Gonvarg

From within deep caverns waiting

Gonvarg took ore gray and plain

And his world he took to plating

Stout and strong, to weather pain

Valiant swords and hammers mighty

Axes for to fell his foes

An artist with a mind so bright, he

Shaped the earth from which he rose

Ode to the Ironbender

Gonvarg is the god of the forge. He initially saw the greatness of the other Meydra and deeply desired to find his own purpose, and went about observing them at work and learning various skills. For many years he was unsure of what direction he was meant to take, as he couldn't figure how to combine his skills and passions in a productive way: he loved to make things, an interest he had inherited from his father Kress, and longed to protect other people, but did not necessarily fancy himself a fighter. He was physically strong and believed in righteous war, and was inspired by the creative endeavors of his father, but felt his calling did not precisely lie in either of these areas. He was exploring a deep cave once and came across an iron ore vein. Curious, he purified it with his powers and began to shape it under intense heat. Where previously, most weaponry had been made of stone, bone, or wood, he introduced metal to the world, and immediately began using it to craft weapons. For this he received great praise from the warrior Meydra, particularly Mannaret.
The dwarven race is usually attributed to Gonvarg. According to legend, while he was hunting for materials deep in the earth, he was suddenly struck by the practical impossibility of supplying weapons and armor to everyone in Ekaia who needed them. He took of the gold ore around him and from it forged the dwarven race, channeling the will of Evendur to breathe life into them. Thus, he is overwhelmingly portrayed as a dwarf, with metal armor and a large hammer.

Relationships

Gonvarg's parents were Kress and Vedanav. He was initially fairly close with his sister Zhamat, but saw little of her after her return from her ordeal with the red dragon. He is believed to have had several children.

Followers

Gonvarg is revered by most dwarves of Ekaia, as well as many of its smiths, particularly blacksmiths. It has also been discovered that many giants, especially those of the storm and stone variety, have a strong devotion to Gonvarg, with a number of different legends connecting the creation of dwarves and giants. As part of their clerical training, priests of Gonvarg, called forgemen, gradually build their own unique sets of armor, which usually have multiple different styles, resulting in a patchwork appearance. They always wear select pieces of this armor with their priestly vestments.

Associated Customs

"By heat and hammer": A common expression similar to "Come what may" or "By hook or by crook."

"By the first forge!": A minor oath used as an exclamation of surprise or impressment, referring to the legendary forge of Gonvarg.

Nazendag: Celebrated on March 13th, this feast commemorates the creation of the dwarven race. There are several associated songs and chants, designed to be timed with the sounds of mining. It is traditionally marked by a small dinner eaten with the clan in an underground hall, even in mainly aboveground communities.

Aspects

Ronaagh: Ronaagh is the controversial orcish aspect of Gonvarg. He is portrayed as an orc himself in this aspect, with distinct white face paint. It is unknown if he ever took a form like this, what the origin of this traditional aspect really is, or if Ronaagh could have existed as a separate entity from Gonvarg.

Sitaklan: Sitaklan is the name commonly given to Gonvarg by giants. He looks very similar, with the exception of his proportions.

Divine Domains

The forge, smiths, warriors, armorers, protection

Divine Classification

God

Religions

• Clerical Order of Gonvarg

Species

Meydra

Symbol