Dwarven Mythology

Ihah came to Tsav seeking counsel from his wise and ancient brother.  Ihah sought to create a place of beauty and life, but he was conflicted.  He wanted his creation to be a place for the quiet repose of the gods, a place ordered by destiny.  Conversely, he greatly desired that his new creation be wild and free, controlled by nothing but the will that it's souls would impress upon it.  Ihah complained bitterly to Tsav that he had first sought the advice of Toab, who immediately wanted to impose his own desires upon Ihah's plans.

Tsav rebuffed his brother's questions, wishing to test him, having known that Ihah had consulted Toab first.  Three times, Tsav sent his brother away to return another day.  Each time Ihah grew more desperate for his brother's wisdom, for he knew that he had but one opportunity to shape his creation.  Thereafter, he would not be able to create anything so grand again.

Upon Ihah's third return, Tsav agreed to give him his counsel.  Tsav walked with Ihah for many days, passing on many mysteries previously known only to him.  He encouraged Ihah to balance fate and will, the feral and the tame, serenity and chaos.

Ihah found inspiration in his brother's words, knowing that he could have all of things that he desired for his creation.  So moved was he by Tsav's wisdom, that he offered part of his completed work to honor his brother.  The mountains of his new land were given to Tsav "for they change little as time passes."  Tsav accepted the gift graciously and set about shaping his part of the world to please him.  Toab simmered in his anger, convinced that Tsav and Ihah had conspired against him.

Tsav loved the mountains that Ihah had offered to him.  He was especially fond of the people born of the earth, the dwarves.  Tsav watched them from afar to see what they would become.  They were immediately drawn to caves and mountains and set their hands to making homes for themselves. Unlike the humans of the plains and the elves of the woods, the dwarves built homes and buildings that would last for centuries rather than years.  Dwarves were slow to establish a tradition, but once cast, the new practice became an iron-clad part of their lives.  They lived long and prosperous lives, had few children and little changed in their lands.  Still Tsav waited for the events that would shape  his people.

Toab's jealousy festered against the creation wrought by Ihah.  Toab loved nothing quite so much as demonstrating his will to his brothers, and Tsav in particular.  Toab walked for many years among the peoples of the earth, taking extra pains to live among the dwarves for as long as he could.  While he lived as a dwarf among their kind, he sowed discord and fed the doubts of the those early dwarves.  He used trickery and manipulation to undermine all that dwarven society had created for itself.  He brought down tribal leaders and encouraged the dwarves to shirk tradition.  Wars became common, lasting decades.  What could have been a great dwarven society died in the cradle.

Tsav wept openly in the presence of his two sons for the state of matters among the people he loved so greatly.  Tichon, the younger of the two, was disturbed, having never seen his father so terribly moved.  He was incensed to action and declared that he would go to the mountains and bring justice to Toab by the blade of his axe.  The elder brother, Nifan, was equally angered, but restrained his brother.  He declared his right as the eldest to deal with the situation that distressed his father.

Nifan grimly hefted his hammer, Truncheon of Aeons, and strode out of the presence of Tsav.

He spent the next 100 years among the dwarves, reminding them of their old ways, showing them the importance of keeping records.  The dwarven people stopped their continual warring and barbarism, and once more solidified as a people.  They established laws and authority.  They commited to stone tablet all the ancient lore and traditions, and sought to keep record of all information they could find in a newly built great repository deep in the earth.  Nifan was careful never to be at the center of anything, so that he could watch and report to his father.

Toab despaired at the failure of his plans to grieve his brother.  Toab learned that Tsav had dispatched his son to work against him.  Carefully he sought out Nifan among the people of the earth.  He was patient and persistent, taking the full 100 years to find Nifan.  Toab schemed with several of his allies to take the life of Nifan by ambush. The conspirators fell upon Nifan as he slept and slew him, sending his essence back to his father.

For Toab, this action was too late.  The dwarves had established themselves well as recordkeepers and a people of order and tradition.  Toab was expelled with his allies from the dwarven lands, never to return.

Following his ascension by death, Nifan became greatly revered by the dwarves.

Once more Tichon became angry and set his mind to sweep down upon those who had dealt treacherously with his brother.  This time, it was not Nifan that restrained Tichon, but Tsav himself.  He implored his impetuous son to deal patiently with his beloved people. With zeal restrained, Tichon went to the dwarven people.

Tichon aided the monarchy in establishing new laws and courts.  He was a signator of The Pact of Tsav, the document that expounded on the rights of all dwarves.  A new king was declared and a Senate established.  Peace and prosperity were upon the people of the earth.

Tichon returned to his father, satisified that his work was done.

In the modern era, dwarves primarily worship the Two Brothers at joint temples throughout the dwarven realms.  Nifan is called the Fallen Brother and Tichon is called the Just Brother.  A common exclamation among dwarves is, "by the beards of the brothers!"

Though worshipped by some secretly, Toab is regarded as the bane of dwarven society.  As with any people, there are any number of cults and covens devoted to lesser known dieties.