Oberon (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Oberon is the fey
deity of nature, wild places, and animals. His symbol is a white stag.
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
and a member of her Seelie Court
. He is the father of Damh
and Verenestra
. Eachthighern
allows Oberon to ride him. He is called King Oberon, but this is an honorific due to his marriage to Queen Titania; he has little political authority among the Seelie Court. Oberon is allied with Corellon Larethian
and Sehanine Moonbow
.
and Arborea
hunting stags and the like.
#263, a non-divine King Oberon was presented, this version a chaotic good, 20th level fighter/mage who appears as a large, blond-haired human-looking man with green, diamond-shaped pupils set in black irises. He is called the King of Shadows and he rides a pegasus
called Moonbeam. In that article, the chief distinction between Oberon and Titania is that Oberon governs magic and unnatural things, while Titania governs the natural world. Another non-divine King Oberon was created for the world of Mystara
in Tall Tales of the Wee Folk
, where he appeared as a 30th level warrior sidhe of neutral alignment (lawful tendencies). In both of these versions, Oberon and Titania are depicted as a quarrelsome couple, though Oberon is the monarch and Titania his equally powerful consort.
from their Shakespearean counterparts in A Midsummer Night's Dream as the King and Queen of the Fairies. In Shakespeare, Oberon ruled the fairies with Titania as his consort, but this is reversed in the role-playing game. The exact reason for this switch is not clear, although in British folklore the fey are usually ruled by an unnamed Queen.
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...
, Oberon is the fey
Fey (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Fey is a type of creature, or "creature type". Fey are usually humanoid in form, and are typified as having supernatural abilities and a connection to nature or to some other force or place....
deity of nature, wild places, and animals. His symbol is a white stag.
Publication history
Oberon 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
Oberon appears as a male fairy of perhaps unusual size (4' 6") with no wings, and strongly muscled by fey standards. His cloak is made of green leaves stitched into brown leather.Relationships
Oberon is the consort of TitaniaTitania (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Titania is the fey deity of Faerie folk and Realms, Friendship, and Magic. Her symbol is a white diamond with a blue star glowing in its center, the antithesis of the black diamond symbol of her sister, the Queen of Air and Darkness.-Publication...
and a member of her Seelie Court
Seelie Court (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Seelie Court is a large, loose confederation of gods that consists of the leader Titania and her consort Oberon, as well as the following gods: Caoimhin, Damh, Eachthighern , Emmantiensien, Fionnghuala, Nathair Sgiathach, Skerrit, Squelaiche, and...
. He is the father of Damh
Damh
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Damh is the fey deity of dance, song, and celebrations. His symbol is flutes, pipes, and a drum.-Publication history:...
and Verenestra
Verenestra
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Verenestra is the fey deity of female faeries, charm, and beauty. Her symbol is a filigree-edged silver mirror.-Publication history:...
. Eachthighern
Eachthighern
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Eachthighern is the unicorn deity of Healing, Loyalty, and Protection. He is also the god of pegasi...
allows Oberon to ride him. He is called King Oberon, but this is an honorific due to his marriage to Queen Titania; he has little political authority among the Seelie Court. Oberon is allied with Corellon Larethian
Corellon Larethian
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Corellon Larethian is the leader of the elven pantheon, and the god of Magic, Music, Arts, Crafts, Poetry, and Warfare. Corellon is also considered a member of the default D&D pantheon. He is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those...
and Sehanine Moonbow
Sehanine Moonbow
In many Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings, Sehanine Moonbow is the elven goddess of the moons. She is one of the more powerful members of the Seldarine. The Lady of Dreams actively opposes the nefarious schemes of the Spider Queen and the other drow powers. She is said to be the wife of...
.
Realm
Oberon's home is the wandering Seelie Court, but he is happy to roam the BeastlandsBeastlands
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Beastlands is a neutral good-aligned plane of existence...
and Arborea
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...
hunting stags and the like.
Dogma
Oberon is stern and strong, but happier out hunting than dealing with the politics of the Seelie Court. He is aware that his intelligence and wisdom, though high, seem low compared to his wife's attributes. He is a protector-god, using physical combat more than illusion and camouflage as most sylvan deities do.Other versions
In DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#263, a non-divine King Oberon was presented, this version a chaotic good, 20th level fighter/mage who appears as a large, blond-haired human-looking man with green, diamond-shaped pupils set in black irises. He is called the King of Shadows and he rides a pegasus
Pegasus (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, a pegasus is a magical beast based upon the creature of Greek mythology and Roman mythology.-Publication history:The pegasus first appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set ....
called Moonbeam. In that article, the chief distinction between Oberon and Titania is that Oberon governs magic and unnatural things, while Titania governs the natural world. Another non-divine King Oberon was created for the world of Mystara
Mystara
Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...
in Tall Tales of the Wee Folk
Tall Tales of the Wee Folk
Tall Tales of the Wee Folk is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Tall Tales of the Week Folk is a "Creature Crucible" supplement which describes the society and background of creatures such as sprites, dryads, centaurs, pixies, and includes rules for player...
, where he appeared as a 30th level warrior sidhe of neutral alignment (lawful tendencies). In both of these versions, Oberon and Titania are depicted as a quarrelsome couple, though Oberon is the monarch and Titania his equally powerful consort.
Creative origins
Oberon and Titania have switched roles in 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...
from their Shakespearean counterparts in A Midsummer Night's Dream as the King and Queen of the Fairies. In Shakespeare, Oberon ruled the fairies with Titania as his consort, but this is reversed in the role-playing game. The exact reason for this switch is not clear, although in British folklore the fey are usually ruled by an unnamed Queen.