Deities

Gnea Sharn

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

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“Gnea Sharn emerges at night. He comes from the deepest reaches of the earth, looking for something or someone touched by the light of day. This terrible god longs for the embrace of warm sunlight. His jealousy for those that live in its good graces drives him insane. Lacking any means of surviving the light of day himself, Gnea simply takes those who live in the sunlight below to the darkest caverns. There, beauty quickly fades. As Sharn’s starving victims come to rot in the darkness, he simply ascends to the surface in search of a new prize.”

– Triggy-Mop Cestaloon, Gnome Bard.

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Gnea Sharn’s actual skin-tone is the subject of great speculation. He always appears covered in red ochre so as to manifest the color in battle. What he looks like under the Ochre, no-one really knows. He comes to the surface in search of hapless victims which he always carries below ground to the darkest place in the earth. Sharn consistently seeks out those showing great health and a love of outdoor pleasures. he is particularly interested in those who relish the sunlight. A healthy suntan and an energetic disposition will often get Sharn’s attention. Some of the most healthy beautiful men and women of the world above have finished their lives wandering blind and hungry in the cold dark caverns where Sharn makes his home.

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Religion: Worship of Gnea Sharn is considered an aberration, even among the peoples of the underworld. From dark Elves to common Dwarves, the mere rumor that someone pays homage to this insane deity is enough to destroy the reputation of successful and happy individuals. Still, there are those all over the world who embrace the deity and worship him in secret. Likewise, those descending into uncharted dungeons sometimes leave offerings in the hopes that Sharn grants them safe passage. Whether or not this foul creature ever grants such overtures remains in question.

Actual Priests of this foul deity may be counted among the most bizarre and irrational persons known. Such persons invariably carry great malice, for theirs is a religion self-consciously devoted to evil. Truth be told, Sharn has more worshippers among the Dark Elves than any other kindred known above or below ground. But even this small and dedicated cult hides its intentions from others of their Kind. Few learn the identity of such worshippers, and most of those do so in their last moments.

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Domains: Darkness, Imprisonment.

Symbol: An Inverse Sun (Black Rays reaching up from a black orb at the bottom of the symbol).

Favored Offerings: Gnea Sharn is happy with any offerings that involve the imprisonment of beautiful creatures and persons. Priests of Gnea will often bury a creature alive, taking great care to ensure that death does not come quickly. When performed in the sanctity of a temple, Gnea Sharn’s Priests will often maintain prisoners in darkness for their whole lives.

Lady Spider

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 11, 2026.

***

“Do not harm the Spider who weaves in your home. She is a blessing.”

– Good Advice.

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Lady Spider may take any spider form she wishes. In human form, she appears to be a middle aged woman of great beauty. Lady Spider is dark skinned with long black hair. She appears with a great blanket wrapped around her, and she almost always brings with her a wondrous Loom.

Long ago, Lady Spider gave the craft of weaving to man, and to this day she continues to look after those practicing the craft. She is also known to protect mothers and to aid them in the protection of their home and children. Those inflicting harm on innocent women and children may find themselves on the wrong side of Lady Spider’s good will. Though she is unlikely to attack anyone directly, Lady Spider will happily provide what aid she may (often taking the form of critical advice) to those she deems capable of helping to protect innocents.

Lady Spider frowns upon those who harm her kindred, though she does not necessarily fault those who place spiders outside their homes without violence. Common wisdom suggests that a home is safer with at least one web-weaving spider present. A quick review of Lady Spider’s powers may reveal the reason for this.

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Religion: Lady Spider is known most anywhere one can find spiders. She has few Priests of her own, though Many a Shaman or a weaver from different parts of the world pays homage to her. Home keepers often look to her as a matron deity of sorts, and she is as likely to help them as anyone.

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Domains: Domestic Welfare, Spiders, Weaving

Symbol: A Web Containing a Spider.

Favored Offerings: Lady Spider is pleased with Woven Artifacts of all types, particularly those that have been woven by the very person making the offering.

Coyote

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

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“‘Do not open the basket!’ Lady Spider warned.

…and Coyote opened the basket.”

– Hosteen Nez, Medicine Man

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This character has the appearance of a large coyote. Few would describe him as an actual deity, but his actions have consequences rivaling those of the most powerful deities. So, it might be best to regard him as a god after all. Despite his size, Coyote never has any trouble hiding from others. Coyote is always up to no good, but his antics often have positive consequences that no-one could have expected (least of all Coyote himself).

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Religion: Coyote has few worshippers, but in parts of the Turtle Islands those engaged in cunning or concerned about the cunning of others will often pay respects to him.

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Domains: Coyotes, Irony, Trickery.

Symbol: A Coyote.

Favored Offerings: Food. (Offerings to coyote are customarily made by tossing small portions of meat just outside a campsite or home-site.)

Bit Nuluk

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

***

“The Goblin King knew of his mark long before men were born. When at long last men were born, he greeted the news with a smile.”

– Pachini, the Story Teller

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If one can imagine a goblin without all the frailties commonly associated with that particular kindred, one may well come close to the image of Bit Nuluk. Although he is shorter than the average human, the Goblin King is as powerful as any Dwarf. he carries a scimitar and a short bow with at least two quivers. Bit Nuluk also carries a bandolier of throwing knives.

The Goblin King was created to serve as an enemy to men and elves, and he accepts this fate without hesitation. Bit Nuluk and his servants are always plotting some attack upon the fair kindreds of the world.

Unlike the majority of his servants, Bit Nuluk is not particularly cruel, but he shows little compassion (to enemies or servants). Still, Bit Nuluk has been known to respect bravery and cunning, showing mercy to those that have earned it with an impressive stratagem or an innovative approach to warfare.

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Religion: The cult of Bit Nuluk is large and well organized. It can be found in most any parts of the world. This religion is divided into two separate orders, that of the Glave and that of the Arrow.

The order of the Glave is served primarily by goblin priests, known to be as cunning as they are cruel. Indeed, it is often thought priests of the Glave exceed their patron in their desire to cause suffering in others. Priests of the Glave encourage their kindred to learn the most cunning martial skills and to use these as often as possible against the fair kindreds of the world. any prisoners falling under their control are unlikely to be shown mercy.

The Order of the Arrow is served primarily by Hobgoblins. Although priests of this order will commonly encourage ruthless tactics versus any active opposition, they will show respect for enemies that fight bravely, particularly. The Order of the Arrow commonly encourages skillful strategy and precise deployment of troops in combat.

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Domains: Cunning, Goblins, Warfare.

Symbol: “The Surrounded Foe.” This is represented by any five weapons arranged in a circle and pointed inward. The enemy is usually implied in official holy symbols, but the representation of specific enemies (such as the depiction of a halfling or a human in the center of the circle) may be used as a means of commenting on current events and threatening others.

Favored Offerings: Anything taken from a fallen foe.

Ayomichi

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

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“Having defeated his neighbors to the North, South, and East, King Atlauatle set aside a third of his conquered neighbors to live as they had always done, a third he sent to work in the mines, and a third he gathered for a great sacrifice. But Zhidastra never received his offering. That very morning, Ayomichi smashed all of the king’s temples, set free his slaves, and carried those to be sacrificed off to a land where they could be safe. One child alone, Aymomichi left behind with but a simple message for the king. ‘Leave you neighbors in peace. Place no life upon the alters in your temples, lest you and yours find yourselves living buried in rubble.'”

– Codex of the Center Kingdom

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Ayomichi appears to be a giant sea turtle with a great dent atop his shell. His great shell is nigh invulnerable, but even the exposed parts of Ayomichi’s flesh is quite tough to penetrate.

Ayomichi is a benign deity, ever seeking to minimize the suffering of mortals. He is particularly opposed to all forms of torture and human sacrifice, a fact which places him in constant conflict with Zhidastra.

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Religion: The cult of Ayomichi is strongest in the warmest of the Turtle Islands, though oppressed people’s all over the world pay to him, albeit using alternative names.

Many witch doctors and village healers claim Ayomichi as their deity, but his church is small, often relegated to the centers of fragile and peaceful kingdoms. It is not uncommon for those with cruel neighbors to seek protection from the great sea turtle, but it is rare indeed to find a successful king who remembers his message, or even tolerates his cult in their borders. Ayomichi is patient with mortals. He helps them as he can, always hoping that those once-oppressed will remember compassion when they come to powers of their own.

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Domains: Peace, The Sea, Turtles,

Symbol: A Turtle.

Favored Offerings: Poetry, Songs, Creative Efforts of all sorts, especially those reflecting the efforts of the one making the offering. Ayomichi is not fond of material wealth, and he would be quite unhappy to see any life sacrificed in his own honor.

 

Anawl-Gryn

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© Daniel S. Wall, April 7, 2026.

***

“It is said that the gods laugh when mortals make plans. In truth, it is usually just the one.”

– Shecklenick Wise Nose, Gnome Elder.

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Anawl-Gryn is a master shape changer, but he is particularly fond of Sprite forms. Some say that he is actually a Leprechaun; others that he is in fact a gnome. It is in fact quite doubtful that Anawl-Gryn has a true form to begin with.

Anawl-Gryn takes great pleasure in spoiling the designs of mortals. The greater the plans, the more likely it is that this trickster will make a point to see how he can throw them off. Anawl-Gryn is not without a sense of fair play, however, and he always makes a point to leave some possibility for success in the wake of his pranks. Some say that this is because he wishes to test the resolve of those in whom he takes an interest. Perhaps, they say, he is hoping that the object of his pranks will succeed after all. Others say that Anawl-Gryn seeks merely to bait his victims into continued efforts only to find new ways of tormenting them. Whatever the truth of the matter, there is little doubt that many a mortal has grown a grey hair of three trying to resolve the problems concocted by this prankster god.

Anawl-Gryn takes great care to measure the effect of his pranks, balancing them against the moral character of those whom he seeks to play with. Those with benign intent will normally find themselves the butt of humorous pranks which they may themselves come to laugh about in time. Those who seek to harm others may find that Anawl-Gryn’s tricks effectively place their own lives in great danger, forcing them to decide carefully whether or not the harm they seek to do themselves is worthy of the risk they incur in so doing.

Anawl-Gryn and the vast majority of his worshippers are also known to appreciate their spirits.  Wine or ale are always offered up in the rites of his worship, and no self-respecting Priest of Anawl-Gryn would ask their deity to drink alone.

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Religion: The cult of Anal-Gryn is strongest in the Sunset Islands, though he has followers on the Sylvan Island and even some parts of the Sunrise Islands. He has few believers in regions with alternative trickster figures.

Anawl-Gryn has few clear worshippers, but many (particularly those familiar with Sprites) respect his powers. The custom of pouring out a drop of ale or wine is said to keep his tricks friendly and humorous, though anyone foolish enough to make such an offering of poor quality drink is surely inviting the attention of this mischievous deity.

Dedicated worshippers of Anawl-Gryn are almost invariably spell casters. His Priests are generally aloof to the affairs of any but their own community. They are dedicated hedonists, prone to make up religious ceremonies of purportedly great significance only in the interest of throwing a party. Anawl-Gryn does not object when his Priests make-up rituals and ceremonies in his honor. Far from it, and as a result there is not a day in the year that does not amount to a celebration of some kind on the calendar of his worshippers.

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Domains: Drink, Laughter, Trickery of any kind.

Symbol: A glass or a mug over a puddle of spilled drink.

Favored Offerings: Anything with alcohol.