Laduguer
| Intermediate Power, "The Exile" | |
|---|---|
| Pantheon: Dwarvish | |
| AoC: Crafts, magic, protection, duergar | |
| Worshippers: {{{wor}}} | |
| AL: LE | WAL: LE, LN |
| Symbol: Shield with broken crossbow bolt | |
| Home p/l/r: Acheron/Thuldanin/Hammergrim | |
| Allies: None | |
| Enemies: None | |
| Favored Weapon: Warhammer | |
| Domains: Craft, Dwarf, Evil, Law, Magic, Metal, Protection | |
| Subdomains: {{{subdomain}}} | |
| Known Proxies: High Chieftain Rathgar (Px/♂ duergar/F9/LE) | |
Patron of the duergar, Laduguer is a proud, stubborn deity. Though exiled by the dwarvish pantheon many eons ago, he is still insistent that he has merely gone on sabbatical from his brethren, to separate him from what he describes as laziness. He insists greatness from his people, pushing them to their limits and beyond, always seeking to achieve greater accomplishments than his surface-dwelling counterparts. He is never happy with their achievements, however, always wishing better from them and from himself - Laduguer has never been seen with any expression but a frown. A forceful and angry god that embodies the very concept of grim, Laduguer has only a single ally; Deep Duerra, the sole other duergar power, thought by many to be his daughter.
His attempts, though harsh on his people, do seem to have paid off. Duergar smithwork is at least the equal of dwarvish, if not better. Their skill at the crafting of magical weapons is renown across the planes, with their methods coming straight from Laduguer himself; gifts in exchange for his brutal lordship. Some claim that this is due to both Laduguer and the duergar being more open to new methods in their smithing; though rigid, they both understand that new ways of doing things are necessary for true mastery, and they both freely admit when a new method is an improvement on their own. In addition to his knowledge of the crafting of magical weapons, Laduguer also gifts his people with his own protection in exchange for their hard work and devotion, showing that even if their work is never enough for him, he does in some sense appreciate their efforts.
Though Laduguer has many proxies, most of these dwell on the Prime, leading duergar clans there. High Chieftain Rathgar is a special exception, being Laduguer's representative in Hammergrim, and ruling the realm when Laduguer himself must be away.
Priesthood
The priests of Laduguer have almost nothing in the way of ceremonies, as celebration to them is merely a missed opportunity for work or self-improvement. They similarly have few holy days, and rituals are only indulged if they aid in a priest's ability to do his or her job. Laduguer demands even more from his priests than from his lay followers, and his priests are required to spend at least a full hour each morning working towards the creation of a new magical weapon or the improvement of an existing weapon in some way, be it conceptual design or actual labor; this usually is performed immediately after their prayers to Laduguer for spells. When not working on craftswork, his priests are expected to devote their time to the defense and leadership of their communities; to the duergar, religious and secular authority are the same thing.
Dogma
Having rejected the majority of the dwarvish pantheon for weakness, the children of Laduguer wish only to reach the greatest of heights. To achieve this end, they insist on the highest of standards for themselves and for others. They believe in strict obedience to ones' superiors, and that asking for help is a sign of poor character. Pain is to be suffered stoically, and emotion is nothing but a weakness. Adversity makes a person strong. Duergar are not alone, and in fact do help each other when they see another of their kin in need - for some, even beyond that. But a follower of Laduguer would never stoop to aid someone who requested it; if they need to ask for help, then they are not strong enough to deserve it.
References
- Faiths and Pantheons, pg. 120
- Monster Mythology, pg. 64
- On Hallowed Ground, pp. 82-83
