In many campaign setting

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...

, Gaerdal Ironhand 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 protection, vigilance, and combat.

Publication history

Gaerdal Ironhand was first 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).

Gaerdal Ironhand'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

Gaerdal's legendary sternness is a bit of a joke among the pranksters of his pantheon, but it's said that their japes make him chuckle to himself in private.

Relationships

In many campaign setting

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, 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

Flandal Steelskin

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Flandal Steelskin is the gnome deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer.-Publication history:...

, 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...

.

Gaerdal is distrustful of both Baervan Wildwanderer and Baravar Cloakshadow, whom he feels are deceitful and somewhat dishonorable.

Realm

Gaerdal lives in Stronghaven in the gnomish realm of the Golden Hills on the plane of Bytopia

Bytopia

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...

.

Additional reading

• Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk
  Living Greyhawk
  Living Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
  
  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