"Einheriar" (also spelled Einherjar) was a collective term for any army of the spirits of fallen humanoid warriors.[3][4][5] Also known as spirit legions,[3][5] einheriar were not undead; they were once-mortal petitioners specially chosen to serve in the armies of the Outer Planes, most commonly in the Upper Planes.[3][4][5] They were numbered among the Celestials.[6]
The term, which translated as "faithful",[4][note 1] properly and most commonly referred to the noble warriors of Asgard,[3][4][5] who served Odin;[7] however, over time, it also came to be used for the formerly mortal armies of other planes,[3][4][5] such as those of Arcadia[5][8] or the dwarven hosts of Clangeddin Silverbeard.[5][9][10] Some of the powers of the Faerûnian pantheon had einheriar in their service, including Ilmater.[11] In the Netherese pantheon, both Mystryl and Tyche were served by them.[12] Eilistraee, goddess of the good drow, also had a host of einheriar.[13] Einheriar loyal to Indra of the Lords of Creation were also known to serve the deity in the homonymous layer of Limbo.[14]
The word was also used in the singular to refer to an individual member of the einheriar.[4][note 2]
Description[]
Einheriar were described as wispy in form, including their armor and weapons. The majority of einheriar were once human, and they still looked similar in appearance to the persons they once were in life.[3][4]
Einheriar were suited in the highest quality of armor, usually with a design that hinted at the god or goddess whom they served.[3][4][5] Rarely, their armor had minor magical enhancements.[3][4][5]
Personality[]
Einheriar were wholly obedient to the powers or proxies who commanded them,[5] faithfully following their orders with great fervor.[3][4]
Abilities[]
Einheriar were among the toughest examples of their former race.[3][4] They were exceptionally fleet of foot.[2] They also had minor resistance to magical spells,[3][4][5] and most were immune to fear.[5] Sometimes, the deity who commanded the einheriar would grant them additional powers.[5]
The greatest among them were powerful enough to be considered quasi-deities. Such individuals were impossible to polymorph and were immune to mind-affecting maladies and magics that would drain their essence or abilities. They were strongly resistant to fire, to spells, and to physical attacks from all but the most powerful of magic weapons.[1][2]
Einheriar were immortal.[2] If they were killed, they would simply return to life again after a short time to fight another day.[5][7]
History[]
Dwarven einheriar from Mount Clangeddin in Arcadia frequently entered Acheron to battle in epic array against the evil forces there.[9]
The einheriar of Asgard resided in Odin's feasting hall of Valhalla, waiting for the great battle of Ragnarok.[7] Einheriar in service of Sharindlar were also known to inhabit the Merciful Court, her divine realm in Nidavellir.[15]
Elven high mages had developed an epic spell to summon an army of einheriar to defend their homelands.[16]
Society[]
When encountered on the planes, einheriar could be found in patrols numbering from 10 to 100 persons,[5] marching in military units.[3][4] These patrols usually included a majority of fighters,[3][4][5] but other classes of warriors were among their numbers as well in smaller percentages. According to estimates as few as 10%[3][4] and as many as 20%[5] were divine spellcasters, while from only about 3%[5] to as many as 15%[3][4] were arcane casters.[3][4][5] These were the roles that each warrior once held in life,[3][4] and each recalled the full extent of his or her training and combat skills as a mortal.[4]
There was no hierarchy among their ranks.[3][4] All einheriar were equals, subservient to their commanding power or proxy.[4]
Diet[]
As spiritual creatures,[3] einheriar did not need to eat to survive.[3][4]
Relationships[]
They respected other celestial beings as aasimon and archons,[4] but they worked independently of them.[3][4] Einheriar received their instructions from the powers through prayer.[4]
Among the Morndinsamman they acted as servants of the deities Berronar Truesilver, Clangeddin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, Moradin, Sharindlar, and Thard Harr.[17] The goddess Lliira particularly favored as divine servants einheriar who were once partiers or pranksters in their mortal lives.[18]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Further Reading[]
- James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). Deities & Demigods. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 98. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Skip Williams, Rich Redman, James Wyatt (April 2002). Deities and Demigods. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 199–200. ISBN 0-7869-2654-6.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Andy Collins, David Noonan, James Wyatt (2003). D&D v.3.5 Accessory Update Booklet. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 J. Paul LaFountain (1991). Monstrous Compendium: Outer Planes Appendix. Edited by Timothy B. Brown. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-055-9.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-1560768623.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 122. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), p. 191. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Book of Chaos”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), pp. 110–111. ISBN 1560768746.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 David "Zeb" Cook (1994). Planescape Campaign Setting, A DM Guide to the Planes. Edited by David Wise. (TSR, Inc), p. 51. ISBN 978-1560768340.
- ↑ Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), pp. 15–17. ISBN 0786900938.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 49, 61. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 99. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (November 1996). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume One. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 978-0786904365.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 48, 50, 57, 65, 68, 78, 83, 86. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 97. ISBN 978-0786903849.
Connections[]
| Angel (any good alignment) | ||
| Archon (lawful good) | Guardinal (neutral good) | Eladrin (chaotic good) |
Arcadian avenger • Asura • Bariaur • Couatl • Einheriar • Foo creature (Foo dog • Foo lion) • Harmonious choir of the words • Hollyphant • Ki-rin • Lillend • Moon dog • Pegasus • Shirokinukatsukami • Sliver • Unicorn (Celestial charger)
Related Creatures
Aasimar (Deva) • Celestial creature • Half-celestial