Loda
- Loda is a Goddess of Hollow
Loda is known as the goddess of the forge and ale, but she is the god of all crafts and workmanship. She is an Elder God who grants her divine gifts most frequently to dwarves, who tend to favor her most of all. Loda is depicted as a heavily muscled, bearded female dwarf who wields a powerful hammer used to forge weapons for the Gods. She is often seen holding a mug of beer that, according to dwarven legend, will never run dry as long as there are dwarves in Craughmoyle. Most mythology agrees that Loda resides in a great forge beneath the city of Celestria on the Higher Gods' plane. She is benevolent but generally indifferent to problems outside of her favored children's affairs.
The dwarves worship her and every weapon they create is blessed by her. Some dwarves who practice magic in their smithing invoke her instead of Xalious, the usual patron of spell-casters. While it is rare for Loda to care for mortals outside of the dwarven race, some particularly gifted non-dwarf craftspeople claim to have gained her favor in creating powerful armor or weapons, strong and sturdy walls or buildings, and more.
Loda is known for her stern demeanor and her influence in the reconstruction of the world after the war between the Gods and Primordials nearly destroyed it. Honorable dwarves are said to spend eternity drinking and singing within her mighty halls after death.
Mythology
Symbols & Associations
The hammer A blacksmith's hammer engulfed in star-studded flames.
A beer mug The everfull mug of dwarven beer.
Note: These are the primitive representations of these symbols. The wearer or wielder of such is free to stylize it to suit their needs, i.e., runes could be added around it, the type of metal used, where the symbol is put, etc.
Color(s): copper, gold, silver
Animal(s): mountain goats, badgers, bears
Stone(s): diamond, ruby, obsidian
Month: Mithrise
Followers
Followers of Loda are often dwarves themselves, as they were created in her image. They tend to be skilled craftsmen and smiths, creating weapons and armor with her blessing. They hold Loda in high esteem and honor her with rituals and offerings, such as the pouring of the first barrel of ale onto the ground as an offering.
Those who worship Loda believe in hard work, honor, and tradition. They are known for their loyalty and dedication to their craft, often spending many long hours in the forge. They also enjoy celebrating and drinking dwarven beer, which is said to be a gift from their goddess.
Loda's followers value strength, both physical and mental, and are not easily swayed by outside influences. A list of those followers can be found here.
Worship
Followers of Loda honor her in various ways, but the most common is by creating and dedicating their finest craftsmanship to her. Dwarven smiths craft weapons and armor of the highest quality, with the knowledge that Loda blesses each piece that they make. When a great dwarf smith finishes a piece of work, it is not uncommon to see them make a small prayer or offering to Loda before presenting it to their client or customer.
When dwarves brew their signature ale, it is common for them to perform a ritual in honor of their goddess Loda. After sampling and verifying the quality of the ale, they empty the first barrel onto the ground as an offering to Loda. It is believed that this offering keeps her mug eternally filled with dwarven beer. They believe that if her mug is ever to run dry, they will lose her favor and cease to exist.
Some followers of Loda also hold feasts in her honor, where they drink and eat heartily, celebrating the craftsmanship and community that she represents. It is said that when honorable dwarves die, their souls are greeted by Loda, and they will spend eternity drinking and singing with their patron deity.
Divine favoritism
While dwarves are her most favored of all the mortal races, smiths and craftsmen and women who have devoted their lives to their craft are said to be looked upon with great fondness and offered rare favors and blessings.
Related Artifacts
Temple Location
- Temple of Loda
- 1s, 1w, 4s, 1e, 1d, 6n, 3w, 1n, 1w from the Craughmoyle recall (Dragon's Head Inn)