The Thalhund of Dumathoin

The Silent Keeper

Dumathoin was an intermediate diety that escalated to a greater diety with the death of his superior, Moradin. Dumathoin is a peculiar being. He does not speak and it is unclear if this is by choice or if he is mute. His title is the Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountain. He and his mighty Talhund (high-ranking combat priests) protect the valuable minerals and gems that lie in the halls of ancient caves and keeps. The Talhund is also known for protecting miners from the wretched beasts of the Upperdark and Underdark that may be uncovered during excavation.
Dumathoin is almost exclusively worshipped by Dwarves. Since the fall of the Dwarven Kingdoms of Daetus, there are no known orders of Dumathoin in any major settlements. As such the Talhund is believed to be disbanded. However, many common folk still casually worship Dumathoin as his influence will never be forgotten by the Dwarves.
Duma represents the dwarven passion for arts, craft, culture, metalworking, and the fathers of old.
Rumor has it that the Talhund still resides deep in the mountains slaying the foul beasts that have taken their place in order to protect the honor of their fallen ancestors.

Holy Books & Codes

The Quiet Years: A collection of seven stories from the early days of the first dwarves written by Okri IV. The stories are written in ancient dwarvish and have been translated hundreds of times, each translation varies substantially, but two aspects remain constant. The first constant is that the stories are written in a strange and incomprehensible manner resulting in endless debate about their meaning. The second constant is that from each of the seven stories of The Quiet Years, a core tenant of Dumathoin's theology is established regardless of which translation you are reading.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Dumathoin's symbol is as mysterious as the god himself. It is a faceted emerald placed in the middle of a grand mountain surrounded by a crimson sunset.

Tenets of Faith

• Walk the deep and silent ways of Dumatoin.
• Seek out the hidden gifts of the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain.
• That which is hidden is precious, and that which is precious shall stay hidden.
• Seek to enhance the natural beauty of Dumathoin’s gifts and go with, not against, the contours of the deeps.
• Beauty is the discovery and the crafting, not the holding.
• Keep the places of our dead inviolate and well tended; the noble ancestors of our race will neither be robbed nor moved through the actions of thieves and defilers.
• Abide not undead creatures, especially those that take the form of dwarves, thus mocking the creation of Moradin.

Holidays & Rituals

Talhund pray for spells in the morning. They refer to the nights of the new moon as the Deepstone Triad, claiming that at this time the moon becomes a great gem hidden in the fastness of the earth. On such nights, talhund and lay followers of Dumathoin sacrifice gems and jewelry upon large stone blocks. Specially tasked talhund pulverize these offerings while the congregation gives thanks to the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain. Dumathoin also serves as the dwarves’ deity of the dead, and hence talhund are tasked with disposing of corpses and seeing that their souls pass successfully to the afterworld.

• Feast of the First Fathers: This celebration starts on the 18th of December and ends on the 25th. All worshippers of Dumathoin follow his example and seek solace in silence. For the entirety of the 18th of December, no words are to be spoken and no food or drink is to be consumed. At exactly midnight, the 19th of December, a grand feast filled with endless food, song, and ale is to be had. It is the obligation of the wealthy to invite the less fortunate into their halls to partake. This feast does not end until the dawn of the 25th day of December.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Due to his silent nature, Dumathoin's goals and aspirations are mostly unknown. All that is known about him is what is written in The Quiet Years and oratories about his recent divine interventions. From these sources, it is believed that he wishes for nothing but appreciation and protection of the sanctity of Dwarven history and tradition.

The Holy Symbol of Dumathoin

Alignment: Neutral
Worshipper Alignment: All
Order Name: The Talhund of Duma
Cleric title: None (informal), of the Talhund (suffix, formal)
Order Locations: Unknown
Symbol: Cut, faceted gem inside a silhouetted mountain
Priest Class Name: Cleric (Metalwork), Cleric (Craft), Cleric (Ancestors), Cleric (Race) (Dwarves), Cleric (Culture), Cleric (Earth), Cleric (Nature), Cleric (Time), and Cleric (Sites) (specifically the Daetus spine, not recommended for PCs).

Type

Religious, Holy Order