Barduumus, The Battlelord
The Dragon God of Strength
Barduumus, known by the title The Battlelord, is the Dragon Deity of Dynamia, the Plane of Strength. To some Hobgoblin, he is called "Khuchtei", which translates to Strongest.
Barduumus is revered as a paragon of strength and skill. Fighters and barbarians feel him in the power of a sword arm and in the honor of battle. Generals seek his guidance in war and guards stand sentinel against their enemies in his name. He is widely worshipped by minotaurs and hobgoblins, and many orcs that follow the old ways honor the Battlelord with their actions.
From deep in the Infinite Battlefield, Barduumus watches over the conflicts of Azimuth. The Hall of Champions is a place of honor for warriors, with statues of great heroes from across the ages.
Barduumus respects the great power and strength of Sehakora, The Maelstrom, and her raging swells. He hates Nerull, The Scythe-Bearer, as the keeper of fate, for he believes true strength can overcome and alter the path one is set upon.
Description
Appearance
Barduumus is a large and muscular beast of a Dragon, clad in steel scales and weapons forged from his forelimbs and claws. Barduumus’s muzzle is as armored as his body. His two long horns angle backwards to singular points, and a sharp sword-like horn protrudes from the top of his snout forwards. His scales are dark gray slate in color and covered in an ornate and articulate armor coating most of the body in thick plate. His hind legs are thick and heavy from supporting his bulk, and his heavy tail ends in a mass of steel. His metallic wings appear as folded blades and make the sound of clanging swords as he moves. Statues of him in shrines and battle pits show him with many angles and a fierce gaze, but never enraged. In some depictions, he holds a large solid steel greatspear; a heavy slab of metal forged with folds beyond counting.Symbology
The symbol of Dynamia is a pair of crossed weapons over a metallic shield. The weapons used in the depiction vary from culture to culture. Barduumus is associated with red colors. His gemstone is the Jasper and his flower is the Rhododendron.Places of significance
Kingdom of Endor
Endor, the First Mountain
Temple of the Flowers – though not as prominent as the temples to Zenethia or Ignosia, here in the upper levels, residents of Endor can leave offerings and prayers to the other Flower Deities. These stone halls and arches have many small shrines in secluded places where small gatherings are held in honor of the Gods or to pray for their boons. However, it is said that each of the gods do have their own full temples in Endor’s lower levels, most do not know where these places might be hidden. Gate of the Maw – there are a number of pillars in the rotunda of the Gate of the Maw. Upon each is a carved depiction of one of the Dragons of Azimuth, including Barduumus.Queendom of Keeleon
Kievs
Steel Crucible – a great construct of metal in honor of the God of Strength.New Keeleon
The Augurs – a collection of religious monuments for each of the eight Dragons, made of large shards of clay.Hobgoblin Khanate
Frozen Fleet Post
Temple of Gan Dalavch – previously a prominent monk monastery and place of faith for both Zenthai and Barduumus in Meenakhan. After Zenthai’s death and the ascension of Chedae at the end of the Fourth Age, the temple’s prominence would fade until very few monks remained. It was refounded in Frozen Fleet Post by Ganbaatar.Principles
As the Dragon of Strength, Barduumus represents the provinces of Strength, War, Battle, and Destruction.Tennants
- Bravery above all. There is no glory in cowardice.
- Strength is the path to greatness. Those weak in war cannot defend what is precious.
Holy day
Barduumus’s holiday is Challenge Day in mid Naerui. It’s a time of battles and reveling in the glory of fighting. The strongest seek out worthy enemies to engage in the heat of honorable battle.Known Worshipers
- Ganbaatar: Hobgoblin monk of the Temple of Gan Dalavch.
History
The Second Age: The Age of the Severance
After the events of the Severance, the world of Azimuth was left without gods. However, so powerful were those entities that had occupied the divine realms, echoes of the gods remained. The people of Azimuth still prayed, and these echoes heard these calls. Flowering from the seeds left behind, new entities began to coalesce. In the Divine Planes, eight new beings were made, given form and function by the faiths of the mortal races and beasts. These eight, great figures of scale and wing and claw would be named the Dragons.The Fifth Age: The Age of Beginnings
After the death of Zenthai, The Dragon King, at the hands of Esturk, The World's End, Barduumus could not believe that Esturk would kill his greatest foe. Though, he believes Esturk earned that victory all the same. With the question of who next would rise to again face Esturk in the cycle of war, Barduumus began to prepare. He did not believe Chedae, The Heaven's Light, the new Dragon of Zenethia, was up to the task. Instead, Barduumus would rise to face the challenge himself.Azimuth Anthology: Tournament of Champions
From the The Hall of Champions, Barduumus summoned five warriors held within Dynamia, the Plane of Strength: Daedra Sen, Karda Skullripper, Styrke, Galaduath Valaran, and Edern Hamme. Barduumus welcomed the group and told them why they had been selected. With the death of Zenthai at the hands of Esturk, Barduumus did not believe that Chedae was up to the task of facing him. Barduumus wanted new champions to fill the hall and to guide his followers with divine energy as they prepared to face Esturk when next he arose. He charged these warriors to prove themselves in his personal stadium, the Steel Soul Arena, and with another slam of his greatspear, they were transported once again. In this grand arena, he sent his gathered obstacles and enemies against these chosen five. After rounds of combat, only one of the warriors remained. Barduumus opened the victory hall to Edern, his new champion. As he welcomed Edern, Barduumus said that his days of facing demons were far from done.Quotations
- "The great Dragon, Zenthai of Zenethia, has fallen in his last battle to Esturk. Now, it’s a nigh-impossible feat none of us thought would happen. And now the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces." - AA 04.1
- "[Chedae] is young, and that platinum whelp is not up to the task!" - AA 04.1
- "It is we who are going to have to take up the mantle the next time [Esturk] awakens." - AA 04.1
- "The first rule of war is there are no rules." - AA 04.2
Divine Classification
Dragon
Children
Ruled Locations