The Darker Side of Dwarves

Based upon and inspired by 'Dwarfs Stone and Steel' a Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay supplement by Alfred Nunez Jr.

I thought I would post some ideas and concepts for Dwarven culture which I have been toying with but which are unlikely to ever find themselves in a Dwarven Sourcebook due to their nature.
We all know that Dwarven culture sanctions the concept of suicide as an acceptable option for an adult Dwarf whose shame or failures make a continuation of life pointless. Suicide is a natural choice for an adult Dwarf that has made an irretrievable mistake and rendered its entire existence valueless as a result.
However, what has not been covered in the sourcebooks is the logical extension of this principle to other aspects of Dwarven Culture.
There is an old Dwarven proverb which translates roughly as follows:
“Only a fool would entrust his gold to a box with no lock.”
However, what is not normally quoted is the rest of this rhyme which goes,
“Only an idiot would build his hall from pumice stone.”
“Only a kruti would forge a hammer of brass.”
“Or continue to dig once the vein is spent.”
“So, what father would you be to impose a prospectless child on your clan.”
Fatherhood is an onerous duty for any male dwarf and one which is taken very seriously. The father is judged by the quality of his children and for many male dwarves whose personal achievements have earned them the right to mate it is the first time they have ever needed to impart their skill and knowledge to another. Many highly successful dwarves are simply not up to the challenge whilst others are just too paranoid to trust a child not to betray their hard earned reputation.
The result inevitably is that dwarven children suffer a very high mortality rate.
This culling begins at birth, and whilst the rituals vary from clan to clan the basic principles are followed by all Imperial Dwarves. Immediately, upon birth, the child is handed to the father for inspection. This inspection varies in detail and some clans include clan elders in the process, in others (particularly the warrior clans) the father makes the judgment alone and then has to present his child to the clan elder and defend it against any negative judgments he might make.
Whatever, the detail the result of the principle is the same. The child is accepted by the father who by doing so formally undertakes and pledges that he will instruct the child in ways of the clan and that the child will become a valuable asset to the clan and an honour to his family.
If for whatever reason the father is not happy that he can do this then the child is immediately killed. Thus, one will never see a disabled dwarven child after its naming day (Navnsdeg) for no Dwarven father would stake his reputation on such a doubtful prospect and if he did he would be considered a fool.
But, if the child survives this first assessment the ceremony ends with Navnsdeg or Naming.
However, it does not end there for throughout its childhood and developing years up to the day of its Kumenouht the dwarven child is under constant assessment and judgement by its father.
Fathers are left to decide for themselves how such assessments are carried out and how judgement is passed and the methods tend to be passed down from father to son within families. The methods also vary considerably from clan to clan depending on what craft the clan practices. A mining clan would certainly place heavy emphasis upon strength, determination and resilience, whilst a warrior clan would be looking for courage, loyalty and weapon skill.
What is common to all clans is that those children who do not measure up to the exacting standards never reach their Kumenouht day. To burden one's clan with a prospectless child would shame not only the father but his entire family.
Another aspect which is not mentioned or talked about is the fate of those mature Imperial dwarves who through sickness or injury can no longer serve useful lives and no longer have any means of enhancing or improving their reputations.
It goes without saying that it is unfair and cruel for any dwarf who has lived a valuable life to be forced to remain in the mortal realm when it is obvious that his usefulness is over. To do so is to risk overshadowing the memories of the good work he has already done and to risk the possibility that his current infirmity will lead to embarrassment or ridicule.
In most cases, these individuals will make their own decision and leave the mortal realm with their honour and reputation intact. In other cases, where circumstances dictate, a close member of the family will aid them to take the right course.

Ex-Pat Dwarves and human corruption.

There is plenty of evidence amongst ex-pat Dwarven communities that the standards passed down from their ancestors have been diluted by exposure to human culture.
Amongst the dwarven community of Mighal-Bar an Imperial Dwarf would be shocked to find not only instances of obvious physical deformity but also the common sight of maimed, disabled and even insane dwarves alive and working in the Smelting District of Nuln.
Such a drop in standards is difficult for an Imperial Dwarf to understand particularly as there does not seem to be any shortage of sound Garazi working on the red and black wharves but clearly, it shows the dangers that prolonged exposure to humanity can have upon dwarven standards.

Insults Revisited

When viewed in the context of the above it is not surprising that most of the worse insults made by or directed at a dwarf are those that suggest some physical shortcoming.
Referring, to a dwarf as 'a stump' is not only making fun of his height but more importantly suggested that his height somehow renders him inferior or less capable. In a society where a dwarven child that is too short might well be killed this is not just an insult but a threat and understandably gets a very aggressive reaction.
Even seemingly innocent remarks like 'Your looking tired' can lead to a violent reaction from a dwarf. In mining clans where resilience and determination are vital qualities, to suggest that a dwarf looks tired is to accuse it of being sub-standard and unfit for life.

Only a fool would entrust his gold to a box with no lock. Only an idiot would build his hall from pumice stone. Only a kruti forges a hammer of brass. Or continues to dig once the vein is spent. So, what father be you to impose a prospectless child on your clan.

Dwarven Proverb