To understand the relationship between the devout dwarves and their pantheon, it is important to note that the dwarves to not view their gods as the creators of the dwarvish race. Instead, the dwarvish creation myth states that the first dwarves were born spontaneously from the earth itself. For thousands of years, these proto-dwarves lived below the earth's surface as blind, naked cave-dwellers no more intelligent than the average beast.
It was purely by sheer luck that the proto-dwarves would come to be discovered by three brothers, who had departed from their home in the heavens to dig through the earth below in search of treasure. When they discovered these early dwarves, the brothers took pity upon the primitive creatures; the brothers then took it upon themselves to educate the dwarves in their ways: how to mine for stone, precious metal and gemstones, how to craft and forge their own clothing, weapons and armour, and finally how to dig through the earth so that they could emerge and see the light of the World Above.
Upon receiving these gifts from the brothers, now known to the dwarves as the First Fathers, these early dwarves divided into two factions: those that wished to see the World Above ventured out from their underground lairs to the surface world; those that feared the light of the World Above chose instead to stay and embrace the darkness of the World Below, becoming the first Duergar.
The First Fathers
The Firth Fathers make up the primary triumvirate of the dwarvish pantheon, representing the three gods believed to have the greatest degree of direct influence over the development of dwarven civilization and culture. They are as follows:
Petram, Father of Stone
| Alignment |
Lawful Good |
| Symbol |
A silver pickaxe |
| Divine Domains |
Life, Light, Order |
| Sacred Oaths |
Crown, Devotion |
Petram, the eldest of the First Fathers, is the dwarvish god of stone, mining, and masonry. He is described as an impossibly tall figure, with eyes that shine like searchlights and armed with a mighty pickaxe which could reduce an entire mountain to rubble with a single strike. According to the myths surrounding him, Petram watches over the world in the form of the sun itself; the two moons in the night sky are said to be his wives, and the stars are their many children.
Ferrum, Father of Steel
| Alignment |
Lawful Neutral |
| Symbol |
A bronze anvil |
| Divine Domains |
Forge, War |
| Sacred Oaths |
Conquest, Glory, Vengeance |
Ferrum is the middle sibling of the First Fathers, and serves as the dwarvish god of precious metals, blacksmithing and warfare. He is described as an armored figure with a fiery-red beard, sometimes depicted in artwork as a beard made of literal fire. It is said that Ferrum rewards those who prove themselves to have a warrior's spirit, whether it be on the literal field of battle or on a figurative battlefield, such as being a particularly cutthroat merchant or businessman.
Admas, Father of Greed
| Alignment |
Chaotic Neutral |
| Symbol |
A red gemstone |
| Divine Domains |
Death, Knowledge, Trickery |
| Sacred Oaths |
Treachery, Watchers |
The youngest and most enigmatic of the First Fathers, Admas is the dwarvish god of gemstones, ancient secrets, and darkness. He is described as a gaunt figure with a bald head, pale skin and a beard of living, moving braids which are said to resemble writhing tendrils. While worship of Admas is rare among surface-dwelling dwarves, he has a significantly larger following among the subterranean Duergar, who believe that Admas chose to stay with the dwarves who did not wish to live in the World Above and chose instead to stay within the World Below. Duergar who are born with innate psionic abilities are said to be recipients of the "Blessings of Admas" and are often highly revered in duergar culture.
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