An Epistle to the Clergy
Penned by the Hand of Kardel Irongut, Prophet of Ograhad
1592
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The status of Prophet is eternal, bestowed upon a khazad by the Brathmordakin, and unalterable by mortal hands. Once the gleaming eye of one of the Sublime Six has set its gaze upon a worthy soul, its radiance forever descends upon said soul unless that person dares violated the trust of the Brathmordakin. With this authority, granted to me by the true and only Gods of Creation, the Six Brathmordakin, their number forever fixed in the stars by his supremacy Yemekar, the Worldforger and Allfather, Lord of the Sun, Time, and Cosmos, I, Kardel Heronsson Irongut, Prophet of Ogradhad, hereby advise the High Prophet Darid Tunnelsmasher to redact his decision of attempting to usurp the divine order by elevating the mere beings known as Wyrvun and Dormmar to the Pantheon of Yemekar.
The ranks of the Brathmordakin were fixed eternally by our creator, Yemekar. From the mettle of the sun he first forged Dungrimm, then Anbella, then Belka, and conjointly Armakak and Grimdugan, and finally Ogradhad. While there are many beings pretending for the status of diety, only six (not including, but of course implying, his excellency Yemekar himself [he is above even the rank of divine]), may ever be worshiped by any pious, non-heretical Dwarf as Gods. These six may not be supplemented by any decree lest it come from the mouth of Yemekar himself. The fact that the High Prophet, exalted and endeared yet mortal, wishes to elevate additional beings to the rank of Brathmordakin is indicative of heresy.
The High Prophet Darid Tunnelsmasher has all rights to elevate Igor Ireheart to the rank of Paragon: this has been a debate entertained since honorable Igor's most noble sacrifice in the halls of Kal'Azgoth, and I am glad that it has finally be resolved. Yet a Paragon, however great he may be in the eyes of mortals, is but a speck of dust when compared to a Brathmordakin. The etching of the name of a Paragon next to the names of past Paragons is a simple act; the promotion of a being to the rank of divine is beyond the capability of mortals. Darid Tunnelsmasher dares challenge the authority of Yemekar, may his slumber be ever peaceful, by performing this act.
Wyrvun and Dormmar are Az'dharokmar, "high beasts." They may never attain the rank of Brathmordakin: how could they, for what did they contribute to creation? A few specks of snow? A few hundred runes? Compared to the labor of Dungrimm, who shifts through millions of souls to find those which are righteous and those which are not, who protects Khaz'a'Dentrumm from the menaces of Khorvad, and who alongside Yemekar wrought the steel of primal creation; compared to the labor of Anbella, who created every grass and beast in the world, who makes sure those worthy crops spring forth from the ground, who guards children as they pass through their mothers' wombs, and who keeps all of the hearth-fires lit; compared to the labor of Belka, who must kindle love between those courting youths, who must decide which musics to make pleasant to the ear, who must govern adventure, and who must illuminate the sky with her thunder and darken it with her storms; compared to Armakak and Grimdugan, who jointly decide remuneration and punishment, who spin fates, who populate the earth's womb with riches, and who provide sparks of productivity and ambition to promote industriousness: and compared to the labor of Ograhad, who must rule over all knowledge, who must maintain the sensibility of writing and language, who must keep all runes functional, and who must constantly construe new innovations for mortals to create, these "Gods'" contributions are nothing. Dungrimm laughs in the face of Wyrvun, for Dungrimm is the true master of virtue. Ograhad scoffs at the work of Dormmar, for it was Ograhad in his good humor who allowed Dormmar to even have the inklings of intellect necessary to create the Kathiik. When compared to the true Brathmordakin, that immutable sublime six, how can these two lesser beings even feign to claim divinity?
By all logic, Wyrvun and Dormmar remain but as subjects of the Brathmordakin. Any dwarf who dares deprive our true Gods of prayer and praise, choosing instead to dedicate his efforts to glorifying the Ice Wyrm and Lord of Flesh, is a heretic of the highest decree, deserving of the kiss of molten iron and nothing more.
Normally, this issue would need not be discussed at great length. Any being may claim the power of Yemekar, and by default becomes a heretic, to be dealt with accordingly. However, the matter is complicated when that chief servant of the Brathmordakin, that mortal who holds the privilege of receiving their exalted word, displays such signs of heresy. The High Prophet is far from all-powerful: he is exalted and respected, but he is nowhere near a God. The only time and place where a High Prophet may near a divine is after his demise, in the halls of Khaz'a'Dentrumm, when due to his clerical service he is gifted a seat at the head of that great silver table near the Brathmordakin and Paragons. Even then, he is nothing but a privileged soul, and fails to hold this power of promotion. If a figure, held to such high esteem in the eyes of the Brathmordakin is to commit heresy, he tempts their wrath.
To reiterate, I, Kardel Heronsson Irongut, Prophet of Ograhad, ask the High Prophet Darid Tunnelsmasher to revoke his statement regarding the promotion of the Brathmordakin and to make suitable amends via a sermon reaffirming the Sextarchy's absolute status as divine. Wyvurn and Dormmar are naught but lesser beings, great compared to mortality but feeble compared to the greatness of the Brathmordakin. The High Prophet should reaffirm that worshiping Wyrvun and Dormmar as if they were Gods remains heresy, and should confirm that in no way did he intend to usurp Yemekar's blessed authority in his misguided assumption.
Signed:
Kardel Irongut, son of Heron, son of Dwain, son of Urguan;
Prophet of Ograhad and Architect of Kal'Ishtul;
Former Grand King of Urguan and man of the Faith