Pillars of Forfedhdar (book)

The Pillars of Forfedhdar

Written by Baldar Skowt

Since ancient times, the Dwarves have had the custom of the totem pillars. To the Dwarves, family means everything. The history of the family means everything. Why, they even named their lands after this belief -- 'Forfedhdar' translates as "The Land of the Ancestors." Traditions must be set in stone, figuratively and literally. So all young Dwarflings are expected to learn of their ancestors' lives and times. Dwarves are expected to be able to recite the names and great deeds of their ancestors on the family tree, and of course, they frequently do just that. Many cold winter nights in Hibarnhvidar are spent in an ale house while Dwarves regale their comrades by telling of their fam- ilies and what each member did during life. (Of course, one might argue that any night in Hibarnhvidar is a cold winter night.)

Over time, this cultural belief manifested itself in a new tradi- tion -- the carving of a pillar, or stele. For if the Dwarves love anything more than their ancestry and their ale, it is the rock of the earth itself. To preserve his memory in stone for his descendants, a Dwarf creates a totem pillar that will represent him and his life.

Dwarven children would be taught (for example) of their great- grandfathers with these pillars. A father takes his children to the stone columns of their family, and he teaches them the mean- ing of each one. By memorizing the symbols on each column, the children are better able to remember the deeds of their ancestors. These steles are a central element of Dwarven culture, illustrat- ing many of the values paramount in their society.

When a traditional Dwarf family has a child, the parents go into the mines and emerge only when they have cut out a column for the child. Then the parents carve the first symbol -- his name -- into what becomes the boy's or girl's totem stone. They add a second symbol, representing the place and the season of the child's birth. At this point, he or she has been set on a path in life and has become a true Dwarf.

When a Dwarf dies, his column is moved to his tomb to serve as an adornment. The tombs of the Dwarves are, of course, always grouped by family, so when one walks into a Dwarven cemetery, one wanders among towering structures of stone, each belonging to a member of that family. It came to pass that the Dwarves called these areas their totem groves.

The totem stele is created by symbolizing the six aspects that are viewed as emblematic of an individual's life. These are: first, the core of the person; second, the birthplace and season; third, the profession; fourth, the heart; fifth, achievements and goals; and sixth, the person's animal guardian.

The first aspect, the person's core, includes his sex, race, and ancestry. These symbols represent the person himself, whereas the images added later portray that person's progress through life.

For the second aspect, the individual's place and season of birth are depicted on the column. Many images may be carved to show this aspect -- a great city, a tower, a tent, a boat, or a castle; a forest, a cave, a mountain, a river, a desert, or a plain -- there are many choices. This image is further detailed depending on the season of birth. If a person is born in winter, the image would show a snowy landscape, while summer would be represented by a bright sun.

The third aspect shows the Dwarf's profession, and in a sense marks his coming of age: it is the first carving the column's owner makes himself. He places a pictograph representing his profession on the column, but many options are left for future distinctions as an individual. These symbols are most clearly illustrated with the major guilds. A Moon Mage, for instance, might choose to carve a moon, a star, or a staff. A Cleric can carve a scroll, a string of beads, or a chalice. A devout knight may represent himself with a shield or perhaps a warhorn, as a Barbarian might choose a sword or spear. A Warrior Mage might carve a lightning bolt, a ball of fire, or a snowflake.

The fourth aspect depicts the individual's heart. Here he or she incises an image of their loved one. A line is chiseled on the stone, connecting the symbol of the beloved with the second area. One who chooses a celibate life carves no image, and the fourth area remain empty.

The stone's fifth aspect is the major achievement or life goal of the individual. Or, to express it by contrast, whereas the the third aspect describes the path that a person walks, this fifth aspect tells why that person is walking that path. What is the person seeking in life? That is represented here. Is their goal wealth? That would be depicted by a horde of golden coins. Whatever the goal or achievement, it is symbolized on the pillar. Prowess in combat (real or simply desired) might be shown by the image of the person slaying a dragon, and the quest for power could be shown by the individual harnessing the stars. Love could be depicted with a heart, and religious enlightenment could be shown by the person bowed before an altar.

The sixth aspect of a Dwarven personality is an animal guardian. Many Dwarves believe that everyone is tied to a particular animal, be it a horse, a lion, a raccoon, a wolf, an owl, an eagle, and so on. On the sixth section of the stele, the individual carves the image of the animal which he feels his life is tied to.

Once the pillar is completed, a family places it in their totem grove. Those without such a grove, without a place where their ancestors' tombs are located, give the columns to the city of Forfedhdar, and they are placed along the great Haalikshal High- way, a sacred road of the Dwarven kingdom.