The Gardener

The Goddess of Grain

The Gardener is considered by most to be the prime deity of nature across many cultures, her only real rival in this being the Ranger. The two are very similar and many myths either pit them against one another or show them as kindred spirits who work in harmony- even sisters in some archaic myths. Some even think they are the same deity. Whereas the Ranger is mostly considered the caretaker of the wilderness, The Gardener is the caretaker of nature that has been domesticated- farms, orchards, horses, pets, bees, and livestock primarily. Despite being a deity of nature, this goddess is still known for being dedicated to the betterment to humanoid creatures, subsistence, and civilization and less a protector of the wild from them in the way the Ranger is. She also has a stronger association with plantlife whereas the ranger is more known for her association with beasts. The Gardener is especially important to humans and halflings in Arna whose settlements rely so heavily on large scale farming compared to the west. Some cultures that do not worship the Ranger see the Gardener as the principle and only deity of nature and give her a slightly more wild and chaotic personality. She is considered by most to also be a minor deity of good weather. Though generally benign, across various myths she has also shown her anger with punishing drought and famine.

Hallar of the Common Pantheon

Portfolio: Agriculture, Domestication, Health, Civilization
Domains: Nature, Life, Tempest
Alignment: NG
Alias/s: The Gardener
Symbol: Wheat, Scythe

Hallar is the goddess of agriculture, and domestication, and by extension civilization as the whole. She is worshiped mostly by humans and Marasenian halflings. She gifted mortals with knowledge of cultivation and allowed for them to settle in one area. She is the deity of growth, good health, fertility, and prosperity. Though generally believed to be a benevolent goddess, many human farmers tend to be on the superstitious side and take any dead livestock or failed crops to be signs of Hallar’s displeasure. Most agricultural communities are highly devoted to ‘keeping her happy’, as a result. Many spring and harvest festivals are carried out in her name and the first fruit of every crop is to be offered up to Hallar in thanks. Different settlements often argue over what her preferred offerings might be, though most agree that bread, honey, and mead or beer are her favorites. She has a strong association with bees and most grains.

Fion of the Halfling Pantheon

Portfolio: Plants, Agriculture
Domains: Nature, Tempest, Grave, Twilight
Alignment: NG
Alias/s: Mother of Halflings, Lady or Queen of The Fields
Symbol: Tree with Deep Roots and a full and empty moon, honeybee
Fion is the mother of halfling-kind and at least partially responsible in the creation of the world. She is said to have created them to be the caretakers of E'ahna. She presides over the growth of flora and the natural cycles and food chains of the beasts. She is the chief deity of agriculture and animal husbandry. Though her domain is that of Nature, she understands that this garden of plenty was placed here for the sentient, and the sentient are a part of nature. She may choose to punish halflings for grave disrespects to her beautiful natural world, but she does not place the protection of beasts and plants over the protection of people either. She is wild and moody by nature and can be unpredictable which results at times in bestial dangers, drought, famine or intense storms, but she is always apologetic afterwards and never means real harm to her favored people. She is often symbolized by the honeybee- a creature that can produce wonders like honey and pollinate the world- but she still has a hell of a stinger on her as well. She is the most important, most respected of all the halfling deities and she and Aberdan are the only of this pantheon that are believed to be true divinities and not ascended mortals. She and Aberdan chose their favored and raised them into godship in the early days of the world. Fion is also a goddess of the Grave and death, said to ultimately choose when a halfling life must come to an end. Halflings are interred back to the earth and generally some kind of plant or tree is grown there as a grave marker- in that way they can continue the sacred cycle of life and death. Halfling cemeteries generally look like orchards and small forests as a result.

Gwandela of the Dwarvish Pantheon

Portfolio: Life, Creation
Domains: Life, Nature, Tempest
Alignment: CG
Alias/s: The Stonemother
Symbol: Mushroom within a Mountain
Gwandela is one of the more controversial and chaotic of the dwarvish deities. Though in dwarven myth it was Oroh who crafted dwarves from stone and gems, Gwandela was the only one who could breath life into them. Gwandela is the chief deity of life and nature to the dwarves. Though the dwarves do not consider her a world creator necessarily, she was the one who breathed life into the dark caverns of the world so that the dwarves could subsist there- especially cave-dwelling fungi. She was said to have breathed life into a great number of strange creatures with strong connections to rock and earth, like basilisks and gorgons as well as other races made from earth, like the Galeb Duhr. Gwandela, from the beginning, was not one for orderly or civilized life. Within her own pantheon she somewhat exists as an outsider, not really considered a principle member of the divine royal family. It is of course by choice. She is a goddess that could not be reigned in by traditions and laws when her purview was survival and instinct and procreation. Her worshipers are often surface-dwelling dwarvish druids and barbarians or hill dwarves who take to farming, hunting, and fishing as opposed to mining. She is also worshiped largely by brewmasters who grow their own hops or other ingredients. Though somewhat ignored by many traditionalist dwarves, she does have a fair number of myths associated with her. She did manage at one point to seduce the king of the dwarven gods, Balmir, and this resulted in a daughter (Bruselle) who was very similar to her- a wanderer and surface walker. Gwandela is just as active on the surface world as she is the underdark and as such is their principle deity of seismic activity like earthquakes and volcanoes as well as storms and blizzards.

E'ah of the Draconic Pantheon

Portfolio: Nature, Growth, Plant Life, Animals, Weather, All Mortals
Domains: Nature, Tempest, Life
Alignment: NG
Alias/s: The World Mother
Symbol: Mountain & Sun
E’ah is the oldest deity that exists short of the Infinite Stars and the Spiraling Dark, according to dragonkind. This world is named after her, after all. She was the first thing brought into existence by the Infinite Stars- life itself- specifically plant life, without which nothing else could ever have survived. The dragons view all plant life as one connected, living, being- the deity herself as a physical manifestation- the mother of all that provides all that is needed. The World Mother provides the food for the herbavores, which is the food of the carnivores, which in turn keep the herbavores in check in a perfect circle of life that all relies on. This is an important concept among many dragonkin- cycles of nature, time, and cycles of peace and war. E’ah is believed to have created dragonkind and later on the rest of the races as well, though none as grand and wonderful as her first born. She is a passive deity, given respect and admiration, but rarely is anything asked of her directly. Some would consider this a rude gesture. Though one is free to indulge in the fruits of the world and to utilize the materials she provides for the betterment of ones self and others, it is important among many cultures who respect her not to exploit the natural world. Hunting animals to extinction or deforesting huge areas are major offenses to this deity and could result in her anger which is far more terrifying than anything the other draconic gods are liable to punish with. Her anger results in volcanoes and tsunamis which wipe entire cities off the map. It was her anger that nearly caused the extinction of the dragons.

TEMPLES OF THE GARDENER

The largest temples to The Gardener are located in the following places.

• Rhylmera (Marasen Empire)
• Gallonry (Marasen Empire)
• Alderstone (Marasen Empire)
• Ruža Dolina (Krasnava Province of Belstrad)
• Wurnich (Kaspar Province of Belstrad)
• Ishan (Namiza)
• Manieke (Luxumu)
• Sharokhar (Va'Sehir)
• Fion's Heart (Hywela)
• Inti Mavari (Vaythera)
• Ultzinhold (Ultzin Stronghold)

Worshipers

Few gods have as many human or halfling worshipers as The Gardener. She is universally worshiped and cherished by much of the rural world- farm and ranch families being the majority. People need food to eat and they do not wish to upset the deity who provides or allows for the bulk of it. Other than farmers, ranchers, beekeeps and the like, the other major worshiper of this deity are druids- especially among the dragonborn and the few dwarves who become druids. One can also find clerics of the Gardener, particularly among human and halfling societies. This is particularly prevalent in Belstrad where growing food is difficult. Paladins are rare but not unheard of. Most Paladins of nature are elvish and dedicated to The Ranger. Though rare, its not unheard of to find elvish and gnomish converts who worship this deity instead of The Ranger of their own pantheon- largely in Kardath and Namiza. Some rangers, hermits and outlanders also end up worshiping her, perhaps because of her more benevolent nature in comparison to her wild and often merciless sister deity.
On-Brand Worshipers

• Cleric: Nature Domain
• Druid: Circle of The Land & Dreams
• Paladin: Oath of the Ancients
• Ranger: Swarm Keeper
• Hermit Background
• Outlander Background