Pillars of Forfedhdar (book) - Revision history

CARAAMON: moved Pillars of Forfedhdar, The (book) to Pillars of Forfedhdar (book)

2011-09-20T18:20:48Z

moved Pillars of Forfedhdar, The (book) to Pillars of Forfedhdar (book)

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:20, 20 September 2011
(No difference)

CARAAMON: The Pillars of Forfedhdar (book) moved to Pillars of Forfedhdar, The (book)

2009-01-28T18:56:27Z

The Pillars of Forfedhdar (book) moved to Pillars of Forfedhdar, The (book)

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:56, 28 January 2009
(No difference)

CARAAMON at 19:07, 14 October 2008

2008-10-14T19:07:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 14 October 2008
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	[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race ~~assocation~~ is::dwarf\| ]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::dwarf\| ]]
	==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==		==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==
	'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''		'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''

CARAAMON at 02:29, 2 October 2008

2008-10-02T02:29:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:29, 1 October 2008
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	[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[race assocation is::dwarf\| ]]
	==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==		==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==
	'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''		'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''

CARAAMON at 01:11, 18 September 2008

2008-09-18T01:11:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:11, 17 September 2008
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	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]]
	==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==		==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==
	'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''		'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''

Maintenance script: Book:HbsMF moved to The Pillars of Forfedhdar (book)

2007-11-23T03:55:55Z

Book:HbsMF moved to The Pillars of Forfedhdar (book)

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:55, 22 November 2007
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Maintenance script at 15:39, 22 November 2007

2007-11-22T15:39:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:39, 22 November 2007
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			[[Category:Book]]
	==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==		==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==
	'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''		'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''

Maintenance script at 04:31, 4 November 2007

2007-11-04T04:31:33Z

Maintenance script: New page: ==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 hi...

2007-07-13T09:49:29Z

New page: ==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 hi...

New page

==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.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:31, 3 November 2007
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	==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==		==The Pillars of Forfedhdar ==
	'''Written by Baldar Skowt '''		'''Written by [[Baldar]] Skowt '''


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	pillars. To the Dwarves, family means everything. The history		pillars. To the Dwarves, family means everything. The history
	of the family means everything. Why, they even named their lands		of the family means everything. Why, they even named their lands
	after this belief -- 'Forfedhdar' translates as "The Land of the		after this belief -- '[[Forfedhdar]]' translates as "The Land of the
	Ancestors." Traditions must be set in stone, figuratively and		Ancestors." Traditions must be set in stone, figuratively and
	literally. So all young Dwarflings are expected to learn of		literally. So all young Dwarflings are expected to learn of
Line 12:		Line 12:
	able to recite the names and great deeds of their ancestors on		able to recite the names and great deeds of their ancestors on
	the family tree, and of course, they frequently do just that.		the family tree, and of course, they frequently do just that.
	Many cold winter nights in Hibarnhvidar are spent in an ale		Many cold winter nights in [[Hibarnhvidar]] are spent in an ale
	house while Dwarves regale their comrades by telling of their fam-		house while Dwarves regale their comrades by telling of their fam-
	ilies and what each member did during life. (Of course, one might		ilies and what each member did during life. (Of course, one might
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	rock of the earth itself. To preserve his memory in stone for his		rock of the earth itself. To preserve his memory in stone for his
	descendants, a Dwarf creates a totem pillar that will represent		descendants, a Dwarf creates a totem pillar that will represent
	him and his life.		him and his life.

	Dwarven children would be taught (for example) of their great-		Dwarven children would be taught (for example) of their great-
	grandfathers with these pillars. A father takes his children to		grandfathers with these pillars. A father takes his children to
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	one wanders among towering structures of stone, each belonging		one wanders among towering structures of stone, each belonging
	to a member of that family. It came to pass that the Dwarves		to a member of that family. It came to pass that the Dwarves
	called these areas their totem groves.		called these areas their totem groves.

	The totem stele is created by symbolizing the six aspects that		The totem stele is created by symbolizing the six aspects that
	are viewed as emblematic of an individual's life. These are:		are viewed as emblematic of an individual's life. These are: