Olidammara (oh-lih-dam-MAH-rah)

The Laughing Rogue, Prince of Bards, The Merry-Eyed Trickster

Music, Revelry, Roguery, Tricks/Jokes, Wine/Spirits

Lesser God of the Prime Material Plane, Neutral (Chaotic)

Aliases: None
Domain Name: Prime Material Plane/Highcask Vale
Origin: Unknown, Common
Superior: None
Allies: Lydia, Lirr, Myhriss
Enemies: Zagyg
Symbol: A laughing mask
Worshipper's Alignment: NG, CG, N, CN

Olidammara is a deity of light-hearted revelry and celebration and enjoys few things more than a good joke and a bottle of wine. He also takes enjoyment in providing a respite to the common man in dark times. He is of unknown origin, but it is suspected that he is of Oerdian origin. Olidammara has some devout worshippers, but these are vastly exceeded by the number of people who are less dedicated to exclusive worship of the Prince of Bards. Throughout the Flanaess, from rustic hostels and small shrines to city temples, wherever people enjoy drinking and carousing, the clergy of Olidammara find a niche. Religious depictions of The Laughing Rogue often hide the face of the Prince of Bards, concealing his visage in a hood or behind his holy ymbol, a laughing mask.
Olidammara’s only enmity is with Zagyg, stemming from his imprisonment sometime in the 5th century C.Y. by the Mad Archmage. The Laughing Rogue has exacted his revenge on at least one occasion, and now considers his relations with Boccob’s servitor one of an amusing diversion. Olidammara avoids making enemies, though like most trickster deities, he annoys many of his fellow pantheon members. He is on good relations with both Lydia and Lirr, as all three are patrons of bards, and has a healthy rivalry with Norebo, as the two often compete for worshippers among thieves. He is on very good terms with Myhriss, the Maid of Light and Dark, and the stories say he often keeps her company.

Other Manifestations

The Laughing Rogue has several means of showing his favor. An inexplicable urge to smile and laugh, usually before some type of musical performance or errand of mischief bodes well for those who favor black and emerald green. Likewise, an otherwise inexplicable performance gone sour or an untimely headache before drinking the wine cellar dry is good cause for the clergy member to give pause and reconsider his or her actions. Sometimes Olidammara manifests as a song with no origin or as a quiet laughing voice. Olidammara is served by all manner of mischievous sylvan creatures, including brownies, sprites, leprechauns, satyrs, grig, atomies, faux faeries, faerie dragons, and pixies.

The Church

Worshippers of Olidammara are found throughout the Flanaess, but chapels and shrines to this deity are interspersed throughout rustic areas as well as towns and cities. There are few major centers of worship. Olidammara is a deity revered by people from all walks of life, and most are glad when his priests are present to bring laughter and song. Wherever one can find enough individuals who are willing to drink and celebrate in the presence of a government willing to let it happen, one will find the clergy of the Laughing Rogue.
Olidammarans, as the clergy are known, are a particularly merry and lighthearted lot. They are determined to enjoy life and drag everyone else along for the ride, be it sober, drunk, kicking and screaming, or otherwise. Generally the church is well received by most, though local authorities and the clergy of some other deities could do without them. Generally, this clergy currently thrives from the Free City of Greyhawk through the breadth of the Sheldomar Valley.
Places of worship of Olidammara usually revolve around small festhalls in urban areas or small shrines elsewhere. Such halls are often well (but inexpensively) decorated, and have many dimly lit areas to aid them in defense should they need it (as most of the clergy and many of the worshippers are very good at hiding). Often vines run rampant along the outside of such buildings, and even inside shrines or open sections of larger buildings. Services to Olidammara are light-hearted affairs, as they include much singing, chanting, and other forms of music, in addition to feasts and the mandatory consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The faith of Olidammara is largely disorganized. The faith is more akin to a fraternal order with chapters scattered “from the ’Furnaces to the Sable,” a reference to the Hellfurnaces in the far southwest and the Sablewood in the far northeast of the Flanaess. Positions within the church hierarchy are distributed equally among the various clergy types, and rank is more akin to popularity; those with the most ale are the most popular. Within the clergy, rank is usually established by age and achievement, no matter who wins the popularity contests among the congregation. Older priests are valued and revered for their skills and wisdom, and act as advisors to the younger clergy members. Females are equally welcome in the faith, and are just as common as males. Members of any race that would live life “one hand in the trap, one hand on the bottle” as the saying goes, are welcome in this faith, especially if they provide copious amounts of ale or wine.
Novices are known as Short(beer)s, with higher ranking clergy members usually awarding themselves the titles (in ascending rank): Draft, Lager, Porter, Stout, and finally Keg (or Cask, if female). Heads of temples are referred to as Voice, regardless of level. Such titles may be expanded as appropriate, so one might hear a high- ranking cleric referred to as “Cask So-and-So of Town Such-andSuch, Sweet Voice of the Merry-Eyed Trickster, Holy Wineberry and Laugh of Fireseek". It is often considered an insult for a non-worshipper to call a member of the clergy Shortbeer, and doing so is likely to make one a target for some prank.

Dogma

Olidammarans are to bring merriment to all. In good times, people should celebrate and share their happiness and wealth, be it spiritual or material. In times of darkness, people should make merry lest they succumb to despair. One must not go through life without experiencing laughter or joy on a daily basis; to make others laugh at your expense is a good thing; to make them laugh at someone else’s expense is a better thing. Nothing is sacred but that which an individual holds near and dear to themselves. Music is the voice of the soul, and not merely art for art’s sake, but rather a way to express yourself in a manner that all creatures may understand you.

Day-to-Day Activities

The priests of Olidammara spend much of their time in reflective thought and performing music to uplift people’s spirits. In urban centers, they always seem to get themselves involved in social events where alcoholic spirits are involved and are just as likely to be providing as imbibing said spirits. Clergy also spend an equal amount of time plotting trouble, getting into trouble and getting out of trouble, usually with the local authorities and/or lawful clergy of other dieties.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies

There is but one holy festival sacred to the clergy, who hold little sacred, and drink and make merry on any excuse. The Last Laugh celebrates the day when Olidammara escaped the clutches of Zagyg the Mad. This day changes every year and is announced during Needfest. Who actually makes the announcement is unknown, but by the end of Needfest all clergy are aware of the date. On this day, at least one clergy member from every shrine or congregation must attempt to get him or herself thrown into jail and escape by the time the sun rises the next Godsday. Failing to escape is taken as a bad omen, and the one who fails to escape is not allowed to drink and make merry during the following services; in addition, he or she must serve fellow clergy members during the services. succeeding is a reason for a truly riotous affair, and this is the time when the fine bottles of wine and casks of ale that have been hidden away for a special occasion are consumed. As one can imagine, some truly legendary escapades have happened throughout the Flanaess on this holiday, and those of surpassing difficulty often draw the blessings of Olidammara himself.

Major Centers of Worship

There are few dedicated chapels or shrines to Olidammara, but those that do exist are located in large towns or cities. There are two preeminent rustic hostels that are rumored to exist. Winespill is supposedly a large church nestled somewhere in the Kron Hills southeast of Devarnish. Legend is that the spirits flow in such volume that none but The Merry Eyed Prankster can contain it with his cup. Kanteel House is rumored to lie southwest of Badwall in the Wild Coast, but is becoming less popular as teh Wild Coast grows more dangerous. Since that time the House of Revels in Waybury has slowly gained in prominence among the faith. Clerics of Olidammara are not uncommon at any of these places.

Affiliated Orders

There are no known affiliated orders associated with the clergy of the Laughing Rogue. Obviously, his clergy are on good terms with many bardic organizations across the Flanaess, but none are specifically associated or sponsored by the church per se.

Priestly Vestments

The priests wear vestments of brown, green, black, and all combinations thereof. They tend to favor loose garments and robes that are useful for concealing things. There is very little hierarchy apparent in the clergy’s style of dress, and indeed, this seems to be the case.

Adventuring Garb

There is no required dress code, though priests tend to favor the same colors they might wear at a service. Although they enjoy collecting all manner of gems and jewelry, they seem to hold a special place in their hearts for emeralds, and often the green gems adorn many of the higher-ranking clergy.

Specialty Priests (Pranksters)

Requirements Ability Scores: Dexterity or Charisma 13
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Weapons: as thieves
Raiment: robes of green, brown, green and brown, or green and black
Major Sheres: Charm, Creation, Healing, Protection
Minor Spheres: Chaos, Divination, Travelers
Special Abilities: none
Required Proficiencies: None
Bonus Proficiencies: singing OR musical instrument, disguise
Granted Powers
1st Level hide in shadows as a thief, 5%/level
1st Level Pranksters can accurately assess the age and quality of any alcoholic beverage they taste, and also determine if such a beverage has been doctored or poisoned, and receive a +2 bonus to their saves vs. poison
3rd Level: Change Self once per day for every three levels of experience
5th Level Cast Alter Self once per day for every three levels of experience
7th Level Cast Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter once/day for every three levels they have attained
7th Level: Pranksters eyes turn emerald green if they are not already so. Pranksters may use their emerald gaze once per day to add a +5 reaction bonus to any Charisma based check
8th Level: Pranksters may polymorph self into an inanimate object once per day. The caster often takes the form of some type of instrument or drinking vessel and lasts for 1 turn/level of the priest. Such an object may not occupy more than 1 cubic foot of volume/level or weigh more than 2 pounds/level of the priest. Priests may still talk normally and cast spells with a verbal component only
9th Level: Pranksters are continually under the effects of both a Free Action spell and a Non-Detection spell. 10th Level Cast Confusion once/day
10th Level: Prankster may disguise themselves at will, and duplicate any person well enough that they get a +2 bonus to their Disguise check. The only feature that will give a Prankster of this level away is that the priest always has emerald eyes while using this ability, no matter what measures he or she may use to make it appear otherwise.
Turn Undead: No
Command Undead: No

Olidammaran Spells

Second Level

Euphoria

Third Level

Water to Wine

Fourth Level

Inebriate

Fifth Level

Carapace

Sixth Level

Blessed Libation

[Adapted from Olidammara: The Laughing Rogue by Russell S. Timm in Oerth Jourmal #13 and the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]