The Tablets of the Teachings of Paragon Bjor Cottonwood

[mateolog 1623]

 

[!] In the libraries of Hefrumm one would be able to find wooden tablets bearing the title “Teachings of Paragon Bjor”under the sigil of the High Chiefs of Hefrumm it is but a copy but the care and art in each tablet is clearly visible, each carved in a unique way showing reverence for Paragon Bjor Cottonwood. The letters would be carved in simple runic text for any dwarf to be able to read as opposed to the cryptic seer runes usually used for forest dwarves’ religious texts. Showing that despite this text being of forest dwarf origin it was open to all chosen peoples of Yemekar. Each chapter would be decorated with tiger eye gems.

 

 

 

The Teachings of Paragon Bjor Cottonwood

Preface: 

The Life of the Paragon Bjor Cottonwood

According to the age of Bjor when he was made know to the dwarves Bjor was a dwarf born in the year 1498 FA. Some believe this means he was a dwarf born in Vailor. However, the only memories Bjor had when he was made known to the dwarves was the forests, making some believe that he was the last remnants of the original forest dwarves of Atlas. The truth however is lost to time.

 

Bjor is the first Paragon of the forest dwarves, recognised by both the dwarves of the capital of Urguan and the Tribal Confederation of Hefrumm. Bjor represents unity, kinship, and respect for nature.

 

 Bjor Cottonwood was the founder of Hefrumm, ending the eternal exile of the forest dwarves s since Gloin Treebeard. Additionally, he was a key player in the Confederation of Hammers and by proxy the process of the restoration of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. Thanks to the work of Bjor Cottonwood the dwarven race was truly united for the first time since the time of Urguan Silverbeard.

I

 

“Eerika* [1] ruled in the image Bjor had for Hefrumm, focussing on the communal bond of kin.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

 

The virtue of Forest Dwarf Collectivism

 

The so called Curse of Greed represents it self as collective greed in the forest dwarves. This blessing has allowed the forest dwarves to survive the blood age as scattered collectivist clans, and has allowed Hefrumm to survive AND to thrive during the reigns of the High Chiefs. This Collective Greed is the highest of Forest Dwarf virtues, a virtue that should be exemplified by all forest dwarves.

 

*[1] Eerika was the third High Chief of Hefrumm and wife of Paragon Bjor Cottonwood.

 

II

 

“Though the idea and vision was created many years prior, it was with the formation of the crown that Bjor founded Hefrumm with that very name, a unity of forest dwarves so that no more their kin would be looked down upon, would need to live in solitude or turn to other races for residence.” 

 - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

Protection of Forest Dwarf Culture and Forest Dwarf Unity 

 

Paragon Bjor ruled and lived most of his life during the times that the mountain dwarf and cave dwarf call “The Unstable years”* [2], in this time the cave dwarves and the mountain dwarves experienced the same fate that the forest dwarves had experienced since the times of Gloin, being without a home, forcing them to create settlements where they could or join a Kingdom that for the most part was antagonistic towards them*[3].

 

“They take care of each other and share their land with their kin, for that is how Bjor had envisioned it.” - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

*[2] The period of the Unstable Years constitutes the time from the slaughter of the senate in 1612 FA by the Frostbeards to the Fall of Kaz’Ulrah in 1692 FA.

*[3] Kaz’Ulrah was a Kingdom formed through the destruction of Urguan by the Frostbeards in 1636 and led by them.

 

III

 

“The forest dwarves live off the fat of the land that Anbella has blessed them with, be it through farming or the art of the hunt” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

Anbella’s Balance

 

Paragon Bjor taught to live in accordance with Anbella. For the Forest Dwarves, this concept extends to their way of life, from sustainable farming and hunting practices to a deep spiritual connection with the land. This balance also applies to the internal community and the resolution of conflicts through diplomacy and peace rather than violence, reflecting a more harmonious and mindful approach to life.

 

  IV

 

“He was the current Chief of the Cottonwood clan, though this was an empty title, for he had seen little of his kin in general for many years. The thought of his kin feeling the same solitude as himself would rush through his troubled mind as he would stand up convinced it was time for a new age for his forest dwarf kin.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Duty of forest dwarves to welcome those that are lost

 

Paragon Bjor’s pity towards those that roamed was what led him to create Hefrumm. It was knowing what it was like to be lost and alone that led him to welcome cave dwarves, mountian dwarves, and his lost forest dwarf kin into the lands of the Confederation of Hammers. Welcoming the outcastes is a tradition that predates Paragon Bjor, but one that he embodied with his heart and soul. If it were not for this tradition the forest dwarves would not have evolved the way we did. Additionally, it pleases Belka the Brathmordakin of travelers to welcome both the traveler and the lost wanderer. If we are to praise Paragon Bjor and the Brathmordakin Belka, it is important to be kind and welcoming to the folk of the road.

 

“over the years of the stubborn minded forest dwarf carrying on, he did find more and more of his kin, as lost as he once was without his current quest. The dwarf offered his kin his bulky palm and a warm home for them to rest and live among their own kin.” - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

V

 

“Fair elections were called under the eye of Anbella, in which Bjor naturally participated, running against Entfar Oakhand and with the vaste majority Bjor was crowned first High Chief of the forest dwarves.” - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Will of Anbella being the Democratic will of the Forest Dwarves

 

In the same way that the will of Yemekar is represented in the democratic will of all the dwarves by the fact that the dwarves are the chosen descendants to keep his balance, so too are the Forest Dwarves the chosen to keep Anbella’s Balance. The Forest dwarves are the chosen wardens of Anbella’s domains, it is Anbella’s will that crowned Bjor as High Chief of the forest dwarves. Anbella’s choice of High Chief can ever only be known through a democratic decision of the forest dwarves. For this reason even when the forest dwarves and Hefrumm are to welcome all it does not mean that all are wardens of Anbella’s domains. Because of this a forest dwarf should be mindful of granting control over Anbella’s domains to a non-forest dwarf that can cause harm to her balance and in the process damage Yemekar’s Balance. 

 

VI

 

“They refused to follow Bjor back to the founding lands of Cotton as Bjor had reformed the Cottonwood alliance with the Confederation of Hammers. Determined Thelnir stood his ground upon the matter setting up a small outpost within Garrond's Vale in the lands of Kaz'Ulrah where he and his followers stayed with him. Disappointment struck Bjor, not because they did not want to live under his leadership, but because only a year later these dwarves would scatter once again, for unknown reasons.”

 - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

Hefrumm as the end of the Eternal Exile

 

The life of Paragon Bjor and the knowledge forest dwarves have of our history indicate a clear teaching, that Hefrumm was and is the key to then end of Gloin’s exile. Gloin’s Exile has plagued the Forest Dwarves for millenia and it is only the creation of Hefrumm that started to end this era of darkness. It is a historical fact that all other groups or settlements created outside of Hefrumm by other forest dwarves always failed in less than two years (two irl weeks). Hefrumm was made by Anbella for the Forest Dwarves to be able to grow and thrive, a gift to end the Eternal Exile, and the keys to this gift were given to Paragon Bjor to open it for all Forest Dwarves.

 

“Even after Bjor’s ruling these dwarves, referred to as ‘lost ones’, found their ways to Hefrumm through forest and river.”  - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

“During these times Bjor turned to the Hearth Mother for guidance, and this call is rumored to be answered. With a new-found booming growth of Hefrumm, more and more of his lost kin would hear of the name, set foot on their own travels to the Cottonwood valley. One of these individuals would be the great Mossbeard, a druid of unknown age who, with his druidic magic, formed the legendary crown of Hefrumm, which to this day is still being passed from High Chief to High Chief. It is rumored to have some magical properties as the bright green feather on the crown would shimmer slightly under the darkness of the night.”  - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

“Hiding from the hate of the blood age. The depths of the forest provide us safety and comfort, though just as well they may hide us from our kin… and from the dangers of the realm we inhabit. Now, the blood age is over, and all dwed must find strength in each other. It is for these reasons that centuries ago the Paragon Bjor Cottonwood chose to answer Anbella’s call.” - Excerp from High Chief Tuzic the Ember’s call to the Forest dwarves.

 

 

VII

“Bjor was left solely with the name, the land and the old tales told by the mountain dwarves of Azgaryum*[4] ” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

*[4] Azgaryum was the Capital of the mountain dwarves of the Confederation of Hammers.

*[4] Azgarym before becoming the capital of the Kingdom of Agnarumm was composed of Hammerforged, Silverveins, Metalfists, Steelhearts, Stormfists, and Emberveins. All these clans being branches of the Frostbeard and Grandaxe clans. The former which was raiding (and building forts around) the confederation on a constant basis, and the later which later joined the Confederation of Hammers to create the Kingdom of Agnarumm, the predecessor Kingdom to the Underrealm of Urguan.

 

Ties of Frieship

 

Throughout his life Paragon Bjor embraced the dwed fellowship between his forest dwarves and the mountain and cave dwarves of the Confederation of Hammers. This resulted in Hefrumm having a debt of Friendship towards the Clans of the Confederation of Hammers and their values of Friendship among all dwarvenkind. If it were not for the bonds of friendship that tied forest dwarves together to other dwarves, Hefrumm would of been crushed by Kaz’Ulrah long ago. Paragon Bjor teaching the watering of friendships as if they were the most valuable of crops.

 

 

VIII

“Though at the time no warriors, the forest dwarves of Bjor stood their ground worthily of stubborn dwarves yet with the element of surprise the beasts were able to overrun the village. The forest kin were called to pull back into the forest. There they set camp and helped the wounded.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Hefrumm Virtue of Fighting Against the odds 

 

Paragon Bjor led Hefrumm like the Confederation of Hammers led itself. With virtue of perseverance. While other forest dwarf settlements gave up and turned back to their nomadic ways Bjor led Hefrumm with stubbornness to protect what was theirs. He would order a retreat when needed but would never give up a fight, until the very end Bjor preferred death to faultering on his values.

 

 

IX

 

“Being a dwarf of ale and feast he did not prepare his warriors for such threats. This shortcoming of the High Chief is believed to later have resulted in the formation of the Thorns of Hefrumm.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Need for Hefrumm to be able to Defend itself

 

As a mortal dwed Paragon Bjor had faults and fell to shortsightedness at times. This was by his own admission, which allowed him to expand and learn more through the years. One of the things Bjor learned was the need for Hefrumm to be ready to fight. Years of attacks by the Frostbeards, and then the sudden invasion of Hefrumm by the Alars made it evident that the forest dwarves if they wished to have a community would have to take up arms to be able to defend what, by the grace of Anbella, was theirs.

 

 

X

 

“During the golden age of Bjor, the forest dwarves gathered in unseen numbers, forming their own military force, medical institute, market, and library.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Establishment of Autonomous institutions as a symbol of prosperity

 

Paragon Bjor was very proud of seeing Hefrumm grow and become self reliant. He saw the ability of the village to run itself as a sign of the health of the village.

 

XI

 

“Horns were blown and it was then that the mountain and cave dwarves of Agnarumm answered Hefrumm’s call, charging the battlefield.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

The Virtue of Dwarven Unity

 

Despite living in a time when dwed were often killed by other dwed Paragon Bjor did not give up on the idea of dwed unity. To him this did not mean being subjugated to another group of dwarves or being part of one nation or the other. It meant simply that a dwarf is to answer the call to aid of another no matter what. This is a Pillar of Hefrumm borrowed from the Confederation of Hammers, and a break from the ancient traditional way of the first dwed of leaving those that exiled them to fend for themselves.

 

XII

 

“When the dwarves stormed out of the tunnels they had realized that Entfar Oakhand hadn’t made it. Distracted by the heinous sight he had been slowed down and captured by the foul creatures, who had taken him to present to their queen. Bjor immediately called for a rescue mission, which would be the cause of his mournful fate.” 

- excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Collective does not leave anyone behind

 

Paragon Bjor lived a life in accordance with the forest dwarf way. If it were not for the collective nature of the forest dwarves we would not have survived the Eternal Exile. This collective nature is nurtured through the caring of any forest dwarf as if they were ourselves, or even more than that. Risking one’s life to save another forest dwarf is the noblest thing a member of this subrace can do.

 

XIII

 

“He broke the silence, ‘Narvak oz Urguan… Narvak oz Hefrumm”. The High Chief stood at the roots of their holy tree of ancestors, with his kin crying at his feet, he looked both over his land and kin with a warming and ever proud grin curling under his mustache.” - excerpt from The Unity of the Forest Dwarves.

 

The Last Words of Paragon Bjor Cottonwood

 

Paragon Bjor was not raised in the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. It was an entity that was completely demolished. None the less, in his later years the Grand Kingdom was recreated and so were its institutions while keeping the Spirit of the Confederation of Hammers alive within them. To Paragon Bjor Urguan meant what it meant to the Confederation of Hammers, an institution that welcomed all dwarves as family. Urguan was to the dwarves what Hefrumm was to the forest dwarves. Urguan was the father of all dwarves and all dwarves should be welcomed in its embrace. And it is this caring and fatherly Urguan that Paragon Bjor glorified in his last worlds. “Long live Urguna, Long Live Hefrumm” These last words signal the essential relationship from Hefrumm to be Hefrumm, and for Urguan to be Urguan. For Urguan to truly live up to the name of the father of all dwarves it needs to be welcoming of the forest dwarves and their ways, and for that it needs Hefrumm, meanwhile Hefrumm exists to be the community of the forest dwarves and is thanks to building bonds to other dwarves that Hefrumm was able to exist and develop. As long as Hefrumm exists Urguan will exist.

 

 

XIV

 

“Mossbeard opened Bjor’s eyes for the young Cottonwood was constantly looking to the destination of his travels and the ambitious goals that drove him, that he had forgotten to give an eye to the very path he was walking on and the beauty of Anbella’s creations around it.” 

- Excerp from Beorn Cottonwood’s Bjor’s Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid.

 

The Sin of Individual Ambition

 

Despite being the closest thing to it, dwarves are not perfect. Ambition, Khorvad’s main source of power over the dwarves, linguers in the hearts of all dwarves. The forest dwarves are able to over come this trap of corvad by relying in their collectivism that brings them closer to the Brathmordakin, but even then the individual ambition of dwarves in such collective can harm the whole. Sometimes it is necessary to ground oneself to avoid Khorvad’s ambition from taking you away into sinful behaviour.

 

 

XV

“Thick clouds of mushroom spores filled this tunnel causing those who’d enter the grove to often hallucinate, adding to Mossbeard’s mystic appearance and tales.” 

 - Excerp from Beorn Cottonwood’s Bjor’s Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid.

 

The use of psychedelics to open one’s self to the wisdom of the Brathmordakin

 

Paragon Bjor was an active practitioner in traditional forest dwarf rituals using psychedelics. A forest dwarf should never shy away from such substances if they seek to understand the world around them, and seek deeper truths.

 

“Being one of the first to stay with Bjor’s cause, Bjor often approached Mossbeard for his wisdom and lessons though they were always hidden in his madness and tales.” - Excerp from Beorn Cottonwood’s Bjor’s Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid.

 

XVI

“Eventually, he is handed a wooden Crown and made King of the Forest Dwarves, under this image with the name 'Bjor' would be carved.” 

- Excerp from Beorn Cottonwood’s Bjor’s Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid.

 

The Duty of the High Chief to live by Bjor’s Example.

 

When the Crown of Hefrumm was given to Bjor it was given to him bearing his name. Bjor knew he was going to be the First in a line of many and that he had to be the best example possible of a High Chief. In this way it is the duty of all High Chiefs to live up to Bjor’s example and try to be better in any way possible.

 

 

XVII

 

“They sat there for days until Bjor saw the will of Anbella through the eyes of the creature. Blessed Bjor left and taught the farmers how to grow their crops without angering the hearth mother.” 

- Excerp from the The Legend of Bjor and the Great Boar of Atlas.

 

Anbella’s Virtue of mercy and conflict resolution

 

Paragon Bjor was wellknown as a dwarf with very few enemies, this was thanks to his great skills in conflict resolution and his stalwart personality. Anbella’s balance is not a zero sum game, and mercy can be an action that brings rewards down the line. Mercy towards your enemies is forgiveness, mercy towards the weak is assistance, both bring their own fruit in time.

 

The best leaders are those that do not have a need to take up arms against other beings, those leaders that can lead a thriving community through diplomacy and bonds of friendship and love.

 

 

XVIII

 

“Paragon Bjor is a symbol of oness with nature and the descendants. Do not let yourself be swallowed by the moment and let the surroundings feel your soul. Only then will you be able to truly see the world that has been gifted to you.”  

- Excerp from the The Legend of Bjor and the Great Boar of Atlas.

 

The Forest Dwarf Virtue of Serenity and Mindfulness

 

Paragon Bjor’s message emphasizes a deep connection with nature, a calm and centered presence, and an awareness of one's surroundings without being overwhelmed by the moment. This reflects the virtue of serenity, where one maintains inner peace and clarity amidst external circumstances, and mindfulness, where there is an intentional, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment.

 

It is of importance to not be consumed by fleeting emotions or distractions, but instead being fully present, allowing the surroundings to resonate with one's soul. This ability to perceive the world clearly and appreciate its gifts requires a calm, focused state of being, reflecting both serenity and mindfulness.