Dwarven Expressions (book) - Revision history

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	''Tov'Meod!''		''Tov'Meod!''

	The [[Tov'Meod Woods]], a great forest beyond the city of		The [[Tov'Meod Forest\|Tov'Meod Woods]], a great forest beyond the city of
	Kwarlog, was the site of a major battle near the end		Kwarlog, was the site of a major battle near the end
	of the Elven-Human War. In that battle, a small		of the Elven-Human War. In that battle, a small

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	has been a phrase used by Dwarves to symbolize		has been a phrase used by Dwarves to symbolize
	resistance and coming victory.		resistance and coming victory.

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(No difference)

Maintenance script: New page: ==Dwarven Expressions == '''By Rirl Threwsvadh ''' Many scholars and writers tell tales of the beauty of Elven and Elothean, the languages of other soft, skinny races living in the pret...

2007-07-10T07:52:52Z

New page: ==Dwarven Expressions == '''By Rirl Threwsvadh ''' Many scholars and writers tell tales of the beauty of Elven and Elothean, the languages of other soft, skinny races living in the pret...

New page

==Dwarven Expressions ==
'''By Rirl Threwsvadh '''

Many scholars and writers tell tales of the beauty of
Elven and Elothean, the languages of other soft,
skinny races living in the pretty meadows and
clutching their shiny baubles. They write praise of
these flowery words, and compose epic poems of
grandeur in their verse.

I say these people aren't very bright. But is this
surprising? For my fellow Dwarves, I'm sure you
would all reply with a hearty "No!" and a good stomp.
Many of the taller races overlook the simplistic
beauty of our own dear, beloved Haakish, and they
scorn our own Dwarven verse. Elven expressions are
befuddling muddle-headed, cryptic mishmashes of
nonsensical word arrangements that cause all the
other Elves to titter in delight at their cleverness.

But what of the strength of the Dwarven expressions?
They are born of a foundation as solid as the pillars
of the rock of Elanthia, bounded in our tradition and
culture. It is an altogether different beauty, like
the words spoken by the first Dwarf that saw the
Himineldar Shel, the Skyfire Mountains -- "It is
crowned by blue spires and carbuncles rare."

So I say Pah! to those Elves and those Elotheans, and
I take it upon myself to write of some of our
expressions, and what they mean to us, the Dwarves.
Note, though, that I do not offer here a complete
collection of expressions, merely a few which I find
most useful and to my liking.

''Prices are delicate lichens in an ice garden that
''must be tended, encouraged, and pruned as needed.
''Winter's White will never agree to treat all plants
''alike.''

These words were spoken by the Dwarves of
Hibarnhvidar when they first began to trade with the
newly arrived Humans. The Humans sought to acquire a
status of mutual duty-exclusions between themselves
and the Dwarves of Hibarnhvidar. These Dwarven
forefathers, having the good common sense (as Dwarves
are wont to have) they did, refused, setting in stone
words of wisdom for all future generations to use.

Heed well those words, young Dwarves. Know the value
that such words can offer us today. Take pride in your
craft, take pride in yourself as a Dwarf, and do honor
to Kertigan with all you make and do.

''As straightforward as a Faskin mile.''

Ages ago, when the Dwarven settlements of Faskin and
Gardul still stood, there was made a great fuss over
a contest. You see, at some point in the past, the
Dwarves of Gardul devised a method that allowed them
to transmit written messages over great distances,
using iron tubes pressurized by steam. These tubes
were sent through pipes crafted by the Gardulfolk,
pipes of silver-flecked black alabaster, and it was
said that they alone were a work of art.

Once the Gardulfolk showed the work to the
Faskinfolk, they agreed to lay a series of pipes to
implement that system. And what better way to do
that then through a race! Each city wanted to show
all Dwarves that THEY were the best engineers and
could lay the fastest, sturdiest pipe over the
greatest distance. So the race began.

Finally, when the last pipes were all set, the
Dwarves of Faskin made the claim that they had placed
more pipe, and they therefore won the race! However,
the workmen of Gardul discovered that their pipes
were laid in multiple circuits around many hillocks,
leading to counterclaims that Faskin deliberately
increased the number of its pipes in easily
engineered terrain. The contest was declared a draw,
but not without a residue of illwill on both sides.
The Gardulfolk coined the above expression to
describe anyone that twists the truth, and it's stuck
throughout the ages to be used by all Dwarves.

''Human promises are shorter than Human lifespans.''

Though not an overwhelmingly popular expression today
due to the relative good naturedness between most of
the races, these words are still important to know.
They are a part of our past, a part of our ancestors.

When the Elven-Human War was beginning, the Humans
approached the various Dwarven tribes. "Come," they
said, "join us against the Elves." The Humans and the
Dwarves had had fairly amicable relationships, and
the Dwarves and the Elves, as all knew, were at that
time still bitter enemies. But the Dwarves were
still not eager to jump into the fray, but the Humans
then made a promise -- help us, and we will help you
reclaim the DragonSpine Mountains from the Elves.

Eager to aid their displaced, home-stolen brothers,
the Dwarves of Kwarlog joined into the war. As all
know, it went badly, but eventually the side of the
Humans and Dwarves "won." I use that word hesitantly
here. But after the supposed victory, the Humans
reneged. They claimed that their losses had been too
great, they had suffered too much, and they could
spare no one to help the Dwarves root the Elves out
of the Dwarven Mountains. It was that act that
prompted King Garrock to coin those words.

''As gracious as Baraliban.''

When it came time for the Seven-Pointed Star to be
formed by Verek and his council, they wanted...
needed, I should say, for the Dwarves to join up.
But the Dwarves at that time were hesitant. They had
suffered greatly by getting involved in the affairs
of others during the Elven-Human War, some of them
had even been warred upon by the chieftain Akroeg --
they were not eager to involve themselves further.
But, the Dwarves formed a delegation, and sent it to
meet with Verek's council and members of the other
races. This delegation was led by the famous
Taratochs the Wide-Armed, a heroine of the Elven-
Human War.

Initially, the Dwarves found the idea of the Empire
to be foolishness, and they resisted quite
thoroughly, with all the force that Taratochs had
used to cleave Elven skulls during the battles. The
other racial delegations were furious, as were most
of Verek's council... except for one man. Baraliban,
a member of that council, Baraliban the Halfling.
While others screamed bitter words and shook fists,
Baraliban got up and stood upon the oak table. All
fell silent as he spoke, addressing the Dwarves,
pleading with them to join the Empire and work
towards the unity and peace. When he was finished,
he bowed low to the Dwarves, got down, and sat upon
his seat again.

This is accounted a matter of disarming politeness by
the attending Dwarves, who communicate the anecdote
back home. In subsequent years it becomes a common
Dwarven catchphrase to describe other people and things.

''Tov'Meod!''

The Tov'Meod Woods, a great forest beyond the city of
Kwarlog, was the site of a major battle near the end
of the Elven-Human War. In that battle, a small
group of Dwarven citizens and rearguards successfully
ambushed and confronted a larger, better prepared,
and better armed group of Elves and S'Kra Mur, who
had thought to use decoys to distract the main
Dwarven, Gor'Tog, and Human armies while their force
snuck through the woods to capture the city of
Kwarlog itself.

But those Dwarves left behind to defend it did honor
to their ancestors and their kildren both! Their
skill, bravery, and courage allowed them to batter
back the invaders, and their enemies were kept
offguard for so long that the main Dwarven force was
able to swoop back and wipe them out. The woods of
Tov'Meod were covered in blood that day, but it was a
great victory for the Dwarves.

When the united armies of both sides met on the field
of the final battle, as they prepared to end the
great war once and for all, the Dwarves all cried a
singular battle shout -- "Tov'Meod!" Since then, it
has been a phrase used by Dwarves to symbolize
resistance and coming victory.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:23, 26 November 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Dwarven Expressions ==		==Dwarven Expressions ==
	'''By Rirl Threwsvadh '''		'''By [[Rirl]] Threwsvadh '''

	Many scholars and writers tell tales of the beauty of		Many scholars and writers tell tales of the beauty of
Line 13:		Line 13:
	would all reply with a hearty "No!" and a good stomp.		would all reply with a hearty "No!" and a good stomp.
	Many of the taller races overlook the simplistic		Many of the taller races overlook the simplistic
	beauty of our own dear, beloved Haakish, and they		beauty of our own dear, beloved [[Haakish]], and they
	scorn our own Dwarven verse. Elven expressions are		scorn our own Dwarven verse. Elven expressions are
	befuddling muddle-headed, cryptic mishmashes of		befuddling muddle-headed, cryptic mishmashes of
Line 24:		Line 24:
	culture. It is an altogether different beauty, like		culture. It is an altogether different beauty, like
	the words spoken by the first Dwarf that saw the		the words spoken by the first Dwarf that saw the
	Himineldar Shel, the Skyfire Mountains -- "It is		[[Himineldar Shel]], the Skyfire Mountains -- "It is
	crowned by blue spires and carbuncles rare."		crowned by blue spires and carbuncles rare."

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	''As straightforward as a Faskin mile.''		''As straightforward as a Faskin mile.''

	Ages ago, when the Dwarven settlements of Faskin and		Ages ago, when the Dwarven settlements of [[Faskin]] and
	Gardul still stood, there was made a great fuss over		[[Gardul]] still stood, there was made a great fuss over
	a contest. You see, at some point in the past, the		a contest. You see, at some point in the past, the
	Dwarves of Gardul devised a method that allowed them		Dwarves of Gardul devised a method that allowed them
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	They are a part of our past, a part of our ancestors.		They are a part of our past, a part of our ancestors.

	When the Elven-Human War was beginning, the Humans		When the [[Elven-Human War]] was beginning, the Humans
	approached the various Dwarven tribes. "Come," they		approached the various Dwarven tribes. "Come," they
	said, "join us against the Elves." The Humans and the		said, "join us against the Elves." The Humans and the
Line 104:		Line 104:
	still not eager to jump into the fray, but the Humans		still not eager to jump into the fray, but the Humans
	then made a promise -- help us, and we will help you		then made a promise -- help us, and we will help you
	reclaim the DragonSpine Mountains from the Elves.		reclaim the [[DragonSpine Mountains]] from the Elves.

	Eager to aid their displaced, home-stolen brothers,		Eager to aid their displaced, home-stolen brothers,
	the Dwarves of Kwarlog joined into the war. As all		the Dwarves of [[Kwarlog]] joined into the war. As all
	know, it went badly, but eventually the side of the		know, it went badly, but eventually the side of the
	Humans and Dwarves "won." I use that word hesitantly		Humans and Dwarves "won." I use that word hesitantly
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	spare no one to help the Dwarves root the Elves out		spare no one to help the Dwarves root the Elves out
	of the Dwarven Mountains. It was that act that		of the Dwarven Mountains. It was that act that
	prompted King Garrock to coin those words.		prompted King [[Garrock]] to coin those words.


	''As gracious as Baraliban.''		''As gracious as [[Baraliban]].''

	When it came time for the Seven-Pointed Star to be		When it came time for the Seven-Pointed Star to be
	formed by Verek and his council, they wanted...		formed by [[Verek]] and his council, they wanted...
	needed, I should say, for the Dwarves to join up.		needed, I should say, for the Dwarves to join up.
	But the Dwarves at that time were hesitant. They had		But the Dwarves at that time were hesitant. They had
	suffered greatly by getting involved in the affairs		suffered greatly by getting involved in the affairs
	of others during the Elven-Human War, some of them		of others during the Elven-Human War, some of them
	had even been warred upon by the chieftain Akroeg --		had even been warred upon by the chieftain [[Akroeg]] --
	they were not eager to involve themselves further.		they were not eager to involve themselves further.
	But, the Dwarves formed a delegation, and sent it to		But, the Dwarves formed a delegation, and sent it to
	meet with Verek's council and members of the other		meet with Verek's council and members of the other
	races. This delegation was led by the famous		races. This delegation was led by the famous
	Taratochs the Wide-Armed, a heroine of the Elven-		[[Taratochs]] the Wide-Armed, a heroine of the Elven-
	Human War.		Human War.

Line 157:		Line 157:
	''Tov'Meod!''		''Tov'Meod!''

	The Tov'Meod Woods, a great forest beyond the city of		The [[Tov'Meod Woods]], a great forest beyond the city of
	Kwarlog, was the site of a major battle near the end		Kwarlog, was the site of a major battle near the end
	of the Elven-Human War. In that battle, a small		of the Elven-Human War. In that battle, a small