Olidammara

Olidammara

Intermediate Power, "The Laughing Rogue"
Pantheon: Oerthian Pantheon
AoC: Music, revels, wine, rogues, humor, tricks
Worshippers: Rogues, beggars, bards, jesters
AL: CN	WAL: Any C
Symbol: Laughing mask
Home p/l/r: Ysgard/Ysgard/Den of Olidammara
Allies: Aasterinian, Dalt, Ehlonna, Fharlanghn, Garl Glittergold, Hlal, Kord, Kuroth, Rudd, Ye'Cind
Enemies: Astilabor, Kurell, Scahrossar, Vecna, Zagyg
Favored Weapon: Rapier
Domains: Chaos, Charm, Liberation, Luck, Trickery
Subdomains: Curse, Deception, Freedom, Lust, Slaad, Thievery
Known Proxies: Gurz Grep (Px/♂ gray slaad/CN)

For the most part a power of little prominence on the planes, Olidammara is still one of the most popular gods upon the Prime world of Oerth.

History

Olidammara is one of the most ancient deities on Oerth, and the origins of his existence are lost to the ages. Even the most ancient texts make no mention of his parentage, though they do describe his life as a young godling. In the earliest days, before the Twin Cataclysms, he and his sister Scahrossar indulged themselves in any number of adventures upon the surface of the world, especially in the region known as the Tilvanot Peninsula. These ancient writings indicate that the two were then worshiped as gods of the adventure, Olidammara more playful and Scahrossar more serious, evening one another out in their pursuit of excitement and glory. Over the centuries, the two drifted apart, Olidammara finding Scahrossar's increasing interest in pain and sadism exceedingly disturbing. Once independent, he discovered his great love of music and its applications in upending the far-too-stuffy figures he was so often thrust against, and from this point in the literature little is said of his sister; nowadays her worship is almost unknown, and their familial connection even less so.

As the years passed, he was involved in all manner of incidents — among the most renown is his support of a minor rebellion against Vecna during the days of the Occluded Empire and a confrontation alongside his close friend Fharlanghn with an entity known only as the Nameless Demon. He's additionally sponsored no less than two mortals, Rudd and Kuroth, into their own divinity. His actions beyond the Prime, though, are quite scant indeed. Perhaps the only of any note are the stories behind the construction of his realm, the Den of Olidammara. Tales say that in constructing this vast and varied structure, the god literally stole the manor houses of dozens of figures throughout the planes, including Mephistopheles, a minor proxy of Bahamut, and the god Astilabor. Most of these thefts it is still unclear how he accomplished them, even accounting for his divinity.

Priesthood

Priests of Olidammara tend to be of two minds towards how they apply their patron's lessons. Some choose to apply their talents largely in the pursuit of lightening the lives of those who need it, of lifting the less fortunate from their situation in order that they might better draw enjoyment out of life. Of course, the definition of "less fortunate" can be fairly broad, ranging from those truly in need, to those that merely have such a boring and stodgy life that (in the opinion of the priest) they could do with a bit of lighthearted prankery.

The rest choose instead to bring down the people and situations that put themselves as above such "frivolous" matters, whether a humorless mayor, an ancient and solemn ceremony, a tyrannical king, a crusade of paladins and knights. That which holds itself as beyond a good laugh deserves to be shown its place in the eyes of these priests, and any can potentially be the target for some embarrassment, disruption, and heckling.

Temples set up in honor of Olidammara often double as showhouses or taverns, and many of their priests ply their talents on stage, most having some level of talent at musical performance. Such temples are exceedingly informal even during "services"; since most rituals, liturgies, and even simple prayers are encouraged to be made up as necessary, there's almost no ritual to stand upon.

The dress of his priests is similarly informal, with no ostentation of any sort. Shunning the idea of formal robes, few wear anything too far from what one would expect of a street performer or traveler. Holy symbols are similarly simple, rarely more than a simple wood sculpture. Some do go so far as to have actual wearable masks crafted to use for such a purpose, but this is somewhat uncommon.

Dogma

Those that worship Olidammara are brought up to take nothing especially seriously, to find the good humor in everything if only to keep one's sense of priority and, when necessary, one's sanity. That no matter the power, importance, or tyranny of any authority figure, good or evil, that anyone can still do to have themselves taken down a peg or two now and again, if only to show that anything can bring a laugh. Even Olidammara himself has occasionally been the subject of a good prank — the actions of Andromalius, for example. One must never hold themselves so high that they would be offended by being brought back down. Thievery, along these lines, is thought of as just another form of practical joke, a way of proving that no one is immune from being knocked from a pedestal by so-called "lessers".

Olidammara's basic life lesson is that life should be enjoyed for the delights that it holds, and those that take themselves too seriously only bring themselves away from this central fact. On this topic, he further teaches that if one has the chance to indulge themselves in a way that doesn't risk the fun of others — whether it be a wonderful song, an expression of art, a fine carafe of wine, or a delicious meal — they should enjoy it to their fullest, for one never knows how long before the next opportunity comes about. Because of this aspect of his faith, many of his followers become Sensates soon after arriving on the planes.

References

• Book of Vile Darkness, pp.11-12
• Dragon #342 - Core Beliefs: Olidammara, pp.33-44