Alignment: Lawful Neutral (or evil depending on who you ask)
Domains: Life, Light, Order, Protection, The Sky, Strength, War
Portfolio: War, vengeance, dominion, strength, protection of legacy
Holy Symbol: A lion’s head set within the sun
Realm: A vast battlefield beneath an unrelenting sun, where warriors train, fight, and prove themselves endlessly
Ascended: The Age of Smoke and Blood
Status: Alive, Worshipped
Half-human, half-giant god of war, vengeance, and dominion. Kardathi was once a brilliant general and a just ruler who believed in fairness, discipline, and the protection of his people. After betrayal by the First Dwarves and the loss of those closest to him, his beliefs hardened. Justice failed. What remained was vengeance.
He ascended during the Age of Smoke and Blood after leading a brutal campaign that wiped out many of the dwarven warlords who had turned on him. In the aftermath, the surviving dwarves imprisoned their own ancestors, fearing both their enemies and their leaders.
Kardathi believes he was right, and that he had no other choice.
Kardathi’s influence is direct and unmistakable.
He rewards:
He punishes:
Followers of Kardathi are driven to train, to prepare, and to act before threats can fully form. He favors those who strike first when the outcome is clear.
His protection is not gentle. It is enforced through dominance.
Animals: Lions
Colors: Gold, crimson, white
Celestial: The sun
Omens and Signs:
Motifs:
The lion represents leadership and wrath, taken as a trophy from Kardathi’s victory over one of the First Lions. The sun represents dominion, clarity, and overwhelming force—nothing is hidden beneath it.
Kardathi appears as a towering figure, bearing both human and giant features.
He is armored, armed, and imposing, with a presence that demands obedience rather than invites it.
He does not perform. He commands.
Kardathi is worshipped by those who value strength, order, and victory.
Common Followers:
His followers train constantly and are expected to maintain discipline even in times of peace.
Clergy of Kardathi serve as military leaders, strategists, and enforcers of order.
They are responsible for:
They are often harsh and unforgiving, valuing results over compassion.
Temples of Kardathi are often indistinguishable from fortresses:
Burial: The head is wrapped in cloth to keep the senses clear and unclouded. The body is buried with any weapons or armor found with it.
The corpse must be positioned with its head towards Dom’Kardath, so that the spirit may find its way home and answer the call to fight again.
In the southern continent of Salkan, Kardathi’s symbol is represented as a ram’s head within the sun. He is primarily worshipped by the noble houses and warrior hirds of the Bharhamus.
Kardathi rose to power during the Age of Smoke and Blood, after the First Dwarves betrayed him and slaughtered his most trusted companions. In response, he led a devastating campaign against them, wiping out many of their leaders.
His ascension was born from this act of vengeance.