The Dhiathan
The eight Dhiathan are the gods of the dwarves, some believe that they were the ancient first dwarven kings and queens. Who ascended to godhood through the fervour of their people's love and belief. Each of the Dhiathan embody an aspect that is prominent in every dwarf that walks the land today. Statues, idols and metal emblems of the Dhiathan are honoured in every Dern, every beerhall, every smithy and every battleground.
Modsognir
The first and most important deity in dwarven culture is Modsognir, the Father of Creation. It was he who created the dwarfs, and who instilled in them the values of honesty, dependability and hard work. He embodies the spirit of creation and the fire of a blacksmith's forge, and he teaches his followers that there is no greater joy than finishing a hard day's work and gazing upon the fruits of one's labor. Modsognir believes in building things that last, and in never being satisfied with a half-finished job.
According to legend, Modsognir created the first dwarfs as a test of his skills, an attempt to create his very own masterpiece. He carved their bodies from the hardest granite. He cut their souls from the clearest and most brilliant gemstones. He gave them an unbreakable will made from the strongest iron. Finally, he breathed life into them through the fires of his eternal forge. When Modsognir was finished, he wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled, for he had created a people that none could ever surpass.
Brimheidr
Brimheidr, the Keeper of the Hearth. She is the wife of Modsognir, and is the second-most powerful god in the dwarven pantheon. She embodies family, clan, home, fertility, love, as well as the fire of the hearth. She teaches the values of family honor and loyalty to the clan.
Despite his divinity, even Modsognir has the tendency of all craftsmen to become lost in his work. When that happens, his beloved wife Brimheidr is there to gently pull him away from his workshop, reminding him to take care of himself and to return to his project later, with a rested body and a refreshed mind. After her husband created the dwarfs, Brimheidr took an immediate shine to these little creatures. She cared for them as a mother would for her children. She taught them to build homes for themselves, to start families, and to use the fire they had previously used in their forges to instead fill their homes with light and warmth.
Dvalin
The god Dvalin is said to have been one of the first dwarfs created by Modsognir. He was a peerless miner, possessing a natural talent for finding precious minerals in the earth. He carved out the largest tunnel system in history, and upon his death, was buried in its deepest mineshafts. He is the patron god of miners and tunnelers, as well as the dwarven god of death. According to legend, he guides the souls of departed dwarfs through deep, dark tunnels into Modsognir' eternal workshop. It is for this reason that all dead dwarfs must be buried, lest they be unable to pass into the afterlife.
Dolgthrasir
When the dwarfs first encountered the vile creatures that lurked within the mountains, it was king Dolgthrasir who first stepped up to fight against these destructive beings. It was he who realized that hammers, axes and picks—the very tools his folk used to craft wondrous objects—could be used as weapons to defend the weak. And it was he who taught his kin to craft armor and weapons, and to use them against those who would threaten their home. He is worshipped as a god of battle, honor, and courage. To Dolgthrasir, the true measure of a dwarf lies in their willingness to take up arms and fight for what is right.
Reginn
A highly regarded deity in the northern dwarf holds is Reginn, the Lawgiver. He was the one to bring order to the dwarven people and to write the first dwarven laws, many of which remain unchanged to this day. He is remembered for being one of the first dwarven kings, and ruling his people well into his fifth century of life. He is the god of law, tradition, and knowledge, and his priests serve as judges and lawmasters in dwarven cities.
Brynna
Brynna was a dwarf queen who took over the rulership of her kingdom after her husband's death. Only a few weeks after her ascension to the throne, a group of halflings came to her court and asked for aid against the bandits that were ravaging their homeland. Even though her rule was not yet established in the eyes of her neighbors, Brynna did not hesitate to lead a host of warriors into the halflings' lands and drive the creatures out. She then helped the halflings rebuild their villages and established a firm alliance. As thanks, the halflings shared with her the knowledge of how to create a beverage known as beer, which she brought back with her to the dwarven lands. For her selfless deeds, Brynna is remembered as a defender of the weak and worshipped as the goddess of loyalty and friendship.
Andvari
In life, the dwarf woman Andvari was the first to lead a kingdom of dwarfs to the surface, after an earthquake had collapsed a large part of their underground halls and cut them off from the rest of their people. While others were wary of this strange world outside the mountain, Andvari set forth without hesitation, leading her people to discover new lands and making first contact with other races. Now, she is the goddess of wanderlust, nature and survival, and she watches over wanderers, diplomats, and all dwarfs who have decided to make a life aboveground.
Fafnir
Legends tell of a small but clever dwarf named Fafnir, who, along with his brothers, once slew a dragon and claimed its hoard. To celebrate their victory, each of the three dwarfs also took a piece of the dragon; Fafnir's brothers crafted a suit of armor from the wyrm's scales and a set of daggers from its teeth, while Fafnir himself took the dragon's blood and made it into mead. Yet upon drinking the dragon's blood, Fafnir was overtaken by avarice. He refused to share the dragon's treasure with anyone, and when his brothers went to take their share, he slew them. After the dwarfs of his hometown found out about his crime, they shaved his beard and sent him into exile. After that, historical accounts of Fafnir are few and far between, though legends tell of a vast treasure hoard that remains undiscovered to this day. Though he is often referred to as the god of greed and trickery, Fafnir is not openly worshipped by the dwarfs. He mostly serves as a foil to the other gods, and as an embodiment of all the qualities that dwarven society views as sinful; greed, selfishness, cowardice, deceipt, laziness, dishonour and vengence.
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