Durinist

"If all you need is someone capable, strong, tough and hardy, you can hire any Suranthi and they will do the job. However if you wish someone who's mind is as brilliant as their axe is sharp? If you wish someone whom can watch your back whilst also offering a breadth of knowledge that you likely do not possess? Someone who can help you figure out how things you discover are supposed to work? Then you hire a Durinist.

Sound advice for any archealogical expeditions or adventuring groups intending to explore the wild lands of Suranth.

Durinists from the Durin Province in Suranth, known as the progenitors of locomotion.

Train on railway grayscale by Richard Home

Pictured above, the end of the inaugural journey of the first Gotlbrand locomotive, coming into Geata-Iarainn's railyards after travelling from An Pointe Thoir. Often referenced as The Birth of an Era

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Naming conventions are not much different here than elsewhere on Suranth, this is not really what's recognized.

Family names

There are many notable family names and clan names amongst Durinists. First among these is Clan Vithang of course, They are well known as master shipwrights, craftsmen and men, well dwarves, of study and learning. They are the named protectorates of the region and its people. Clan Vithang are an excellent broad view of what makes a Durinist. Loyalty, intellect, skilled hands doing skilled work. These people are known for their skilled labor force, and among these, one titan stands tall, the one whom truly put the region into the minds and knowledge of all on Valerick. Durinists, those born and raised in the Durin Province of Suranth, are now synomous with locomotion thanks to one group.

The name Gotlbrand may as well mean locomotive. Clan Gotlbrand, the fathers and mothers of locomotion, of the steam engine. A marvel of science and technology, a truly brilliant breakthrough, it was this clan that led the way into worldwide recognition.

Clan Grem, the pious, the clergy, those whom have stood in charge of the regions religious affairs for generations.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The major language spoken by these people is dwarven, though the common tongue is just as often used. They've no real dialect or slang, but they are known for using language more...freely, as intellectuals are want to do. That is to say, they do not find themselves pigeon-holed into utilizing the same components of the languages that one is capable of conversing with.

Average technological level

Steam power, that is the peak of Durinist technological prowess, the locomotive, and all the systems and components for these great engines. Train parts, along with the cars and locomotive themselves, are their largest export, and they ship them all over Valerick. Durinists are oft recognized as the Masters of Steam. The reasons this particular technology is so sought after include but are not limited too;

• Faster shipping of goods. Locomotives are faster than carts, and generally can use a more direct and therefore safer route than river or ship travel.

• The capacity is much larger than any ship of the day, or any Sky-Ship for that matter, moving more goods and people quicker means more profit.

• They are in general, much easier to maintain than Sky-Ships, and Chy-mechanics are far more readily available and forthwith than their Magne-tech counterparts,

Coming of Age Rites

For many Durinists, the coming of age 'rite' as it were, is the decision of which of the many trades, skills and fields of knowledge they have been given a taste of growing up to pursue a career in. Or indeed if to go completely off that track and pursue a career in a field they've no prior experience with.

Common Taboos

The biggest taboo is being wilfully uneducated. This does not mean not knowing things, but more so the unwillingness to learn. To seek knowledge.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

"Look at me lass. I've been stabbed by no less than five spears, the scars vivid and brutal, I lost three fingers, I'm missing me right eye and the socket is a dried out, scavvy mess. Some polite folk say it looks 'heroic'. Bah, nae it don't. I looks hideous. Yer looks mean very little, never forget that. Yer mother don't love me fer me looks, me darlin'. She loves me first and foremost fer the same reason I love her. Nae matter how old, nae matter how gray, nae matter the wrinkles. Nae looks have naught ta do with it. Its up here. T'at be how ye find proper love and companionship. It be about someone whom engages ye. Whom makes yer mind race, and can spark yer intellect, stir yer desire for conversation and engagement inta overdrive with naught but a sentence or two. That is what love is. That be what makes one truly attractive. Bodies break down. Bodies fade, fail and get broken. The mind is a much more resilient thing. So nae listen ta those boys, alright lass? Their behavior shames themselves, and their Durinist families."

A father consoling his daughter, somewhere in An Pointe Thoir.

Those born and raised here learn from a pretty young age that their minds will serve them far longer and better than their bodies. Such discussions are not considered taboo here, in fact they are oft encouraged. As such the beauty ideals focus much more on the know how, intellect and conversational skill of the person in question, rather than their physical form.

Gender Ideals

Given the Suranthi people as a whole are rather conservative and traditionalist, the Durinists are known for breaking that mold spectacularly. Science, engineering, all these are a part and parcel of it. As too is the discarding of gender ideals. Anyone can study any subject, and seek to master any art or trade. They hold no illusions of 'weaker' or 'stronger' gender, for it is a nonsensical arguement. They focus on intellect and ability. Your knowledge and skill matter more than your genitalia, and that is a rather unique cultural truth that has seen some rapid spread, as more and more places begin to adopt such a stance, forced to contend with this truth given the Durin Province's sweeping success in science, economy and technology. Though the biggest export, the locomotive, is credited to Duncan Corvimac Gotlbrand, and rightfully so, he stood on the shoulders of his own mother, Corvinnea Gromdilsdottir Gotlbrand, the known and proclaimed mother of the Steam Engine.

Courtship Ideals

One of the most basic piece of courtship ettiquete to a Durinist is taking a keen interest in learning about the person they are courting's works and fields of study. Taking an interest, not just listening, but learning, asking questions, being actively engaged.

Relationship Ideals

"Being Suranthi, it means loyalty. Aye I can agree, in love as in life, loyalty is important. However I think the idea of that being a one item list is remiss. So allow me ta add a few good ole Durinist ideals ta this list;

• Push each other's projects. Motivate each other through those times where ye losing momentum.

• Learn with and from each other. Yer a team, so nae be afraid ta face a new challenge like a team

• Challenge each others knowledge base. Nae just nod and say yes, yer partner deserves better. If'n their work seems to have missed something, say it. A second set of eyes is worth a t'ousand look throughs you've done yerself.

• Making love, hell being in love, is like making a breakthrough discovery. It requires much patience, many attempts, and much study. Get ta know yer partner, wholly and completely. And when ye think ye have.....Slap yerself out of t'at fever dream and realize just as seasons change, so do people. This task is constant. Ye never know it all, because tastes, dreams, hobbies and goals change over time. As it should be.

A Durinist dwarf giving some advice to a human friend who's marriage is struggling.