Erdah

Erdah (AIR-duh) was the Proto-Elemental god of Earth and forger of Dwarves as well as the patron god of blacksmiths and crafters. His worship has spread as far as his people, but rarely crosses the borders of race.

Table of Contents Description Personality Powers Aspects Realm Activities Relationships Worshipers Clergy Orders Temples Dogma Rites Scripture Holy Days Relics History Myths and Legends

Description

Erdah is portrayed as a Dwarven man carved from stone. He is bald on top and has a dark brown, peat-like stone beard. Additionally, his bracers, pants, and boots all appear to be carved from stone.
During Starfall, Erdah fell to a mortal form yet to be recorded.

Personality

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Powers

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Aspects

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Realm

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Activities

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Relationships

Erdah’s relationships to the other Proto-Elemental deities is reflected in the Dwarven Pantheon: Arun, as Domarri, is seen as a strong and noble protector, but Pyryrakas, as Rángeld, the Luring Pool, is seen as a temptation to destruction and Affirhet, as Bálrigg, the Flame Beneath, is a being of chaos and decimation..
Erdah is strongly tied to the goddess of autumn and community, Seta, who appears as Egan in the Dwarven pantheon and is often depicted as Erdah’s wife.

Worshipers

The majority of Erdah’s worshipers, prior to Starfall, revered him primarily as the patron of blacksmiths and crafters rather than as an elemental god of earth. This is evident in Gnomish communities, where he was known as The Crafter, and in Dwarven communities, where he has the honorific The Master Craftsman.
His abundance of worship and representation within Dwarven kingdoms is reflected in his names within Human societies which referred to him as both King of Dwarves and Master of Mountains.
Erdah was also worshiped as a patron of adventurers and treasure hunters, known as The Dungeon Master. This hero cult utilizes a rudimentary interpretation of his dogma that still persists through stories of buried treasure and cave systems resembling dungeon complexes.

Clergy

Erdah’s clergy are known as Stone Wardens, wear robes of russet with taupe vestments, and wield Dwarven urgroshes. Stone Wardens may serve as crafters, miners, and jewelers in mountain communities or wood workers and loggers in hillside communities. However, collectives often isolate themselves in cloisters, called Heart Forges, to teach scripture and secret techniques to would-be acolytes who prove themselves. Due to favoring each other and members of their own clans, Stone Wardens are often described as stand-offish and stern to outsiders, even within their own communities.

Orders

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Temples

Temples dedicated to Erdah vary in appearance depending on their location. Dwarven communities built onto or under mountains feature buildings carved into the rock and bear elaborate carvings into walls, thresholds, and any viable surfaces, with some walls left untouched to be updated by future generations. Temples in above ground communities usually feature long central chambers with similarly intricate carvings and statues, however tend to have fewer antechambers and sit on solid stone foundations. Due to their statuesque nature, the temples are referred to as Halls of Stone.
The cloistered Halls of Stone are called Heart Forges and are considered holy sites. They have dedicated rooms and vaults set aside for crafting and smithing. Some Heart Forges, in true dedication to crafting, are said to focus on pursuits outside of stone and wood work, such as brewing and jewelry making.

Dogma

The Stone Wardens believe that Erdah has endowed the world with hidden treasures. Just as stone and ore can be chiseled, tempered, and treated revealing statues, weapons, and armor, so too do the hardships of life chisel away at their stone facades to reveal their true selves. They stand by two rules:

• In crafting, the creator shapes both their masterpiece and their own soul.
• The strongest steel is tempered and forged in fire. Steel yourself.

Dwarven communities demonstrate this by honoring strong clan leaders, who through tribulations reveal the inner strength of the clan.

Rites

Despite Erdah’s significance as both the creator of Dwarves and the embodiment of earth, with gifts such as ore, precious stones, and oil harvested from his body, his worship may seem superficial to outsiders. This perception arises from the revelry associated with his veneration. Worship practices often include dedicating works of art and trade to Erdah, hymns sung in a round, and consuming ales, ciders, and meads, to “fill themselves with gold.”
Stone Wardens are more regimented. Acolytes seeking to become Stone Wardens must undertake a pilgrimage to a Heart Forge with their materials. Upon arrival, they fast while crafting a work of art or trade. If the creation is deemed worthy, the acolyte spends a year at the Heart Forge focusing on self-improvement through exercise and instruction from existing Stone Wardens. At the end of this time, they present a new masterpiece and receive the title of Stone Warden.
Stone Wardens are expected to return to the Heart Forge annually to showcase their creations, mentor studying acolytes, and often receive a ceremonial tattoo.

Scripture

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Holy Days

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Relics

• Boots of the Unhindered were crafted by Erddah to not only boost the speed of Dwarves, but overcome the taller and faster races.
• The Earthen Thrower is a warhammer not only modeled after a blacksmith’s but usable by them. It can be wielded in close quarters or thrown at an enemy and magically return.

History

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Myths and Legends

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Erdah

Religions

• The Halls of Stone

Aliases: The Master Craftsman (Dwarven); The Crafter (Gnomish); King of Dwarves, Master of Mountains, and Dungeon Master(Human)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Divine Rank: Elemental
Portfolio/Domains: Artifice, Community, Earth, Force, Nobility, Protection, Strength
Worshipers: Dwarves
Favored Weapon: War Hammer; Dwarven Urgrosh