Moradin is the chief

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

in the dwarven pantheon in the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. In 3rd edition, Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. The 5th Edition '' Players Handbook'' include Knowledge as a suggested domain. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator. He created the first dwarves out of earthen materials and tutored them in dwarven ways.

Publication history

''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition (1977–1988)

Moradin was created by

James M. Ward James M. Ward (born May 23, 1951) is an American game designer and fantasy author who worked for TSR, Inc. for more than 20 years. Career ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and TSR Ward was one of the players in Gary Gygax's early Greyhawk games as Gygax ...

for the ''

Deities and Demigods ''Deities & Demigods'' (abbreviated ''DDG''), alternatively known as ''Legends & Lore'' (abbreviated ''L&L'' or ''LL''), is a reference book for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game (D&D). The book provides descriptions and game ...

Cyclopedia'' (1980).

''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition (1989–1999)

Moradin was first detailed as part of the dwarven pantheon in the Forgotten Realms in ''

Dwarves Deep Dwarf or dwarves may refer to: Common uses *Dwarf (folklore), a being from Germanic mythology and folklore * Dwarf, a person or animal with dwarfism Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * Dwarf (''Dungeons & Dragons''), a humanoid ...

'' (1990). Moradin was detailed in the book ''

Monster Mythology ''Monster Mythology'', published by TSR in 1992, is a sourcebook about non-human deities that can be used in fantasy role-playing games using the second edition rules for ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' (''AD&D''). Description ''Monster Mythol ...

'' (1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the

Planescape ''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by Zeb Cook, and published in 1994. It crosses numerous planes of existence, encompassing an entire cosmology called the Great Wheel, as dev ...

campaign setting was described in ''

On Hallowed Ground ''On Hallowed Ground'' is an accessory book for the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting. Contents This book contains information about the planar domains of deities from 20 separate pan ...

'' (1996). Moradin received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms in ''

Demihuman Deities This is a list of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' rulebooks for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game, sorted by the edition of the game that they appeared in. This list does not include books designed for use as premade adventure ...

'' (1998). Moradin is described as one of the good deities that

celestials The Celestials are fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Depicted as cosmic beings, the characters debuted in the Bronze Age of Comic Books and have reappeared on numerous occasions. The Celestials ...

can serve in the supplement ''Warriors of Heaven'' (1999).

''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.0 edition (2000–2002)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the '' Players Handbook'' for this edition (2000). Moradin is detailed in ''

'' (2002), and his role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in ''

Faiths and Pantheons ''Faiths and Pantheons'' is a campaign accessory for the Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition, 3rd edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'', for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Contents It details the mechanics of the ...

'' (2002).

''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5 edition (2003–2007)

Moradin appears in the revised '' Players Handbook'' for this edition (2003). His priesthood is detailed for this edition in ''

Complete Divine ''Complete Divine'' is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast. It replaces and expands upon earlier rulebooks entitled '' Masters of the Wild'' and ...

'' (2004).

''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition (2008–2014)

Moradin appears as one of the deities described in the '' Players Handbook'' for this edition (2008). Heinsoo, Rob, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt. '' Player's Handbook''. ( Wizards of the Coast, 2008) A setting-specific version of him appears in the ''

Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide The ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide'' is a supplement to the 4th edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. Contents The ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide'' includes everything a Dungeon Master needs to run a 4th edition ''D&D'' ...

'' and the ''

Forgotten Realms Player's Guide The ''Forgotten Realms Player's Guide'' is a supplement to the 4th edition of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game. Contents The ''Forgotten Realms Player's Guide'' presents the changed Forgotten Realms setting from the point of view of ...

'' (both 2008) for this edition.

''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition (2014–)

Moradin appears in the list of Nonhuman Deities found in the '' Players Handbook'' for this edition (2014).

Relationships

Moradin is the head of the dwarven pantheon. He is married to Berronar Truesilver, and counts

Gruumsh This is a list of deities of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', including all of the 3.5 edition gods and powers of the "Core Setting" for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') roleplaying game. Religion is a key element of the D&D game, since it is require ...

and Maglubiyet among his most fierce foes. He is friendly with

Pelor This is a list of deities from the Greyhawk campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. A Al'Akbar Al'Akbar is the Baklunish demigod of dignity, duty, faithfulness, and guardianship. His symbol is a cup and eig ...

. In many campaign settings, the dwarven pantheon of gods consists of the leader Moradin, as well as

Abbathor A dwarf, in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy roleplaying game, is a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for player characters. The idea for the ''D&D'' dwarf comes from the Dwarf (mythology), dwarves of European mytholo ...

, Berronar Truesilver, Clanggedin Silverbeard, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin,

Muamman Duathal A dwarf, in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy roleplaying game, is a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for player characters. The idea for the ''D&D'' dwarf comes from the dwarves of European mythologies and J. R. R. ...

, and Vergadain. Other dwarven gods may be present in different campaign settings. In 4th edition, Moradin counts

Asmodeus Asmodeus (; grc, Ἀσμοδαῖος, ''Asmodaios'') or Ashmedai (; he, אַשְמְדּאָי, ''ʾAšmədʾāy''; see below for other variations), is a ''prince of demons'' and hell."Asmodeus" in ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chica ...

as one of his chief enemies, and is closely allied with

Bahamut Bahamut, or Bahamoot ( ; ar, بهموت), is a monster that lies deep below, underpinning the support structure that holds up the earth, according to Zakariya al-Qazwini. In this conception of the world, the earth is shouldered by an angel, w ...

Realm

Moradin's realm is ''Erackinor'', on the plane of Mount Celestia, which he shares with his wife Berronar.

Worshippers

Moradin charges his followers with the task of removing the kingdoms of orcs and wiping out the followers of Gruumsh. He is upset if they flee from their foes or kill their fellow dwarves.

Clergy

Moradin's clerics wear earthy colors, with chain mail and silvered helms. His clerics are usually drawn from family lines, like most dwarven occupations.

Hammers of Moradin

The Hammers of Moradin are an elite military order dominated by crusaders and fighting clerics with chapters in nearly every dwarven stronghold and members drawn from every dwarven clan. The Hammers serve both as commanders of dwarven armies and as an elite strike force skilled in dealing with anything from large groups of orcs to great wyrms to malevolent fiends from the Lower Planes. The order is dedicated to the defense of existing dwarven holdings and the carving out of new dwarven territories. Individual chapters have a great deal of local autonomy but, in times of great crisis, a Grand Council (the reigning monarchs and senior Hammers of the affected region) assemble to plot strategy and divine Moradin's will.

Temples and rituals

Moradin is worshipped at forges and hearths. Melted metals are sacrificed to him monthly.

Holy days

Moradin's holy days fall during the crescent moon.