Deity

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v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Example of a trippy-looking god.
Art by JasonEngle

A deity is a supernatural being or force of nature in the mythology of a world. Deities are randomly generated during worldgen, and assigned different spheres (the objects, creatures, concepts, etc. they are associated with). Religious creatures may worship one or more deities.

Worship and deities differ among races: Dwarves and humans worship multiple deities, most of which are often depicted as being of their own race, though, on occasion, they may worship a deity that is depicted as an animal or vermin. An elf does not worship a deity, but believes in a particular force amongst multiple such that permeate the forests.

Fortress mode

Each dwarf, and many other creatures ([INTELLIGENT]/[CAN_LEARN+CAN_SPEAK] at least, such was presumably the intent), have one or more deities listed among their relationships. Almost all dwarves believe in at least one deity...most believe in two, and some three. In the case of your dwarves, you can see the degree of belief they profess ("faithful worshipper", "casual worshipper", etc.).

Fortress mode includes temples that can be dedicated to individual deities. Dwarven deities are also represented in statues, engravings and figurines.

Adventurer mode

In adventurer mode, human towns may include temples of various designs inhabited by priests dedicated to a deity. As of v0.40.24,^[Verify] it is no longer possible to join a religion in Adventurer Mode. If somehow you manage to become part of a religion (e.g. with the use of DFHack) you may talk to your deity. They will never reply, but doing so satisfies potential needs for prayer.

Interaction in the world

Deities occasionally influence events during world generation. Gods of death can create slabs from which necromancers learn the secrets of life and death. Furthermore, civilized creatures that profane a temple of the deity they worship incur the wrath of their former patron, being turned into a vampire or werebeast as punishment (even though being immortal is not really a punishment to some).

This article contains massive spoilers. If you do not wish to have your game experience spoiled, do not scroll down!

Deities may occasionally collaborate with a demon, raising it up from the underworld with a ritual conducted by an artifact slab. This is, in fact, exactly how said demons escape the Underworld and gain status in the mortal world. What demon in question is summoned, as well as the reason for this, appears to be linked to the god's particular sphere. For example, gods of death may summon demons "that more may die"; war-gods conduct the ritual "that war may rage forever" or "that great fortresses be raised and tested in siege". Gods of bravery and valor, meanwhile, do the same "that great acts of heroism may be performed." (Admittedly, anyone who can navigate a demonic site and come out alive should rightfully be called more than a great hero!)

Deities are served by angels, randomized creatures who may wield equipment made of impossibly strong divine metal created by the deity. Angels are best known for guarding the contents of vaults, the treasure-houses of allied demons; they may be the most exceedingly powerful and dangerous creatures in Dwarf Fortress, more so than even demons. Successfully raiding a vault is a feat on par with conquering the Underworld—you may use the knowledge on the vault's slab all you want, but it's a tiny reward compared to vanquishing the forces of Heaven itself.

A world without deities

Deities can be removed from the game through modding entity raws, by making all civilizations become areligious. In such a world, demonic leaders thrust the spire of slade by themselves, and place the slab in a vault created on their own. The vault is then left unguarded, since no angels can exist without deities.

Removing deities makes vampires, werebeasts, and necromancers never spawn, as these can (currently) only be created through deity intervention.

Physically summoning deities into the world

Deities don't usually manifest themselves physically in vanilla DF but they can be helped with a [script]. The script doesn't just create a unit that 'looks' like the deity, it actually pulls the historical figure info from the deity and creates a nemesis record to link it to the newly created unit. Use with caution.

"Deity" in other Languages Dwarven: mishar Elven: ricafa Goblin: alsmust Human: ahang