The Apprentice, Patron of Bachelors
Ðurkan the Apprentice appears as a handsome farm-hand, helpful of those wishing to build and craft objects for some productive purpose. Ðurkan is revered by architects, blacksmiths, engineers, and farmers. Two Orders founded by his followers are the Order of the Arch and the Golden Plough.
Ðurkan appears within the Dekàlan mythologies in many places, usually helping honest men overcome hardships through the creation of enchanted tools. He also appears in some myths as being easily smitten by beautiful and conniving women, both mortal and otherwise. For this reason, Ðurkan is also sometimes regarded as a Patron of Bachelors.
The Order
- The Golden Plough. The Golden Plough is the largest of the Roðári Orders. The Order is centered at the Ordrà Kyrm Tàlshar in Eswerd, north of the City of Oð along the Rūn Mèrdus. The Ordùs Talshar is a fraternal (men and women) organization whose main membership lives outside the City of Oð. Most Order lodges meet twice a month, during Midmonth and Monthturn to pray and socialize. The Order consists of farmers, smiths, laborers, and nearly all whose livelihood relies on their hands. Most moots are organized or administered by a low-ranking Ðurkan priest called a Dhuhl. Outside the region of Oð, farmers and farmhands more commonly associate themselves with Kændlàn-Valànya the Planter, though there are no restrictions to patronize both.
- Order of the Arch. The Holy Order of the Arch (Ordùs Ārd) is the second largest Order, catering to masons, bricklayers, stonecarvers, architects, and engineers, though technically it is open to all that worship Ðurkan. The Ordùs Ārd serves the dual purpose of a community for worship and a worker’s union. The Order supports its members, and thereby ensures that they are among the highest paid workers within the City of Oð. The Ordùs Ārd credit themselves with many architectural feats throughout the City of Oð including the City Wall, the Gates, and the Keeps. It the duty of the Ordùs Ārd to maintain these structures, a task which has proven monumental since much of the engineering and lore used in their construction has been lost. Large sections of the City Wall have been re-engineered to compensate for failed bindings, spells, and wards. Unknown to the Order, these bindings were provided by other groups in years past. The re-engineering has temporarily solved many problems, but has had the effect of weakening the whole, which was never meant to stand under its own natural construction. The Ordra Kyrm Ār stands in the Kyard of City of Oð. An imposing stone structure crouching on the edge of the Kre Dùlnar opposite Kryr Shùrulm, the temple is a wonderful example of lost architectural skills. Four blackened stone columns rise from the crashing waters below into three magnificent arches that support the overhanging temple. Constructed in the Lanàdi style, the blackened (once blue and gray) stone building is covered with pointed arches and statuary that has been defaced by time. The interior of the temple opens into a large windowed chamber which looks out over the turbulent fog shrouded harbor. There is no ornamentation that is not carved from stone or worked from metals forged within the temple. Two Ormári Sentinels “guard” the front gate, the only building in the City so protected other than Kyrm Oryroð itself.