Thardarkhân (Thaar-daar-kaan)
The Great Smith
Thardarkhân is the God of Forges, Smithing, and Metalwork. He is also revered as a deity of fire's many aspects: as an engine of creation, a weapon of destruction, and a tempering purifier.
He is often depicted as a burly, muscular dwarf with a thick beard, covered in soot and wielding a massive hammer. Thardarkhân is known for his skill in crafting the most intricate and finely detailed metalworks, from armor and weapons to everyday tools.
As the god of fire's many aspects, Thardarkhân is revered for his ability to harness the power of flames to create, purify, and destroy. Due to the destructive forces of fire and molten rock, as well as the forge's role in weapons manufacturing, he also has a minor following as a war deity. Thardarkhân is also associated with the concept of balance, as fire can both create and destroy. His worshipers believe that his presence is necessary to maintain equilibrium in the world, as he tempers the destructive power of flames with his skill and precision.
Overall, Thardarkhân is a god of great skill, power, and balance, whose followers revere him as a master craftsman and a force to be reckoned with.
He is often depicted as a burly, muscular dwarf with a thick beard, covered in soot and wielding a massive hammer. Thardarkhân is known for his skill in crafting the most intricate and finely detailed metalworks, from armor and weapons to everyday tools.
As the god of fire's many aspects, Thardarkhân is revered for his ability to harness the power of flames to create, purify, and destroy. Due to the destructive forces of fire and molten rock, as well as the forge's role in weapons manufacturing, he also has a minor following as a war deity. Thardarkhân is also associated with the concept of balance, as fire can both create and destroy. His worshipers believe that his presence is necessary to maintain equilibrium in the world, as he tempers the destructive power of flames with his skill and precision.
“Forge and furnace, melt me and mold me...”While Thardarkhân is primarily associated with dwarves and their crafts, his influence extends to other races as well. His worshipers can be found in human and elven communities where metalworking is valued, and he is sometimes invoked as a protector of artisans and craftsmen. In either case, priests exclusive to Thardarkhân are rare, and most communities have only one such priest that will also serve as a blacksmith. Thardarkhân's true worship is conducted at a forge, with sweat rolling off your skin and your muscles feeling the weight of a hammer in your hand. Priests would always keep an eye out for skilled smiths that have been blessed by Thardarkhân, taking them on as apprentices if discovered.
— The start of a daily prayer to Thardarkhân
Overall, Thardarkhân is a god of great skill, power, and balance, whose followers revere him as a master craftsman and a force to be reckoned with.
Divine Domains
D&D 5e
Cleric Domains:- Forge
- Light
Pathfinder 2e
Devotee Benefits:- Divine Font: Heal or Harm
- Divine Skill: Crafting
- Favored Weapon: Warhammer
- Major Domains: Creation, Destruction, Earth, Fire
- Minor Domains: Protection, Wealth
- Cleric Spells: 2nd: Heat Metal, 3rd: Pyrotechnics, 4th: Creation
Artifacts
The Gölzü Thardarkhân (Embers of Thardarkhân) are coals said to have spilled from Thardarkhân's forge during the Creation Wars when he was supplying the gods with armaments. Ever burning and impossibly hot, volcanos were reported to have been formed where just one of these Gölzü fell. That may be slightly exaggerated, as there have been Gölzü recovered and used in the forges of smiths that would go on to create some of Fioré's most powerful weapons and armors.
The Gölzü Thardarkhân are sacred items that any smith would give just about anything to possess.
The Gölzü Thardarkhân are sacred items that any smith would give just about anything to possess.
Tenets of Faith
Liturgy for Thardarkhân is filled with fire imagery, representing, for example, external dangers that temper the dwarf race as a whole. Rites honoring him all involve tending to an actual forge, preparing it for use, stoking the flames, and then damping them. The Great Smith doesn't have his own temples, his priests instead offering prayers as they tend to the forge in the heart of Maruzhad's temples.
Edicts:
- Respect the forge.
- Create objects to help your people.
- Burn with passion for your craft.
Anathema:
- Create intentionally shoddy work.
- Tell lies and cheat people.
- Disrespect or damage a forge.
Follower Alignments:
- Lawful Good
- Lawful Neutral
- Neutral
Holidays
"Fireforge" is a traditional dwarven holiday for Thardarkhân that falls on the Sumar solstice, as it is a time when fires burn bright, and the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The festival involves various activities centered around metalworking and the use of fire.
During Fireforge, dwarves will gather to honor Thardarkhân and offer up their finest works of metal as offerings to the god. There are contests and competitions for metalworkers to showcase their skills, and the most impressive pieces are chosen to be placed on Thardarkhân's altar, a forge. It would then be melted down as an offering to Thardarkhân, as well as a commitment to keep striving to improve. The offering is a symbolic gesture that there is no need to hold onto it, as their next piece shall be even more impressive.
There is of course also feasting, with dwarven delicacies made using fire and heat, such as roasted meats and stews cooked over open flames. The festival culminates in a grand bonfire, symbolizing the power of fire and its importance in metalworking and forging. In addition to honoring Thardarkhân, Fireforge is also a time for dwarves to come together, forge new alliances and renew old ones, and celebrate their shared love of metalworking and the power of fire.
During Fireforge, dwarves will gather to honor Thardarkhân and offer up their finest works of metal as offerings to the god. There are contests and competitions for metalworkers to showcase their skills, and the most impressive pieces are chosen to be placed on Thardarkhân's altar, a forge. It would then be melted down as an offering to Thardarkhân, as well as a commitment to keep striving to improve. The offering is a symbolic gesture that there is no need to hold onto it, as their next piece shall be even more impressive.
There is of course also feasting, with dwarven delicacies made using fire and heat, such as roasted meats and stews cooked over open flames. The festival culminates in a grand bonfire, symbolizing the power of fire and its importance in metalworking and forging. In addition to honoring Thardarkhân, Fireforge is also a time for dwarves to come together, forge new alliances and renew old ones, and celebrate their shared love of metalworking and the power of fire.
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