Dwarven Religion

The dwarves are a polytheistic society, and the pantheon of the dwarves is robust. Torag is the main god. Dwarves see him as the Father of Dwarvenkind. However, they also worship Torag's extended family, and dwarven homes display small anvil-shaped altars with statuettes representing the different deities. While most dwarves see Torag as their patron, they still whisper small prayers and make modest sacrifices to other gods when the need arises. Clerics will sometimes to reorient their focus to a different deity when necessary. For example, a priest may perform a ritual dedicated to Bolka in an attempt to obtain her blessing on an arranged marriage, so that the new couple will fall in love.
There are many small rituals and celebrations in dwarven society. For instance, on the eve of an offensive attack, many dwarves will pray and sacrifice to Angradd, the god of aggressive war. When a new home is founded, dwarves often hold a ceremony to obtain Grundinnar’s blessing on the area to ensure harmony between the newcomer and the existing inhabitants. Parents will often evoke the name of Folgrit when their spouses go off to war, imploring the god to bring them back home safely.
When a dwarf dies, their family returns the body to the mountain and inter it in a special tomb carved into the deepest recesses of the underworld. A sombre funeral follows, during which the deeds of the deceased are sung out for all to hear. The living petition Magrim, the god of the afterlife, to provide the deceased with a suitable existence whereby they can continue to perform the tasks they loved so much in life. An honour guard then inters the body in the underground crypt. Typically, a great wake will ensue after the interment, and the life of the dwarf is celebrated as a successful endeavour to embody the will of Torag. Dwarves who die far from home or whose homes are unknown are usually buried in a cave, either directly in the earth or under a cairn of stones.
While the majority of dwarves worship the dwarven pantheon is some form, it is by no means the only religion found amongst the dwarves. Some dwarves follow even older traditions. Most notable amongst these is Rivethun, an animistic tradition of spirit and ancestor worship. Dwarves in human lands often worship Abadar and Irori. Both gods require discipline and hard work, and dwarven temperament is well suited for veneration of these foreign deities. Abadar espouses the advancement of civilization, and many dwarven engineers and architects seek his guidance. Irori promotes perfection of the body and soul, and although his faithful must not imbibe alcohol, they find the disciplined regimen befitting their principles.

The Pantheon

Angradd (The Forge-Fire)

Area of Concern: Fire, tradition, war

Alignment: LG

Domains: Fire, Good, Law, War

Subdomains: Archon, Ash, Smoke, Tactics

Favoured Weapon: Greataxe

Symbol: Smoking forge

Sacred Animal: Boar

Sacred Colours: Grey, red

The counterpart to his older brother Torag’s defensive perspective, Angradd is the god of aggressive tactics and warfare. He and Magrim watch over battles, dividing the dwarven spirits between them according to how brave they were in combat.

Bolka (The Golden Gift)

Area of Concern: Beauty, desire, love

Alignment: NG

Domains: Charm, Community, Good, Healing

Subdomains: Family, Love, Lust, Restoration

Favoured Weapon: Mace

Symbol:Golden bejewelled ring

Sacred Animal: Falcon

Sacred Colours: Gold, green

Daughter of Torag and Folgrit, this happy goddess has long blonde hair and a figure that would make even the most reserved dwarf catch his breath. She makes arranged marriages blossom into love and inspires confirmed bachelors to decide to seek a wife.

Dranngvit (The Debt Minder)

Area of Concern:Debt, pursuit, vengeance

Alignment: LN

Domains: Knowledge, Law, Strength, Travel

Subdomains:Exploration, Inevitable, Memory, Resolve

Favoured Weapon: Light pick

Symbol:Crossed picks

Sacred Animal: Hound

Sacred Colours: Gold, red

This bitter goddess is Torag’s half-sister; some legends say she was to have been his bride but he chose Folgrit instead, and to earn her forgiveness he made her a goddess. The dwarves consider Dranngvit a necessary evil, a goddess to propitiate when they have wronged someone; only those consumed by hatred and bitterness choose her as a patron. She may be Kols’s mother, though Folgrit treats him like her own son.

Droskar (The Dark Smith)

Area of Concern: Cheating, slavery, toil

Alignment: NE

Domains: Artifice, Charm, Darkness, Evil, Trickery

Subdomains: Construct, Daemon, Deception, Loss, Thievery, Toil

Favoured Weapon:Light hammer

Symbol: Fire under stone arch

Sacred Animal: Beetle

Sacred Colours: Grey, orange

Though many Golarion scholars would like to believe him dead, Droskar’s church is the primary faith of the duergar, and in his name they churn out arms and armour for various conflicts deep under the surface. He teaches that repetitive work leads to improved skill, and that if you push yourself far enough, you will achieve greatness. Those who toil and still fail in this endeavour are either not working hard enough or aren’t putting their hearts into their work. He believes in using slave labour to allow craftsmen to focus on the creative aspects of work without worrying about minor details; slaves also provide convenient scapegoats when output doesn’t measure up to the expected standards. Among the faithful there is strong competition, as one who manages to create something exceptional or innovative must beware a rival or superior stealing it or taking credit for the achievement.

Folgrit (The Watchful Mother)

Area of Concern: Children, hearths, mothers

Alignment: LG

Domains: Community, Law, Nobility, Good

Subdomains: Archon, Family, Home, Martyr

Favoured Weapon: Quarterstaff

Symbol: Rune-carved hearth

Sacred Animal: Young animals

Sacred Colours: Grey, orange

Torag’s wife is a patient goddess used to her husband planning and worrying too much. She is the goddess of motherhood, wives, and children, especially those whose husbands and fathers are at war. She is also the goddess of widows and orphans and does her best to keep Torag’s mind fresh so he can minimize dwarven casualties.

Grundinnar (The Peacemaker)

Area of Concern: Friendship, loyalty, peace

Alignment: LG

Domains: Community, Good, Law, Protection

Subdomains: Archon, Defence, Friendship, Loyalty

Favoured Weapon: Hammer

Symbol: Glowing golden hammer

Sacred Animal: Horse

Sacred Colours: Gold, white

This glib deity is well practised in breaking up fights over his sister Bolka. He mends fences, encourages dwarves to be neighbourly, and makes sure that dwarves do not forget friends they haven’t seen in decades.

Kols (Oath-Keeper)

Area of Concern: Duty, honour, promises

Alignment: LN

Domains: Glory, Law, Nobility, Strength

Subdomains: Inevitable, Leadership, Loyalty, Resolve

Favoured Weapon: Hammer

Symbol: Lizard perched on scroll

Sacred Animal: Lizard

Sacred Colours: Brown, green

This tight-lipped god splits his time between following his father Torag and keeping his brother Grundinnar out of danger. He punishes those who shirk their obligations or break oaths.

Magrim (The Taskmaster)

Area of Concern: Death, fate, underworld

Alignment: LN

Domains: Earth, Law, Repose, Rune

Subdomains: Ancestors, Inevitable, Souls, Wards

Favoured Weapon: Hammer

Symbol: Rune-carved cave entrance

Sacred Animal: Mole

Sacred Colours: Black, white

Despite his gloomy role as the overseer of the dwarven afterlife, Magrim is no more dour than a typical mortal dwarf. He determines what tasks dwarf spirits must perform, including reforging worn-out souls to make them suitable for visiting the world again. He is Torag’s older brother, and taught the first mortal dwarves how to properly commune with the gods.

Torag (Father of Creation)

Area of Concern: Forges, protection, strategy

Alignment: LG

Domains: Artifice, Earth, Good, Law, Protection

Subdomains: Archon, Caves, Construct, Defence, Metal, Toil

Favoured Weapon: Warhammer

Symbol: Iron hammer

Sacred Animal: Badger

Sacred Colours: Gold, grey

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 the rocks tumbled and the sparks flew, the dwarves were born, made of stone with bellies full of fire. Torag appears as a powerful and cunning dwarf, busy at his forge hammering at a weapon or shield. He is the consummate planner, with a contingency for every situation. Nearly half his clerics are dwarves, although a great many humans have taken up his call. His faithful are skilled architects, craftsmen, and military planners. Guardians and watchmen sometimes offer up prayers to the father of creation, hoping he protects them as they watch over their charges. Burrowing animals are sacred to the faithful of Torag, as are all animals that dwell in caves and mountainous areas. Flying creatures that live in such regions are viewed as abominations and freaks—bats in particular are hated by the church. Torag sometimes sends messages through cryptic riddles that appear on stone surfaces for a short period of time. Earthquakes are the ultimate indication of his displeasure, but those who survive are thought to be blessed. The cult of Rovagug is particularly hated by the followers of Torag, for his spawn have long seethed and squirmed in the deeper corners of the earth. Yet despite this loathing, Torag’s followers do not get on well with those of Sarenrae, since their willingness to forgive and their devotion to the sun seem to many dwarves an indication of weakness.

Trudd (The Mighty)

Area of Concern: Bravery, defence, strength

Alignment: NG

Domains: Good, Nobility, Protection, Strength

Subdomains: Agathion, Defence, Martyr, Resolve

Favoured Weapon: Warhammer

Symbol: Rune-carved stone throne

Sacred Animal: Bear

Sacred Colours: Brown, grey

Torag’s youngest son, he is the strongest of the dwarven gods despite his short beard. He guards his father’s hall while its lord is away.

In Highhelm

While the role of religion is an important one in most dwarven settlements, it’s particularly important in Highhelm. The exact statistics are unknown, but census reports suggest that 98% of Highhelm’s population is faithful to some degree. The most common faith is that of the dwarven pantheon. Torag and the rest of his family are central to life in Highhelm, with each of the gods finding prayers among the citizens.
This focus on the dwarven pantheon extends even to non-dwarves. Many of the city’s non-dwarven residents acknowledge and respect the dwarven pantheon, though most keep other gods as their primary faith, supplementing their worship with prayers to dwarven gods as needed. While temples and shrines to these other gods are few and far between in Highhelm, the Hollow Temple in King’s Heart is open as a space for worship for most any other faith that needs it. Beyond the worship of the dwarven pantheon, worship of Abadar, Cayden Cailean, Erastil, and Pharasma are most common in the city.