Dwarven Pantheon

Dwarf families are the center of their culture, and clans the center of their families.  Clans are largely made up of family groups, although women will leave their clan to join their husbands.  Men will almost never leave their clans, unless it is to begin a clan all their own.  This is rare, and yet there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of Dwarf clans of various sizes.  All of them are connected to each other through an intricate tapestry of marriages and blood.

Virtually every Dwarven clan can trace itself to one of the nine great clans.  Each of them holds a unique role within the history of the Dwarves.  The great clans all have patron deities, and the relationships between those deities mirror the ancient relationships between those clans.

Clan Dwarf

The oldest & richest clan.  Its halls are long lost, and the stuff of legend, as are the lost riches hidden within. 

Patron Gods:

Fel Dwarf (patriarch), the god of wealth & grandfathers

Aleena Dwarf (matriarch), the goddess of the clans & of grandmothers

(Their children are Bardun Fel & Barek Undermountain)

Clan Undermountain

Home to the deepest, furthest reaching & most ancient of all the Dwarven Mines.

Patron Gods:

Barek Undermountain (patriarch), God of Mining & Uncles, son of Fel Dwarf

Saeshine Undermountain (matriarch), Goddess of Gemstones & Aunts. 

Kaebrim Undermountain, God of Exploration & Cousins. Son of Barek Undermountain

Clan Fel

Among the smallest of the great clans, it is renowned for producing the greatest of Dwarven warriors, and for brewing the finest Dwarven Ale. 

Patron Gods:

Bardun Fel (patriarch), God of Battle & Fathers, son of Fel Dwarf

Miyra Fell (matriarch), Goddess of Home, Hearth & Mothers

Arkun Stonehammer, God of War, Son of Bardun Fel

Surdek Brightbeard, God of Brawling, Joy, Alcohol & Beards, Son of Bardun Fel

(Their additional children are Tordurn Stoutforge, Goldheart Sunderin &their daughter Ione Halbert)

Clan Strakenhold

Within the cracked mountain, the Halls of Strakenhold are open, and have become a trading city.

Patron Gods:

Coven Strakenhold (patriarch), God of Greed

Brightheart Strakenhold (matriarch), Goddess of trickery & thieves. 

Kaeliee Strakenhold, Goddess of Lust & Romantic Love, daughter of Coven Strakenhold

Ubarun Shade, God of Death & Exiles (no longer with his family clan)

(Their additional child is their daughter Helja Stoutforge)

Clan Stoutforge

The single largest Dwarven Clan, home to the greatest Dwarven crafters.  Acknowledged as the center of Dwarven Culture.

Patron Gods:

Tordurn Stoutforge (patriarch), God of Smithing & Heroes, son of Bardun Fel

Helja Stoutforge (matriarch), Goddess of Marriage & Wives, daughter of Coven Strakenhold

Farek Flamebeard, God of Fire & Forge, son of Tordurn Stortforge

(Their additional children are Baergrin Brawnkeln & their daughter Naelis Goldheim)

Clan Sunderin

The Wandering Clan.  With the smallest & most shallow of the great clans, They are noted for their wanderlust, often serving as traders between the other great clans.  Overlanders most often meet Dwarves of Clan Sunderin, or it’s Underclans.

Patron Gods:

Goldheart Sunderin (patriarch), God of Travel, Lightening & Brothers, son of Bardun Fel

Lysria Sunderin (matriarch), Goddess of Healing & the Moon

Harkin Wildax, God of Hunting, Surivial & Nephews, son of Goldheart Sunderin

Flagon Goldscales, God of Law & Merchants, son of Goldheart Sunderin

Clan Halbert

Home of the Great Libraries, the Ancient School of Learning, & the Grand Workshops.

Patron Gods:

Durnden Halbert (patriarch), God of Teaching

Ione Halbert (matriarch), Goddess of Learning & Sisters, daughter of Bardun Fel

Brakenburn Truespark, God of Invention, Son of Durnden Halbert

Shanee Halbert, Goddess of Chaste Courtship & Nieces, Daughter of Durnden Halbert

Clan Brawnkeln

The most fortified & impregnable of the Great Halls, also called the Last Fortress.  It’s warriors are famously unmovable.

Patron Gods:

Baergrin Brawnkeln (patriarch), God of Protection, Watchfulness & Sons, son of Tordurn Stoutforge

Yalune Brawnkeln (matriarch), Goddess of Midwives & Childbirth

Fabrin Brawnkeln, Goddess of Familial Duty & Granddaughters, daughter of Baergrin Brawnkeln

Xaznie Brawnkeln, Infant Goddess of Rebellion, daughter of Baergrin Brawnkeln

Clan Goldheim

Home to the Enchanters Guild, the Dwarven equivalent of a mages guild.

Patron Gods:

Osrik Goldheim (patriarch), God of Oaths & Darkness

Naelis Goldheim (matriarch), Goddess of Enchanting & Daughters, daughter of Tordurn Stoutforge

Vandal Goldheim, God of Youth, Adventure & Grandsons, son of Osrik Goldheim

Kargen Goldheim, Infant God of Light, son of Osrik Goldheim

The Dwarven faith also acknowledges The Great Crafter, one of the only beings to survive the becoming of all.  The great crafter forged life into existence from within the mountains, seeding all creation.  The castings of his forge became the Dwarven Gods, who in turn forged the Dwarves themselves.

It’s worth pointing out that all the Dwarven Gods are structured around a central extended family, all branching from Tordurn Stoutforge.  Unlike other races where the patriarch among the gods is the most honored, The Dwarves honor all the familial roles, acknowledging Gods of Fatherhood, Motherhood, Son and Daughter, Grandfather and Grandsons, Aunts, Cousins… Even In-Laws are acknowledged within their Pantheon.

This of course means that all of Tordurn’s relationships are reflected with the Dwarven People, who cast themselves as him.  Tordurn becomes unique among Gods, then, because he is “I”, he is the Hero Dwarves most identify with.  Despite not being the Father of all Dwarves, Tordurn effectively leads the Pantheon.

Also, you might notice that the roles of women within the Pantheon are notably limited.  Even Kaeliee Strakenhold, goddess of romantic love, is vilified, as romantic love is seen as the antithesis of familial duty, the driving force behind Dwarven marriages. The Dwarven people are rigorously bound to their traditions of home and family, and Dwarven women are expected to serve their family and clan in traditional roles of mother, wife, and caretaker of the home.  This isn’t always the case, of course, and the infant goddess Xaznie Brawnkeln is growning to represent that deviation from tradition.  She is far too young to be truly worshiped, and as yet has no clerics, but as her influence grows perhaps more Dwarven maidens will rebel against the rigid cultural traditions that bind them to the hearth.