THE UNSTHOMMERONS (THE DWARVEN FATHERS) |
The UnSthommerons (Thergerim UnSthommerons or "those like stone", also known as the Therbarolerons, "Dwarven Fathers") are the seven giants carved from living stone by Trum-Baroll, the Forging God, the Shaper of Earth Himself (called Urtengor by the humans). They are called Aephesvil, Corunvil, Hothesvil, Kannvil, Quontvil, Trumvil and Unphvil. They sought to imitate their creator and in turn carved more creatures like themselves, who became the ancestors of the dwarves. They are perceived as demi-gods or arch-ancestors in dwarven religion, and each has their own personality and responsibilities in the spiritual world of the Thergerim, as described below.
Aephesvil (Lord of Flint)
Worshipped by the Ylossians,
ancient dwarven ancestors. According to
Thergerim myth, Aephesvil, carved the
Ylossians from stone using the rock from the Tandala Mountains
to form them, and there they lived. The
dwarves made their homes and livelihood in the Tandala
tunnels which were vast underground caverns naturally
formed in the limestone mountain. Aephesvil, who had
completed his task of forging his dwarves,
remained with his children, intent on guarding them. Soon it turned out that all
the other races and the beasts which roamed at the Tandalas feared Aephesvil and
so they stayed away from the
tunnels. It is said that decades and even centuries passed and that te half-god
had turned immobile. Finally his body fell, shattering to fragments on
the dark cave floor.
Corunvil (Granite-Lord)
It is currently believed that Corunvil was the one to originate the idea of
copying his own maker and creating life from stone in his own image.
He proposed it to the other UnSthommerons who
eagerly if somewhat ham-handedly took it up. Corunvil is associated with the
chisel and the small stonemaul, and sometimes traditional smiths carve his rune
on their tools to make them "strike sure", as they say. Highly conservative
dwarves hold Corunvil to be a sort of arch-power or demi-god, above the other
UnSthommerons. Female dwarves also invoke Corunvil during pregnancy and labour
(the ultimate creative activity...)
Hothesvil (Lord of Lime/Sandstone)
Hothesvil's particular responsibility
was to create and shape the intricate forms of stalactites and stalagmites,
according to dwarven beliefs. Whenever a particularly attractive or aesthetic
formation is found below ground, it is usually left in place where possible,
rather as humans would spare a large old tree. Sometimes parts of the formation
are "painted" to bring out their shapes, with a luminescent ink derived from
fungal growths, as a kind of homage or offering to Hothesvil.
Kannvil (Marble-Lord)
Said to be the handsomest
Unsthomm. There is a legend that he was unsatisfied with the short, rough bodies
of the Thergerim he carved and sought out a massive deposit of alabaster in
the high Imlith Mountains, where he hid himself from
the other Stone Fathers and began creating a lovely female form to match his own
size. Alas, when the last chisel-stroke separated her from the living rock, and
the pale marble woman arose, she fled from Kannvil in terror and flung herself
into Nubil's Gorge. Kannvil in despair
would have followed her save that his brothers leapt from the ground and restrained
him. Yet he grieved all his days thereafter. Hot springs are still often discovered
underground and used by the dwarves in their caverns, and they are always said
to be the Tears of Kannvil.
Quontvil (Obsidian-Lord)
Actually spelt "Kwontvil"
in the dwarven
tongue. Believed to be the creator specifically of the Morgerim
tribe, whom he
carved from obsidian after seeing how inflexibly similar the granite-formed
Thergerim were. Quontvil is
also said to be the only UnSthomm
who possesses anything resembling a sense
of humour. "Trickster" stories are sometimes accredited to Quontvil, as in when
a tool goes missing after just having been to hand: "Quontvil took it!" This
has also been adapted to a curse; "Quontvil take it/you/him!" His symbols are
an obsidian ax-head and the small rocklizard commonly used as a roasting beast
among the Thergerim. Note: The Morgerim
will neither use obsidian ("Stoneflesh will cut flesh of our stone," they say,
obscurely) nor eat that particular species of lizard...
Trumvil (Stone-Lord)
Not much is known or written
of this reclusive Father with the unimaginative name. However, it is said that
he was given the responsibility to count and name every pebble that
Trum-Baroll
shaped in making the Earth, so it was extrapolated that he be Master of Gems
as well. It has, in the last few decades, become fashionable for
dwarven couples
to exchange various precious stones and jewelry pieces as betrothal gifts, rather
than the traditional utensils and tools, and quite frequently Trumvil's Rune
has appeared as a common decorative motif on these betrothal pieces. Some more
liberal dwarven priests currently name Trumvil as the Wedding Presider, who
aids in the joining of man and wife, but this is a fairly recent belief.
Unphvil (Basalt-Lord)
Particularly appealing to
the dwarven females, Unphvil is the master (subcontracted by
Trum-Baroll, of
course) of basalt and other mephitic rocks. He is said to have power over lava,
volcanic eruptions, and other netherworld heat sources. He was
Trum-Baroll's
assistant when the Dwarf God invented cooking and food preparation, so he is
often invoked when dealing with hearth-matters. Dwarf couples will ask for Unphvil's
blessing over their food after they eat it, and if herbs or medicines are to
be imported/exported, they are often rune-protected in Unphvil's name.
Information provided by
Bard Judith
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