Moradin

Moradin
Game background
Title(s) Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, the Creator
Home plane Dwarfhome (Forgotten Realms)/Celestia, the Radiant Throne (4th edition)
Power level Greater
Alignment Lawful Good
Portfolio Dwarves, creation, smithing, protection, metalcraft, stonework
Domains Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection
Superior None
Design details

Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection.[1] His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator. He created the first dwarves out of earthen materials and tutored them in dwarven ways.

Publication history

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

Moradin was created by James M. Ward for the Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia (1980).[2]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

Moradin was first detailed as part of the dwarven pantheon in the Forgotten Realms in Dwarves Deep (1990).[3]

Moradin was detailed in the book Monster Mythology (1992), including details about his priesthood.[4]

His role in the cosmology of the Planescape campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground (1996).[5]

Moradin received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms in Demihuman Deities (1998).[6]

Moradin is described as one of the good deities that celestials can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).[7]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the Players Handbook for this edition (2000).[8]

Moradin is detailed in Deities and Demigods (2002),[9] and his role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[10]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

Moradin appears in the revised Players Handbook for this edition (2003).[11] His priesthood is detailed for this edition in Complete Divine (2004).[12]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the Players Handbook for this edition (2008).[13] A setting-specific version of him appears in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide (both 2008) for this edition.

Relationships

Moradin is the head of the dwarven pantheon. He is married to Berronar Truesilver, and counts Gruumsh and Maglubiyet among his most fierce foes. He is friendly with Pelor.

In many campaign settings, the dwarven pantheon of gods consists of the leader Moradin, as well as Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, and Vergadain. Other dwarven gods may be present in different campaign settings.

In 4th edition, Moradin counts Asmodeus as one of his chief enemies, and is closely allied with Bahamut.

Realm

Moradin's realm is Erackinor, on the plane of Mount Celestia, which he shares with his wife Berronar.

Worshippers

Moradin charges his followers with the task of removing the kingdoms of orcs and wiping out the followers of Gruumsh. He is upset if they flee from their foes or kill their fellow dwarves.

Clergy

Moradin's clerics wear earthy colors, with chain mail and silvered helms. His clerics are usually drawn from family lines, like most dwarven occupations.

Hammers of Moradin

The Hammers of Moradin are an elite military order dominated by crusaders and fighting clerics with chapters in nearly every dwarven stronghold and members drawn from every dwarven clan. The Hammers serve both as commanders of dwarven armies and as an elite strike force skilled in dealing with anything from large groups of orcs to great wyrms to malevolent fiends from the Lower Planes.

The order is dedicated to the defense of existing dwarven holdings and the carving out of new dwarven territories. Individual chapters have a great deal of local autonomy but, in times of great crisis, a Grand Council (the reigning monarchs and senior Hammers of the affected region) assemble to plot strategy and divine Moradin's will.

Another elite military order of Moradin is the Order of the Anvil of Light. Its leader is Barock Stormbeard of the Stormbeard clan, who has led this group for ages, it seems. The group's latest information is having to deal with a deity trying to return to the Material Plane.

Temples and rituals

Moradin is worshipped at forges and hearths. Melted metals are sacrificed to him monthly.

Holy days

Moradin's holy days fall during the crescent moon.

References

  1. ↑ According to the D&D 3rd Edition book Deities and Demigods and the 3.5 Player's Handbook, his domains are only Earth, Good, Law, and Protection.
  2. ↑ Ward, James and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods (TSR, 1980)
  3. ↑ Greenwood, Ed. Dwarves Deep (TSR, 1990)
  4. ↑ Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology (TSR, 1992)
  5. ↑ McComb, Colin. On Hallowed Ground (TSR, 1996)
  6. ↑ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
  7. ↑ Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven (TSR, 1999)
  8. ↑ Tweet, Jonathan, Cook, Monte, Williams, Skip. Player's Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
  9. ↑ Redman, Rich, Skip Williams, and James Wyatt. Deities and Demigods (Wizards of the Coast, 2002)
  10. ↑ Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
  11. ↑ Tweet, Jonathan, Cook, Monte, Williams, Skip. Player's Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
  12. ↑ Noonan, David. Complete Divine (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
  13. ↑ Heinsoo, Rob, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt. Player's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)

Additional reading

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