Bralm
Encyclopedia
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Bralm is the Suel
goddess of Insects and Industriousness. Her symbol is a giant wasp
in front of an insect swarm
(1983), by Gary Gygax
.
Bralm was further detailed by Lenard Lakofka
in Dragon
#92 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon V.
Bralm is described as one of the good deities that celestials
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Bralm is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
(2000).
(2004).
, giant wasp, or giant scorpion.
because of his individualism, and she avoids deities who have dominion over fire, like Joramy
and Pyremius
, because she dislikes that element. In the Suel pantheon's many battles between lawful deities and chaotic deities, Bralm has always sided with Wee Jas
and the other gods of order. Heironeous
has a longstanding enmity with Bralm, and she has a strong if sometimes uneasy alliance with his brother Hextor
.
, in the layer of Avalas.
and the Vast Swamp. Suel nomads in the Sea of Dust
hold her in high regard. Bralm is popular with farmers both because of her patronage of labor and her control over harmful insects.
Some of Bralm's churches worship insects or keep giant insects as pets.
Clerics of Bralm work with wizards of the Scarlet Brotherhood in their monster-breeding programs and in summoning sea monsters to attack enemy ships.
, when clerics anoint themselves with exotic scents, build strange structures from sticks and mud, and release small swarms of insects that cling to their scented followers without stinging.
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...
for 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...
, Bralm is the Suel
Suloise
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Suloise, also known as the "Suel," are one of the major races of humans inhabiting the Flanaess....
goddess of Insects and Industriousness. Her symbol is a giant wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
in front of an insect swarm
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Bralm was first detailed for the Dungeons & Dragons game in the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game SettingWorld of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting
The World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting and the World of Greyhawk Fantasy World Setting are two closely related publications from TSR, Inc. that detail the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
(1983), by 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....
.
Bralm was further detailed by Lenard Lakofka
Lenard Lakofka
Lenard "Len" Lakofka is an American writer of material for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. He was an influential voice in the development of the game, as well as the author of what has been called one the greatest D&D adventures ever written...
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...
#92 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon V.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Bralm was one of the deities described in the From the Ashes set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign.Bralm is described as one of the good deities that celestials
Celestial (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestials are a class of creatures and monsters known as outsiders who are of wholly good alignment....
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Bralm is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
Bralm's role in the 3rd edition Greyhawk setting was defined in the Living Greyhawk GazetteerLiving Greyhawk Gazetteer
The Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a sourcebook for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Despite the title, the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not exclusive to the Living Greyhawk Campaign...
(2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
Her priesthood is detailed for this edition in Complete DivineComplete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
(2004).
Description
Bralm is depicted as a middle-aged woman with dark blonde hair, sometimes with insect wings on her back. She fights with a magical staff. She also takes the form of an ankhegAnkheg
An ankheg , also spelled anhkheg, is a type of fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. An ankheg is described as a monstrous arthropod magical beast. The ahnkheg was created by artist Erol Otus and first appeared in Dragon magazine in 1977...
, giant wasp, or giant scorpion.
Relationships
Bralm is friendly with the rest of the Suel pantheon. However, she has no close allies in the Pantheon because she judges others on their ability, having no concern with age or status. She has great enmity for TrithereonTrithereon
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Trithereon is the god of Individuality, Liberty, Retribution, and Self-Defense...
because of his individualism, and she avoids deities who have dominion over fire, like Joramy
Joramy
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Joramy is the goddess of Fire, Volcanoes, Wrath, Anger, and Quarrels...
and Pyremius
Pyremius
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Pyremius is the Suel god of Assassins, Fire, Poison, and Murder...
, because she dislikes that element. In the Suel pantheon's many battles between lawful deities and chaotic deities, Bralm has always sided with Wee Jas
Wee Jas
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Wee Jas is the Suel goddess of Magic, Death, Vanity, and Law...
and the other gods of order. Heironeous
Heironeous
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Heironeous is the Oeridian god of Chivalry, Justice, Honor, War, Daring, and Valor. His holy symbol is a silver lightning bolt, often clutched in a...
has a longstanding enmity with Bralm, and she has a strong if sometimes uneasy alliance with his brother Hextor
Hextor
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting and the default pantheon of deities for the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Hextor is the Oeridian god of war, discord, massacres, conflict, fitness, and tyranny....
.
Realm
Bralm's realm, known as the Hive Fortress, is in the Infernal Battlefield of AcheronAcheron (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Acheron , also known as The Infernal Battlefield of Acheron, is a lawful neutral/lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
, in the layer of Avalas.
Dogma
Bralm teaches that everyone in society has their proper position that people are obligated to master even if they don't understand their importance in the greater scheme. She instructs her followers to obey those with higher social positions and greater knowledge. She urges contentment in hard labor, and compares her followers to insects in a hive.Worshippers
Bralm is prayed to for aid and blessings in various sorts of labor, especially those kinds that involve large numbers of people such as construction, farming, and mining. She is worshipped both by slave drivers and by slaves who hope to be rewarded for their service in the afterlife. She is a major deity in the Empire of the Scarlet Brotherhood and the Hold of the Sea Princes, and her faith is strongest in hot regions such as HepmonalandHepmonaland
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the continent of Hepmonaland is Southeast of the Flanaess. Hepmonaland was created as a in-game region where the Aztec culture is dominant and dinosaurs are very common monsters.Hepmonaland is the Suel and...
and the Vast Swamp. Suel nomads in the Sea of Dust
Sea of Dust
Sea of Dust may refer to:*Sea of Dust , a horror film starring Ingrid Pitt*Sea of Dust , a fictional desert in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
hold her in high regard. Bralm is popular with farmers both because of her patronage of labor and her control over harmful insects.
Some of Bralm's churches worship insects or keep giant insects as pets.
Clergy
Bralm's priests dress in robes of dull brown or yellow, decorated with insect designs. Jewelry of gold, black, or green metal is common on ceremonial occasions. They act as overseers in complex tasks: in the military, in farms and mines, as slave drivers and so on. Within the Scarlet Brotherhood, a priest of Bralm speaks at the groundbreaking of anything larger than a private home. They enjoy imposing order for its own sake, especially on independent-minded folk. Their favored weapon is the quarterstaff. They never use fire-related spells.Clerics of Bralm work with wizards of the Scarlet Brotherhood in their monster-breeding programs and in summoning sea monsters to attack enemy ships.
Temples
Shrines to Bralm are built at the mouth of every new mine in the Empire of the Scarlet Brotherhood. The Temple of the Bee in the Tilva Jungle worships Bralm's insectoid aspect; a giant queen bee in the temple is rumored to be regarded as a sacred animal. They have been producing jars of honey with curative properties.Holy days
The holiest day of the year is the hottest day in GoodmonthGreyhawk Calendar
The Greyhawk Calendar is a fictional calendar used in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game...
, when clerics anoint themselves with exotic scents, build strange structures from sticks and mud, and release small swarms of insects that cling to their scented followers without stinging.
Rituals
Prayers to Bralm are recited at twilight and dawn, when the insects are most active. During all ceremonies, a high priest wears a gold pectoral with crystal wings sprouting from the back.Additional reading
- Brown, AnneAnne Brown (game designer)Anne Brown is a writer and editor in the role-playing game industry.Brown began working as an Assistant editor for Dragon magazine in 1989, on issues #147 to #151 . She was later transferred to TSR's Games Division...
. Player's Guide (TSR, 1998). - Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0 (Wizards of the Coast, 2005). Available online: http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Gygax, Gary, and Frank Mentzer. The Temple of Elemental Evil (TSRTSR, Inc.Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, 1985). - Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"