Dur

## God of Flame

* Artwork
* Symbol

Dur, also known as the Molten Crown is a deity in Ahlus.

He is the God of Flame.

## Commandments

* Flame is the great cleanser. Impurities are deterged from the unsullied, in craft and life alike.
* Do not dwell on that which fails or falters initially. Another opportunity will always present itself, be ready to seize it wholeheartedly.
* Strive for perfection, but accept the limitations of your mortal form.

The concept of unburdening oneself from ideals, ways of life, objects, possessions and other matters is central to the core beliefs of renewal associated with Dur. Only by removing them when they no longer have worth or significance can an individual move on, and so shrines dedicated to Dur are often surrounded by piles of discarded belongings, some mundane, others more curious and unexpected.

## History

While most commonly classified as occuping a place amongst the Malign, Dur is instead an exiled member of the Ahlusian Pantheon and the brother of Tohmos. While Tohmos pushed the Principal Races to attain perfection in all walks of life, paragons of the nobility that he had granted a chosen few amongst them, Dur instead petitioned his brother to accept the foibles of those non-immortal, encouraging instead the Races to learn when the limits of their bodies and souls had been reached. Such discourse created much tension between the siblings.

In an attempt of recompense, Dur offered the heat of his flame to his brother, aiding him in the craft of all manner of marvels, including his iconic weapon Forgemaster's Might. After trying to reclaim the heat of his flame once they were done, he was accused of trying to steal back what was offered freely and subsequently banished.

## Enemies

Dur's followers appear to find themselves in direct conflict with the believers of Tohmos, Master of the Hammer. Likewise, Dur seems to show a particular disdain for draconic races - dragonborn, kobolds and true dragons. He holds Red Dragons with a particular abhorrence, for they often defile his sacred mountain peaks and volcanoes to create their own foul lairs.

Such sentiment has resulted in the Molten Crown being popular throughout giantkind, with the Fire Giants of Jernvegg holding Dur in particular reverence, having at some point managed to claim Forgemaster's Might in the name of the Molten Crown. It is assumed that the monstrous mechanical machine Maskindodtillyndrage was constructed using techniques taught to the Fire Giants by Dur, for its power seemed simultaneously that of flame and radiance.

## Research

### Completed by Cassius

The standing conflict between Dur and Tohmos seems to find its origin within the Molten Flame's disdain for dragons, a deep-rooted hatred with a few supposed causes. Most commonly accepted is that Dur delights in the display of his worshippers' treasured creations - whether organic or inorganic in nature. Whether a band of polished gold set with garnets or an a bold opinion or masterful talent, it is for the betterment of the individual that they must be made available for others to witness. Without such an occurrence, there is little potential for the sharing of encouragement, guidance or criticism - and in doing so the threat of being stuck within a place of stagnancy without hope of renewal and creation anew grows deeper. The stoicism of most dragons, alongside their famed (or infamed) proclivity towards hoarding wealth and other treasures stands at direct opposition to such beliefs and teachings. Others instead claimed that this abhorrence was deeper and more fundamental - the metals and gems that were shaped to create the first dragons of Ahlus are seen as wasted, and better used to create works of art in his reverence and praise. When Tohmos therefore selected the Silver Dragon Xorithromlax as his mortal Exarch, this drove a further wedge between the brotherly pair - and thus spurned Dur to take back the heat of his flame.

This conflict would culminate in an event known as the Night of the Bleeding Sky, during which burning lights streaked en masse across the Canvas of Night, bringing such brightness that flowers bloomed and birds began their morning chorus. Hued at first red and orange, as the night continued the lights started to bisect through the constellation of Tohmos in the northern sky, and with it began to glow white-hot. The embers lingered far into the following day, unfazed by the gaze of the Morning Light, but come the following night the Molten Flame's own constellation had faded from view, no longer visible within the southern sky. Whether by decree of the True or self-enacted, Dur was exiled from Celestia, finding new residency within the Elemental Plane of Fire. There, Dur would encounter two individuals with which he is now most commonly associated - and though neither is a true Exarch of Dur, for the deity has none such, they are known to offer their resources and services alike in the name of the Molten Crown's intentions.

First amongst these is Satrap Elo dal Ithah al-Bazenan, known also as the Flaming Chain or rarer still as the Emberflayer. A noble efreeti of considerable power within the City of Brass, Bazenan rules from the Tower of Fervardor, but covets the power and status wielded by the Sultan of the Efreet Marrake al-Sidan al-Hariq ben Lazan. In allying himself to Dur, the efreeti no doubt hopes to gain the power sufficient to claim rule over the entirety of the City of Brass. Nonetheless, Bazenan controls an army of other efreet, alongside salamander and firenewt warriors and slaves of numerous races bound to fight in his name. The second ally, unlikely as it seems, was the Primordial Elemental Prince Exto, holder of the titles Evoker, Baylepyre and the Ever-Burning. One of the Archomentals, Exto resided within the Great Conflagration, referred to sometimes as the Plane of Ash and where the Elemental Planes of Fire and Air met. It is presumed that Dur sought out Exto to use the elemental entity's might to replicate his own flame, still within the possession of Tohmos.