Dwarf deities

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Morndinsamman, the dwarven pantheon of gods, consists of the leader, Moradin, as well as Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, and Vergadain. Other dwarven gods (such as Hanseath, Mya, Roknar, Tharmekhûl, Thautam, and Valkauna from the Races of Stone supplement) may be present in different campaign settings.

Publication history

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

Moradin was created by James M. Ward for the Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia (1980).^[1] Vergadain, Dumathoin, Abbathor, Berronar, and Clanggedin Silverbeard appeared in Roger E. Moore's Dragon article, "The Gods of the Dwarves",^[2] and appeared again in the original Unearthed Arcana (1985).^[3]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The dwarven pantheon of the Forgotten Realms appeared in Dwarves Deep (1990), consisting of Moradin, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Sharindlar, Vergadain, Dumathoin, Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Marthammor Duin, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, and Thard Harr.^[4]

The dwarven pantheon was detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about their priesthoods. This version of the pantheon consisted of Moradin, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, Vergadain, Abbathor, and the dwarf hero Gnarldan Steelshield.^[5] The role of these dwarvish powers in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).^[6]

The members of the dwarven pantheon received very detailed descriptions for their roles in the Forgotten Realms in Demihuman Deities (1998), including Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Deep Duerra, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, Laduguer, Marthammor Duin, Moradin, Sharindlar, Thard Harr, and Vergadain.^[7]

Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the third edition Players Handbook (2000),^[8] and is detailed in Deities and Demigods (2002).^[9]

The dwarven pantheon's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons (2002), which describes Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Deep Duerra, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, Laduguer, Marthammor Duin, Moradin, Sharindlar, Thard Harr, and Vergadain.^[10]

Moradin appears again in the 3.5 revised Players Handbook (2003).^[11] His priesthood is detailed for this edition in Complete Divine (2004).^[12] The dwarven deities Moradin, Hanseath, Laduguer, Mya, Roknar, Thammekhûl, and Valkauna appeared in Races of Stone (2004).^[13]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the Players Handbook for this edition (2008).^[14]

Abbathor

Main article: Abbathor

Abbathor (AB-ba-thor^[15]) is the dwarven deity of greed. His holy symbol is a jeweled dagger. Abbathor manifests as a very large dwarf, fat and piggy-eyed. He wears leather and furs made from those non-dwarves who have opposed him in the past.

Berronar Truesilver

Main article: Berronar Truesilver

Berronar Truesilver is the dwarf deity of safety, truth, home, and healing. She shares a realm with Moradin, Erackinor, on the plane of Mount Celestia. She acts as Moradin's consort.

Clanggedin Silverbeard

Main article: Clanggedin Silverbeard

Clanggedin Silverbeard is the dwarf deity of battle. Clanggedin's realm is named Mount Clanggedin after himself, located on the plane of Arcadia.

Dugmaren Brightmantle

Main article: Dugmaren Brightmantle

Dugmaren Brightmantle is the dwarf deity of scholarship, discovery, and invention. Dugmaren shares the Dwarven Mountain on the Outlands with Dumathoin and Vergadain.

Dumathoin

Further information: Dumathoin

Hanseath

Hanseath

Game background
Title(s)	The Bearded One
Power level	Lesser
Alignment	Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio	War, Carousing, Alcohol
Domains	Chaos, Strength, Travel, War
Superior	Moradin
Design details

Known as the Bearded One for the thick hair that obscures most of his face, Hanseath represents the festive side of dwarven culture. Brewers hold him in high regard, as do dwarf barbarians and any dwarf who charges headlong into battle heedless of the odds. His favored weapon is the greataxe.

Hanseath is portrayed with thick beard that obscures most of his face.

Worshipers

Hanseath is worshiped by brewers, dwarf barbarians and dwarves who charge headlong into battle.

Hanseath's clerics often serve in dwarven military units, acting as healers and spellcasters, urging their fellow dwarves into battle. Such units are not always a comfortable mix of personnel, though, since Hanseath's clerics also have a rebellious streak. Many dwarf armies segregate Hanseath clerics into their own berserker units.

Hanseath's shrines are great festhalls dominated by long tables where worshipers feast and raise goblets to Hanseath's glory. Most have extensive kitchens and pantries attached.

Hanseath's rites look like great feasts, rich with food and drink. Most are raucous affairs performed prior to battle and after a great victory, with one exception—the Ritual of the Cleft Shield. Few events in dwarven life are more heartbreakingly solemn than this ritual, performed by followers of Hanseath for a particularly beloved comrade who fell in battle.

Hanseath's prayers are often chanted or sung. Many have simple rhyme schemes and frequent, repetitive choruses. In other words, they're drinking songs.

Hanseath's followers are seemingly always off on a great crusade of some sort; they're either in battle or marching toward the next battle. Hanseath often orders his followers to make war against the traditional enemies of the dwarves: goblinoids, orcs, giants, and drow.

Herald and Allies

Hanseath's herald is a 20th-level celestial dwarf barbarian. Howlers, green slaadi, and death slaadi are his allies.

Laduguer

Further information: Laduguer

Moradin

Further information: Moradin

Muamman Duathal

Main article: Muamman Duathal

Muamman Duathal (Moo-AM-man Doo-AH-thuhl) is the dwarf deity of wanderers and expatriates. He is also the dwarven god of lightning, which he uses as an omen. His symbol is an upright mace over a single leather boot trimmed with fur, or a mace clutched by a pair of gauntleted fists.

Vergadain

Main article: Vergadain

Vergadain is the dwarf deity of wealth and luck. He shares the Dwarven Mountain on the Outlands with Dugmaren and Dumathoin.

References

1. ^ Ward, James and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods (TSR, 1980)
2. ^ Moore, Roger "The Gods of the Dwarves." Dragon #58 (TSR, 1982)
3. ^ Gygax, Gary. Unearthed Arcana (TSR, 1985)
4. ^ Greenwood, Ed. Dwarves Deep (TSR, 1990)
5. ^ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
6. ^ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
7. ^ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
8. ^ Tweet, Jonathan, Cook, Monte, Williams, Skip. Player's Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
9. ^ Redman, Rich, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Deities and Demigods (Wizards of the Coast, 2002)
10. ^ Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
11. ^ Tweet, Jonathan, Cook, Monte, Williams, Skip. Player's Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
12. ^ Noonan, David. Complete Divine (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
13. ^ Noonan, David, Jesse Decker, and Michelle Lyons. Races of Stone (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
14. ^ Heinsoo, Rob, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt. Player's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
15. ^ Mentzer, Frank. "Ay pronunseeAY shun gyd" Dragon #93 (TSR, 1985)

• Moore, Roger E. "The Dwarven Point of View." Dragon #58 (TSR, 1982).
• Olsen, John. "Worth its weight in gold." Dragon #109. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
• Oppen, Eric. "The Folk of the Underworld." Dragon #131. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.
• "Servants of the Jeweled Dagger." Dragon #152. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
• Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[1]
• Living Greyhawk: Volume 1, Number 3. Spring, 591 CY. February, 2001.
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