Velnius

Greyhawk Divinity

Velnius
Names and titles
Title(s):	The Rainshroud, The Elder Breeze
General information
Portfolio:	Sky, Weather
Home:	Elysium
Alignment:	Neutral (good tendencies)
Gender:	Male
Superior:	none
Rules items
Domains:	Air, Travel, Water, Weather
Divine rank:	Lesser

Velnius is the Oeridian god of the Sky and Weather. His holy symbol is a bird perching upon a cloud.

Description

Velnius appears as a tall, white-haired, middle-aged man wearing a feathered cloak from which water and bolts of lightning pour.

Relationships

Velnius is Procan's eldest child, Merikka's cousin, and brother of Telchur, Atroa, Sotillion, and Wenta. He leads his siblings in their duties as the Oeridian agricultural gods (the Velaeri). As the most responsible member of his family, Velnius often finds himself supporting or taking over for his siblings when they are lax in their duties or overwhelmed. His family members are his chief allies, though he is also on good terms with many neutral and druidic deities. He opposes his sister Sotillion's brother-in-law, Kurell.

Realm

He can be found wandering throughout Elysium's layer of Eronia.

Dogma

Velnius teaches that the necessities of life flow from the sky, the "dome of heaven." He brings rain to parched fields and deserts, and allows the sun to dry swamps and muddy roads. Velnius oversees all weather, no matter the wind's direction. All weather is a blessing from the Rainshroud, even droughts and storms; though they bring hardship, eventually they move on to where they are needed.

Worshipers

Velnius is usually worshiped with his siblings as part of the Velaeri, the Oeridian agricultural gods. He is thus revered by farmers and others who depend on the land's bounty, as well as travelers praying for good weather.

Clergy

Velnius's priests often find themselves speaking on behalf of others, whether needed or not. They prefer talking over conflict, but once provoked can be very aggressive. Priests of Velnius during dry weather, and call for moderation when the weather becomes extreme. Like their god, they undertake long journeys, and work to counteract deviant weather caused by heretics or when the Rainshroud is otherwise occupied. Their favored weapon is the shortspear.

Temples

Places of worship to Velnius are often dedicated to the Velaeri as a whole. These locations are found throughout Oeridian lands, including Ahlissa, the Bone March, the Gran March, Highfolk, Ratik, Sunndi, the County of Urnst, and Veluna. Though worship of the Velaeri is forbidden in the Theocracy of the Pale, they are honored in secret by many farmers and country folk.

Myths and Legends

The Freezing of the World

One myth says that Velnius, who in this myth was Telchur's father, once left Telchur in charge of all the weather for a thousand years while the older god saw to other worlds in Greyspace. When Velnius returned to Oerth, he found Telchur had froze it completely, leaving room only for winter. Angered, he created three other siblings for the young god (Atroa, Sotillion, and Wenta), tasking them with ensuring that Telchur never again had so much control.

Bibliography

• Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

• 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:[1]

• Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.

• Gygax, Gary, and Frank Mentzer. The Temple of Elemental Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.

• Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.

• Miller, Andy. "The Oeridian Lesser Gods, Part III: Telchur and Rudd." Dragon #265. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.

• Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.

• Reynolds, Sean K. "The Gods of Oerth." Living Greyhawk Journal #3. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.

• Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx

  Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Dragon magazine #263	46
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Dragon magazine #264	48
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Dragon magazine #AN4	20
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	From the Ashes: References Card	#4
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e	62, 63
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	19, 186, 187
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Living Greyhawk Journal #3	18
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #05	22
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #16	20
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #17	7
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #18	4,8
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #20	5
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Oerth Journal #27	24
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Rashtai's Brother, RPGA, RPGA	5
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	Player's Guide to Greyhawk	18, 20
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil	120
Velnius	Deity	Arch of the Sky, Sender of Rains, Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian),	World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983)	64
Velnius, Temple of (Bergardbridge)	Building	Temple,	Living Greyhawk, Living Onnwal Gazetteer, D&D 3.5e	63