The Bright God, Guardian of Bifrost, Watchman of Asgard, Golden Tooth, The Ram
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Gjallahorn
Home Plane: Asgard
Alignment: Lawful Good
Portfolio: Watchfulness, sight, hearing, loyalty
Worshippers: Fighters, paladins, sentries, guards, dwarves
Cleric Alignments: LG, LN, NG
Domains: Good, Law, War
Favoured Weapon: Longsword
Some myths say Heimdall (haym-dahl) is the son of giants, while others claim that he is simultaneously the child of all nine daughters of Aegir and Ran. Heimdall visited Midgard in human guise and stayed one night in each of three different houses. Each house treated him differently, and he cursed or blessed their children accordingly. The result was the three social classes of the Asgardian world; thralls or slaves, free peasants and nobles. Heimdall’s primary duty is to sound his horn, Gjallahorn, and alert all the gods to the coming of Ragnarok.
Prophesies say that in the last battle, Heimdall’s nemesis Loki will steal Heimdall’s sword. Though Heimdall is destined to kill Loki in Ragnarok, he is fated to die soon thereafter of his own wounds.
The cult of Heimdall appeals to those who find themselves on the edge of their community, facing outward and looking for threats. This attracts fighters of all sorts, as well as nobility and officials who believe in a strong defence. The clergy teaches self-discipline, responsibility and obedience to authority.
Many of Heimdall’s clergy are fighters or rangers in addition to being clerics. Though rare in Asgardian cultures, paladins and monks also may devote themselves to Heimdall.
Heimdall’s temples are generally part of a community’s defences and include at least one watchtower. They feature arrow slits for windows and their doors are easily barred. Patrons of the temple enjoy feasting, drinking and carousing as much as any Asgardian, but they tend to limit themselves to certain times of the day or night, and are careful to be fit for their duties. Most communities welcome the temples as a way to strengthen their defences and better protect the local people.
Visitors to Heimdall’s temples receive careful examinations by clergy seeking to emulate their god’s powers of perception. Those bringing information related to the community’s defence find themselves in “war rooms” filled with maps and defensive plans.
Source: Deities and Demigods (Page 179)