Page 30 - D&D - Player's Handbook

warning that intrigues and infighting have gotten out of ELDA TH
hand in a noble household; and married couples know to
The Quiet One, the Guardian of Groves, the Mother of
seek advice .from others if "a Dark Sun shines through
the window" in their relationship. the Waters
Eldath is the goddess of waterfalls, springs, pools, still-
DENE IR ness, peace, and quiet glades. She is thought to be pres-
ent at many such places, particularly those that serve as
The Lord of All Glyphs and Images, the First Scribe, the
Scribe of Oghma druid groves. Eldath is a goddess of comfort, healing,
and calm. Her blessed waters heal the sick, cure mad-
Deneir is the god of literature and literacy, the patron of ness, and comfort the dying.
the artist and the scribe. His is the power to accurately
Most rural places have a pond or a glade that locals
render and describe, to write and to read, and to pass
ascribe to Eldath. Tradition dictates that it be a place of
on information. In legend, Deneir is often portrayed as
quiet reflection where others are left to their thoughts. A
being a scribe in service to Oghma, and he is sometimes
body of water such as a pond or a spring typically serves
thought of as Oghma's right hand. as a repository of offerings. If the holy site is a glade, a
It's common practice for someone who writes a let-
stream one crosses along the way might serve as the re-
ter or records information to say a prayer to Deneir to
pository, or a prominent bush or tree in the glade might
avoid mistakes. Similarly, artists acknowledge Deneir
be the place where people tie offerings. Typical offerings
before beginning and upon completing paintings, par-
are broken weapons or items that are remembrances of
ticularly illuminations on manuscripts, tapestries that arguments, which the faithful discard while making a
relate stories, and any such attempt to use art to capture
wish for peace in the future. Many of those who favor El-
the truth. dath are pacifists or people who are troubled by violence
Followers of Deneir believe that information not re- they have witnessed or experienced.
corded and saved for later use is information lost. They
Eldath's priests don't organize into large sects. Indeed,
consider literacy an important gift of the gods, one that
many are itinerant, wandering between various holy
should be spread and taught. His followers are scribes sites and shrines, seeing that the locations are cared
and scholars devoted, like their patron, to preserving for and that they remain places of sweet serenity. The
written works, and also to experiencing them, for they faithful of Eldath are usually close to nature, and allied
say that Deneir himself is hidden within the lines, to druids, who count Eldath among the First Circle. It
shapes, and passages of all written works. Priests of is taboo to strike a priest of Eldath, and killing one is
Deneir take an oath of charity as well, compelling them said to bring great misfortune. Despite the measure of
to accept the requests of others to write letters and tran- protection that this belief affords them, most priests of
scribe information. Eldath avoid conflicts rather than attempting to quell
The god's followers tend to be individualists, united
them. Those who serve Eldath are happy to preside over
by their shared faith but not overly concerned with reli-
peaceful negotiations and to certify treaties, but they
gious hierarchy and protocol. This behavior is supported
can't force others to engage in harmony.
by the fact that Deneir's blessings of divine magic are
more often bestowed on those who lose themselves in GOND
written works than on those who fancy themselves part
The Wonderbringer, the Inspiration Divine, the Holy
of any temple or religious order. Contemplation of the
faith's most holy book, the Tome of Universal Harmony, Maker of All Things
is the most effective way to become deserving of Dene- Gond is the god of artifice, craft, and construction. He is
ir's blessings. revered by blacksmiths, woodworkers, engineers, and
inventors. Anyone who is crafting something might say
a prayer to Gond to guide the work, but folk know that
Gond smiles most brightly upon new inventions that
others find useful.
Priests of Gond wander the North dressed in saffron
vestments, adorned with sashes that contain within

SYMBOL OF ELDATH

•

SYMBOL OF D ENEIR

CHAPTER 1 I WELCOME TO THE REALMS
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