Dwarves

Overview of the dwarven clans. The original dwarves and the general article about them is the entry of the Stonekin.    

• Stonekin(Bjarghjarta / Mountain Heart)
• Claykin(Bjarghjarta / Mountain Heart)
• Goldkin (Bjarghjarta / Mountain Heart)
• Silverkin (Járnskjaldur)
• Copperkin (Eirskjöldr)
• Rubykin(Bjarghjarta / Mountain Heart)
• Ironkin (Járnskjaldur)
• Pebblekin(Járnskjaldur)
• Jasperkin (Járnskjaldur)
• Amberkin
• Onyxkin
• Magmakin
• Unknown Kin

      The Exchange of Metal is a time-honoured tradition in the dwarven clans and even after some dwarves splintered from the Stonekin clan, the Exchange of Metal stayed. Because it is pure, honourable and sheds a bit of light on the upcoming marriage.   Exchange of Metal has two, sometimes three meanings: the exchange of the rings, the exchange of the dorwy or - in some more war-driven marriages - the exchange of swords/axes.   The execution is really simple. Both Dwarves who are getting married are locked up in a smithy to smith their rings in their own design with their metal of choice. If it is a war-driven marriage, they smith a weapon for each other too.   Both Dwarves have to value their spouse in terms of design and metal. Am I doing a fancy, but not practical ring? Do I value her/him or the marriage high, low or more in the middle? Am I crafting a ring which represents his/her character?   Those are the questions the soon-to-be spouses have to consider. They gather their materials and start to work. They have three days - very traditional - until the rings have to be complete. When they have to create a weapon on top of it, the period is extended to seven days, also very traditional.   They get enough food for two Dwarves and seven days and are locked up. What they are doing in between smithing sessions is up to them. They can sleep with each other, talk or just do nothing (which is mostly the case for political weddings).   After their periods of time they have to openly present to the family leaders their rings and/or weapons. Depending on material, usage and skill the marriage is under a good stone. Or not. But they are getting married, the exchange is done when rings/weapons switch their owners.           The burial rites of the dwarven clans remained the same, even after dwarves founded other clans and splitted from the Stonekin.     Every being has to die, even a dwarf. And so be it in battle, on their bed, during a storm or bodily activities, the death of a dwarf is everytime a remarkable occurence. Not because they don't die, but because of the festivities after the burial. The rememberance of a dwarf, so to say.     Depending on the circumstances of a dwarfs death the preparations are executed differently. But before the execution comes the preparations.   The dwarf is cleaned, groomed and stitched if he has any open wounds. Some got make-up if they had some markings on face and body. They are drained of blood, their entrails are flushed and removed from all the filth. They recieve cremes to let the skin appear fresh and healthy. Hair and beard gets a fresh cut and oil to let it shine and look healthy.     A dwarf could die of age, so he is getting cleaned and wrapped in his best clothes. Dies a dwarf under difficult circumstances like being caught in an affair, buried under some rubble because of a collapsing building or some nasty people on the road, he is also getting cleaned and stitched together, before getting dressed in the clothes he wore. And if the dwarf dies in battle, he is getting buried with his weapon or a replica of it (depending on the families will. An heirloom is not to burn!).   On the day of the burial there will be a feast to honour the dead dwarf. Depending on his or his families wealth he will sit on a throne, a chair, a box or just stairs. The dead dwarf is sitting at the head of the table - if there is one - with the best clothes and jewelery. The festivity starts with a speech by the oldest dwarf of the family, followed by the loved ones, mostly starting with the partner to the children. They are telling the greatest memories of the deceased or the ones they hold dear the most to remember the dwarf as he would still be there.   After the last speech the oldest dwarf starts with a toast to the dead dwarf and opens the feast. Normally even the poorer families do what they can to fill the glasses and plates of the attendees. They feast and sing; they eat and drink; they swear, laugh and cry; there are stories to tell and toasts to say. All to honour the dead dwarf. Even in royality/nobility it is this way and there is no shame in that.   After the feast, when everyone is giggly, drunk, sad or in the right mood, the dead dwarf is being placed on a bonfire which is getting lid. Everyone watches the fire rise and burn the dwarf until nothing is left.   After that it is common to gather the ashes, give a tooth to the Graveyard Fairies and bring it to a potter or a smith who can make a figurine based on some image or memory of the deceased dwarf. The figurine is placed on an altar in the home of the family or on public display when there is no home. Just like a graveyard.       Depending on their surroundings and circumstances the figurine is displayed in the home of the family or in the public tomb of the clan. Right under the figurine the family crest is displayed and beneath that a small list of the deceased accomplishments and/or titles.   There are two exceptions to the rule, of course. For one the Magmakin. They burn their dead and nurish their fields with the ash of the dead. And on the other side the Copperkin. They burn their dead as well, but they put the ashes in colourful urnes with the story of the deceased painted onto the surface.