Murlynd

Murlynd

"He walks where the laws of magic and steel collide, where the frontier of civilization meets the untamed wild. He is a relic of old legends and a harbinger of the future. Cross him at your peril, for justice has two hands, and he holds them both." — An anonymous bard's account of Murlynd

Overview

Murlynd is a unique figure among the Hero-Deities of the Flanaess. A wandering lawbringer and an innovator, he is both a warrior and a sorcerer, wielding the powers of steel and magic in equal measure. His strange attire and weaponry mark him as a being ahead of his time, a man who walks the thin line between tradition and progress.

While he once studied under the famed wizard Keoghtom, Murlynd diverged from the classical paths of magic, choosing instead to embrace technology and innovation. He is often depicted as a **tall, rugged man in a long dust-colored coat, a wide-brimmed hat shadowing his sharp, weathered features**. Though he carries the air of a frontier sheriff, his true domain is wherever justice falters, and he rides to set it right.

"A gun in one hand, a spell in the other, and justice in his heart—Murlynd does not wait for fate to set things right. He is the hand that turns the wheel." — Sorkel the Wise

Domains and Influence

Murlynd is a patron of **justice, innovation, technology, and frontier law**. He is particularly revered in regions where civilization clashes with lawlessness, such as newly settled lands and untamed frontiers. His name is spoken in awe among those who seek **a fair hand in law enforcement**, be they sheriffs, rangers, or wandering judges.

His influence extends beyond mortals, as he is said to have traveled across **other worlds**, learning secrets of arcane artifice and technology. Some scholars claim that Murlynd's greatest impact is yet to come, that his ideals of blending magic with the sciences will shape the future of the world.

Appearance and Symbols

Murlynd is most often depicted as a **grizzled warrior-mage**, clad in a long **weathered duster coat**, a **wide-brimmed hat**, and **well-worn leather boots**. His badge of office—a **six-pointed silver star**—is pinned to his chest, a symbol of his dedication to justice. He wields two **arcane pistols**, devices so alien to Oerth that most mistake them for artifacts of pure magic.

His holy symbol is a **six-pointed star**, sometimes combined with an **open book and crossed pistols**. Those who follow Murlynd often carry a **small badge of silver**, a token of their devotion to law and order.

"I watched him ride into town, a shadow against the setting sun. He didn't need to say a word. The bandits ran before he even reached the street. There's power in a name, and Murlynd's name is justice itself." — An old settler recounting a tale of Murlynd

Worship and Followers

Murlynd is not widely worshiped in the traditional sense, but he has many admirers and followers—rangers, lawkeepers, artificers, and those who believe in the march of progress. His clergy, if they can be called that, are rare and scattered, acting more as **wandering agents of justice** than temple-bound priests.

Shrines dedicated to Murlynd are often simple and practical, set up in places where order is needed—a dusty crossroads, the hall of a town marshal, or the office of a city judge. Offerings to him are not made with incense and prayer but in **acts of fairness, innovation, and protection of the weak**.

Legends and Deeds

Murlynd's adventures are many, spanning worlds beyond Oerth. He is said to have fought in cosmic battles against **fiendish warlords**, uncovered lost **artificer civilizations**, and even **conversed with the gods of knowledge and invention**. It was from such journeys that he returned with his strange weapons and unusual garb, forever marking him as a man out of time.

One tale speaks of his confrontation with a demonic gunslinger from another plane, a being of shadow and flame that sought to burn the frontier lands. Murlynd faced the fiend at high noon in a battle that lasted only a single moment—a shot rang out, and when the dust settled, only Murlynd remained standing.

Final Words

Murlynd remains a paradox—a hero of both **old legends and a future yet to come**. His presence in the world serves as a reminder that **laws must evolve, that justice must never stagnate, and that progress marches forward whether the world is ready or not**. His legend endures, told by those who dare to walk the line between past and future.