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:

• discipline and preparation
• strength of body and conviction
• decisive action

He punishes:

• hesitation
• mercy toward enemies
• weakness without the will to overcome it

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:

• Blinding sunlight at a critical moment
• Weapons striking true with unusual force
• A sudden clarity in battle or decision

Motifs:

• Lions in aggressive stances
• Radiating light
• Military banners and standards

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:

• Soldiers and generals
• Rulers and conquerors
• Knights and militant orders
• Those seeking revenge through force

His followers train constantly and are expected to maintain discipline even in times of peace.

• Strike first when the outcome is clear
• Strength is proven through action
• Mercy to enemies invites future harm
• Hesitation is failure unless it leads to greater strength
• Protect what is yours, no matter the cost
• If you fall, make your death matter

Clergy of Kardathi serve as military leaders, strategists, and enforcers of order.

They are responsible for:

• training soldiers
• maintaining discipline
• enforcing laws within Kardathi-aligned territories

They are often harsh and unforgiving, valuing results over compassion.

• Knightly orders sworn to Kardathi
• Military hierarchies within Dom’Kardath
• Warbands dedicated to conquest and defense

Temples of Kardathi are often indistinguishable from fortresses:

• fortified strongholds
• training grounds
• war halls

• Victories in battle
• Anniversaries of major conquests

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.

• The Scoundrel – Hated. Kardathi sees him as a coward and a cheat, but knows he cannot defeat him. He instead targets the Scoundrel’s followers
  * Erubenyx – Respected for strength and strategy, though worship of him is viewed with disdain
  * Nacken – Despised for cowardly and underhanded methods
  * Arigold – Respected for creating tools and fortifications useful in war
  

#### Other Myths

• It is said that Kardathi watches every battlefield beneath the sun
• Some believe that those who die with weapons in hand may be called upon to fight again
• The mythical purge of the ancient dwarves is remembered as both a tragedy and a necessity