Gzemnid

Gzemnid is the beholder deity of obscurement and deception and son of the Great Beholder Mother. He is the Underdark god of gases and fogs, sometimes known as the Gas Giant for his mastery of elemental air spells, and renowned for his ability to evade and escape.

Description

Gzemind appeared as an oversized beholder (about 8 ft (2.4 m) in diameter) of sky-blue coloration. Atop his head was a crown-like circle of 2 ft (0.61 m) long tentacle-fronds, extra appendages dexterous enough to use rods and wands. Manifestations

Gzemnid might send an omen heralding the imminent arrival of his avatar, usually in the form of a semi-substantial mass of gaseous, writhing tentacles (that he might or might not speak through directly) wielding a "rod", to a powerful wizard who had something he wanted.

Personality

Gzemnid is a subtler, more secretive god than the tyrannical Great Mother, a highly intelligent deity whose thought patterns, unlike his predecessor, are actually coherent, if chaotic. The wily Gas Giant is also less aggressive than most beholders and, again unlike the Great Mother, is prepared to parley and bargain to add to his store of knowledge and magic. Of course, he prefers to simply take what he wants by force but might negotiate if his targets are obviously powerful and not immediately violent themselves (using his magical rod for leverage in the bartering).

Divine Realm

Many wonder why a chaotic evil god such as Gzemnid makes his home below the neutral Outlands, and furthermore why it doesn't slide into the Abyss. A few scholars speculate that he is hiding from the retribution of powerful foes, perhaps even the Great Mother despite reports as to a cordial relationship. Others purport that it is because he has an alliance with the much stronger Ilsensine, the illithid god, attaching his realm to hers to keep them anchored. This however doesn't answer how the realm stays in the Outlands, as Ilsensine is lawful evil herself.

Some guess that because Ilsensine is a god of knowledge and thought (as well as powerful), she is able to remain on the Outlands despite her lawful evil tendencies (which is notable given Gzemnid's own areas of influence). Others chalk it up to moral relativism, that alien standards apply to those monstrous deities. The truth of the matter, at least regarding Ilsensine, is that she persists there because she conspires against all alignments alike.

The area around Gzemnid's realm seems to have the terrain put together at random. Tall, spindly mountains rise from perfectly level plains, with stone ledges wider than the bases they jut out from and several peaks bending backwards like misshapen trees. Lakes dot the mountain plateaus and swamps grow out from hillsides, yet rivers start and end without sources or outlets, even circling back on themselves in some places. Fields are tilled in serpentine squiggles and trees are planted to spell out whole lines of script. Colors are pale and indistinct, and trying to focus on any specific feature makes its color seem to blur with the background.

It is not known if Ilsensine and Gzemnid's realm is one or if they simply fail to make their realms distinct. Ilsensine's area is normally called the Caverns of Thought while the beholder god's is Gzemnid's Maze, though at times they are simply called Ilsensine's Realm and Gzemnid's Realm respectively. Both are a winding tangle of tunnels, passages, and caverns running deeper than even those of the Dwarven Mountain, all of which merge together. Gzemnid's section is a deadly labyrinth of illusions, distortions, traps, and subtle charms befitting the beholder god's nature.

There are no settlements in Gzemnid's Maze, the unpleasant petitioners forced to look out for themselves, and though they are willing to make deals, they are utterly self-interested. Though Gzemnid isn't too fond of other races, his petitioners consist of a fair number of thieves in addition to a few beholders. It is suspected that there are secret portals to the lower planes in Gzemnid's realm as well. Fiends often prowl the maze (apparently with Gzemnid's consent), taking up residence when business brings them to the Outlands, though even they stay clear of Ilsensine's portion.

Aside from them, Gzemnid's followers sometimes have encounters with those of the Dwarven Mountain. There are also side passages leading to Glorium, which Gzemnid's petitioners sometimes raid and which Gzemnid himself is allegedly trying to take control of.

Activities

Gzemnid is quite possibly the beholder god most active in the lives of his followers, to the point that it is quite possible an exemplary follower will receive a visit from his avatar. Aside from this, Gzemnid sends avatars to the Material Plane to obtain magic items and lore moderately frequently. His last known primary interest is increasing his powers through acquiring illusion-generating magical items.

A good portion of Gzemnid's time is spent spying on mortal wizards who investigate the meaning and mechanisms behind reality, sending an avatar to procure any great revelation. Amazingly, the Gas Giant recognizes that a wizard who makes one important discovery might make another, and so always seeks to obtain the information without harming the wizard. He is thus willing to negotiate for the knowledge as well as simply take it, saving violence for a last resort. While he might offer to trade for magic and secrets, trusting him to stay to his word is folly, and he hopes to steal discoveries through illusion and deception.

Worshippers

Beholder life was largely absent of religious rituals, but they had strong faith in their gods all the same. Worship of Gzemnid could be found in most beholder breeds, and some scholars reported his worship had begun to spread to humans and demihumans, with most "converts' being scholars who received a visit from the Gas Giant's avatar. As a mortal, Gzemnid specialized in elemental magic and escape tactics, and encouraged such practices in its followers. He also encouraged the pursuit of power through obtaining knowledge, and many believed that he was responsible for that branch of beholder philosophy.

Beholders lacked a clergy class and neither beholder god had a permanent priesthood. While the Great Mother at least had rare priestesses, temporarily elevated to the position in times of crisis, Gzemnid granted no powers or spells to his followers, for he would not dare rival her in terms of clergy. He had proxies (none of them known) and there were rumors he had a squadron of beholders to do his bidding. Attempts to invoke him however, like with the Great Mother, might result in the appearance of an avatar or manifestation to denote his response.

It was Gzemnid's scholars who pieced together a mind-shattering truth (at least to beholders) regarding the Great Mother from clues gathered over centuries; her appearance was in constant flux. His scholars also knew that, unlike regular beholders, she laid eggs, each batch of which gave rise to a different beholder breed. They also believed she was so knowledgeable she either couldn't or wouldn't share her information with lesser beings, simply cruising through the cosmos gibbering to herself and laying eggs. These beliefs were all deemed to be heresy.

Relationships

Gzemnid got along well with both Kzamnal and the Great Mother. Though the precise nature of their relationship was questionable, whether he was her direct son or grandson by way of Kzamnal, Gzemnid was the only one the Great Mother's mortal descendants that had risen ascended to godhood. Gzemnid recognized the Great Mother was not a rational being and that they had almost nothing in common, but treated her with respect, albeit the kind given to a force of nature rather than a rational being. The Great Mother recognized and made noises of approval when she came across him.

Gzemnid's could count Kiaransalee of the Dark Seldarine among his few allies, though the other members (namely Lolth, Vhaeraun, Eilistraee, Selvetarm, and Ghaunadaur)f were his foes, as were the duergar gods Laduguer and Deep Duerra, Callarduran Smoothhands of the deep gnomes, and the elven god of vengeance Shevarash, a general enemy of evil Underdark gods.

Gzemnid had sensed a profound disturbance with the death of Maanzecorian and sent a beholder to investigate.

History

Gzemnid was a hatchling from the first brood of the Great Mother (either directly or as one of the spawn of her divine son Kzamnal). He was born on the Great Mother's home plane, having watched the rise of the beholder race almost from the very beginning. As a mortal he specialized in elemental magic and escape tactics, becoming the first beholder mage and first elder orb over the course of his long life. He was the only one of the original progeny to have survived to become a deity themself, his knowledge of the universe becoming so vast that he underwent apotheosis.

Some theorized that it was Gzemnid's capacity for camouflage, deception, and quick exits that let him live long enough to obtain godhood, allowing him to escape the perfectionist standards and subsequent punishment by consumption the Great Mother dealt to offspring that displeased her. Older beholders told of powerful foes seeking to rob Gzemnid of his treasures overcome through sheer exhaustion just trying to corner the elusive Gas Giant.

Gzemnid

Lesser deity

Basic Information

Titles

The Gas Giant

Pantheons

Beholder

Attributes

Alignment

Chaotic Evil

Realm

Concordant Domain of the Outlands/Gzemnid's Maze

Portfolio

Arcane Knowledge, Deception, Fogs, Gases, Obscurement

Following

Worshippers

Beholders

Alignments

LE, CE

Domains

Air (Cloud)
Magic (Arcane)
Trickery (Deception)