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. Great is the ancestor of the Silverbeards, clad in gleaming silver armor, with deep runic etchings in pewter. Their hair and beard are both long and stark silver-white, with clasps of silver and sapphire. In each hand, they wield a silver-bladed double-headed battleaxe, of a size that others would need two hands to lift one of them. Airgaid appears only to warn of extended war ahead, and at the site of decisive battles in those wars. "T'is no true war until the silver beard is seen" is a dwarven saying that's come of this ancestor's regular appearances.
- Reithe: Clan Ramspur. Armored in a shimmering blue-silver hauberk of chain, and wearing a matching helm that appears to be a ram's skull made of blue-silver, Reithe bears a great axe and lance. Their beard is deep black, and coiled into tight spiraled knots just beneath the edge of their mask, secured with blue-silver clasps. When they appear, rams for a mile away suddenly turn in the direction of their appearance, and cannot be pulled away from that focus save by danger. They only appear on the eve of a great battle, which ram cavalry will be the turning point in. They have also appeared to warn of a disease affecting the rams of a citadel before.
- 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. When appears Beairteach, every coin within a mile suddenly jumps and shivers, with a great rattling sound. They are clad in deep brown robes with gold jewelry set with amber.
Clerics: The Naomh
x
Organization
x
Gods of Field & Sky: The Mysteries Pastoral
Rural & Agricultural Valefolk
xx
The Powers
x
Clerics: xxx
x
Organization
x
Foreign Gods: The Church of the Foundations
Humans (particularly urban)
xx
The Gods
x
Clerics: xxx
x
Organization
x
The Light Eternal: The Lucent Cultus
Elves & Forest Folk
xx
The Light
x
Clerics: The Galadim
x
Organization
x
Greenwood Mysteries: The Cult of the Grinnir
Huntsmen & Foresters
xx
The Grinnir
x
Druids: The Woodswise
x
Organization
x
The Subtle Chorus: The Spirits of the Frostwood
Elves & Forest Folk
xx
The Chorus of Spirits
x
Druids: The Lathronim
x
Organization
x
