Surtr

Surtr is the lord of the fire giants. His animal is the hell hound. His symbol is a flaming sword.   Surtr looks like an immensely large fire giant with crackling flames for hair and eyebrows. He wears armor of blazingly hot iron and wields a flaming iron sword 15 feet in length.   Surtr, a son of Annam, is part of the second generation of giantish deities, born at about the same time as Skoraeus Stonebones and Thrym. While Surtr's cult is similar to that of Thrym's, fire and ice do not mix. Other gods in the giantish pantheon include Stronmaus, Hiatea, Grolantor, Karontor, Iallanis, Memnor, Vaprak, and Diancastra.   Surtr rules Muspelheim, an ever-burning realm on the fiery second layer of the plane of Ysgard; the layer is also called Muspelheim, named for Surtr's realm. Surtr's domain contains portals to the City of Brass and to an efreeti outpost called the Suhkteh Albarrana where fire giants often hire themselves as mercenaries to the genies of flame. The realm of Muspelheim can also be reached through certain volcanic regions on the first layer of the plane. At the highest point in the earthberg upon which Surtr has built his realm is a range of mountains called the Serpent's Spine. The only liquid in the realm is the Lake of Lead, a body of molten metal where the fire giants drown their criminals. Other prominent sites include the town of Njarlok, a blacksmithing site called the Forges of Surtr, and the magical tower of stone known as Surtr's Spire.   Fire is pure, cleansing, and strong. The weak and impure burn, while the strong survive. Fire is useful as a tool, but must be respected. It is dangerous when uncontrolled.   Nearly all of Surtr's worshippers are giants, but a select few members of other races have earned his approval. They conceal their devotion to the giant destined to end the world.   Fire giant priests are normally architects or smiths. Those few who aren't are charged with the responsibility of keeping the rest of the tribe productive, largely by recounting inspirational tales. Clerics of Surtr wear war helms and iron plate. Their color is fiery red, and Surtr's favored weapon is the greatsword.   Surtr's temples in the lands of men are hidden affairs. Those that are not hidden are huge buildings ringing with the sounds of forges and storing weapons in preparation for the battle at the end of the world. Visitors have only a few seconds to prove their intentions before the fire giants attack. Fire giants do not enjoy leaving witnesses to their activities.   The holy day of Surtr is the Summer Solstice. Surtr does not demand sacrifice or propitiation.   Ragnarok At Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world, Surtr is destined to set the world on fire, burning it to ashes to make way for the new world to come. He will destroy Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, beneath his weight and that of his subjects.   In Norse mythology, Surtr (modern Icelandic Surtur, sometimes Anglicized Surt) is the leader of the fire giants in the south, the ruler of Muspelheim, the realm of fire. His name means "Swart" or Black, and at the end of the world, Ragnarok, his hordes will rush north like a south wind to overwhelm the gods. In Snorri Sturluson's Edda (1179-1241): "Surtur is the one so named who stands on Múspell's border, guarding the land. His sword is flaming and as the world ends he will go out, make war against and triumph over the gods. And he will burn the whole world with fire" (Gimlé Gylfaginning, iv). Only Hodmimir's Forest will remain, because that is the only thing his sword can not destroy. He will kill the unarmed god Freyr as well.   In the final battle, Surtr and his Fire-Giants burst forth: "In Surtur's grasp the Sword of Revenge blazes, adding a blood red colour to the twilight of the whole world."

Lord of the Fire Giants, King of the Fire Giants, Lord of Muspelheim God of fire giants, fire, destruction, war, and craft Intermediate god

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Domains: Evil, Fire, Law, Purification, Strength, Trickery, War

Symbol: Flaming sword

Surtr is both the lord and deity of the fire giants. He can control any fire in Midgard. Surtr resembles an immense fire giant, with crackling flames for hair and eyebrows. The Lord of the Fire Giants is concerned primarily with his people's fortune and fate in the world. Like all giants, Surtr hates the Aesir and is anxiously awaiting Ragnarok. He will lend his aid to any plan that troubles the Aesir.

 

Surtr stands ever alert in Muspelheim, brandishing his sword that shines brighter than the sun. At Ragnarok he will be responsible for setting the world on fire, burning it down to make room for the new one. Prophecies say that he will even destroy Bifrost under his weight and that of his subjects.

 

Surtr's realm is known as Muspelheim, which is located in, and is the namesake of, the second layer of Ysgard. Muspelheim is made from ribbons of floating earth, some continent-sized or larger. Here, the ground smokes and burns, earning this layer the name "Land of Fire". It's a hostile layer where even the ground is sharp volcanic rock. Muspelheim's ground rolls toward a ridge of fierymmountains at the highest point. This range, called the Serpent Spine, is home to hundreds of clans of fire giants.

Watchtowers and citadels defend the mountain passes against rival clans and unwanted visitors. Just below the highest point lies the land of of the Golden Mist, one of the few fertile grounds in Muspelheim. The giant farmers are said to cultivate the Golden Mist valley, growing fireweed, verdobba, and a variety of black, edible wood. The only liquid in Muspelheim is the "water" of the Lake of Lead, a dull silvery body of molten metal where the giants drown their criminals. How the giants determine which of them are criminals and which are innocent is their business, and confusing business, surely.

 

The Spire of Surtr (also known as the Iron Mountain), located in the midst of the Serpent Spine mountains, is a towering, needle-thin citadel of dark stone supported more by giantish magic than by stonecraft. The Spire is tended by soft, devout giant maidens from Muspelheim and elsewhere, who also serve as Surtr's clerics.

 

A few cults of Surtr thrive in Mannheim, often cooperating with Loki's cult. These cults teach respect for fire, its use as a tool, and its danger when uncontrolled. They teach that fire is a cleansing agent, and point to the new growth after a forest fire as proof. Members of Surtr's cult seek every opportunity to undermine Thor's cult, and they have plenty of help and expert advice from Loki's cult. While Thrym has a similar cult, fire and ice never mix.

 

Surtr rarely grants divine power except to giants. However, a rare few individuals in Mannheim have earned his approval. They conceal their devotion to the giant destined to burn down the world.

 

Surtr's temples in Mannheim are hidden affairs, much like Loki's. In Muspelheim, they are enormous fortresses that ring with the sound of the forges day and night. Surtr's Muspelheim temples are centers for preparation for Ragnarok. Temples in Mannheim secretly store weapons in preparation for the cult to fight alongside the giants.

Visitors to Surtr's temples have only a few seconds to prove their devotion to Surtr before the members of the cult attack. The clergy and the members of the cult in Mannheim do not leave witnesses alive to report their activities.

 

The Blacksmith: Surtr is the giant god of craft and is viewed as an excellent blacksmith, although the secret of smelting was originally given to him by his brother Skoraeus Stonebones. Fire giants emulate his unsurpassed skill at creating and building things, and his Muspelheim temples are enormous fortresses that ring with the sound of the forges day and night, serving as centers for preparation for Ragnarok. Surtr can use Craft (metalworking) or Profession (metalworker) as a free action if the DC for the task is 25 or lower. He can perform up to ten such free actions in a round. Destroyer Deity: Surtr is the giant god of destruction and is destined to burn down the world during Ragnarok.

Ethnic God: Surtr is the god of fire giants, who emulate his unsurpassed skill at creating and building things. Because of the destructive power of fire, the worship of Surtr is tinged with an apocalyptic air. Some observers suspect that priests of Surtr maintain clandestine workshops and armories where they manufacture and stockpile battle gear in preparation for a final, all-encompassing battle that will decide the fate of the world. If the suspicions are true, these sites are expertly hidden and kept secret even from most fire giants.

Fire Purifies: Surtr teaches that fire is a cleansing agent, as evidenced by the new growth after every forest fire.

Flaming Hair: Surtr appears as an enormous fire giant with red-orange flaming hair and eyebrows.

Flaming Sword: In keeping with his mythological namesake, the D&D version of Surtr wields a fiery greatsword. It is a 15 foot flaming iron sword with which he can strike twice per round, inflicting 6-60 points of damage on a hit. His holy symbol is likewise a flaming sword.

God of Fire: Surtr is the giant god of fire and teaches respect for fire, its use as a tool, and its danger when uncontrolled. In the fire giants' world, fire is strength. It burns away impurities and leaves behind only what is strong enough to withstand the heat, such as the best steel from the forge. When fire is controlled, it is the giants' most powerful tool; when it rages unchecked, it can bring down forests and lay waste to cities.

Immune to Fire: Surtr is immune to fire and fire attacks of any kind. Kill It with Fire: Surtr teaches about the danger of fire when uncontrolled, and prophesies say that he will burn down the world during Ragnarok.

Playing with Fire: Being the giant god of fire, Surtr can cast fire spells as a 24th-level caster. Among others, he can cast burning hands, elemental swarm (as fire spell only), fire seeds, fire shield, fire storm, flame strike, incendiary cloud, produce flame, resist elements (as cold or fire spell only), and wall of fire. Additionally, Surtr is immune to fire, can summon fire elementals, and automatically senses events related to fires greater than 10 feet across regardless of the number of people involved, both in the present and up to fourteen weeks in the past.

Public Domain Character: Surtr is lifted wholesale from Norse Mythology, being heavily based on the fire giant of the same name.

Related in the Adaptation: Surtr and Thrym had no relation in Norse myth, whereas their D&D counterparts are brothers.

Set the World on Fire: Surtr is prophesied to burn down the world during Ragnarok, which will make room for the new one.

Sibling Rivalry: Volo's Guide to Monsters paints Surtr and Thrym as having been rivals from the moment they popped out of their mother's womb. They compete constantly, sometimes coming to blows on the battlefield, other times trying to outdo one another in other areas, always with the goal of impressing their father Annam. Spell My Name with an S: His name is sometimes written as Surtur, particularly in sources related to the Forgotten Realms, suggesting that it's considered the primary spelling on Toril.

Ultimate Blacksmith: Surtr can create any magic weapon or armor, any wondrous item related to metalworking, or any item that produces or uses fire, as long as the item's market price does not exceed 200,000 gp.

War God: Surtr is the giant god of war, and it is suspected that his priests maintain clandestine workshops and armories where they manufacture and stockpile battle gear in preparation for a final, all-encompassing battle that will decide the fate of the world. Surtr's Muspelheim temples are enormous fortresses that ring with the sound of the forges day and night, serving as centers for preparation for Ragnarok. Temples of Surtr's human followers secretly store weapons in preparation for the cult to fight alongside the giants.

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