Torag

Titles and monickers: The Maker, Father of Dwarfs, Heart of the Forge, Father of Creation, Father of Dwarvenkind

Areas of concern: Craftsmanship, protection, strategy, retribution
Followers: Dwarfs, artisans, construction workers of all kinds
Domains: Forge, Order, Life
Alignment: Lawful Good
Torag is a stoic and serious god who values honor, planning and well-made steel. Even before the Silence, He was an often distant deity, lending magical power to his clerics, but leaving his followers to make their own way through life, knowing that this will make them strong and determined. Torag is an ancient god, and his dwarven followers credit him with the creation of the world, with the appearance of life an afterthought to the genius of his creation. He is a hard and proud patriarch, a distant father who nevertheless loves his children. He is a shrewd planner, a great maker of contingencies in his plans, and he holds forethought as one of the principal gifts of life. He is a stout fighter, rarely given to rage, but when his anger awakens, the earth shakes and cities fall. Though he is often thought of as a dwarven god, he continues to gain traction among humans as well, and his human followers now outnumber the dwarven ones. Torag is by nature a conservative god, and cautions against rash behavior. He promotes the values of tradition, but does not refute innovation when it serves a higher purpose. He champions the importance of family and community and teaches to look one after another in harmony and loving union; while loyalty for one's own family is paramount, Torag's love is not exclusive: to love and serve one's family is just the first step in loving and serving the whole Creation and its inhabitants: after all, how can someone be faithful on such a grand scale if they're not faithful to their close kin in the first place? He is just, but his justice implies retribution: those who follow the right path shall have their reward, while those who fall are deservedly cast in the fire of the Nine Hells.
Filial piety is a key feature of dwarven society and Torag. Filial piety means to be good to one's parents; to take care of one's parents; to engage in good conduct not just towards parents but also outside the home so as to bring a good name to one's parents and ancestors; to perform the duties of one's job well (preferably the same job as one's parents to fulfill their aspirations) as well as to carry out sacrifices to the ancestors; not be rebellious, to be polite, and well-mannered; to show love, respect and support, to be near home to serve one's parents; display courtesy; ensure heirs, uphold fraternity among siblings; wisely advise one's parents, including dissuading them from moral unrighteousness; display sorrow for their sickness and death; bury them and carry out sacrifices after their death. Furthermore, a filial child should promote the public name of its family, and it should cherish the affection of its parents. Filial piety also involves the role of the parent to the child. The parent has a duty to provide for the son, to teach them in traditions of ancestor worship, to find means for their future adult life, and leave a good heritage, both material and spiritual. Sterness and dignity and kindness and compassion are all cardinal virtues of a Toragite parent. The parent's virtues are to be practiced, regardless of the child's piety, and vice versa.
Torag is depicted as a powerful and cunning dwarf, busy at his forge hammering out a weapon or shield,, but sometimes in a pensative mood while standing silent and proud. Art shows him as a robust dwarf with fiery eyes, white or red beard of impressive size and complexity, in intricate armor and carrying his warhammer Kaglemros (Dwarven for '"forger of many weapons"). Torag's symbol are His Kaglemros and the Eternal Anvil, and such symbols are found in any of His temples. His favourite animals are badgers and beavers, and the humble ants, admired for their temper and their ingenuity, all the while retaining their closeness to the earth that spawned them.

Territories

The ancient church of Torag can be found in all dwarven lands, and in many human ones. Kinbarag and its Underkingdom are the center of the faith in Vespria and maybe the whole Cevasia, but the Church is present everywhere Dwarf communities are present, and in any city with sizeable craftsmans of any kind, regardless of them being construction workers or jewelers.
The routes of the Iron Carovan are dotted with small shrines and ex-voto to the Father of Dwarvenkind, and they have historically favoured the diffusion of the faith amongst non-dwarfs.

Mythology & Lore

Torag was among the original gods who battled Tharizdun who sought to destroy Golarion. He and the old God of War forged the shell of the Molting Vault, which would serve as Tharizdun's prison after his defeat.
The dwarves believe that Torag created the world at his great forge, striking it again and again with his hammer to get the shape he desired. As rocks tumbled and the sparks flew, the dwarves were born, made of stone with bellies full of fire. These dwarves were created deep in the Underdark and were perfectly suited to their environment. Torag ruled them justly for centuries, and they worked hard to be worthy of his approval. He gave them a single prophecy: that one day they would leave their darkened homes to press upwards in a Quest for Sky. Such an event was marked by the fouding of the Sky Citadels, and after retreating in their Underkingdom the Dwarfs are now once more following their forefathers' steps in reclaiming the surface and their heritage.

Tenets of Faith

1. Remain stoic and tenacious in the face of catastrophe.
2. Uphold and promote loyalty to family, loyalty to clan, and loyalty to your people.
3. Legacy is paramount. To create something that lasts the ages is to change the world for the better.
These actions and conducts are anathema to Torag: making impetuous decisions, flaunting tradition, disregarding proven counsel out of hand, and intentionally sloppy work (except under the most dire circumstances) all draw his ire.

Worship

Torag is worshipped by virtually any dwarf, while amongst other races many of his followers are architects, artisans of all stripes, or military planners. He is also popular among guards and city watchmen, who pray to him for protection. Above all, the followers of Torag follow him for purpose. Whether it is to create a large, lasting and happy family, or to explore new lands or create better armors, Torag's drive for building a legacy leaves few people unimpressed. Torag is not a god of half measures. Either you worship him or you don’t; either you take his doctrine as it is or you don’t. The Church of Torag is not a religion of convenience, and when you are of the faith, you are expected to remain faithful. With every action, a Toragite hope to achieve their goals: the safety of their people, the conquering of an enemy, or the crafting of useful and sturdy tools for civilization. They believe in exploration and discovery, and in making their small mark on the world Torag has given them. This doesn’t mean that they are constantly driven and grim, but they believe that life is a precious gift, and every breath they breathe should have purpose to it. Sometimes that purpose is protecting your community, and sometimes it’s simply enjoying the company of your friends with a good ale. Still, they like to keep your hands and mind busy, even during rest periods.

Priesthood

Nearly half of Torag's clerics are dwarves, and although many humans have taken up his call as well. As befits a deity so closely associated with the anvil and bellows, the vestments of Torag's clergy are a long, well-used smithing apron, and hammer. Rings of various sorts (whether worn on the hands, in the ear, or woven into the hair or beard) are also common, symbolizing friendship, debt, or allegiance. Some priests attach badges, rivets, or plates to their raiments that commemorate important life events such as the birth of a child, marriage, or their first forging of a complete set of plate mail.
Temples tend to be circular, built around a large central and fully-functional forge and satellite anvils used for even mundane tasks, for every act of smelting and smithing is considered a prayer to Torag. In outdoor settlements, the temple is usually built into the defensive wall, as this keeps the noise away from the other residences and makes it easier for the priests to monitor the defenses.