Nobanion Nobanion ( pronounced " no - BAN - yun " ) , also known as the King of Beasts , Lord Firemane or the Lion King , is a primal spirit sometimes worshiped as a deity of royalty , lion s , and other felines , as well as good beasts . Nobanion was considered to have originally been an interloper deity on Toril , but since his arrival he has firmly established himself within the Faerûnian pantheon . His worship is especially strong in Gulthmere Forest and among the wemic s of the Shining Plains . Worshipers . Worshipers include druid s , fighter s , leaders , paladin s , ranger s , soldiers , teachers , and wemic s . Worshipers are often lawful good , lawful neutral , or neutral good . Nobanion reputably prefers his priests to use a heavy pick similar in shape and weight to a lion ' s head . Relationships . The Lion King has long been allied with the archfey Lurue , as well as Tyr , Torm , Mielikki , and the other benign nature deities . All lammasu in the Realms , both greater and lesser , are believed to be his offspring . Dogma and History . Dogma . Hunt only when hungry and do not gorge without need . Waste nothing and all shall have plenty . The cycle of life links all living things into one being , and that being is life itself . The law of the jungle is that only the strong survive , but they survive best by being leaders , not tyrants , by protecting the weak , not bullying them . All creatures have their strengths in the assigned roles and should be encouraged to find their niche . From cooperation between beings of differing strengths comes the strength of teamwork and community , the strongest force of all . By demonstrating compassion and tolerance and living within the land , all living creatures may find harmony with nature and one another . By staying true to oneself and one ' s pride and conducting oneself with dignity and honor , the respect of one ' s peers may be earned . Wemics reduce this to the following : Only the strong survive . Live and let live unless provoked . Protect the pride and all its members , but if injury or illness bring them down , allow him or her a swift and painless end to suffering . History . Nobanion is an interloper deity , having only established a presence in Faerûn a few centuries ago . Ancient texts refer to him as Aslan , and some legends claim he entered the Realms through one of the magical pools in the Weathercote Wood . He is responsible for driving most of Malar ' s worshipers out of the Vilhon Reach , and the Black - Blooded Pard has sworn vengeance on Nobanion . Nobanion radiates both power and gentleness . His roar is deafening , and when he chooses to exert the full force of his charisma , his regal majesty is overwhelming , yet the tiniest creature who approaches him in good faith finds itself comfortable in his presence . Lord Firemane tries to lead his pride to do what is noble and right , but does not force his faithful to pursue that path . He deeply wants those under his rule to willingly choose good over evil , action over inaction , and order over chaos . He does not command from the rear and would never ask someone to do something he would not be willing to do himself , including laying down his life for another . Worship of Nobanion is scattered throughout the Vilhon Reach , Dragon Coast , and Shining Plains regions , but Lord Firemane is venerated primarily within the confines of the Gulthmere Forest , in the city of Nathlekh , and among the wemics of the Shining Plains . Aside from his followers in Nathlekh , Nobanion ' s followers are strictly ordered in rank but not otherwise organized . The Pride of Nobanion fill leadership roles in many communities where he is revered . Many serve as benevolent monarchs , judges , militia , constables , or as guardians against evil . The vanguard of armies loyal to Nobanion is typically filled with clerics and crusaders of the Lion King . Others teach their hunting or martial skills to the young , while passing along moral instruction and important traditions both by word and deed . Among the wemic tribes of the Shining Plains , Nobanion ' s shamans are typically powerful leaders , second only to the chieftain or king . They are responsible for choosing which creatures to hunt , blessing the kill , and confirming the passage of young members of the Pride into adulthood . Clerics and druids of Nobanion pray for their spells at dusk , prior to the nighttime hunt . The Festival of the Pride normally takes place during the first tenday of Ches . This is a time for frolicking , dancing , courting a mate , lovemaking , and generally celebrating the bounty of life and its potential . Religious belief promises that a child ( or cub ) conceived this night will go on to become ruler of the church ( or pride ) . The Newborn Celebration always takes place during the third tenday of Kythorn , marked by a great hunt or feast . This ceremony celebrates the birth ( or rebirth — church teachings are vague ) of Nobanion , the prominence of lions in the Vilhon Reach , and the importance of the hunt in the region . Newborns undergo the Rite of the First Blooding where their right paw ( or hand ) is placed in the blood of the prey and blessed by a cleric or druid of Nobanion . Lord Firemane ' s clerics often multiclass as divine champions , fighters , or paladins . His druids often multiclass as rangers . During the Spellplague , Nobanion tried to save a pride of lions in Gulthandor from oncoming blue fire . He came in contact with the blue fire , and it mutated him into a dark and bestial lion with a mane of blue flame . In this state , he was held in subjugation by Malar . In 1486 DR , he was tasked by Malar to capture Stedd Whitehorn , the boy Chosen of Lathander , but Stedd and his companions healed him of his corruption by blue fire . He returned to his natural state , and introduced himself to Stedd and his companions . In his reinstated form , he was no longer under Malar ' s control . He guided the young Chosen through the wilds of Gulthandor . They parted ways just before Stedd and company entered Turmish .