The Importance of the Gods (CBD)

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You will also need to decide how important the dwarven gods are to the dwarves. Do the gods govern all aspects of life, or are they only worshipped for certain key functions or to request favors? Do the gods hand down laws as masters addressing servants, or do they simply light the way and let their followers interpret signs as best they can?
You need to determine the size of the dwarven pantheon. This is particularly true in a campaign that involves priest player characters. Each of the gods within a pantheon should have some special attribute for which he or she is venerated. Some may have more than one. Typical attributes for dwarven gods are arts and crafts, each art and craft with its own deity. War, justice, earth, elemental forces, good, metalwork, race, and strength all have their patron deities. Given that dwarves breed so slowly, and that this is seen as a reason for their decline, an interesting religion might deal with fertility. Perhaps the fertility goddess is dead or imprisoned. If she is held prisoner, where and by whom?
The Complete Priest's Handbook will be very useful in helping to create and populate your pantheon. It includes 41 sample religions suitable for dwarves. DMs interested in creating well-balanced and detailed religions will find it an invaluable tool.
When designing a dwarven pantheon, it is not necessary to flesh out all of the gods. A few of the major deities are enough to start with; others can be added as needed. As with all gods, a few decisions must be made about their abilities.
Are they immortal? Do gods live forever, or will they eventually age and die? Are they indestructible? The gods may be immune to damage, or they may be injured. Does rapid healing follow injury, or can they actually be killed?
How much influence do the dwarven gods exert upon the world? The gods may use the dwarves as pawns in a cosmic game, or they may be remote from daily events. In a campaign where each race has its own pantheon, it is advisable to let the various races of gods take a background role, rather than competing for power.
How interested are the dwarven gods in the world? They may not take any interest in the world on the surface and be content to restrict their activities to the subterranean realms. Why, for example, would a dwarvish God of War be concerned with conquering the agricultural lands belonging to humans or halflings? He would be far more interested in capturing the mineral rich lands beneath the surface, and leave the world above to other races. Dwarven gods of the arts and crafts may also be so absorbed in the development of their own skills that they are not interested in other affairs.
What are the gods' intentions toward the world? This is an important question. What do the dwarven gods want with the world and its races? The gods might want to see their own race dominant, or at least protected. Or they may simply wish to pursue their own affairs. Most dwarven deities may be content to be properly recognized and worshipped, but don't overlook the activities of evil or chaotic gods who act out of malice or a sense of mischief. They may be more interested in upsetting the stable lifestyle of the dwarves and their fellow gods than with establishing their own power base. Perhaps they are so discontented that they are prepared to lead evil races against the dwarves in order to destroy the other gods.
Category:The Complete Book of Dwarves