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The World of Teréth End - Religions - Dekàlan Gods |
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"Roth grants you blessing - Book of Benediction, 60,1:10-15, The Iron Library "The walls of the Iron Temple are forged from a metal unlike that which normal men know. It appears and feels like the iron of ploughshares but it does not soften in the blacksmith's forge. Here is an iron granted by Roth himself." - Eblus Nurrem, Master of the Smith, People  |
Chapter Seven - Roth God of Crafts, The Old Master
Kyrm Oryroth stands like an iron mountain over the dark and dreary streets of Oth. This is the center of the Cult of Roth, the Iron God. Here within the smoky and oily heart of the Temple, the priests of Roth go about their eternal labors, stoking the fires of The Machine, readying their holy works.
Roth is an old god, worshipped first by the (tyhr-EHN) Tyrn-Orth in pre-Dekàlan times. The Tyrn-Orth people are believed to have arrived from the East or South, following oracles that would lead them to the shores of the Nyr Platan (cir 230 AR). Their scouts soon returned with word of hills and mountains rich with the minerals (see oth) that the oracles had promised. Here they began the work of building Kyrm Oryroth. The first temples are believed to have been built with wood and stone, but after a fire and earthquake, building was re-started with stronger materials. In these early days it was said that Roth himself guided the people in the Temple's construction, whispering the requirements to the priests, and divulging the secret for working the fabled orm. In time the Temple rose among the surrounding trees, and the city grew winding across the hillsides to the shore. The Dwürden who had lived in the region visited often at first, but eventually withdrew into their deep kingdoms when it became obvious that the secret of orm would not be given. (see History of Oth) There are several legends surrounding Roth, some which pre-date Dekàlan mythologies. Roth is believed to have fallen in love with Sudul and fashioned a wonderful ship for the goddess with which that she could sail through Dream. He is also reported to have created a wondrous machine for Path, which could scribe words into massive books, transcribing the god's endless discourses.
The Divine Aspects Thurkan (the apprentice) appears as a handsome farm-hand, helpful of those wishing to build and craft objects for some productive purpose. Thurkan is reverred by architects, blacksmiths, engineers, and farmers. Two Orders founded by his followers are the Order of the Arch and the Order of the Golden Plow. Thurkan appears within the dekàlan mythologies in many places, usually helping honest men overcome hardships through the creation of enchanted tools. He also appears in some myths as being easily smitten by beautiful and conniving women, both mortal and otherwise. For this reason, Thurkan is also sometimes regarded as a Patron of Bachelors. Attrakar (the artificer) is an aspect with a small following in the later 7th century DR. His followers, mostly represented by the Order of Iron Death, keep their identities and affiliation secret, for the greater good of the Empire. Attrakar appears
as a tall, skinny, older man with a thin hollow face filled with worry,
sorrow, and determination. He is thought to be stronger than Thurkan,
despite his age, but not subject to anger or passion. Attrakar's
forge creates weapons of all sizes. His following, the Order of
Iron Death, protect the secrets of their dekàlan forefathers, maintaining
city stockpiles, armories, and bombards. The old aspect is given
respects within the Temple, but prayers are rarely offered to him. In
times of war, the priests of Attrakar come forward to perform the The Priesthood Day-to-Day Activities: Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Major Centers of Worship: The Order of the Golden Plow is the largest of these groups. The Order is centered in Eswerd, north of the City of Oth along the Run Merdus. Here, the Ordá Kyrm Talshar has stood since 133 DR, twenty-six years following the Order's foundation. The temple is a stone and iron building built on a sirkùlar plan, surrounded by six squat stone towers. The roof of the central building and each of the towers is constructed of ancient timbers which are claimed to have been salvaged from the ruins of the First Temple, nearly 1100 years prior. These rafters are carved with reliefs of the toils of Thurkan and the wonders of his creations. The central temple is an open-aired amphitheater surrounding an altar to The Apprentice. The altar is hewn from a dark green marble, mined, carved, and given to the faithful by the Dwurden following the Othelve War circa 685 AR. The altar stone was bequeathed to the Order in 210 DR, and since that time has been encased in a cage of gold and iron. Each of the temple towers at Ordá Kyrm Talshar is crowned with a belfry which sound across the Northfields countryside each dusk of growing season to call the farmers home. The bells also peel on holydays, ringing for the better part of a watch. The Ordon Talshar is a fraternal (men and women) organization whose main membership lives outside the City of Oth. Most lodges of the Order, meet twice a month, during Midmonth and Monthturn to pray and socialize. The Order consists of farmers, smiths, workhands, and nearly all whose livelihood relies on their hands. Most moots are organized or administered by a low-ranking Thurkan priest called a Dhuhl. Outside the region of Oth, farmers and farmhands more commonly associate themselves with Kandlan-Valania the Planter, though there are no restrictions to patronize both. The Holy Order of the Arch (Ordus Ar) are the second largest group, catering to masons, bricklayers, stonecarvers, architects, and engineers, though it is technically open to all that worship Thurkan. The Ordon Ar serves the dual purposes of a community for worship, and a worker's union. The Order supports its members, and thereby insures that they are among the higher paid people within the City of Oth. The Ordon Ar credit themselves with many architectural feats throughout the City of Oth, including the City Wall, the Gates, and the Keeps. It is their duty to maintain these structues which has proven a monumental task since much of the engineering and lore used in their construction has been lost. Large sections of the City Wall have been re-engineered to compensate for failed bindings, spells, and wards. Unknown to the Order, these bindings were provided by other groups in years past. The re-engineering has temporarily solved many problems, but has had the effect of weakening the whole, which was never meant to stand under its own natural construction. The Ordá Kyrm Ar stands in the Kyard of Oth. An imposing stone structure that crouches on the edge of the Cre Dulnar opposite Kry Shurulm, the temple is a wonderful example of lost architectural skills. Four blackened stone columns rise from the crashing waters below into three magnificent arches, which support the overhanging temple. Constructed in the Lanadan style, the blackened (once blue and grey) stone building is covered with pointed arches and statuary. The interior opens into a large windowed chamber which looks out over the turbulent foggy harbor. There is no ornamentation that is not carved from stone or worked from metals within the temple. Two sentinels "guard" the front gate, the only building in the City so protected other than Krym Oryroth itself. The Order of Iron Death (Ordus Othdnur) are a clandestine fellowship whose faith requires the production, maintenance, and invention of weapons. The Order's roots are ancient, probably forming during the First Expansion under High King Lordrun I in the early part of the 5th century AR. The Ordon Othdnur are credited (in some circles) with the introduction of oro (steel), used from then forward in the creation of quality weapons, and later in the manufacture of powder weapons. Since the Empire's fall, the secret of steel has not been revealed. The most important development of the Ordon Othdnur was that of powder weapons. By the end of the 10th century AR, every dekàlan city-state was protected by bombards. In the second half of the 11th century, matchlocks were produced for the dekàlan soldiery. It soon became the responsibility of the Ordon Othdnur to not only equip the dekàlan armies, but to insure that the secrets of this wonder never fell into enemy hands. In this charge, the Order has never failed. Within the City of Oth, the Order of Iron Death claims no temple as its own. Meetings of the Order are held within secret chambers of Krym Oryroth. Members of the Order answer to their own priests, the High Priests of Roth, and the Lord of the City. Their's, moreso than any other priesthood, is a vow of service to the crowns of Dekàlas. The priesthood maintains hundreds of depots throughout the Empire, preparing for the next "call to arms". Spells of the Faithful Among Dekàlan priesthoods, the faithful of Roth may be the least inclined toward the Chaos. Most Rothic clergy are builders, smiths and artisans; not people for whom magic would prove useful. Those few within the faith who are touched with magic perform similar functions, employing subtle magics that compliment their impressive skills. For instance, whereas another caster of elemental fire might use his commands to summon fiery orbs to throw at his enemies, the Rothic caster would use the same command of Davra Phlogostra to summon a hotter flame within his forge. D&D Spells: GURPS Spells:
The Davra Orkid available to Roithic spellcasters is: Creation
(F2), Divination (F1), Elemental
Earth (F2), Elemental Fire (F2), Enchantment
(F3), Healing (F1), Meta
(F2), Manipulation (F1), Movement
(F1), and Wards (F2).
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Navigation Dekàlan Gods There are ten major gods traditionally worshipped by Dekàlans. Amra (beauty, love) Other gods have emerged in the same lands since the fall of Dekàlas. While some are new, some ancient deities have experienced a resurgence of faith. Eiron (law, duty) Domains Spellcasting clerics of Roth have access to the following domains Craft (FR) Worshippers of his aspects have access to a different set of domains. Thurkan's priesthood have access to Craft (FR) while Attrakar's priesthood has access to Craft (FR)
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Ref. PHB (Player's Handbook), DF (Defenders of the Faith), FR (Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting), © Wizards of the Coast  |
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