| Personality: These Dwarves are not so much a sub-race as a sub-culture. While most Ddarves known to Sigillians follow the traditional culture of the Children of Moradin, these darves follow a new path, one thought heretical by some, enlightened by others, and mystifying my most.Two centuries ago, in the Realm of Moradin, there lived a darven cleric named Gunnar Grimson. Like most darves, he never questioned the rightness of his culture or religion. He lived in the very home of his Power, after all; what was there to question? But then one day at the forge, he was struck, not with a vision, but a feeling. He could not articulate this feeling, and he spent long days in prayer, fasting, and hard labor trying to understand it. Finally, he realized what that feeling was: Dissatisfaction.He, who had never known a moments doubt, realized that his life was not what it should be. He left his Hall, his clan, and his church. He spent many years wandering the Planes, searching for what was missing. He haggled with Tso, ran away from Slaadi and debated philosophy with Yugoloths. He studied magic with Krynnish wizards and psionics with Gith monks. He studied the precepts of every faith he could discover and still, he couldn’t find what was missing.Finally, he resolved to climb the spire, reasoning that if what he was searching for was anywhere, he would find it at the very center of the Great Ring.He never made it to the top. If fact, he never even touched the Spire itself. Some say that when he came within spitting distance, he lost his nerve. Others say that he realized that his task was foolish. But his followers say that at the moment when he truly committed himself to the climb, he reached enlightenment.He returned to his hold a changed Dwarf. While still a young man by dwarven standards, his beard was pure white and his face scored with more wrinkles than any elder. But what had changed the most was his manner. Gone was the bluff, hearty priest who never questioned the ways he had been taught. He was now a soft-spoken, almost timid dwarf who questioned everything. He questioned the nature of the physical world. He questioned the culture of his people. He questioned the teachings of their church. He questioned the very Gods themselves. And more importantly, he got the other dwarves to question these things too.The elders of the clan were most vexed. For a time, they decided that young Gunnar, while irritating, was harmless. They ostracized him, but did not cast him out. But this slowly changed, as others of the clan started questioning too. Finally, when the clan leader’s heir started questioning, it was too much. A council was convened. Gunnar was brought to trial on charges of corrupting the youth.Now, in the course of his questioning, Gunnar had also learned how to argue. It was widely realized that if he chose to debate, he would soon have had the elders themselves questioning their own judgment. And so, it was required that he give his oath not to attempt this. At the trial, he would not be allowed to speak in his own defense. The only words he could say were “guilty”, or “not guilty”, with the rest of his defense being provided only by his friends, who were allowed to speak for him. But, on the day of the trial, he did a thing that was completely unexpected: He broke his oath. First, he dismissed all those who wished to speak for him. Then, when the time came, he did not plead “guilty”, which would have led to his exile, nor did he plead “not guilty” which would have likely led to the same. Instead, he looked the clan leader in the eye, and in a soft yet steady voice, said: “No Contest”.This enraged the elders. A “guilty” plea would have been an admission that they were right and Gunnar was wrong. “Not guilty” would have been almost as good, for they had more than enough evidence to prove his wrong-doing anyway. But by not pleading at all, he was both throwing himself on their mercy and questioning their right to judge him at all. This could not be borne.They passed judgment, and the sentence was death. The next morning, soon after the morning prayers to Moradin, the heretic would be beheaded, for all to see. Throughout the night, Gunnar’s friends and followers begged him to recant. He would not. They offered to help him escape. He refused. The high priest himself ordered Gunnar to beg the elders for mercy. He respectfully declined. And so, the next morning, he was led to the headsman’s block. And, as he lowered his neck and the executioner took aim, a wonder occurred.A brilliant flash of light dazzled all present, and as their vision cleared, what they saw filled them with awe and dread. For there, for all to see, was a manifestation of Moradin himself. All save Gunnar, who was already kneeling, fell prostrate. And in a voice of thunder, the God decreed: “THIS ONE IS UNDER MY PROTECTION. HARM HIM NOT.” Again, a flash, and the Power had departed.Even before the echoes of that proclamation had died down, a tumult of voices rose.“What does this mean?”“The Heretic, who has questioned the Gods, is now under their protection?”“Is it a trick?”“Who can deny that that was truly the Soulforger?”“Wait, could this be a test?”“But…”And as the voices roared on, Gunnar calmly broke his chains and left the hall. Soon, his absence was noted, and the voices stilled. Within the week, one quarter of the dwarves in the hall left in search of him. They found him, in a humble cave in the Outlands. For the next 3 years and 3 days, he taught them the way of questioning, and gave them a few tentative answers he had found, too. And then, one day, he was gone. Some say he was murdered, some say he ascended, but to those he had taught, it was immaterial. Since then, his followers have spread through the Great Ring, spreading both questions and answers to all who would listen.Grimsonites are sarcastically known as Happy Dwarves (though it might be better to call them “Calm Dwarves”), for their cool tempers and moderate habits. Though they have a habit of questioning everything, they rarely do so in an offensive or obnoxious way. Part of their belief system mandates abstinence from strong drink, and for this reason they are sometimes referred to as “Sober Dwarves” (though seldom where other Dwarves can hear it).By: Michael CrichtonImported from a previous version of Planewalker.com |
