RE: Mostali

From: Sandy Petersen <SPetersen_at_ensemblestudios.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 11:12:51 -0500

	Mostali
	One way of looking at the dwarfs & mostali vis-=E0-vis humanity is
that dwarfs are specialists, while humans are generalists. Most human tools, for instance, are useful for more than one purpose. Most humans can do more than one thing, as well. In fact, humans commonly wear more than one hat - a typical Orlanthi barbarian is a father, a husband, a farmer, a loyal vassal, a stalwart of his clan, a warrior, an initiate of the Storm King, etc. etc. Humans put on different masks according to what they are doing and whom they speak with. No wonder we're never = sure
who we really are, and why our identity matters so much to us. And why loss of identity is such a threat, since it's so precarious to begin with.=20

                Dwarfs do not have this problem. A dwarf is one thing, and one thing only. He has no question of his identity - he is part of the Machine. He does not have doubts, uncertainties, loss of faith. He doesn't wonder about the nature of reality.=20

                Dwarfs do not try to do things the most efficient way - they try to do things the best way. They are perfectionists. A dwarf crossbow is well-made, but do they really need all that scrollwork on the trigger release? Carefully-carved ribbing on the quarrel shaft? Fletching that pops out of the shaft after the quarrel is released? = Dyed
patterns on the bowcord? One things dwarfs are NOT into is mass production (in most cases - there are notable exceptions). The famed Nidan musket-and-pike regiment really does have muskets, but every single musket is of a different calibre, manufactured by its bearer to his own specifications, with different length barrels, and his or her own improvements.=20


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