Re: Many questionsmwkilburnMay 4 2011, 08:44:37 UTC
How long do Dwarves actually live?
Dwarves tend to be considered elderly by the age of 90. Comparatively speaking, humans are considered to be elderly by 60, as it's around that time that their bodies start to give up on them.
Has there been any word from Dwarves in the other ranges?
Since the Fall, there have been no word from Dwarves outside of Kordurren. Even within Kordurren, the only known survivors come from the city of Baradzhur.
Where there any significant physical differences between nobles and baseborn, other than being better fed and other things that come from money?
The nobles had the onset of some slight physical imperfections coming through from interbreeding, but nothing too notable. Other than that, the physiology of dwarves was and is fairly universal.
Roughly speaking, how much of the pre-Fall Dwarven population is still extant? Is that all/essentially all Baseborn? Are these basically all from Baradzhur with a few refugees?
Yes. Bare in mind that the population of Kordurren was approximately one million about the time of the Fall, with Baradzhur containing about 80,000 dwarves. Out of those 80,000, some 16,000 were considered nobility. Between the Great Supression, the Fall and other skirmishes with the Yotunaar the population of the dwarves has probably dropped to somewhere close to 50,000. If any amongst them aren't baseborn dwarves, they're sure as hell pretending to be.
Was it only nobles that left the mountains pre-fall as ambassadors etc, or would baseborn also leave? Of these, was it common for them to settle aboveground, or would they return to the mountains?
The baseborn had the capacity to leave only in that it was possible, but it simply, for most of them, wasn't practical. Merchants taking their wares to Fordhiem, Rochignac or Caer Brennan might well have taken to the city life, but there was always the concern of being unfaithful to your dwarven heritage if you lived amongst humans. The life of a merchant wasn't an easy one, either: the wilderness and less-traveled roads were severely dangerous. As such, for most part, travelling above ground remained an impracticable, unaffordable and dangerous to boot.
How welcome were humans and elves, and would they be allowed into the cities? If yes, would these be only the noble cities, or baseborn ones as well?
Humans and elves were never strictly unwelcome, but their visits were predominately either diplomatic or for the sake of trade.
Consider these cities to be almost tiered in their districts. It was literally that the higher tiers of the cities were the homes to the nobles, and so were the best lit, contained the best establishments, the prettiest art and sculpture and architecture, leading right up to the halls of the senators built into the actual peaks of the mountains with views of the ranges, so one might look at the utterly sublime landscape of the mountains from the comfort of warm and well-furnished halls.
With that in mind, these ares were generally what the humans and the elves that visited Kordurren came to see, though it was much more the former than the latter. Visiting other cultures and races in a 'holidaying' manner was something of a high-bred fashion, too, usually amongst nobles from Lanceraux and Calavria. So there was really very little want nor desire to visit the baseborn districts, just as a lord and lady wouldn't expect a visiting dwarf to spend time int he city slums.
There have been, historically, visits from the Iron Empire, but they were almost entirely ambassadorial and universally brief affairs.
Is worship of Stonehelm now more of a minority thing?
Exceedingly so, yes. Worship of Dredden Stonehelm is seen as showing sympathies to the oppression of the baseborn.
I may not be reading it carefully enough, but I get the impression that humans (and presumably elves) are a little wary and suspicious of Dwarves post-fall due to the various circumstances, but what are Dwarven attitudes to them? Same as pre-fall, useful trading partners etc?
There was at least on other question, but I can't remember it right now
How many Dwarves were at The Last Stand? Was it a case of small numbers primarily of individuals, or was there an actual small force dispatched to the surface?
This one may tie more into the religion posts, but if there's communication between Gods, has there been any word from other Gods about whether Dredden Stonehelm is still extant as a divine force?
Re: Many questionsmwkilburnMay 4 2011, 15:10:18 UTC
How many Dwarves were at The Last Stand? Was it a case of small numbers primarily of individuals, or was there an actual small force dispatched to the surface?
Very much the former. There were dwarves scattered all around the nations of the Realm (bar Norlundar, truth be told) - merchants living in the bustle of Santhiago in Ibarran, nobles enjoying the lap of luxury in Calavria, all of them oddities rather than majorities. There were militiamen and members of the clergies that fought in the Last Battle of Starkholm, too, but they were generally exceptional and unusual individuals.
This one may tie more into the religion posts, but if there's communication between Gods, has there been any word from other Gods about whether Dredden Stonehelm is still extant as a divine force?
There's isn't strictly communications between the gods, but much rather there come visions and dreams and apparitions experienced by the priesthood that are interpreted as the will of the gods. None of the gods seem to have mentioned Dredden Stonehelm to their followers, however. None of the gods have confirmed the fate of Dredden Stonehelm.
Re: Many questionsmwkilburnMay 4 2011, 14:52:52 UTC
I may not be reading it carefully enough, but I get the impression that humans (and presumably elves) are a little wary and suspicious of Dwarves post-fall due to the various circumstances, but what are Dwarven attitudes to them? Same as pre-fall, useful trading partners etc?
The dwarves, having arguably suffered the least to the Fall than any of the other races, can afford a sense of snobbishness about the other races. They look down at ideals of monarchy and nobility. They've already seen evidence of their culture prospering in light of their revolution and believe it's only a matter of time before Andermark follows suit and does away with their king and their higher echelons. Such things are, after all, luxuries that cannot be afforded in this shattered world.
Trade with Starkholm and the survivors of the Fall more than just useful, mind. With dwarven territories whittled right down and several of the passages to the underfarms and lower commons still remaining sealed due to them being overrun and damaged by Yotunaar. Relationships with Andermark remain paramount to survival. As such the dwarven perspective of other cultures (ironically enough, looking down on them) remains something of a quiet scepticism and air of superiority.
Dwarves tend to be considered elderly by the age of 90. Comparatively speaking, humans are considered to be elderly by 60, as it's around that time that their bodies start to give up on them.
Has there been any word from Dwarves in the other ranges?
Since the Fall, there have been no word from Dwarves outside of Kordurren. Even within Kordurren, the only known survivors come from the city of Baradzhur.
Where there any significant physical differences between nobles and baseborn, other than being better fed and other things that come from money?
The nobles had the onset of some slight physical imperfections coming through from interbreeding, but nothing too notable. Other than that, the physiology of dwarves was and is fairly universal.
Roughly speaking, how much of the pre-Fall Dwarven population is still extant? Is that all/essentially all Baseborn? Are these basically all from Baradzhur with a few refugees?
Yes. Bare in mind that the population of Kordurren was approximately one million about the time of the Fall, with Baradzhur containing about 80,000 dwarves. Out of those 80,000, some 16,000 were considered nobility. Between the Great Supression, the Fall and other skirmishes with the Yotunaar the population of the dwarves has probably dropped to somewhere close to 50,000. If any amongst them aren't baseborn dwarves, they're sure as hell pretending to be.
Was it only nobles that left the mountains pre-fall as ambassadors etc, or would baseborn also leave? Of these, was it common for them to settle aboveground, or would they return to the mountains?
The baseborn had the capacity to leave only in that it was possible, but it simply, for most of them, wasn't practical. Merchants taking their wares to Fordhiem, Rochignac or Caer Brennan might well have taken to the city life, but there was always the concern of being unfaithful to your dwarven heritage if you lived amongst humans. The life of a merchant wasn't an easy one, either: the wilderness and less-traveled roads were severely dangerous. As such, for most part, travelling above ground remained an impracticable, unaffordable and dangerous to boot.
How welcome were humans and elves, and would they be allowed into the cities? If yes, would these be only the noble cities, or baseborn ones as well?
Humans and elves were never strictly unwelcome, but their visits were predominately either diplomatic or for the sake of trade.
Consider these cities to be almost tiered in their districts. It was literally that the higher tiers of the cities were the homes to the nobles, and so were the best lit, contained the best establishments, the prettiest art and sculpture and architecture, leading right up to the halls of the senators built into the actual peaks of the mountains with views of the ranges, so one might look at the utterly sublime landscape of the mountains from the comfort of warm and well-furnished halls.
With that in mind, these ares were generally what the humans and the elves that visited Kordurren came to see, though it was much more the former than the latter. Visiting other cultures and races in a 'holidaying' manner was something of a high-bred fashion, too, usually amongst nobles from Lanceraux and Calavria. So there was really very little want nor desire to visit the baseborn districts, just as a lord and lady wouldn't expect a visiting dwarf to spend time int he city slums.
There have been, historically, visits from the Iron Empire, but they were almost entirely ambassadorial and universally brief affairs.
Is worship of Stonehelm now more of a minority thing?
Exceedingly so, yes. Worship of Dredden Stonehelm is seen as showing sympathies to the oppression of the baseborn.
Reply
There was at least on other question, but I can't remember it right now
Reply
How many Dwarves were at The Last Stand? Was it a case of small numbers primarily of individuals, or was there an actual small force dispatched to the surface?
This one may tie more into the religion posts, but if there's communication between Gods, has there been any word from other Gods about whether Dredden Stonehelm is still extant as a divine force?
Reply
Very much the former. There were dwarves scattered all around the nations of the Realm (bar Norlundar, truth be told) - merchants living in the bustle of Santhiago in Ibarran, nobles enjoying the lap of luxury in Calavria, all of them oddities rather than majorities. There were militiamen and members of the clergies that fought in the Last Battle of Starkholm, too, but they were generally exceptional and unusual individuals.
This one may tie more into the religion posts, but if there's communication between Gods, has there been any word from other Gods about whether Dredden Stonehelm is still extant as a divine force?
There's isn't strictly communications between the gods, but much rather there come visions and dreams and apparitions experienced by the priesthood that are interpreted as the will of the gods. None of the gods seem to have mentioned Dredden Stonehelm to their followers, however. None of the gods have confirmed the fate of Dredden Stonehelm.
Reply
The dwarves, having arguably suffered the least to the Fall than any of the other races, can afford a sense of snobbishness about the other races. They look down at ideals of monarchy and nobility. They've already seen evidence of their culture prospering in light of their revolution and believe it's only a matter of time before Andermark follows suit and does away with their king and their higher echelons. Such things are, after all, luxuries that cannot be afforded in this shattered world.
Trade with Starkholm and the survivors of the Fall more than just useful, mind. With dwarven territories whittled right down and several of the passages to the underfarms and lower commons still remaining sealed due to them being overrun and damaged by Yotunaar. Relationships with Andermark remain paramount to survival. As such the dwarven perspective of other cultures (ironically enough, looking down on them) remains something of a quiet scepticism and air of superiority.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment