Messenger of the Gods, the Nimble
Demigod
Symbol: Winged scroll
Home Plane: Asgard
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Luck, communication, freedom
Worshippers: Bards, messengers, heralds, travellers, elves, halflings, half-elves
Cleric Alignments: CE, CG, CN
Domains: Chaos, Luck, Travel
Favoured Weapon: Rapier
In addition to being the gods’ messenger, Hermod escorts the souls of the dead to the underworld. When the gods needed someone to plead with Hel for Balder’s spirit, Hermod volunteered and Odin lent him Sleipnir for the journey.
Hermod’s cult focuses on endurance and physical fitness. It teaches marksmanship, fencing, steeplechase horse racing, foot races of all sorts and swimming to its members, believing these are key skills for those who must deliver messages.
Clergy of Hermod rarely stay in one village for long. They’re often found while travelling to a different temple, wearing sturdy garb and enjoying their journey. Junior members of the clergy carry messages from noble to noble, village to village or temple to temple. They are quick to lend aid to travellers in distress.
Hermod’s temples are generally collections of several smaller buildings. In addition to a main hall, most have a training hall and a stable. Many stand near lakes or rivers where the faithful can practice their swimming skills.
Visitors to Hermod’s temples receive warm welcomes and a genial, but thorough, interrogation about travel conditions, gossip and information about places the visitors have been. If they readily and honestly share what they know, the temple plies them with food and drink for as long as the visitors have information to share.
Source: Deities and Demigods (Page 182)