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Canter, the Watcher

Alignment: Good
Domain: Greater God, God of the Elements and, like Allanbay, is also seen as a God of Nature. Canter has also been called the God of Patience by some mortals.
Symbol: Wheel of Elements
Appearance: Canter is known for his great love of all of the races on the mortal plane, but his favorite forms consisted of a young and brighteyed halfling or gnome with light brown hair. His common mode of attire was a pale blue robe, and he was always wielding a great staff bearing a great wheel at its head, which Canter called his Wheel of the Elements. Canter proudly told his followers that the staff was a gift from Allanbay.

History: The youngest of the greater gods, Canter was often overlooked by most of the other gods and dismissed as inconsequential. Even his twin brother Tilsman seemed to have little time for Canter, as Tilsman was always obsessed with becoming the most powerful of the gods and was often overrun by his jealousy of the more powerful greater gods. As a result, Canter found himself alone and left to his own devices. It was not long after the greater gods took their places upon the stairs that Canter began to discover the innate powers which he possessed. Unlike most magic, which is something that has to be learned, Canter possessed magic within his own being. He had no need to recite words of magic in order to cast a spell, for he could bring forth fire and rain by his own will.

As Canter experimented with his newly discovered powers, he noticed that some of the other gods were taking an interest in the barren plane below the stars. Canter went to Allanbay and asked what was holding the interest of the gods. Allanbay took Canter aside and told him of the plane below. He told Canter of the desolate land filled with mortals and other beasts with no light to lead them or gods to love them. Canter looked down upon the barren land, and felt sorrow for what he saw. He told Allanbay that he wanted to help these mortals, show them fire to make them warm, to make water so they could learn to harvest, to show them the great powers and uses of the earth and wind so they could prosper.

Allanbay was greatly touched by Canter's genuine concern, and he took Canter with him to the mortal plane. Once upon the mortal plane, Canter set out to teach the mortals about the elements and their many uses. As he walked among them, Canter noticed that a few of these mortals also possessed innate powers within themselves as he did. Canter immediately felt an affinity with these mortals, and began to teach them all he knew about the use and control of these powers. Pleased by Canter's work on the mortal plane, Allanbay gifted Canter with one of his favorite possessions, a great staff which bore the Wheel of the Elements. He told Canter that the staff belonged to one of the Ancestors, and he was sure that it was meant to be in the possession of one such as he. Canter was touched by Allanbay's gift, and swore that, like Allanbay, he would dedicate himself to improving the mortal plane.

When Allanbay provided support for Phykrell's demand to become Lord of the Gods, Canter sensed that some great wrong had been forced upon Allanbay, and Canter vehemently opposed Phykrell, but he found himself in the minority with the other gods of good. Afterwards, Canter continued to provide his assistance to Allanbay, Sorn and their children on the mortal plane and, like them, became content to ignore the constant bickering among the other gods.

One day, Crest approached all of the gods with news of his discovery of magic. He said that he had learned this magic by studying the ancestors and that the knowledge he had learned provided great benefits to all of the gods should they choose to learn. Canter was immediately interested in this magic, and he wondered if it was anything like the powers he already possessed. He convinced his brother Tilsman to help him in enchanting Crest's moon in exchange for the knowledge of this magic. Thus, Canter learned Crest's magic and was surprised to discover that this was magic that had to be learned and memorized in order to be useful. While he was not impressed, Canter learned the magic anyways, as he believed that, while the magic may not prove very useful to him, it could prove to be extremely useful and helpful to the mortals below.

When Crest took Sorn from Allanbay, Canter felt great pity for Allanbay, who had been like a father to him, as well as for his sons. Since he did not possess the power to free Sorn himself, Canter returned to the mortal plane and doubled his efforts to teach the mortals about nature and the elements. Canter, forever patient, spent a great deal of time among all of the races on the mortal plane and did not appear among the gods for quite some time.

After the Second War of Fate, Canter appeared among the gods to support Phykrell's imprisonment, but disappeared soon thereafter. Canter has not been seen by mortal or god ever since. It is rumored that Canter may still be on the earthen plane, bound there by the Tower of Salt and Sandstone. Other legends claim that Canter was so hurt by being unable to return to his mortals after the Tower was constructed, that he fled the stars, and that he will return once he is able to again travel upon the mortal plane.

Followers: Canter's followers are frequently found among humans, wood elves, desert elves, the Redhani halflings and grey gnomes. The Redhani Halflings claim that Canter had assisted Allanbay in teaching them their great horticulturing skills, and the need to coexist as peacefully as possible with nature. Elven druids and rangers from the wood and desert elves also attribute their magical skills and great love and respect of nature to the teachings of Canter. Additionally, those mages who call themselves sorcerers attribute their entire existence to Canter, whose teachings enabled them to discover the innate powers they possessed and how to master them. Finally, the famous gnome brewers of the Kalas’danma’ckner family (called the Kala Brewers for short) attribute their secret brewing recipe to the teachings of Canter, although many believe that this is more gnomish gibberish than anything else. However, the Dwarves find the Kala Liquor to be so delicious, they profess that the recipe must have come from a higher power.