Flandal Steelskin

Overview

Flandal Steelskin is a master of mining and one of the finest smiths in creation. He is a true master artisan, and is ever-demanding of his own work, and strives tirelessly to increase his own skills. He is the patron of gnome miners, artisans, craftsmen, and smiths of all kinds. He is also a patient tutor, and only lazy or indifferent artisans draw his ire. Flandal is often found travelling in search of new ores and veins of metal to use in his forge. When he is not travelling he will be found in his workshop, planning or making a new item. He is no stranger to battle, and often relies on the products of his forge to see him to victory. On rare occasions, Flandal will instruct gnomes on how to perform some tricky smithing process, or guides them to a vein of untapped metal ore. Flandal is also the god of physical improvement and good health, ensuring that gnomes in top physical form and ready for mining, smithing or battle, as needed.

Description

Flandal Steelskin appears as a balding, slightly aging, huge-nosed gnome with skin the color of blue mithral and eyes of flaming coals. His hair and beard are brilliant blue-silver and he wears an apron over (or in lieu of) his other clothing.

Holy symbol

Flandal's symbol is a flaming hammer.

Favored weapon

Flandal wields a warhammer of gold plated mithral with an axe back known as Rhondang.

Possessions

• Flandal Steelskin possesses an axe-backed warhammer of gold-plated mithral known as Rhondang which has all the abilities of a flame tongue weapon, can hurl a fireball (as per the spell) once per round in addition to all other attacks, inflicts double damage on all cold-using and cold-dwelling creatures, and can speak the language of any fire-using creature (including Ignan, Draconic, etc.)
• Flandal Steelskin wears an apron of fire resistance which reduces the harmful effects of heat and fire.

Realm

World Tree cosmology

In the World Tree cosmology of Realmspace, Flandal Steelskin resides within his realm, known as the Mithral Forge, 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, Baervan Wildwanderer, Gaerdal Ironhand and Segojan Earthcaller. Golden Hills consists of seven rolling hills, one for each of the gnome deities that reside there. Everything is lightly tinted or highlighted with gold, and its burnished sheen glows in the light of the setting sun. A realm of fire and heat, the Mithral Forge is concealed beneath a hill that shakes with each blow of Flandal's hammer. A portal from the Elemental Plane of Fire provides the heat for his forge.

Great Wheel cosmology

In the Great Wheel cosmology, Flandal Steelskin resides within his realm, known as the Mithral Forge, 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. The Mithral Forge is a realm of fire and heat that is concealed beneath a hill that seems to breathe with every swing of Flandal's hammer. The tunnels leading off from the Forge wind their way beneath the earth, and some are believed to reach other planes, though only the worthy can safely walk these tunnels without getting lost. Flandal Steelskin shares his Forge with the Japanese deity Ama-Tsu-Mara, and often trades secrets with other smith gods.

Worship

The church of Flandal Steelskin is not unlike a guild of artisans, and allows its members a great deal of individual freedom, while providing the opportunity to improve their skills and exchange ideas. Flandal's priests are peerless miners and smiths, and continuously hone their skills underground, hoping to gain an intuitive understanding of their chosen environment. Many serve as teachers, instructing other gnomes on how to detect likely veins of ore, unsafe conditions and the presence of dangerous subterranean creatures. They oversee the safety of gnomish miners and inspect the output of gnomish smithies. They are expected to undergo regular strength and stamina training, so that they remain physically fit for mining, smithing or battle, as required.

In Spelljammer

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