Ancestor God
The Dwarfs worship and honour the Ancestor Gods who were born at the heart of the first mountains, the three most revered are Grimnir, Grungni and Valaya. [1a]
In their temples, the Dawi spend more time reflecting and hnouring traditions than actually worshiping. On holy days, almost the whole hold will gather to celebrate and hear both Loremasters and Priests recite stories and traditions.[5]
Contents
Ancestor Cults
In addition to the main Ancestor Gods, the dwarfs also worship their own direct ancestors and everyday life will often include rituals to gain their approval. [1a]
Hall of the Ancestors
Gromthikhaz is where the spirits of the ancestors dwell and from where they watch their descendants and judge them - deciding if they have lived honourable lives. They do not normally intervene in the life of a Dawi, it is up to the living to succeed in the tasks that they have set or been set. [5]
History
It is said that the Ancestor Gods stepped out from the Dolmens of the Gods, emerging from the living mountain. [6]
The first to rise was Grungni, becoming the principal of the pantheon, taught them brewing, metalwork, mining, stonecrafting and weapon making and also laid down the Dwarf Laws. Valaya came next, establishing much of the culture of the Dwarfs and developing runic script as well as creating a special Rune to defend them from Chaos. Grimnir the Fearless protected the Dwarfs from Dragons, Giants and Trolls as they spread through the World's Edge Mountains. Finally, Gazul established the veneration of the ancestors - living and dead. [5]
A second generation of Ancestor Gods were made up of Smednir who elevated craftsmanship, Thungni who ventured into the Ankor Bryn - the Glittering Realm deep in the earth bringing back the secrets of Runic magic. Morgrim was the final one to arise - creating engines of war. [5]
Departures
Grungni - foreseeing the Coming of Chaos - led the Dwarfs from below ground to fight the invasion. Grimnir created the ritual that Slayers still use when he set off to close the ruptured Warp Gate. Initially he was accompanied by his son, Morgrim but Grimnir ordered him to turn back when they reached the Chaos Wastes. [5]
After the creation of the Great Vortex, Grungi and Valaya found their way into the Hall of Ancestors with the assistance of Gazul and the others would follow later. Gazul was the last to depart, first travelling to each hold to train a priesthood for each god, including himself. [5]
The first priests were selected by Gazul from the Runesmith clan - choosing the less powerful to allow those with greater abilities to focus on their craft. [5]
Imperial Dwarfs
Normally only a temple of Grungni can be found in a manling city or town but have shrines to Grminir and Valaya whilst underground passages may lead to vaults tended by priests of Gazul. Often heavily fortified, they also have subterranean escape routes in case the humans should prove treacherous. Smaller settlements will make do with shrines in the cellars and vaults tended by wandering priests of Gazul. [5]
List of Ancestor Gods
Major
- Grungni: god of mining and stoneworking, husband of Valaya. [1a]
- Valaya: goddess of healing, the hearth and brewing. [1a]
- Grimnir: the Fearless, warrior god, brother of Grungni and husband of Valaya. [1a]
Lesser
- Gazul, Lord of the Underearth and protector of the Dwarf dead, younger brother of the three Major gods. [1a]
- Smednir, Shaper of Ore, son of Grungni and Valaya. [1a]
- Thungni, Ancestor God of Runesmiths, younger son of Grungni and Valaya. [1a]
- Morgrim, Ancestor God of Engineers, son of Grimnir and Valaya. [1a]
- Skavor, the son of Gazul, there is a Dwarf legend that he was the origin of the Skaven. [2a]
Priests
It is rare for a priest to depart their own hold, except when aiding the Throng or other military expeditions or acting as travelling priests. The latter tend to the needs of the Dawi in farmsteads, inns, mines and villages and they are escorted by at least a couple of guards as they move around their circuit. [5]
Other Dwarf Gods
Besides the Ancestor Gods, Dwarfs worship other gods, through their status as Ancestor Gods is unknown:
- Hashut the Father of Darkness, the only god Chaos Dwarfs.
- Krignar, a Dwarf god of racial pride and warfare worshiped by the Cult of Krignar.[3]
- Gorlaz the Golden, an aspect of Slaanesh worshiped in Karak Azgal by the Cult of Gorlaz.[4]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Dwarfs: Stone and Steel by Hogshead Publishing
- 1a: Dwarf Religion, pg. 75-76
- 2: Children of the Horned Rat
- 2a: Chapter One, pg. 11
- 3: Something Rotten in Kislev (Supplement) - The Champions of Death: A Choice of Evils in Bolgasgrad, pg. 76
- 4: Karak Azgal (book) - Chapter Two: Skalf's Hold
- 5: Dwarf Players Guide: Honoured Ancestors, pg. 133-136
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (8th Edition), Engineering Runes, pg. 65
- Grudgelore, pgs. 64-65 (ISBN 978-1-84416-503-2) Needs Citation
