Cult of Moradin
Moradin and his mortal servants are very highly regarded in dwarf society, and his priests often serve as leaders in dwarf communities. Dwarf daily life is consumed with mining, smithcraft, engineering and creative endeavours and the Soul Forger's assistance is frequently acknowledged by most dwarf artisans. The only criticism of the Soul Forger's clergy, as expressed by younger dwarfs, is that Moradin's Forgesmiths are too set in their traditional ways and too slow to adapt to the changing world around them. Among the other human and demi-human races, Moradin's priests are perceived as prototypical dwarfs and as the mortal manifestations of their god, and how this is interpreted depends on the viewer's general perception of and regard for dwarfs.
Territories
The Foundry of Stout Souls is a fortified monastic enclave of priests dedicated to Moradin, located in the heart of the Rakers. It is both a temple and a city, with over 5,600 inhabitants. The temple-city is carved from solid rock. It resembles a large dungeon far more than it does a surface city set in a large cavern. Huge forges burn continuously throughout the enclave, leaving the air heavy with smoke and most chambers stifling hot (at least to surface-dwellers and non-dwarfs). Keeping aloof from most other dwarf clans, the Forgesmiths of the Foundry of Stout Souls (under the able leadership of Thungalos Truetemper, First Hammer of Moradin) work continuously to influence events in the Underdark and surface lands, to the betterment of all dwarfs. They have been known to hire adventurers of other races to carry out their aims. Often, a mission for the dwarfs is demanded as a payment for healing badly beaten adventurers or raising one or more slain individuals.
The temple-city is self-sufficient. Whatever it lacks is brought in from elsewhere by its priests or worshipers. Dwarf offerings have made the Foundry of Stout Souls very rich, but this wealth is seen only as a means to bringing about the Soul Forger's ends. Of late, tales have begun to spread that the Forgesmiths have dispatched a great army of dwarfs westward through the Underdark. Whether this tale is true or not, and where such an army might be headed, is still unknown.
In the Flanaess, the most visible monument to the Soul Forger is the Stone Bridge, a massive stone arch that spans the broadest imaginable spring flood of the River Reik. The Stone Bridge, built long ago to link the two halves of the ancient dwarf kingdom of Besilmer, rises in a great arc, without supporting pillars, its span two miles long and 400 feet above the water. The Bridge is built of weathered granite, six paces broad and so skillfully fitted that it seems of one piece. It has no parapet or railing on either side. Dwarfs explain the awesome size and continued survival of the Bridge to the fact that it is also a temple to Moradin. Lawful good dwarfs still make pilgrimages to the Bridge, said to be one of the Soul Forger's favorite spots on Velgarth. On at least one occasion, Moradin's avatar appeared on the Bridge and destroyed a horde of ores harrying the remaining members of the Ironstar clan as they fled southward to valleys in the Kron Hills.
Infrastructure
Temples of Moradin are located underground and carved out of solid rock. They are never set in natural caverns.
Moradin's temples usually resemble vast smithies dominated by one or more grand halls of hard-working dwarf craftsmen. Hammers and anvils, the signs of the god, are the dominant decorative themes, as are statues of the All-Father and the other gods of the dwarf pantheon.
The centre of the Soul Forger's shrine or temple is a great ever-burning hearth and a forge of the finest equipage. Should the fire be extinguished (something the Soul Forger's priests will go to any length to prevent), the temple is abandoned or torn down stone by stone. Usually another temple is built on a new site, but occasionally a temple is entirely rebuilt and reconsecrated.
Tenets of Faith
The Soul Forger is the father and creator of the dwarf race. By seeking to emulate both his principles and his workmanship in smithcraft, stoneworking, and other tasks, the Children of Moradin honor the All-Father. Wisdom is derived from life tempered with experience. Advance the dwarf race in all areas of life. Innovate with new processes and skills and test and work them until they are refined and pure. Found new kingdoms and clan lands, defending those that already exist from internal and external threats. Lead the Stout Folk in the traditional ways laid down by the Soul Forger. Honor your clan leaders as you honor Moradin.
Holy Days
Those who worship the Soul Forger gather monthly around the forge to celebrate the All-Father and to make offerings. In some dwarf kingdoms, Moradin is worshiped at the time of the full moon, while in others the Soul Forger is venerated beneath the crescent moon. In addition, any High Forgesmith can declare a holy day at any time and often does so as a way of celebrating a local event. Offerings of common or precious metals - especially those already worked by dwarf hands into items of beauty or practical use, such as tools or ornamented hardware - are made on the monthly holy days. Sacrifices of common or precious metals are melted down at the forge and reformed into shapes usable by the clergy. Rituals are performed while making such offerings, which involve chanting, kneeling, and reaching barehanded into the flames of the forge (Moradin prevents harm to the truly faithful) to handle red- and white-hot objects directly. Priests entering a temple of Moradin bow to the forge and surrender any weapons (in times of peace). Priests of Moradin strike the anvil standing by the entry once with their hammers before surrendering them to faithful dwarf warriors. At least seven warriors are usual at any shrine, but four will always be there. Priests of another faith, without permission of a High Old One or the avatar of Moradin, cannot advance beyond the wall of fire, a knee-high, permanent magical effect surrounding the central forge. Priests of Moradin engage in humble, verbal prayer and in open, earnest discussion of current dwarf problems and issues, more so than any other priesthood. Such discussion is considered to be between equals (even if non-dwarves participate), save that the ranking priest of Moradin has the sole authority to open and close discussion on a particular topic. Worship usually ends with a rising, quickening chant in unison of: "The dwarfs shall prevail, the dwarfs shall endure, the dwarfs shall grow!" This is repeated, ever more loudly, until the plain, massive, battered smith's hammer on the largest anvil of the forge rises from the anvil of its own volition (moved by the power of the listening god). It may (or may not) move about or glow to denote the god's will, marked pleasure, or agreement. It descends gently to the anvil, though it comes to rest with a thunderous ring, as if brought down with all the strength of a powerful dwarf.Priesthood
Moradin's clerics, known as Sonnlinor, were usually drawn from family lines, like most dwarven occupations; they wore earthy colors, with chain mail and silvered helms. Moradin charged his followers with the task of wiping out the kingdoms of orcs and wiping out the followers of Gruumsh. The church of Moradin had an active role in guiding the morals of dwarven communities; they emphasized his hand in everyday dwarven activities such as mining, smithing, and engineering, and invoked his blessing when these tasks began. They led the push to found new dwarven kingdoms and increase their status among surface communities.
Novices of Moradin are known as the Unworked. Full priests of the Soul Forger are known as Forgesmiths and as the Tempered. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by priests of Moradin are Adept of the Anvil, Hammer of War, Artisan of the Forge, Craftsman of Runes, Artificer of Discoveries and Smith of Souls. High Old Ones have unique individual titles but are collectively known as the High Forgesmiths.
Priests of Moradin strive to restore the dwarf race to strong numbers and a position of influence in the Flanaess, by founding new dwarf kingdoms and increasing the status of dwarfs within the wider human-dominated society prevalent in the Flanaess today. They preside over a wide range of formal ceremonies (consecrations of forges, temples, and other buildings, crowning of monarchs, etc.) and the education of the young, especially in the teaching of history. They maintain genealogies and historical archives, cooperating with Hallasdia's priests. Adventuring is encouraged in the priesthood, but only adventuring that directly serves the interests of the dwarf race.
Ceremonial vestments for priests of Moradin include flowing, shining robes of woven wire of electrum treated with blueshine. Other ceremonial garb includes silvered everbright helms, silver-plated war hammers, and earth-brown leather boots. The holy symbol of the faith is a miniature electrum war hammer, treated with blueshine.
In combat, Moradin's clergy members favour chain mail or dwarf plate mail, a helm, and a medium or large shield. Priests of the Soul Forger are skilled in the use of the war hammer, but many favour other weapons as well, such as battles axes, broad swords, maces and hand axes.
Sects
The Hammers of Moradin
The Hammers of Moradin are an elite military order dominated by war smiths, with chapters in nearly every dwarf stronghold and members drawn from every dwarf clan. The Hammers serve both as commanders of dwarf armies and as an elite strike force skilled in dealing with anything from large groups of orcs to great wyrms to malevolent fiends from the Lower Planes. The order is dedicated to the defense of existing dwarf holdings and the carving out of new dwarf territories. Individual chapters have a great deal of local autonomy but, in times of great crisis, a Grand Council (the reigning monarchs and senior Hammers of the affected region) assemble to plot strategy and divine Moradin's will.
Type
Religious, Cult
Deities
Related Professions
Manufactured Items
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