Marthammor Duin

Marthammor Duin is the God of Travel and Exploration in Der Hoyk Erat, the Dwarven Pantheon. He contested this role for a short time with Muamman Duathal, but ultimately wrested it from that rival and subsumed him.   The most conservative dwarves pledge that the Stout Folk belong underground and that those who travel the Realm Above (known collectively among the dwarven culture as Wanderers) have, at worst, betrayed ancient ideals and, at best, are somewhat disturbed fools. If the latter is the case, the young dwarven deity Marthammor Duin (Mat-tham-more doo-ihn) is the grand king of fools. The patron of those dwarves who have left the clanholds to explore the world under the sun, Marthammor approaches life with an almost gnome-like demeanor, always curious to see what's beyond the horizon and always willing to trade stories of travels past beside a crackling campfire. His is the rare spirit of dwarven exploration embodied in divine form, the spark of curiosity his followers equate with a quick burst of lightning from the open skies.

Worshipers, Clergy & Temples

Wanderers and travelers well regard Marthammor. The Watcher's advocacy of integration, exploration, and adventure is little understood by the hidden mountain dwarves who remain cloistered in isolated dwarven holds deep in the mountains. Most mountain dwarves look at the Finder-of-Trails and his priests with incomprehension, not antipathy. Marthammor's clergy represent one of the surface's most widely recognized dwarven churches.   Marthammor's priests mark wilderness trails near dwarven strongholds to make the path of those who might follow from the clan holds easier. Priests of Marthammor patrol these ways, healing and guiding dwarves they meet, providing a warm fire, a hot meal, and friendly companionship to exhausted, lonely, lost, or hurt dwarves. They also establish way-caches of food and supplies (spare boots, clothing, weapons, drinking water, bandages and splints, fire-making supplies, and the like) along these trails.   Priests of Marthammor work with healers and priests of all species to help dwarves, allies, and companions of dwarves. While they do not accompany adventurers, they are, in a sense, adventurers themselves, often fighting monsters, discovering ruins, and facing the same perils that adventurers do. Travelers often encounter small bands of dwarven priests of Marthammor. Such bands do not reveal their clerical status unless they are dealing with dwarves or known dwarven allies or companions. The ghosts of diligent servants of Marthammor are said to haunt certain trails, old abandoned delves, and mountain passes. When dwarves or dwarven allies or companions are lost in such places, particularly in blizzards or storms, the phantom priests appear, gesturing silently, and guide the travelers along a safe route to refuge or their destination.

Vestments

Priests of Marthammor garb themselves in gray robes and maroon overtunics emblazoned on both the front and back with the symbol of Marthammor.   When traveling and adventuring, priests of Marthammor favor cloaks of gray or mottled green, brown, and gray over any sort of armor, including a helm if desired. While Watchful Eyes may employ any sort of bludgeoning weapon, they prefer hammers and staves, both weapons associated with the Finder.

Hierarchy

Marthammor's clergy are known as the volamtar ("blazers of fresh trails"). Specialty priests are called Trailblazers. Novitiates in the priesthood are called the Lost, whilst full priests are Watchful Eyes, who ascend through the ranks of Sun Seeker, Far Wanderer, Trail Finder, Vigilant Guardian, Stalwart Protector, and Valiant Hammer. High Old Ones have unique individual titles.

Temples

Marthammor is worshiped on the bare heights of stony tors on moonless nights or holy days and for important rituals in underground caverns. The caverns must always be natural, unaltered by the hands of intelligent beings. No matter where it is located, an altar to Marthammor is always a simple stone cairn or wooden tripod, supporting a stone hammer, head upright. Temples of the Finder-of-Trails are scattered across the foothills midway between the traditional mountain territories of the dwarves and the human cities of the plains.

Rituals

Marthammor's priests pray for their spells in the morning. Followers of Marthammor celebrate numerous holy days during the year. Each festival day and nine days after each festival day is considered holy to Marthammor. On most holy days, and at least once a year for each worshiper, followers of the Finder-of-Trails must burn used ironwork and dwarf-made footwear in homage to the Watcher.

Orders

While Marthammor's clergy regularly assists adventuring dwarves, few priests actually become adventurers. The Knights of the North Star is a widely dispersed order of Marthammoran priests who individually join adventuring companies based in the North composed primarily of humans and demihumans of other species. Members of the order seek to learn more of their companions' cultures so as to ease the integration of Wanderer dwarves into other societies and to direct the efforts of such adventuring companies toward activities consistent with the goals of dwarves in general. At least once per year, each knight must deliver an oral or written report to the most convenient Marthammoran enclave.

Dogma

• Eschew the illusory safety of the clan hold and instead travel widely to spread the words of the Morndinsamman to those of other species that they might gain the product of dwarven wisdom. 
• Help fellow wanderers and sojourners to the best of your ability, for the road is easier endured amid the tread of companionship. 
• Seek out new ways and paths, and discover the wise world in your wanderings. Herald the way of newfound hope.

Appearance, Manifestations

Marthammor appears a large dwarf with burnt umber hair, braided together with his beard in a utilitarian style. He wears a simple hooded traveling cloak and a comfortable tunic and breeches.

Relationships & History

Other members of the dwarven pantheon saw Marthammor's behavior as 'antics' and hoped his interest in the world above would soon pass. Moradin was grateful that at least his youngest son was more disciplined than Dugmaren, one of Marthammor's greatest friends.   He hates the gods of orcs, goblins, and giants and holds special enmity for the hill giant god Grolantor.