Obad-Hai
| Obad-Hai | |
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| Obad-Hai, the Shalm, as depicted in Deities and Demigods (2002). | |
| Title: | The Shalm |
|---|---|
| Alias(es): | none |
| Home plane: | Concordant Domain of the Outlands |
| Power level: | Intermediate |
| Gender: | Male |
| Alignment: | Neutral |
| Portfolio: | Nature, Woodlands, Freedom, Hunting, Beasts |
| Domains: | Air, Animal, Earth, Fire, Plant, Water, Weather, Nature[1] |
| Superior: | none |
Obad-Hai is the god of Nature, Woodlands, Freedom, Hunting, and Beasts, one of the most ancient known. He is also considered to be the god of summer by the Flan. Originally a Flan deity, Obad-Hai is most favored by druids and other nature priests. His holy symbol is a mask of oak leaves and acorns.
Description[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai is most often depicted as a lean and weathered old man of indeterminate age, dressed in brown or russet. He carries a wooden staff called the Shalmstaff, and is known for playing a woodwind instrument called a shalm or shawm. Obad-Hai can appear as a human, dwarf, gnome, or halfling, and has worshipers among all four races. He is also depicted in the forms of various animals or fey.
Relationships[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai has an unfriendly rivalry with Ehlonna, and is the sworn enemy of Phyton. He is an enemy of the vile nature deity Karaan. The Shalm is often grouped with Beory and Berei among the agricultural gods of the Flan.
Realm[edit | edit source]
The Hidden Wood of Obad-Hai is a patchwork of thick woods, open glades, and rolling fields. Explorers' notes place the Hidden Wood in several specific locations in the Outlands, often near the gate-towns of Fortitude or Faunel. It's rarely found at all except by travelers who become lost in the woods, and by those souls who were dedicated to the Shalm during their mortal lives.
Obad-Hai's domain is nature in all its forms: wild and tamed, savage and domesticated. All four seasons exist simultaneously in balance within the Shalm's realm. In the space of a quarter-mile, snowfields give way to forests draped in fall color next to orchards heavy with fruit and newly plowed fields. Creatures encountered within the Hidden Wood tend to be axiomatic or anarchic, but include a large number of Prime Material Plane animals, beasts, and plants. These creatures are usually hostile to travelers, an attitude that Obad-Hai encourages.
The Shalm has changed the magic traits within his realm. Spells cast by druids here are enhanced, and all spells targeting animals or plants are heightened. He has the power to make other changes to the traits of his realm if he wishes.
Petitioners serving Obad-Hai appear human and have the abilities of typical Outlandish petitioners. In addition, they gain the ability to speak with animals and plants at will. Petitioners are often gardening, herding, hunting, pruning, planting, or harvesting. Great feasts are common within the Shalm's realm.
Dogma[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai teaches that one should live in harmony with nature, and that those who would damage the natural balance deserve swift vengeance. Obad-Hai's faith is colder and less compassionate than Ehlonna's, preaching death in balance with life. When followers of the Shalm hunt, they target the weak and sickly first.
Worshipers[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai is revered by humans, dwarves, fey, gnomes, and halflings. His faith is strong among the Flan tribesmen in the Bright Lands, in Geoff, in the Gran March, among the Rovers of the Barrens, in Stonehold, in Tenh, in the County of Ulek, and in Verbobonc.
Clergy[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai's clerics favor russet-colored clothing and simple quarterstaves. They have no hierarchy; all members are treated as equals. They keep to the wilderness and to themselves, rarely getting involved with society and often living as hermits. Most get along very well with rangers and druids.
Druids[edit | edit source]
Many druids of the Old Faith revere Obad-Hai. Druids of the Shalm are found within the Adri Forest, where they are led by Archdruid Immonara. Archdruid Reynard Yargrove in the Sheldomar Valley is another worshiper of the Shalm.
Temples[edit | edit source]
Temples of Obad-Hai are wooden structures in rustic settings, almost invariably laden with oak trees. The god's shrines are often stone circles or circles of oaks deep in the wilderness.
The Stone Ring just outside the Free City in the Domain of Greyhawk is often used as a site of worship by druids of Obad-Hai.
Rituals[edit | edit source]
Prayers in honor of the Shalm often begin with references to birth and growth and end with references to death and dying. Services involve the consecration of earth, fire, living flowers, and water. Rites in Obad-Hai's name are seasonal, often triggered by events such as the year's first birdsong or snowfall.
Worshipers of Obad-Hai work to protect the wilderness from dangers such as unnatural corruption or cataclysms, or from deforestation by woodcutters.
Holy days[edit | edit source]
Worshippers of Obad-Hai consider Midsummer's Night to be the holiest of all. All quarrels between the faith of the Shalm and other sects are set aside, and they join in celebration of the Oerth and the Balance they serve. This is considered the best night to harvest mistletoe.
Artifacts and other associated magical items[edit | edit source]
The Singing Stones of Vesve are a very ancient artifact of Obad-Hai taking the form of a stone circle that, according to divination, seems to be waiting angrily for some response.
The Armor of Fallen Leaves is a relic sewn together from actual leaves by Ehlonna and presented as a gift to Obad-Hai during a time when they had better relations.
There are three Staves of the Unyielding Oak. These staves are actually treants who have willingly bound themselves to quarterstaff form in order to aid followers of the Shalm. They have the ability to reassume their treant forms at the command of their wielders.
Myths and legends[edit | edit source]
Obad-Hai and the Summer Tree[edit | edit source]
According to the ancient traditions of the Old Faith, Obad-Hai is reborn every spring, hatching in the form of a young boy from the fruit of a sapling that grows from his own grave. By summer Obad-Hai takes the form of a strong young man, the Stag King, leading the Wild Hunt against those who would defile Nature. By autumn he has grown into the weathered old man of his standard depictions. When winter begins he is slain by Nerull, who hangs his corpse on the Summer Tree. After seven days, Pelor cuts him down and buries him in the earth, where Beory's tears cause a new sapling to grow, which drops the fruit that hatches into the young Obad-Hai once again in the spring.
Obad-Hai in other media[edit | edit source]
In the movie Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God, a priest of Obad-Hai is one of the main characters.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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By Jeff Easley, Dragon #69 (1983).
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Third edition Player's Handbook (2000)
References[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
Citations[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Player's Handbook (2014), p.295.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
- 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:[1]
- Grubb, Jeff, David Noonan, and Bruce Cordell. Manual of the Planes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- Gygax, Gary. "The Deities and Demigods of the World of Greyhawk." Dragon #69. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
- ———. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Menge, Eric. "Power Groups: Druids of the Old Faith." Wizards of the Coast. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008. Available online:[2]
- Moore, Roger E. The Adventure Begins. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Noonan, David. Complete Divine. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
- Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999. Item code TSR11361.
- Redman, Rich, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Deities and Demigods. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Ward, James M. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Index is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, and his work as continued and updated by Eric Johnson, Richard DiIoia, Jason "PupickDad" Jacobson, a French fan group, and numerous other fans over the years. The wiki page for the EGI has a list of sources, full product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Wood (Obad-Hai's Realm) | Planar | Plane/Dimension, | On Hallowed Ground | 180 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff | 51 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Bastion of Faith | 87 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | The City of Greyhawk: Folks, Feuds and Factions | 75, 76 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Deities & Demigods, D&D 3.0e | 58, 86-88, 213, 214, 215 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Defenders of the Faith, D&D 3.0e | 35, 36, 72, 78, 92 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Defenders of the Faith: Web Enhancement (3e) | 2 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #069 | 29, 30 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #208 | 50, 54, 57 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #209 | 11 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #294 | 77, 78 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #299 | 103 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Dragon magazine #AN4 | 20 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 51, 68, 89, 90, 96 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | From the Ashes: Campaign Book | 44 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | From the Ashes: References Card | #4 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 18 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Ivid the Undying | 22, 70, 71, 74, 77, 109, 111, 113, 115, 139 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk Gazetteer | 19, 37, 48, 49, 94, 108, 112, 116, 117, 131, 139, 140, 164, 169, 178 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 12 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk Journal #1 | 18 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 17, 27 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Living Greyhawk Journal #5 | 26 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | On Hallowed Ground | 180, 185, 188, 192 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Player's Guide to Greyhawk | 5, 19, 21 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Player's Handbook, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) | 24, 32, 33, 46, 106, 108, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 284 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | Slavers, AD&D 2e | 8 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil | 120 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | The Adventure Begins | 45, 74, 75 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | The Scarlet Brotherhood | 32 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WG6 Isle of the Ape | 21, 27 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WG8 Fate of Istus | 27, 30, 124 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGR3 Rary the Traitor | 16 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGR4 The Marklands | 31, 53 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGR5 Iuz the Evil | 57 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGR6 City of Skulls | 31 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGS1 Five Shall Be One | 25, 32 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | WGS2 Howl From the North | 56 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 63, 72, 73 |
| Obad-Hai {The Shalm} | Deity | The Shalm, Worshipped by: Human (Flan), Native of: Prime Material, | World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) | 38, 44 |
| Obad-hai, Sea Grove of (Saltmarsh) | Building | Religious building, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 18 |
| Obad-Hai, Silverthorn of | Item | Artifact, | Living Greyhawk Journal #0 | 12 |
| Sea Grove of Obad-Hai (Saltmarsh) | Geographical feature | Woods/Forest/Jungle, | Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e | 15(Map), 18 |
| Specialty Priest of Obad-Hai | People Group | Religious order, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 90 |