- Skoraeus Stonebones
In-universe
subject = a
described_object = a fictional character created for a role-playing game
category = Nofootnotes|date=February 2008
D&D Deity|fgcolor=#fff
bgcolor=#000
fgcolor=#fff
name=Skoraeus Stonebones
title=King of the Rock, the Living Rock
home=Wanders thePrime Material Plane
power=Intermediate
alignment=Neutral
portfolio=Stone giants
domains=Earth, Healing, Knowledge, Protection| alias=
super=In many
campaign setting s for the "Dungeons & Dragons "role-playing game , Skoraeus Stonebones is the deity worshipped by the stone giant race. He is also known as "King of the Rock" and "The Living Rock". His sacred animal is the cave bear. His holy symbol is a stalactite.Description
Skoreaus manifests as a huge stone giant with muscular limbs and skin like granite. He knows much of the secret banes, magics, and wonders buried in the core of the world. Skoreaus regards both Law and Chaos with suspicion.
Relationships
Skoreaus is part of the second generation of giantish gods, born at about the same time as Surtr and Thrym. It is said that his brothers' evil drove him to hide himself below the world and ignore everything apart from himself and his people. When he absolutely has to, he'll deal with the gods of the dwarves and
svirfneblin . He is allied withDumathoin , and has been occasionally known to consort with the gods of thesvirneblin .In many
campaign setting s, the giantish pantheon of gods consists of the leader Annam, as well asGrolantor ,Hiatea ,Iallanis ,Karontor ,Memnor , Skoraeus Stonebones, andStronmaus . Other powers worshipped by giants or giant-type creatures include Baphomet,Kostchtchie , andVaprak .Skoreaus is the son of Annam. His siblings and half-siblings include
Diancastra ,Grolantor ,Hiatea ,Iallanis ,Karontor ,Stronmaus , Surtr, and Thrym.Memnor andVaprak are also sometimes named as his relatives.Realm
Skoraeus has no permanent home, and wanders the
Material Plane andOuter Planes . Skoraeus is sometimes said to dwell at the heart of the world, where he senses all that occurs while touching stone by feeling the vibrations that reach him. Skoraeus will never venture above ground, and cannot even be "gated" there.Dogma
Skoreaus cares for nothing except for that which directly concerns his people, the stone giants. Stone giants, as far as he is concerned, would be better off if they never came in contact with other races at all. Skoreaus teaches his followers that beauty is truth and knowledge is power; a secret is the ultimate power and the Underdark is filled with secrets.
Worshippers
The reclusive Skoreaus is worshipped almost exclusively by stone giants, who may be found in mountains and caves in a variety of places in the
Flanaess , including theCrystalmist Mountains and theLortmils .Clergy
Skoraeus's priests wear stone gray vestments, and animal skins. They dominate stone giant society, creating an environment of stifling orthodoxy. They are grave, serious, folk, seeing it as their duty to advance their race and guarantee that stone giants continue to make ever-greating works of art and intellectual discoveries. They avoid, and teach their followers to avoid, even other races of giants, let alone other species. Their favored weapon is the warhammer. They are capable of seeing omens in the shapes and hues of rock and subterranean features, and spend much of their time meditating and creating elaborate sculptures and friezes.
Rituals
Once every three months or so, priests of Skoreaus travel underground alone without food, returning four days later. They assure their followers that these expeditions are vision-quests in which Skoreaus supplies them with instructions in the form of omens and dreams.
Skoreaus's clerics force any stone giant, even those who have pledged allegiance to other deities, who violates their god's teachings to atone through meditation.
References
*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: [http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip]
*Noonan, David. "Complete Divine ". Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
*Redman, Rich and James Wyatt. "Defenders of the Faith" (Wizards of the Coast , 2000).
*Sargent, Carl. "Monster Mythology " (TSR, 1992).
*Ward, James and Robert Kuntz. "Deities and Demigods " (TSR, 1980).
*Winninger, Ray. "Giantcraft " (TSR, 1995).
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