Deity

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A deity Å is the object of worship chosen by a creature. Deities are randomly generated during worldgen, and assigned different spheres (the objects, creatures, concepts, etc. they are associated with).

Worship and deities differ among races: Dwarves and Humans worship multiple deities, most of which are often depicted as 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 single force that permeates the forests.

Fortress Mode

Each dwarf and many other creatures have one or more deities listed among their relationships. Almost all dwarves believe in some deity, but most believe in two, however, and some believe in one 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 does not currently include priests or temples, but does include representations of dwarven deities in statues, engravings or figurines.

Occasionally, under the pretense of human diplomacy, your fortress may be visited by a creature which claims to actually be a deity. Such a creature is, in fact, a demon impersonating said deity in order to control that particular human civilization. It may or may not fill your fortress with flesh-eating toxins.

Adventurer Mode

In Adventurer mode, Human towns may include temples of various designs inhabited by Priests dedicated to a deity. If the conversation option "Service" is used with any Priest, the deity will be added as an object of worship to the character's record,^[Verify] and it becomes possible to speak to the deity from any location, though the deity will not respond.

Interaction in the World

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

Certain demons which escape from the Underworld during world generation will impersonate a deity in order to take over Human civilizations, at which point they act as a diplomat and visit your fortress. They will be non-hostile and have the "deity" title. Depending on the demon, Fun may be had.

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 Hell 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 valour, 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, randomised 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 Hell — you may use the knowledge in the vault's slab all you want, but it's a tiny reward compared to vanquishing the forces of Heaven itself.