Naki-Uthai, the Brave Climber

Holy symbol of Manethak Herald and Allies: Manethak’s herald is an old silver dragon with 28 Hit Dice. His allies are barghests, greater barghests, and elder arrowhawks.

Favored Weapon: Spear.

learned around the campfi re. Manethak looks like an elderly goliath, but he is always depicted hunting, leaping, or performing some other action that leaves no doubt he’s still spry.

Portfolio: Hunting, lore. Domains: Animal, Knowledge, Luck.

Cleric Training: Many goliath hunters pray to Manethak, of course, but goliaths who take care to explain to others what they’ve learned on the hunt—the nuances of an elk’s tracks or the feeding patterns of a cave bear—have taken Manethak’s lessons to heart. Thus young clerics of the goliath pantheon practice aptitude as both hunters and teachers.

Quests: When a particularly dangerous monster threatens goliaths, Manethak often arranges for a hunting quest to slay it. Manethak is also eager to hunt down lost lore of the goliaths and artifacts of bygone ages.

Prayers: Prayers to Manethak take the form of a request or goal, followed by the means to achieve it. For example, a prayer said before butchering a carcass begins “May Manethak bless this animal for the good of the tribe. May he bless it as we separate fl esh from bone, hide from meat.”

Shrines: A fl at rock where game is butchered serves as Manethak’s shrine. Because food preparation is a messy job, the shrine usually isn’t decorated.

Rites: Manethak’s most well-known rite is the “ritual of the hunt,” which concludes with the hunters briefl y mimicking the movements and actions of their prey. Holy symbol of Naki-Uthai Lesser Deity (Neutral) Whenever goliaths reach a summit, pass, or high point safely, they offer thanks to NakiUthai, paragon of bravery and deity of climbing. Naki-Uthai urges his followers to push themselves to the limit and fear no great height or narrow ledge. Naki-Uthai is also known for having arms that hang down to the ground—all the better for reaching high handholds. Goliaths consider it heretical to depict Naki-Uthai descending rather than ascending. Portfolio: Mountains, climbing, bravery. Domains: Earth, Strength, Sun. Cleric Training: Would-be clerics of the goliath pantheon learn about Naki-Uthai during an extended climbing expedition. As they scale sheer cliffs and inch their way along narrow ledges, the goliaths are expected to pray to Naki-Uthai and meditate on the value of bravery. Quests: When something wonderful is rumored to lie just beyond the mountains or at the top of a particular peak, Naki-Uthai is the fi rst to encourage an expedition there. Finding new lands for a goliath tribe and slaying a dragon that lairs on a mountain summit are typical quests associated with Naki-Uthai. Prayers: NakiUthai’s prayers are often in verse. Frequently, the fi rst line or two is whispered, with each successive line delivered at greater volume until the prayer ends with a shout. Shrines: By tradition, the first goliath to climb a mountain then builds a cairn or other marker that claims the peak

Illus. by D. Crabapple