Editing Dwarven Ancestors (section)

=The Ancestors=

'''Bjerkin the Healer'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Mushroom

'''Alignment:''' Neutral Good

'''Portfolio:''' Healing, Life, Death

'''Cleric Alignments:''' LG, NG

'''Domains:''' Good, Healing, Repose

'''Description:'''

Bjerkin was a wise and merciful healer who discovered many cures in his time.  While he was a healer of great compassion, he never flagged in battle.  It is said that his was the sharpest axe in any battle, for he kept its edge fine enough to slay any enemy without causing undue pain.  He also took on the duty of slaying fallen dwarves too wounded to complete the long mountain trip back home.  Bjerkin's clerics still do this today, but a few unfortunate instances of overenthusiasm have made it less common.


'''Dunmorg the Giantslayer'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Axe

'''Alignment:''' Lawful Good

'''Portfolio:''' Combat, courage, craftiness

'''Cleric Alignments:''' LN, LG, NG

'''Domains:''' Strength, Trickery, War

'''Description:'''

There are a number of Orcslayers in Dwarven history (perhaps more than were strictly necessary to defeat the orcs), but few Giantslayers.  Among those few, Dunmorg is the greatest.  With a combination of wily tactics, obsessive training and stark courage, Dunmorg became such a mighty champion that giants refused to face him in single combat, and he had to begin adding to his impressive tally of defeated giants in battlefield combat.  Dunmorg does not encourage lying nor lawbreaking.  He teaches misdirection and exploitation of the opponent's ignorance as just another combat tactic, and this is why his domains include Trickery.


'''Gargrim the Maker of Gloves'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Glove

'''Alignment:''' Neutral

'''Portfolio:''' Humble craftsmanship, gloves, defense of dwarven culture

'''Cleric Alignments:''' N, LN, NG

'''Domains:''' Artifice, Strength, Protection

'''Description:'''

Gargrim is just one of many relatively humble dwarves who rose to Ancestor status by virtue of their contribution to the Dwarven Empire.  When a bitter war dragged the armies of the Dwarven Empire unexpectedly into freezing mountains, Gargrim, a fabulously efficient businessman and dedicated glovemaker, organized the other tailors of the empire in producing prodigious quantities of insulated coats, scarves and (most famously) gloves to prevent the already-deployed troops from dying of exposure.  There are many Ancestors like Gargrim who were only moderately notable on the battlefield, but nevertheless mattered enough to history to earn Ancestor privileges in the afterlife.


'''Haggaturk the Wise Judge'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Eye

'''Alignment:''' Lawful Neutral

'''Portfolio:''' Wisdom, Law, Justice

'''Cleric Alignments:''' LG, LN, N

'''Domains:''' Community, Knowledge, Law

'''Description:'''

Patron of judges, leaders and sages, Haggaturk is dedicated to truth and justice as the twin pillars of continued Dwarven prosperity.  Haggaturk was a key figure in writing the giant, glorious headache that is the Dwarven Imperial Code.  He was known for his assiduous attention to detail and his unrelenting pursuit of legalistic fairness.  Haggaturk demands that his clerics defend their communities by rooting out all secret knowlege and seeing that justice is done.  This is the source of the Dwarven saying, "In Kas-Turaaal, you go to court.  In Schlackengravva, court comes to you."


'''Jorn the Stonemason'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Chisel

'''Alignment:''' Lawful Good

'''Portfolio:''' Craftsmanship, stone, great Dwarven temples and cities

'''Cleric Alignments:''' LG, NG, LN

'''Domains:''' Artifice, Creation, Earth

'''Description:'''

Jorn was the greatest Dwarven stonemason who ever lived and now enjoys Ancestor status for his contributions to Dwarven society.  In life, Jorn was never a leader, but helper to a succession of Dwarven rulers.  It was he who planned many of the great cities that still sit in the depths of the mountains today.  All works by Jorn have his symbol, a chisel, somewhere on or in them.  Jorn was known to say that "the difference between a great work and a passable one can be one false strike of the chisel", a standard of quality that drew praise from clients and black, burning hate from subordinates.  Jorn is one of the most respected Ancestors, and yet some of the most oft-told tales about him are still about his deficiencies as a boss.  Thus, Jorn is worshipped more often by supervisors and patrons than by the haggard dwarf who's been chiseling the Emperor's armpit for five years.


'''Hagginkreyga the Grand Emperor'''

'''Symbol:''' Gray Crown

'''Alignment:''' Lawful Good

'''Portfolio:''' Royalty, law, power, Dwarven conquest

'''Cleric Alignments:''' LG, NG, LN

'''Domains:''' Law, Nobility, War

'''Description:''' 

The first true emperor of the Dwarven Empire was Hagginkreyga, the general and mastermind who unified the Dwarves under the Dwarven Imperial Code and led the war against the orcs for the mountains that surround Axebeard Bay.  Hagginkreyga's clan is the most prestigious in the Dwarven Empire and still the clan that produces the most Emperors.  Hagginkreyga was a stern but fair leader, like most Dwarven emperors, but he set himself apart with his legendary generosity.  It was Hagginkreyga who organized the Dwarven Widow Corps, a crack security force of widows who protected the Imperial capital city of Thunderkeep during wartime.  Such "tough charity" continues to be a trademark of Hagginkreyga's clerics, who hold themselves to the same standard of service and often serve as both healers and soldiers during wartime.