Lesser God, Dwarven pantheon [Intermediate]
God of Shadows, Magic, Protection
| Symbol | Gray shield emblazoned with a shattered crossbow bolt | |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil (Neutral) | |
| Priest Alignment | LE, LN | |
| Plane | Acheron | |
| Worshippers | Duergar, some surface dwarves of evil bent | |
| Race | Dwarf (almost all duergar, no derro) | |
| Sex | Male | |
| Attributes | Strength 15, Dexterity 12, or Strength 12, Dexterity 15 | -2 |
| Proficiency Groups | Warrior, Wizard, Priest, General | 10 |
| Bonus Proficiency | Any one of blacksmithing, carpentry, engineering, leather working, mining, sculpting, stonemasonry, armorer, or weaponsmithing | 4 |
| Preferred Weapon | War hammer (required at first level) | |
| Allowed Weapons | As for standard priest | |
| Armor | Chainmail or lighter armors, any shield | -5 |
| Primary Sphere | Sun (reverse) | 3 |
| Major Spheres | All, Combat, Elemental (Earth), Guardian, Law, Protection, Wards | 54 |
| Minor Spheres | Divination, Healing, Necromantic | 15 |
| Additional Spells | ||
| Abilities | ||
| Control Undead at 1/2 level, rounded up | 10 | |
| Normal priestly followers | 5 | |
| One spell of each spell level may be selected from the Wizard's school of Shadow, a spell book is required 25 (base) - 10 (limited use: 1/level) - 5 (spellbook) = 10 |
10 | |
| Permanent -1 to Armor Class against all attackers | 5 | |
| 3rd level | Meld into Stone (1/day) 5 (1/day) + 3 (P3) - 1 (3rd level ) - 2 (3 powers) = 5 |
5 |
| 7th level | +1 to all saving throws 5 (base) - 3 (7th level) = 2 |
2 |
| 9th level | Wall of Stone (1/day) 5 (1/day) + 8 (W4) - 4 (9th level ) - 2 (3 powers) = 7 |
7 |
| 11th level | +2 to all saving throws (non-cumulative) 5 (base) - 2 (2 levels about 7th) = 3 |
3 |
| 14th level | Shadow Walk (1/week) 3 (base) + 14 (W7) - 6 (14th level) - 2 (3 powers) = 9 |
9 |
| Limitations | ||
| Hit points (d6) as thief | -10 | |
| Fanaticism: the priest seeks to humiliate and ruin priests of the other dwarven gods | -2 | |
| Casting level is reduced by two in daylight or equivalent brightness | -3 | |
| Raiment | At least one item of deepest black and one of gray must be worn at all times | |
| Animal | N/A | |
| Holy Days | New moon of Luna, sacrifice of works of art created by the priest | |
| Notes | ||
| True Duergar never worship Laduguer His priests can see through their own darkness spells, and use them frequently in combat Magic items that create shadow or illusion effects are highly prized The crafting non-weapon proficiency is "averaged" at a cost of 4 |
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| Background | ||
| In ages past, Laduguer dwelled in the Seven Heavens with his brothers of the dwarven pantheon. However, he turned to the shadows in search of power and mastery over the multiverse, and turned his back upon his brethren when they would not join him in his quest. He now dwells in the darkest reaches of the plains of Acheron (far below the eternal battle grounds).
When Laduguer began his quest for magical power, several of the tribes of the ancient duergar joined him on his quest. They went far below ground, seeking forbidden secrets of times long past. In time, they gained powers that were unheard of amongst the surface dwarves, and learned to wield magical powers thought forever lost to the duergar. As the ages past, the surface dwarves abandoned the name duergar, using it as an epithet for their brothers lost to shadow. Laduguer is a stern taskmaster, dedicated to mastery of the self and of others. It is he who brought slavekeeping to the duergar, and he who taught them to be without pity for friend or foe. His priests personify the duergar love of law and discipline. They often rule over entire communities of grey dwarves, and are always close to those in power. A priest of Laduguer will never willingly act against their community -- political scheming is anathema to them. |
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| Sources | ||
| Monster Mythology, pp. 64-65 (original source) Monstrous Compendium, pp. 96-97 |
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