Dorand

[hellspawn]

•Aliases: The Anvil, Lord Forge, Master Crafter
•Race: Dwarf
•Worshippers:
Nearly all worshippers of Dorand are either dwarvish or human. Given that there are members of all races that craft, worshippers can be nearly any race. He accepts all those that desire to craft, except orcs.
•Governs: Craftsmanship, Mining, Smithing, Stone Work
•Mantras: Materialistic, Physical, Selfless, Technological

Follow the Way of the Hammer. Make durable, useful, and quality items to venerate the Master Crafter. If you do not craft, you are not serving his purpose. Be his instrument. Good enough is not good enough. Seek and support others that strive for perfection in their creations. Remember always: strength, discipline, desire, and patience.

[hellspawn]

Nearly all clerics of Dorand wield some version of a hammer or pick since these are the tools used in both their craft and their worship. They tend toward browns and gray in daily wear, the colors of earth and stone, and tailored metal armors when in battle dress. All fighting worshippers of Dorand are expected to make their own armor and weapons with Dorand’s Anvil etched on either the breastplate over the heart or on the head of the weapon. Tailors will sew it on the cloth or leather.

[hellspawn]

The Anvil has a simple set of ranks. Dorand is not a complicated god, enmeshed in the politics of the heavens, his church is about crafting; the strength to craft, the discipline to craft, the desire to craft, and the patience to develop skills in crafting. It has been this way since the Converge of 790 when the first shrine to Dorand was founded, and it has evolved continuously along those ideas since. Strength, discipline, desire, and patience: this is the Anvil.
One begins as an Acolyte of the Hammer, commonly called a Sledge. The next step is Apprentice of the Hammer, often called a Setter. After Apprentice, one is a Journeyman of the Hammer with the nickname Peen, but that name is falling into disuse. The highest rank that most clergy achieve is simply called Hammer (or Hauberk) of Dorand with no preamble. Past that, there is the leader of the church, the High Hammer, and his council, which each High Hammer hand-picks upon taking Wraithbone, their symbol of office. The council then liaisons with the Hammers and the various sects and provides advice to the High Hammer.

Ranks are achieved after Acolyte by apprenticing to a Hammer and submitting works for review. Once per season, a Tempering is called and the hopefuls travel to the Citadel at Lyn to apply for their next rank and await the review of their works and deeds. This can take time because at least five of the clergy compare notes and discuss each of the candidate’s deeds— some dwarves have been sent back to the Acolytes for laziness or poor quality. The High Hammer makes an appearance only if the promotion of a new Hammer is imminent as part of the craft of the High Hammer is to ensure that only the most competent and dedicated clergy ascend the ranks. A High Hammer is elected for life or until they choose to retire. Should the office be vacant, candidates present themselves to the previous High Hammer’s council and a vote of Hammers is called with the popular vote deciding the next High Hammer.

Elections and Organization
The clergy of Dorand have been known as Hammers ever since Dorand’s very first worshipper pounded on his first piece of metal; also, to honor their god and the tool most often used by him. The path to Hammer has developed steps which, like the forging of a weapon, must be taken slowly, carefully, and in order:

•Acolyte of the Hammer
Commonly called Sledges, beginning clergy lack the finesse of a final work. The sledge learns the ways of shaping and the work involved and builds strength. A Sledge hammers their soul as they do their craft with the strong, heavy strikes necessary to turn a slab of metal or a chunk of stone into something workable. Sledges need no vote. Anyone may begin the Way of the Hammer (except orcs) at the Citadel or on their own.


•Apprentice of the Hammer
The Apprentice will do just that, finding a Hammer who is willing to teach and spending years or decades in his or her service. The Apprentice is often called a Setter after the hammer used to rough out the shape of a blade. Setters learn finer work, flattening metal so it can be shaped as they shape their devotion and selves into a tool of Dorand. During this time, little travel is done because most of what must be learned is internal, between the cleric, their teacher, and the Master Crafter. Apprentices will be found near their forges and tools most of the time.


•Journeyman of the Hammer
Apprentices who have progressed to crafting complete items learn the most detailed parts of their work. Formerly called Peens, this name is less popular now, and most Journeymen identify themselves by their formal title. Here, the raw material of each cleric is ready to shape itself into a Hammer of Dorand. Journeymen are often called on to answer the questions of Acolytes and travel more as their material needs become more exotic. They also must create several things to take the mantle of Hammer. At minimum, they must forge both a set of tools for their craft and at least one work of Hammer quality. Although, the definition of "Hammer quality" is up to whoever reviews the application and then the current High Hammer.


•Hammer (or Hauberk) of Dorand
Clerics determined to have great proficiency in their craft as well as devotion to Dorand’s ideals drop prefixes to their title. Hammers are the bread and butter of the Anvil. They teach apprentices and take the word of Dorand across Layonara. Hammers decide who will advance in their journey along the Master Crafter’s path, vote for High Hammers, and serve as the example of all that Lord Forge espouses.


•High Hammer
The Right Hand of Dorand is charged with making sure the clergy follow the Way of the Hammer and setting policy for the church. The High Hammer leads from the Citadel at Lyn. Voted into office by Hammers and Hauberks, he (there has not yet been a female High Hammer) votes on the Hammers or Hauberks once their review is complete and is the final word on the matter. The High Hammer is expected to summon a council and this alone is not limited to Hammers and Hauberks; anyone who worships Dorand (except orcs) may sit on the council of the High Hammer at his request.

The current High Hammer of Dorand is Argus MacBearen, a stern but fair-minded dwarf still robust in middle age. Argus MacBearen specializes in armor craft and is a Hauberk rather than a Hammer. He has a son on his council as well as two apprentices he values for their analytical skills. He was chosen to become High Hammer in 1418 and has proven to be a good influence on the Anvil, growing it slowly while overseeing expansion of the Citadel. He is notably less fond of humans and elves than his predecessor Ta’karsh Blacklung, but he tolerates them. He has jet-black hair, sharply dark eyes, and a beard flowing down to his midriff with no signs of gray yet. While Argus is respected, he is subject to the scrutiny of some of the older dwarves since he left his wife for another woman. He has five children between his two wives.

[hellspawn]

Hauberks of Dorand
A subset of the Hammers that specialize in armor making and a defensive stance in battle, these clerics are unmovable, often forming a living shield wall. While Dorand does not have clerics dedicated to the cause of war as does Vorax, Lord Forge does have his Hauberks. It is said a line of these muscular, metal-encased dwarves are able to send divine anchors into the earth, making them impossible to knock over. Legend even speaks of a dragon failing to blow down a group of Hauberks in a bloody battle near Lusaxen. They are led by Argus and the council as are the Hammers. The Hauberks of Dorand are considered a sect only in that they have smaller numbers.

Stone Brothers
Stone masons and warriors who worship the Master Crafter often join this organization allied with the Anvil. While they march into battle when called for, the Stone Brothers (who have been, since their inception in 1057, entirely male) have learned the tricks and turns of stone and the places it is mined so well. They have become respected experts at tunnel fighting among Layonara’s surface dwarves. A few of the Stone Brothers are clerics; however, most choose fighting professions and some are versed in the ways of moving silently and unseen as well. Some say their current leader, a ginger-bearded youth named Kalath the Quiet, matches the Deep dwarves in stealth when underground.
Kalath the Quiet leads by action and expectation. He’s as softspoken as his nickname, walking softly, avoiding crowds, and leaving little of an impression behind. His red-brown hair and beard are the only things loud about this slender, wiry dwarf. He grew up around miners and is the son of a Stone Brother, so his membership and title are no surprise. He is respected, young, a member of a cousin clan to Argus, and well-liked by the Anvil. He is unmarried.

Sisters of Steel
While in theory females have as much right as males to fight, the harsh truth of dwarven society is that often the ladies are left at home. Formed by the formidable Bela Braunswagon in the late 1200s, the sisters craft and fight alongside their dwarven brothers but keep their organization separate for solidarity and to avoid creeping prejudices. They have two centuries of hard work and craftswomanship behind them and are growing under the steady hand of Hammer Ruby Bigmaul. Membership is offered to any female follower of Dorand who has been on the subtle, socially accepted end of encouragement to stay out of the forge and off the battlefield.

Ruby Bigmaul is a dimpled, bright-eyed dwarven woman just tapping on middle age. She is strong-willed but wise, having outlived two husbands who died in service to the Anvil and a father who was a clan leader. She has always been a masterful smith, and even marriage and her two children could not keep her from the forge. Her daughters have joined her and together the three of them form the governing body of the Sisters of Steel along with the wife of a former High Hammer and two noted female warriors. She has dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a sharp wit honed over the centuries to puncture the egos of the testosterone-laden around her.

[hellspawn]

There is but one known official temple to Dorand: the magnificent Citadel at Lyn. For most, however, it is visited only a few times a year.
The Way of the Hammer teaches that an instrument does not need a fancy forge so long as the work is done and as such, most worshippers of Lord Forge say their prayers while crafting wherever they are. Small shrines are therefore found in smithies and crafting houses across the world, two of the more notable are in Brenuth and in the halls of the Crescent Moon and Shield underneath Mount Norand on Dregar.

Brenuth Forge
Built into the snowy mountainside of the Brech Mountains on Mistone, this first, oldest home of Dorand’s followers was not originally intended as a shrine. Dorand’s church, loosely organized at the beginning, had a large number of dwarves in Brech. As Brenuth is in a basin, the smoke from the forges would hang low across the valley and make the air hard to breathe. Finally, the citizens of Brenuth declared enough and the Converge of 790 was called.

The dwarves discussed the situation and it was decided to move the main forge to a separate location in an abandoned natural cave nearby. Slowly, this local forge became known for the amazing strength and quality of their armors, weapons, and shields. As word spread, other Dorandites migrated to Brenuth to learn the techniques and apprentice themselves, and over time the Anvil formed. Now the Forge nestles in the side of the Peaks and is home to some of the finest artisans on Layonara.

The Citadel at Lyn
Founded by Baron Ta'karsh Blacklung, the first and only human High Hammer of Dorand, the Citadel at Lyn was his gift to his church. Due to its impressive size, it has become the temple of Dorand, a place for both the creation of and the display of items crafted by generations of Dorandites. The Baron had the presence of mind to include meeting halls large enough to hold the Temperings as well. Since its founding in the 1300s, the Citadel has become the largest structure devoted to Dorand in the world.

The Citadel is tunneled with huge chambers opening up off the narrow routes. The walls are smoothed, carved, and decorated by hundreds of stone cutters with weapons racks and armor displays lining most halls (and narrowing them further) displaying centuries of crafting. In the chambers, tapestries, rugs, leathers, and finely carved furniture further the display. What is notable is that each item—mugs, silverware, chairs, sconces, glassware, armors, even the engraved walls—has a purpose. This, for most, is what separates Ilsare from Dorand and why Dorand looks at Ilsare with such disdain. While Lady Muse enjoys art for art's sake, Lord Forge demands that an item be not only well-made but also useful, an object to be admired as it is fulfilling its function.

[hellspawn]

Prayers
Prayers are most often said while crafting. There is no given time to pray, no set hours; any time a craftsman is working is a good time to thank the Master Crafter. However, the anvil is the place where most followers feel closest to Dorand. This has led to the Smithy's Hymn, an intoned prayer that is chanted while hammering. Often modified to fit a specific situation or craft, a generic version sung by someone working metal might sound like:
"Lord (clang) Forge (clang) be my guide (clang) be the strength (clang) in my arms (clang). Master (clang) Crafter (clang) guide my strike (clang) watch my fold (clang) hone my edge (clang) praise be Dorand (clang) praise be Dorand (clang)."

This prayer is changed by circumstances. A tailor might hum it while cutting or stitching, a mason while chipping. Dorand’s followers will often fund their quest for perfection by selling items they make. As they rise through the ranks and study the Way of the Hammer, however, they sell their wares less often and these items are given instead to Dorand as thanks.


Holy Days

•Tempering
Called once every season, most often on the first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter, this is both a celebration of the Master Crafter and the time when hopefuls put forth their works and pray for a rise in ranks. Judging groups are chosen at random to prevent favoritism, and several days per applicant are allowed, giving the entire event a length of one to two weeks depending on numbers. Workshops are also given on specialized techniques. Those who are Acolytes may freely ask for guidance or even apprenticeship from any of the assembled. There are no contests on who is the best at a particular craft, however. It is well known that only Dorand can make that determination. The only person a crafter competes against is himself.

While most of the Tempering is dedicated to review of craft and decisions about advancement, there is one evening at each of the four yearly events that gets as wild as any Dorandite can: the Tasting. During this night, traditionally the last evening of each Tempering, all those crafters who are also brewers bring out bottles, flagons, and casks of their finest to be judged by all assembled. This is the only judging where they vie to be judged last, since there is very little decorum expected and a judge who has already sampled 10 brews is likely to look very favorably on the 11th. Anyone visiting the Citadel this night is advised to secure their crafted items and materials away from the flying mugs and bodies beforehand.

[hellspawn]

•Allied:

◦Aragen
◦Rofirein
◦Vorax

•Friendly:

◦Beryl
◦Goran
◦Toran

•Neutral:

◦Aeridin
◦Deliar
◦Folian S'pae
◦Katia
◦Lucinda
◦Shindaleria
◦Sulterio

•Unfriendly:

◦Az'atta
◦Mist
◦Prunilla
◦Shadon

•Enemy:

◦Baraeon Ca'Duz
◦Branderback
◦Corath
◦Grand
◦Grannoch
◦Ilsare
◦Kithairien
◦Pyrtechon
◦Vierdri'ira
◦Xeen

[hellspawn]

•Alignment:
◦True Neutral



•Cleric Alignments:
◦True Neutral
◦Neutral Good
◦Lawful Neutral
◦Chaotic Neutral
◦Neutral Evil



•Domains:
◦Earth
◦Fire
◦Protection
◦Strength



•Notes:
◦Dorand's clerics can choose any two of the above domains; it is well known, however, that nearly all clerics of Dorand embrace the Strength domain, which represents the strength and endurance needed for long hours at the forge. While this is not universal, it comes naturally with the process of becoming a Hammer of Dorand. Mostly, those who practice the crafts not involving mining and smithing are the clerics that do not practice the Strength domain.