Ghaunadaur - Piety System Page

God of Oozes, Slimes, Outcasts and Subterranean horrors

There is no greater meaning. No grand design. Just the cold, dark whims of an indifferent world.

Ghaunadaur is the god of oozes, slimes, outcasts and subterranean horrors. Speaking the name of That Which Lurks risks drawing its attention, which carries the potential for great reward, or great misfortune. Mercurial and dangerous, Ghaunadaur is a lesson in life’s simple truth - everyone is one unexpected surprise away from unearned success, or unmerited destitution.

Ghaunadaur’s Champions

Alignment: Usually chaotic neutral
Suggested Classes: Warlock, Sorcerer
Suggested Cleric Domains: Knowledge, War
Suggested Backgrounds: Haunted One, Hermit, Urchin

Champions of Ghaunadaur are chosen seemingly at random from those brave enough to seek its blessing.

Ghaunadaur’s Favor

Ghaunadaur’s favour is impossible to predict. It is equally likely to punish a faithful priest out of dark whimsy as it is to lavish gifts on them. For this reason, the faith of Ghaunadaur is not for the faint of heart or for those who expect their devotion to be rewarded.

Ghaunadaur’s scions tend to hail from cities and hubs of civilisation, where the resources and opportunities for great works of craft are more common, and often centre their personalities around their incredible worth ethic.

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

d6	Circumstance
1	You uttered the name of That Which Lurks in a moment of desperation.
2	You don’t want any part of this. That Which Lurks doesn’t seem to care.
3	You were almost eaten by an ooze, and then something saved you. Why is unclear.
4	You failed It, spectacularly. That Which Lurks has given you a second chance, for no discernible reason.
5	Your lifelong devotion was rewarded with a terrible mutilation. Nevertheless you hold true to the faith.
6	You take care of the outcasts, the hideous things noone wants to see. This pleases It.

Devotion to Ghaunadaur

Following Ghaunadaur means knowing that the world is a horrible place. As a follower of Ghaunadaur, 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	Humility. Each of us is only ever a single catastrophe away from poverty and death.
3	Respect. Even the crawling, ugly things of this world have a god, and each of them deserves respect.
4	Change. Unpredictable, violent change is necessary to keep the powers-that-be from becoming complacent.
5	Luck. Taking no risks comes with no rewards.
6	Adaptability. We cannot choose the circumstances we are afforded, only our response to them.

Earning and Losing Piety

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

• Following your immediate urges to punish and reward others as your instinct directs
• Taking bold risks with a high risk of death or injury

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

• Acting predictably or in a repetitive pattern
• Choosing the safer, lower reward course of action

Deity Traits

Favoured God: Ghaunadaur

Piety 3+ Ghaunadaur trait
You gain Inspiration when you utter the name of Ghaunadaur.

There is a 20% chance that you instead suffer a random Lingering Injury (see the DMG, Chapter 9).

Liquid Insides

Piety 10+ Ghaunadaur trait
You are immune to critical hits, sometimes.

Squelching Regrowth

Piety 25+ Ghaunadaur trait You regain 1d6 hit points every 10 minutes, provided that you have at least 1 hit point. If you lose a body part, thiseffect causes the missing part to regrow and return to full functionality after 1d6 + 1 days if you have at least 1 hit point the whole time. If you ever lose this piety effect, you die and your body dissolves into goo.

Chosen of Ghaunadaur

Piety 50+ Ghaunadaur trait
As an action, you can spend an inspiration die to summon a hostile black pudding, which appears in a space within 30 feet of you. The black pudding always feeds on the closest source of food it can detect.