Ranald

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Ranald is the god of Tricksters and Thieves. It is claimed that he was once a human who managed to trick Shallya, goddess of Healing and Mercy, into making him a god.

Symbols

He is portrayed as a charming rogue with a wicked smile and an irrepressible sense of humour, an incomparable thief and con man. Common symbols are crossed fingers, the mark X, dice, and other symbols of luck. He may take the form of a crow, a magpie, or a black cat. Anyone who wishes Ranald’s favour (good luck) might wear a charm with an X on it.

Beliefs

Although he is associated with crime, he believes more in the act of illusion over the actual act of theft. He abhors violence of all kinds, and never condones violent crime, murder, or torture and forbids any violence except when in self defence. His enemies are authorities and violent criminals, and his friends are non-violent rogues and entertainers.

Much like Sigmar, Ranald was not born a god but managed to become one himself. While Sigmar did so by proving himself worthy, Ranald became immortal through great thinking, lies, and trickery. His means of ascension into the pantheon of deities provides his followers with an excellent example of his ideology. He tricked Shallya, the Maiden of Mercy, to let him drink of her tears, thereby deifying himself. Ranald wishes all his followers to lie, trick, and rise against authorities and laws, and what greater authority to circumvent than that of a god? Though generally regarded as impertinent and disrespectful of authority, Ranald is not known to dislike the older gods nor think badly of them.

Ranald loves nothing more than to bring down the mighty and raise the low and is considered to be a giver of good fortune, and many prayers are said to him by those wishing for a change of luck, or to keep the wealth they have gained so far.

Cult

In the larger towns and cities of the Old World he is worshipped mainly by merchants, gamblers, thieves, and all those whose daily tasks revolve around money. The god of rogues, thieves, gamblers, illusionists, and tricksters, is worshipped as the 'Night Prowler' by thieves, the 'Deceiver' by charlatans, the 'Gamester' by gamblers, and the 'Protector' for those fighting official tyranny.

He is revered across the Old World as a hero of the common folk and the poor, who see him as striking back against the rich. His reputation amongst the leaders of other cults is that of a patron of rogues and other so-called "low lifes". Others see little difference between him and Handrich, the god of trade.

The cult of Ranald is highly decentralized, with no main temple and no structured organization. The few temples that exist are careful to emphasize Ranald's role as a patron of trade. A large temple to Ranald is located in the city of Marienburg, but most worship is organized around local shrines. Priests of Ranald are often mobile, and train initiates on an ad hoc basis. His cult has no formal orders and no formal holy days.

Many consider followers of Ranald to be annoying and unsociable, especially those who worship Verena, goddess of law and justice who believe Ranald to be an excuse for unlawful behaviour. Shallya disapproves of Ranald, and it is that he tricked her into allowing him to drink from her vial of tears, thereby achieving. She already forgave him but the followers of the goddess of mercy are only human and some of them fail to follow her example.

Afterlife

Though Ranald is not generally regarded as a deity focused on the afterlife, but instead seems focused on the activities of life itself, he still offers an afterlife. If one is favoured by Ranald he will, after death, be escorted by Morr to a large city, enraptured in never-ending celebration. Potent spirits and food of all kinds are distributed liberally in an eternal feast. Entertainers of all kinds roam the streets plying their trade to the delight of everyone. Here rogues and liars of all sorts may indulge themselves freely. There are endless things to be stolen and people to be tricked. Guards are present and attempt to keep order, but mainly in the interest of having something against which to rebel. There are no prisons, penalties, or courts. A captured thief is at once set free in the great festival to try again, or to attempt another trickery, gambit, or theft. All the positive aspects of adventuring and living as an outlaw, trickster and rebel are emphasized and celebrated without fear of the unpleasant consequences. Ranald's afterlife is a paradise for those who love life itself and all its pleasures.


The gods & goddesses of the Old World
Old Faith - Rhya - Taal - Ulric - Manann - Morr - Verena - Myrmidia - Shallya - Ranald - Handrich - Stromfels - Khaine - Sigmar - Lady of the Lake - Lucan & Luccina - Ursun - Dazh - Tor - Esmeralda

Notes & sources

Under normal circumstances no one is arrested and punished merely for worshipping Ranald (ie: no religious persecution). Those who are arrested and punished are usually considered guilty of some crime be it either theft or otherwise.