Hanseath
| Hanseath | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Aliases | The Bearded One | |
| Alignment | Chaotic Neutral | |
| Divine Rank | Lesser Deity | |
| Pantheon | Morndinsamman (Dwarf) | |
| Portfolio | 3E: War, Carousing, Alcohol 5E: Festivity, Brewing, Song |
|
| Domains | 3E: Chaos, Strength, Travel, War 5E: Trickery, War |
|
| Home Plane | Celestia | |
| Worshippers | Dwarf Barbarians, Bards, Brewers, Soldiers | |
| Favoured Weapon | Greataxe | |
Hanseath is a god in the Morndinsamman, the Dwarf pantheon, in Dungeons & Dragons. A lesser deity amongst their number, he was invented in 3rd edition for the splatbook "Races of Stone", but made a surprise leap to full-fledged canon in 5th edition with "Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes".
Sadly, as a lesser deity than Moradin, Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver and Clanggedin Silverbeard, no updated information on him was presented, meaning you still had to look back and find out about him online or else own a copy of Races of Stone. Luckily, 1d4chan is here to help.
Known as the Bearded One for the thick hair that obscures most of his face, Hanseath represents the festive side of dwarven culture. Brewers hold him in high regard, as do dwarf barbarians and any dwarf who charges headlong into battle heedless of the odds.
Hanseath’s clerics often serve in dwarf military units, where they act as healers and spellcasters, urging their fellow dwarves into battle. Such units are not always a comfortable mix of personnel, though, since Hanseath’s clerics also have a rebellious streak. Many dwarf armies segregate Hanseath clerics into their own berserker units.
Hanseath’s followers are seemingly always off on a great crusade of some sort; they’re either in battle or marching toward the next battle. Hanseath often orders his followers to make war against the traditional enemies of the dwarves: goblinoids, orcs, giants, and drow.
It bears mentioning that the 5th edition update of Hanseath downplays this military aspect - as in, literally the only sign of it remaining in his writeup is that he still grants access to the War domain. Seeing as how dwarves already have two dedicated war gods in Clanggedin Silverbeard and Haela Brightaxe, he is in fact probably more interesting as the dwarven equivalent of a bardic god.
Shrines to Hanseath are invariably great festhalls dominated by long tables where worshipers feast and raise goblets to Hanseath’s glory. Most have extensive kitchens and pantries attached. As you might expect from such a setting, Hanseath’s rites look like great feasts, rich with food and drink. Most are raucous affairs performed prior to battle and after a great victory, with one exception—the Ritual of the Cleft Shield. Few events in dwarven life are more heartbreakingly solemn than this ritual, performed by followers of Hanseath for a particularly beloved comrade who fell in battle.
Prayers to the Bearded One are often chanted or sung. Many have simple rhyme schemes and frequent, repetitive choruses. In other words, they’re drinking songs.
Hanseath’s herald is a 20th-level celestial dwarf barbarian. Howlers, green slaads, and death slaads are his allies.