In 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...

, Urdlen 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 greed and blood.

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 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...

, 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:...

, Nebelun

Nebelun

In many campaign settings 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...

, 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...

, and Urdlen.

Publication history

Urdlen was first detailed in Roger E. Moore

Roger E. Moore

Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...

's article "The Gnomish Point of View," in Dragon

Dragon (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...

#61 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax

Gary Gygax

Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....

 indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk

Greyhawk

Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...

 setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana

Unearthed Arcana

Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...

(1985).

Urdlen was 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 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). He received a very detailed description for his role in 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...

 in Demihuman Deities

Demihuman Deities

Demihuman Deities is a Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition: Forgotten Realms campaign accessory, published by Wizards of the Coast. The book was designed by Eric L. Boyd...

(1998).

Urdlen's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons

Faiths and Pantheons

Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...

(2002).

Relationships

Urdlen is the enemy of the gnomish and halfling

Halfling (Dungeons & Dragons)

The halfling is a fictional race found in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Halflings are similar to humans except about half the size...

 pantheons. The hero-deity Roykyn was formerly a priestess of the Crawler Below.

Realm

Urdlen's realm is the Worm Realm, located on the 399th layer of the Abyss. There, Urdlen tunnels through the ground, completely unconcerned with his petitioners, who dig in the tunnels he leaves behind. The petitioners, mostly evil gnomes, have no society whatsoever; they simply pursue their own greed in the ore-rich earth.

Temples, rituals, and holy days

Urdlen is worshiped in underground caverns. Sacrifices of blood and jewels are made to it annually. Its holy day is the winter solstice

Winter solstice

Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...

.

Other versions

Races of Stone

Races of Stone

Races of Stone is an optional sourcebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...

includes a similar deity, a god of disaster and greed known as the Glutton and visualized as a massive badger or wolverine. His domains are Chaos, Evil, Destruction, and Strength, and his favored weapon is the heavy mace. His clerics stuff themselves with food while they pray.

Additional reading

• 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