In many campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

s for the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

, Memnor is the giant

Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...

 deity of pride, honor, mental prowess and control. His symbol is a thin black obelisk.

Publication history

Memnor was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology

Monster Mythology

Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...

(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the giant pantheon of the Forgotten Realms

Forgotten Realms

The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...

 setting is detailed in Giantcraft (1995). His role in the cosmology of the Planescape

Planescape

Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...

 campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground

On Hallowed Ground

On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...

(1996).

Memnor appears in 3rd edition in Defenders of the Faith

Defenders of the Faith (Dungeons & Dragons)

Defenders of the Faith: A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins is an optional rulebook for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, and notable for its trade paperback format.-Contents:...

(2000). His priesthood is detailed for this edition in Complete Divine

Complete Divine

Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...

(2004).

Description

Memnor appears as a kindly, golden-skinned giant with piercing eyes, wearing a deep blue robe. He is subtle, intelligent, charming, cultured, articulate, and cruel beyond words. Many giants consider him to be a loyal servant of Annam

Annam (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Annam is the giant deity of Magic, Knowledge, Fertility, and Philosophy. Also known as the All-Father, is the creator god of the giant pantheon...

, but this is a lie. Memnor, in his arrogance, wishes to usurp Annam and Stronmaus

Stronmaus

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stronmaus is the giant deity of sun, sky, weather, and joy. His symbol is a forked lightning bolt descending from a cloud that partly obscures the sun....

 and become the new leader of the giantish pantheon.

Relationships

Memnor is variously said to be the son, brother, or enemy of Annam, the giant god of creation. One myth says he was born from the severed head or ripped-out entrails of a titanic, sub-sentient, planet-eating monster slain by Annam or Stronmaus

Stronmaus

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stronmaus is the giant deity of sun, sky, weather, and joy. His symbol is a forked lightning bolt descending from a cloud that partly obscures the sun....

.

In many campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

s, the giantish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Annam

Annam (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Annam is the giant deity of Magic, Knowledge, Fertility, and Philosophy. Also known as the All-Father, is the creator god of the giant pantheon...

, as well as Diancastra

Diancastra

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Diancastra is the trickster-goddess of the giant pantheon. Her symbol is a sea-green streak, which is based on the mysterious mark she bears on her shoulder....

, Grolantor

Grolantor

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Grolantor is the deity worshiped by the hill giant race, as well as ettins, and some frost giants and ogres. His sacred animal is the dire wolf. His holy symbol is a wooden club....

, Hiatea

Hiatea

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Hiatea is the giant deity of nature, agriculture, hunting, females, and children. Her symbol is a flaming spear.-Publication history:...

, Iallanis

Iallanis

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Iallanis is the goddess of love, forgiveness, mercy, and beauty in the giant pantheon. Her symbol is a garland of flowers.-Publication history:...

, Karontor

Karontor

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Karontor is the giant deity of deformity, hatred, and beasts. His symbol is the head of a winter wolf.-Publication history:...

, Memnor, Skoraeus Stonebones

Skoraeus Stonebones

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Skoraeus Stonebones is the deity worshiped by the stone giant race. He is also known as "King of the Rock" and "The Living Rock". His sacred animal is the cave bear...

, Stronmaus

Stronmaus

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Stronmaus is the giant deity of sun, sky, weather, and joy. His symbol is a forked lightning bolt descending from a cloud that partly obscures the sun....

, Surtr, and Thrym

Thrym (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Thrym is the lord of the frost giants. He is a god of cold and ice, as well as a deity of magic.-Description:...

. Other powers worshipped by giants or giant-type creatures include Baphomet

Baphomet (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Baphomet is a demon lord who rules a layer of the Abyss called the Endless Maze. He is the Prince of Beasts and the Demon Lord of Minotaurs.-Publication history:...

, Cegilune

Cegilune

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Cegilune is the hag deity of larvae, hags, and the moon. She is the patron goddess of all hags, including night hags...

, the Elder Elemental God, Kostchtchie

Kostchtchie

Kostchtchie is a demon lord from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Publication history:Kostchtchie made his first appearance in the first edition module The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...

, and Vaprak

Vaprak

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Vaprak is the deity worshiped by ogres and trolls. Vaprak is also known as "The Destroyer." His symbol is a taloned hand.-Publication history:...

.

Memnor is allied with Grolantor. Of all the gods, Stronmaus is Memnor's greatest and most implacable foe.

Realm

Memnor's realm of Thraotor can be found on the plane of Gehenna. His realm is similar to that of Stronmaus in the Beastlands

Beastlands

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Beastlands is a neutral good-aligned plane of existence...

, a palace built atop a storm cloud, but where Stronmaus's palace is made of silvery marble, Memnor's is made of black adamantine.

Dogma

Memnor teaches his followers that Annam has grown old and weak and that the fall of the ancient giant kingdoms was due to the creator god's own ineptitude. The sharpest weapon ever forged is cunning; used with surprise and secrecy, cunning will win the day.

Worshippers

Memnor is worshipped almost exclusively by evil cloud giants, his chosen instruments in his bid for power. He corrupted them by telling them of their natural superiority, that they were the first-born of giantkind and that all other breeds are inferior.

Memnor is worshipped rather perfunctorily by the cloud giant clan Azeil in the Barrier Peaks.

Clergy

Memnor's clerics consider keeping their true ambitions a secret to be their highest duty. After sworn into the priesthood by the cleric of Amman, they are visited by senior clerics of Memnor and initiated in a secret ceremony, where they pledge to aid their master to overthrow the god of creation and put the god of pride, honor, and mental prowess on the throne. Even their followers do not know this, viewing their deity as an honest god of racial honor and pride. Memnor's clerics also play the role of wise counselors and advocates for the underprivileged.

There is a special sign involving touching the left wrist with the index finger of the right hand that clerics of Memnor use to signal or warn one another, and several shades of meaning are possible through context and emphasis.

High-level clerics of Memnor receive wyvern servants from their god, which they summon by means of a fierce talon they wear in leather pouches around their necks.

Clerics of Memnor must be well-dressed and regal of manner. They proclaim the superiority of giants in general and cloud giants in particular.

Rituals

Three times a year, Memnor's cleric hold feasts in which other giants are invited to attend. Among themselves, the clerics meet with Memnor's avatar and his wyvern servants on midnight every one hundred days. After these meetings, they gather their faithful cultists to discuss strategy and tactics.

Childhood games

One myth tells of the childhood of the giant gods, when a malicious game played by Memnor and his brother Grolantor resulted in a minor war between the giants and ogres. As a result, Annam forbade either son from interfering with the affairs of giants and their kin as long as he ruled the pantheon. When Annam retreated, despairing, to the Outlands, Memnor and Grolantor managed to convince Stronmaus and Hiatea that this order was no longer valid. Since then, both have meddled incessantly.

Ancient war

A rival myth has a more epic take, portraying Memnor as an extremely ancient and clearly evil deity, perhaps Annam's brother, who tried to take control of the giantish pantheon by force. Annam and Memnor battled, neither able to best the other, until finally Annam managed to banish Memnor to Gehenna. Annam himself, it is said, retreated to the Outlands in order to recover from his wounds.

Additional reading

• Baker, Richard, Travis Stout, and James Wyatt. Player's Guide to Faerun. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
• Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip