Nebelun
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Nebelun is the gnome
deity of inventions and good luck.
Nebelun is, in fantasy literature, a fictional Gnome deity of invention and good luck. His symbol is a bellows and lizard tail.
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
Nebelun is a wandering deity, full of tricks, unlikely schemes, and continuous mishaps. He is fearless, to the point of outright insanity. The mechanical contrivances he creates often don't work as intended, but their unintended results often turn out to be useful. Nebelun is curious, humorous, playful, and most of all inventive.
s, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold
, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer
, Baravar Cloakshadow
, Callarduran Smoothhands
, Flandal Steelskin
, Gaerdal Ironhand
, Gelf Darkhearth, Nebelun, Segojan Earthcaller
, Sheyanna Flaxenstrand, and Urdlen
.
, where he keeps a workshop known simply as the Workshop. He likes to go to Olympus
once in a while, though; he has recently camped in the workshop of Hephaestus.
, Nebelun is viewed merely as an aspect of Gond, and not a separate deity, though some argue this point.
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...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
, Nebelun is the gnome
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
deity of inventions and good luck.
Nebelun is, in fantasy literature, a fictional Gnome deity of invention and good luck. His symbol is a bellows and lizard tail.
Publication history
Nebelun was first detailed in the book Monster MythologyMonster 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 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).
Description
Nebelun manifests as a spry old gnome with a black frock-coat and glasses. He carries a black leather bag containing many bizarre tools and items. His hat is a hat of disguise, and his mace doubles as a wand of wonder. He can appear and disappear seemingly randomly.Nebelun is a wandering deity, full of tricks, unlikely schemes, and continuous mishaps. He is fearless, to the point of outright insanity. The mechanical contrivances he creates often don't work as intended, but their unintended results often turn out to be useful. Nebelun is curious, humorous, playful, and most of all inventive.
Relationships
In many campaign settingCampaign 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 gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold is the patron deity of gnomes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, and a member of the game's default pantheon of deities. His symbol is a gold nugget.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :...
, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer
Baervan Wildwanderer
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnome deity of Forests, Travel, and Nature.-Publication history:...
, Baravar Cloakshadow
Baravar Cloakshadow
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baravar Cloakshadow is the gnomish deity of illusions, protection, and deception. He creates traps and illusions of stunning complexity and cunning. He is somewhat mean-spirited compared to most of the other gnomish gods, and his pranks may cause even...
, Callarduran Smoothhands
Callarduran Smoothhands
Callarduran Smoothhands is the gnome god of the earth in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.He is the patron deity of the svirfneblin , and is not very popular among other gnome subraces. Unlike other gods of the Underdark, he is not an outcast...
, Flandal Steelskin
Flandal Steelskin
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Flandal Steelskin is the gnome deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer.-Publication history:...
, Gaerdal Ironhand
Gaerdal Ironhand
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Gaerdal Ironhand is the gnome deity of protection, vigilance, and combat.-Publication history:...
, Gelf Darkhearth, Nebelun, Segojan Earthcaller
Segojan Earthcaller
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Segojan Earthcaller is the gnome deity of earth and nature. Unlike Baervan Wildwanderer, who is a god of the plants and forests of the surface world, Segojan's area of concern is the deep earth and the life within it...
, Sheyanna Flaxenstrand, and Urdlen
Urdlen
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urdlen is the gnome deity of greed and blood.In many campaign settings, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun, Segojan...
.
Realm
Nebelun lives in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of BytopiaBytopia
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Bytopia, also known as the Twin Paradises or more fully, the Twin Paradises of Bytopia is a lawful good/neutral good aligned plane of existence...
, where he keeps a workshop known simply as the Workshop. He likes to go to Olympus
Arborea (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy role-playing game, Arborea or more fully, the Olympian Glades of Arborea, is a chaotic good-aligned plane of existence...
once in a while, though; he has recently camped in the workshop of Hephaestus.
Worshippers
Nebelun is revered by gnomish inventors of all stripes, as long as they are non-evil and non-lawful, and the humorous tales of his adventures are popular among inventors and non-inventors alike. "Nebelun's head!" is an exclamation roughly equivalent to "Eureka!" Nebelun will sometimes send omens in the form of rearranged tools or obscure puzzles.Clergy
Clerics of Nebelun are, of course, inventors and experimenters. They are forbidden from using simple weapons when more complicated ones are available, and they must have built their weapons in part themselves. They often adventure in order to fund their research.Apotheosis
Nebelun was once a mortal gnome, but he progressed from mortal to hero-deity to lesser deity all on his own. He is thus a source of inspiration to many gnomes, a goal that they too might one day achieve.Other versions
Races of Stone details Rill Cleverthrush, the lawful neutral god of invention, creation, and the sky. He is portrayed as an elderly, bespeckled gnome carrying a staggeringly complex ruby said to have a facet for every living gnome. His domains are Air, Knowledge, Magic, Travel, and his favored weapon is the longsword. His holy text is a set of natural laws and instructions for living called Rill's Instructions to the Faithful.Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten 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...
, Nebelun is viewed merely as an aspect of Gond, and not a separate deity, though some argue this point.