Heimdall, God of Crafting

Heimdall the Creator is the patron of many craftsmen of differing vocations and skill. What they all have in common is a love of making, creating a product that is greater than the sum of its raw materials. He is also the god of the tamed fire, commerce, civilization, and mortal control over nature.

In Asgard, Heimdall lives and works in Forgeflame Keep. From there, he keeps an eternal vigil over Asgard against the forces of evil. The clangs of his hammer against his great anvil, the Soulforge, echo throughout the city as he creates the greatest weapons ever made in preparation for Ragnarok, the final battle. Odin's foresight has shown that Heimdall blowing the Gjallarhorn will be the first warning that Asgard is under attack and the twilight of the gods has come.

In depections, Heimdall is usually wearing a glowing golden suit of plate armor that is covered in runes. His hammer is white hot, as if it was just pulled out of his forge, and the Gjallarhorn hangs by his side in a platinum chain.

Heimdall is the origin of the metallic dragons and he considers them his greatest creation. When Skadi raised the chromatic dragons in order to return the world to a time before civilization, Heimdall took pity on the mortal races. He made the mothers of each line of metallic dragon in his forge in Valhalla, imbuing them with a spark of his own divine self, before carrying them into the Material Plane. The Dragon War, as the conflict between Heimdall and Skadi is known, has been going on for thousands of years, sometimes flaring up for a time.

Forgeflame Keep

Heimdall's afterlife is Forgeflame Keep, the great fortress that guards the gates to the city of Asgard. Here, Heimdall claims the souls of the most skilled craftsmen to help him create a secret weapon that will only be unveiled during Ragnarok. Loki and the jotnar have sent many spies to ascertain the nature of this weapon, but none have succeeded.

Divine Relationships

He is closest to Freya, as his civilization could not be achieved without her light. Freya is also the goddess of the sun, which represents the untamed fire - Heimdall is the master of the tamed fire. He used his fire to forge the Brisingamen, a necklace whose gem contain the light of the sun itself. This was gifted to Freya who treasured it highly until it was lost.

Odin trusts Heimdall with the defense of Asgard and values his wise words. On the other hand, Thor respects Heimdall's craftsmanship but thinks he is too slow to act and too analytical, prefering to face all issues head-on.

His greatest enemy is Skadi, the mother of the Chromatic Dragons and goddess of the untamed wilds. Worshippers of Skadi view Heimdall and his followers as ravaging the natural beauty and trying to replace it with their constructed beauty.

Servants and Saints

At his forge, Heimdall's principal assistants are two deva, Eld and Kol. Eld works the bellows while Kol adds fuel to the forge. His greatest creation to date was Aurelia the Golden, the first golden dragon. She now lives by his side in Forgeflame Keep.

Heimdall's favor

Those who serve civilization in the fight against darkness are sometimes noticed by Heimdall, and given his favor. His champions are those that create and build, be it clothes, weapons, houses, or castles.

Worship of Heimdall

Temples to Heimdall almost always contain an ever-burning flame, a symbol of the Soulforge in Asgard. Many settlements has atleast a small shrine to Heimdall. The shrine is usually located near the center of town, and serves as a gathering place for the citizens. They often have tall steeples with bells that can ring out to tell time, warn of danger, or mark celebrations.

Services at a temple of Heimdall usually focuses on the affairs of the city, and praying for its protection. Heimdall is the patron deity of the city of Covenant, and the massive marble temple in his honor is a focal point of the city.

Burial Practices

A grave dedicated to Heimdall is likely to contain riches buried with the dead, especially ones made by the deceased in order to prove their skill in the afterlife and gain entry to Forgeflame Keep.

Ideals of Heimdall

• Devotion My devotion to my god is more important to me than what they stand for. (Any)
• Artistry The gods speak to me through the creative process. (Any)
• Patience Success takes time, and might be easier to achieve tomorrow. (Neutral)
• Fair Dealing Trade and commerce should benefit all invovled parties. (Good)
• Watchfulness I stand on the edge of civilization, watching for enemies. (Lawful)
• Devour The fire of the forge requires fuel to create its masterpieces. (Evil)

Earning and losing piety

You increase your piety score to Heimdall when you expanding his influence by committing acts such as these:

• Create something wonderful with your hands
• Learn a new skill, or work on mastering an existing one
• Acquire and gain an understanding of a powerful magic artifact
• Build a glorious temple to any good-aligned god, but especially Heimdall
• Kill, or thwart the goals of a chromatic dragon

Your piety score to Heimdall decreases if you diminish his influence, contradict his ideals or otherwise ridicule him through acts such as these:

• Rush through the crafting process and make something sloppy
• Hinder someone else's creation out of jealousy
• Try to sell something at an inflated value
• Destroy or damage a temple to a good-aligned god

Heimdall's Devotee

Piety 3+ Heimdall trait

You learn the Mending cantrip, and you can cast Identify at will, but only as a ritual.

Heimdall's Adherent

Piety 10+ Heimdall trait

You can cast Heat Metal once per long rest, at a level equal to your proficiency bonus.

Heimdall's Disciple

Piety 25+ Heimdall trait

Heimdall blesses all your creative endeavors. You gain advantage on all ability checks using artisan tools with which you are proficient.

Champion of the Forge

Piety 50+ Heimdall trait

You have earned your place by the Creator's side. Your Strength or Intelligence increases by 2, as does your maximum for that score.