Plight Of The Forest Dwarf

[Cracker 4570]

*As Hagan Dawnsworn plops himself upon a working desk, he scrawls out a hearty essay. Hoping for his dwarf-kin to learn a bit more about the elusive forest dwarf, he swiftly scribes a long essay on a dwarven oak parchment. He hangs it for many to see.*

The term “Forest Dwarf’ has often been met with raised eyebrows and hearty laughter, for to associate the elven love of foliage and nature with dwarves seems backwards and wrong. But while stereotypes plague our people, the forest dwarf is still a bloodline of kin to be acknowledged and recognized. While it is easy to associate us with the other kindred of Halflings, by the Paragons we have distinct characteristics and mythos which define us as so.

The notion of forest dwarves originated through the varying exiles of dwarves. Exiled dwarves were often cast out to the surface, banished from the stone they originated from. However, those thrown out for political or religious reasons which displeased their kings were forced to be exiled into forests, jungles and plains, where they made an honest living. A vast majority of exiles were those who received banishment for following the true faiths when it was forbidden, making many religious and pious to the true gods(though in a more shamanistic or druidic manner then proper dwarven). While over time the banishments wore off, many forest dwarf bloodlines stuck to the wilds of the surface, raised and born there, and fearful of returning to the cold stone of the cave and mountain dwarves.

Because these forest dwarves were exiled and abandoned to the wilds of Aegis, a key defining cultural aspect is the bond of the nuclear family. Family bonds are forged through their isolationism, as because of their banishment, they are often ostracized by their mountain and cavern-kin along with being viewed poorly by the haughty woodland elves, for their stature and appearance. Thus, a forest dwarf had only himself and his small family to care for and support, creating a cultural stigma of the importance of the internal family. This is in stark contrast with the traditional dwarven clan-way of viewing all the external family with equal grace, as to the forest dwarf, while he would respect, acknowledge and empower his clan, the trials of his direct kindred are priority.

Furthermore, isolation from traditional dwarven customs have brought other cultural and physical traits to the forest dwarves. While isolated peoples exiled across various continents and kingdoms, forest dwarves are often jovial and content. The warmth of elven societies and nature has fostered a more peaceful lifestyle compared to the chaotic and war-like societies of honor-bound dwarves. Thus, forest dwarves have a sense of compliance, though still are dwarves at heart with shortened tempers. The tightness of the forest-dwarf family bond also results in forest dwarves much more festive over their stone-kin. Constantly around the family, a forest-dwarf often is much more celebratory and showing about his praise for a good harvest, a good lumber operation, a good birth, and the good gods.

They are a few traits and skills forest dwarves are notorious for. The woodland skills of foresting manifest themselves in most forest dwarves. Lumbering became a natural occupation for the early exiled forest dwarves, as striking the lumber with a traditional axe was not far from mining the earth with a pickaxe. Finding a forest dwarf who does not possess proficiency in lumbering, farming, archery, fishing or survivalism is uncommon. One of the best known traits is also their skill in brewery. Due to their knowledge of dwarven ale along with the resources accumulated in the wilds, forest dwarves are often master brewers and master drinkers. They compete often with Halflings over who can brew and consume more ale, and it is rare to see a Halfling best a true forest dwarf. Furthermore, a penchant of wealth can be found in the forest dwarves. While elves and halflings would dare not operate lumber mills or meaderies due to it "violating" their beliefs, a forest dwarf would see no qualm as long as the destruction caused by the properties was counterbalanced by restoration or piety.

Differences between traditional and forest dwarves can be noticeable just upon a glance. Forest dwarves are almost always taller due to some mixed blood or simply exposure to nature over damp caverns. Often with a brazen look due to time spent in the forests, they still grow their beards out to signify a pride in their dwarven ways, but may adopt some elven mannerisms. Furthermore, many forest dwarves are magically attuned compared to their stone peers, most often from mixing of bloods or exposure to magic on the surface. Clashes between the two often occur in regards to surface settlements and religion, where forest dwarves may be ridiculed for the actions of their great-great grandparents and their exile, or for a forest dwarves eagerness to work with wood over stone, or wheat over mushroom.

Nonetheless, dwarves will remain dwarves, and the forest dwarves still possess the honor, valor, temper, greed and love of ale as all dwarves. Some consider them the more aggressive Halflings, being tightly knit communities of educated rural-kin who work hard to earn coin and preserve their family bond. But no matter the forest in our name, we are still dwarves, and we are still the sons of Uruguan. Treat us as so.

*Hagan smiles, hoping later to show Hildr and compile his experience as a forest dwarf with her knowledge of the olden ways for cross-reference*

( A non-canon IC lore essay about forest dwarves. If you guys like, we can utilize it, otherwise take it with a grain of salt. To those who don't know, I'm going to be RPing as Hagan Dawnsworn, Hildr's husband who is a forest dwarf. She will be busy studying runes and dig-sites, while Hagan manage the Dawnsworn estates, politics and possibly warfare. BTW, Hildr is not a forest dwarf, she is just a formerly exiled cave dwarf, while Hagan is a forest dwarf. )

[Supertimmy4ever 19]

((arent the mountain dwarves the lumber jacks? but a good story, finally somebody is doing something for the forest dwarves))

[Charles_Grimlie 1072]

(( Forest dwarves aren't exiles, they are dwarves who travelled to laurelin during the mine drought back in the golden age, during that time dwarves began to live with the elves before traveling back to Kal Urguan to desposit the ores, this caused the dwarves to begin living above ground as the drought lasted for a very long time before destroying the city itself to replace the area with new ores. ))

[no longer active 734]

Lad, ye comment about de exiles brings me to t'ink about somet'ing. Old kings 'ave exiled ot'er Dwarves and dey still t'ink dey be exiled. Ah say we issue a proclamation saying all old crimes be forgiven and dey shud come back.

[Cracker 4570]

(( Forest dwarves aren't exiles, they are dwarves who travelled to laurelin during the mine drought back in the golden age, during that time dwarves began to live with the elves before traveling back to Kal Urguan to desposit the ores, this caused the dwarves to begin living above ground as the drought lasted for a very long time before destroying the city itself to replace the area with new ores. ))

(( I wouldn't see how migrant workers who left due to drought would create a totally new, genetic-wise subrace, especially if it was so recent as a few elven months ago..

Could be like a newer generation of forest dwarves, the non-exiles. ))

((arent the mountain dwarves the lumber jacks? but a good story, finally somebody is doing something for the forest dwarves))

(Based on the LotC skill system on the wiki, forest dwarves are better lumberjacks ...though i think mountain dwarves are the best fighters))

[Supertimmy4ever 19]

(Based on the LotC skill system on the wiki, forest dwarves are better lumberjacks ...though i think mountain dwarves are the best fighters))

Oh yeah i forgot[]

[Boomack21 124]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.