Dwarf Religions

Dwarf religion largely focuses around attuning themselves to the spirit of Kamay, their long-lost creator deity. Various gurus and prophets have emerged over the centuries and millennia, each claiming the correct path to this end. Some of these have become influential long after their death, establishing cults that have persisted across generations. Worshipped as fragments of Kamay, they fill the role of demi-gods and deities within Dwarf religion. Within Dwarf society, religion plays a major role, guiding much of the actions individual Dwarves take in their daily lives. The overall goal of enlightenment, or becoming one with Kamay, is a spiritual target many aspire to. Both factions of Dwarves cling to the same religious faith, though some of the prophets differ.

Religion

Dwarf faith is as old as its people are, with their worship stretching back to the beginning of the world. Made up of many different prophets and gods, their religion is actually many following a similar vein. All hold a great god ancestor at its peak; Kamay, a great titan who birthed the Dwarves from rock. He created the Dwarves to act as his servants, caretaking the world and helping him to shape it to his own desires. From their homes in the mountains, the Dwarves readily obeyed their creator, and he doted upon his children as any proud father would. He gave them the gifts of knowledge; teaching them mining, agriculture and wonders of engineering. But the other titans grew unhappy with Kamay and his children. They were jealous of the service and loyalty the Dwarves gave him, and sought to free them from their servitude. The titans warred, and Kamay’s rivals overcame him and freed his children, giving them emotion and independence.

But the Dwarves struggled with their new life. Without the direction of Kamay, they were lost in the world. Newfound passion engulfed their society in intense anger and sadness, and wars waged among them. Lamenting their lost creator, Dwarves have over time sought to help their people with their urges. Each espouses a different method for attaining the enlightenment Kamay meant for his children. Many of these seers and prophets have gained some sort of following as deities, considered fragments of Kamay come to help his people regain their purpose. They have combined to build the Dwarf religion around balance and control of themselves, or providing some higher purpose for Dwarves to aspire to. Followers of these various deities generally acknowledge the divinity of the others, though place their own chosen god above the others. This rarely leads to conflict, however, with the role of the creator Kamay unifying the various factions. Dwarf sects have their own temples and shrines, where the faithful can gather for study and reflection on their deity’s teachings.

Kamay

Kamay is the creator-god of the Dwarves, a great mountain titan who shaped the world in its earliest days. He was killed by rival titans, jealous of his dedicated children in the Dwarves. Kamay stood for stoic caretaking of the world, caring little for the affairs and passions of the other races and titans. He gave his children gifts of knowledge, which helped the Dwarves to become the mighty society they eventually grew into. He is still worshipped as the chief of the Dwarf faith, with all others considered fragments of his dominion over the world. He is depicted as a mighty Dwarf made out of stone. His symbol is a mountain.

Kartir

A prophet of Kamay, Kartir believed that martial mastery was the key to attaining Kamay’s enlightenment. By committing themselves to perfection of warfare, he felt that Dwarves could better defend themselves and their shaping of the world. By allowing Kamay to be killed by the other titans, the Dwarves had failed their father; something that could not happen again. Kartir came to prominence during the great Dragon Wars, and his followers were some of the most prominent heroes in that conflict. His cult is devoted to warfare and the protection of the less martial aspects of Dwarf society. There are links between him and the Arran god Koraldur, and some suspect the two are the same deity loaned to the early humans who traded with the Dwarves. Kartir is depicted as a heavily armed and armoured Dwarf, bearing a mighty warhammer. His symbol is a gauntleted fist or a hammer.

Sadruma

A Dwarf goddess of healing and purity, Sadruma believed that helping others was the way to attain Kamay’s enlightenment. She and her followers dedicated themselves to poverty, preaching that goods and comforts were the root of Dwarvish unhappiness and instability. She found resistance among many other Dwarves, who believed that their own success helped their race to reach its potential. A controversial figure, her views have been moderated somewhat by her existing cult. They dedicate themselves to the safety and well-being of all Dwarves, her shrines and temples centres of healing and protection. She is depicted as a caring old Dwarf woman, dressed in white. Her symbol is a white veil.

Shyka

A pessimistic prophet, Shyka believed that the best way for Dwarves to attain enlightenment was to be reunited with Kamay in the afterlife. Functioning as a death goddess, her followers are urged to indulge their emotions and desires, before ultimately committing ritual suicide. This process is to remove the stain of repression from within Dwarves, before allowing them to join Kamay in a spiritual netherworld. Her cult is much maligned for this freedom, its trappings and worship taboo and persecuted among the other factions. Nonetheless, it is tolerated and has a small but dedicated following among people. Shyka herself is depicted dressed in black veils and black skin, with red eyes and tattoos adorning her body. Her followers attain petrification in death, seeking to return to the mountain the way they believe Kamay did.

Varukti

A Dwarven god of battle and carousing, Varukti is a relatively new Dwarf deity. One of the southern Dwarves who was driven from his home by Orcs, Varukti fell into the depths of despair at the loss of his family. Unplaceable anger drove him to seek revenge upon the Orcs, which attracted numerous followers of the same mindset. His cult would lead raids on Orc settlements in the Midlands, honing their skills and fighting with reckless abandon. Unlike Kartir, who represents restrained warfare and protection, Varukti stands for vengeance and unhindered combat. His followers give themselves over to bloodlust, indulging in the thrill of battle to sate their sadness. His cult was at the forefront of the crusade against the Orcs, eventually reconquering the Irondeep mines for their own. Varukti is depicted as an unkempt and wild looking Dwarf, wielding an axe. His symbol is a pair of crossed axes.

Nakri

A Dwarven prophet of wealth and diplomacy, Nakri claimed that to best achieve Kamay’s goals, Dwarves must build better relationships with the other races. In doing so, Dwarves can rely on their new allies to help in shaping the world for his goals. His followers aspire to keep the peace between all races, encouraging trade and other bonds between them. Nakri’s followers range wide beyond the halls of the Dwarves, seeking to better understand their neighbours and rivals. They enjoy new experiences and seek out new and untouched lands. Nakri was one of the first Dwarves to interact with the humans, encouraging the bonds between them and the Dwarf holds in the wake of the Dragon Wars. He is depicted as a wizened old Dwarf in a travellers cloak, leading a mule and cart. His symbol is a compass.

Gana

The Dwarf goddess of wind and the mountains, she believed that in order to attune themselves to Kamay’s spirit, the Dwarves must isolate themselves. Her temples are found on the most isolated peaks in the mountains, seeking silence and removed from the rest of the world. In the latter years of her life, Gana took a vow of silence; a common task for her followers to endure as well. Her temples are noteworthy for the silence that blankets them, with only the fierce mountain winds howling through their halls. Gana’s following is small, but fiercely dedicated. They are pacifists, believing that the only way to hear Kamay’s true word and spirit is complete devotion to meditation. Gana’s followers rarely leave their temples, and are hardly considered even a part of Dwarf society.

Religious Orders

Sadruma's Tears

Sadruma’s Tears are a militant and radical wing of the cult of Sadruma. They believe that her message of equality in poverty was the only true way to achieve Kamay’s goals, and work to that end. They see monetary wealth as opposite to Sadruma’s teachings, and eschew any sort of earthly goods or possessions. They come into conflict with other factions among the Dwarves by actively opposing and attacking followers of other seers or factions. This has drawn the attention of the ruling class of Dwarves, who have banned and exiled many of its members from their realm. As such, many of these militant Dwarves live among the human lands, working alongside followers of Sarana. They consider the two goddesses the same, and often work to radicalize the human members of this cult as well.

Hathaura of Kartir

The Hathaura of Kartir is a group of particularly dedicated worshippers of the preacher Kartir. An elite order, they embody his dedication to complete martial perfection, throwing themselves completely into the training and customs of their cult. Excellent warriors, they fight in full plate with hammers and shield. They are mostly serious and reserved individuals, putting all of their energy into their worship of Kartir. They act as guards for the temples and shrines of the cult, and also as elite units during war on behalf of the Dwarf realms. They notably make up the bodyguard of the Dwarf High King himself. Stalwart and well-disciplined fighters, they eschew magic for physical prowess.

Dakshavarukti

The Dakshavaruti are radical elements of Varukti’s faith. When the Dwarf prophet’s family was murdered at the hands of Orcs, he shaved his head and swore he would kill the creatures until one of them could kill him. Many of his followers took the same oath and travelled into the Badlands to destroy their enemy. Sated only by bloodlust, they are driven and motivated warriors who care little for anything except the deaths of their enemies. Made up of Dwarves who have undergone some great trauma, they shave and tattoo their skulls, swearing to die in combat against whoever wronged them. It is a great and solemn duty to undertake, and one given immense respect within Varukti’s faith. They shun any title or honours, and instead embrace the wild and free lifestyle that Varukti envisioned. They are especially common among the Irondeep, where Varukti’s cult is the strongest.