Urogalan (urr-roh-gah-lan)

Urogalan safeguards the souls of deceased halflings and serves as an advisor and divine judge for Yondalla, whose trust in his counsel surpasses that of any other. His interests are confined to the subterranean realms, which are typically unfamiliar to most halflings, leading to his detached and unusually solemn demeanor for a halfling deity. Nonetheless, halflings value his role deeply, knowing that Urogalan, He Who Must Be, will oversee their passage from this life to the serene Greenfields when their time comes.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Clergy, Temples and Worshippers

Clerics of Urogalan, known as grimwardens, conduct their prayers for spells in the morning. They observe the nights of the full moon, called "Earthrisings," as sacred occasions. During these events, the grimwardens assemble with family members of halflings who passed away in the preceding month for a special ceremony in a natural earth basin. The ceremony includes offerings to Urogalan, the chanting of funeral dirges and elegies, accompanied by the rhythmic stomping of bare feet as participants circle a central stone. The grimwardens' rituals and beliefs closely align with those of the dwarven deity Dumathoin, earning them a warm welcome in temples dedicated to the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain.

Rituals

The clerics of Urogalan, also known as grimwardens, conduct their spell prayers in the morning. They commemorate the full moon nights, known as "Earthrisings", where they join with families of recently deceased halflings for a distinct ceremony in a natural earth basin. During these ceremonies, attendees offer tributes to the deity, gently recite funeral dirges and elegies, and march slowly in circles around a central stone to the rhythm of their own footfalls. Due to their shared rituals and beliefs with the dwarven deity Dumathoin, grimwardens are often warmly received as brethren in temples devoted to the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain.

Burial Practices

Among the various burial practices used by priests of Urogalan, there are only three set precepts that must be met. First, the deceased must be interred in either earth or stone, utilizing a wooden casket that will naturally decompose or a stone sarcophagus. An engraved stone tablet bearing the deceased's name is also required. Secondly, the symbol of Urogalan is to be placed upon the chest of the corpse. The officiating priest is tasked with creating twin figurines of black hounds from stone or clay, blessing them, and laying them in the palms of the deceased. Lastly, it is customary for community members who were close to the departed to come forward and share a personal story or memory about the deceased, often returning a gift or token they once received from them. These offerings typically highlight attributes like generosity or cleverness and might be accompanied by items such as a clay pipe, an apple, a jug of wine, or a simple wooden carving.
Widely observed among Halflings, gravestones frequently feature clay statuettes of Urogalan housed in niches at the base of the markers. Regionally, practices vary, including the ancient tradition of placing a terra cotta mask over the deceased’s face, carved to reflect a peaceful expression. This mask is believed to assist the spirit's transition to the afterlife and symbolize the peace some believe the deceased only found in death. While the original intent behind this practice has largely been forgotten, when queried by outsiders, halflings often respond humorously with, "Undead don't smile!".
While burial customs may differ slightly across communities, significant deviations in the practices for Halfling of notable status are rare, as lavish graves are seen as inappropriate in their broadly egalitarian society. Permissible variations to standard burial rituals include burying the deceased with their beloved possessions, adorning the sarcophagus with intricate carvings that depict the life and achievements of the deceased, and using precious stones, rare metals, and special stones in crafting the sarcophagus and the offerings placed within. Additionally, complex security measures are sometimes necessary to protect these enhanced tombs from potential grave robbers.

Tenets of Faith

• Honor the earth as the source and repository of life, for it offers shelter, sustenance, and prosperity to those who connect with it.
• Revere the sacred soil as both a tribute to Those Who Have Passed and a sanctuary for Those Who Are to Come.
• Accept death as a natural conclusion of life, as taught in the teachings of He Who Must Be, thereby celebrating the life that was lived.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Urogalan is known for his reserved demeanor and seldom speaks or shows emotion; when he does, his voice carries a note of sorrow. Preferring to observe rather than intervene, the Lord in the Earth often manifests subtly, emerging from the shadows to watch quietly until he is recognized. He sends his avatar to collect the souls of halflings who are particularly wise, great, or exceptional, and also to oversee dangers that originate from beneath the earth.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Urogalan maintains polite relations with his pantheon but prefers emotional distance, finding solace among earth lords like Grumbar, Callarduran Smoothhands, Dumathoin, and Flandal Steelskin. While he occasionally enjoys discussions on death at the Crystal Spire with deities like Vandi and The Raven Queen, his duties as steward of the dead leave little time for such visits. Urogalan holds necromantic deities in disdain, considering them sworn enemies due to their association with undead and necromancy.

Titles:

He who Must be;
Lord of the Earth;
The Black Hound;

Divine Classification

Demipower, Aspect of Grumbar

Realm

Greenfields

Aligned Organization

Halfling Pantheon

Ruled Locations

• Soulearth

Aspects/Aliases

None

Home Plane

Mount Celestia

Subservient Deities

None

Portfolio

Earth, Death, protection of the dead

Domains

Earth, Halfling, Law (Archon, Inevitable, Judgement, Legislation, Loyalty), Protection, Repose

Symbol

Silhouette of a dog’s head

Worshippers

Genealogists, grave diggers, halflings

Worshipper's Alignments

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Favored Weapon

“Doomthresher” [double-headed fail] (any flail)

Holy Days

None

Gender

Masculine

Orders

Urogalan's priesthood is segregated into two religious orders with overlapping responsibilities and memberships (in small communities with but a single Urogalanan priest, the resident Vassal of the Black Hound serves both roles). The Wardens of the Dead are primarily responsible for the protection of halfling gravesites and ensuring the peaceful transition of halfling spirits to the afterlife. The role of the Children of the Earth is to honor the ground from which halflings extract their livelihood and to defend against dangers from below that might emerge in the midst of halfling communities on the surface.