clerics wear red leather armor and steel helms. Their favored weapon is the warhammer. They are miners and smiths and they watch over the safety of gnomish miners. They often undergo rigorous strength training.

Forged weapons are sacrificed to Flandal Steelskin annually, on the Summer Solstice, his holy day.

Gaerdal Ironhand

Gaerdal Ironhand is the gnome deity of protection, vigilance, and combat. He lives in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of Bytopia.

Gelf Darkhearth

Gelf Darkhearth is the gnomish deity of entropy and revenge. He was introduced in the Races of Stone supplement book.

Gelf is Garl Glittergold's brother, and rarely have two brothers been more bitter rivals. Gelf, depicted as a gray-skinned dwarf with a black beard, takes obsessive delight in opposing everything his brother attempts. This compulsion puts Gelf in the tragic position of tearing down the gnome society he loves, just to thwart Garl Glittergold. Gelf isn't evil, but he feels compelled to destroy everything Garl holds dear. Gelf is an angry, sorrowful deity, and he attracts followers of similar temperament. The reason for Gelf's attitude and rivalry with Garl is not known, but it is possibly because they both covet the Gnomish goddess of love Sheyanna Flaxenstrand. Gelf's holy symbol is a black anvil that is splt in two, set against a murky purple background. His favored weapon is the warhammer.

Worshipers

Would-be clerics of Gelf are individually recruited by senior clerics who sense kindred spirits. Those who follow Gelf are rebels so committed to their cause that they would do anything to defeat the authorities they despise.

Gelf's prayers are often wordless ululations -- long strings of vowel sounds. To nonbelievers, they sound like gibberish, but the exact order of sounds has meaning to the faithful.

Gelf's temples aren't hidden, but they are out of the way and placed so that Gelf's worshipers aren't seen coming and going. Most gnomes know where to find a temple to Gelf (assuming one is nearby), but few can think of a reason to go there.

Many of Gelf's rites seek to bestow a curse or ill will on a nonbeliever. Few are known outside the fairly insular circle of Gelf's worshipers -- with one exception: Almost every gnome warrior knows the Rite of the Adroit, a brief group ceremony that steels the minds of gnomes to the chaos of war.

If someone has hatched a plot against one of Garl Glittergold's temples -- or against a thriving gnome community -- Gelf Darkhearth is probably behind it. He takes particular glee in using Garl's faithful against him, duping adventurers into doing his bidding.

Heralds and Allies

The herald of Gelf is a 20th-level fiendish gnome rogue. His allies are succubus demons, green slaadi, and death slaadi.

The Glutton

The Glutton is the gnomish deity of disaster and greed. He was introduced in the Races of Stone supplemental book.

The Glutton is usually depicted as a massive, ravenous badger or wolverine. The Glutton figures prominently in the bedtime stories gnomes tell naughty children -- "Go to sleep or The Glutton will get you!" The Glutton is blamed whenever a burrow collapses or another misfortune befalls the gnomes. It is said that The Glutton was once a gnome who was cursed with a hideous form and a desire to consume the gnomes and all they hold dear (why is not known). His holy symbol is a gaping, fanged mouth surrounded by what looks like a golden band, and what appears to be a smear of pink blood behind it. His favored weapon is the heavy mace.

Worshipers

The Glutton's few clerics are all secretive cult leaders, for no gnomes would willingly allow worshipers of The Glutton into their burrows. New clerics are recruited from among the mad and the hopeless.

Cultists of The Glutton take his name literally when they pray, stuffing themselves with food as they make profane utterances to their evil deity.

The Glutton has no temples. His cultists meet wherever they can find a measure of secrecy.

Rites require a level of organization that The Glutton is uninterested in. If his cultists want a ceremony to perform, they have to create it themselves.

The Glutton's goals are straightforward enough that he doesn't send followers on quests. But the cults that act in his name might send adventurers on quests to acquire more evil power

Herald and Allies

The herald of The Glutton is a mighty balor. Allies are howlers, greater barghests, and nalfeshnee demons.

Urdlen

Urdlen is the gnome deity of greed and blood. It manifests as an enormous blind mole.

Urdlen is the enemy of the gnomish and halfling pantheons. The hero-deity Roykyn was formerly a priestess of the Crawler Below.

Urdlen's realm is the Worm Realm, located on the 399th layer of the Abyss. There, Urdlen tunnels through the ground, completely unconcerned with his petitioners, who dig in the tunnels he leaves behind. The petitioners, mostly evil gnomes, have no society whatsoever; they simply pursue their own greed in the ore-rich earth.

Worshipers

Urdlen's priests wear white cloaks. Its sacred animal is the white mole.

Urdlen is worshiped in underground caverns. Sacrifices of blood and jewels are made to it annually. Its holy day is the winter solstice.

References

• Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998).
• Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
• Gygax, Gary. Unearthed Arcana (TSR, 1985).
• McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996).
• Moore, Roger E. "The Gnomish Point of View." Dragon #61 (TSR, May 1982).
• Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992).
• Ward, James M. and Kuntz, Robert J. Deities & Demigods (TSR, 1980).
• Greenwood, Ed, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, and Rob Heinsoo. Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
• Redman, Rich and James Wyatt. Defenders of the Faith (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).

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