Moradin

Chief deity of the dwarven pantheon in Dungeons & Dragons.

In the Dungeons & Dragons game, Moradin stands as the supreme god of the dwarven pantheon and a fixture of the standard D&D pantheon. Called the Soul Forger, Dwarffather, All-Father, and Creator, he is said to have molded the first dwarves from earth and stone before teaching them their ancestral ways.

Quick Facts

First: Deities and Demigods (1980)
Creator: James Ward and Robert Kuntz
Race: Deity
Gender: Male
Alignment: Lawful Good
Home: Dwarfhome (Forgotten Realms)/Celestia, the Radiant Throne (4th edition)
Series: Dungeons & Dragons

Facts from the source article.

Publication history

James M. Ward first brought Moradin into existence for the 1980 Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia. The dwarven god’s first appearance within the Forgotten Realms came a decade later, in the 1990 supplement Dwarves Deep. Monster Mythology, published in 1992, expanded on his priesthood. On Hallowed Ground (1996) placed Moradin within the Planescape cosmology.

A more thorough treatment of his role in the Forgotten Realms arrived with Demihuman Deities in 1998. The 1999 book Warriors of Heaven listed him among the good deities celestials might serve. He was included in the 2000 Players Handbook, and Deities and Demigods (2002) gave him a full write-up, while Faiths and Pantheons revisited his Realms-specific role that same year. The revised 2003 Players Handbook again featured him, and Complete Divine (2004) detailed his clergy.

The 2008 Players Handbook listed him, with a setting-specific version appearing in both the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and the Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide that year. Finally, the 2014 Players Handbook included him in its list of Nonhuman Deities.

Relationships

Moradin is the head of the dwarven pantheon and is married to Berronar Truesilver. His most fierce foes include Gruumsh and Maglubiyet, and he is friendly with Pelor. In many campaign settings, the dwarven pantheon consists of Moradin, Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal, and Vergadain, though other dwarven gods may be present in different settings. In 4th edition, Moradin counts Asmodeus as one of his chief enemies and is closely allied with Bahamut.

Worshippers

Moradin expects his followers to destroy orc kingdoms and eliminate the worshipers of Gruumsh. Clerics of Moradin wear earthy-toned garments, chain mail, and silvered helms, and most come from family lineages, as is common among dwarven trades. The Hammers of Moradin form an elite military order composed mainly of crusaders and warrior-priests. Nearly every dwarven stronghold hosts a chapter, and members hail from all clans. These Hammers lead dwarven armies and act as a specialized strike force capable of handling large orc hordes, ancient dragons, or fiends from the Lower Planes. Local chapters operate with considerable independence, but during major crises a Grand Council—made up of ruling monarchs and senior Hammers from the affected area—gathers to decide strategy and seek Moradin’s guidance.