Religoius DIfferences Among the Dwarven Devout

Deiiies and Their Followers are Sometimes at Odds...

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES in DWARVEN SOCIETY

Dwarven Relgions vary widely in their focus, and especially in the personalities of their deities. Each religion has its own flavor, and its own followers. Here is a link to the Dwarven Pantheon, and its lineage. Many of the gods have no particular relationships with others, but the ones that do are notable. They affect the relationships of their followers as well.
Most currently to our story, Agnarr and Bonja seem to be at odds with each other all the time, especially in the old tales. Agnarr’s big, powerful, and often stupid demeanor mixes with Bonja’s energy and trickiness. It seems the two are always at odds, and it may have something to do with their chaotic nature.
Eskil, of course, is at times at odds with all the deities. He hates them with a passion, particularly the Eye Themself, but can never seem to get the best of Them for long. The invasion of the Kiddzai has Eskil drooling a bit and rubbing his hands together in anticipation. This alien race may do his job for him and overthrow the very pantheon itself. Eskil will do whatever he can to help in this process.
Yelika and Karnaem, the mother and father deities, are stable and statuesque, their offspring being their true expression of life. The four elements are alive and well in Brohd Zellor, and in Dwarven realms throughout the multi-verse, and the elements receive far more religious intention than their parents. Dwarven mothers and fathers usually say ritual prayers to Yelika and Karnaem when their firstborn arrives, but these prayers are mostly for ceremony’s sake, and they are not fervent.
On the other hand, the elements are revered heavily, and very very seriously to some. There are priests to them abundantly, in all places. Bonja and Ronja (goddess of earth) receive the most attention, although these two are somewhat at odds in the mythology.
(Bonja seems to be at odds in some way with all of the deities. She is difficult to get along with, but when you have her as an ally, you are quite lucky indeed, for her powers are great in Dwarven realms, despite her never-ending war with the Demons of the Abyss.)
Elyssa and Einar are worshiped together as a pair, with the emphasis that Dwarves place on balance, this time between good and evil. The priests and followers are fundamentally Lawful Neutral, and they give equal measure to both deities, which can be rather frightening. The cult of Nez-Jerek, as they are called, operated usually in secret, with both Lawful Good and Lawful Evil ceremonies performed daily, alternating each day and celebrating Einar on Empty Skazzmoons, and Elyssa on the Full. Those adopted into the cult are led through a series of strange disorientations until they arrive at what is quite a strange alignment and religious tradition.
The Nez-Jerek is looked down upon by all other cults, and Bonja has been known to send minions in to break up (or make good fun of) their ceremonies, which they take so very seriously.
Liv, although sister to Agnarr and daughter of Elyssa and Einar, is worshiped mostly away from the rest of the pantheon. Unique to her religion is the presence of monastic followers, and these only women. As the goddess of Order and Creation, she gives her followers the powers of art-making and gardening and sculpting, which are the main activities of the monastery. There are many wealthy patrons who expect to receive blessings from the goddess should they donate to the monastery, and the nuns make prayers on their behalf.
The main prayers they give however are the prayers of their arts--orderly, lawful, and beautiful in a way that can only come from the Dwarven imagination. Their art is displayed throughout Dwarven cities, and their monasteries are usually located there as well.
Agnarr, Liv’s brother, is another story. The bushy-browed, grey-bearded, cantankerous, ill-tempered, and slightly unintelligent god usually sits on his throne high on Stizzbumm, the mountain of chaos, looking down on creation with a frown. Sometimes he wanders the landscape smashing things and bellowing and generally making a fuss.
In Dwarven lands there are sometimes regiments of soldiers that follow Him and do his damage to their foes. There are some temples dedicated to him as well, but they seem always to fall into disrepair and neglect. Agnarr is a tricky deity to follow, but those who are steadfast receive powers and blessings unique to Him only. They must be prepared to bumble and fall, but when they strike truly there is nothing like it.
The function of the deities in Dwarven society is to keep a Lawful balance among them all. Although the deities of chaos seem to dominate, the influence of the One True Eye keeps them all in balance. Dwarves trust--without even thinking about it--that the One Eye will keep order and stability in their lands, and they do not worry. The other gods are there for “color”, as some would say, like the color of a mountaintop at sunset, or the color of flame in a sacred fire, or the color of granite tinged pink with its minerals. While there is intrigue among the gods, and the religions sometimes reflect this, the myths and the personalities of the deities are a constant source of interest to those who love story, and this includes nearly everyone.
The Deities rule the realms of the Dwarves. When the Dwarves occupy a region, it comes under their deities’ sway. That’s not to say that the Orcish or Giantish gods are not present; it’s just to say that they must hold their own against the Dwarven deities, and this is no easy task to accomplish permanently. In Dwarven lands, the only real danger to the Dwarven deities is the Dwarven deities themselves.
The King of the Dwarves receives mandate from the One True Eye, and the ceremony here is unknown to all but the highest ranking Dwarves. They say even that the King is the One True Eye in some way, that he has “the true sight” (whatever that might be), and that he himself holds the balance, or works the scales of Dwarven existence.

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES in DWARVEN SOCIETY

Dwarven Relgions vary widely in their focus, and especially in the personalities of their deities. Each religion has its own flavor, and its own followers. Here is a link to the Dwarven Pantheon, and its lineage. Many of the gods have no particular relationships with others, but the ones that do are notable. They affect the relationships of their followers as well.

Most currently to our story, Agnarr and Bonja seem to be at odds with each other all the time, especially in the old tales. Agnarr’s big, powerful, and often stupid demeanor mixes with Bonja’s energy and trickiness. It seems the two are always at odds, and it may have something to do with their chaotic nature.

Eskil, of course, is at times at odds with all the deities. He hates them with a passion, particularly the Eye Themself, but can never seem to get the best of Them for long. The invasion of the Kiddzai has Eskil drooling a bit and rubbing his hands together in anticipation. This alien race may do his job for him and overthrow the very pantheon itself. Eskil will do whatever he can to help in this process.

Yelika and Karnaem, the mother and father deities, are stable and statuesque, their offspring being their true expression of life. The four elements are alive and well in Brohd Zellor, and in Dwarven realms throughout the multi-verse, and the elements receive far more religious intention than their parents. Dwarven mothers and fathers usually say ritual prayers to Yelika and Karnaem when their firstborn arrives, but these prayers are mostly for ceremony’s sake, and they are not fervent.

On the other hand, the elements are revered heavily, and very very seriously to some. There are priests to them abundantly, in all places. Bonja and Ronja (goddess of earth) receive the most attention, although these two are somewhat at odds in the mythology.

(Bonja seems to be at odds in some way with all of the deities. She is difficult to get along with, but when you have her as an ally, you are quite lucky indeed, for her powers are great in Dwarven realms, despite her never-ending war with the Demons of the Abyss.)

Elyssa and Einar are worshiped together as a pair, with the emphasis that Dwarves place on balance, this time between good and evil. The priests and followers are fundamentally Lawful Neutral, and they give equal measure to both deities, which can be rather frightening. The cult of Nez-Jerek, as they are called, operated usually in secret, with both Lawful Good and Lawful Evil ceremonies performed daily, alternating each day and celebrating Einar on Empty Skazzmoons, and Elyssa on the Full. Those adopted into the cult are led through a series of strange disorientations until they arrive at what is quite a strange alignment and religious tradition.

The Nez-Jerek is looked down upon by all other cults, and Bonja has been known to send minions in to break up (or make good fun of) their ceremonies, which they take so very seriously.

Liv, although sister to Agnarr and daughter of Elyssa and Einar, is worshiped mostly away from the rest of the pantheon. Unique to her religion is the presence of monastic followers, and these only women. As the goddess of Order and Creation, she gives her followers the powers of art-making and gardening and sculpting, which are the main activities of the monastery. There are many wealthy patrons who expect to receive blessings from the goddess should they donate to the monastery, and the nuns make prayers on their behalf.

The main prayers they give however are the prayers of their arts--orderly, lawful, and beautiful in a way that can only come from the Dwarven imagination. Their art is displayed throughout Dwarven cities, and their monasteries are usually located there as well.

Agnarr, Liv’s brother, is another story. The bushy-browed, grey-bearded, cantankerous, ill-tempered, and slightly unintelligent god usually sits on his throne high on Stizzbumm, the mountain of chaos, looking down on creation with a frown. Sometimes he wanders the landscape smashing things and bellowing and generally making a fuss.

In Dwarven lands there are sometimes regiments of soldiers that follow Him and do his damage to their foes. There are some temples dedicated to him as well, but they seem always to fall into disrepair and neglect. Agnarr is a tricky deity to follow, but those who are steadfast receive powers and blessings unique to Him only. They must be prepared to bumble and fall, but when they strike truly there is nothing like it.

The function of the deities in Dwarven society is to keep a Lawful balance among them all. Although the deities of chaos seem to dominate, the influence of the One True Eye keeps them all in balance. Dwarves trust--without even thinking about it--that the One Eye will keep order and stability in their lands, and they do not worry. The other gods are there for “color”, as some would say, like the color of a mountaintop at sunset, or the color of flame in a sacred fire, or the color of granite tinged pink with its minerals. While there is intrigue among the gods, and the religions sometimes reflect this, the myths and the personalities of the deities are a constant source of interest to those who love story, and this includes nearly everyone.

The Deities rule the realms of the Dwarves. When the Dwarves occupy a region, it comes under their deities’ sway. That’s not to say that the Orcish or Giantish gods are not present; it’s just to say that they must hold their own against the Dwarven deities, and this is no easy task to accomplish permanently. In Dwarven lands, the only real danger to the Dwarven deities is the Dwarven deities themselves.

The King of the Dwarves receives mandate from the One True Eye, and the ceremony here is unknown to all but the highest ranking Dwarves. They say even that the King is the One True Eye in some way, that he has “the true sight” (whatever that might be), and that he himself holds the balance, or works the scales of Dwarven existence.