The Emerald Book: Ogradhad

[_RoyalCrafter_ 3241]

The Emerald Book:

Ogradhad

 

A dwarf kneeling in front of Ogradhad.

[source]

 

“With the birth of the mind, came the creation of another great being, one connected to the consciousness of life and the realms. This being is Ogradhad. The knowledge and wisdom he possesses are both innate and collected, both profound and esoteric. Ogradhad is the one who reveals the secrets of the world to us, his candle burns away the darkness of ignorance.”

- Inscriptions within the Remembrancers Guild

 

 

 

Ogradhad The Sageking

Ogradhad is the Brathmordaking of Wisdom, Invention and Magic. It is no surprise then, that scholars venerate him the most. The Loremaster can be honoured by tending to places where knowledge is kept, such as libraries. Libraries may even be considered shrines or temples to Ogradhad. However, not all knowledge is stored in books, and one doesn’t need to be a scholar to engage in the sharing and protection of knowledge. The Sageking does not just preside over existing knowledge, one needs to create new knowledge to progress dwarvenkind. Inventors who apply Ogradhads knowledge and wizards who try and decipher ancient secrets are also favoured by him.

 

The Lessons of Insight:

The Lessons of Insight are a series of beliefs, ideas and principles gathered from the annals of library and history, to elucidate ways for dwarves to live by Ogradhad’s ways.

 

Grond: meaning Discover in dwarven. This lesson refers to invention, experimentation, research, study and anything relating to the discovery of new knowledge. Those who pursue new knowledge and insights for the sake of their people are the truest worshippers of Ogradhad. One must also not solely dedicate themselves to one field of study, for such often leads to the development of a narrow viewpoint. Learning and discovering different things when the opportunity presents itself is pious, honourable and above all practical. Grond is the antithesis of stagnation. For when one dedicates themselves to discovery, one must not remain bound to outdated dogmas which keep society from advancing. Those who hoard knowledge for their own selfish desires are detrimental to Yemekar’s Balance, as it hinders the spreading of progress.

 

“The thumping of your mortar and pestle, the bubbling of your cauldron, the hiss of your alembic, the flipping of your pages and the scribbling of your notes are all prayers to Ogradhad.”

- Quote from an unknown master alchemist.

 

Lordak: This word means Magic in dwarven. This tenant not only refers to the study and use of magic, but it is also a lesson about the dangerous nature of knowledge. Ogradhad is the Brathmordkin of Magic as well, meaning to practice the arcane arts is to honour Ogradhad. However practising magic can often lead to madness for power, to delve into foul and vile forces like Necromancy, which goes against Yemekar’s Balance. To live by Lordak, one must explore the depths of the arcane, using their abilities to protect Yemekar's balance, while refusing to succumb to the dark powers of The Betrayer. The same can be said for knowledge, one must be able to use knowledge for the greater good, and not spread despair and destruction. Due to the burdens of certain magics, its study requires prayer, meditation and guidance for how it may be best applied to serve Yemekar’s Balance.

 

“The mortal dwed’s greed for knowledge grew limitless. Sparing not life nor honour to obtain it. And soon, after being granted secret magical powers by the Vile Dark - he built a grand library, greater than was ever built.” - “But behind him, the shadow of Khorvad loomed. He was but a puppet, a minion of the Vile Darkness.”

- Ogradhad and The Nightbreak, by Dlunar Irongrinder.

 

Kahiv: Is the dwarven word of Wisdom. The accumulation of knowledge and the sharpening of one's intellect are excellent pursuits in life, but they are for nought if one does not possess wisdom. A person is wise when they know how to apply their knowledge in different situations. Such a skill can only be gathered through experience. Thus Kahiv teaches us not to waste our lives only reading through books, only to then freeze up when something unexpected happens. Thus one must be worldly and curious, seeking out new things to experience and discover, so one may grow as a person. An excess of knowledge with a deficiency in experience can bring harm due to arrogance and poor judgement.

 

“When yer nose beh glued to tha books, ye cannae see tha greatest lessons and stories that lay ahead o’ ye, yet to beh shared.”

 - Quote from Tuzic Mossborn, Prophet of Ogradhad.

 

Arkonrumm: Arkonrumm translates to Remembrancer. Knowledge is sacred, and to avoid it being lost to the annals of time, it must be recorded and passed down. Such is the role of a Remembrancer. To scribe on parchment, traditional oral retellings, sculptures, art, demonstrations, and any way of passing knowledge can be used to serve as an Arkonrumm. Anyone can become a teacher, and it is a great way to pass on knowledge and to live by the principal of Arkonrumm.

 

“What good is a book to those who have no place to store them? My mind is an endless library, my tongue a bottomless inkpot. The words I spread ring clearly in the minds of those who I tell them. And those who hear them shall spread to their own kin and so on and so on.”

 - A response from a revered dwarven storyteller.

 

Post Scriptum:

Ogradhad is one of the Brathmordkin that deals less with the natural realms such as Anbella or Grimduguan, but more with a conceptual domain of knowledge. Unfortunately, I only see only a few clans and individuals venerating Ogradhad and the important work he does. This is the reason why Tuzic Mossborn, Prophet of Ogradhad and I have collaborated to write this entry into the Emerald Book. The typical dwarf often stereotypes worship of Ogrdadhad as being a stuffy librarian, even though such is not necessarily the case. The learning of new knowledge and the spread of it can be done by anyone, which is what I hoped to illustrate with this work.

 

May it be noted that this is not clerical canon, but my personal views upon the Brathmordkin. The collections present in The Emerald Book are that of my own contemplations.

 

Sources:

Co-Author Tuzic Mossborn, Prophet of Ogradhad

Various Clerical Texts

The works of Falk Irongut

The beliefs of various Clans

Legends of Dlunar Irongrinder

Hefrumm cosmological studies

The Dwarven Language Encyclopedia

[SharpString 323]

Tuzic closes his copy of the Emerald book, letting out a content sigh into The Grand Library. “Lore Mastah, Sageking… finalleh wit’ dis we can remind tha realm of yer lessons.” He returns his copy to the shelf, and walks off to the temple for his daily worship. 

Edited December 28, 2022 by SharpString