The Deep Silence
In Dwarven holds, when the buckets from mines come up empty, when ore veins fade into rock and disappear, when torches go out and are not relit, then the settlement has succumb to The Deep Silence
This is a psychological condition, akin to a deep depression and sense of hopelessness, it goes to the very heart of the dwarves. Where the whole mine becomes demotivated and apathetic to its work, leaving the walls and watch fires unattended, forges to go cold, and meals unmade.
Like a baby camel that feels it cannot hope to live and simply turns over to die, so too does a colony suffering from The Deep Silence roll over and pass beyond.
The hardest part with treatment is that the apathy and hopelessness often leads sufferers not to reach out, and as it effects the whole colony there are few who can help them to recover.
Symptoms
Fatigue, apathy and demotivation are the most evident, but a general sense of hopelesness is also exhibited.
Treatment
Most colonies this occurs in simple fade into darkness.
However, stories tell of how great heroes have brought their colonies back from the brink. Before the final fires went out they delivered the head of a mighty foe or a great hoard of gold and gems, reenvigorating the colony.
Prognosis
Initially there is wide scale apathy towards work, miners will go into the mine but will not sing songs and set to the veins of ore with vigour and excitement.
Next comes demotivation, tools will be left idle, forges will go out and walls will be left unattended.
Finally comes hopelesness, where the fires go out and the colony falls silent.
Affected Groups
Any dwarf can succumb to it, of any rank or age.
Prevention
A famous scam invovled a trinket seller producing a preventative amulet, however he instisted that everyone in the colony had to wear one at all times, making himself a fortune.
A month later however and the string of the kings amulet snagged on his armour, snapping and falling to the floor infront of the whole court. Word spread like wildfire that the king had lost his amulet and succumb to The Deep Silence. The only survivors of this once great city where the few scouts sent out to track down the tinkerer for a replacement amulet.
History
In deep corners of mountains, and cut into the edge of valleys and fjords lie forgotten, crumbling statues, great stone tributes to dwarven ancestors. these are the only remnants of once great cities, cities which have succumb to The Deep silence.
Cultural Reception
Mother will tell their children to behave or they will catch The Deep Silence and doom everyone. Cautionary tales before bed of always saying your prayers and making the most of every ore mined.
Humans have no understanding of this occurance, simply dismissing it as dwarven stubbornness manifested in depression, that they are simply too stubborn to get better by seeking help.
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