Daruga

Introduction

Daruga is a God. He is the Eldest of The Four, and the god of earth, law, and responsibility. Daruga created the Dwarves, and also the Material Plane. Modernly, Daruga is widely worshipped by Dwarves and Humans, especially those in Antemar. This worship is typically organized within the Church of Daruga, led by Daruga's Avatar Vière.

Daruga is responsible to a fault, often taking the burdens of others to his own detriment. While this sometimes makes him look controlling, he is truly concerned about the wellbeing of those he is responsible for.

While Daruga historically resided in the Elemental Plane of Earth, he now lives in the New High Plane.

History

Origins

Most of the knowledge of Daruga's early existence is barred from most minds due to the effects of Naris and his Enigma. The following paragraphs are considered deep lore and are outside the knowledge of nearly all characters in Selaris.

While the exact particulars of Daruga's creation and early existence are lost to time and myth, it is known that he existed with his siblings in the early Elemental Planes. During this time, he existed as a proto-god until he matured enough to ascend to proper godhood.

As the eldest, it was expected that Daruga would ascend first. Daruga was always the careful sort, and since the ascension process was dangerous if done incorrectly, he was waiting patiently until he was properly prepared. However, Arios became frustrated with his brother's inaction. He initiated his own ascension process early, before he was ready. This event sundered the High Plane, and formed the Maelstrom in the center of the Elemental Planes. Following this, Daruga was able to ascend as normal.

The following is no longer deep lore.

Creations and Early Acts

Daruga took the empty space in the planes to create the Material Plane. However, the plane was initially naught but stone and earth. Seeing this, Levira offered her assistance in beautifying the plane through the addition of her water. Daruga accepted the offer, and the two of them became close. The two of them worked together to create most of the plane, including the Dwarves and the Elves.

It was around this time that they created The Triplets, allowing each of them to take a cast-off plane as their respective domains.

Daruga and Levira both allowed for the early Dwarves and Elves to interbreed, which caused the creation of Gnomes.

As the Material Plane became dangerous (mostly but not entirely due to the creations of Arios), Daruga began to give blessings unto the dwarves in order to protect and prosper them. As a result, the dwarves became thoroughly devoted to Daruga.

The First War

Daruga participated in First War, providing divine protection and strength to those who fought against the forces of Morakh. It was during the war that Daruga chose his first Avatar, Khall. Khall was a dwarven war leader who was exceptionally devout to Daruga. As such, he was the first candidate that Daruga considered when he wanted a mortal conduit to more easily provide assistance on the Material Plane.

At the end of the war, Daruga and Levira deliberated as to what should be done with Morakh in the aftermath of his rebellion. Daruga initially advocated for destroying Morakh, due to the severity of his actions. However, Levira suggested exiling him by restricting him to the Shadowfell to allow him an opportunity to redeem himself.

The two began a debate that lasted for years, which manifested on the Material Plane as a series of great disasters; earthquakes and tremors, tempests and floods. These disasters shattered the world, splitting it into the continents recognizable today (with the exception of Maletar). Eventually, Daruga agreed with Levira, and Morakh was exiled.

Post-First War

Following the First War, Daruga focused on the prosperity of the dwarves. During this time, dwarven cultures began to diversify and clans began to separate. Daruga accelerated this by providing dwarves with special adaptations when living conditions required, such as providing heat resistance and darker, more durable skin to dwarves who lived in volcanoes.

In the middle stages of the First Great Dragon War (c. 20 B.E.), Amp began to allow interbreeding between Humans and dwarves, creating Halflings. This was done to encourage Daruga's intervention in the war, as Amp was still young and not powerful enough to protect the Kataballo Empire from the dragons. Daruga was unaware of Amp's existence until this point, and he then engaged himself in the war more directly. He sent armies of dwarves north into Kataballo, who helped the remaining humans escape south into the comparatively safe Antemar.

Early Jodek Empire

Daruga's assistance in the war caused many humans to worship Daruga, causing the Church of Daruga to expand its operations to human settlements. When the Jodek Empire was formed, the Church was the dominant religion among its people, though other religions were accepted. Daruga considered humans an adopted people, and he provided his blessings and protection to them just as he had with the dwarves.

In 17 J.F., the human named Vière challenged Khall for his position as Daruga's avatar. Daruga was initially unimpressed, but was persuaded by Vière's balance of creativity and deep understanding of Daruga's will. This, combined with Khall's stubbornness to accept the possibility of loss, Daruga granted the challenge and granted Vière the avatarship after his victory. In the aftermath, the seat of the avatar moved to Sunkeep City, leaving dwarven lands for the first time.

Daruga and Vière were both active in the Second Great Dragon War.

The Age of Morakh

As part of the Age of Morakh, the Elemental Planes were distanced from the Material Plane. As such, Daruga was unable to intervene in Morakh's dominion over the Material Plane. While thus indisposed, he and the rest of the Four thought of ways in which they might create a New High Plane, which would empower them considerably.

In 100 M.A., Daruga was visited by the Fourtold, a group of adventurers who were on a quest to destroy Morakh and put an end to his reign. Daruga instructed them on how to traverse the planes, and he—along with the rest of the Four—provided them blessings which they used to destroy Morakh once and for all.

The New High Plane

Following the Age of the Morakh, the Four worked together to create the New High Plane, which provided them with a tremendous increase in power. With this new perspective, they all became slower and distracted, and less able to affect the lives of mortals as directly as they used to be able to. Despite this, Daruga worship is still very widespread, and his influence is still felt in the world.

Relationships

Levira

Daruga and Levira became romantic partners as they worked together on the material plane. While they do not always agree, they are loyal to each other. They had The Triplets together, and grew closer together as they discussed how to relate to their offspring.

Arios

Daruga's early treatment of Arios was not particularly kind. Arios' mental state was fractured due to his faulty ascension, which—combined with Arios' tendency to cause trouble, accidentally or otherwise— caused Daruga to see Arios as nothing more than an annoyance.

However, Arios' assistance at the end of the Age of Morakh caused Daruga to reconsider his position. One of the primary purposes of the New High Plane was to provide Arios a place where he could rest and recover some of his mind.

Amp

Daruga has a strong working relationship with Amp. Daruga was instrumental in helping Amp gain his strength in preparation for the Second Great Dragon War. While their relationship is not without its disagreements, Daruga now fully considers Amp to be his brother.

Kelri

The existence of Kelri is not known to most characters with Selaris. All information in this section is considered deep lore.
Daruga's relationship with his other sister is fraught. Kelri objects to Daruga's attitudes toward Naris and to his extensive use of the space used to create the Material Plane. Additionally, Kelri considers Daruga's early treatment of Arios to be cruel.

These criticisms weigh heavy on Daruga's mind, who is always trying to protect and provide for everyone that he can. Daruga's attempts to address Kelri's criticisms are generally dismissed, as Daruga's methods are typically different from Kelri's opinionated suggestions.

Morakh

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Juliani

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Vière

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