Father of the Dwürden
Identity
- Title(s) – Old Father
- Influence – Dwürden
- Appearance – One-armed Dwürden with a full beard and eyes of polished precious stone. He is often depicted sitting on a throne, or standing at a forge, with a long fist-headed hammer in his hand.
Attributions
- Symbol – Arm and fist holding a stone
- Focus – Hammer
- Color(s) – Any natural rock
- Element – Earth
- Animal – None
Cult
- Center of Worship – Gemürjordok, Lyrast
- Scriptures –
- Leader –
- Priesthood –
- Orders –
- Aspects –
- Touched –
- Holy Days –
- Friends –
- Enemies – Eylfāe, Ortor
- Sayings –
Introduction
Many stories surround the Old Father. Variations of these tales have seeded conflict since the rise of the first Dwürden tribes and kingdoms. It was once difficult to tread safely between these faiths, without stepping on the tenets of one cult or another. Such stumbles have opened many wounds on many battlefields over the centuries. The battles of those early generations, and the bones returned to the Giving Earth, are regretted this day now that Dwürden numbers are so depleted. Today, there is a tolerance among the faithful, a liberal understanding that while the stories of the Old Gods may vary, the faith and honor of those predecessors remain true. It is in that vein that we retell the story of Jord.
Legend
The stories of the Dwürden gods were traditionally told by local or traveling skalds. Performances were often accompanied by drums or other instruments, and sometimes with choruses that kept poetic cadence. Dwürden storytelling is very structured. Although individual skalds could take some creative liberties with word-choice, length, and presentation, the basic elements of each tale remained sacrosanct. Diverging from the fundamental elements of the stories was a risky endeavor, resulting in punishments for blasphemy. A skald who took no liberties however, was viewed as stale and undesirable. Therefore, though visiting performers might arrive covered with the brands of blasphemy, that didn’t mean they weren’t welcomed. Many famous skalds were subjected to brands and disfigurements, then paid and sent on their way. In this manner, the lord of a castle could reinforce his reputation of defender of truth, while the skald was given another mark that proved he was well-traveled and worthwhile.
Here then is one retelling of the “Story of Jord”:
- Before the Old Father was Jord / A beast clawing through stone and earth
- Lost to darkness, time meaningless / No one to witness His toils
- Blinded but for the Great Calling / Old Mother knows all to be named
- He emerged into emptiness / Beast without knowledge, hope, purpose
- Held by Her Song, blindness lifted / Darkness parted, the world unmade
- Beast no more, the first son made, He / From stones and darkness stems all things
- Old Father seized great Jorduldurn / No other could serve His purpose
- Heart opened, hammer driven sure / The world is forged, mountains and sea
- Years of toil, sweat, and life’s blood / Tireless smith, Hand of the Forge
- Life-giver, Old Father of all / Carved from Her Heart, Every one
- First He created Old Voga / To see the Old Mother, as He
- Joined were they, Mother and Father / Sky and mountains, heart and spirit
Jorduldurn is both the tool and weapon of Jord. The object’s name implies that the Great Mother named Jord before this time (rf. lines 3b, 6a). The details of the device and its creation are not clear from the primary passages (rf. line 9b). Ancillary works describe Jorduldurn in more depth. It is told that Jord grabbed a magic rock which turned his arm to metal. He then pulled his arm from its socket (with his right hand) and used the arm, fist, and stone as a hammer to either create his works or smite his foes. In some tales of Jord, if he reattaches the hammer to his shoulder and releases the stone, his arm reverts to flesh.
Jord went on to marry five wives in total. The first three (e.g., Voga, Orla, Bora) were fashioned from the Heart. The fourth wife was Magda, daughter of Magna and Tregn, and therefore Jord’s granddaughter. His fifth “wife” was the beautiful Murgana, a descendant of of Murgn. Overcome by her beauty, Jord kidnapped and raped her. Eventually, Murgana escaped to Old Voga and pleaded with her for help. The Old Mother slayed the young “wife” and fashioned a cloak from her skin. When Jord appeared, looking for his young bride, he saw the cloak and was overcome with a great rage. The Old Father smashed Jorduldurn into the Heart, breaking it into pieces. He then cast the pieces across the world. Since that time, the Hearts have called out to their kindred. Some claim that the Callings are the voice of Old Voga, begging for forgiveness. Others, most notably the Eastern Cults, believe she calls for vengeance.
The fate of Jord is a great question among the Dwürden faithful. Many believe that following the destruction of Voga, he fell into a deep depression and crawled back into the primal Darkness from whence he emerged. Others suggest that he walks the World of Teréth End in search of the Heart shards but is unable to hear Voga’s call.