Paragon
Paragons are the elite of dwarven culture, the pinnacle of dwarven excellence, and the one exception to the rigid caste structure as they can be drawn from any caste, even the casteless.
Qualifications
There are few living Paragons as many dwarves are named Paragon only after their death. The act by which one becomes a Paragon can vary. Typically it is a feat of bravery in warfare or an incredible invention, but it can also be something as simple as embodying the ideals and tasks of one's caste to an unprecedented perfection. However some have earned the rank for less important pursuits such as writing particularly good rhymes or brewing stronger ales. These are less common and only occur when what they've done has somehow greatly shifted dwarven culture.
Appointment
A Paragon is elected by the Assembly, or the dwarvish leaders who serve as a council underneath their king or queen. Getting elected is no easy feat and often involves long debate considering the political consequences; a Paragon creates a noble house with a representative in the Assembly which may upset the political balance as well as the society in general since dwarves from every caste can be invited to join the new house and be uplifted to the privileged noble caste. This new house bears the name of the Paragon and is recorded in the Memories, the records of the dwarves kept by the Shaperate.
Cultural Significance
They are the noble warriors, politicians, smiths and even children that all others dwarves seek to emulate, and they function as essential role models to their people. The dwarves have no gods, instead they venerate The Stone and their Ancestors. To them a living Paragon is considered a "living Ancestor", whose actions and words carry the wisdom and will of their Ancestors. The word of a Paragon surpasses in weight even the word of a king—even if the former's title does not grant official power.
Dwarven cities are decorated by monolithic lifelike statues of Paragons from days past. The most impressive collection can be find in Orzammar's Hall of Heroes, which is tucked behind their surface gate found in the Frostback Mountains. These giant statues are designed to hold up the ceiling. This is meant to impress—and perhaps intimidate—visitors to Orzammar and to convey upon dwarves heading to the surface all that they are leaving behind.
Notable Holders
Note: † means deceased.
- Asyth the Grey†: She is the first female Paragon of the warrior caste. The Silent Sisters were founded in honor of Asyth, and members of that order cut out their tongue in emulation of her. Asyth posthumously became a Paragon when she sacrificed her life to save the king of Orzammar.
- Branka†: One of the most recent elected, she became a Paragon to be elected in four generations. Even more noticeably, she was alive to see it. She was also the founder and head of House Branka. She invented a smokeless coal, which ended up reducing the number of lung-based disease deaths amongst the smith caste by seventy percent. She went into the Deep Roads searching for Caridin's anvil, where she was eventually killed by Wardens.
- Caridin†: He is the Paragon who created the an anvil that was able to create golems. He originally descended from House Ortan but after his elevation to the Paragon status he created his own house. When he vanished, the secret of how to make war golems vanished with him.
- Ebryan†: A Paragon who wrote the book Songs That Only Nugs Should Hear. He is also attributed for being the author of How the Deepstalker Came to Be, a popular dwarven tale for children.
- Egon Wintersbreath†: One of the greatest dwarven warriors, he is known for mounting the defense of the Kingdom of Hormak against the monsters of the Deep Roads until it fell so long, long ago. He later left for the surface after learning about the decree of High King Threestone who ordered the Deep Roads leading to Orzammar to be sealed, claiming that he would "rather die under an alien sky than be buried in the Stone that betrayed [them]."
- Fairel†: An ancient master smith who became Paragon and is well-known for his runework. He is known as the inventor of rune-etching.
- Gherlen the Blood-Risen†: He was born casteless. However, he ventured to the surface and after he gained enough prestige from his adventures and acts of bravery, he returned to Orzammar and became a Paragon and king by overthrowing the previous ruler. His tale is still honored by dwarven adventurers.
- Hellat†: A Paragon who discovered the means that allowed dwarves to build structures of massive height and breadth.
- Varen†: A former Legionnaire who became a Paragon after discovering that the nugs are edible.
Debated Holders
- Tarrington: Amongst some living Legionaries, they tell stories of having met a golem who acted as intelligently as they were and not as a mindless automaton. Paragon Tarrington is informally held as a Paragon only amongst those Legionaries who met him. He was given the title of Paragon for having the ability to purge those things he touched of all corruption. To a common dwarf, the tale of Tarrington is quite different. To them, the story is that he murdered Paragon Branka and that those legionaries who defend him were paid off by members of the Assembly so they'd have less council members to contend with.
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