Lords of the Golden Hills
Baervan Wildwanderer (bay-ur-van wild-wan-der-er), the gnome god of forests, travel, and nature, is neutral good. His titles include the Masked Leaf. He loves the forest and its animals and is always accompanied by his intelligent giant raccoon companion, Chiktikka Fastpaws, whose impulsive nature has landed the two in all sorts of misadventures. Like all gnomes he is good-natured and loves practical jokes. His followers include many gnomes who live in or protect wild places, as well as those who often undertake long journeys. The domains associated with him are Animal, Good, Plant, and Travel, and his favored weapon is the halfspear.
The church of the Masked Leaf is well regarded among most gnome communities, particularly forest gnomes, for Baervan and his followers are a likable bunch. Baervan's penchant for getting into trouble has long been a source of amusement and pride for the Forgotten Folk, and they generally embrace his mischievous nature as portrayed in the behavior of his clergy. Among other races, the church of Baervan is little known save among other elven and sylvan deities. The Fair Folk, particularly the wild elves, view the cult of the forest gnomes with great affection, as they do the followers of the Seelie Court.
Novices of Baervan are known as Acorns. Full priests of the Masked Leaf are known as Wildwanderers. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Baervanian priests are Chipmunk, Squirrel, Opossum, Hedgehog, Marten, Red Fox, Lynx, and Wolf. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as Fastpaws. The clergy of Baervan includes forest gnomes (65%), rock gnomes (33%), and deep gnomes (2%). His priesthood is split almost evenly between males (55%) and females (45%). Baervan's clergy includes specialty priests (45%), cleric/thieves (35%), clerics (12%), cleric/illusionists (6%), and fighter/clerics (2%).
The clerical garb of Baervan's priests includes a green cap (always worn at a jaunty angle), and wood brown clothing (leather armor will do in a pinch). The holy symbol of the faith is an oversized acorn, carefully tended so it achieves triple the normal dimensions before is it ritually harvested by asking the tree that bore it for its use in Baervan's name.
Baravar Cloakshadow
Baravar Cloakshadow (bare-uh-vahr cloke-sha-doh), the gnome god of illusion, deception, and traps, is neutral good. He is also known as the Sly One, the Master of Illusion, and the Lord in Disguise. He is charged with the protection of the gnome race, and he and his followers use illusion, traps, and trickery in order to defend the Forgotten Folk. He and his followers tend to be a bit untrusting of outsiders and often work in the shadows or behind webs of illusion. The domains associated with him are Good, Protection, and Trickery, and his favored weapon is the dagger.
The church of Baravar is highly regarded for its efforts on behalf of the Forgotten Folk in the ongoing battles between goblins, kobolds, and gnomes over he same tunnels and caves, even if the more cultured gnomes find the priesthood's methods somewhat brutish. Baravar's faithful are deservedly admired for their skill in manipulating the Weave and Grafting illusions of incredible realism. But their penchant for deception has earned them a measure of distrust among most gnomes, even those who seek to emulate the trickery of Garl Glittergold. Baravar's faithful maintain a low profile around humans and other demihuman races, and they are often viewed as little more than a priestly variant of the gnome illusionists. Dwarves in particular exhibit a degree of distaste for the priesthood of the Sly One, for Baravar's faithful embody nearly everything the Stout Folk dislike about gnomes.
Novices of Baravar are known as the Cloaked. Full priests of the Sly One are known as the Illusory. Baravarian priests employ a wide variety of titles, seemingly changing them to suits their purposes in any given situation. It is not clear that any true hierarchy of titles actually exists. Specialty priests are known as Hoodwinkers. The clergy of Baravar includes rock gnomes (60%), deep gnomes (30%), and forest gnomes (10%). Males comprise a slight majority of his priesthood (60%). Baravar's clergy includes specialty priests (40%), cleric/illusionists (30%), illusionists (12%), cleric/thieves (10%), fighter/clerics (5%), and clerics (3%).
The ceremonial garb of priests of Baravar consists of a hooded black cloak, a gray cloth mask, and an ornate silver dagger with a wavy blade. The holy symbol of the faith is a tarnished miniature of the silver dagger.
Callarduran Smoothhand
Callarduran Smoothhands (kaal-ur-duhr-an smooth-hands), a neutral deity, is the gnome god of stone, the deep underground, and mining. His titles include the Deep Brother and the Master of Stone. He and his followers derive joy from the discovery and mining of rubies and other types of gems. He is the patron of deep gnomes and is consequently worshiped by most members of that race. He and his followers actively oppose those who would destroy the deep gnomes: the evil Underdark races such as the drow, kuo-toas, and illithids. The domains associated with him are Earth and Protection, and his favored weapon is the battleaxe.
Callarduran's church is little known beyond the Underdark cities of the svirfneblin, even among the other gnome subraces. Among the deep gnomes, the Deep Brother's priests are highly regarded for their wise council and steadfast dedication to protecting their kin. The drow are well aware of this cult's zeal in hunting the minions of the Spider Queen, and they return the favor whenever possible. Other evil-aligned Underdark races mark this church as anathema to their people, an opinion that is a positive measure of the priesthood's effectiveness in safeguarding the communities and mines of the svirfneblin.
Novices of Callarduran are known as the Unworked. Full priests of the Deep Brother are known as the Smoothed. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Callardurian priests are First Facet, Second Facet, Third Facet, Fourth Facet, Fifth Facet, Sixth Facet, Seventh Facet, Eighth facet, and Ruby High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as Earthbloods. The clergy of Callarduran includes deep gnomes (97%), rock gnomes (2%), and forest gnomes (1%). Only males are permitted in the priesthood (100%). Callarduran's clergy includes cleric/illusionists (45%), specialty priests (40%), fighter/clerics (8%), clerics (5%), and cleric/thieves (2%).
The ceremonial garb of Callarduran's priesthood includes simple, slate-gray robes adorned with tiny gems of varying hue (although red is favored). A silver or mithral circlet is worn on the brow and steel sandals on the feet. The holy symbol of the faith is a ruby, with the size of the gem identifying the relative importance of the priest in the church. The highest-ranking priests of the faith use star rubies as their holy symbols.
Flandal Steelskin
Flandal Steelskin (flan-dahl steel-skin), the gnome god of mining, physical fitness, metalworking, and smithing, is neutral good. His titles include the Master of Metal, the Lord of Smiths, and the Great Steelsmith. He is best known as the patron of gnome miners and smiths. He is also worshiped by those who depend on the creations (such as armor and weapons) of smiths, as well as those who rely their own strength to prosper. The domains associated with him are Good and Strength, and his favored weapon is the warhammer.
The church of Flandal is highly regarded by most gnomes, for its priests are typically master smiths, a very respected occupation in the societies of the Forgotten Folk. They are known to share the secrets of their crafts with gnome artisans and craftsfolk without prejudice. The Stout Folk also hold the Master of Metal in high regard, and Flandal's followers are considered on the average to be the equal of dwarven smiths, a high compliment from the proud children of Moradin, and the followers of Flandal Steelskin are seen to embody nearly everything dwarves like about the gnome character. Humans, elves, and half-elves respect the workmanship of the Forgotten Folk, but their work lacks the mystique that enfolds dwarven smithcraft, and as a result, Handal's faith is less widely known than that of Moradin.
Novices of Flandal are known as the Unworked. Full priests of the Master of Metal are known as the Tempered. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Flandalian priests are Tinsmith, Bronzesmith, Brasssmith, Coppersmith, Silversmith, Electrumsmith, Goldsmith, Plarinumsmith, and Steelsmith. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as Pyrosmiths. The clergy of Flandal includes rock gnomes (65%), deep gnomes (25%), and forest gnomes (10%). Males make up the majority of his priesthood (88%). Flandal's clergy includes specialty priests (55%), fighter/clerics (35%), clerics (7%), cleric/illusionists (2%), and cleric/thieves (1%).
The ceremonial garb of Flandal's priests is a steel helm and a suit of metal armor, typically chain mail or plate mail. Senior priests tint their metallic vestments the red-orange hue of the forge. The holy symbol of the faith is a miniature steel hammer engraved with a flame.
Gaerdal Ironhand
Gaerdal Ironhand (gair-dahl eye-urn-hand), the gnome god of vigilance and combat, is lawful good. He is known as the Stern and the Shield of the Golden Hills. He and his followers defend gnomes and gnome settlements from hostile outsiders and practice their skills ceaselessly in order to protect their homelands from danger. He and his followers are rather stern and dour, being dedicated to the arts of war and defense, and as a result, are anomalies among the funloving gnomes. The domains associated with him are Good, Protection, and War, and his favored weapon is the warhammer.
Gaerdal's stern nature is faithfully matched by his priests, and as such, while his faith is well respected among the Forgotten Folk, it is not greatly loved. The faithful of the Shield of the Golden Hills have more in common with the Stout Folk than their own kin, and Gaerdal's church is well respected by those dwarves who venerate Gorm Gulthyn. Although the existence of this cult is not widely known among other races, it is well regarded by those halfling followers of Arvoreen and human followers of Torm and Helm who have learned of their gnome analogs.
Novices of Gaerdal are known as the Eyes of Shield. Full priests of the Shield of the Golden Hills are known as the Vigilant Host. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Gaerdalian priests are Stern Watcher, Stem Observer, Stern Guard, Stern Sentinel, Stern Sentry, Stern Guardian, Stern Defender, and Stern Protector. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as Sternshields. The clergy of Gaerdal includes rock gnomes (75%), forest gnomes (15%), and deep gnomes (10%). Males make up the majority of his priesthood (85%). Gaerdal's clergy includes specialty priests (60%), fighter/clerics (24%), clerics (13%), cleric/illusionists (2%), and cleric/thieves (1%).
The ceremonial vestments of Gaerdal's clergy include a suit of chain mail, an open-faced helm, and a shield emblazoned with the god's device. The faith's holy symbol is an iron or steel band worn on the right forearm.
Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold (garl gliht-ter-gold) is the Watchful Protector of the Forgotten Folk and the leader of the gnome pantheon. He is said to have discovered the first gnomes while exploring a new cavern and then told them a joke before leading them into the world. All gnomes who embrace the communal life of the Forgotten Folk venerate the Joker, even if they also worship another deity. His name is invoked by gnomes involved in smithcraft (particularly those who work with gold) and gem cutting. Gnomes who wish to play a prank or tell a joke invoke his name, as do those who seek to protect and strengthen gnome communities. The domains associated with him are Good, Protection, and Trickery, and his favored weapon is the battleaxe.
The church of Garl is highly regarded throughout gnome society for its role in bringing the community together, and the Joker's priests often serve as both the spiritual and temporal leaders of their communities. In the conscious emulation of the overlapping interests of the god and the other members of the pantheon, the church of Garl works closely with most other gnome churches, engendering a great deal of good will. A significant minority of the church clergy seeks to emulate the adventures of Garl, and it is this subgroup that is primarily visible to members of other races. As such, the other human and demihuman races commonly regard the Joker's faithful as a loosely organized, ebullient, and friendly bunch, forever getting involved in shenanigans of one sort or the other and inveterate practical jokers. The mischievous exploits of both god and clergy are told and retold around the hearths of gnomes throughout the Realms.
Novices of Garl are known as the Uncut. Full priests of the Joker are known as Jewels. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Garlian priests are Amethyst, Topaz, Opal, Jacinth, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, and Sapphire. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles, but high female priests are known collectively as Star Rubies whereas high male priests are known as Star Sapphires, although neither gender-based group is considered senior to the other. Specialty priests are known as Glitterbrights. The clergy of Garl includes rock gnomes (73%), forest gnomes (25%), and deep gnomes (2%). His priesthood is split roughly evenly between female and male gnomes (48%/52%, respectively). Garl's clergy includes specialty priests (40%), cleric/illusionists (19%), cleric/thieves (17%), fighter/clerics (15%), and clerics (9%).
The ceremonial garb of Garl's priests includes a gold-plated war helm, a golden belt, and if possible, a suit of gold-plated chain mail or plate mail. The holy symbol of the faith is a brightly colored gold nugget worth at least 10 gp.
Segojan Earthcaller
Segojan Earthcaller (seh-goe-jann urth-cahl-ur), the gnome god of earth, nature, and the dead, is neutral good. His titles include the Earthfriend, the Lord of the Burrow, and the Digger of Dens. He is the patron of the rock gnome race and is thus revered by many of that kind. His area of concern is the shallow depths beneath the surface, and plants, creatures, and gnomes who live and work there. His followers protect the gnome burrows from those who would invade them and often lead those who endeavor to expand the diggings. The domains associated with him are Earth and Good, and his favored weapon is the heavy mace.
The church of Segojan holds a prominent position in most rock gnome communities for the god is the patron of this subrace and his priests are involved in nearly every important aspect of gnome society. Although the clergy of Callarduran Smoothhands and Baervan Wildwanderer occupy more prominent positions in deep gnome and forest gnome communities, respectively, Segojan's church serves an important secondary function and works closely with the other clergies. In particular, forest gnome priests of Segojan emphasize their god's oversight of the natural world, while deep gnome priests of the Lord of Burrows emphasize their god's interest in the earth.
Novices of Segojan are known as the Unearthed. Full priests of the Lord of Burrows are known as Earthcallers. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Segojian priests are Shrew, Mole, Vole, Ermine, Groundhog, Wolverine, Badger, and Aurumvorax. High-ranking priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known as Earthfriends. The clergy of Segojan includes rock gnomes (80%), deep gnomes (18%), and forest gnomes (2%). Females make up the majority of his priesthood (70%). Segojan's clergy includes specialty priests (50%), clerics (30%), fighter/clerics (10%), cleric/illusionists (9%), and clerics/thieves (1%).
The ceremonial vestments of Segojan's priesthood include a fur cap and a suit of leather armor of gray or dark brown hue. The Lord of Burrows insists that no pan of any animal that must be hunted for sustenance go to waste, and the use of animal furs and skins in the vestments of the church is a way of abiding by this teaching. The holy symbol of the faith is a large and skillfully cut gem into which a light or continual light spell has been cast. The power of the god changes this incantation causing the jewel to glow from within for as long as it serves as a holy symbol of one of Segojan's priests.
Urdlen
Urdlen (urd-len), the gnome god of greed, bloodlust, and hatred, is chaotic evil. It is known as the Crawler Below. It is a pale and sexless being that is often portrayed as a huge, furless mole with wickedly sharp claws. It symbolizes the rarely spoken of taint of evil that sometimes burrows into the hearts of gnomes who turn from innocent trickery and fun to planning jokes and other schemes that do more harm than good. Those gnomes who have succumbed to greed, bloodlust, and hatred are its followers, and they honor it by plotting to seize power and offering blood-soaked sacrifices. The domains associated with it are Earth and Evil, and its favored weapon is the claw bracer.
Those who follow Urdlen are despised and feared by the Forgotten Folk. Its cult is a particular threat to rock gnomes and deep gnomes, but even forest gnomes suffer from its followers' depredations. Spriggans both venerate and fear the Crawler Below, and most are members of its cult. Urdlen's cult is opposed by good-aligned dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, and tales of the god's hunger for blood and destruction are a growing part of the mythology of the Small Folk. Other surface races have little knowledge of this obscure cult, typically merging tales of the god's rampages into stories of a wide range of horrors from below. Subterranean races are more likely to have been assaulted by Urdlen's avatar or that of its followers, and as such, its cult is a more credible threat.
Novices of Urdlen are known as the Unblooded. Full priests of the Crawler Below are known as Deep Crawlers. Individual priests have their own unique titles. Specialty priests are known as Bloodstalkers. The clergy of Urdlen includes rock gnomes (60%), deep gnomes (18%), forest gnomes (12%), and Spriggans (10%). Males make up the majority of its priesthood (70%). Urdlen's clergy includes specialty priests (60%), cleric/thieves (15%), clerics (12%), fighter/clerics (10%), and cleric/illusionists (3%).
During depraved ceremonies, priests of the Crawler Below wear blood-stained white cloaks made from the pelts of animals such as polar bears, winter wolves, and the like. The holy symbol of the faith is a blood-soaked skull, although most of Urdlen's priests keep a blood-fed white mole as both a pet and a symbol of their god.
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Gond or Nebelun
Nebelun (NEHB-eh-luhn) the Meddler is the name by which the Forgotten Folk of the Realms refer to Gond the Wonderbringer, although a new, small but emerging cult believes that Nebelun and Gond are separate gods. In truth, Gond is a distinct entity unrelated to the lesser god Nebelun venerated by gnomes of other worlds, but that gnome power is not active in the Realms. Gond has assumed his aspect within the crystal sphere of Realmspace. During the Time of Troubles Gond, in the avatar of a gnome, washed ashore on Lantan. His true nature was quickly discovered, and the deity was revered and worshiped there until the crisis passed. Gondarism is the official state religion of the island nation of Lantan, which is also a hotbed of invention and new devices. Men tend to outnumber women in both Gondar clergy and laity, but there is no impediment to or prejudice against females rising in the ranks of the Gondar. Members of the Gondar faith are mainly human, but more and more gnomes are being accepted into the church, especially in the wake of the form that Gond’s avatar took during the Godswar. The heart of the Gondar faith is located at the High Holy Crafthouse of Inspiration in the city of Illul in Lantan. This large, walled monastery is run by Danactar the High Artificer, Most Holy Servant of Gond, the highest-ranking mortal priest of the Wonderbringer. Below is Gond's Faerûnian Pantheon entry:
Gond (gahnd) is a driven and energetic deity who is fascinated with making the theoretical real. He often becomes so focused on his current project that he doesn’t realize the long-term consequences or implications of its use. He pushes Oghma to allow new inventions onto the face of Toril, and he often makes shady deals (paying in promises of later goods or favors) to get the strange materials he sometimes needs. The church accepts people of any alignment as long as they are interested in crafting and craftsmanship. Clerics of any alignment may serve Gond. Clerics are discouraged from settling in one place, and they travel to discover inventions in other areas. The domains associated with him are Earth, Fire, and Knowledge, and his favored weapons are the dagger and the warhammer.
In most of Faerûn, the proportion of clerics to Gondsmen (as his specialty priests are called) is 15:1. In Lantan, this proportion is nearly reversed, and there are about 20 Gondsmen for every Gondar cleric. Most specialty priests of the faith are Lantanna, and most Lantanna merchants encountered in the Realms outside Lantan are specialty priests of Gond. Clerics of Gond are called Krii, a Lantanna term meaning disadvantaged. Despite the implied slur, many clerics hold senior positions within the state religion in Lantan. Clergy refer to themselves as the Consecrated of Gond, and may speak of other Gondar priests as “fellow Consecrates,” but their titles of rank are simple: Wonderer (novice), Seeker Postulant (priest in training), Seeker after Small Things (confirmed priest), Greater Seeker, Seeker of the Twelfth Order, Seeker of the Eleventh Order, and so on up to Seeker of the First Order, High Seeker (a title held by all senior clergy), Master (leader of a religious community or one who tends a holy site), Artificer (one who has been personally rewarded and named by Gond for special service), and High Artificer (the supreme priest of the faith). Though Gondar may act independently in their duty of encouraging inventions, their religious hierarchy is ordered and obedience to a superior is unquestioning.
Gondar clergy members wear saffron ceremonial vestments with a crimson collar and stole. Over their right or left shoulder they wear a leather sash ending in a large pouch. The sash is dotted with small metal tools, gears, wire, cord, locks, hooks, hasps, buckles, and bits of steel, tin, and wood that might prove interesting or useful in a pinch (including, for Gondsmen, their lockpicks). Their vestments also include belts of large, linked metal medallions and enormous sun hats. They wear Gond’s holy symbol as a pendant fashioned of bone, brass, bronze, or ivory.