Dunguthar

Dunguthar
Basic Information
Title	The Stonewarden, The Master of the Deep Forge
Symbol	An anvil atop a mountain
Level	Lesser
Alignment	Lawful Good
Allowed Alignments	LG, NG, LN
Primary Portfolio	Endurance, Mining, Stonemasonry
Secondary Portfolio	Building, Honesty, Metal, Smithing
Favored Weapon	Pickaxe

Dunguthar, The Stonewarden

Dunguthar, deity of mining, and stoneworking, dwells in the heart of the earth, where the stones whisper ancient secrets and the depths hide treasures untold. He is being of formidable endurance and unyielding determination, like the stone he loves to work. With hands as skilled in shaping the cold, hard stone as in guiding the fates of those who delve beneath the surface, he crafts his domain with unparalleled craftsmanship. His halls, deep under the earth, are the stuff of legend—vast chambers carved with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting the beauty and power of the subterranean world.

Dunguthar's essence is patience and endurance, virtues he instills in his followers. He respects honesty above all, viewing it as the bedrock of strong, enduring relationships. His sense of justice and fairness, combined with a profound love for the riches of the earth, guides miners and craftsmen in their toil. To work under Dunguthar's gaze is to be part of a community bound by shared effort and mutual respect, where every strike of the hammer and chisel is a prayer, and every gem unearthed a blessing.

His teachings are a testament to the values of hard work, honesty, and the pursuit of excellence. Dunguthar's love for his domains and the creations of his hands resonate deeply with those who value the strength of the earth and the rewards of enduring labor. In the echoing tunnels and the glow of forge fires, his presence is felt, a steady, guiding force for those who seek to uncover the secrets of the stone and forge from metal a legacy as enduring as the mountains themselves.

Dunguthar shows himself as humanoid of short stature, perfect to move within the deeps of earth. His body is robust and broad, mirroring the enduring nature of the mountains. His hair, black, long and well-kept, flows like the underground rivers, and his beard, a symbol of wisdom and strength, is long and groomed with the adornments of gold and silver. Encased in armor of pure mithril, he exudes a quiet strength, his heavy boots and gloves a testament to his dedication to the craft and labor beneath the earth's surface. He also takes the form of a majestic boar, his presence as commanding in the wild as it is in the deepest mines. His body is encased in gleaming mithril armor, making him an awe-inspiring sight amidst the untamed forests and rugged terrain. The boar's long tusks, symbols of his might and connection to the earth, are elegantly adorned with gold rings, a subtle display of divine opulence and authority.

Symbol

The symbol of Dunguthar is an anvil atop a mountain. The mountain signifies stability, endurance, and the boundless treasures hidden beneath the earth, while the anvil symbolizes the art of creation—transforming raw elements into objects of beauty and utility.

Relations With Other Deities

Dunguthar's relationships with the pantheon weave a complex narrative of allegiance, respect, and conflict. Amidst the good pantheon, his stature is unparalleled, earning him the reverence of his divine peers. Yet, it is with Thuzulin, the whimsical deity of invention and humor, and Crossus, the steadfast deity of mountains and strength, that Dunguthar forges bonds stronger than mithril. Together, they share a camaraderie that transcends mere divine duty, rooted in mutual respect and shared visions for the realms they shepherd.

His unwavering loyalty to Bahamut, the paragon of virtue and the embodiment of good, is as profound as the deepest mines he governs. This allegiance is mirrored in his kinship with Aerion, whose radiant sunbeams pierce even the darkest caverns of Dunguthar's domain, illuminating the path of righteousness.

In the realm of creation, Dunguthar's spirit finds kinship with Psamathe, deity of crafts. United by the hammer's ring and the forge's blaze, their friendship is a testament to the divine artistry that sculpts the world's beauty. Together, they celebrate the sanctity of creation, from the delicate intricacies of metalwork to the enduring legacy of stone.

Yet, where light shines brightest, shadows loom. Dunguthar's disdain for Kharn, deity of hate, Tarnull, deity of earthquakes and volcanoes, and Ophion, deity of shadows and undead, casts a somber pall over his divine relations. These deities, architects of hatred, destruction, and obscurity, are anathema to all he holds sacred. They desecrate the sanctity of the earthen depths with their malevolence, challenging Dunguthar's guardianship over the realms below. This enmity is not merely personal; it is a clash of fundamental forces, a battle for the soul of the earth itself.

Dogma

Dunguthar, in boar form

Dunguthar's dogma is based on these five tenets:

• Honor the Earth: Respect the sanctity of the earth and its bounties. Recognize the deep realms beneath our feet as sacred spaces, where the treasures of the world are kept and guarded. Extraction and use of these resources should be done thoughtfully, with gratitude for the earth's generosity.

• Craft with Heart and Soul: In every creation, imbue meticulous attention to detail, as if each piece were a sacred offering to Dunguthar himself. Let the precision of your craftsmanship be a testament to your devotion, reflecting not just skill, but a profound respect for the materials granted by the earth. Each strike of the hammer, each chisel's carve, should speak of a dedication to excellence, honoring the divine artistry that binds creator and creation.

• Endure in the Face of Adversity: Like the stone that withstands the ages, Dunguthar's followers are called to embody resilience. Challenges, both physical and spiritual, are to be faced with unwavering determination and patience.

• Uphold Honesty: In the heart of the deepest mines, where darkness veils all but the most precious gems, let honesty illuminate your path. Your word, unyielding and steadfast, should be as unbreakable as the ancient stones that form the foundation of the world. It is the cornerstone upon which true relationships that endure as the mountains are built, and through which communities thrive. In every interaction, let truth guide your actions, for honesty shapes the soul as the hammer shapes the metal—refined, strong, and true.

• Protect and Preserve the Underrealm: Stand guard against those who would corrupt or destroy the sanctuaries beneath the earth. The deep realms are a sacred trust, and it is the duty of Dunguthar's followers to shield them from harm and exploitation.

Clergy and Temples

A cleric of Dunguthar

In the hallowed depths and ancient halls that whisper of Dunguthar's presence, his clergy serve as the steadfast guardians of his divine will. Of many races, but predominantly dwarves, these devoted individuals come from a myriad of paths—clerics, fighters, and even paladins—who find common ground in their reverence for the deity of mining, stonemasonry, and endurance. Clad in medium armors of scale or chain mail with heavy boots and gloves, their attire is a testament to their readiness to traverse the underbelly of the world, marking their preparedness for the labyrinthine caves and tunnels that form their sacred domain.

Their mastery of the subterranean realms is unparalleled, navigating with ease through the earth's dark veins, aware of the perils and creatures lurking in the shadows. Yet, it is their craftsmanship that truly sets them apart, for they are artisans of the highest order. Their forges and workshops echo with the divine mandate to create, shaping weapons, armors, and jewels that bear the mark of their deity's excellence.

Beyond the anvils and chisels, the clergy of Dunguthar embrace a role that extends into the heart of their communities. They are the pillars upon which their societies stand, crafting not just material goods but also the very foundations of safety and prosperity. They construct and maintain, but their duty also compels them to venture on sacred expeditions to the world's hidden sanctums. These pilgrimages, fraught with danger and discovery, are essential for gathering holy materials and reaffirming their bond with the divine.

In their teachings, they preserve the ancient knowledge of their crafts, ensuring that the sacred techniques of metalwork, stonemasonry, and gem working are passed down through generations. They are guardians not just of physical sites but of the wisdom that has allowed their people to thrive amidst the stone.

Their most solemn duty lies in the protection of sacred sites, places where the earth's power converges, and Dunguthar's presence is most potent. Here, they stand vigilant against those who would desecrate these holy grounds, performing rituals that seal and sanctify, ensuring that the sanctity of these sites remains inviolate.

Thus, the clergy of Dunguthar embody the principles of their deity: strength, endurance, and the sanctity of creation. In their hands, the earth's bounty is both shielded and celebrated, a testament to the enduring bond between the divine and the devout.

The temples of Dunguthar stand as timeless sentinels of the deep. These sacred edifices, often found guarding the entrance to ancient mines or hidden within vast underground caverns, are hewn from the living rock of the mountains themselves. Their locations are meticulously chosen to forge a natural bond with Dunguthar’s realms of mining and stonemasonry, embodying the deity’s omnipresence in the veins of ore and the silent, stony depths. In the heart of dwarven cities, these temples rise as spiritual beacons, their stoic facades and towering spires serving as communal anchors where faith and tradition intertwine.

Within these hallowed halls, the air resonates with the clang of hammer on anvil and the soft murmur of prayers, as spaces dedicated to worship seamlessly blend with workshops and forges. Here, the community gathers, united in their reverence for Dunguthar and their devotion to the crafts he holds sacred. Apprentices and masters alike toil side by side, their hands shaping metal, stone, and gem into objects of both utility and beauty, each creation a testament to the divine inspiration that fuels their craft. These temples also serve as councils of exploration, where expeditions to the untouched sanctuaries of the earth are planned, and sanctuaries for those seeking respite from their labors in the depths.

The architecture of Dunguthar's temples is a marvel of divine inspiration and dwarven engineering. Carved from the finest stone, their walls are adorned with intricate reliefs that chronicle the exploits of Dunguthar, the lineage of dwarven heroes, and the sacred lore of the forge. Stalactites and stalagmites are woven into the design, a homage to the natural beauty of the underground world, while veins of mithril and clusters of gems catch the light, casting ethereal glows across vaulted chambers. These spaces are crafted not just to endure but to inspire, with acoustics designed to amplify the solemn chants and prayers of the faithful, enveloping all who enter in a cloak of divine resonance.

Initiation

The initiation ritual into the worship of Dunguthar, the deity of endurance, mining, and craftsmanship, is a journey that begins a year before its culmination, traditionally one year before the initiate's coming of age. This sacred passage commences with the initiate presenting themselves at one of Dunguthar's temples, where they are entrusted with a significant task: to choose and complete a craft project in one of Dunguthar's revered disciplines—metalworking, stoneworking, or gemworking. This selection marks the first step on their path to devotion, symbolizing the initiate's commitment to embodying the deity's values.

As the year unfolds, the temple becomes the initiate's second home, a place of learning and growth. Here, under the watchful eyes of the clerics, the initiate is immersed in the teachings of all Dunguthar's crafts, with a special focus on mastering the discipline of their chosen project. This education is not confined to the temple's walls; the initiate is also called to labor in the mines. This aspect of their preparation serves a dual purpose: to cultivate the resilience and endurance that are core to Dunguthar's dogma and to procure the materials needed for their sacred craft.

Daily meditation is woven into the fabric of the initiate's journey, a quiet hour each day dedicated to reflection. Through meditation, the initiate seeks to understand the deeper meaning of their labor and its alignment with Dunguthar's teachings. These moments of introspection are essential, guiding the initiate to ponder the significance of honesty, the impact of their work on the community, and their growing connection to Dunguthar.

On the eve of their initiation, the initiate embarks on a day of profound contemplation. Secluded within the serene confines of a temple or a sacred mountain site, they reflect on the year's journey, the skills honed, the challenges faced, and the spiritual growth attained. This day of solitude is a crucial rite of passage, preparing the initiate's heart and soul for the final step of their initiation.

The climax of this spiritual odyssey occurs the following day, in one of Dunguthar's sacred spaces—a choice that reflects the deity's essence, be it an underground chamber, a natural cavern, or a consecrated area within a mine. In this hallowed setting, the cleric and initiate kneel together, a gesture of humility and reverence. The initiate presents their crafted offering, the tangible result of a year's labor and learning, to Dunguthar. Together, they pray, their voices echoing softly in the sacred expanse, weaving the initiate's devotion into the very fabric of the earth.

With a final prayer, the cleric casts the initiation spell, a sacred incantation that binds the initiate to Dunguthar as a follower. This moment, charged with divine energy, signifies the completion of the initiate's transformation, forever linking their spirit with the deity of endurance, craftsmanship, and the deep places of the world.