Ghalnn (VG)
The god of slaughter, patron of orcs and goblins.
Epithet: "The Caller of War".
Ghalnn is the god of battle, carnage, slaughter, and bloodshed. Ghalnn's symbol is a double headed axe that can be crudely drawn as a line with two triangle joined at the center point or elaborate symbols that function as the weapon they represent. Ghalnn values only the strong and bathes in the blood of the weak. His followers take the heads of their foes and present them to Ghalnn as offerings. He is a savage deity who is brutal and unforgiving. Ghalnn desires only one thing, for there to be continuous eternal battle. He grants his followers strength in order to carry them into war, but does not care if they fall in battle, for it means more blood spilled and more skulls heaped in his honor. Ghalnn is known by many names, all of them suitably macabre; The Gorefiend, The Skull Harvester, The Butcher, The Black Handed, The Headsman, Foereaper, to name a few.
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Affinities
- Battle
- Carnage
- Slaughter
- Bloodshed
- Anarchy
- Revenge
- Murder
Also Known As
- The Caller of War
- The Gorefiend
- The Skull Harvester
- The Butcher
- The Black Handed
- The Headsman
- Foereaper
- The Soul Devourer
- The Cruel
- The Black
Symbol
Ghalnn's symbol is a double headed axe that can be crudely drawn as a line with two triangle joined at the center point or elaborate symbols that function as the weapon they represent.
Methods of Worship
- Murdering someone and presenting their head to Ghalnn
- Presenting Ghalnn with the souls of his enemies
Vision and Driving Beliefs - Dogma
Ghalnn instills in his followers anger and a thirst for violence. Worshipers of Ghalnn live for the releasing of souls to their master, and kill without regard. The most atrocity-filled wars in the history of Telon have been fought in honor to Ghalnn. His followers are known for their prowess in battle, short tempers, and thirst for destruction.
Ghalnn values only the strong and bathes in the blood of the weak. His followers take the heads of their foes and present them to Ghalnn as offerings. Ghalnn desires only one thing, for there to be continuous eternal battle. He grants his followers strength in order to carry them into war, but does not care if they fall in battle, for it means more blood spilled and more skulls heaped in his honor.
Personality Traits
Ghalnn is a violent, spiteful warmonger. He craves violence, the death of his enemies, and the splintering of bones beneath his boots. He is a savage deity who is brutal and unforgiving.
Physical Appearance
Ghalnn is commonly displayed in red plate-mail; double-bladed axe in one hand, a recently decapitated head held aloft in the other, his streaked face contorted in a grimacing half-smile.
Races that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Dark Elf
- Goblin
- Kurashasa
- Lesser Giant
- Orc
- Vulmane
Professions that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Blood Mage
- Cleric
- Dread Knight
- Necromancer
- Rogue
- Warrior
Relationship with Other Divine Beings
Ghalnn is universally despised by the other divine beings. He is unconcerned by this and would sooner kill them as look at them. Centuries before the cataclysm, Ghalnn attempted an invasion of Gloriann's home plane after one of her followers stopped his worshipers from razing an Elven village near what is now Leth Nurae. Only the combined might of the pantheon was able to drive Ghalnn back. It was several centuries before his armies recovered from the defeat.
Quotes
- Advisor Ma'ax (orc), Martok: "Diplomacy is the method of battle preferred by the Kojani, and while it may bore Ghalnn, it draws favor from the cunning Kaerullun."
- Scar Wontati (goblin), Martok: "The Gulgrethor are cowards. The only glory in doing battle with them is avenging our ancestors and appeasing Ghalnn with a feast of souls."
- PC in a parley with Scar Qixel, Martok: "Then what makes you think that a Gulgrethor invasion force could not be repelled by the greatest of Ghalnn's followers? His chosen?"
- Scar Neska (orc), Martok: "If the Warchief calls for us to push the Gulgrethor back then I shall make them choose between Ghalnn and Sihari for dominion over their eternal soul." (The Gulgrethor approaching from the sea, trying to land on Martok.)
- Advisor Ma'ax (orc), Martok: "-so it is best to use diplomacy before weapons are drawn and blood is spilt, for the spilling of blood awakens the fury of Ghalnn in us all. And the only words Ghalnn wishes to hear are pleas for mercy."
- Stone of the Usurper, Martok: "Before the upheaval, all tribes were in constant war to win the favor of Ghalnn the Souldrinker and possess his terrestrial avatar, the greataxe Harvester."
- Stone of the Usurper, Martok: "-it was an ambush. Many Martok sages detected deceitful and treacherous magic cast that day, all unknown to any goblin mage and all tactics condemned by Ghalnn."
- Warseer Grenik (goblin), Martok: "You must strive to prove your worth in life, because death comes quickly, and then it is too late. Those who are worthy go to meet with Ghalnn, and those who are not are trapped here until their unworthy spirits crumble away. There are times when even a worthy spirit gets trapped here, and must be sent on to Ghalnn, as they have earned."
Sample Parley
"I have a question for you, Acolyte Moratio," you say.
"Pose it," says Acolyte Moratio with a smile. "I am all ears."
"Have Gloriann and Ghalnn ever crossed swords?" you ask.
"Gloriann? The Peacebringer?" asks Acolyte Moratio. "Lower herself to cross swords with Ghalnn? The Soul Devourer?"
"You're right," you say, "it was a silly question..."
"Of course she has," says Acolyte Moratio with a bit of a chuckle. "The gods are constantly at odds with one another."
"But isn't she trying to bring peace?" you ask.
"Well, yes, but peace is not an easy thing," says Acolyte Moratio, "it is not all delicate white birds and flower petals swirling through the wind on a warm day."
"Let me just tell you the story," says Acolyte Moratio. "You see, it was on a day long ago, before the Cataclysm rocked the world, and it began with the abuse of something so simple as a goat kid."
"A young man was torturing the goat kid," says Acolyte Moratio, "a follower of Ghalnn. The animal had broken its leg, and the boy was enjoying himself by cutting off the others and letting it bleed to death."
"A young woman, a follower of Gloriann, came across the scene, and told the young man to stop. He only sneered at her. She said a prayer to Gloriann and advanced on the young man with sword drawn. Gloriann, you see, as well as her followers, believe in protecting the weak. Even if it means breaking peace."
"He rose and drew his own sword. The two fought viciously and in the end, the young man was dead and the young woman missing a hand. Ghalnn came to her then and cut off her other hand, as well as both of her feet, as a price for the life of his follower."
"When Gloriann heard of this, she appeared before the young woman with a goat kid in her arms and restored her missing limbs. Ghalnn took that as Gloriann throwing down the gauntlet. He was correct."
"No two versions of the story depict Gloriann in the same way, for though Ghalnn is known to us as an intimidating man in red plate mail, a double bladed axe in one hand and a head in the other, Gloriann's visage changes. Some say she was a radiant maiden who fought him with a pair of gleaming silver swords inset with amethysts."
"Others say she was a unicorn, deflecting his blade with her horn. Still others say she was a bent old woman who blocked his attacks with a shephard's crook. Whatever the mien, she suffered many injuries, but so did he. In the end, it was a draw, as it often is, but that young woman kept her limbs, and the goat kid its life."
Acolyte Moratio smiles and says, "And that is nothing compared to the story of Ghalnn invading Gloriann's home plane when she stopped his followers from razing an Elven village. But that is a story for another day."
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