Gnea Sharn

VII: A Conspiracy of Creation

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© Daniel S. Wall, October 4, 2026.

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This is Chapter 7 of the most authoritative account of creation contained in the Stone Philosophic. A full table of contents can be found here.

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Deep within his cave, Gnea Sharn grew jealous of those living under the sun. To no-one he spoke words of anger and resentment.

And no-one answered, “Do you not wish a place in the sun for yourself?”

“Yes,” snarled Gnea.

“Place a stone under the moonlight and it will be done.”

Hval Maluk grew bitter in the north, jealous of his beautiful new siblings at play in warmer waters under the sun.

And he too heard a voice; “Do you not wish to be known to your siblings?”

And the beast howled his assent.

“Spit upon a rock and it will be done.”

Zhidastra too sat alone seething with rage at the very sight of lives well-lived in pleasant places.

“Would you have their children know of yours?”

And the great monstrosity nodded.

“Throw a piece of ice into the distance and it will be done.”

Each of the abominations carried out its appointed task. Climbing to the surface, Gnea Sharn placed the oldest of stones from his cave under the moonlight in the cold lands of the north. Turning to see the rock for himself, Hval Maluk spat upon it, and his saliva soon froze into a block of ice. And then Zhidastra took the rock encased in ice and threw it with all his might.

Born thus of malice and magic, the great comet Hoklan soared up into the distance, but before it could clear the skies, three small shards broke apart from it and fell to the earth.

Seeing the first shard fall to the earth amid the filth of the wastelands, the great tortoise, Ayomichi, tried to catch it. Ayomichi was not quick enough, and the shard fell to the ground, becoming the Goblin King, Bit Nuluk. Born in the knowledge that he and his own would never be welcome among men, Bit Nuluk soon set about the creation of his armies, siring goblin and hobgoblin alike. In time, he would also create the kobalds, carefully instilling in each of his children knowledge of war and impressing upon them a way of life filled with that which they know best.

Seeing the second shard fall toward the mountains Ayomichi climbed as best he could in the hope that he could safely catch the falling piece of rock, but alas the great turtle could not manage the ascent. The shard fell into the mountains and became the Omus Thal, Lord of Giants. Omus looked out upon the world and saw no-one he might call a friend. Retiring to a great cavern, he set about crafting a world to his own liking. In time, he would sire all the kindreds of giants, none of whom would show kindness to man. Omus taught them all to keep to themselves.[1]

Seeing the third shard falling toward the sea, Ayomichi swam quickly to its destination, only to be struck soundly upon his back with a force the likes of which he had never seen. Ayomichi swam to shore and rested along the beach and nursed his wounds. Off his back stepped a full grown man of great nobility and profound courage. He thanked the great turtle and flew up into the sky whereupon he created a great and beautiful storm.[2]

The great comet Hoklan returns every hundredth year to bear witness to the creation of the lesser abominations, and of Heaven himself. Ayomichi’s shell still bears the scar left by the falling of heaven.

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[1] Some scholars have questioned the accuracy of this passage. Sea Giants, for example, get along well with humans and all the fair kindreds of the world, and benign individuals have even been found among the kindreds of Fore Giants and Frost Giants. Attempts have been made to explain this contradiction, but none have proven successful. In view of this, some scholars have suggested that one shouldn’t trust any giants, not even those who trade with men or craft items of use to all. Still, the greatest scholars of the Library Philosophic have been known to wink at the passage, and to suggest that some words are best taken in half measures.

[2] The final stage of this chapter has been the subject of some debate, both as to the intended outcome and effect of Ayomichi’s intervention. In the end, the plan produced two lesser abominations whereas most would suppose it was intended to produce three. The Tierzen have long held that Svezedira himself was to be the third creature formed of the falling shards. Still others have suggested that some still greater beast was to have appeared when the third shard fell to the earth. Among the Hobgoblins, it is often suggested that no such terrible plan was ever in the offing. Indeed, the great Hobgoblin sage Venik Kull held that Heaven appeared, just as he was intended to, just as the Goblin King and just as the God of Giants did. Each of these gods, so Venik maintains, is exactly what it was intended to become. The elves of course regard this as preposterous.

III: Birth of the Abominations

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© Daniel S. Wall, September 17, 2026.

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This is Chapter 3 of the most authoritative account of creation contained in the Stone Philosophic. A full table of contents can be found here.

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Before laying down once again, Hetht spoke to the voice in his head; “Will you not allow me some rest?”

“I will let you sleep” came his reply. And this time the old dragon slept soundly, awakening to find a mysterious set of footprints leading off to the south, and a fly buzzing about his face.

“Who made these?”

“I do not know,” said the fly, “But I think it was a man.”

Hetht did not know the meaning of “Man.” So, he decided to make another that he might look upon the next in order to know more about the first, but the fly needled him.

“How will you make the second if you do not know the first?”

Hetht paused.

“Perhaps you may find a man in the east, said the fly.” But Hetht found no-one to the east. “Is it possible that she waits for you in the north?” But in the north there was no-one to be found. “Try the west!” said the fly, and once again the great dragon found no-one. The fly made one last suggestion; “Perhaps, you should look to the south.”

When he arrived in the south, Hetht found three great aberrations had taken form in the middle of the world. First, he beheld the great troll, Gnea Sharn. Next came the terrible beast, Hval Maluk, and finally he came upon the abomination, Zhidastra. Each rose out of the soil to greet its father, but Hetht grew angry and chased them all away. Hval Maluk swam to the north and Zhidastra ran to the south. For his own part, Gnea Sharn hid in a cave not far from his place of origin.

Seeing that the fly (now grown to a swarm) had deceived him, Hetht swatted at it with his tail, but the swarm disappeared through a hole in the ground. Still angry, Hetht breathed deep into the hole in the ground, igniting the depths below. Four times, did Hetht  scorch the underworld, and four times he then listened to the sound of the flames below, and four times he also heard the buzzing of insects.

Regaining his composure, the great dragon pronounced his judgment; the swarm would henceforth be safe so long as it remained underground. Upon the surface, his life and that of his descendants would be taken at will. So did the dragon speak, and so it was. To this day, Mezizra rules the underworld, and insects may be slain without guilt wherever they are found.

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.