Arigold

Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Domains: Forge, Knowledge, Order, Protection, Strength
Portfolio: Craftsmanship, construction, creation, mastery of trade
Holy Symbol: An object handcrafted by the holder, a close friend, or a relative. It must be made of at least two materials and bear the marking of Arigold’s Comb
Realm: A vast workshop filled with endless projects, with adjoining taverns and resting places
Ascended: The First Age, after the War of Turmoil
Status: Alive, Worshipped

Human god of craftsmanship and creation. Arigold was one of the First Men who ascended to godhood through dedication to his craft and the works he left behind. He is credited with aiding Ardanelle in the creation of the Wind and the Words. Arigold values function, precision, and mastery above all else. While beauty has its place, it is always secondary to purpose.

Arigold’s influence is subtle. He does not impose perfection—he expects it to be earned.

In places where his influence is present:

• tools fit comfortably in the hand
• materials behave as expected
• accidents are less frequent
• work progresses cleanly

These are not miracles so much as the absence of interference. Good work should stand on its own. If something fails, it is more often due to poor craftsmanship than divine neglect.

He is often invoked for protection on job sites, particularly against fires, collapses, and other disruptions that would halt progress.

Failure is not punished. It is expected. It is how mastery is achieved.

Animals: Bees
Colors: Gold, amber, warm brown, iron grey
Materials: Wood, iron, stone, wax

Omens and Signs:

• A project coming together cleanly with minimal error
• Tools lasting longer than expected
• Bees nesting near a workshop or construction site

Motifs:

• Honeycomb patterns
• Interlocking parts
• Repeating geometric structures

Arigold’s Comb: A symbolic arrangement of honeycomb cells, often represented as three hexagons over four, with a single hexagon centered beneath. It is commonly inscribed into tools, workspaces, and foundations as a sign of good fortune and structural integrity.

Arigold appears as a man in his prime or later years, marked by experience rather than age.

He is typically seen:

• with worn but well-maintained clothing
• with tools close at hand
• with hands bearing the marks of many crafts—calluses, stains, small scars

He does not shift form. He is consistent, grounded, and present. When he appears, it is usually for a purpose, not spectacle.

Arigold is worshipped by those who build, repair, and create.

Common Followers:

• Builders and architects
• Engineers and tinkerers
• Smiths, masons, and laborers
• Craftsmen of all trades

Some artists revere him, though those focused purely on expression often favor other deities.

• Do it correctly, or do it again
• Function comes before form
• Mastery is earned through repetition and failure
• Leave your work better than when you last picked it up

Clergy of Arigold are craftsmen first, priests second.

Their duties include:

• Teaching apprentices and passing on knowledge
• Inspecting works for quality and safety
• Crafting and maintaining tools
• Overseeing construction and major projects

They are practical, direct, and focused. While not unkind, they are more concerned with results than comfort.

• The Order of Inspectors - a dedicated group of inspectors dedicated to building and infrastructure construction, where failures can prove disastrous.
• The Hivemasters - a small sect of Arigold worshippers dedicated to the keeping of bees and self sustenance
• Testers of Resolve - considered heretical, the Testers of Resolve have infiltrated some churches and guilds in order to learn how best to destroy and dismantle. They claim that this is all merely in accordance of Arigold's will, to prevent shoddy workmanship.

Temples of Arigold often offer basic education for various crafts, or at the very least serve as a hub for masters to find new apprentices. They always have an attached workshop for the creation of tools.

• The completion of a major project is celebrated with a feast
• The autumnal equinox is celebrated as a time to prepare for winter projects, so that craftsmen can keep themselves busy when the weather becomes too harsh to travel. This holiday is taken more seriously in places with severe winters.

Burial: The body must be placed within something that has been manufactured, such as a coffin or mausoleum.
A tool, preferably one belonging to the deceased, is placed in one hand.
In the other, an object crafted by the deceased is placed.
This represents both the work they performed and what they leave behind.

If a craftsman dies during a significant work, it is considered a great honor for another master to complete it properly. Poorly finishing such a work is seen as a serious failure.

Consecrating a Workspace or Project: Beeswax is dripped at the threshold and left in place until it is naturally worn away by use.
This is a quiet prayer for longevity and success. The wearing away of the wax is intentional; crafted spaces are meant to be used, not preserved untouched.

Arigold rose to godhood through his own works and dedication to craft. Unlike many gods, his ascension was not driven by conquest or divine inheritance, but by what he created and what endured.

He is known to have aided Ardanelle in the creation of powerful artifacts, though the full extent of his role is not widely understood.

• Ardanelle – Arigold deeply respects Ardanelle and honors her sacrifice, though he understands the anger others direct toward her. He is concerned that the great library may now sit unused.
• The Scoundrel – He respects The Scoundrel's cleverness and power, but views him as impatient and too willing to cut corners or cheat to achieve results. In turn, The Scoundrel finds him to be quite boring.

Arigold is not particularly social among the gods. He does not seek them out unless there is a reason to do so.

• It is said that unfinished great works are watched over until someone worthy can complete them
• Some believe that Arigold walks among mortal workshops in disguise, observing rather than intervening
• There are stories of tools that never dull, though such claims are often attributed more to skill than divine favor