Vulcan

Divine Rank: Greater Deity
Alternate Names: The World-Smith, The Maker and Unmaker, the Unceasing Striving.

Primary Authority: Creation

Secondary Authorities: Destruction, Improvement, Change, War, Art

Description:

Vulcan is a deity of creation and destruction both. He is thus subsequently a force of war, of the creation and destruction of empires, cities, armies and philosophies. He embodies and furthers creation and destruction in its myriad embodiment and thus, is also a deity of change itself. However, he is a deity of change for the purpose of improvement and creation, as he abhors change for change's sake.

Vulcan does not care for creations that do not serve their purpose or break too easily. The work is never complete, everything can be either improved or replaced with something better. He applies a similar attitude towards his servants.

Vulcan is the most powerful force of creation in the brass realms and he regularly creates worlds.

Elementals

Vulcan is the creator of many of the Elementals. However the elementals hold no reverence towards him, being forces of instinct more than actual thinking beings. Similarly Vulcan has created them to be part of his design for the Brass Realms and does not expect anything more from them.

Followers:

As a deity of War, Vulcan is worshiped by many a warmonger.
However, he is also worshiped by artisans, magic item creators, rulers, philosophers and artists. In equal measure he is worshiped by soldiers, anarchists and criminals. All those who want to improve the world or themselves, however they envision such improvement, are welcomed by Vulcan. As a result, there are multiple competing branches inside his clergy.

Moderates
Most priests of Vulcan work to integrate themselves into artisanal guilds and workshops, working as masons, smiths, carpenters or architects. They often work together with other priests of Vulcan on their mandated day of Labor to assist the community by building homes or enacting repairs as works of charity.

Puritans
The more puritan of the church of Vulcan see it as their duty to uphold order and keep decay from spreading across the land. They see themselves as custodians of societal order and thus try to squash civil unrest or crime whenever they appear. They can often be an unintentional oppressive force, as they can focus too much on the bigger picture and can be blind to malign influences worming their way into society.

Radicals
Radical priests of Vulcan have come to the conclusion that change is good, a bit of instability keeps society from stagnation, which is its own form of decay. They often sympathize with those that have big plans for society, such as freedom fighters or revolutionaries. They revel in any kind of conflict and competition, seeing it as an excellent method of mutual improvement. The best ideas will surely win out, and you cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

Needless to say the individual branches of the church clash regularly and sometimes violently.

Clerical mandates:

Vow of Poverty
No unnecessary riches. No houses, no jewelry, no gold or gems unless it is to venerate the gods. If money is necessary to achieve a greater purpose, so be it, but never is material wealth the goal.
Vow of Chastity
Spouses, children and the pleasures of the flesh may bring uncertainty or temptation into the heart of the hammer of the gods. Clerics are thus not allowed them, and a cleric is expected to remain chaste.
Vow of Honor
Clerics are expected to behave themselves with honor. To keep their promises, to accept surrender from their enemies, to stand for the values of their god, until death if necessary.
Mandate of Labor
Clerics of Vulcan are obligated to create, repair and improve. Sloth is the enemy and change is inevitable. Clerics thus must spend at least one day each week honing a craft, such as smithing or masonry. They may not profit from this endeavor beyond sustaining themselves, as the act of creation is reward enough.
Mandate of Focus
Clerics of Vulcan are not allowed to destroy anything unless it is as part of a greater act of creation, such as to replace it with something better. Destruction must be focused, pointless destruction is sin.

Appearance:

As a greater deity, Vulcan never shows himself. He is only ever described by his envoys or seen in dreams by his followers.