Religion

[Support Team]

RELIGION
The gods are many. A few, such as Pelor (god of the sun), have grand
temples that sponsor mighty processions through the streets on
high holy days. Others, such as Erythnul (god of slaughter), have
temples only in hidden places or evil lands. While the gods most
strongly make their presence felt through their clerics, they also
have lay followers who more or less attempt to live up to their
deities’ standards. The typical person has a deity whom he considers
to be his patron. Still, it is only prudent to be respectful toward and
even pray to other deities when the time is right. Before setting out
on a journey, a follower of Pelor might leave a small sacrifice at a
wayside shrine to Fharlanghn (god of roads) to improve his chances
of having a safe journey. As long as one’s own deity is not at odds
with the others in such an act of piety, such simple practices are
common. In times of tribulation, however, some people recite dark
prayers to evil deities. Such prayers are best muttered under one’s
breath, lest others overhear.
Deities rule the various aspects of human existence: good and evil,
law and chaos, life and death, knowledge and nature. In addition,
various nonhuman races have racial deities of their own (see Table
6–2: Deities by Race). A character may not be a cleric of a racial deity
unless he is of the right race, but he may worship such a deity and
live according to that deity’s guidance. For a deity who is not tied to
a particular race (such as Pelor), a cleric’s race is not an issue.
Deities of certain monster types are identified in the Monster
Manual. Many more deities than those described here or mentioned
in the Monster Manual also exist.
Your character may or may not have a patron deity. If you want
her to have one, consider first the deities most appropriate to the
character’s race, class, and alignment (see Table 6–2: Deities by Race
and Table 6–3: Deities by Class). If a cleric selects a deity, which one
he selects influences his capabilities. Players with cleric characters
should refer to Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells, page 32, before
picking a deity, though the information below describing the
various gods and goddesses can help them make a decision.
Table 6–2: Deities by Race
Race Deities
Human By class and alignment
Dwarf Moradin or by class and alignment
Elf Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, or by class and alignment
Gnome Garl Glittergold, Ehlonna, or by class and alignment
Half-elf Corellon Larethian, Ehlonna, or by class and alignment
Half-orc Gruumsh or by class and alignment
Halfling Yondalla, Ehlonna, or by class and alignment
Table 6–3: Deities by Class
Class Deities (Alignment)
Barbarian Kord (CG), Obad-Hai (N), Erythnul (CE)
Bard Pelor (NG), Fharlanghn (N), Olidammara (CN)
Cleric Any
Druid Obad-Hai (N)
Fighter Heironeous (LG), Kord (CG), St. Cuthbert (LN),
Hextor (LE), Erythnul (CE)
Illusionist Boccob (N)
Necromancer Wee Jas (LN), Nerull (NE)
Monk Heironeous (LG), St. Cuthbert, (LN), Hextor (LE)
Paladin Heironeous (LG)
Ranger Ehlonna (NG), Obad-Hai (N)
Rogue Olidammara (CN), Nerull (NE), Vecna (NE),
Erythnul (CE)
Sorcerer Wee Jas (LN), Boccob (N), Vecna (NE)
Wizard Wee Jas (LN), Boccob (N), Vecna (NE)
DEITIES
Across the world, people and creatures worship a great number of
varied deities. Those described here are the deities most often worshiped
among the common races, by adventurers, and by villains.
Each entry includes the deity’s name, role, alignment, titles he or
she is known by, and general description. These deities’ holy (or
unholy) symbols are shown accompanying their descriptions. (See
Table 3–7: Deities, page 32, for a summary of the most common
deities, their alignments, the domains they are associated with, and
their typical worshipers.)
Boccob
The god of magic, Boccob, is neutral. His titles
include the Uncaring, Lord of All Magics,
and Archmage of the Deities. Boccob
is a distant deity who promotes no
special agenda in the world of
mortals. As a god of magic and
knowledge, he is worshiped by
wizards, sorcerers, and sages. The
domains he is associated with are
Knowledge, Magic, and Trickery.
The quarterstaff is his favored
weapon.
Corellon Larethian
The god of elves, Corellon Larethian, is
chaotic good. He is known as the Creator
of the Elves, the Protector, Protector and
Preserver of Life, and Ruler of All
Elves. Corellon Larethian is the creator
and protector of the elf race. He
governs those things held in highest
esteem among elves, such as magic,
music, arts, crafts, poetry, and warfare. Elves,
half-elves, and bards worship him. The domains
he is associated with are Chaos, Good, Protection, and War. His favored
weapon is the longsword. Gruumsh is his nemesis, and it is because
of Corellon’s battle prowess that Gruumsh is called “One-Eye.”
Ehlonna
Ehlonna, the goddess of the woodlands, is neutral good. Her most
commonly encountered title is Ehlonna of
the Forests. Ehlonna watches over all
good people who live in the
forest, love the woodlands, or
make their livelihood there. She
is pictured sometimes as an elf and
sometimes as a human. She is
especially close to elves, gnomes,
half-elves, and halflings. She is also
worshiped by rangers and some
druids. The domains she is
associated with are Animal, Good,
Plant, and Sun. Her favored weapon
is the longbow.
Erythnul
The god of slaughter, Erythnul, is chaotic
evil. His title is the Many. Erythnul
delights in panic and slaughter. In
civilized lands, his followers
(including evil fighters, barbarians,
and rogues) form small,
criminal cults. In savage lands,
evil barbarians, gnolls, bugbears,
ogres, and trolls commonly
worship him. The domains he
is associated with are Chaos, Evil,
Trickery, and War. His favored weapon
is a morningstar with a blunt stone head.
Fharlanghn
Fharlanghn, the god of roads, is neutral. His
title is Dweller on the Horizon. Fharlanghn’s
wayside shrines are
common on well-used roads, for
he is the god of travel, roads,
distance, and horizons. Bards,
other wandering adventurers,
and merchants favor Fharlanghn.
The domains he is
associated with are Luck, Protection,
and Travel. The quarterstaff
is his favored weapon.
Garl Glittergold
The god of gnomes, Garl Glittergold, is neutral good. He is known as
the Joker, the Watchful Protector, the Priceless Gem, and the
Sparkling Wit. Garl Glittergold discovered the gnomes and led them
into the world. Since then, he has been their protector. He governs
humor, wit, gemcutting, and jewelrymaking. The domains he is
associated with are Good, Protection, and Trickery. Garl’s favored
weapon is the battleaxe. He is
renowned for the jokes and
pranks he pulls on other
deities, though not all his
victims laugh off his jests.
Garl once collapsed the
cavern of Kurtulmak, the
god of the kobolds. Since
then, the two deities have been
sworn enemies.
Gruumsh
Gruumsh, chief god of the orcs, is chaotic
evil. His titles are One-Eye and He--
Who-Never-Sleeps. Gruumsh
calls on his followers to be
strong, to cull the weak from
their numbers, and to take all
the territory that Gruumsh
thinks is rightfully theirs
(which is almost everything).
The domains he is associated
with are Chaos, Evil, Strength, and
War. Gruumsh’s favored weapon is the
spear. He harbors a special hatred for Corellon
Larethian, Moradin, and their followers. In ages past, Corellon
Larethian put out Gruumsh’s left eye in a fight.
Heironeous
The god of valor, Heironeous, is lawful good. His
title is the Invincible. Heironeous promotes justice,
valor, chivalry, and honor. The domains he is associated
with are Good, Law, and War. His favored
weapon is the longsword, and he is worshiped by
paladins, good fighters, and good monks. His archenemy
is Hextor, his half-brother.
Hextor
The god of tyranny, Hextor, is lawful evil. His
titles are Champion of Evil, Herald of Hell, and
Scourge of Battle. Hextor is the six-armed god of
war, conflict, and destruction. Hextor’s worshipers
include evil fighters and monks. The domains he is
associated with are Destruction, Evil, Law, and War. His
favored weapon is the flail. He sends his followers to
commit evil, and their special purpose is to overthrow
the followers of his half-brother Heironeous
wherever they are found.
Kord
Kord, the god of strength, is chaotic
good. He is known as the Brawler.
Kord is the patron of athletes,
especially wrestlers. His worshipers
include good fighters,
barbarians, and rogues. The
domains he is associated with are
Chaos, Good, Luck, and Strength.
Kord’s favored weapon is the
greatsword.
Moradin
The god of dwarves, Moradin, is lawful good.
His titles include the Soul Forger,
Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the
Creator. Moradin forged the first
dwarves out of metal and gems
and breathed life into them. He
governs the arts and sciences of
the dwarves: smithing, metalworking,
engineering, and war. The domains he
is associated with are Earth, Good,
Law, and Protection. His favored
weapon is the warhammer.
Nerull
The god of death, Nerull, is neutral evil.
He is known as the Reaper, the Foe of
All Good, Hater of Life, Bringer of
Darkness, King of All Gloom, and
Reaper of Flesh. Nerull is the patron
of those who seek the
greatest evil for their own
enjoyment or gain. The
domains he is associated with
are Death, Evil, and Trickery.
His worshipers, who include evil
necromancers and rogues, depict him
as an almost skeletal cloaked figure
who bears a scythe, his favored weapon.
Obad-Hai
Obad-Hai, the god of nature, is neutral.
He is known as the Shalm. Obad-Hai
rules nature and the wilderness,
and he is a friend to all who live
in harmony with the
natural world. Barbarians,
rangers, and druids sometimes
worship him. The
domains he is associated
with are Air, Animal, Earth,
Fire, Plant, and Water. Because
Obad-Hai strictly adheres to
neutrality, he is a rival of Ehlonna.
Obad-Hai plays a shalm (a
double-reed woodwind musical
instrument, also spelled “shawm”) and
takes his title from this instrument. His
favored weapon is the quarterstaff.
Olidammara
The god of rogues, Olidammara, is
chaotic neutral. His title is the
Laughing Rogue. Olidammara
delights in wine, women, and
song. He is a vagabond, a prankster,
and a master of disguise. His
temples are few, but many people are
willing to raise a glass in his honor.
Rogues and bards are frequently among
his worshipers. The domains he is associated
with are Chaos, Luck, and Trickery. The
rapier is his favored weapon.
Pelor
Pelor, god of the sun, is neutral good.
His title is the Shining One. Pelor is
the creator of many good things, a
supporter of those in need, and
an adversary of all that is evil.
He is the most commonly
worshiped deity among
ordinary humans, and his
priests are well received
wherever they go. Rangers and
bards are found among his
worshipers. The domains he is
associated with are Good, Healing,
Strength, and Sun. The mace is his favored
weapon.
St. Cuthbert
The god of retribution, St. Cuthbert, is
lawful neutral. He is known as St.
Cuthbert of the Cudgel. St. Cuthbert
exacts revenge and just
punishment on those who
transgress the law. Because
evil creatures more commonly
and flagrantly violate laws than
good creatures do, St. Cuthbert
favors good over evil, though he is
not good himself. (His clerics cannot
be evil.) The domains he is associated
with are Destruction, Law, Protection, and
Strength. His favored weapon is the mace.
Vecna
Vecna, the god of secrets, is neutral evil. He
is known as the Maimed Lord, the
Whispered One, and the Master of All
That Is Secret and Hidden. Vecna rules
that which is not meant to be known and
that which people wish to keep secret.
The domains he is associated with are Evil,
Knowledge, and Magic. He usually appears
as a lich who is missing his left hand and left
eye. He lost his hand and eye in a fight with his
traitorous lieutenant, Kas. Vecna’s favored weapon
is the dagger.
Wee Jas
Wee Jas, the goddess of death and magic, is
lawful neutral. Her titles are Witch
Goddess, Ruby Sorceress, Stern
Lady, and Death’s Guardian.
Wee Jas is a demanding goddess
who expects obedience
from her followers. Her temples
are few and far between,
but she counts many powerful
sorcerers and wizards (especially
necromancers) among her worshipers.
The domains she is associated
with are Death, Law, and Magic. Her
favored weapon is the dagger.
Yondalla
The goddess of halflings, Yondalla, is lawful
good. Her titles include the Protector and
Provider, the Nurturing Matriarch, and the
Blessed One. Yondalla is the creator
and protector of the halfling race. She
espouses harmony within the halfling
race and stalwart defense against their
enemies. Her followers hope to lead
safe, prosperous lives by following her
guidance. The domains she is associated
with are Good, Law, and Protection. The
short sword is her favored weapon.