DWARVES
CHAPTER 1
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and don’t like its definition, try altering the order of the words in each part of the definition. It is also possible to use the defi nition as just a starting place for a name’s meaning. Often, the defi nitions can be combined in a poetic way for better results. For instance, dwarven names are often descriptive of where a character (or his ancestors) came from. Thus, “Nordris” could mean “Mithral Heart,” “Lovely Mithral,” “Love of Mithral,” or even “As Lovely as Mithral.” And although “Azigen” might seem like a name with a bad definition (“Rock Stone”), even it can work as “From the Stone and Rock.” Place names in particular can take a little creative thought. Table 1–2: Male Dwarf Name Suffixes d% Suffix Definition 01–02 -aim/-and Slayer/Killer 03–04 -ain/-arn Fist/Striker 05–06 -ak Axe/Cutter 07–08 -ar/-ard Guard/Guardian 09–10 -auk Clansman/Crafter 11–12 -bere Gauntlet/Hand 13–14 -bir/-bin Keeper/Warden 15–16 -dak/-dek Mine/Miner 17–18 -dal Ale/Drink/Drinker 19–20 -din Smith/Blacksmith 21–22 -el Warrior 23–24 -ent Mountain 25–26 -erl Father 27–28 -gal Shield 29–30 -gan Mason 31–32 -gar/-gath Lurker/Thief 33–34 -gen Stone/Monolith 35–36 -grim Eternal/Lasting 37–38 -gur/-guk Boar/Steed 39–40 -i/-ik Brother/Ally 41–42 -ias Anvil 43–44 -ili/-li Beard/Pride 45–46 -im/-rim King 47–48 -in/-rin Dwarf/Dwarves/People 49–50 -ir/-init Giver 51–52 -kas Scout/Seeker 53–54 -kral Hall/Stronghold 55–56 -lond Friend 57–58 -o/-oak Barrow/Tomb 59–60 -on/-lon Raid/Raider 61–62 -or/-ror Riddle/Riddlemaster 63–64 -oril/-oric Judge/Lawgiver 65–66 -rak Hammer/Smasher 67–68 -ral Heart/Spirit 69–70 -ric Chest/Belly 71–72 -rid Craftworker/Craft master 73–74 -rim Spear/Stabber 75–76 -ring Armor/Hide/Skin 77–78 -ster/-stili Kin/Cousin 79–80 -sun Rider 81–82 -ten Son/Child of 83–84 -thal Mattock/Crusher 85–86 -then Earth/Earthen/of the Earth 87–88 -thic Champion/Victor 89–90 -thur Hunter/Wayfinder 91–92 -ur/-rur Master/Craftsman 93–94 -urt Berserker/Battlerager 95–96 -ut/unt Highborn/Nobleman 97–98 -val Messenger 99–100 -var/-villi Outcast/Exile
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Often, adding the word “of” to the defi nition somewhere will help. “Durral” may not make much sense if you defi ne it as “Wolf Birthplace,” but “Birthplace of the Wolves” works just fi ne.
CITIES AND SETTLEMENTS Towns and cities generally form in response to two phenomena: the need for a new population center and the availability of natural resources. While surface-dwellers generally need only look for water and solid ground, dwarves are far choosier about where their cities are built. Table 1–3: Female Dwarf Name Suffixes d% Suffix Definition 01–02 -a/-aed Hearth 03–04 -ala/-la Blessing 05–06 -alsia Partner/Wife 07–08 -ana Eye/Eyes 09–10 -ani Bearer 11–12 -astr Ring/Jewelry 13–14 -bela Ally/Sister 15–16 -bera/-bena Will/Faith 17–18 -bo Hair/Braid 19–20 -bryn Wisewoman 21–22 -deth Guard/Guardian 23–24 -dis Gift/Riches 25–26 -dred Maiden 27–28 -drid Spinner/Weaver 29–30 -dris Heart/Love/Lovely 31–32 -esli Hand/Skill 33–34 -gret Daughter/Child of 35–36 -gunn Warrior 37–38 -hild Speech/Voice 39–40 -ia Priestess/Holy Woman 41–42 -ida Air/Breath 43–44 -iess Mother/Matriarch 45–46 -iff Beauty/Jewel 47–48 -ifra Craftswoman/Cook/Seamstress 49–50 -ila Joy 51–52 -ild Fair/Kindness 53–54 -ina Art/Artisan/Craft 55–56 -ip/ippa Pledge/Promise 57–58 -isi Treasure/Treasure of 59–60 -iz Fox 61–62 -ja Mistress 63–64 -kara Healer 65–66 -li/-ili Twin/Twin of/Sister of 67–68 -lin Song/Singer 69–70 -lydd Vindicator 71–72 -mora/-moa Seer/Prophetess 73–74 -ola Brewer/Brew/Ale 75–76 -on/-ona White/Pure 77–78 -ora/-oa Tender/Protector 79–80 -re/-rra Tree/Root 81–82 -ren Life/Living/Birth of 83–84 -serd Virtue/Virtuous 85–86 -shar/-sha Moon 87–88 -thra Escort/Matron 89–90 -tia River/Pool 91–92 -tryd Heroine 93–94 -unn Highborn/Noblewoman 95–96 -wynn Grace/Gracious 97–98 -ya Guest/Hostess 99–100 -ydd Queen
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