Gond (GAHND or GOND)

Gond, known as Nebelun among gnomes and as Zionil in the Glistening Lands, was the Achorian god of craft, smithing, and inventiveness. The Lord of All Smiths pushed for innovation and imaginativeness, sometimes to a dangerous degree, as a result of his short-sighted desire to create.

Worshipers

The heart of Gond's church was the High Holy Crafthouse of Inspiration in the city of Silverhelm in Bavaria. This monastery was run by the High Artificer, the Most Holy Servant of Gond. This was the highest-ranking mortal cleric of Gond; they are the supreme voice in ecclesiastical matters and would serve the Emperor in ruling council of Bavaria, the Triumvirate. The church of Gond consisted mostly of wandering clerics who travelled from settlement to settlement, finding work as artisans and engineers. Settling in one area was only encouraged in centres of innovation that warranted constant observation, such as Maldurheim, Zentraal, Hiriditoro, and Chengdu. The church encouraged wealth, as it demonstrated the benefits of following Gond. As they travelled, clerics took samples of any inventions they discovered and assisted innovators they encountered, filing regular reports to their superiors.
Temples to Gond were imposing, boxy stone structures surrounded by porticoes. The only internal decorations were sprawling exhibits of items, some of historical interest, some representing the latest work of master crafters. The central altar consisted of a massive anvil surrounded by spinning cogs in a giant machine. Backrooms consisted of workshops.
Clerics of Gond had a unique dress. They wore saffron robes, sashes that held tools, and sun hats. They had great belts of large linked medallion ringlets. In north Umon, they served rural communities as tinkerers, carpenters, and civil engineers. All clerics of Gond kept a journal in which they wrote down ideas for inventions to be worked on and contemplated. Journals kept by wandering priests were given to temples they visited. Their notes were recorded and added to the temple library for everyone to gain insight from.
The centre of Gondite religion was the High House of Wonders in Zentraal. The cities' faithful also built a great museum, the Hall of Wonders, to display Gondite inventions.
The church of Mystra opposed Gond's, believing he held technology above magic; in truth, Gond viewed magic as a tool to further his creativity. Merchants cultivated relationships with Gond's clergy in the hope of profiting from trading in Gondar inventions. Periodically, an invention of the followers of Gond would have an adverse economic effect, resulting in hostility from other faiths.
Gond was accepted among the gnomish pantheon as Nebelun the Meddler, though a small gnomish cult believed that Nebelun was a separate deity. Though the latter was correct, Nebelun was only active in a small number of crystal spheres, leaving the Faerûnian Lord of All Smiths free to take his place in the Realms.
Gond's faith was the state religion of Lantan. The church of Gond was tolerated across Achora and members were found in both good- and evil-aligned human populations. He had an increasing following in rock gnome communities.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Social

Contacts & Relations

Along with Milil, Deneir, and Oghma, Gond was one of the Deities of Knowledge and Invention. He was on relatively good terms with Oghma, though sometimes their relationship could be tense, due to Gond's tendency to push new inventions being rapidly introduced across Achora without thinking of the consequences. His relationship with Milil was strained as they had little in common. Beyond the Deities of Knowledge and Invention, Gond was known to have a friendly rivalry with Chauntea.

Divine Classification

Intermediate deity

Religions

• Bavarian Empire

Religions
Achorian Pantheon
Alignment
Neutral
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Holy Maker of All Things
Lord of All Smiths
The Gearsmith
Inspiration Divine
Wonderbringer
Domains
Forge, Knowledge
Portfolio
Artifice, construction, craft, smithwork