Gnomes honor a small pantheon of seven primary deities, known as the Lords of the Golden Hills, plus two other entities.
Wise Protectors
The Watchful Protector, Garl Glittergold, is the king of gnomish gods, a deity of humor, gemcutting, protection, and trickery. His pranks serve to protect gnomes and to teach his victims humility and wisdom. Garl’s second, Gaerdal Ironhand, is the gnomes’ war god, who espouses vigilance and defense.
Nature Gods
Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnomish god of forests and woodlands, accompanied by his companion Chiktikka Fastpaws, a great raccoon said to be the wiser of the two. Segojan Earthcaller is god of the wilds beneath the earth, rather than upon it, as well as god of burrows and the plants and animals found therein.
Shadow and Stone
Baravar Cloakshadow is the god of illusion and deception, given the respectful title of Sly One. Callarduran Smoothhands is the god of stone and the Underdark, patron of the svirfneblin.
Craft and Invention
Flandal Steelskin, the god of mining and smithcraft, is known as the Steelsmith. He is also the gnomes’ god of physical improvement and good health. The fearless Nebelun the Meddler is the god of invention and luck, revered by many gnomes even though he isn’t considered one of the Lords of the Golden Hills. “Nebelun’s head!” is a common gnomish exclamation of discovery.
The Crawler Below
The last member of the gnomish pantheon is Urdlen, which appears not as a gnome, but an elephantine, blind, pale mole. Urdlen is the great-clawed god of bloodlust and evil, of greed and uncontrolled impulses. Young gnomes are warned to “never let Urdlen burrow into your heart,” as a caution against giving in to wicked impulses.
