Diirinka
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Diirinka is the derro
deity of magic, savants, knowledge, and cruelty. His symbol is a spiral of gray, black, and white. His magical power was stolen from Ilsensine
, and he passes this power on to his followers.
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
-like creature wearing a robe of gray, white, and black that constantly changes appearance.
, whom he betrayed and left for dead at the tentacles of Ilsensine
. Ilsensine hates them both over their theft of knowledge from its caverns. Fortubo
, Moradin
, and Berronar Truesilver
hate Diirinka for being a corruption and enemy of the dwarven race. Vhaeraun
, Laduguer
, and Lolth
likewise consider him an enemy. Diirinka's only ally is the drow goddess Kiaransalee
.
.
Diirinka's favored weapon is the dagger.
The duergar
, oddly, agree with this in part, claiming the first derro was a vastly powerful creator known as the Lone Craftsman. The Lone Craftsman created all the races of the world in imitation of Laduguer
's perfect race, the duergar, but Laduguer transformed him into a derro in punishment for creating the other races of dwarves
.
so badly that he slew his uncle, stole the Axe, and plunged the One Clan into civil war. Brassbeard became a devotee of Abbathor
, the god of greed, but in secret he also made a pact with Diirinka, who sent him a fearsome monster called the Abomination of Diirinka to terrorize his fellow dwarves. Brassbeard could never completely control the Abomination, so it would often rage and ravage even when Brassbeard did not wish it to. Ultimately Brassbeard was slain, and the Abomination fled in fear of the power of the Axe.
beneath the Dwarven Mountain in the Outlands, stealing alien magical artifacts. When the illithid
deity revealed itself, Diirinka panicked and stabbed his brother in the back, leaving him to be cursed and driven insane while Diirinka escaped.
Diirinka hid himself in Pandemonium and began experimenting on his fellow derro for centuries, producing mindless dwarf-like aberrations that wander isolated cavern complexes even today. Ultimately he "perfected" the derro to his satisfaction, gifting those he favored the most with the sorcerous powers of the savants.
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...
s 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...
, Diirinka is the derro
Derro (Dungeons & Dragons)
The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first devised for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition adventure Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...
deity of magic, savants, knowledge, and cruelty. His symbol is a spiral of gray, black, and white. His magical power was stolen from Ilsensine
Ilsensine
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithids . While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe...
, and he passes this power on to his followers.
Publication history
Diirinka was first detailed in the book Monster MythologyMonster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Description
Diirinka manifests as a withered, lichLich (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lich is an undead creature; a spellcaster who seeks to defy death by magical means.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
-like creature wearing a robe of gray, white, and black that constantly changes appearance.
Relationships
Diirinka's brother is DiinkarazanDiinkarazan
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diinkarazan is the derro deity of vengeance.-Publication history:Diinkarazan was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology , including details about his priesthood...
, whom he betrayed and left for dead at the tentacles of Ilsensine
Ilsensine
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithids . While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe...
. Ilsensine hates them both over their theft of knowledge from its caverns. Fortubo
Fortubo
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Fortubo is the god of Stone, Metals, Mountains, and Guardianship. Originally a member of the Suel pantheon, Fortubo abandoned the Suloise upon discovering that the Suel were behind the creation of the derro...
, Moradin
Moradin
Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
, and Berronar Truesilver
Berronar Truesilver
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Berronar Truesilver is the dwarf goddess of Safety, Truth, Home, and Healing.-Publication history:...
hate Diirinka for being a corruption and enemy of the dwarven race. Vhaeraun
Vhaeraun
Vhaeraun , also known as the Masked Lord and the Masked God of Night, is the drow god of thievery, drow males, and evil activity on the surface world in many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings.-Publication history:...
, Laduguer
Laduguer
In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...
, and Lolth
Lolth
Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...
likewise consider him an enemy. Diirinka's only ally is the drow goddess Kiaransalee
Kiaransalee
Kiaransalee is the fictional drow deity of slavery, undead, and vengeance. She was created for the AD&D Second Edition, first appearing in Monster Mythology, and as such is a general deity not specific to any one game world.-Publication history:Kiaransalee was first detailed in the book Monster...
.
Realm
Diirinka's realm, called Hidden Betrayal, is found on the plane of PandemoniumPandemonium (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the standard cosmology of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Pandemonium is the Outer plane where Chaotic Evil and Chaotic Neutral petitioners are sent after death. Pandemonium is a large, complex cavern that never ends. Compounding this problem, howling winds drive most of its...
.
Dogma
Diirinka is an unpleasant deity who will betray anyone for his own ends. When he dispatches avatars, it is normally for the sake of uncovering lost magic or merely to torment others for his amusement. He cares little about what his followers choose to do. If he punishes them, it is usually an act of random cruelty rather than for any real purpose.Worshippers
Diirinka is not worshiped by most derro directly; rather, Diirinka grants sorcerous magic to the savants. To an outsider, it appears as if most derro worship no one but themselves.Clergy
Clerics of Diirinka are rare among the derro, but existing in a similar role are the savants, sorcerers who act as leaders of the derro race. The savants are the absolute leaders among the derro, instructing others of their kind in the proper treatment of slaves, experimenting with poisons and lobotomies, and searching for greater magic. Every 20 years or so the savants lead their people in a Uniting War, a bloodthirsty crusade against all other races. This serves to weed out the weak among the derro tribes and inspire terror of the derro race in others.Diirinka's favored weapon is the dagger.
The Creation of the Derro
The myths and legends of the derro themselves are wildly misleading. They do not even mention Diinkarazan, who is a carefully guarded secret. The derro teach that Diirinka created them using his own skills, requiring help from no one.The duergar
Duergar (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons & Dragons fantasy, the duergar, or gray dwarves are a cruel and evil subrace of dwarves.-Publication history:The duergar are named after the dvergar of Norse mythology, who were the builders of Gleipnir...
, oddly, agree with this in part, claiming the first derro was a vastly powerful creator known as the Lone Craftsman. The Lone Craftsman created all the races of the world in imitation of Laduguer
Laduguer
In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...
's perfect race, the duergar, but Laduguer transformed him into a derro in punishment for creating the other races of dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
.
The Banishment of the Derro
Some derro legends claim the derro once lived among the other dwarven races, but were driven away by dwarves jealous of Diirinka's prowess. Others say that Diirinka hid his people away on his own accord, so that the other gods would not become unduly jealous of their perfection.The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
Brassbeard Moradinson, nephew of the last High King of the One Clan, Irontooth Moradinson, desired the Axe of the Dwarvish LordsAxe of the Dwarvish Lords
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Axe of the Dwarvish Lords refers to both a powerful magic item and to an adventure module focusing on the item....
so badly that he slew his uncle, stole the Axe, and plunged the One Clan into civil war. Brassbeard became a devotee of Abbathor
Abbathor
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Abbathor is the dwarven deity of greed. His holy symbol is a jeweled dagger.-Publication history:...
, the god of greed, but in secret he also made a pact with Diirinka, who sent him a fearsome monster called the Abomination of Diirinka to terrorize his fellow dwarves. Brassbeard could never completely control the Abomination, so it would often rage and ravage even when Brassbeard did not wish it to. Ultimately Brassbeard was slain, and the Abomination fled in fear of the power of the Axe.
History
Diirinka was the first derro slave created by the Suloise Imperium. He was a wizard of unusual talent, concealing his skill from his masters and passing on his knowledge to those loyal to him, eventually winning divinity alongside his brother Diinkarazan. Together, the two ventured to the caverns of IlsensineIlsensine
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithids . While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe...
beneath the Dwarven Mountain in the Outlands, stealing alien magical artifacts. When the illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
deity revealed itself, Diirinka panicked and stabbed his brother in the back, leaving him to be cursed and driven insane while Diirinka escaped.
Diirinka hid himself in Pandemonium and began experimenting on his fellow derro for centuries, producing mindless dwarf-like aberrations that wander isolated cavern complexes even today. Ultimately he "perfected" the derro to his satisfaction, gifting those he favored the most with the sorcerous powers of the savants.
Additional reading
- 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:http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Moore, Roger ERoger E. MooreRoger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
. "Legacies of the Suel Imperium," Dragon MagazineDragon (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...
#241. Renton, WA: TSR, 1997.
- Noonan, DavidDavid Noonan (game designer)David Noonan is an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from Wizards of the Coast.-Role-playing games:...
. Complete DivineComplete DivineComplete 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...
. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Redman, Rich and James WyattJames Wyatt (game designer)James Wyatt is a game designer and a former United Methodist minister. He works for Wizards of the Coast, where he has designed several award-winning supplements and adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
. Defenders of the Faith (Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2000).
- Scott, Amber. "The Ecology of the Duergar." DragonDragon (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...
#325. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004.
- Williams, SkipSkip WilliamsRalph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...
. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003
- Williams, SkipSkip WilliamsRalph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...
. Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1999.