Dwarf keywords

From: richc_at_sypte.co.uk
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 16:01:25 +0100


I've been working on a set of Dwarf keywords for Hero Wars. They are full of gaps not least because I'm finding it difficult to get my head round the interaction of the HW sorcery and character generation rules with Mostali culture.

Here's what I've got so far. Comments anyone?

Richard Crawley


Mostali Character Keywords



The Hero Wars are between ... Stasis and Growth

Dwarf society is built on the need to repair the World Machine. With the Machine in its original order all will be as it should be and Stasis will keep it so. But Growth has become such an integral part of the world machine that it may not be possible to remove it without destroying the world utterly. This challenge is at the heart of Dwarf society and manifests in the many heresies which thrive in the dark halls beneath the mountains.


The Mostali

The Mostali or dwarfs are one of the elder races. Individual dwarfs are characterised by dedication to their allotted tasks as part of the community. Dwarfs are immortal as long as they continue to work towards the repair of the world machine.

Dwarf keyword layout
All Dwarfs have the cultural keyword Mostali unless from a very aberrant group (Narrator's call). In addition they all have a caste keyword which determines their general area of work and a doctrine keyword which determines their position on the many orthodoxies and heresies which are found in dwarf society. There are no occupation keywords and no magic keywords as the abilities covered by these headings in other societies are here determined by the caste.

Mostali Cultural Keyword
Physical skills: Strong, Tough

Mental Skills: Devoted to [hobby], Earthsense, Literate, Mineral Lore, Project Lore

Personality: Emotionless, Stoic

Relationships: to the Project, to Caste, to City, to Doctrine

Mostali Caste Keywords

Rock Dwarf
You are a worker in stone building the structures that are needed to facilitate the repair of the World Machine. Physical Skills: Masonry, Work Tirelessly at [occupation], Hammer combat Mental Skills: Architecture, Estimate mass of rock Relationships: To workgang
Magic: Read Rock Dwarf Field Magic Manual

Lead Dwarf
You are a member of the caste which works with tubes and vessels of lead and of glass to build and maintain mechanisms which contribute to the repair of the World Machine. Physical Skills: Plumbing, Glassblowing, Work Patiently at [occupation] Mental Skills: Metal Lore
Relationships:
Magic: Read Lead Dwarf Magic Flow Diagrams

Quicksilver Dwarf
You are an alchemist, separating and re-combining the components of the World Machine in order to aid its repair. Physical Skills: Grind Materials in Huge Mortars, Smell of odd chemicals, Work tirelessly at [occupation] Mental Skills: Alchemy, First Aid
Relationships: To Lab Group
Magic: Read Laboratory Magic Manual

Copper Dwarf
You are a toolmaker, creating the tools and some of the weapons needed to help Dwarfs repair the World Machine. Physical Skills: Devise cunning implements, Smithing, Work tirelessly at [occupation] Mental Skills: Metal Lore
Relationships:
Magic: Read Copper Dwarf Book of Magical Tools

Tin Dwarf
Although Growth is seen as an evil force in World Machine, the creation and maintenance of life is not seen as necessarily tied to Growth. As a Tin Dwarf it is your job to control some of the living tools used by Dwarfs to help them repair the World Machine. This can include Gnomes, Nilmergs, Jolanti and Gulpers.

Physical Skills: Carve stone creatures
Mental Skills: Control [living tool]
Relationships:
Magic:

Brass Dwarf
You are an alloyist; a master of the forge and creator of metals to aid the repair of the World Machine. Physical Skills: Smithing, Tend Forge
Mental Skills: Metal Lore,
Relationships:
Magic:

Silver Dwarf
All dwarfs learn magic appropriate to their caste but you, as a Silver Dwarf, are a specialist in the use of sorcerous methods to assist in the repair of the World Machine. <currently under construction while I try to figure out how the Hero Wars sorcery rules might work for Mostali> Physical Skills:
Mental Skills:
Personality:
Relationships:
Magic: Read Silver Dwarf Grimoire

Gold Dwarf
As a Gold Dwarf your duties are to know the principles on which Dwarf society is based and to teach other Dwarfs the right way to move towards the repair of the World Machine. The Gold dwarfs also serve as planners, auditors and inspectors keeping particular parts of the project moving in the direction set by the Decamony. Physical Skills: Teach by example, Work patiently at [occupation] Mental Skills: Leadership
Relationships:
Magic:

Iron Dwarf
You are a warrior of the dwarfs. Your job is to use military force, according to proper plans laid down to deal with specific military situations, to achieve the task at hand and so contribute to the repair of the World Machine.

Physical Skills: Axe and Shield Fighting, Missile Weapons, Stand to Attention, Weapon Maintenance, Catnap in uncomfortable positions Mental Skills: Tactics, Military Procedures Relationships: To Company, to Leader
Magic: Read Field Magic Manual

Mostali Doctrine Keywords

Orthodox
To some extent the orthodoxy is defined by the heresies prevalent in the individual Dwarf City concerned. However certain characteristics are typical... Physical Skills:
Mental Skills: Cite precedent
Relationships:
Magic:

Openhandist
Your belief is that other races can play a valuable part in the repair of the World Machine whether they want to or not. They can be manouvered into this by means of trade. "We must build a machine to destroy the other races. How will we do this? The other races will help us". Physical Skills:
Mental Skills: Speak Tradetalk, Navigate above ground, Bargaining Relationships:
Magic:

Individualist

Physical Skills:
Mental Skills:
Relationships:
Magic:

Vegetarianist

Physical Skills:
Mental Skills:
Relationships:
Magic:

Evacuationist
This doctrine is unique to the Dwarf city of Gemborg in Caladraland. Its followers (vulgarly known as shitters) believe that the Bluesmoke volcano (into the side of which Gemborg is built) is about to enter a dangerously active phase and should be evacuated as quickly as possible. Physical Skills:
Mental Skills:
Relationships: Tend to be friendly with Openhandists Magic:

Anti-evacuationist
The Gemborg Evacuationists are opposed by more conservative forces within the city. The Evacuationists refer to them as squatters. Physical skills:
Mental skills:
Relationships: Tend to be friendly with Orthodox forces. Magic:

Octamonist
You are a member of a group which believes that the creation of the Iron Mostali and the Clay Mostali (Dwarfs) was a mistake. Octamonists are the ultimate in conservatism - their belief has never been declared a heresy but attracts very few adherents. Physical Skills:
Mental Skills: Octal mathematics, Cite ancient precedent Relationships: To other conservative groups Magic:

Thus a given dwarf from Gemborg might be:

Cultural keyword - Mostali
Caste keyword - Rock Caste. Within this caste his occupation is "Maker of Flying Buttresses". He receives Masonry skill as a Rock Dwarf anyway but he also gets Work Tirelessly at Carving Flying Butresses as an ability. Also within his caste keyword he receives the ability Read Rock Dwarf Field Manual to allow him to cast rock-shaping magic. Doctrine keyword - Evacuationist. His score in this ability determines his determination to promote the evacuation of the Bluesmoke volcano before things go pear shaped.

In addition all dwarfs have a hobby - an interest they pursue in the privacy* of their sleeping shelves. Our dwarf is building a model of the Lhankor Mhy temple in Nochet out of small marble chippings with only a postcard-sized illustration as a guide.

End of The Glorantha Digest V7 #691


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