Guide to Deities of the North
Auril
Domains: Blizards, Winter, Cold
Auril (AW-rill) is the lesser deity of winter and cold. She is the embodiment of winter's cruelty and all its deadliest aspects. Auril is a commonly worshiped, and feared, goddess and an integral part of northern cultures. Sacrifices and veneration are primarily performed out of fear.
Auril is primarily worshiped by outsiders in the Ten Towns. Although, Ulutiuns are known to occasionally worship her (by the name Saukuruk). Five years ago, the Reghed Tribes of the Elk and Bear worshiped Auril over Tempos. Led by Hedrun Arnsfirth, these tribes started a war with the Ten Towns, attacking Bryn Shander before being defeated. Most Reghedmen again follow Tempus.
No known temples to Auril exist in the Ten Towns. Her followers may create shrines to her within their own homes. The everlasting winter is generally acknowledged to be of her making, and various sacrifices are made to appease her in all of the Ten Towns every new moon. It is becoming more and more common to find Icewind Dalefolk who not only pay her heed, but openly worship her as their primary patron.
Known followers: Faith Lagerfelt, Kelson family
Deities of Fury
(Also, Gods of Fury) A collective term for a group of evil and destructive deities led by Talos, the Destroyer. The Gods of Fury were Talos, plus Auril, the Frostmaiden, Malar, the Beastlord, and Umberlee, the Bitch Queen.
Gond
(Known as Nebulun by most gnomes of the Ten Towns.) The Lord of all Smiths is known by many as the god of craft, smithing, and inventiveness. The Clergy of Termalaine's Tower of Ingenuity are most prominent among his few followers in the Frozenfar.
Ilmater
Domains: Charity, Endurance, Good, Healing, Humility, Law, Strength, Suffering, Temperance
Ilmater (ihl-MAY-ter) is the deity of endurance, martyrdom, perseverance, and suffering. The Crying God was the patron of the suffering, oppressed, and persecuted. Clergy of the One Who Endures encourage his followers to endure and to help others by taking their burdens. The Rack-Broken Lord is a willing sufferer, bearing the pain of others to spare them from it, and it is said that if he had his way he would do so for all the suffering in the world.
Ilmater is one of the three deity patrons of the House of the Triad in Bryn Shander. He is acknowledged by Cetulutians under the name Ayuruk.
Lathander
Domains: Creativity, Dawn, Renewal, Birth, Athletics, Spring, Vitality, Youth
Lathander (lah-THÆN-der), also known as The Morninglord, favors those who dispel the undead and blesses those who plant new life. Lathander is also the god called upon to bless birth and fertility related ceremonies. Lathander's clergy respect art, liberty, nature, and culture; promote betterment of oneself; and strive to bring hope to their followers and others. Many of these followers work in various creative arts. They are intolerant of evil, especially the undead and inaction that causes evil to prosper.
Lathander is a commonly followed deity in the Ten Towns. The House of the Morninglord is a temple to Lathander found in Bryn Shander. Shrines to Lathander can be found throughout the Ten Towns.
Known followers: Dannika Greysteel, Mithann, Verronna & Aelwyd Radclyff
Malar
Domains: Animals, Bestial Violence, Chaos, Evil, Gluttony, The Hunt, Moon, Strength, Wrath
Malar (MAH-larr) is the lesser deity of hunting, stalking, blood-lust, and bestial savagery and part of the Gods of Fury. The Beastlord is the epitome of the dark, bloody side of nature though in his more favorable aspects are worshiped by those who identified with the wild natures, grace and amorality of predators. Despite being revered as the hunger and hunting instinct of beasts among druid circles however, he despised The Balance of nature that druids and other nature deities sought to uphold.
There are no known temples to Malar in Icewind Dale, but shrines to him are sometimes found in the wilderness.
Talos
Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Fire, Storms, Wrath
Talos (TAHL-os), is greater deity of storms and destruction. The Storm Lord is the destructive force of nature and leader of the Gods of Fury. His self-serving dogma demands utter obedience from his priests, instructing them to spread destruction where they might.
Some centuries-old temples of Talos exist within Icewind Dale, often in the wilds, built atop hills or mountains. These are mostly in ruins, and none are currently attended to by organized followers.
Tempus
Domains: Protection, Strength, War
Tempus (TEM-pus) is the greater god of war. The dogma of the Lord of Battles is primarily concerned with honorable combat, forbidding cowardice and encouraging the use of force of arms to settle disputes. He is the primary deity of the Reghedmen.
The Shrine of the Flaming Sword in Good Mead was once dedicated to Tempus. The shrine was built centuries ago by northerners, prior to the re-founding of the town by Ubtao-followers of Chult. At the time, it was the sole building found in the area, and there was no one around to claim it. Recently, the shrine’s relevance has dwindled and many had been discussing its re-dedication to another deity.
Torm
Domains: Civilization, Justice, Protection
Torm is the patron deity of paladins and the god of duty, loyalty, righteousness, obedience and, law. The symbol of the Loyal Fury, a right-hand gauntlet held upright with palm forward, was known as the Hand Resolute among his followers.
Torm is one of the three deity patrons of the House of the Triad in Bryn Shander.
Tyr
Domains: Good, Knowledge, Law, Patience, Pride, Retribution, Temperance, War
Tyr (Teer) is greater god of law and justice and leader of the coalition of deities known as the Triad. He bore his title of the Maimed God for his missing right hand, lost in an act of bravery and self-sacrifice and his title of the Even-Handed referred to his position as the god of justice. The wounded eyes of the Blind Overlord, meanwhile, were seen as symbolic of "blind justice" and the cost that sometimes came with living a lawful life.
Tyr is one of the three deity patrons of the House of the Triad in Bryn Shander.
Ubtao
Domains: Balance, Planning, Plant, Pride, Protection, Scalykind
Ubtao (oob-TAY-oh) is the patron deity of the isolated region of Chult to the far south. He is known as the Creator of Chult and Mezro, its largest city. The Father of the Dinosaurs stayed distant from both mortals and other deities, and he seemed to be above the daily doings of the world and his followers.
There are still some older shrines to Ubtao found in Good Mead, whose founders traveled from Chult centuries ago, but few active followers. The exception is Obasee Obasee, the recently-arrived Chultan druid and mead maker.
Ulutiu
Domains: Animal, Cold, Law, Ocean, Protection
UIutiu (oo-LOO-tee-oo) is a long-dormant deity who has voluntarily spent the last eon in semi-slumber in the Astral Plane. For the time being he seems content to rest in eternal sleep, granting spells and protection only to the few hardy people who survive in his favorite environment and venerate his name. He is primarily worshipped among the Iulutiuns of the Great Glacier (far east of Icewind Dale)
The Cetulutians (or Ice Hunters), who splintered off from Nakulutians over a millennia ago, acknowledge Ulutiu but don't worship him directly. They primarily revere the great animal spirits that served him: Clever Oomio the Gray Seal, Asveq the Grandfather Walrus, Nanuaq the Great White Bear, and Pindalpau-Pau the Reindeer Mother.
Umberlee
Domains: Chaos, Destruction, Envy, Evil, Gluttony, Ocean, Pride, Storm, Water, Watery Death, Wrath
Umberlee (uhm-ber-LEE), the Bitch Queen, is the evil sea goddess, most often worshiped by sailors or people traveling by sea, out of fear of her destructive powers. The Queen of the Depths was known as a particularly malicious, petty, greedy, and vain deity who controlled the harshness of the sea while reveling in her own power and was not hesitant to drown people if she so pleased.
Umberlee is widely known amoung the outsiders in Icewind Dale, but the landlocked inhabitants have little call for worshiping her. Though lakes are not her domain, high winds and rough waters are enough for some of the Dale's fishermen to hedge their bets and make shrines to her near docks and onboard their vessels.