To conclude this week's Lore Discussion, we will talk about the Values & Beliefs of the Dwarf race.
Do they value only the gems and shiny stones? Maybe value their honor? Do you think they believe in gods? Or believe only in the mountain and what it provides?
Let's see how you would shape the Values & Beliefs of the Dwarves.
As I've said, I would like Dwarves to be most different as possible than humans.
So...
Beards as a visual sign of experience, hair for womans, the longer, the experienced the dwarf should be, of course this isn't true all the time.
Quantity of braids as a sign of skills learned, thickness of braids as a sign of the grade of mastery in that skill. They use some hair-rings engraved with the names of the skill on it.
Dwarves shave the beards/hairs of criminals, exiled ones, and unwanted foreigners. It's a sign of shame.
Also if someone captures a Dwarf and shaves his beard/her hair , it's almost a declaration of war for that family, group, town or kingdom, a sign of hostility. Also used by the Dwarves to warn foreigners.
If you are a man, they will shave your facial hair (including eyebrows, in case you don't have beard), if you are a woman, they will shave your hair.
Dwarves also value the hard work, even if you aren't good at something, they value the effort and the hard work, because if you fail you will get experience, and experience is the only thing that Dwarves value most than ores.
Dwarves are hard workers and they know they are good at it, so they always ask high prices for their services. In the past, this has led to other races (including humans) enslaving some Dwarves to work for them, that's why they have become so distrustful beings.
Dwarves doesn't believe in gifts, they believe you always should want something in return, and that's something good for them.
Asking a Dwarf's, or someone's help without showing first what are you offering, is seen as bad manners. The best "gifts" to trade with a Dwarf is gold of course, like other races, but they value experience, hard work, knowledge and new or rare reagents.
I think it might be possible to create some tension between Dwarves and Humans. Dwarves can see and use "The Light" as mere source of technology, using it in to forge and imbue weapons, what Humans don't like, but they showed them "The Light".
I would like to include that maybe Humans should try/should have tried to make all the races of the alliance to venerate "The Old Gods", to create some good stories pre "Sacred Order".
Dwarves can have their "Heroes" instead of gods, another Dwarves that did greatest things thanks to their obsession, crafters, explorers, warriors, builders, etc, and they can have an strong link with them, with their ancestors.
Being so traditionalist they refuse to venerate Gods, they value experience, remember? So they look for advice with the spirits of their dead ancestors.
They believe that "Gods" that doesn't live in the real world, that don't work or fight for living each day, have nothing to contribute them, they don't have experience in crafting, or exploring, so they are useless for them.
Dwarves see all magic as a source of technology or a new material or component that can be manipulated into something new, nothing more, and maybe is that way of thinking that makes easy for them to learn any kind of magic.
Or maybe is the fact that they come from the heart of a magic mountain, or the fact that they have spent generations close to magic objects and manipulating magic reagents, who knows?
One thing is certain, they have ability for magic, but their lack of "faith" doesn't allow them to use magic at full potential, like other races.
Hope you got my point, would like to know your opinion š¤
Greetings
The beliefs of the Dwarves could be centered on respect for the Ancestors (whether illustrious relatives already deceased or gods in which the Dwarves create), a strong union between the members of their family, the clan or fortress in which they live, respect for the principles of every respectable Dwarf (Honor, craftsmanship and wealth) and, love for a job well done (especially in stone and metal).
See you