Gaerdal Ironhand - Piety System Page

Gnomish Goddess of Guardianship and Defences

I watch your rest, so you may sleep. I steel my heart, so you may laugh.

Gaerdal is the gnomish deity of guardianship and defences. She lost her hand in a long ago betrayal, so they say, and her heart is hardened against the pranks and jokes of the other gnomish gods.

Gaerdal’s Champions 

Alignment: Usually lawful 
Suggested Classes: Fighter, Paladin, Ranger 
Suggested Cleric Domains: War
Suggested Backgrounds: Soldier, City Watch

Champions of Gaerdal are those amongst the gnomes who take a more dour, serious approach to their own survival.

Gaerdal’s Favor

Gaerdal’s favour is given to those who appreciate the fact that for some gnomes to live their lives free of worry or concern, others must see to the borders and defences of their towns and cities. This philosophy is often seen as self-sacrificing by those who adopt it, and it can sometimes lead to ill will when ‘irresponsible’ gnomes clash with Gaerdal’s hardline chosen.

Gaerdal’s scions hail from communities that are sheltered from assault by a variety of cunning methods, first and foremost amongst which is a discreet location.

Why did Gaerdal seek you out as a champion? The following table offers a few suggestions.

d6	Circumstance
1	You lost loved ones in an attack on your home.
2	You gained a severe physical impediment as a result of an injury. You’ve learned to adjust, with effort.
3	You left your family behind to join the armed forced.
4	Your sour disposition is matched only by the depth of your tactical skill.
5	You don’t understand how jokes work, and you don’t intend to. Gaerdal, frankly, agrees.
6	Happiness, your mother always said, is for dogs and babies. This is the way the world is.

Devotion to Gaerdal

Following Gaerdal means dedicating yourself to defending others. As a follower of Gaerdal, consider the ideals below as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

d6	Ideals
1	Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what they stand for. (Any)
2	Protection. My role in life is to defend those I care about.
3	Community. We all have a part to play in society. I can’t do some things, but I can hold a shield.
4	Fatalism. Joy and happiness will always give way to times of strife. We must be prepared.
5	Liberty. I keep watch so that none of my people will ever be slaves again.
6	Hate. I despise those who think they can stamp all over my culture because we are small.

Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score to Gaerdal when you expand the god’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:

• Defending something important to you
• Setting traps, wards or walls

Your piety score to Gaerdal decreases if you diminish Gaerdal’s influence in the world or contradict her ideals through acts such as these:

• Trusting another creature unproven by time or trial
• Allowing others to come to harm as a result of naivete

Deity Traits

Favoured God: Gaerdal

Piety 3+ Gaerdal trait
You gain Inspiration when you set traps, wards or defences against intruders.

Trap Snaps Shut

Piety 10+ Gaerdal trait
You can cast alarm with this trait, requiring no components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Ethereal Guardian

Piety 25+ Gaerdal trait
You can cast guards and wards with this trait, requiring no components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Chosen of Gaerdal

Piety 50+ Gaerdal trait
You can spend an hour invoking a ritual to Ironhand, expending an inspiration die to awaken a stone statue you touch. (Use the statistics for animated armor). The statue stays within 100 feet of its original location, and attacks intruders (as defined by you on creation) on sight for 8 hours.