Theroze - God of the Forge

**Alignment:** Neutral Good

**Domains:** Forge, Knowledge

**Origin:** *Dwarf* ascended by *Actar* in 98 BPI due to his innovations of using the earth to progress the world.

**Realm:** *Mortal Realm*

**Physical Description:** Before his sacrifice in *235 API* to contain *Malgos*, he was a Dwarf covered in runic metal. Now he is the magma within the world.

**State of Activity:** Inactive today, as his form has been spread throughout the Mortal Realm. The Dwarves still consider the magma he turned into a blessing to the world and is able to imbue crafted metal within it magical properties.

**Number of Temples:** Theroze will typically have a small shrine in most large blacksmiths. The only temple that belongs to Theroze is in *The Golden Fortress.*

**Events:** Theroze was born in 220 BPI in the Mortal Realm. Throughout his years of teachings from Actar, he found joy in creating tools, but found that the stone they had been using throughout the years would break fairly easily and weren't ultimately that efficient. He believed there was a better way to do any task and with Actar's assistance he was able to acquire minerals from deep beneath the world and after some experimentation, created the first forge. In the year 111 BPI he created the first metal tool, a simple pickaxe to acquire more metals to further his development and research. Actar noticed his devotion to his work and gave him a set of trials. "Create clothing to rival the gleam of *Natuna*. Create a language able to access further recesses of power. And develop a tool to defend one's self from the creatures of *Kepemis*' sea." After 13 years of trial and error, he was able to accomplish each of these tasks, creating a necklace of gold, developing the "*Runic Tongue*", and finally, making a sword of steel. Actar, very impressed with his accomplishments, ascended him in 98 BPI. Now as God of the Forge, he taught his fellow Dwarves and *Gnomes* as well as anyone who was willing to learn his tricks. Soon after, Actar went into his first slumber. Theroze continued his teachings until 0 API when the *Humans* and "New Gods" arrived. Seeing Natuna was wanting to greet these new inhabitants to their world, Theroze made a gift for each of the *Post-Induction* Divinities. For *Valker*, a sword, *Zephyr's Rage*. For *Valore*, a set of armor, *Zephyr's Protection*. For *Gomera*, a gem encrusted chalice, *Zephyr's Grace*. To *Jumera*, a ring of platinum and gold, *Zephyr's Beauty*. The New Gods took these gifts appreciatively and all immediately formed a friendship with the God of the Forge.

Theroze was provided with a temple in what is now The Golden Fortress and was worshiped like any other deity. He continued teaching his lessons, watching as his students evolved and even went beyond what he had learned. This continued on until 212 API, when *Malgos' Mutilation* began. Theroze was asked to create weapons for the men of the world, but refused, stating the items he had created for the Post-Inductions was out of friendship, not war. His followers provided weapons for the war as he worked on what he labeled his "magnum opus" *The Chains of Hex Hall* which finished in late 234 API. At this point, he noticed the destruction that has been caused by Malgos and deemed it necessary to enter the fray himself. He donned in his runic armor *The Forge Master's Blessing*, and prepared himself at the walls of Valkyria. In 235 API, the moment had come and he closed in on *Malgos*, using his Chains of Hex Hall to capture and seal him within the realm of the *Hex Halls.* This was, however, his last action, as in Malgos' sealing moments he emitted a power so fierce, it ripped Theroze asunder. As his blood submerged into the land, it began to take on a new form and became a lava within the world. Some say that was his last miracle, as when you use said lava in a forge, your project is more likely to take on magical properties.

**Allies:** Actar, Valker, Valore

**Adversaries:** Kepemis, Malgos