Dwarven Hair Clasps
History
While the fasteners are as old as the dwarves themselves, some of the cultural practices are more recent. For example, wearing simple iron fasteners to funerals. There is a story passed down that goes along with the beginning of this practice and it is as follows:
Long ago, when the dwarves still lived under one banner, there was a young dwarf who lived poorly. They had little to their name but took every job with passion and enthusiasm. While doing a stint for a noble family as a stablehand, they befriended the daughter of the nobles. Many days were spent playfully conversing while grooming the steeds and ensuring the highest quality of care. Even after the young dwarf moved onto the next job, the two still kept in touch via letters. Unfortunately, the young dwarf would eventually pass away from starvation, unable to make enough. The whole city mourned the loss as they were well known and well loved. None had realized just how dire their situation was as they often went about with a smile on their face and always ready to lend a hand no matter the cost to themself. In this is another lesson to not take anything for granted and to always lift up your fellow dwarf, but the story continues on. The daughter of a noble family the young dwarf had befriended learned of the funeral being held for them. The day of the funeral she dressed in her finest clothes, her hair adorned with the finest fasteners. Alas, she was young, out of touch, and did not know better, even her family didn't know she intended to attend the funeral though they did send flowers. When she arrived at the funeral, those in attendance were horrified to see someone dressed in such finery when the deceased had died from having so little.
Though the young noble lady would be forgiven for her tasteless decision, her tactless decision would inspire a new cultural norm for funerals. All in attendance would wear simple iron fasteners, and dark simple clothing. No matter one's station or cause of death, the new norm would ensure respect for the deceased going forward.
Significance
The hair clasps of dwarves serve to indicate their gender. Thicker fasteners are associated with male presentation, while thinner fasteners are associated with feminine fasteners. For dwarves that don't identify masculinely or femininely, hair may be unbraided or fastened with cloth strips matching their hair color. These may be changed as much or as little as the dwarf in question desires. Other dwarves will refer to someone according to the last fasteners they were seen wearing.
Item type
Clothing / Accessory
Related ethnicities
Rarity
Dwarven hair claps themselves are quite common, however what they are made out of has far more variability to them. The most common hair clasps one will see are made of a few different materials including but not limited to iron/brass, wood, cloth, and shell. Additionally, the ornateness of the clasps varies according to rank and occasion. Many dwarves will own at least one set of ornate fasteners for special occasions but commonfolk will wear very plain and simple hair fasteners on a day-to-day basis. Dwarves that hold noble titles will have more ornate daily clasps and the more intricate they are the higher their rank can be assumed to be.
Weight
Variable
Dimensions
Variable
Base Price
Variable
Raw materials & Components
Possible Materials
- Wood
- Iron
- Copper
- Silver
- Gold
- Shell
- Cloth
Tools
Possible tools
- Whittler's tools
- Blacksmith's tools
- Knife
- Shears
- Dye kit
Comments