Dwarven Dyes

In the world of Dessend, dwarves were the first to discover the use of minerals as pigments. As a result, any form of mineral pigment is commonly referred to as "dwarven dye" or "dwarven color". All of these pigments have a long and storied history, and the dwarves take great pride in the quality of their dyes. Today, dwarven dyes are used throughout the world and are the third most exported commodity from dwarven lands after deep ores and the refined metals made from them, a testament to the enduring legacy of dwarven innovation and craftsmanship.
"Dwarven Blue" is the common name for the ultramarine pigment made from lapis lazuli. "Dwarven Red" refers to vermillion pigment, which is derived from cinnabar. "Dwarven Green" is the common name for the green pigment made from malachite, while "Dwarven Yellow" is the name for the ochre pigment made from hematite. "Dwarven Sky" is the common name for the azure pigment made from azurite. Finally, "Dwarven Black" is a recent, controversial addition made by combining powdered iron ore and oak galls.

History & Usage

History

The origins of Dwarven Dyes can be traced back to the dwarves' long tradition of mining and stonemasonry. As they dug deeper into the earth, they began to discover and experiment with various minerals and their properties. Eventually, they discovered that certain minerals could be ground and used as pigments to color their stone work and other materials. The dwarves quickly mastered the art of creating high-quality pigments and dyes from these minerals, and they soon became known throughout the land for their vibrant and long-lasting colors. As their reputation grew, so did the demand for their dyes, leading to the establishment of a thriving dwarven dye industry that continues to this day.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Out of a sense of racial pride, traditional dwarven societies limit the use of pigments to create their heraldry and ceremonial clothing to dwarven dyes. In recent centuries, some dwarves have adopted the use of plant-based dyes, but the majority still prefer the colors of dwarven dyes to all other options.

Refinement

The minerals used in dwarven dyes include some metal ores that can be refined into usable metals, such as malachite for copper and cinnabar for quicksilver (mercury). These minerals are ground into fine powders and combined with the purified heads and tails collected from their brewery to give the dyes liquid form. The liquid dye is generally quite thick and is applied like paint to stonework and armor. However, it can also be thinned out with the addition of clear spirits for impregnating fabrics with the mineral dyes.

Manufacturing & Products

While not initially crafted with the purpose of serving as ink, Dwarven Black is often purchased and intentionally thinned for use with quills. Users praise its notably smooth feel when writing, a characteristic that sets it apart from other iron-based inks with similar properties. This is attributed to the dwarves' extraordinary ability to produce much finer grains when grinding their minerals. These fine powders are only rivaled by minerals that have been alchemically dissolved and then distilled, a costly and time-consuming practice.

Type

Mineral