Dumathoin
Encyclopedia
In many campaign setting
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Dumathoin (DOO-muh-THOE-in) is the patron of mountain dwarves, and the dwarf
deity of mining and underground exploration. He is also the protector of the dwarven dead. His holy symbol is a cut, faceted gem inside of a mountain.
's article "The Dwarven Point of View," in Dragon
#58 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
(1985).
Dumathoin was first detailed as part of the dwarven pantheon in the Forgotten Realms
in Dwarves Deep
(1990). He was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996). He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
in Demihuman Deities
(1998).
Dumathoin's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
(2002). His priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in Complete Divine
(2004).
As his title the Silent Keeper implies, Dumathoin never speaks. He communicates with gestures and the occasional grunt or sigh.
s, the dwarven pantheon of gods consists of the leader Moradin
, as well as Abbathor
, Berronar Truesilver
, Clanggedin Silverbeard
, Dugmaren Brightmantle
, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal
, and Vergadain
. Other dwarven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Dumathoin is a rival of his brother Abbathor, who hoped to become patron of the mountain dwarves before Dumathoin was given that position by Moradin. Abbathor is also infuriated that Dumathoin hides precious metals and gems where he cannot find them.
The Silent Keeper is allied with Calladuran Smoothhands, Cyrrollalee
, Grumbar
, Flandal Steelskin
, Segojan Earthcaller
, Sehanine Moonbow
, Skoraeus Stonebones
, Urogalan
, and every dwarf god except for Abbathor and Laduguer
. He is friendly with other nondwarven gods of mines and smiths. He names among his foes Abbathor, Kiaransali, Laduguer, Urdlen
, and the gods of the goblins
, kobolds
, orcs
, and evil giants
. His relationship with the illithid
god Ilsensine
, whose divine realm his realm overlaps, is nonhostile, though the exact relationship between the two gods is a mystery. Their respective worshippers are hostile to one another, however.
The naga
deity Parrafaire
serves Dumathoin (among other deities), aiding him in protecting his secrets with tricks, traps, and puzzles.
Dumathoin is also associated with the Fading Land known as the Mines of Dumathoin.
The dwarven dead are cleaned and stone tokens are woven into their beards representing the deceased, their clans, and the symbol of Dumathoin. The corpses are dressed in armor regardless of their living profession, and a song is composed honoring the dwarf's living deeds. This song is not sung out loud, as the silent Dumathoin does not require or approve of unnecessary noise.
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Dumathoin (DOO-muh-THOE-in) is the patron of mountain dwarves, and the dwarf
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
deity of mining and underground exploration. He is also the protector of the dwarven dead. His holy symbol is a cut, faceted gem inside of a mountain.
Publication history
Dumathoin was first detailed in Roger E. MooreRoger E. Moore
Roger E. Moore is a designer of role-playing games. He is best known for his long-running tenure as editor of Dragon magazine, and was the founding editor of Dungeon magazine.-Early life:...
's article "The Dwarven Point of View," in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#58 (TSR, 1982). In Dragon #92 (December 1984), Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
indicated this as one of the deities legal for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting. He also appeared in the original Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
Dumathoin was first detailed as part of the dwarven pantheon in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
in Dwarves Deep
Dwarves Deep
Dwarves Deep is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1990). He was detailed in the book Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology
Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...
(1992), including details about his priesthood. His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
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 deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996). He received a very detailed description for his role in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
in Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities
Demihuman Deities is a Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition: Forgotten Realms campaign accessory, published by Wizards of the Coast. The book was designed by Eric L. Boyd...
(1998).
Dumathoin's role in the Forgotten Realms is revisited in Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002). His priesthood is detailed for 3rd edition in Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
(2004).
Description
Dumathoin is described as a gigantic male dwarf with a barrel chest. His hair and beard are sculpted gray stone, and his skin is earth-brown in color. His eyes are silvery flame. He carries a two-handed mattock made from solidified magma.As his title the Silent Keeper implies, Dumathoin never speaks. He communicates with gestures and the occasional grunt or sigh.
Relationships
In many campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
s, the dwarven pantheon of gods consists of the leader Moradin
Moradin
Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
, as well as Abbathor
Abbathor
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Abbathor is the dwarven deity of greed. His holy symbol is a jeweled dagger.-Publication history:...
, Berronar Truesilver
Berronar Truesilver
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Berronar Truesilver is the dwarf goddess of Safety, Truth, Home, and Healing.-Publication history:...
, Clanggedin Silverbeard
Clanggedin Silverbeard
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Clanggedin Silverbeard is the dwarf deity of battle. He is a member of the dwarven pantheon. He is called the Father of Battle, and his area of influence is war, especially as a way of life...
, Dugmaren Brightmantle
Dugmaren Brightmantle
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Dugmaren Brightmantle is the dwarf deity of scholarship, discovery, and invention...
, Dumathoin, Muamman Duathal
Muamman Duathal
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Muamman Duathal is the dwarf deity of wanderers and expatriates. He is also the dwarven god of lightning, which he uses as an omen...
, and Vergadain
Vergadain
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Vergadain is the dwarf deity of Wealth and Luck. Vergadain's titles "the Trickster" and "the Laughing Dwarf" are not used by his worshippers. His holy symbol is a circular gold coin. These coins must be acquired in payment for...
. Other dwarven gods may be present in different campaign settings.
Dumathoin is a rival of his brother Abbathor, who hoped to become patron of the mountain dwarves before Dumathoin was given that position by Moradin. Abbathor is also infuriated that Dumathoin hides precious metals and gems where he cannot find them.
The Silent Keeper is allied with Calladuran Smoothhands, Cyrrollalee
Cyrrollalee
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Cyrrollalee is the halfling deity of Friendship, Trust, and the Home. Her symbol is an open door...
, Grumbar
Grumbar
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Grumbar is the "Elemental Lord of the Earth."-Publication history:...
, Flandal Steelskin
Flandal Steelskin
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Flandal Steelskin is the gnome deity of mining, smithing, and fitness. His symbol is a flaming hammer.-Publication history:...
, Segojan Earthcaller
Segojan Earthcaller
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Segojan Earthcaller is the gnome deity of earth and nature. Unlike Baervan Wildwanderer, who is a god of the plants and forests of the surface world, Segojan's area of concern is the deep earth and the life within it...
, Sehanine Moonbow
Sehanine Moonbow
In many Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings, Sehanine Moonbow is the elven goddess of the moons. She is one of the more powerful members of the Seldarine. The Lady of Dreams actively opposes the nefarious schemes of the Spider Queen and the other drow powers. She is said to be the wife of...
, Skoraeus Stonebones
Skoraeus Stonebones
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Skoraeus Stonebones is the deity worshiped by the stone giant race. He is also known as "King of the Rock" and "The Living Rock". His sacred animal is the cave bear...
, Urogalan
Urogalan
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urogalan is the halfling deity of earth and death. His symbol is the silhouette of a dog's head.-Publication history:...
, and every dwarf god except for Abbathor and Laduguer
Laduguer
In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...
. He is friendly with other nondwarven gods of mines and smiths. He names among his foes Abbathor, Kiaransali, Laduguer, Urdlen
Urdlen
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urdlen is the gnome deity of greed and blood.In many campaign settings, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun, Segojan...
, and the gods of the goblins
Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
, kobolds
Kobold (Dungeons & Dragons)
Kobolds are a fictional species featured in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Aggressive, xenophobic, yet industrious small humanoid creatures, kobolds are noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes...
, orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
, and evil giants
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
. His relationship with the illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
god Ilsensine
Ilsensine
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Ilsensine is the patron deity of illithids . While not the creator of illithids, Ilsensine sees mind flayers as the entities most worthy of dominating the universe...
, whose divine realm his realm overlaps, is nonhostile, though the exact relationship between the two gods is a mystery. Their respective worshippers are hostile to one another, however.
The naga
Naga (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, nagas comprise a variety of similar species of intelligent aberrations with widely differing abilities and alignments. Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in coloring and scale patterns, but are all...
deity Parrafaire
Parrafaire
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Parrafaire is the naga deity of guardianship. He guards magical secrets and hidden places underground...
serves Dumathoin (among other deities), aiding him in protecting his secrets with tricks, traps, and puzzles.
Realm
Dumathoin shares the Dwarven Mountain on the Outlands with Dugmaren and Vergadain. Dumathoin dwells in the deepest level of the realm, called Deepshaft Hall. Deepshaft Hall is dark, icy, and stale with the smell of the dwarves who mine it. The roughly cut mineshafts twist confusingly. The petitioners who dwell in Deepshaft Hall use special gems, called soul gems, as tools for gaining union with the realm and their deity. There is an illicit trade of these gems to shadow demons. Dumathoin's domain intertwines in places with the realm of Ilsensine.Dumathoin is also associated with the Fading Land known as the Mines of Dumathoin.
Dogma
Dumathoin does not object to tunneling, mining, or gathering the treasures of the Oerth, but he frowns on clumsy or haphazard mining. Dumathoin's worshipers are encouraged to seek out the hidden gifts that Dumathoin watches over and to enhance their natural beauty and the beauty of the mines from which they are taken. Dumathoin does not encourage greed, as he says that true beauty is found in discovery and crafting, not hoarding. Dumathoin teaches that tombs are to be kept inviolate and well tended. He deeply opposes the undead, particularly dwarven undead. Secrets are considered precious by the faithful of Dumathoin.Worshippers
As previously noted, Dumathoin is the patron of mountain dwarves. He was presumedly worshipped by those mountain dwarves who lived in the Stark Mounds, where the Mines of Dumathoin are found.Clergy
Dumathoin's clerics dress in brown leather. Their heads are bare, but they wear earth-brown cloaks and robes. They never trim their hair or beards. Their favored weapon is either the warhammer or military pick. They seek to uncover the treasures of the earth without marring the natural beauty of the tunnels and mines and without succumbing to greed. They supervise mines, ensuring they are safe and secure from monsters. They also help with subterranean agriculture. They are morticians and protectors of tombs.Holy Days
Dumathoin's holy days are on the nights of the new moons and the days following and preceding those nights. This day-night-day sequence is known to Dumathoin's faithful as the Deepstone Triad, for they teach that the moons hide themselves beneath the Oerth during these times.Rituals
Sacrifices of gems and jewels are made to the Keeper of Secrets Under the Mountain during the time of the Deepstone Triad. Precious stones are ground to powder and mixed with herbs and fungi to be used as fertilizer for subterranean flora.The dwarven dead are cleaned and stone tokens are woven into their beards representing the deceased, their clans, and the symbol of Dumathoin. The corpses are dressed in armor regardless of their living profession, and a song is composed honoring the dwarf's living deeds. This song is not sung out loud, as the silent Dumathoin does not require or approve of unnecessary noise.
Myths and legends
According to dwarven myth, Dumathoin hides the treasures of the earth until dwarves are worthy of finding them. He lays veins of precious minerals where he feels his followers will benefit from them the most, and guides the worthy to them. Some dwarven myths claim that the veins of precious metals beneath the earth are hairs of Dumathoin's beard.Additional reading
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online: http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip
- Cook, David "Zeb"David Cook (game designer)David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...
. Planescape Campaign SettingPlanescape Campaign SettingThe Planescape Campaign Setting was a boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The set was designed by David "Zeb" Cook and published in 1994, and introduced the Planescape setting.-Contents:...
Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.
- Olsen, John. "Worth its weight in gold." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#109. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
- Living Greyhawk Journal no. 3 - "Gods of Oerth"