This is a follow up to How can you add character to in-game religions?
If you're building a fantasy setting where you want really rich, tradition-filled religions, what would you do to give Dwarves religion?
More specifically, what would be appropriate rituals and traditions for Tolkienian (or non-Tolkienian, if there is such as thing) Dwarves?
James at Grognardia has a unique take on his Dwimmermount Dwarves. One of the best I ever seen.
My more Tolkienish version can be found here. Basically all the non-human, non-elves sentient races were magically mutated from base human stock by demons during the Godswar at the beginning of history. The Dwarves were one of the early attempts but were found to be too stubborn to bend to the demon's will. Their culture and worldview was colored by that experience to the present. Basically while the demon created their bodies they believe that the High Lord (Ptah in the writeup) created their souls, thus gave them the will to resist and later rebel.
The key element in crafting a unique culture and/or religion is lay out the premise and extrapolate them into the present of your campaign. Taking in account how the target culture or religion is interacting with others in the setting.
I like to look to real world religions for inspirations. So what is a dwarf in your setting? Do you play up their tendency towards order and given them a rich, ritualized religious tradition like Catholicism, orthodox Judaism or Islam. Or are they more no nonsense, like .
(I just realized that pigeon holing a bunch of religions might come off as offensive which isn't my intent).
You get the picture. From the Amish to Buddhists, the religions and philosophies of the real world provide a deep well of inspiration.
For me, my dwarves borrow heavily from the Jewish traditions.
Commonly, I find Dwarven religion to be associated with tunnels, gold, and for some reason, ale. This results in a typical Dwarf venerating ancestors who are renowned for their drinking prowess, hoarding his personal wealth as a point of pride, and believing he is descended from some ancient race that perhaps "crafted" Dwarves wholesale out of rock in the deepest reaches of the Earth. I use the word "commonly" here, because I've run into this image of Dwarves so frequently that I've lost track of where its from.
Specific rituals would center around drinking, gold distribution, and probably use ceremonial Earth/Mud instead of ceremonial water/liquid.
Seems to me in most world dwarves usually have some religious connection earth, stones, and craftsmanship. These can easily be expanded upon or left up to you and the play to decide how they connect to them, or design them.
I'd think about the symbols, animals, enemies and verbs that seem most dwarf-related to me:
Symbols: axe, beard, anvil, hammer, tunnels, treasure.
Animals: Bear, boar, bat.
Enemies: Orc, goblin, troll, elf, dragon.
Verbs: Mine, feud, slay, yell, craft, forge, steal, carve.
I'd take religious holidays that I know, mesh them up with the stuff above and make it up.
A winter solstice holiday in which beards are groomed and adorned with gems and silk ribbons. Presents are exchanged by they must be items that were either crafted by your own hands or taken from an enemy who you killed with your own axe.
Y'know... like that.
