Baervan Wildwanderer

Overview

Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnomish god of forests and woodlands, and is the patron of forest-dwelling gnomes and their communities. Baervan loves to travel in the outdoors and is particularly fond of oak trees and forest animals, and as such serves as guardian of the wild. Although Baervan is the patron of forest gnomes, he is beloved by all halfling communities, even the svirfneblin or deep gnomes, who know him as the Father of Fish and Fungus. Baervan is gentle, good natured and mischievous, and his penchant for good natured mischief rivals Garl Glittergold himself. Though Baervan often plays jokes on others, it's hard not to like him. His pranks are often more pointed than is typical for the gnomes, and when Baervan wants to send someone a message he does so in the form of a joke.

Description

Baervan appears as a middle-aged forest gnome with nut-brown skin and dull gray hair, wearing simple-clothes of wood brown hues. He is always accompanied by his giant raccoon friend, Chiktikka Fastpaws.

Holy symbol

Baervan's symbol is the face of a raccoon.

Favored weapon

Baervan wields a spear known as Whisperleaf whose shaft was cut (with the tree's permission) from an ancient oak tree of the same name near his home on Bytopia. His priesthood have selected the halfspear as their favored weapon.

Possessions

• Baervan Wildwanderer possesses a spear known as Whisperleaf which he can use to animate any ordinary tree as if it were a treant, merely by touching it with the spear. Whisperleaf's shaft was was cut (with the tree's permission) from an ancient oak tree of the same name. If the spear were to break, Baervan may make another using wood from the tree within a day. Only Baervan may safely approach the tree Whisperleaf; all others it animates and attacks in the form of an ancient and powerful treant.
• Baervan Wildwanderer wears a robe of protection.

Realm

World Tree cosmology

In the World Tree cosmology of Realmspace, Baervan Wildwanderer resides within his realm, known as Whisperleaf, which is located on the outer planar realm known as Golden Hills, which he shares with the rest of the Gnomish pantheon, including Garl Glittergold, Baravar Cloakshadow, Callarduran Smoothhands, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand and Segojan Earthcaller. Golden Hills consists of seven rolling hills, one for each of the gnome deities that reside here. Everything is lightly tinted or highlighted with gold, and its burnished sheen glows in the light of the setting sun. Whisperleaf the realm is named for the ancient oak tree planted at the top of the hill. Baervan's spear is cut from the wood of this tree and is also named for it. Nestled alongside the ancient tree is a small cozy cottage, which is large enough on the inside to house all of Baervan's petitioners and servants.

Great Wheel cosmology

In the Great Wheel cosmology, Baervan Wildwanderer resides within his realm, known as Whisperleaf, which forms part of the shared divine realm known as the Golden Hills, which is located on Dothion, the first of the Twin Paradises of Bytopia. The Golden Hills is a large region in the centre of Dothion dominated by seven rolling hills, one for each of the gnome deities who reside here. Each is a realm unto itself, brought together into one large, unified realm under the guidance of Garl Glittergold. Garl maintains his own hill but prefers to wander all over the realm, usually in disguise. Everything in the Golden Hills is lightly tinted with gold, producing a burnished sheen that glows in the light of the setting sun. Among the hills is a gnomish paradise of small communities, quiet industry and farms. Whisperleaf is named after the ancient oak tree planted at the top of the hill. Nestled alongside the oak tree is a cozy cottage., and although it looks small on the outside, on the inside the cottage is large enough to hold all of Baervan's petitioners. Any non-gnome who visits the cottage at the center of Whisperleaf will find that they will be missing an item or two: if they want their goods to be returned they will have to find a way to play a prank on one of the residents.

Worship

Priests of Baervan Wildwanderer typically live in outdoor gnome communities, particularly forest gnome villages. Individual priest's often wander far afield, accompanied by a giant raccoon (or dire raccoon) companion. Priests of Baervan seek to protect nature (and those gnomes who live in harmony with it) and are actively involved in driving away evil creatures.

In Spelljammer

Baervan Wildwanderer is a member of the Lords of the Golden Hills and as such is considered native to Realmspace. Priests of Baervan are able to travel throughout Realmspace without limitation. However, if they leave Realmspace, they cannot recover any spells until they reenter a crystal sphere.