Handrich
| Status | Active |
| Type | God |
| Domains | Trade |
| Aspects | Handrijk Affairiche Mercopio |
| Affiliation | Bretonnia Empire Tilea Wasteland |
| Symbols | Coin |
Handrich, the god of trade, is a minor deity whose domain is commerce. He is the patron of merchants. Handrich is portrayed as an early middle aged merchant - plump and finely dressed, and obviously prosperous.
Beliefs
Mythologies have diverse explanations of his origins. In some, he is related to one or another of the gods. In others he was born a mortal but achieved divine status through his supernatural skill in business. Marienburgers claim he was born in their city.
Cult
Reverence of Handrich is largely restricted to larger towns and cities, where trade is a major and vital activity. In many cities the cult is intertwined with the local merchants' guild. Members accepted into the cult invariably follow one of the forms of commerce. Within the cult, wealth earned from trade determines standing.
He is mainly worshipped by merchants and the rich in the market places of towns and cities. His largest cult and temple are in the great trading city of Marienburg.
The precepts of Handrich's cult encourage the ideal, skilled and hard-bargaining merchant, who never resorts to false dealings (although sharp deals are approved of). Acts of charity are permitted, and even expected from the very wealthy.
Handrich is known by a number of names throughout the Old World: in the Empire he is Handrich, in the Wasteland he is known as Handrijk, in Bretonnia he is Affairiche, and in Tilea Mercopio.
His cult is on good terms with most of the others of the Old World pantheon; the exception being the cult of Ranald, which has cost it too many losses and indignities. Some merchants however worship Ranald as well to give them luck in their business dealings.
Holy days
In port cities, Handrich's holy day is the first day of spring sailing season. Elsewhere, holy days are tied to trading seasons, with the major festivals held at their beginning and end.
Symbols
Handrich's most common symbol is a gold circle, representing a coin. The circle is unmarked, because all coins, no matter where they are minted, belong to Handrich. A hand with its fingers crossed is also used, although this is the same as a symbol of Ranald. [1a]
Quotes
| Money, power, and influence- these are my Gods. And Handrich represents all that is money, power, and influence.
~ Bianka Grutzner, heiress to the Grutzner dry goods consortium. .[1a] |
Sources
- 1: Tome of Salvation
- 1a: Chapter 5: Other Gods, pg. 119-120
- The Enemy Within/Shadows over Bögenhafen, section iv
- White Dwarf 121, Marienburg article
