Yemekar's Balance

Yemekar's Blance is a teaching of the Brathmordakin, which the Dwarves follow. Dwarven religion instructs them that they are to be the keepers of balance throughout the realm, as said by Yemekar, the creator. This is interpreted in many different ways, ranging from a reason to stay at peace, to a reason to go to war.

From the dawn of time it was said to be the creator, Yemekar, who selected the dwarves as the chosen amongst all his creations. However, with this great honour, there too came responsibility. Yemekar commanded of Urguan that he and his kin would forever ensure that none of his creations would ever bear the power to completely destroy another. “Go forth my children, and preserve the balance of my creation. For you are the pillars that uphold the world.” Though these words have held many different meanings throughout various ages of dwarven history it is generally accepted by most within the dwarven clergy as a matter that remains relevant to this day. Urguan accepted his creator’s bidding and thus the dwarven race, throughout the vast majority of its existence, remained vigilant in the event that an empire were to rise. This has in practise become known better amongst the dwarves as the preservation of ‘Yemekar’s Balance.’ For if ever a nation were to cast aside its morality in favour of the pursuit of power, the prosperity of other nations would surely suffer at its hands.

The concept of Yemekar's Balance therefore revolves largely around a fierce opposition towards policies of expansionism and the invasion of another nation's sovereign territory without a cause deemed righteous in the eyes of the gods. Furthermore, in the majority of circumstances, wars that are declared in the name of Yemekar's Balance are almost exclusively made in the defense of nations deemed to lack the capability to defend themselves. However, there are a few unique examples that can indeed be to seen to differ from this norm. If a nation is found to be harboring a capability that is deemed either unholy or dangerous in the wrong hands, the dwarves may choose to act against them. For example, golemancy, gifted unto the hands of the dwarves by Yemekar himself, is considered a very real threat in the hands of those who are not to be trusted.

Today, we may take no extraordinary effort in viewing how the pursuit of power has corrupted and torn at the very fabrics of the world. It was said that the Daemon, Khorvad, was once one amongst the Brathmordakin, represented by a will for ambition. Yet with ambition, came the everlasting desire for more. It was a thought that plagued the Ironborn ruler, Velkan, as he departed from the ways of Yemekar and instead opted to follow in Khorvad’s footsteps. So too was it a driving force behind the Holy Oren Empire and its reign of havoc upon the Princedom of Malinor. For this, Thorin Grandaxe, former Grand King of Urguan ought to be commended for his actions, even in going up against a power that for a period of its history, held the capacity to conquer much of the world. For though when the Empire fell, Thorin had within his grasp the opportunity to take both Malinor and Oren for himself, he did not give in to such temptations. If we are indeed to take one lesson from Thorin’s actions, it is that even when we are seemingly on the verge of victory, it is never in any case wise to forsake Yemekar’s will. Though greed is a natural blessing, bestowed upon dwarves by the god, Grimdugan, ambition and a thirst for power are what drives mortal beings mad. Consequently, it is by no coincidence that empire building is deemed an act of sin in the eyes of many of Urguan’s descendants.