The Brawler
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: A star of spears and maces
Home Plane: Ysgard
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Strength, athletics, sports, brawling, courage
Worshippers: Barbarians, fighters, rogues, athletes
Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, NG
Domains: Chaos, Competition, Good, Luck, Strength
Favoured Weapon: “Kelmar” (Greatsword)
Relics: Belt of the champion, sword of mighty thews
Kord (kohrd), deity of strength, appears as a hugely muscular man with long red hair and beard, wearing white dragon-hide gauntlets, blue boots and fighting girdle of red leather. A hedonistic being, he is known for tackling physical challenges of all sorts just for the fun of it. He is also reputed to have dallied with beautiful humans, elves or even giants, and tales are told of the great heroes that are born of such liaisons. He fights with his intelligent dragon-slaying greatsword Kelmar, and when wounded he often enters an intense blood rage.
Kord loves physical challenges and contests, and he promotes non-lethal sports as a method for resolving disputes among his followers. His teachings say that the strong and fit should lead the weaker, and that bravery is the greatest quality anyone can have, ruler and citizen alike. Everyone should scorn cowardice, says Kord.
Kord’s clerics are expected to be leaders. They value strength but not domination. They train people to become stronger, organize athletic tournaments, and participate in challenging physical activities. Doubting their fitness is a grave insult, and they go to great lengths to prove their physical abilities (although they realize the difference between difficult and suicidal challenges). They favour attire in red and white.
Kord’s temples tend to be spacious and airy. They always include at least one gymnasium and usually extensive baths. They invariably have adjoining fields for athletic competitions.
Would-be clerics of Kord come into the faith one of two ways. Most succeed on some feat of strength (often at a local carnival or sporting competition), drawing the admiration of a cleric of Kord. Less often, a youth attains notoriety for his sickly nature, but a cleric of Kord notices how passionately the child craves strength. Either way, becoming a cleric of Kord involves rigorous physical training, including calisthenics, running and practice in any number of specific sports.
Kord’s followers love any quest where they can prove their strength, especially if it involves direct competition with someone else. Winning in a gladiator arena, climbing an unassailable mountain, and slaying a great wyrm dragon are all pleasing to Kord.
Kord favours rhythmic chanting and clapping, the louder the better. Many of his chants feature syllables that exist strictly to maintain the rhythm, such as “Ah re, ah ree, Kord the Mighty…”.
A temple to Kord is often a sprawling dwelling open to the air. Some feature gymnasiums, fields for athletic competition, and gladiator arenas. They provide training for nearly every physical endeavour.
Kord’s rites are brief, lasting just a few minutes. They’re joyous, dancing ceremonies at the end of a battle or a long-term feat of strength, such as raising a barn or moving stones to form a hedgerow.
A titan is Kord’s favourite herald. Allies are bralani eladrins, ghaele eladrins and Huge earth elementals.
Note: The Cleric Alignments as printed (CG, LG, NG) appear to be in error, as they do not follow the standard alignment rules.
Source: Deities and Demigods (Page 77), Complete Divine (Page 113)