Clangeddin Silverbeard

Clangeddin Silverbeard is the primary dwarven war god.

Clangeddin watches over the battle-skills and performances of dwarves from his mountain fortress in Arcadia. He encourages valor in battle, weapon-mastery and training, and wisdom in war, and most often manifests his powers to further these aims. Clangeddin is concerned with war as a way of life and is very different from Moradin in this respect. The aptly named Father of Battle especially hates giants and has taught the dwarves - and the gnomes, through their gods - special ways of fighting giant-type creatures.

Clangeddin is a resolute warrior who never backs down from danger and who refuses to surrender even when all seems lost. He is a strict and ethical deity who brooks no treachery or deceit and who never negotiates or compromises. Triumph must be obtained through valor and bravery, and Clangeddin is swift to humble and humiliate any who overcome by cowardly or deceitful means. The Father of Battle is known for often snatching victory from the narrowest of margins in battle. Clangeddin uses his magic only to influence events indirectly, never in battle. He only resorts to influencing a battle when the very existence of his avatar in the Realms is threatened. He always prefers force of arms to spells. Clangeddin is merry in battle, roaring appreciation of shrewd strategies, bravery, and feats of skill even when such are directed against him. He often sings (both stirring battle-ballads and taunting little ditties to unnerve enemies) in the midst of a fight, and dwarves have learned to listen for hints, cues, and warnings in his lyrics. He is a master at turning the tables on enemy armies by anticipating their movements on the battlefield and singing directions to dwarves fighting with him. Like most dwarves, Clangeddin admires most those who help themselves. He typically appears at a battle only to right hopeless odds against dwarves, to balance treachery and punish the treasonous, and to aid the weak of all races against evil, especially the acts of giants.

Worshipers, Clergy & Temples

All dwarves who must fight, especially dwarves who are warriors by profession, worship Clangeddin, their patron and exultant leader in war. He is the deity of choice among lawful neutral dwarven warriors.

The Father of Battle, one of the senior members of the Morndinsamman, and his followers are widely revered throughout dwarven culture for their dedication and martial skill. More pacifistic members of dwarven society may wish Clangeddin's priests were less belligerent, but none question their crucial role in the continued survival of the dwarven race. Among other races, Clangeddin and his followers are often perceived as little more than bloodthirsty berserkers, but those who fight alongside the Father of Battle's followers quickly learn of their principled approach to warfare and the lengths to which they will go to defend their fellow dwarves and allies. The bulk of those who follow the Father of Battle know much of troop movements, tactics, and military strategy, and make excellent wartime advisers.

His clerics conduct military training every day and learn and teach methods of crafting armor and weapons. As they seek to make the dwarves ever stronger on the battlefield, they are always alert for new tactics, traps, and weapons.

Clerics of Clangeddin frequently multiclass as fighters. Few even gain levels in barbarian, or were barbarians prior to heeding the call of the Father of Battle.

Vestments

Clangeddin's priests wear silver chain mail armor, war helms, and tabards depicting the symbol of the Father of Battle as their ceremonial garb. Priests of Clangeddin seldom take off their helms, although there is no prohibition against doing so. The holy symbol of the faith is a pair of miniature steel battle axes welded together in a cross; this is typically suspended on a chain and worn around the neck.

In combat situations, priests of the Father of Battle favor the most effective armor available, often replacing their ceremonial silver chain mail with suits of dwarven plate mail. They never like to fight with shields, but they will do so to protect other dwarves. While Clangeddin's priests employ a wide range of weaponry, they prefer weapons that cleave, crush, or bludgeon, such as axes, maces, and flails. They rarely employ missile weapons (other than throwing axes or the occasional heavy crossbow) or swords. The magical weapon of choice among the members of Clangeddin's clergy is magical axe.

Hierarchy

Clerics of Clangeddin are known as Alaghor ("those who demonstrate valor in battle"). Novices of Clangeddin, like novices of Haela, are known as the Unblooded. Full priests of the Father of Battle are known as Axebrothers/Axesisters. In ascending order of rank, the titles used by Clangeddite priests are Axecutter, Squire, Knight of the Third Rank, Knight of the Second Rank, Knight of the First Rank, and Knight Commander - but these are often superseded by titles that go with a position. High Old Ones have unique individual titles but are collectively known as War Princes/Princesses.

Temples and Shrines

Clangeddin's most sacred shrines are dwarven cairns erected on the fields of past battles, whether they be on the surface or in the tunnels of the Underdark. Sometimes a cavern in which the followers of Clangeddin won a great victory is dedicated as a great temple to the Father of Battle (many times when a new clanhold or kingdom is being carved out of hostile territory, a temple of Clangeddin is dedicated in the cavern where the climatic battle was won, thus firmly establishing the dwarven presence). Such temples are dominated by great stone statues of dwarven heroes past, armor and weapons worn by Clangeddin's greatest warriors, and huge granite blocks stained blood-red that serve as altars on which weapons are offered up to the god.

Rituals

Clerics of Clangeddin Silverbeard pray for spells in the morning. The anniversaries of past battles hold special significance for Clangeddin's priests. On such occasions, the clerics break old weapons anointed with their own blood and recount tales of fallen heroes that they might never be forgotten. More disturbing (at least from the perspective of their enemies) are the frenzied war chants in which the priests engage during the heat of battle. Known as ehontar ("songs giving fear to the hearts of the craven"), these low, droning songs bolster the spirits of nearby dwarves, assuring them that Clangeddin immediately enlists in his celestial army those who fall furthering the destiny of the dwarves or protecting their holdings. Clerics know they will die in combat; the rest is merely a matter of timing.

Dogma

The finest hours of dwarvenkind come in the thrusts and feints of war. Seize the opportunity to defend your kin and ensure their victory wherever conflicts erupt. Revel in the challenge of a good fight, and never waver in the face of adversity, no matter how ominous. Lives should never be thrown away foolishly, but the greatest honor is to sacrifice oneself for the cause on the field of battle in service to a righteous cause. When not fighting, prepare for the next conflict physically, tactically, and by acquiring resources. Attack hill giants whenever possible and other evil giants whenever necessary.

Appearance, Manifestations

Clangeddin appears as a craggy, middle-aged, bald, silver-bearded dwarf in chain mail. He is usually armed with paired battle axes, and appears powerful and always smiling.

Relationships & History

Clangeddin maintains good relations with the other members of the Morndinsamman, with the notable exceptions of Abbathor and the duergar deities. He works closely with Moradin, Gorm, and Marthammor, and regards Haela as both a daughter and a protege. The Father of Battle works closely with the gods of the gnome pantheon, particularly Gaerdal Ironhand, and he has forged strong alliances with Arvoreen, the Red Knight, Torm, and Tyr.

The most hated enemies of the Father of Battle are Grolantor and his hill giant followers, followed closely by Karontor, Memnor, Kostchtchie, Vaprak, Surtr, and Thrym, plus the various evil giant races that revere them. Since the Time of Troubles, Clangeddin has nursed a grudge against Labelas Enoreth, elven god of time and longevity, for destroying his avatar form in a battle that raged across the isle of Ruathym.

Related Imagery

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Source: Faiths and Pantheons