Brand

Brand is the god of storms and the weather, as well as justice. He represents the warrior who defends the vulnerable, and is said to both protect the nobility as well as hold them accountable to those over whom they rule. He is often invoked for protection from evil. He is a popular god in human, halfling, and dwarven cultures, although most cultures pay homage to him in some way in his role as the bringer of storms and rain. His epithets include the Thunderblade or the Thunder-bladed.

Symbols and Depictions

Brand's major symbol is the lightning bolt, representing his domain over storms as well as his ability to strike like lightning against injustice. He is occasionally represented by a sword crossed with a lightning bolt, particularly when invoked for protection. Some texts indicate that an open hand was once used as his symbol, but it appears to have fallen out of favor and practice.

Brand always appears as and is depicted as a man. Although like all deities, Brand can choose his appearance on the Material Plane, he typically appears as a human warrior - although he has been known to appear as a dwarf, orc, or half-orc, usually with short hair and eyes, both gray like a stormcloud with streaks of gold. He almost always wears a chain shirt and tabard, and carries a greatsword, the Thunderblade itself.

Worship

Brand has small temples in most cities and towns in the Vale, particularly if agriculture is a major part of the local economy. Notable larger temples are located in Drakehall, Old Bay, and Fishmouth. His major festival is three days long and takes place in late August or early September, varying by season and weather.

Myths

Brand's demiplane is the Heart of the Squall, a sparse castle at the center of a permanent storm in Ysgard. There are three famous rooms in the castle: the Hall of Justice, where Brand hears petitioners; the Hall of Rewards, where Brand keeps what is taken as punishment in cases he adjudicates; and the Hall of Trials, a legendary training ground that can appear as any other location in the planes.

Brand is the son of Balogar and Luthic, so his older sister is Halone and his younger brother is Aeber. Draefendi and Nophica are his half-sisters. Tymora and Beshaba are his aunts and Nymeia his grandmother. Through Nymeia, Byregot and Bifelgan are his uncles, and which makes Nald and Thal his cousins. As Luthic's son, he is also half-brothers with her four children.

Brand's relationships with his siblings is complicated. Both he and Aeber share a desire for justice, but Aeber pushes for revenge over simply balancing the scale. Halone shares his fierceness in battle and affiliation with weather, but her uncompromising views on justice often bring them into conflict. Whereas Halone views Winnehild as a rival, Brand enjoys sparring with her.

Brand's association with justice first arose when he fought with his mother Luthic's other children. Maglubiyet had dominated his younger brothers and sought to claim dominance over Brand, Halone, and Aeber. Brand not only defeated him, but freed the goblinoids Maglubiyet had enslaved. His heroism allowed the goblinoids to choose for themselves if they wanted to pursue the path of war Maglubiyet laid before them. Maglubiyet has hated him ever since, more than Halone or Aeber, and Brand has clashed with him or his brothers many times.

As a hero god, Brand has clashed with other dark gods. Nophica has requested his assistance against Incabulos on more than one occasion. He also has dared to liberate those trapped unjustly in Carceri or by Torog, earning him Torog's eternal ire.