Mahth (/Maath/)
"He Who Forges Arms Arcane"
Summary
Mahth is the Great Blacksmith in the Sky, the Enchanter of the Forge. While he shares the discipline of blacksmithing with Thear, Mahth differs by dabbling frequently in magic, imbuing his weapons with its force to empower them. This is one of the causes of his friendly rivalry with Thear, a rivalry which is more one-sided - Thear cares little about competition. Mahth believes strongly that enchantment can perfect a blade; Thear, rather, believes the best blade to be forged purely in fire, unaltered by the volatile touch of arcana. Beyond their professional rivalry, Mahth’s friendship with Szu'ul also frustrates Thear. The god of destruction and the god of diplomacy have difficulty getting along, after all, and Mahth's willingness to provide Szu'ul with weapons that fuel his wrath is, at best, viewed as irresponsible by Thear.The Canon and the Way
Mahth is a deity with few differences between the ways the doctrines characterize him. His text, after all, is more of a description of enchanted artifacts the god has created, rather than an actual diatribe about morality. Opinions on Mahth in the Prime Canon are especially affected by public perception of enchantment, which is distrusted due to its usage of magic. Among the Green Way, magic is perhaps a little less distrusted, and so enchanted objects tend to be viewed with greater fascination than fear. This improves perceptions of Mahth, especially among blacksmiths who follow the Way, but Thear still remains more popular among those who work merely with flame and metal.Symbology
Mahth is represented most often by a shield. In artistic symbolism, the shield is often surrounded by flames, representing both the forge and enchantment. Mahth is often spoken of as a bull, and cows are viewed as his physical manifestation by a minority of his followers. Most believe his appearance to be similar to that of a minotaur, or some form of humanoid bull, and while the cow is still somewhat important because of this, it certainly is not sacred.Rites and Worship
Mahth is preferred over Thear most commonly by blacksmiths in cosmopolitan areas, where magic is less feared and universities dedicated to its study are available. Wizards have long attempted to investigate the capabilities of enchantment, and collaborations between them and blacksmiths tends to prosper in such environments and leads to worship of Mahth. Mahth is also popular among soldiers and blacksmiths who work at fortresses, especially on the frontlines, for he is viewed as more war-like than the hesitant Thear. Mahth actually has a healthy amount of Clerics serving under him. Typically, these are war-priests who combine magic, artisanship, and martial quality, and who are highly sought-after by all militaries of the world for their discipline and autonomy. These priests have constructed temples in many fortress-cities, as well as most capitals of the world, where free exploration of enchantment is protected despite popular opinion or the displeasure of the legal authorities. Few would dare go up against his devout priests in battle.Holy Text: Mahth has no holy text, but he is credited with inventing the Seraphic script which all holy texts are written in.
Tenets |
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Penances | Strictures |
| ⊕ Forge an artifact in Mahth's glory. ⊕ Enchant any object. | ⊝ Never show devotion to Thear, nor make any object in his name. |
Mandates |
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| ⊜ Upon entering a monastery, offer a coin to the collection plate, unless you have come to request one. |
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