Re: FR - dwarves in the realms: the thunderchild b

[Iron Bonny Shades]

I posted this in wizards and on planet adnd, but it seems like a good post to "break the ice" (and more imporantly get my post count up)



The Forgotten Realms' Dwarves are presently going through the equivelent of a baby boom right now.

My questions are as follows:

1. In our own culture, when we had a bloat of people of a particular generation went through, there was a break down of law and order, as new ideas were attempted, concepts were created.

Is a similar thing happening with the dwarves (particularly because many of the great kingdoms of the dwarves were broken down in the centuries before).

2. How will magic effect Dwarf culture. Now that they have access to magic, could they setup their own Dwarvern magical academies by bringing in wizards from other culture (kinda like what the japanese did during the Meji Restoration). If so, which experts would be called in to these magical academies. With the dwarvern dedication and work ethic, there might be some dwarvern wizards of note, pretty quick.

how long will it take before the dwarvern equivelent of a blackstaff or eliminister (or alustriel or lareal for that matter) appears in the realms?

3. I know most females dwarves in the realms have beards, but quite frankly, I find it kinda grosse.
Could an affect of the boomer generation is as more and more dwarves appear on the surface levels, could they have more appearing with the recessive trait of "nude face".

[Wyrmfire]

1)I think the use of magic certainly qualifies. Aside from that, the dwarve's inherently lawful natures will probably keep things like that to a minimum. One possibility is something of a generation gap, though, as the older dwarves notice how weird the newer generation is... There will also probably be an influx of dwarven adventurers as more and more realize that they're not getting a share of the inheritance.

2)Dwarves being the stodgy personalities that they are, they will probably avoid building academies for a while. Later on, who knows, but for now, the dwarven mages will have to go study somewhere else unless they can find a good study group

It will take even longer for a dwarven elminster to pop up. It should be noted that the magical greats are all many centuries old indeed, so if nothing else, they need a few millenia to ripen.

3)Most dwarven chick shave. ;D

[Iron Bonny Shades]

what would be a good name for a dwarvern arcane order?

[Iron Bonny Shades]

here's the debate bb and myself have a while back

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On 2002-07-13 01:22, Blackbranch wrote:
interesting.
i'd say they would ask humans or gnomes in to help them establish some schools of magic, and as tutors.
and i think it will take a while before a dwarf rises to the power of a Blackstaff or Alustriel. maybe a hundred years or so.
question 3(i'm jumping around) sure, it could happen. look at what happened in america during the 60's-70's. i guess this could also answer question 1 too.
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shades of eternity
Peasant


Joined: Jul 13, 2002
Posts: 12 Posted: 2002-07-14 14:14

I think they're will be change, but I don't think it will be the same breakdown of society that happened in the 60's or 70's.

More like the changes occuring in Japan since the meltdown (at the same time experiencing a mini-baby boom.

My reasoning behind this is as follows.

1. Dwarves by their very nature are lawful, and while change will occur, they are more likely to work through legitimate channels.

2. Because Dwarves families are extended rather then nuclear, and they have a longer lifespan overall, they'll have strong pressure to conform. Not only will ma and pa chastise the young dwarf wizard, but also grandpa, grandma, great grandma/grandpa, great great grandma/grandpa, and the aunts and uncles of each generation, to say nothing of the cousins.

Then again, the cousins could also be insisting on various changes within society, making things extremely interesting.

3. not really a point, but more of an ideas of its affect on dwarvern society to show how cultural change has already happened within dwarvern society.

I would like to bring up the subject of Dwarvern women.

At one time in the realms, Dwarvern woman had comparatively few rights. They were respected, but were stuck in servitude role, expected to act as mothers and wives, but little more.

As the clans declined, female dwarves "took advantage of failing Clan power to achieve equality with their malefolk." (Dwarves Deep page 6).

This both shows that Dwarvern culture changes over time and that dwarvern stereotypes can change within dwarvern culture, especially if their is a desire.

In fact, because of their own changing nature, I would argue that Dwarvern women would be more likely to explore the mystic arts, especially since Dwarvern Males dominate the Clergy.

It would definately have an effect on the study of magic.


Black Robed One
Lord




Joined: Jun 03, 2003
Posts: 814
From: Nine Hells of Baator
Posted: 2003-06-03 11:39

I will try to answer some of your questions:

1. Thunder Blessing (that's how I believe it is called) isn't natural part of cycle of dwarven culture, buth rather specific blessing bestowed upon most of the dwarven races by Moradin. Some dwarven races (for example, Duergars and Derro were denied Thunger Blessing, and because of it would very like to die our in another thousand or so years.

2. When dwarven races will grow in number, they will found new cities. It is very possible, that in another thousand or so years dwarves will even move against their ancient enemies - Drow and continue to built their cities not only on surface or in the mountain caves, but also in the Underdark.
However, it is very unlikely, that dwarves will turn to acane studies. While some dwarves (mostly gold dwarves) indeed became an acomplished wizards, non of them is real rival to human or elven wizards, and it will most likely to remain so.

3. I find it quite possible, that increase of dwarven population could cause major biological changes, and among them 'nude face' as you called it for dwarven females.
By the way, if you don't know it already, while most dwarven females wear their beards proudly while among others dwarves, most dwarven females are know for shaving their beards while adventuring, especially if they are adventuring among non-dwarves.

I hope, that my answers will help you, at last a bit.