Church of Torag
Most of Torag’s worshippers are dwarves, but he has human followers as well; he’s particularly venerated in Druma, where overlap with dwarven culture from the Five Kings Mountains is common, and in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, where community cohesion is vital for survival in a severe environment. Larger communities are served by dwarven priests, though some smaller settlements make do with human priests.
Priests create and maintain the armor and weapons of the faithful, build defenses for their settlements, and instruct militias in the use of weaponry and tactics for proper civil defense. Lay artisans garner respect within the church, especially skilled smiths. Likewise, tactically minded laity of the community are welcome to give their suggestions to the temple priests, though they are not conventionally given any sort of official role in the religious hierarchy.
Typical worshippers of Torag include smiths, soldiers, officers, rulers, and scouts. They craft tools and weapons for the community, watch territorial borders, keep streets safe, plan and build defenses, and train others to forge and to protect their people. They’re stable, dependable, conservative, loyal, and diligent.
Temple worship services take place at the central forge, with the high priest leading the ceremony and other priests assisting at the anvils. Services consist of long chants, punctuated by the din of hammers and bellows to keep time. These services might incorporate actual crafting, the products of which may be sold to traveling merchants to support the temple or given to needy members of the community.
The faithful of Torag consider burrowing animals and those that dwell in caves and mountainous areas sacred, and eat them only when starvation is the only other choice. Flying creatures that live underground, however—in particular, bats, mobats, and skavelings—are seen as unclean abominations, and many members of the faith insist on performing ablutions or conducting a minor purification ritual after touching or being touched by such creatures.
Torag strongly encourages his followers to marry, and it’s common for his servants to marry other priests from the same temple in unions arranged by the high priest. He also encourages his followers to have (or adopt) children, but given that dwarven couples might go decades without conceiving, his plan is long-term—like much of the god’s work. In some communities, it is traditional for an unmarried priest (especially an older one uninterested in a physical marriage or far past reproductive age) to be “spiritually betrothed” to a named celestial servitor associated with that community, such as a chalkost.
A typical shrine—whether public or in a home—is an alcove with an anvil-shaped altar. In dwarven communities, temples and shrines include a shelf to hold statuettes of Torag and the other dwarven deities so the priests can invoke prayers to them. Miners and explorers may place a small statue of Torag—or sometimes a stone bearing his hammer symbol—in an alcove or niche so the god may watch over them; it is customary to leave the statue in place for others to see, rather than to bring the statue with you when you leave, and therefore devoted explorers carry several statues with them or quickly carve one when needed. The most sacred places are those that have been retaken from orcs and other enemies, and shrines may be built there to commemorate their return to dwarven control.
Though most of Torag’s followers are clerics, fighters, cavaliers, or paladins, the church also welcomes bards, as the faithful need someone to remind them of dwarven history and heroes, so they can emulate their examples. There are a few unarmed monasteries dedicated to Torag, though monks are rare among the clergy—most dwarves believe the Father of Creation favors the hammer and axe over the naked fist. Barbarians often approve of Torag’s black-and-white worldview and may devote themselves to his service in order to tame their rage or channel it to serve their people, although they often have difficulty dealing with the strict hierarchies and precise tactics of the church. Torag’s inquisitors search for weaknesses in the walls and other defenses, root out cheats and thieves that undermine safety and prosperity, and watch for the influence of Droskar. They remain alert for the presence of kobolds, goblins, and orcs, and also train common folk in the best tactics for defeating these common enemies. Every priest undergoes at least a small amount of training in some kind of smithing, as well as Knowledge (engineering) to better construct defenses and Knowledge (history) to learn the battle tactics of famous leaders.
Several military orders pledge themselves to Torag’s service. Whether human or dwarven, these knights have little use for the needless ceremony common to other knightly orders, and speak only when necessary, though they usually still relax and allow themselves to laugh in the company of friends and family. When the time comes to act, they do so without hesitation, placing themselves between their people and danger, warhammers at the ready.
Each morning, a priest rises early to stoke the coals of a temple forge, and then prepares breakfast while the forge reaches a suitable temperature. After eating, the priest does a little short-term work at the forge or anvil as a morning prayer, such as smelting a few chunks of ore or hammering a metal bar into a more useful shape for an apprentice or another priest to use. The priest prepares spells during this meditative, repetitive activity. After morning prayers, the priest leaves to pursue his assigned duties, which may be at the forge or anvil or elsewhere in the settlement. Acolytes assist smiths when equipment runs short, aid in drilling new soldiers in military maneuvers and weapon training, and carry orders from generals to military outposts (often relying on spells like sanctuary to keep them safe).
Most priests work as smiths for governmental or military organizations. They understand the practical needs of crafting as a necessary trade rather than as a form of artistic expression, and a weapon or piece of armor with Torag’s symbol on the smith-mark might not be ornate or even overly pretty, but it was surely tested for quality and durability. Priests who aren’t inclined to work at a forge, anvil, or architect’s desk all day gravitate toward leadership positions where they can use their knowledge to direct others on the battlefield or city walls, whipping them into shape and maintaining discipline. In a fortress with a priest of Torag serving as the steward, guards never sleep on duty.
Torag’s clergy take their responsibilities seriously, and are deeply involved with their communities. When they take up adventuring, it is with the goal of bettering their communities in some way. They expect to lead, or at the very least to be consulted on decisions, and can be expected to have a contingency plan ready at all times. This need for everything to be properly planned may lead them to act like judgmental parents, or bark at their companions about how a careless act could endanger everyone, but few can argue with the quality of their preparation and organization. They don’t like being idle, and prefer to keep their hands busy even while resting, braiding leather cords into thicker strands (perhaps for use as a cover for a weapon hilt) or inspecting a bag of crossbow bolt heads for flawed units in need of reforging. A typical adventuring priest is familiar with crafting, military hierarchy, and basic troop defense strategies. The church is organized like an army, with clear ranks and a chain of command. The High Defender is the leader of the overall church, presiding over the faithful from the fortress-temple known as the Forge of Torag in Highhelm; the heads of individual temples serve collectively as his military council, though in practice this means his council is usually composed of temple leaders from the nearest settlements. The church grants promotions and awards for excellent strategic ideas; heroic acts of defense in battle; and innovations in forging, smelting, and other crafting. Many settlements make the priesthood an official part of the city guard, though priests are only required to follow orders from lay officers in times of civil defense.
Torag’s followers expect to lead their parties, or at least to advise the leaders. If their parties’ leaders don’t make adequate plans, then Torag’s followers will provide contingency plans, as Torag would expect nothing less. They seek peace within the groups they exist, even if they must be the hammer that forges that peace from stubborn steel. As such, they have little patience for selfishness or greed, believing that if any member of the band or community suffers all the members suffer.
Priests create and maintain the armor and weapons of the faithful, build defenses for their settlements, and instruct militias in the use of weaponry and tactics for proper civil defense. Lay artisans garner respect within the church, especially skilled smiths. Likewise, tactically minded laity of the community are welcome to give their suggestions to the temple priests, though they are not conventionally given any sort of official role in the religious hierarchy.
Typical worshippers of Torag include smiths, soldiers, officers, rulers, and scouts. They craft tools and weapons for the community, watch territorial borders, keep streets safe, plan and build defenses, and train others to forge and to protect their people. They’re stable, dependable, conservative, loyal, and diligent.
Temple worship services take place at the central forge, with the high priest leading the ceremony and other priests assisting at the anvils. Services consist of long chants, punctuated by the din of hammers and bellows to keep time. These services might incorporate actual crafting, the products of which may be sold to traveling merchants to support the temple or given to needy members of the community.
The faithful of Torag consider burrowing animals and those that dwell in caves and mountainous areas sacred, and eat them only when starvation is the only other choice. Flying creatures that live underground, however—in particular, bats, mobats, and skavelings—are seen as unclean abominations, and many members of the faith insist on performing ablutions or conducting a minor purification ritual after touching or being touched by such creatures.
Torag strongly encourages his followers to marry, and it’s common for his servants to marry other priests from the same temple in unions arranged by the high priest. He also encourages his followers to have (or adopt) children, but given that dwarven couples might go decades without conceiving, his plan is long-term—like much of the god’s work. In some communities, it is traditional for an unmarried priest (especially an older one uninterested in a physical marriage or far past reproductive age) to be “spiritually betrothed” to a named celestial servitor associated with that community, such as a chalkost.
Temples & Shrines
Every act of smelting and smithing is considered a prayer to Torag, and even his smallest temple includes at least one anvil. Most temples are circular, built around a large, central forge, fully functional and with satellite anvils throughout. The devout use all these workspaces at various times of the day, and the noise from early morning prayer-work makes it almost impossible to sleep in at a temple—though some churches have a remote chamber, such as an infirmary, for when quiet is needed. Many settlements build their temples into the outer defensive wall to keep the noise away from residences and to allow the priests to monitor the city’s defenses. Priests enlarge temples to meet the needs of their communities, and older settlements usually have grand cathedrals built around or over the original temples. Many contain mausoleums, though most dwarves prefer to be buried in their family tombs. Every temple is stocked with arms and foodstuffs so it can be used as a fortress and rallying point if the community comes under attack.A typical shrine—whether public or in a home—is an alcove with an anvil-shaped altar. In dwarven communities, temples and shrines include a shelf to hold statuettes of Torag and the other dwarven deities so the priests can invoke prayers to them. Miners and explorers may place a small statue of Torag—or sometimes a stone bearing his hammer symbol—in an alcove or niche so the god may watch over them; it is customary to leave the statue in place for others to see, rather than to bring the statue with you when you leave, and therefore devoted explorers carry several statues with them or quickly carve one when needed. The most sacred places are those that have been retaken from orcs and other enemies, and shrines may be built there to commemorate their return to dwarven control.
Clothing
Most dwarves follow Torag, but the particularly devoted wear rings on their fingers, in their beards, or in their ears, and every ring tells a story. Each is marked with Torag’s symbol as well as with indications of how the bearer earned it: service to a friend, fealty to a lord, discovery of a new metal vein, and so on. Formal dress for clergy is work-worn and knee-length leather smithing aprons. Many priests do not decorate this garment, but some burn symbols into the leather or adorn it with studs, rivets, plates, or badges of steel or precious metal to commemorate significant events—such as marriage, the birth of a child, or the completion of the priest’s first set of full plate. Priests also often carry large blacksmithing hammers during ceremonies; such a hammer may be plain or engraved, and is quite functional as a weapon. Most wear their hair long, growing elaborate braids or facial hair to emulate their god’s mighty beard. As a result, even many non-dwarven priests have a distinctly dwarven appearance.A Priest’s Role
Torag is not a god of half-measures. Priests either accept his doctrine as it is or come up against the unyielding wall of dwarven tradition. They’re expected to remain orthodox in all ways, and offer every action they take in service of their goals: the safety of their people, the defeat of their enemies, and the production of useful and sturdy tools for civilization. Life is a precious gift, and every breath taken should have purpose to it, even if that purpose is simply enjoying the company of friends and a mug of ale.Though most of Torag’s followers are clerics, fighters, cavaliers, or paladins, the church also welcomes bards, as the faithful need someone to remind them of dwarven history and heroes, so they can emulate their examples. There are a few unarmed monasteries dedicated to Torag, though monks are rare among the clergy—most dwarves believe the Father of Creation favors the hammer and axe over the naked fist. Barbarians often approve of Torag’s black-and-white worldview and may devote themselves to his service in order to tame their rage or channel it to serve their people, although they often have difficulty dealing with the strict hierarchies and precise tactics of the church. Torag’s inquisitors search for weaknesses in the walls and other defenses, root out cheats and thieves that undermine safety and prosperity, and watch for the influence of Droskar. They remain alert for the presence of kobolds, goblins, and orcs, and also train common folk in the best tactics for defeating these common enemies. Every priest undergoes at least a small amount of training in some kind of smithing, as well as Knowledge (engineering) to better construct defenses and Knowledge (history) to learn the battle tactics of famous leaders.
Several military orders pledge themselves to Torag’s service. Whether human or dwarven, these knights have little use for the needless ceremony common to other knightly orders, and speak only when necessary, though they usually still relax and allow themselves to laugh in the company of friends and family. When the time comes to act, they do so without hesitation, placing themselves between their people and danger, warhammers at the ready.
Each morning, a priest rises early to stoke the coals of a temple forge, and then prepares breakfast while the forge reaches a suitable temperature. After eating, the priest does a little short-term work at the forge or anvil as a morning prayer, such as smelting a few chunks of ore or hammering a metal bar into a more useful shape for an apprentice or another priest to use. The priest prepares spells during this meditative, repetitive activity. After morning prayers, the priest leaves to pursue his assigned duties, which may be at the forge or anvil or elsewhere in the settlement. Acolytes assist smiths when equipment runs short, aid in drilling new soldiers in military maneuvers and weapon training, and carry orders from generals to military outposts (often relying on spells like sanctuary to keep them safe).
Most priests work as smiths for governmental or military organizations. They understand the practical needs of crafting as a necessary trade rather than as a form of artistic expression, and a weapon or piece of armor with Torag’s symbol on the smith-mark might not be ornate or even overly pretty, but it was surely tested for quality and durability. Priests who aren’t inclined to work at a forge, anvil, or architect’s desk all day gravitate toward leadership positions where they can use their knowledge to direct others on the battlefield or city walls, whipping them into shape and maintaining discipline. In a fortress with a priest of Torag serving as the steward, guards never sleep on duty.
Torag’s clergy take their responsibilities seriously, and are deeply involved with their communities. When they take up adventuring, it is with the goal of bettering their communities in some way. They expect to lead, or at the very least to be consulted on decisions, and can be expected to have a contingency plan ready at all times. This need for everything to be properly planned may lead them to act like judgmental parents, or bark at their companions about how a careless act could endanger everyone, but few can argue with the quality of their preparation and organization. They don’t like being idle, and prefer to keep their hands busy even while resting, braiding leather cords into thicker strands (perhaps for use as a cover for a weapon hilt) or inspecting a bag of crossbow bolt heads for flawed units in need of reforging. A typical adventuring priest is familiar with crafting, military hierarchy, and basic troop defense strategies. The church is organized like an army, with clear ranks and a chain of command. The High Defender is the leader of the overall church, presiding over the faithful from the fortress-temple known as the Forge of Torag in Highhelm; the heads of individual temples serve collectively as his military council, though in practice this means his council is usually composed of temple leaders from the nearest settlements. The church grants promotions and awards for excellent strategic ideas; heroic acts of defense in battle; and innovations in forging, smelting, and other crafting. Many settlements make the priesthood an official part of the city guard, though priests are only required to follow orders from lay officers in times of civil defense.
Adventurers
When one adventures in the service of Torag, she does so not to seek glory or honor, but because she that as her true place in life. Her god is a warrior god as well as a creator, and he respects those who develop strength and power from within. Followers of Torag might go on quests for their home temples, seek rare metals for their forges, or hope to learn at the feet of a master general, but every journey they undertake is ultimately with the end goal of bettering their communities. This might mean questing for sites or masterpieces spoken of in the legends of their people but lost to the modern world, or seeking out the tools and materials necessary to bring some new, unmatched masterpiece into being. They also eagerly seek to lend aid to peoples and lands under siege from one hardship or another, whether that be invaders, disease, famine, or other strife. While they don’t balk at entering battle, especially to recover something that was unrightfully taken, they view themselves as guardians and defenders first, and a force for attacking second.Torag’s followers expect to lead their parties, or at least to advise the leaders. If their parties’ leaders don’t make adequate plans, then Torag’s followers will provide contingency plans, as Torag would expect nothing less. They seek peace within the groups they exist, even if they must be the hammer that forges that peace from stubborn steel. As such, they have little patience for selfishness or greed, believing that if any member of the band or community suffers all the members suffer.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Toragdan
Deities
Divines
Controlled Territories
Torag’s Champion Code
Champions of Torag are dedicated to protecting not just the lives but the way of life for those under their charge, and hold the ways of their chosen people as holy, especially when they are the centuries-old works and traditions of an entire race. Their tenets include the following affirmations.- My word is my bond. When I give my word formally, I defend my oath to my death. Traps lie in idle banter or thoughtless talk, and so I watch my tongue.
- I am at all times truthful, honorable, and forthright, but my allegiance is to my people. I will do what is necessary to serve them, including misleading others if need be.
- I respect the forge, and never sully it with half-hearted work. My creations reflect the depth of my faith, and I will not allow flaws save in direst need.
- Against my people’s enemies, I will show no mercy. I will not allow their surrender, except when strategy warrants. I will defeat them, yet even in the direst struggle, I will act in a way that brings honor to Torag.
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