Garl Glittergold

The Joker, the Watchful Protector the Priceless Gem, the Sparkling Wit

Garl Glittergold (GARL GLIHT-ter'gold) is the Watchful Protector of the Forgotten Folk and the leader of the gnome pantheon. He is said to have discovered the first gnomes while exploring a new cavern and then told them a joke before leading them into the world. All gnomes who embrace the communal life of the Forgotten Folk venerate the Joker, even if they also worship another deity. His name is invoked by gnomes involved in smithcraft (particularly those who work with gold) and gem cutting.
Gnomes who wish to play a prank or tell a joke invoke his name, as do those who seek to protect and strengthen gnome communities.
Garl is on excellent terms with the rest of the gnome pantheon, with the notable exception of Urdlen. He insists they cooperate in all endeavors, and he shares with them his responsibilities and concerns, thus mining and smithing are also overseen by Flandal Steelskin, illusion is also the province of Baravar Cloakshadow, protection and combat are responsibilities shared with Gaerdal Ironhand, and so on. Garl's boon companion is Arumdina the justifier, a great intelligent two-headed battle axe, commonly referred to as female, who serves him as both weapon and friend. The sight of the gleaming weapon that cleaves through stone as easily as through air and slices through metal armor as if it did not exist has probably encouraged more than one victim of one of Garl's jokes to laugh it off with good humor rather than get too mad.
The Joker is often found in the company of other powers of other pantheons of similar perspective, including Brandobaris, Erevan Ilesere, Tymora, and Vergadain. The various powers worshiped by humanoids and creatures of the Under-dark are often the target of Garl's jests, and he usually leaves them helpless and humbled, a victim of self-inflicted folly. As a result, despite his ever-optimistic hope that they might learn a lesson about overweening pride and pomposity, the Joker has garnered many enemies from among their ranks, particularly among the kobold pantheon. Notable among the Joker's exploits are the story of how he pretended to be caught by Kurtulmak before escaping as he collapsed the kobold god's cavern on top of Kurtulmak, and the story of how Garl dressed up as a deer to lure Grankhul, the bugbear hunter god, out into the open before trapping him with an illusion and leaving him trussed up like a turkey.
Garl is a gentle and approachable power, one who values quick thinking and a clear head more than almost anything. He rarely stays in one location for very long. Though physical prowess and spiritual might are important, nothing is more crucial than keeping it all in perspective. Garl watches over cooperation among gnomes at all times; he may send omens, even an avatar, to resolve strife and serious disputes. Garl prefers trickery, illusion, and wiles to direct physical confrontation, although if forced to fight he is hardly weak. The leader of the gnome pantheon often steals evil weapons and magic intended for malefic ends from their owners and then disposes of them. The Joker is also a mischievous trickster, said to have the largest collection of jokes in the multiverse, and he has always got one appropriate to the situation. The Joker usually carries plenty of props for his illusions and practical jokes as he never knows when they might come in handy.
There is another side to Garl than that of the witty adventurer who collapsed the kobold god's cavern. The Watchful Protector is ever alert to threats to the Forgotten Folk and watches directly over their affairs. If such threats cannot be forestalled, Garl will defend his people as needed and appropriate.
Although his military prowess is almost always used defensively, when Garl's people are physically threatened, the god is a grim and determined war leader who out-thinks as well as out-fights his opponents.

Divine Domains

Trickery

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Gold nugget

Tenets of Faith

While life may sometimes be hard, it is important to keep a sense of humor and always welcome opportunities for laughter and delight. Communities are forged through the cooperation and communal spirit of a group of individuals who work and play together. The strength of a community is the cooperation that binds individuals into more than the sum of their contributions. A great prank can help to lighten hard times and make good ones shine- Those who are in authority should never take themselves too seriously, or they lose touch with those they direct and care for. Teach and preserve the tales and traditions of the Forgotten Folk, so that they are never forgotten among their own kind. Do not fear change or the unorthodox, for therein lies the future. Finally, in all things, do what works.

Holidays

The church of Garl holds monthly worship services on the 13th day of each month an auspicious day in gnome folklore. Known as the Communion of Laughter, the Forgotten Folk venerate the head of the gnome pantheon through a variety of activities that last the entire day.
Although the order varies from temple to temple, the Joker's rituals include a period of prayer and quiet contemplation, dancing atop the central dais, the sharing of communal meals, storytelling to the accompaniment of visual displays of magic, and joke telling contests that last late into the night. Individuals are expected to offer a bit of gold (or other precious metals, if gold is not available) to the god, even if it is just a handful of gold dust. The moneys so collected are used by the temple for the collective benefit of the community.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Day-to-Day Activities

Garl's priests serve their communities as craftsmen, educators, entertainers, mediators, and protectors. Even those who wander in search of adventure serve this function, for their exploits are incorporated into the oral tradition of the Forgotten Folk and related for generations thereafter. In their teaching of the young, members of the Joker's clergy combine a very earthy practicality with a streak of humor that keeps their young charges entertained and their interest and subsequent learning heightened. Many also work as smiths (particularly goldsmiths), miners, and gem cutters, and they are expected to contribute to the best of their ability, regardless of their seniority. The priesthood maintains a careful vigilance to protect against hostile races, especially kobolds, and watches over the welfare of the Forgotten Folk. The priesthood must maintain a good archive of jokes, jests, and tales, and priests are expected to be able raconteurs capable of enthralling an audience through a combination of all three.

Priestly Vestments

The ceremonial garb of Garl's priests includes a gold-plated war helm, a golden belt, and if possible, a suit of gold-plated chain mail or plate mail. The holy symbol of the faith is a brightly colored gold nugget worth at least 10 gp.

Adventuring Garb

Garl's clergy employ a wide variety of weapons, including battle axes, crossbows, darts, flails, hand axes, maces, short bows, short swords, slings, spears, picks, and war hammers. Although those who wish to exercise their rogue or illusionist skills often prefer lighter armor or none whatsoever, most priests of the Joker favor the heaviest defensive mail available.

Symbol: Gold nugget
Home Plane: Dothion in the Golden Hills (Glitterhome)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
PORTFOLIO: Protection, humor, trickery, gem cutting, finesmithing and lapidary, the gnome race
Worshipers: Adventurers, bards, defending soldiers, gemcutters, gnomes, illusionists, jewelers miners, rogues, smiths
Cleric Alignments: NG, CG, CN
Domains: Trickery
Favored Weapon: "Arumdina" (battleaxe)
ALLIES: Brandobaris, Clangeddin Silverbeard, Corellon Larethian, Cyrrollalee, Dumathoin, Erevan Ilesere, Gorm Gulthyn, Grumbar, Moradin, Tymora, Vergadain, Yondalla, the gnome pantheon (except Urdlen)
FOES: Abbathor, Gaknulak, Kuraulyek, Kurtulmak, Urdlen, the goblinkin pantheons

Divine Classification

Intermediate Power