Vergadain, the Merchant King, is a dwarven god of wealth and luck from the Dwarven pantheon,[4][5] also known as the Morndinsamman, in the crystal sphere known as Realmspace.[7][2][3]
Overview[]
Vergadain is the patron of dwarven merchants and most non-evil dwarven thieves. He is a schemer and a rogue, and is venerated by any neutral aligned dwarf engaged in commerce and concerned with the accumulation of wealth. He delights in the art of the deal, whether an intricate negotiation to purchase goods, or an elaborate plan to acquire the goods through nefarious means. Vergadain is sometimes called the Trickster, though not by dwarves who worship him, and the Laughing Dwarf, though a dwarf would never use the term.[2][3]
Description[]
Vergadain appears as a tall, handsome and well-groomed dwarf clad in yellow and brown merchant's clothing,[5] which is often tattered or dusty. Beneath these garments he wears golden chain mail, and often carries musical instruments, a selection of disguises and treasure (such as gems) in sacks. The sacks or bags are typically guarded by poisonous snakes or similar creatures. Vergadain's footwear usually has concealed weapons (such as a dagger of a garrotte), or concealed hiding places (such as hollow heals), or both.[3]
Holy symbol[]
Vergadain's symbol is a gold piece (a circular gold coin)[2][3][4][5] with the face of a dwarf.[7]
Favored weapon[]
Vergadain wields a broadsword known as Goldseeker.[2][3][5] His priesthood have selected the longsword as their favored weapon.[2]
Possessions[]
- Vergadain carries a well-used, normal appearing broadsword named Goldseeker which can detect all monetary wealth within 20 feet (6 meters) of his person,[5] and can communicate the precise location and a rough estimate of the size of the treasure telepathically.[3]
- Vergadain wears a suit of golden chain mail beneath his garments.[3][5]
- Vergadain possesses a necklace of enlargement that allows its wearer to assume any height between 1 foot (30 centimeters) and 15 feet (4.6 meters).[5] He knows where the necklace is at all times, and can override the control of any being wearing it within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of his person. The necklace is of non-descript appearance, and changes size to fit the wearer. It does not appear to have any other magical abilities, cannot alter the wearers appearance, and does not change the size of the wearers clothes or their gear.[3]
Realm[]
World Tree Cosmology[]
In the World Tree cosmology of Realmspace, Vergadain resides within his realm, known as Strongale Hall, which is located on the outer planar realm known as Dwarfhome,[2] which serves as the home of the rest of the dwarven pantheon, including Moradin, Berronar Truesilver, Abbathor, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin, Sharindlar and Thard Harr.[8] Dwarfhome is an impossibly huge mountain, large enough to contain entire worlds. Great halls are carved into its slopes, with gigantic doorways big enough to admit even the largest dragon with its wings spread wide. Caverns extend far into the roots of the mountain, and majestic citadels have been built into its sides. Strongale Hall is carved into the slopes of the great mountain, and is a place of commerce, gambling and the pleasures of good food and strong drink.[8]
Great Wheel Cosmology[]
In the Great Wheel cosmology, Vergadain resides within his realm, known as Strongale Hall, which is part of the greater shared realm known as the Dwarvish Mountain, which is located on the Concordant Domains of the Outlands.[3][9][10] Strongale Hall is part of the triple realm known as the Dwarvish Mountain, which Vergadain shares with his fellow dwarven deities Dugmaren Brightmantle and Dumathoin. Strongale Hall is a boisterous place of gambling and free flowing drink, where gold always rides on the throw of the dice, and a punter can stake anything they have to bet with. The games never end, though it's a mark of respect if a petitioner gambles with the same mark more than once.[4]
Worship[]
Priests of Vergadain, known as hurndor ("those who trade"), are more widely travelled than the priests of any other dwarven deity, all in an effort to further the progress of dwarven commerce. They are expected to be personally wealthy, and to use a portion of that wealth in maintaining a suitably ostentatious temple dedicated to Vergadain. Their role is to generally improve dwarven influence and prosperity, and in this way help dwarves in their craftwork, weapons-mastery and inventions.[2][3]
In Spelljammer[]
Vergadain is a member of the Morndinsamman and as such is considered native to Realmspace. Priests of Vergadain are able to travel throughout Realmspace without limitation. However, if they leave Realmspace, they cannot recover any spells until they reenter a crystal sphere.[6]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Vergadain article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Vergadain article at Greyhawkonline.com
References[]
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al., Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, 2015, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9, Dwarven Deities section, chapter 3: Races of the Realms, page 105
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona, Faiths and Pantheons, 2002, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-2759-3, Dwarven Pantheon section, Other Deities of Faerûn chapter, page 123
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 Eric L. Boyd, Demihuman Deities, 1998, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1239-1, Dwarven Pantheon, pages 88-91
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, The Dwarvish Pantheon, page 82
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Carl Sargent, DMGR4 Monster Mythology, 1992, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 1-56076-362-0, Gods of the Dwarves, page 30
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Dale "Slade" Henson, SJR2 Realmspace, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Religion in the Stars chapter, page 79
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Steve Kenson, et al., Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, 2015, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9, The Dwarven Pantheon, page 22
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Richard Baker, Travis Stout, James Wyatt, Player's Guide to Faerûn, 2004, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-3134-5, Dwarfhome, pages 150-151
- ↑ Colin McComb, On Hallowed Ground, 1996, (TSR Inc.), ISBN 0-7869-0430-5, Dwarvish section, Appendix 1: The Powers by Pantheon, page 172
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Manual of the Planes 3rd edition, 2001, (Wizards of the Coast), ISBN 0-7869-1850-0, Concordant Domain of the Outlands section, chapter 7: The Outer Planes, pages 147-151
Connections[]
| Realmspace |
|---|
| Celestial Bodies of Realmspace |
| The Sun (Primary) | Anadia | Coliar | Toril | Karpri | Chandos | Glyth | Garden | H'Catha |
| Additional Astronomicals of Realmspace |
| Comet K'Thoutek | Skull of the Void | Caer Windlauer | Galleon Nebula | Color Spray Nebula | King-Killer Star |
| Constellations of Realmspace |
| The Dragon of Dawn | The Firbolg | The Harp | The Sword and Dagger | The Lady of Mystery |