Dugmaren Brightmantle
The Gleam in the Eye, the Errant Explorer
Lesser Dwarven Deity
Symbol: Open book
Home Plane: Dwarfhome
Alignment: Chaotic good
Portfolio: Scholarship, invention, discovery
Worshipers: Artisans, dwarves, loremasters, runecasters, scholars, tinkers, wizards
Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, NG
Domains: Chaos, Craft, Dwarf, Good, Knowledge,
Rune Favored Weapon: "Sharptack" (shortsword)
Just as Marthammor Duin exemplifies the occasional dwarven urge to
explore the world beyond the mountain, Dugmaren Brightmantle (duhg-mah-ren
brite-man-tuhl) signifies the exploratory striving to blaze the trails
of creativity by applying accumulated knowledge to create something
new and good. Brightmantle represents the progressive elements of
a naturally conservative race that nonetheless prides itself on its
infrequent innovations. His ceaseless quest for knowledge and constant
tinkering and exploring have a tendency to get him into trouble, and
though Moradin (his father) admires Dugmaren's adventuresome spirit,
the Dwarffather despairs at his tendency to wander away from a pursuit
to follow something else that catches his notoriously fickle attentions.
Dugmaren appears as an old dwarf with twinkling blue eyes, slightly
hunched and wearing a bright blue cloak. He always has a collection of
books with him. He carries Sharptack (a shortsword +4 with the power
to cast feeblemind twice per day) and wears a bright blue cloak of
displacement that can only be struck by +1 weapons or better.
History/Relationships: Dugmaren's ambitions ensure that he's always at
the center of some exploit, frequently in the company of his loose circle
of deific associates. His circle includes:
- Haela Brightaxe (Dwarven demigoddess of luck and war)
- Marthammor Duin (Dwarven lesser god of guides and travelers)
- Brandobaris (Halfling demigod of thieves, mischief, cleverness)
- Erevan Ilesere (Elven god of mischief and change)
- Gond (Gnome god of artifice, craft, construction)
- Shaundakul (Human lesser god of travel and exploration)
Gargauth(exiled arch-devil of the New Hells), who represents
knowledge-hunting for illicit and perverse purposes, is among the Gleam
in the Eye's most hated foes.
Followers: Dugmaren's clerics, known as xothor ("those who seek
knowledge"), draw from the most creative tinkers and free-thinkers of
dwarven communities, on rare occasions even allowing gnomes to join their
orders. They follow a doctrine of knowledge for knowledge's sake, seeing
equal value in learning a once-lost recipe for toasted zygom stalk and
discovering the crucial flaw in an enemy's defensive fortifications. In
fact, since the xothor strongly favor creation over destruction, there's
a good chance many of them would prefer the recipe. Temples of the Errant
Explorer, usually sprawling edifices filled with the scattered detritus
of a half-hundred abandoned experiments and twice as many open books,
can be found above and below the surface.
Xothor pray for spells in the morning. They observe few official holidays,
instead whispering a prayer of thanks to the Errant Explorer upon the
discovery of some new bit of lore. On high holy days and during festivals,
xothor begin the day with several hours in private meditation, staring at
the flame of a candle. Thereafter, neighboring xothor gather to discuss
their discoveries and creations since the prior convocation. Xothor
frequently multiclass as loremasters, runecasters, or wizards.
Dogma: The secrets of the world are waiting to be revealed. Travel
widely, broaden your mind at every opportunity, and pursue the life of a
scholar. Cultivate the spirit of inquiry among the young and be a teacher
to all. Seek to recover lost and arcane knowledge of ages past and apply
it in the world today. Try new methods of doing things just for the joy
of experimenting. Learn a little of everything, for you never know what
might be of use down the road.
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