Sharindlar

Sharindlar was the  dwarven deity primarily known as the goddess of healing and mercy. Although dwarves did not hide their worship of her, they called her the Lady of Mercy among non-dwarves to hide another aspect of her identity. Much more important to modern dwarves than her healing role was the Lady of Life's status as their patron of romantic love, courtship, and most of all, fertility.

Description
Sharindlar's avatar appeared as a slim and spirited dwarven maiden, either or  tall. She was flame-haired and normally full-bearded, but to observers of races whose females did not normally grow beards (such as humans) her own might seem to vanish, or appear and disappear like a flickering flame. The eyes of the Lady of Life were striking, and seemed to change color to the point that observers from across the centuries had reported them as being of differing hues.

Sharindlar was usually clothed in diaphanous gowns, and never wore armor. Normally she was barefoot, but during her occasional appearances at parties, she appeared wildly garbed in boots and high-heeled shoes, as well as rich gowns and fancy accoutrements. If attacked, flames would rise around her body, which always caused her clothes to vanish before coming back undamaged by the dying flames.

Personality
Sharindlar was an invariably warm and caring goddess; she was naturally humble and unassuming, and always had a kind word for everyone, whether mortal or divine. The Shining Dancer was also spontaneously exuberant, given to shouts of joy, bursts of wild laughter, and impromptu dancing. Although she played a diplomatic peacekeeping role, she generally found politics dull and stuffy, preferring instead to speculate on the future love lives of both mortals and gods. The Lady of Life was a true romantic and habitual matchmaker who did her best to bring together star-crossed lovers no matter how astronomically low the odds.

Possessions
Sharindlar fought with a +6, chaotic good-aligned whip studded with adamantine barbs. She also wielded a +2 mace that always struck silently, and which forced ethereal and invisible creatures into full and clear view on the Prime Material Plane for at least two minutes on contact.

Realm
Sharindlar's realm was located in Nidavellir (the third layer of Ysgard) in the Great Wheel cosmology and on a foothill near the primary mountain of Dwarfhome in the World Tree cosmology. The Merciful Court, as it was known, was a circle of standing stones from which Sharindlar served as an intermediary between Moradin and the evil dwarven gods, including Abbathor, Laduguer, and Deep Duerra. It also served as the site of nightly dances in her honor.

Activities
Despite her known party visits, Sharindlar rarely appeared as an avatar, instead often helping dwarves in her radiant manifestation. A sick dwarf might be guided to shelter or water, while a dwarf searching for healing herbs or plant antidotes that they needed and that existed nearby would be marked by the radiance, guiding the searcher to it. The radiance might appear to dwarves that were cold and without shelter, keeping them comfortable even as they rested on glaciers or in rock ledges during blizzards.

During dances, moots, and any over gatherings where a dwarven relationship might start, Sharindlar often tried to sway the thoughts and deeds of dwarves through her radiance. It was debated among dwarven scholars if those in her presence were simply following what they believed to be a hint and a sign of approval, or if the radiance could manifest a subtle aphrodisiac power. In any case, more than one dwarven maiden or bachelor favored by the Lady of Life had been swept into a series of dalliances as a result of her ceaseless attempts to find them the perfect mate.

Relationships
Sharindlar was one of the older dwarven gods, and had always been in good standing within the Morndinsamman. She had established excellent relations with her peers over the millenia, as she had little tolerance for disputes or rivalries that interfered with her bringing of healing to the wounded and mercy to the distressed.

Although she abhorred their principles and they weren't exactly allies, she had managed to forge working relationships with even Abbathor and the duergar gods, ranging from toleration to strained friendship. She was also one of the few dwarven gods to interact with the estranged Thard Harr on a somewhat frequent basis, in her case due to her interest in the rampant fertility of the jungle. As a result of this, Sharindlar served Moradin on several occasions as his ambassador, an intermediary between him and those he had cast away (such as Laduguer) in the rare cases when they were forced to communicate, such as if a disaster forced usually antagonistic dwarves to cooperate.

A closer relationship could be seen between Sharindlar and Berronar, Moradin's wife and the dwarf goddess of love and marriage. The two worked hand-in-hand in inspiring acts of love among dwarves, fulfilling notably different but complimentary roles. While Sharindlar oversaw courtship and romance, bringing dwarves together into relationships, Berronar guided dwarves into the lasting bonds of marriage and ensured that the relationship stayed healthy and strong. As her own doctrine would put it, Sharindlar restored the seed of dwarven life while Berronar protected the fruit.

Sharindlar had various other allies outside of her own pantheon. From the Seldarine, she was close with Hanali Celanil, elven goddess of love, and the triune goddess Angharradh, the combined aspects of Hanali, Aerdrie, and Sehanine. From the halfling pantheon, she had good relations with its matriarch Yondalla, as well as Sheela Peryroyl, goddess of dance, romance and agriculture, and Cyrrollalee, goddess of friendship and hospitality. Other allies included the Faerunian gods Chauntea (goddess of life and bounty), Eldath (goddess of peace and calm waters), Hathor, (Mulhorandian goddess of love and dance) and Ilmater (god of martyrdom and perseverance). Aside from gods, she had good relations with some of the animal lords of the Beastlands.

The Shining Dancer also shared a great kinship with Shiallia, the Dancer in the Glades and goddess of agriculture and new couples. It was believed by many that Shiallia was actually Sharindlar's daughter, the product of one of the Lady of Life's brief dalliances with a fey deity said in some myths to be Tapann, god of the korreds.

There was only one being that could be truly called Sharindlar's enemy: Urdlen, the gnome god of greed and hate. The Crawler Below was an enemy of all dwarven gods, and harbored a deep hatred for everyone and everything.

Worshipers
Followers of Sharindlar came from all walks of life from dwarves struck down during combat to commoners accepting vows of marriage.

Clerics of Sharindlar were called thalornor or "those who are merciful". These clerics aided the sick and injured and educated young dwarves on proper courting rituals.

Rituals
Clerics of Sharindlar prayed for their spells in the morning. Holy ceremonies dedicated to Sharindlar were often practiced when the moon began to wax at Greengrass, Midsummer Night, and during a full moon. Dwarves would celebrate Sharindlar with dance, chanting, and offering gold items into a sanctified cauldron.

Temples
Temples to Sharindlar were usually large halls that had enough room for dancing and celebration, along with plenty of intimate guest rooms for visiting worshipers.

One of the most notable temples was located in the Sumber Hills, hidden in the Vale of Dancing Waters. This temple was known as the Shrine of the Tender Oath, and it was one of the few immaculate constructions remaining of the dwarven kingdom of Besilmer. In around 1491 DR, during the Elemental Evil crisis, the temple was invaded by treasure hunters who hoped to dig into the ruins of Torhild Flametongue's summer palace. The treasure hunters were defeated by adventurers, after which the shrine was closed to visitors for the foreseeable future.