Dwarven pantheon

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A depiction of Torag, leader of the pantheon.

Dwarven society in the Five Kings Mountains and beyond is heavily influenced by the worship of the traditional dwarven gods. Torag (also known as the Father of Creation) is the most important of these, but he is not the only one. The larger dwarven pantheon includes gods and goddesses of all aspects of dwarven life, such as battle, strategy, motherhood, love, trade, and honor.1

Torag and family

Central to dwarven religious beliefs is the emphasis on the significance of familial ties, which is reflected in the worship and modest offerings made to the various deities associated with Torag. The creator god of the dwarves holds the highest place of reverence in the pantheon, along with his family members.2 Torag's relations include Angradd, his younger brother; Folgrit, his wife; Bolka, their daughter; Grundinnar, their eldest son; Kols, the middle son; Trudd, Grundinnar's youngest brother; Dranngvit, Torag's half-sister; and Magrim, his older brother. The only god in the dwarven pantheon not related to Torag is the Dark Smith, Droskar, the chief deity of hryngars.345

Worship of subsets of the pantheon

Many worship different versions or subsets of the dwarven pantheon, with the most obvious and common being called the Skykeepers, which is made up of the whole pantheon besides Droskar. The more unusual version is called the Forgekin Pact, which excludes both Droskar and Torag. Those who follow the Forgekin Pact believe that Torag's duties as the Father of Creation make him too busy to be able to fulfill all the other roles that the rest of the pantheon fills, so it is really those that followers should directly worship for their respective domains. It is also they who truly watch over dwarvenkind when Torag is otherwise too busy.6

Gods of the dwarven pantheon

Dwarven pantheon family tree.
See also: Category:Dwarven pantheon
Angradd, the Forge-Fire
The aggressive and militaristic youngest brother of Torag.7 He stands as a counterpart to the Father of Creation's defensive strategies. According to dwarven lore, soldiers who succumb to cowardice on the battlefield are believed to spontaneously combust, consumed by the fiery wrath of Angradd.2
Bolka, the Golden Gift
Daughter of Torag and Folgrit. She blesses arranged unions and encourages single individuals to seek companionship. Newlyweds traditionally place gold under their pillows to invoke her blessings. Additionally, miners who discover perfectly symmetrical gemstones are believed to have received her favor.2
Dranngvit, the Debt Minder
The half-sister of Torag. She is viewed by many dwarves as an unfortunate but necessary presence in life. Dranngvit oversees the correction of wrongs, but her teachings can be interpreted as valuing revenge over justice.2
Droskar, the Dark Smith
Evil god of hryngars. His followers believe that ceaseless toil will ultimately bring them to greatness.2
Folgrit, the Watchful Mother
Wife of Torag. She is honored as the goddess of wives, mothers, and widows alike. Childless couples often seek her blessings, although some dwarven women who struggle with conception may turn to the worship of Dranngvit instead.2
Grundinnar, the Peacemaker
Brother of Bolka. He promotes diligence and unity, and reunites friends who have been separated by distance or misunderstandings. Dwarves who develop strong friendships with members of other races often give them gifts of small decorative hammers as a tribute to Grundinnar.2
Kols, the Oath-Keeper
Son of Torag. He aids dwarves in fulfilling their responsibilities and commitments. Traditional dwarven contracts feature a stamped seal bearing his sacred symbol: a lizard sitting on a scroll.28
Magrim, the Taskmaster
Older brother of Torag. Stoic yet tranquil, Magrim was the one who initially taught dwarves the rituals for connecting with the gods. He regards his role as the guardian of the underworld as a significant responsibility. Offerings made during funerary rites to Magrim are believed to assist the departed in discovering meaningful tasks in the afterlife.2
Torag, the Creator God
Leader of the pantheon.2 He is the deity of craftsmanship, safeguarding, and strategic thinking. While dwarves are his primary worshippers, individuals who value crafting and innovation also revere Torag.9
Trudd, the Mighty
Youngest son of Torag. His portrayal includes a notably short beard, which contrasts with his standing as the mightiest of the gods. A few scholars propose that he exchanged his beard with Dranngvit for an undisclosed favor, but the majority of dwarven theologians view this narrative as heretical.2

References

  1. Erik Mona, et al. Shining Kingdoms” in World Guide, 125–126. Paizo Inc., 2019
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Sean K Reynolds, et al. Inner Sea Gods, 182. Paizo Inc., 2014
  3. David Eitelbach, et al. “Persona: Gods and Minions” in Dwarves of Golarion, 29. Paizo Inc., 2009
  4. Sean K Reynolds. “Other Gods” in Gods and Magic, 47–48. Paizo Inc., 2008
  5. Paizo referred to hryngars as duergar until the publication of Highhelm and the Sky King's Tomb Pathfinder Adventure Path.
  6. Paizo Inc., et al. “Chapter 3: Highhelm Options” in Highhelm, 125. Paizo Inc., 2023
  7. Linda Zayas-Palmer, et al. “Developer Showcase” in Midwives to Death, 66. Paizo Inc., 2019
  8. Sean K Reynolds, et al. Inner Sea Gods, 321. Paizo Inc., 2014
  9. Logan Bonner, et al. “8: The Age of Lost Omens” in Core Rulebook, 440. Paizo Inc., 2019