Gnomes and Religion

[-Avalon-]

Who do Gnomes have as a choice for worship? Deep Gnomes?

[-Avalon-]

I'm asking for a reason... I expect a generic, 'Sovereign Host/Silver Flame' for gnomes, being in Eberron... But, Deep Gnomes are FR... Don't tell me we're going to get a SUN GOD to be the deity of DEEP gnomes?!? This kind of needs answers lol

[hrmn8r]

I'm wondering too because it would be nice to know if they have a favored weapon.

[Bardet]

Who do Gnomes have as a choice for worship? Deep Gnomes?

Deep gnomes (called svirfneblin in the FR setting) are followers of Callarduran Smoothands, known as the Deep Brother. They also revere Garl Glittergold, patron of all gnomes. About Callarduran, extracted from Demihuman Deities Forgotten Realms accesory:
Callarduran Smoothhands (KAAHL-ur-duhr-an SMOOTHhands) is the gnome god of the earth's depths. He oversees the deepest mines and provides protection against the horrors of the Under-dark. The Deep Brother is the patron deity of svirfneblin, also known as deep gnomes, who dwell in the lightless tunnels of Deepearth. Unlike the other demihuman powers whose worshipers reside largely in the Underdark, Callarduran is not an outcast; he voluntarily led the ancestors of the svirfneblin deep underground to encourage diversity among the Forgotten Folk. It was Callarduran who taught the deep gnomes how to summon and befriend earth elementals. A svirfneblin legend tells that his hands are worn smooth from his polishing of a massive stone of controlling earth elementals that he hides at the center of the world, granting deep gnomes their summoning abilities. Ignored by the other gnome subraces, the Deep Brother is venerated primarily by svirfneblin as their patron, with a strong emphasis on his protective aspect and his lordship of the all-encompassing earth and the treasures to be found within. Svirfneblin warriors and illusionists who defend and hide the deep gnomes from their numerous enemies form the core of the Deep Brother's faithful. Callarduran is closely allied with the other gods of the gnome pantheon, with the exception of Urdlen, despite the geographic division that separates his worshipers from the rest of the gnome race. The Deep Brother encourages his followers to communicate with the other gnome races and faiths. In particular, Callarduran works closely with Segojan Earthcaller, the god of the earth, Flandal Steelskin, the god of mining, and Gaerdal Ironhand, the god of protection, all of whom have portfolios related to that of the Deep Brother but who are more involved with rock gnomes than deep gnomes. As a matter of practicality, Callarduran has forged alliances with other nonevil powers with interests in the Underdark, including Eilistraee, Psilofyr, Shevarash, and Urogalan. The Deep Brother despises drow, charging his people to drive away the Spider Queen's worshipers whenever possible. He is always battling Lolth, Ghaunadaur, and the other evil drow powers. Similarly, Callarduran opposes the gods of other evil creatures of the Underdark, including those powers venerated by aboleths, beholders, duergar, kuo-toa, illithids, ixzan, and troglodytes. The Deep Brother is by nature solitary and thoughtful. He rarely consorts with others, even other gnome gods. He is a benign, but secretive deity, caring only for his own people and their defense. He frequently dispatches his avatars to defend his followers from dangers of the Underdark. The avatar's arrival is heralded by the sound of its humming, which can be heard through solid rock.

How weird is for a svirfneblin to worship Amaunator? Well, I'd say it's pretty weird in the same way as any other race apart than humans worship a deity which is not of their pantheon or sahre a bond between them. But Callarduran is not a god of the darkness, and in fact he is in very good terms with surface-dwelling gnome deities, so I wouldn't say it's absurd to have a svirfneblin cleric of Amaunator. If you really want to roleplay a svirfneblin, the priest should be like this, according to classic lore:

"Callarduran's church is little known beyond the Underdark cities
of the svirfneblin, even among the other gnome subraces.
Among the deep gnomes, the Deep Brother's priests are highly
regarded for their wise council and steadfast dedication to
protecting their kin. The drow are well aware of this cult's zeal
in hunting the minions of the Spider Queen, and they return the
favor whenever possible. Other evil-aligned Underdark races
mark this church as anathema to their people, an opinion that
is a positive measure of the priesthood's effectiveness in safeguarding
the communities and mines of the svirfneblin.
Temples of the Deep Brother are constructed in natural caverns
worn smooth by a centuries-long process of Callarduran's
priests rubbing the rough stone with their bare hands. At the
center of such subterranean chapels is a stalagmite altar raised
from the stone floor by stone shape spells and inlaid with hundreds
of tiny rubies. Suggestive of the Deep Brother's giant
stone of controlling earth elementals, such solitary menhirs are
said to house a great deal of magical power derived from the
Elemental Plane of Earth, including the ability to animate itself
as a 24-HD earth elemental should the temple ever come under
attack.
Novices of Callarduran are known as the Unworked. Full priests
of the Deep Brother are known as the Smoothed. In ascending
order of rank, the titles used by Callardurian priests are First
Facet, Second Facet, Third Facet, Fourth Facet, Fifth Facet, Sixth
Facet, Seventh Facet, Eighth facet, and Ruby High-ranking
priests have unique individual titles. Specialty priests are known
as earthbloods. The clergy of Callarduran includes deep gnomes
(97%), rock gnomes (2%), and forest gnomes (1%). Only
males are permitted in the priesthood (100%). Callarduran's
clergy includes cleric/illusionists (45%), specialty priests (40%),
fighter/clerics (8%), clerics (5%), and cleric/thieves (2%)."

This is from 2nd edition, BTW.

Gnomes in Eberron: (extracted from Eberron wiki)
The gnomes hold no one religion over another. Most cities in Zilargo hold a wide variety of temples. Gnomes support the worship of the Sovereign Host, the Dark Six, the Church of the Silver Flame, and even Cults of the Dragon Below.

[abitmorefun]

I remember deep gnomes from neverwinter nights 2 where you could play this fine race. I think I played one at a time. The mixing of forgotten realms with Eberron is perfect for me in this game I love that. I was an avid reader and player of adnd-2nd-ed in my childhood and youth.


(One thing Turbine ought to consider is new character models like the drow and deep gnome style, sorta like nothing revolutionary just a little more detailed by program)