Duun Character in The Known World | World Anvil

Duun

"A king he was on carven throne, in many-pillared halls of stone. With golden roof and silver floor, and runes of power upon the door. The light of sun and star and moon, in shining lamps of crystal hewn. Undimmed by cloud or shade of night, there shone for ever fair and bright."
— A Common Duunish Hymn
  Unlike the other mortal heroes, Duun is not revered as a saint, rather, in time, he has become a deific figure in dwarven lore, and they worship him as the greatest of their ancestral gods. He is the principal deity of the dwarves and is credited with teaching the dwarves all the skills for which they are famous. His titles include the “Silvered Lord”, and the “Lord of the Forge”. His name is invoked by dwarves involved in smithwork or craftsmanship of any sort, and they give him homage by doing their best work and seeking to emulate his stonework and craftsmanship.   A harsh but fair authority, Duun judges dwarves on their achievements and the success of their endeavors, not just on their good hearts. He is a stern and uncompromising defender of the dwarven people and the principles of law. According to dwarven lore, Duun crafted some of the most powerful dwarf artifacts, including the Silver Crown. During the War of Broken Chains, Duun led the dwarves into the safety of the earth and taught his kin to craft the first strongholds, including the grand dwarven citadel of Duunhollow which he and his followers carved over the course of 10 years. When the time was right, he brought forth the dwarf armies alongside Cairn's rebellion to battle the Ak'teshi Empire.

Depiction

Duun appears as a stern male dwarf twenty feet in height. He has powerful musculature, particularly in his upper body. His beard is immaculate; it is depicted as either snow-white or coal-black. Duun dresses plainly, wearing furs and the leather leggings and aprons of a humble smith. On his forearms are his only concession to vanity, a pair of pure gold bracers. In battle, he wears dwarven plate and carries a shield. His large, runic, glowing war hammer is named Giantsbane. A pure white radiance of divine power radiates from the ancestor god, though he can suppress this at will.

Tenets of Faith

Duun is the greatest ancestral hero of the dwarven race. Honor him by emulating his principles and workmanship in smithing, stone working, and other tasks. Wisdom is derived from life and tempered with experience. Advance the dwarven race in all areas of life. Innovate with new processes and skills. Found new kingdoms and clan lands, defending the existing ones from all threats. Lead the dwarves in the traditions laid down by the Silvered Lord. Honor your clan leaders as you honor the memory of Duun.   Meet adversity with stoicism and tenacity. Struggle is part of living. Death is part of life. All mortal creatures must face adversity and tragedy. What you suffer is not as important as how you deal with adversity. Duun calls upon his followers to face their fear, challenge their enemies, and never give in to despair. The only way to beat a problem is to beat the problem — sometimes repeatedly. Duun's way often boils down to sheer tenacity to overcome a challenge.   Demonstrate loyalty to your family, your clan, your leaders, and your people. Duunish worshippers are called upon to worship Duun first, but also demand they pay heed to their other obligations. Loyalty and duty are crucial elements to success, and one must remain true to one's family, friends, and allies, even in the face of adversity. Loyalty is something that must be proven more than once, and it must be continually reaffirmed.   Strive to make a mark on the world, a lasting legacy. Like Duun himself, all mortal creatures are, by definition, mortal. All creatures must die. The only way to overcome this limitation is to create and build a legacy. A legacy can be many things, including children, a cleverly crafted item, or even an empire. Duunish worshippers are encouraged to craft a legacy for the ages.

The Church of Duun

The church of Duun has an active role in guiding the morals of dwarven communities. They emphasize the Silvered Lord's hand in everyday dwarven activities such as mining, smithing, and engineering, and invoke his blessings when these tasks are begun.   Priests of Duun strive to advance the dwarven race by founding new dwarven kingdoms and increasing the status of dwarves within the wider human-dominated society prevalent in the world today. They preside over a wide range of formal ceremonies, such as the consecration of forges, temples, and other buildings, the crowning of monarchs, and the education of the young, especially in the teaching of history. Of particular interest to the clerics of Duun is the Duunheart Forge in the dwarven capital of Duunhollow, and the legendary Silver Crown.   Followers of Duun believe that though Duun has long since passed, he is not dead. Instead, he was reforged deep beneath the earth and sits upon a throne of carven stone amidst a lake of fire awaiting the day he is needed once more should the giants return.   His clerics are usually drawn from family lines, like most dwarven occupations. Many clerics of Duun thus had parents and grandparents who were also clerics of Duun and helped train them.   Clerics maintain genealogies and historical archives, cooperating with Berronar's priests. Adventuring is encouraged in the priesthood, but only if adventuring directly serves the interests of the dwarven race.
Portfolio
Dwarves, Law, Craftsmanship, Royalty, Dwarf Kings, Mountains, Fatherhood, Oaths, Rune-smithing
Divine Classification
Greater Ancestral God
Alignment
Lawful Neutral
Species
Children
Gender
Male

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