Gond

Gond is the Astoran god of craft, smithing, and inventiveness. The Lord of All Smiths has many forms and names, and under all of them pushes for innovation and imaginativeness, sometimes to a dangerous degree, as a result of his short-sighted desire to create.

Gond is also known as Nebelun among gnomes of the Realms, who venerate him alongside the other Lords of the Golden Hills. The Six Secret Names of Gond are (in appropriate order): Aranlaerus, Balateng, Daerosdaeros, Klannauda, Mrangor, and Tattaba.

Description

Avatars of Gond took several forms, including that of a brawny, red-hued smith, a short, slight man with straw-blond hair, or a gnome. No matter his form, Gond had a forge-scarred face with dark (but nonetheless sharp and bright) eyes and a constantly attentive and inquisitive expression. He wore ordinary leathers under his scorched smith smock, though he could also summon a set of glassteel plate armor over himself (hovering close to his body piece by piece rather than actually encasing him) at will.

Gond's manifestations included a forge hammer wrapped with wisps of black smoke, or striking eyes set within dark clouds with the ringing sounds of hammers on anvils.

Gond possessed a mighty Hammer of Thunderbolts called Craftmaster, that he used both as a tool at his divine forge and (if needed) as a weapon.

Personality

The divine personality of the Wonderbringer is as varied as his desire to innovate is intense. He acts at times wholly disciplined and methodical, while at others becomes easily distracted. He is just as often insightful and accommodating as he is sardonic or condescending.

Gond remains ever-concerned with making real any theoretical concept or schematic, and holds little concern for any complications or problems that arise therefrom. He readily accepts commissions from any unscrupulous patron, so long as compensation is substantial and he is given opportunity to create novel and innovative devices.

Gond is not anti-magic as some may think, but views magic as simply another means by which to craft new inventions.

Divine Realm

Gond's divine realm is the plane of Wonderhome, which manifests as a grand library in the House of Knowledge within the Outlands.

Activities

The Wonderbringer constantly works on new inventions. Gond is credited in legends for the creation of a number of artifacts. These include the Shadowstar and the unbreakable leash that binds Kezef the Chaos Hound.

He often spends time sparking inspiration in his most devout followers, or offering them new insights for how existing technology can be otherwise utilized.

Worshippers

While Gond was wholly devoted to his mortal followers, he remained too busy at times to answer their prayers in a timely manner. While the Wonderbringer directed them to promote invention and new ideas, he was not opposed to his followers accumulating significant personal wealth in the process. To many this was seen as an appropriate means for Gondar priests to demonstrate their worthiness of his blessing.

At times, he would dispatch golems, lightning mephits, baku holy ones, einheriar, maruts, and even steel or crystal dragons to serve as guides to aid his devotees, or demonstrate his blessing to mortals.

Clergy

Up until the late 14th century DR, the primary center of Gond worship in the realms was the island nation of Lantan. The Lantanese brought their worship of Gond to the Sword Coast of Faerûn via Waterdeep. The inventions of the Gondar clergy greatly contributed to the ascendance of Waterdhavian mercantilism. Similarly, their influence in Baldur's Gate was evident in civic projects led by Gond's church and the wholesale incorporation of of their devices into Baldurian daily life.

The faith of Gond spread far and wide beyond the Sword Coast, to inland cities such as Tilverton in Cormyr, Essembra in the Dalelands, and Ravens Bluff in Vesperin. Gond's religion could even be found in the far off Unapproachable East, in the magocratic realm of Thay, and among a community of gnomes that dwelled within a solitary isle within the Yal Tengri sea.

Gond was accepted among the gnomish pantheon as Nebelun the Meddler, though a few small groups believed that Nebelun was a separate deity. Though the latter was correct, Nebelun was only active in other crystal spheres, leaving the Faerûnian Lord of All Smiths free to take his place in the Realms.

Temples

Main article: Category:Temples to Gond Gond had various temples throughout Faerûn, such as the grand High House of Wonders in Baldur's Gate. Many temples to Gond were not just ordinary places of worship, but within, machines such as internal combustion engines were displayed, and vehicles such as gondrollers were sold.

Notable temples to Gond included:

High House of Wonders, the Baldurian holy house of Gond that served as an expansive testing grounds and laboratory for the city's Gondar priests. High Holy Crafthouse of Inspiration, a monastery in Illul on the isle of Lantan run by the High Artificer Danactar, Most Holy Servant of Gond. House of Inspired Hands, one of the largest temples in Waterdeep led by High Seeker Jhoadil Zulthind. The Turning Wheel, a prosperous temple to the Wonderbringer found in Ravens Bluff.

Relationships

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 Faerûn 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, the Goddess of Bounty, and amiable relationships with Lathander, Waukeen, and Tempus.

He was a friend and ally to many other gods of craftsmanship and invention. He shared bonds with Cyrrollalee of the halfling pantheon, along with several of the Morndinsamman, including Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Vergadain, and even Moradin the All-Father. Gond shared an especially strong connection to the gnomish deity of smithing, Flandal Steelskin, who maintained a portal to Gond's divine realm.

Gond had one major foe among the Faerûnian deities, Talos the Destroyer. Talos' urge to demolish all devices of creation threatened the entirety of Gond's work in the Realms and beyond.

History

Worship of Gond as Zionel―among practitioners of the Adama―emerged several years pre-Dalereckoning, in the Year of Able Warriors, −256 DR.

During the Time of Troubles, in the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, the gods of the Faerûnian pantheon were cast down to the mortal realms of Toril by the Overgod Ao. Gond's avatar took the form of a gnome who washed up on the shores of Lantan in the Trackless Sea. His divinity was quickly recognized by the Lantanna people and Gond was revered for the duration his avatar remained in the Realms.

In recognition and gratitude for their supplication, Gond bestowed upon the people of Lantan the secret for making smokepowder. This allowed the Lantanna to rapidly begin formulation of firearms, which were continually shipped off to purchasers across the western coast of Faerûn. While worship of Gond grew swiftly in the years that followed, the introduction of these new weapons was viewed as a foreboding change in warfare by leads from across Faerûn.

A mere decade later, in the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, Gond was commissioned by the recently-arisen god Cyric to commission suits of powerful suits of armor to carry out his own schemes. Cyric armed his inquisitors with these horrific weapons of war and initiated the Second Banedeath in cities across the Heartlands.

Gond

Intermediate deity

Basic Information

Titles

Holy Maker of All Things
Lord of All Smiths
The Gearsmith
Inspiration Divine
The Meddler
Wonderbringer
Gond of the Forgestinking Breath (derogatory)

Adjectives

Gondar Gondsmen Nebelunan

Pantheons

Astoran
Lords of the Golden hills

Serves

Oghma

Attributes

Alignment

True Neutral

Symbol

Toothed cog with four spokes (as Gond)
Bellows and a lizard tail (as Nebelun)

Realm

Concordant Domain of the Outlands/Wonderhome

Portfolio

Artifice, Construction, Craft, Smithwork

Favored Weapon

Craftmaster (warhammer)

Following

Worshippers

Blacksmiths
Crafters
Engineers
Gnomes
Inventors
Lantanese
Woodworkers

Alignments

All

Domains

Artifice (Alchemy, Construct, Industry)
Earth (Metal)
Knowledge (-)
Rune (Wards)

Favored Aspects

Monsters

Golems
Pseudodragons
Animated furniture

Colors

Saffron
Crimson

Manifest- ations

Hammer wrapped in smoke

Black eye in smoke with sound of hammering