Düergun

The Düergun (DOOWR-gun) people are a dwarvish race of humans somewhat similar to the Kainen, but shorter and more stocky in build. They are a strong, hardy folk, generally known for their stoic personalities and solid work ethic. The Düergun can be stubborn and gruff, but they are respected for their loyalty and dedication. They are known for remaining committed to the completion of a task, once they have set their mind to it. The Düergun people are highly advanced in the sciences of engineering, mining, and metallurgy. Their underground citadels, carved into the very heart of the mountains, demonstrate an architectural skill unsurpassed by any surface-dwelling race. Düerguns are also known for their talent in weapon-making and armory. They work in the finest materials with expert craftsmanship. An ordinary Düergun foot-soldier is often better armed and equipped than officers in the armies of other cultures. Düerguns use the Rünaic form of ether exclusively, though it is considered a rare and guarded skill among them. Those who serve as Gravers (sacred rune-carvers) command the respect of nobles and peasants alike.
Düerguns live in mountainous regions. In ancient days, the great flying drakes known as 'Shakatseraph' lived in the same region of Nøerdewessa. For protection, the Düergun came to build their habitations below ground, gathering together in strongholds known as 'huluds'. They adapted to this life underground. The instinctive Düergun Geopathy is highly developed, giving them a natural sense for geological conditions. They can tell whether a given passage is ascending or descending, and can estimate their relative depth underground. In addition to other underground skills, Düerguns have the unique ability to feel vibrations in natural or constructed stonework. This not only gives them a sensation for minor tremors, but also allows them a tactile 'vision' — even in complete darkness. By listening to the reverberation of sound, Düergun can accurately determine the size and shape of passages and chambers in a subterranean environment.
By a unique recessive genetic disposition, male Düergun outnumber females by two to one. As a result, many males often live their life single. While the institution of marriage is highly regarded, in popular Düergun culture confirmed bachelorhood is often respected even more. It is seen as a sign of dedication to one's craft and career.

Cultural Distinctions

Düergun is the common term for mountain dwelling dwarven race of the Wessan subcontinent. The name comes from the old triconsonantal word Dw-R-G (meaning "delver"), in reference to those who live underground. The ancient Düerguns were enslaved by the Sulari Fae of Wessa under forced labor, as stoneworkers and builders. Such slaves were distinguished by cutting the beard of their chin, leaving long “mutton chop” facial hair. In succeeding generations, after the Düerguns became free people, the cutting of the beard became a sign of subservience and humiliation. Thus, an honorable Düergun never let his beard be cut. The name “Thurim” was (and still is) often used among the Fae, based on the elváen word thuri, meaning gate or door. The Thurim were people employed to build the great elváen shipping portals referred to as the “Great Ethereal Gates” – originally connecting the lands of the Lunari, Sulari, and Sheloni Fae.
UMMIR CULTURE: The Ummir (oo-MEER) are a deep-delving mountain folk, particularly suited to thermal extremes. Similar to the Jötun, the Ummir have a greater-than normal resistance to temperature variance. The Ummir were the original inventors of the metal baltine, a cobalt-steel alloy used to create quality armor and weapons. Since Düergun smiths are the only craftsmen to work in this rare material, they earn a substantial living from its production. Throughout The Age of Epiphany, the Ummir built a vast underground realm in the Nøerdewessan range known as the Empire Mountains. Due to outbreaks of disease, the exodus of the Thurim, and constant incursions from the Kuldur in the north, the Ummir realm was greatly diminished by The Age of Exile. The Ummir have fair skin and rounded ears, with hair in various shades of blonde to brown. Their eye colors tend to be blue and green. Men and women often wear their hair long, and men always have full beards. Both hair and beards are often braided.
THURIM CULTURE: The Thurim (THOO-rim) are hill-and mountain-dwelling Düerguns who live in southern Nøerdewessa, in and near the Barrier Mountains. The Thurim are particularly good at armor and weapon-making, and hold the secret to the manufacture of the ethereally-resistant crystalline substance known Diahrzite. Though the Thurim are generally very open to trade with other races, especially the Vainites, Diahrzite is rarely produced for non-Thurim customers. Similar in size and build to the Ummir, they too have fair skin and rounded ears. However their hair colors come in various shades of rust and brown, and their eye colors range from blue and green to hazel and brown. Men may wear their hair short or long, but still tend to have full beards, often braided. Women have mid-length hair. Like the other northern races, Düerguns have a natural resistance to poisons (save at advantage and reduce damage to d3 per die). This resistance extends particularly to intoxicants. Düerguns tend to drink to excess; but the effects on them are minimal when compared to other races. They see this as a demonstration of their superiority over the larger Kainen and Jötun. These races often pejoratively refer to the Düergun as "dwarves."

Düergun Religion

In ancient days, the Düergun held belief in a polytheistic pantheon comprised of a Creator god and various minor demi-gods. Not practiced as a "religion" (per se), it was more of a cultural tradition, passed on as oral folklore around the hearths of family and clan. Early creation stories describe a number of semi-divine beings who shared with the Creator the task of creating of a specific area the universe. Referred to as "Makers", these demi-gods came to be thought of as the first ancestors of human beings: the original Düergun people from which all other races come.
THE MAKERS: By most Düergun, the Makers are revered, remembered, and respected as the greatest of all ancestors. Though not considered "gods" (in the strict sense of the word), they are called upon in prayer by the common people and looked to for guidance and help.
Nuerta (female) Maker of the Earth
Hüred (female) Maker of Storms/Sea
Ostra (female) Maker of the Living
Manus (male) Maker of the Metal/Fire
Thonur (male) Maker of War
Ttüron (male) Maker of Law
Wüdon (male) Maker of Runes
Like any human beings, the Makers were known for actions both good and evil. Of the group however, Ostra tends to be seen as having the most positive and compassionate nature, while Hüred and Thonur tend to carry the most negative and aggressive reputation. None of the Makers has any inherent priority over the others, although it is noted that the females are credited with more of the "natural world," as opposed to the males who were responsible more for the "human world." The Makers, and all those who are deceased, are thought to maintain a shadowy sleep-like existence in Nurtebar — a neutral underworld far beneath the earth. All people can expect to be united with their ancestors in Nurtebar after they are dead.
REVERENCE FOR THE DEAD: In actual practice, the real "religion" of the Düergun is seen in a solemn reverence and remembrance of the dead. It is not uncommon for Düerguns to spend a major amount of much time and money building tombs and monuments for ones' self and ancestors. Among the Ummir, tombs are usually hewn from the living rock, in and among habitable areas of a mountain citadel. Among the Thurim, individual tombs are sometimes constructed as burial mounds, known as Tturimbarows. In either case, burial chambers are securely built, often with traps and deadfalls to discourage grave robbers, since they usually contain the earthly treasures buried with the dead.
WARDENS: Wardens are a specialized order of warriors found among the Düergun, who understand themselves to be the defenders of their ancestral tradition and faith. They serve the closest thing in the Düergun culture to a priestly function. Often ceremonially employed in funeral processions and as guardians of tombs, they also minister more informally as chaplain's to a family or clan, especially at the time of death. Wardens are usually identifiable by the ceremonial stoles they wear. These stoles are heavy woven or leather strips worn over the neck, on which metallic rune-plates have been set. The symbols function as pictographic tokens, for use in Rünaic formulas. Often, Wardens serve as advisors and confidants to a local Thane (the ruler of a Dürgun habitation). In addition to their ceremonial duties, Wardens are trained warriors. In combat, they tend to focus on defensive strategy, and usually employ blunt weapons like hammers and maces.
HALLOWED DAYS: Once a year among the Düergun, there is a week long festival known as the Hallow Days. It is a solemn festival for the remembrance of the dead, marked by music and prayer. Tombs are lit (or sometimes opened), as people pass through the catacombs and chambers of the dead. People honoring the Hallow Days wear simple gray clothing, and give up all drink but water. Work is prohibited, and people are actually encouraged to sleep late, in remembrance of the sleep of the dead.

Düergun Titles

Düergun society has many levels of classes, noble and common, military and civilian, as well as slave and free. Names for titles are generally similar to those of real-world Anglo-Saxon and Gaelic lands, with distinctive applications to the SpiritQuest setting.
Düergwalda (Durg-Val-Da) = High King
Cyning (Coo-Ning) = King
Atheling (Ath-Ling) = Prince
Eorl (Url) = Earl
Eolderman (Ul-Der-Man) = Elder, Nobleman
Gesith (Ge-Sith) = King’s Guard
Dryhten (Dry-ten) = Captain, Warlord
Shaw (Shaw) = Sergeant
Duguth (Do-Guth) = Soldier, Veteran
Geoguth (Gu-Guth) = Soldier, Recruit
Fyrd (Feared) = Army
Thegn (Thane) = Official, Lord
Laird (Layrd) = Lord
Lairdess (Layr-Dess) = Lady
Lairdie (Layrd-ee) = Minor Lord (Holder)
Hlaford (Laford) = Steward (loaf-lord)
Ceorl (Churl) = Freeman, Peasant
Theow (Thow) = Thrall, Slave
Witan (Vi-tan) = Council of Leaders
Graver (Gray-Ver) = Graver, Runecarver
Warden (Var-Den) = Guardian