BALDER

Major Deity

AKA: Baldr
Alignment: Neutral good
Worshiper Alignments: NG, LG, CG, N
Portfolio: Charisma, beauty, light, love
Worshipers: Nobles, the vain, lovers
Domains: Charm, Glory, Good, Nobility, Sun
Holy Symbol: Silver chalice, gem encrusted
Favored Weapon: Longsword
Status in Svenheim:
Holy Sites in Svenheim:

Relations: Husband to Nanna, Brother to Thor, Hod, Vali, Bragi, Meili, Vidar, & Hermod, Father to Forseti.

Balder, son of Odin and Frigga, the god of Love and Light, is sacrificed at Midsummer by the dart of the mistletoe, and is reborn at Jul (Yule). Supposedly his return will not occur until after the onslaught of the Ragnarok, which I see as a cleansing and enlightenment more than wanton, purposeless destruction. Balder’s blind brother Hodur was his slayer, whose hand was guided by the crafty Loki. He is married to the goddess of Joy, Nanna.

Snorri Sturluson describes Balder:

" There is nothing but good to be told of him. He is the best of them and everyone sings his praises. He is so fair of face and bright that a splendor radiates from him, and there is a flower so white that it is likened to Balder’s brow; it is the whitest of all flowers. From that you can tell how beautiful his body is, and how bright his hair. He is the wisest of gods, and the sweetest-spoken, and the most merciful, but it is a characteristic of his that once he has pronounced a judgement it can never be altered. "

Balder’s dreams are the beginning of the end. He dreams of his own death and shows Loki the truly evil god that he is which shows the ultimate limitations and mortality of the gods. The gods capture and punish Loki but they cannot rescue Balder from Hel and the beautiful, passive god who embodies the qualities of mercy and love is lost to them. This is the beginning of the end, the first step towards Ragnarok begins.

—Copied from the source webpage: TheNorseGods.com
Link here to Baldar’s page

Balder Clergy & Worship

Balder’s clergy are almost always men and of great beauty. They learn to fight with the longsword and their vestments are a silver helm and ringmail armor. They favor the colors silver and blue.

Clerics of Balder are able to bestow a sacred gift of a +2 insight bonus to the charisma ability on themselves, or another person, once a day. The insight bonus to charisma increases by +1 every 4 cleric levels. The effects of this gift last 10 minutes per clerical level.

Clerics of Balder are prone to have prophetic dreams, although these dreams are usually vague or misunderstood without knowing the context of the future. The DM is free to use this ability to foreshadow and possibly drop a few vague hints about what is to come.

Because of the priest’s prophetic dreams he may as free action, once per day, take a natural 20 on any roll. This includes attack rolls so he would auto hit and have an unconfirmed critical. He may grant this ability instead of to himself but on any ally within view, granting her the natural 20. By using this power the priest is interpreting his past dreams and recognizing the future as it unfolds before him, thus being able to act (or instruct an ally) in a manner most favorable for him.

Celebrations of Balder are held every month at the full moon when sacrifices of beauty are burned as an offering, items of art and jewelry are most favored. Meadows, or other places, of great beauty are considered Balder’s holy places where his worship is carried out under the moonlight. His greatest hold day is midsummer when his celebration is worshiped during the height of the day.