Urogalan

Urogalan: He Who Must Be, the Black Hound, Lord in the Earth, the Protector, the Shaper

Symbol: The silhouette of a dog's head
Home Plane: Soulearth, found on the plane of Elysium. This realm is a cavern beneath the surface of Eronia, Elysium's second layer. The souls of halflings go to Urogalan's realm before being assigned their proper places in the afterlife
Alignment: LN
Portfolio: Death, Earth
Domains: Death, Earth, Law, Protection, Halflings, Repose
Worshipers: Halflings
Aliases: N/A
Cleric Alignments: LN, LG, NG
Favored Weapon: Flail

History/Relationships: Urogalan is a gentle deity for a god of death, respected and revered by his chosen race but never feared. He is seen as a protector of the dead. Because halfling dead are usually buried in the earth, he is also the guardian of the earth itself (as opposed to the green plants that grow in the earth, which are the dominion of other halfling deities).

The halfling pantheon of gods consists of the leader Yondalla, as well as Arvoreen, Brandobaris, Cyrrollalee, Sheela Peryroyl, and Urogalan himself. Urogalan is on good terms with the rest of his pantheon, but somewhat removed from their embrace of life. Urogalan is allied with Callarduran Smoothhands, Dumathoin, Flandal Steelskin, Grumbar, Segojan Earthcaller, and Sehanine Moonbow. He is also allied with human deities associated with earth and the protection of the dead such as Kelemvor.

Urogalan is opposed to Abbathor and Urdlen. He abhors Velsharoon and those gods associated with necromancy and the undead.

Dogma: Urogalan's faithful believe that just as the earth is the giver of all life, so it ultimately receives all life into its embrace. They revere the soil and embrace death when their natural lives come to an end.

Avatar/Manifestations: Urogalan rarely speaks or shows emotion. His voice, rarely heard, is tinged with loss. In appearance, Urogalan is a slim, dusky-skinned halfling dressed in brown or pure white, representing his two primary aspects of earth and death.

Agents/Petitioners: .

The Church of Abbathor: Urogalan's temples are found in shallow basins open to the sky, in natural caves or in catacombs dug by halflings. They emphasize the natural terrain and their floors are always covered in six inches of dirt.

Though he is propitiated by many halflings, Urogalan's priesthood is small. They administer last rites, preside over burials, and care for halfling graves. They also maintain much of halfing genealogies and histories, and consecrate the foundations of new buildings and burrows.

Urogalan's novices are called Earthlings, while his full priests are called Vassals of the Black Hound.

Day-to-Day Activities: Offerings to Urogalan include uncut gems and clay images of He Who Must Be. They are placed on flat rocks at the centers of natural earthen basins while soft dirges and elegies are sang and read while percussion is provided by the pounding of bare feet making slow circles around the central stone.

Halfling bodies are interned in stone or wooden caskets with a stone tablet graven with the name of the deceased and a symbol of the Black Hound on their chests and on their palms. Mementos of their lives are often buried with them.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Urogalan's holy times are the nights of the full moons, known as Earthrisings. Halflings believe the full moon to be one of Urogalan's manifestations.

Major Centers of Worship: .

Affiliated Orders: .

Priestly Vestments: Clergy wear simple, ankle-length robes tied with belts of rope. They are always bare-footed. Priests typically shave their heads, while priestesses bind their hair in twin braids.

Adventuring Garb: .