Gzemnid

Gzemnid was the beholder god of gases, fogs, obscurement and deception in the Underdark.

Description
Gzemind appeared as an oversized beholder (about in diameter) of sky-blue coloration. Atop his head was a crown-like circle of long tentacle-fronds, extra appendages dexterous enough to use rods and wands.

Personality
Gzemnid was a subtler, more secretive god than the tyrannical Great Mother, a highly intelligent deity whose thought patterns, unlike his predecessor, were actually coherent, if chaotic. The wily Gas Giant was also less aggressive than most beholders and, again unlike the Great Mother, was prepared to parley and bargain to add to his store of knowledge and magic. Of course, he would prefer to simply take what he wanted by force but might negotiate if his targets were obviously powerful and not immediately violent themselves (using his magical rod for leverage in the bartering).

Powers
Gzemnid's avatar was immune to spells of elemental air and could cast each of such spells once per day, each with the prowess of a master spellcaster. It also possessed an extensive retinue of obscurement and area distortion magic, able to cast distance distortion, guards and wards, hallucinatory terrain, phase door, screen, shadow door, vacancy, and veil once per day each.

Aside from these abilities, Gzemnid's avatar could bite with the same strength as a regular beholder, had access to the same (if enhanced) eye rays of one, and could fly twice as fast as one.

Possessions
Like the Great Mother, Gzemnid kept a cache of magical treasure and lore somewhere in the Outlands. Avatars of Gzemnid carried a rod of beguiling in their tentacles.

Activities
Gzemnid was quite possibly the beholder god most active in the lives of his followers, to the point that it was quite possible an exemplary follower would receive a visit from his avatar. Aside from this, Gzemnid sent avatars to the Material Plane to obtain magic items and lore moderately frequently. His last known primary interest was increasing his powers through acquiring illusion-generating magical items.

A good portion of Gzemnid's time was spent spying on mortal wizards who investigated the meaning and mechanisms behind reality, sending an avatar to procure any great revelation. If a powerful wizard had something he wanted, Gzemnid might send them an omen heralding the imminent arrival of his avatar, usually in the form of a semi-substantial mass of gaseous, writhing tentacles (that he might or might not speak through directly) wielding a "rod". Amazingly, the Gas Giant recognized that a wizard who made one important discovery might make another, and so always sought to steal the information without harming the wizard. He was thus willing to negotiate for the knowledge as well as simply take it, saving violence for a last resort.

Relationships
Gzemnid got along well with both Kzamnal and the Great Mother. Though the precise nature of their relationship was questionable, whether he was her direct son or grandson by way of Kzamnal, Gzemnid was the only one the Great Mother's mortal descendants that had risen ascended to godhood. Gzemnid recognized the Great Mother was not a rational being and that they had almost nothing in common, but treated her with respect, albeit the kind given to a force of nature rather than a rational being. The Great Mother recognized and made noises of approval when she came across him.

Gzemnid's could count Ghaunadaur and Kiaransalee of the Dark Seldarine among his few allies, though the other primary members (namely Lolth, Vhaeraun, Eilistraee, and Selvetarm were his foes, as were the duergar gods Laduguer and Deep Duerra, Callarduran Smoothhands of the deep gnomes, and the elven god of vengeance Shevarash, a general enemy of evil Underdark gods.

Gzemnid had sensed a profound disturbance with the death of Maanzecorian and sent a beholder to investigate.

History
Gzemnid was a hatchling from the first brood of the Great Mother (either directly or as one of the spawn of her divine son Kzamnal). He was born on the Great Mother's home plane, having watched the rise of the beholder race almost from the very beginning. As a mortal he specialized in elemental magic and escape tactics, becoming the first beholder mage and first elder orb over the course of his long life. He was the only one of the original progeny to have survived to become a deity themself, his knowledge of the universe becoming so vast that he underwent apotheosis.

Some theorized that it was Gzemnid's capacity for camouflage, deception, and quick exits that let him live long enough to obtain godhood, allowing him to escape the perfectionist standards and subsequent punishment by consumption the Great Mother dealt to offspring that displeased her. Older beholders told of powerful foes seeking to rob Gzemnid of his treasures overcome through sheer exhaustion just trying to corner the elusive Gas Giant.

Trivia
One of the specialties of an inn within Sigil's Market Ward known as Chirper's was a beverage called Gzemnid beer.