Religion of Anvil Vale

The Twelve Ancestors: The Urram Athair

Dwarves
Though the Urram Athair are arguably divine (the powers they grant their clerics certainly are), dwarves do not have the same relationship with their ancestral hero-founders that many folk have with their gods. Dwarven culture does not include the concept of worship within it: rather, it is a matter of respect and for some, obligation. Each of the Great Clans was founded by one of the Urram Athair: despite the wealth and influence that some of the clans come to wield, that is dividing line between the Great Clans and all others. Indeed, it is clear that it is the Urram Athair who make the clans into Great Clans: with the departure of the Brightaxe and Runewright clans, the Ancestral Host appeared at a great festival to introduce two new of their number, elevating the Woldpike and Steelcoin clans in status. And while the Urram Athair have never demanded obedience to the Great Clans, the ancestral respect that the Urram Athair receive ripples outward to encompass the Great Clans.

In the wake of the end of the Clansrule, the Urram Athair continue to be respected, although far fewer attend the rituals that celebrate them. These are seen as old-fashioned these days, a tendency emphasized and possibly even established by the Guilds. In some ways, the dwarven reverence for the Urram Athair may be the only reason the Great Clans yet exist as an entity: it is hard to do away with the structures foundational to the existence of ancestral entities who grant miraculous magic to folk, and who even occasionally manifest to make their wishes known.

The Ancestors

There are twelve ancestors. Though they sometimes appear, they never actually speak aloud, save to the naomh (as their clerics are called). Dwarves do not fall to their knees or engage in acts of worship when these appearances occur: instead, they take up the chant associated with the Urram in question, and continue the chant for as long as the ancestor remains among them. When they appear, the Urram Athair are of indeterminate gender (indeed, it is the closest thing to blasphemy among dwarvenfolk to insist on one gender or another for the revered ancestors, when they so clearly embody both).

It should be noted that the months of the calendar are named for the Urram Athair, with the exception of Celley and Stàilinn: these are the names of the old Brightaxe and Runewright Urram Athair. Their replacements among the Urram Athair are Uaine, of Clan Woldpike, and Beairteach, of Clan Steelcoin.

• Àirde: Clan Gempeak. Wearing the traditional surcoat and gauntlets of a runethane, Àirde has mighty gem-studded gauntlets of shining steel. Each gem is etched with a tiny rune. Àirde appears to herald the discovery of a rich vein of mineral ore, or to warn of magical tragedy.
• Fìor: Clan Truesilver. xxx
• Airgaid: Clan Silverbeard. xxx
• Reithe: Clan Ramspur. xxx
• Gumath: Clan Merrycask. xxx
• Caevle: Clan Brightmantle. xxx
• Tiene: Clan Firepoint. Wearing the ancient vestments of the milkhall caretakers – robes of grey and white, with hip-packs of medicines and healing ointments – Tiene has brilliant red-gold hair and beard, and a halo of golden needles in a circle of flame that slowly orbits behind their head. Tiene appears to herald a portentous birth, or to warn of great danger to bairns.
• Uaine: Clan Woldpike. xxx
• Sgian: Clan Glimmerdirk. Clad in rich woolen garments, with a leather-and-gemmed-boss studded overcoat, Sgian's great beard is oiled, braided, and set with small gemstone fascinators. When they appear, they are orbited by five daggers, seemingly made of diamond, which float always point-down. They appear to warn of dramatic economic troubles for a citadel, or to mark the shifting of a clan's finances in some dramatic way.
• Umha: Clan Bronzemask. Clad in bronze armor, with a great bronze mask from beneath which flows their great beard, braided and banded in bronze clasps, Umha wields a great bronze maul and silently regards folk from the darkness behind their mask. Umha appears to warn of sudden and bloody battle, and their appearance is an omen of a fight that will be difficult to win.
• Tàirn: Clan Thunderwall. xxx
• Beairteach: Clan Steelcoin. xxx

Organization

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Gods of Field & Sky: The Mysteries Pastoral

Rural & Agricultural Valefolk
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Foreign Gods: The Church of the Foundations

Humans (particularly urban)
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The Light Eternal: The Lucent Cultus

Elves & Forest Folk
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Greenwood Mysteries: The Cult of the Grinnir

Huntsmen & Foresters
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