The heathen dwarves are not a fearful race, nor do they particularly hold 'religion' in a good light, but they do believe in things . . . elemental, touchable beliefs that hold true to their culture & communities. It's commonplace to curse the gods for things, so as it is true to pay hommage to them when fortune is blessed from 'unseen' hands. There is no dark god or ultimate source of inherent evil. Monsters & bad luck are just one face of nature . . . the human personification of the great Wyrm also has a duality to it for humankind seems to be a race wrapped up in things 'not good' and thus the images of the great dark dragon-god is conjured when major catastrophies occur (though the dwarves never envision a true 'god' about it . . . it's just the symbolic incorporation of the effects of outside races and their cruelty upon others).

The ancestors believed that the world was created by one being, Nokminarr. The Mountain Maker and Giant of Stone are just a few of his titles. It is from his hands that the earth was molded and the dwarves created from rocks. Mountains & undermountains were his gifts to the dwarves, their passion & home. From the mountains poured forth Grisstok, the Waterbringer & Lifemaker. He who grew all things and gave drink to the dwarves. From below the earth, Ylalor the Firewoman flowed in rivers of lava and gave the dwarves the gifts of the Forge.

Grisstok & Ylalor worked together and crafted the young hearthgod Ptomak, the keeper of family, warmth & home. The binding force of dwarvenkind.

There are no organized temples or cults to these gods, though some artisans have made gorgeous offering spots, called Batoch-kaks, in various places throughout Garr. This is where perishable votive gifts are given in acts of respect or gratitude by the fortunate, or special sumbels made to loved ones long dead (usually performed alone, but sometimes in small intimate groups . . . a toasting & sharing of drink with those in the hallowed Halls). However much a 'priest' might be uncommon, it's not impossible to find somedwarf intimately devoted to the gods and the rituals of certain events. Of course all dwarves have a knack for 'philosophy' & tavern-hall preaching

In public, the sumbel is the highest form of rememberance & praise to those gone. A festive celebration of alcohol & fiery storytelling. A special ritual is that of the Torakk-mok, the burial ceremony. The body of the deceased is clothed in ceremonial robes, equipped with intimate items and placed in crypts embedded into the stone, sometimes sealed pure via the 'stonemeld' skill. Nobles and high ranking clan leaders are entombed in the Fire Kings Halls, a maze of interconnecting passageways and burial chambers. The dwarven belief is that they must return to the stone, the Mountain that gave them life. The Torakk-mok is done in the somber presence of friends & loved ones (after which the first sumbel takes place). The Torakk-mok is quiet and thoughtful, the sumbel can be quite rowdy.

The afterlife is that in the awesome "Halls": an eternal celebration with all ancestors. Dwarves don't specifically believe in a 'soul' or 'spirit', but once the life has left a dwarf, they find their way through the stone, across the heart of Ylalor, and into the paradisical Halls of Nokminarr where their loved ones & friends await them with open arms & hearty mead.

The symbol of the 4 gods is depicted as a 4-point diamond with thick lines & a hollow center that blends in the field of color it's displayed on. Nokminarr is the base point, holding up the entire ethos, creating the world. Grisstok & Ylalor are the sidepoints, the balancers of water & fire, life & work. Ptomak is the pinacle, the home of family & community. All together they forge the dwarven ethos, the way of life and nature of things. As individuals they can be represented in any number of glyphs and imagery . . . all based on artistic touch & personal devotion. These symbols are typically used as ornamention to standards & armor, placed on the doorways of home & business, etched in stonework or embossed on iron & steel, but they are used with care. Despite the lack of religion in the lives of dwarves, they hold these symbols with respect and a subtle, almost unconscious faith.