Dwarven Battlecries

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:22 pm

I'm writing dialogue for a new soundset for a dwarven character of mine. I'm just wondering what sort of battlecry such a character would have. If it helps, he is going to be neutral or good (i'm thinking chaotic good right now). What are the dwarven deities in the Forgotten Realms?

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:32 pm

As a secondary point, is there anywhere online that I could get a good Forgotten Realms referrence for this sort of thing?

Daydrius · Post by **Daydrius** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:40 pm

well, I'm not sure about the forgoten realms, but in Krynn, a great dwarven deity is Reorx...dwarves usually say someething like "Reorxes beard" when they are surprised

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:20 pm

Originally posted by Krynus
As a secondary point, is there anywhere online that I could get a good Forgotten Realms referrence for this sort of thing?

Faiths and Pantheons lists all of the deities in the Dwarven Pantheon, still, for safe measure, allow me to list them for you. Note that some parts given are from 3rd or 3.5 Edition rather than AD&D. The battle cries are the likely referrence to them by dwarves.

Moradin - Patron Deity (Lawful Good god of dwarves, protection, and smiths). Common battle cry: "By Moradin's Hammer!" or "Moradin!!"

Berronar Truesilver - Intermediate Deity and bride of Moradin (LG god of family and oaths). Common battle cry: Unknown.

Clangeddin Silverbeard - Intermediate Deity (LG god of battle/war). Common battle cry: "By Clangeddin's twin axes!"

Dumathoin - Intermediate Deity (True Neutral god of shield dwarves, mining, and guardian of the dead). Common battle cry: Unknown.

Gorm Gulthyn - Lesser Deity (Lawful Good god of guardianship, defense, and watchfulness). Common battle cry: Unknown.

I'll edit in the others later, but here's some for now.

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:24 pm

Thank you very much!

Mulligan · Post by **Mulligan** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:55 pm

You could always opt for (if INT is low) the cry from Warcraft II :

"I got Axe for YOU" , although it was by a troll there...

Or some new ones invented by me :

"I'll drag yer' into my beard, you lousy...."

"I'll ..gut you down to size, giant!"

"Ale...I need some ale, dammnit!!"

"By all that is Dwarven, I'll gut you through!!!"

"We'll see about size..."

"Chaaarge...Uh.ooh!"

The ever funny "your kneecaps are at my mercy" could be more sinister with another voice.....

Greyhawk Dwarven Cleric of Moradin :

"Moradin shall forge our Victory !!"

Of Kord : (you might wan't to steal this)

"By the Sinewy thaws of Kord (or Moradin)

Of Heironeus :

"None may doubt the valor of "xxxxxxxx"(your gods name)".

"xxxxxxxx" laughs this day !!

"I eat Orc's for breakfast"

Or my portfolio from IWDII:

"Ohh, when all else fail, put the DWARF up front..!"

Or:

"Yep, it's looks like i'm going on a killing spree...!" or something like it....

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:19 pm

How is Clangeddin pronounced, by the way?

Adahn · Post by **Adahn** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:20 pm

I think it's "Yep, looks like i'm gonna have to go on a killin' spree" But it's not too dawrven to me. It sounds... more ... Halfling-ish

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:02 pm

Avoiding the cliched subjects and sounds (ale, shortness, mining, beards, Scottish accents, etc) would be top in my book, but do whatever sounds good to you.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 4:00 pm

Originally posted by Krynus
How is Clangeddin pronounced, by the way?

clan-gehd-din

krunchyfrogg · Post by **krunchyfrogg** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:37 pm

Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu!

It's from Tolkien. "Axes of the dwarves! The dwarves are upon you!"

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:22 am

Originally posted by krunchyfrogg
Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu!

It's from Tolkien. "Axes of the dwarves! The dwarves are upon you!"

But is the Dwarven language of D&D and the Forgotten Realms the same thing as Tolkien's Dwarven language?

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:54 pm

I'd assume not, but I haven't heard a Dwarf speak

I guess I should reread the Icewind Dale trilogy (I was planning to anyways, once I finish reading ROTK), but I don't even remember if there's any dialogue in Dwarvish in there...

krunchyfrogg · Post by **krunchyfrogg** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:47 pm

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
But is the Dwarven language of D&D and the Forgotten Realms the same thing as Tolkien's Dwarven language?

Heck, it just might be. And it shouldn't really matter anyway, because so much of D&D is so heavily influenced (or just plain ripped off) of Tolkien stuff.

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Sun May 16, 2004 8:55 pm

Originally posted by Krynus
I'd assume not, but I haven't heard a Dwarf speak I guess I should reread the Icewind Dale trilogy (I was planning to anyways, once I finish reading ROTK), but I don't even remember if there's any dialogue in Dwarvish in there...

To my memory (which astounds people, trust me), there were no dialogues in Dwarven AT ALL.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon May 17, 2004 8:42 am

Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
But is the Dwarven language of D&D and the Forgotten Realms the same thing as Tolkien's Dwarven language?

Not at all. Tolkien wrote his books back in the 1930s through 1950s. The assembly line D&D and later, AD&D business of TSR and its competition didn't form up until the mid-to-late 1970s. They borrowed from many sources, but typically attached stereotyped cliches in those areas where Tolkien showed any originality. Thus, AD&D Dwarves sound like bad imiltations of Highland Scotsmen.

Tolkien, a knowledgable linguist (though his main area of work was a professor of history), based Dwarven off languages of the Caucasus region, and Eastern Europe.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Mon May 17, 2004 10:05 am

Originally posted by fable
Avoiding the cliched subjects and sounds (ale, shortness, mining, beards, Scottish accents, etc) would be top in my book, but do whatever sounds good to you.

"Dwarven rage be driven by your ugly face..."

"Stand aside... lest I'll push you out."

"Heh... I'd make me armor reddish this time... rrrahh!"

"Forgive me, but crossing hearts is my job now!"

I'm very bad with these. Specially avoinding cliche

Galuf the Dwarf · Post by **Galuf the Dwarf** » Mon May 17, 2004 11:35 am

Originally posted by fable
Not at all. Tolkien wrote his books back in the 1930s through 1950s. The assembly line D&D and later, AD&D business of TSR and its competition didn't form up until the mid-to-late 1970s. They borrowed from many sources, but typically attached stereotyped cliches in those areas where Tolkien showed any originality. Thus, AD&D Dwarves sound like bad imiltations of Highland Scotsmen.

Tolkien, a knowledgable linguist (though his main area of work was a professor of history), based Dwarven off languages of the Caucasus region, and Eastern Europe.

I would have thought such. However, there's one biting question for us all: what does the Dwarven language sound like for D&D-based games?

There are resources for the Drow and Dragon languages, but anybody has yet to find reference to the Dwarven language (primarily translation from Common to said language).

nephtu · Post by **nephtu** » Mon May 17, 2004 5:06 pm

Well, no kidding...

One thing that (IIRC) the D&D cats definitely had in common with Prof.T is the secretive nature of dwarves - not necessarily because they nicked it from him, but because it's a conventional feature of dwarvenkind from the original myths & legends.

So it's no great surprise that we see little or no dwarvish: Even in the hyper-linguistic LotR we see only the famous battle cry and a few place names (Kibil-Nala, Zirak-zigil, Khazad-dum, etc.), with some strong suggestions of dwarvish loan words in Numenorean (such as Inziladun). We don't even know the true names of any Dwarves - with the possible exception of Mim and company in the Silmarillion.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue May 18, 2004 6:40 am

Re: Well, no kidding...

Originally posted by nephtu
One thing that (IIRC) the D&D cats definitely had in common with Prof.T is the secretive nature of dwarves - not necessarily because they nicked it from him, but because it's a conventional feature of dwarvenkind from the original myths & legends.

Very true. Historically, dwarves, kobolds and the like were elemental forces, the equivalent of elves, sylphs, salamanders, etc. They were specifically custodians of the mountain, and hid their secrets as the mountains (to people living and working in Eastern and Central Europe) hid their wealth underground. Theirs is the silence of the mountain, and the distrust of all spirits for those who want treasure easily, quickly. Neat stuff.