Xerbo
Encyclopedia
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Xerbo is the Suel
god of the Sea, Sailing, Money, and Business. His holy symbol is the dragon turtle.
(1983), by Gary Gygax
.
Xerbo was further detailed by Lenard Lakofka
in Dragon
#90 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon III.
Xerbo is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
(2000).
, and is depicted as being a rival to both Procan
and Zilchus
.
, especially the Lordship of the Isles
, the Sea Princes, and Sunndi
. He is also revered by the Suel barbarians of the Thillonrian Peninsula (the Frost
, Ice
, and Snow Barbarians), primarily in his role of sea-god.
In the waters off the shore of the ruins of Cantona
on the Wild Coast is Narhidveh, a village of malenti
who live a comparatively peaceful existence, worshiping Xerbo rather than the sahuagin
god Sekolah
. The name Narhidveh is Sahuagin for "Home of the Cursed."
's Azure Cathedral, where his faith has been combined with those of Osprem and Procan.
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...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
, Xerbo 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....
god of the Sea, Sailing, Money, and Business. His holy symbol is the dragon turtle.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Xerbo 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....
.
Xerbo 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...
#90 (1984), in the article Gods of the Suel Pantheon III.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Xerbo was one of the deities described in the From the Ashes set (1992), for the Greyhawk campaign, and appeared again in Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins (1998).Xerbo is further detailed in The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
Xerbo'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).
Description
Xerbo is depicted as a large man with matted, kelp-like hair, wearing armor made from a dragon turtle's scales. He wields a trident called Murky Deep.Relationships
Xerbo is married to the sea-goddess OspremOsprem
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Osprem is the Suel goddess of Sea Voyages, Ships, and Sailors.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :...
, and is depicted as being a rival to both Procan
Procan
Procan is a fictional deity in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Procan is the Oeridian god of seas, sea life, salt, sea weather, and navigation...
and Zilchus
Zilchus
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Zilchus is the Oeridian god of Power, Prestige, Money, Business, and Influence...
.
Worshippers
Xerbo is worshipped by Suel peoples across the FlanaessFlanaess
The Flanaess is the eastern part of the continent of Oerik, one of the four continents of the fictional world of Oerth in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. The Flanaess has been the setting of dozens of adventures published between the 1970s...
, especially the Lordship of the Isles
Lordship of the Isles (Dungeons & Dragons)
For the Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland, see Lord of the Isles. For the series of fantasy novels by David Drake, see Lord of the Isles ....
, the Sea Princes, and Sunndi
Sunndi
In the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Sunndi is a political state situated in the region of the Flanaess. Sunndi was originally given a very brief description by Gary Gygax in 1980's World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting...
. He is also revered by the Suel barbarians of the Thillonrian Peninsula (the Frost
Frost Barbarians
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Frost Barbarians, properly known as the Kingdom of Fruztii, is a political state of the Flanaess...
, Ice
Ice Barbarians
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Ice Barbarians, properly known as the Kingdom of Cruski, is a political state of the Flanaess...
, and Snow Barbarians), primarily in his role of sea-god.
In the waters off the shore of the ruins of Cantona
Cantona
Cantona, is a Mesoamerican archaeological site in Mexico. It is located in the state of Puebla, on the border with Veracruz, about an hour's drive from the city of Puebla and about an hour and a half from Xalapa, Veracruz. Limited archaeological work has been done at the site, and only about 10%...
on the Wild Coast is Narhidveh, a village of malenti
Sahuagin
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the sahuagin are a fish-like monstrous humanoid species that live in oceans, seas, underground lakes, and underwater caves. Sahuagin speak their native tongue . With higher intelligence scores, they can also speak two bonus languages, usually...
who live a comparatively peaceful existence, worshiping Xerbo rather than the sahuagin
Sahuagin
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the sahuagin are a fish-like monstrous humanoid species that live in oceans, seas, underground lakes, and underwater caves. Sahuagin speak their native tongue . With higher intelligence scores, they can also speak two bonus languages, usually...
god Sekolah
Sekolah
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Sekolah is a powerful devil and the primary deity worshipped by the sahuagin race. His sacred animal is the shark...
. The name Narhidveh is Sahuagin for "Home of the Cursed."
Temples
Temples to Xerbo are found throughout the lands where he is worshipped. Notable temples include a joint temple in Greyhawk City co-dedicated to Osprem, and SasserineSasserine
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the fictional city-state of Sasserine is a locale in the Amedio Jungle that serves as the starting point for the Savage Tide Adventure Path currently being published in Dungeon Magazine.-History:Sasserine was...
's Azure Cathedral, where his faith has been combined with those of Osprem and Procan.
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 MentzerFrank MentzerJacob Franklin "Frank" Mentzer III , is an American fantasy author and game designer best known for his work on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was a performing folk musician from 1968 to 1975, and played one concert at the White House during the...
. The Temple of Elemental EvilThe Temple of Elemental EvilThe Temple of Elemental Evil is an adventure module for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The module was published by TSR, Inc. in 1985 for the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
(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). - Lakofka, LenardLenard LakofkaLenard "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...
. The Assassin's KnotThe Assassin's KnotThe Assassin's Knot is an adventure module written by Lenard Lakofka for the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and published by TSR in 1983. It is designed for novice and intermediate players with characters of levels 2-4....
(TSR, 1983). - Niles, DouglasDouglas NilesDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game.-Early life:Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and...
, and Carl SargentCarl SargentCarl L. Sargent is a British author of several roleplaying game-based products and novels.-Early career:...
. The City of GreyhawkThe City of GreyhawkThe City of Greyhawk is an boxed set accessory published in 1989 for the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(TSR, 1989). - Reynolds, Sean K, and Chris PramasChris Pramas-Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Slavers , Guide to Hell , Apocalypse Stone , Vortex of Madness , as well as some work on the third edition Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide .He has also done work for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.He quit Wizards of the Coast in 2000 to...
. SlaversSlaversSlavers is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:The 128-page book was published by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 for second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules...
(TSR, 2000). - Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"