Obad-Hai
| Obad-Hai | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Portfolio: | Nature, Woodlands, Hunting, Beasts |
| Home: | Concordant Domain of the Outlands |
| Alignment: | Neutral |
| Gender: | Male |
| Superior: | none |
| Rules items | |
| Domains: | Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water |
Obad-Hai is the god of Nature, Woodlands, Hunting, and Beasts. He is often called the Shalm.
Originally a Flan deity, Obad-Hai is most favored by druids and other nature priests.
Description
Obad-Hai is most often depicted as a lean and weathered old man of indeterminate age, dressed in brown or russet. Obad-Hai is strictly neutral in alignment. His holy symbol is a mask of oak leaves and acorns, and he is known for playing the shalm. He has an unfriendly rivalry with Ehlonna, and is the sworn enemy of Phyton.
Realm
The Hidden Wood of Obad-Hai is a patchwork of thick woods and open glades and rolling fields. Explorers' notes place the Hidden Wood in several specific locations in the Outlands, often near the gate-towns of Fortitude or Faunel. But it's rarely found at all except by travelers who become lost in the woods.
Obad-Hai's domain is nature in all its forms: wild and tamed, savage and domesticated. All four seasons exist simultaneously in balance within the Shalm's realm. In the space of a quarter-mile, snowfields give way to forests draped in fall color next to orchards heavy with fruit and newly plowed fields. Creatures encountered within the Hidden Wood tend to be axiomatic or anarchic, but include a large number of Prime Material Plane animals, beasts, and plants. These creatures are usually hostile to travelers, an attitude that Obad-Hai encourages.
The Shalm has changed the magic traits within his realm. Spells cast by druids here are enhanced, and all spells targeting animals or plants are heightened. He has the power to make other changes to the traits of his realm if he wishes.
Petitioners serving Obad-Hai appear human and have the abilities of typical Outlandish petitioners. In addition, they gain the ability to speak with animals and plants at will. Petitioners are often gardening, herding, hunting, pruning, planting, or harvesting. Great feasts are common within the Shalm's realm.
Clergy and temples
Obad-Hai's priests favor russet-colored clothing and simple quarterstaves. They have no hierarchy; all members are treated as equals. They keep to the wilderness and to themselves, rarely getting involved with society and often living as hermits. Temples of Obad-Hai are almost invariably laden with oak trees.
Obad-Hai in other media
In the movie Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God, a priest of Obad-Hai is one of the main characters.
Bibliography
- 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]
- Grubb, Jeff, David Noonan, and Bruce Cordell. Manual of the Planes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Gygax, Gary. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." Dragon #69 (TSR, 1982).
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Noonan, David. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.
- Redman, Rich, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Deities and Demigods. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Ward, James M. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.