Flandal Steelskin
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Flandal Steelskin is the gnome
deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer.
's article "The Gnomish Point of View," in Dragon
#61 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
Flandal Steelskin was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996). He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
in Demihuman Deities
(1998). He is described as one of the good deities that celestials
can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).
Flandal Steelskin's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
(2002).
s, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold
, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer
, Baravar Cloakshadow
, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand
, Nebelun
, Segojan Earthcaller
, and Urdlen
. Flandal is friendly with all of the gnomish gods save Urdlen; he is also an ally of the dwarven god Moradin
, who shares his interest in the working of metals. He has the ear of Garl, as he helped forge Garl's intelligent axe Arumdina.
.
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...
, Flandal Steelskin is the gnome
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer.
Publication history
Flandal Steelskin was first detailed in Roger E. MooreRoger E. Moore
Roger 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:...
's article "The Gnomish Point of View," 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...
#61 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), 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....
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
Flandal Steelskin was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
Monster 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). He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
in Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities is a Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition: Forgotten Realms campaign accessory, published by Wizards of the Coast. The book was designed by Eric L. Boyd...
(1998). He 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).
Flandal Steelskin's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002).
Description
Flandal appears as a balding, aging gnome with skin the color of blue mithral steel, eyes like flaming coals, and hair of brilliant blue-silver. He wears a leather apron over the rest of his clothes, and carries Rhondang, an intelligent axe-backed hammer made of yellowish metal. He is the strongest of the gnomish pantheon and is able to sniff out veins of any ore with his prodigious nose. As such, he is the patron of gnomish warriors, miners and metalworkers.Relationships
In many campaign settingCampaign 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, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold
Garl Glittergold is the patron deity of gnomes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, and a member of the game's default pantheon of deities. His symbol is a gold nugget.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :...
, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer
Baervan Wildwanderer
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baervan Wildwanderer is the gnome deity of Forests, Travel, and Nature.-Publication history:...
, Baravar Cloakshadow
Baravar Cloakshadow
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Baravar Cloakshadow is the gnomish deity of illusions, protection, and deception. He creates traps and illusions of stunning complexity and cunning. He is somewhat mean-spirited compared to most of the other gnomish gods, and his pranks may cause even...
, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand
Gaerdal Ironhand
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Gaerdal Ironhand is the gnome deity of protection, vigilance, and combat.-Publication history:...
, Nebelun
Nebelun
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Nebelun is the gnome deity of inventions and good luck.Nebelun is, in fantasy literature, a fictional Gnome deity of invention and good luck...
, Segojan Earthcaller
Segojan Earthcaller
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Segojan Earthcaller is the gnome deity of earth and nature. Unlike Baervan Wildwanderer, who is a god of the plants and forests of the surface world, Segojan's area of concern is the deep earth and the life within it...
, and Urdlen
Urdlen
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urdlen is the gnome deity of greed and blood.In many campaign settings, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun, Segojan...
. Flandal is friendly with all of the gnomish gods save Urdlen; he is also an ally of the dwarven god 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...
, who shares his interest in the working of metals. He has the ear of Garl, as he helped forge Garl's intelligent axe Arumdina.
Realm
Flandal lives in the Mithral Forge in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of BytopiaBytopia
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Bytopia, also known as the Twin Paradises or more fully, the Twin Paradises of Bytopia is a lawful good/neutral good aligned plane of existence...
.
Worshippers
Flandal Steelskin is worshiped by those gnomes concerned with mining, smithing, and fitness.Clergy
Flandal's clerics wear red leather armor and steel helms. Their favored weapon is the warhammer. They are miners and smiths and they watch over the safety of gnomish miners. They often undergo rigorous strength training.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
- Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"