Morndinsamman
Morndinsamman is an obscure bit of gamer slang that you will occasionally hear amongst the Dungeons & Dragons fandom. It is the in-universe "pantheon name" for the pantheon of Dwarf Gods, as featured in Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms and Planescape, making it analoguous to the Seldarine, the pantheon of Elf Gods. The term is less popular, and actually didn't come into the game until 2rd edition, in the "Demihuman Deities" sourcebook for the Forgotten Realms, although the idea of a Dwarvish pantheon goes all the way back to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition.
The exact membership of the Morndinsamman (which is apparently dwarven for "shield brothers on high" or "high dwarves") has fluctuated over the editions:
Moradin first appeared on his own in the original Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia for AD&D 1e. The first version of the Morndinsamman appeared in Dragon Magazine #58, where "The Gods of the Dwarves" introduced us to Abbathor, Berronar Truesilver, Clangeddin Silverbeard, Dumathoin and Vergadain; this pantheon was subsequently reprinted in the original Unearthed Arcana.
AD&D 2e saw the Morndinsamman reappear in the Forgotten Realms splat "Dwarves Deep", which expanded upon the original version with Sharindlar, Marthammor Duin, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe and Thard Harr. An alternate version would be presented in "Monster Mythology", changing up the membership and adding new members Dugmaren Brightmantle and Muamman Duathal (also, technically, Gnarldan Steelshield, but he was an example mythical hero and not a god, so he doesn't count). The Planescape sourcebook "On Hallowed Ground" would bring together several gods from the past two versions of that edition, as well as adding the "Dark Dwarf Gods" of Laduguer, Diinkarazan and Diirinka. A final version of the pantheon would appear in "Demihuman Deities", which added newcomer Deep Duerra.
3rd edition would update the "Demihuman Deities" version of the pantheon in "Faiths and Pantheons". Races of Stone would also add several new deities; Hanseath, Mya, Roknar, Tharmekhul, Thautam and Valkauna.
5th edition would see the entire Morndinsamman from all of its various sources return and be coalesced into a singular pantheon with the release of "Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes". Well, with the exceptions of the Derro Gods, who are merely mentioned in passing in the bestiary section of that book.
The Morndinsamman can be divided into three sub-pantheons; the Dwarf Gods, the Duergar Gods, and the Derro Gods. The existence of the Derro sub-pantheon is only mentioned in "On Hallowed Ground" and has been ignored ever since.
According to Forgotten Realms lore, at least, the Morndinsamman resides in a shared realm called Dwarfhome on Solania, the first layer of Celestia.
Ironically, despite the dwarven reputation as a very male-centric race, the dwarf pantheon actually contains more goddesses than the pantheon of their gnome cousins does!
Dwarf Gods[edit | edit source]
- Moradin - Divine Patriarch, God of Dwarves, Mining, Smithcraft, Stonework, Guardians
- Abbathor - God of Greed, Trade, Deceit
- Berronar Truesilver - Divine Matriarch, Goddess of Dwarves, Hearth, Home, Families
- Clangeddin Silverbeard - God of War and Valor
- Dugmaren Brightmantle - God Scholarship, Invention and Discovery
- Dumathoin - God of Mining, Gems, The Underground
- Muamman Duathal - God of Storms, Travel
- Vergadain - God of Trade, Merchants, Wealth, Luck
Lesser Morndinsamman Members[edit | edit source]
Races of Stone[edit | edit source]
- Hanseath - God of War, Brewing, Drinking
- Mya - Goddess of Clan, Family, Wisdom
- Roknar - God of Avarice, Spite, Wealth
- Tharmekhul - God of Fire, Smithcraft
- Thautam - God of Magic, Darkness
- Valkauna - God of Oaths, Birth, Death
Greyhawk[edit | edit source]
- Fortubo - God of Guardians, Metal, Stone, Mountains
- Gendwar Argrim - God of Fatalism, Obsession
- Ulaa - Goddess of Hills, Mountains, Gemstones
Forgotten Realms[edit | edit source]
- Gorm Gulthyn - God of Guardians, Defense, Vigilance, Duty
- Haela Brightaxe - Goddess of War, Bloodlust
- Marthammor Duin - God of Adventurers, Exploration, Travel
- Sharindlar - Goddess of Love, Fertility, Dance, The Moon
- Thard Harr - Patron God of Wild Dwarves, God of Jungles, Nature, Hunting
Duergar Gods[edit | edit source]
- Laduguer - Patron God of Duergar, God of Toil, Spite, Magic, Artifice
- Deep Duerra - Goddess of War, Psionics, Duergar Supremacy
Derro Gods[edit | edit source]
- Diinkarazan - God of Madness, Vengeance
- Diirinka - Patron God of Derro, God of Cruelty, Magic, Ambition, Treachery