Lighting Darkness
Welcome to this long-distance lecture series on Dwarven Culture and Items. I will assume for the sake of brevity, that you have already undertaken and passed the class regarding the Dwarven Items of Power. That class covers the items of myth and legend crafted by the seclusive Dwarven Runesmiths including, but not limited to, the Runefangs, the Hammer of Sigmar, and other notable items crafted by our stout allies. This class is not that class, so if you were expecting discussion and information on those types of items, I offer my condolences and encouragements to enroll in the appropriate class.
Now that those who wish to remain do so, we can begin on the actual topic that this class covers. Perfectly mundane items that the Dwarves treat as anything but. These items, while conferring no specific advantage to the wearer or user, are venerated as symbols of great importance. Typically the legends surrounding these items revolve around Dwarven Ancestor Gods, one renowned example being the Ring of Grimnir worn by the King of Kraka Drakk. Items such as these would be similar to having in one's possession a goblet that Morr drank from, should he have walked the plane as mortals do. To the Dwarves, these artifacts are proof that their Ancestors are not merely convenient figments of imagination conjured by their society to promote stable social norms but were actual people who carved the foundations of what their culture would become.
While there are scholars who are skeptical of the existence of such figures in myth, especially in regards to such feats as shouting at a mountain causing it to topple onto an approaching Orc horde, it can not be denied that the Dwarves fervently believe in these Ancestor's existence and deeds. In fact, such is the Dwarven belief that these Ancestor's of theirs walked among them at one point in their history that should they be human the label of fanatic would be appropriate. As is, I have never met any Dwarf who expressed any semblance of doubt regarding the existence, authority, or power of these gods. But, alas, we are not here to discuss the Ancestor Gods themselves, but rather some items that legend, rumor, and hearsay claim they owned and gifted at one point.
We will start with a personal favorite of mine, albeit a lesser-known and studied example. The Lamp of Gazul. Many of you will have an inkling of who Gazul is, given that this class is in the more advanced courses regarding Dwarven society offered by our dear academia. However, I have always found that such information can be lacking, faulty, or plain missing from my in-person students. As such, I shall give a brief description of who, exactly Gazul is. Gazul is the Lord of the Dead and the Underearth, essentially Morr's Gardens for Dwarves. He has striking similarities to Morr in that regard, albeit lacking the dreams and prophecies which is often attributed to Morr.
As such, one would think that a lantern of his would provide some benefit to dealing with ghosts or undead. Mayhaps even provide a means to speak to one's ancestors from beyond the grave. This is not the case. For all discernable purposes, the Lamp of Gazul is a normal, albeit finely made, lamp of blackened steel with golden trim and crystal clear glass. It confers no supernatural ability to perceive or deal with the dead and is not even runed to provide light, needing a candle or other means of providing light. If not for the note of it's presumed first owner, we would not even be known that it was likely gifted by Gazul.
The individual who first acquired the item is most commonly known as the Gift-Giver. A runesmith of renown and legend that made a name for themselves in the Northern parts of the Karaz Ankor. Legends speak of him working and acting at around the time the Ancestors walked the land and so much of his tales should be taken with the appropriate amount of skepticism. However, one tale of his coincides with another tale of Gazul, and that is the tale of Vengence for Karak Dum, a Dwarven hold that had fallen to the forces of Chaos in the 1st Great Incursion. Tales of both Gazul and the Gift-Giver describe them acting to avenge the fallen Karak. If the Lamp of Gazul is indeed a gift from the Dwarven Lord of Death, then this is likely the time that it was given.
As to why this particular lantern is a favorite of mine, the reason is simple. It is still being used regularly! The Hearthguard, an interesting pseudo-military force that legends say was founded by the same Gift-Giver and acts as a force of highly trained elders whose goal is to protect and provide for Dwarves suffering and in anguish, are the keepers and users of the Lamp of Gazul. While there is no particularly comparable organization in the Empire, think of them as a tightly knit group of priests from Sigmar, Morr, and Shallya mixed with Witch-hunters and skilled engineers.
The Lamp of Gazul is traditionally utilized by the eldest priest of Gazul amongst the Hearthguard and is symbolically used to light the way in the dark under the earth. Either towards Dwarves who are in danger or in leading Dwarves away from the source of their troubles. Other priests of Gazul among the Hearthguard emulate this tradition, utilizing various replicas of the Lamp of Gazul to provide guidance and comfort to all those they come across who are in distress. Based on the testimonials of Dwarves rescued by the Hearthguard, this tradition has a remarkable effect on the psyche of distraught Dwarves. Even when they know that the lamp carried by the priest of Gazul is a simple replica, the lantern provides immense comfort and stability in a chaotic and dangerous situation. One Dwarf even confessed that he believed Gazul himself had directed the priest there to provide aid and succor in his distress.
This effect is vastly increased when the Dwarves in distress know that the priest of Gazul is carrying the genuine article. Eyewitness accounts describe Dwarves descending into a fanatical fury to protect those being guided out of danger by a priest carrying the Lamp of Gazul. Literally holding chokepoints beyond all semblance of reason to provide sufficient time to escape for those being lead to safety. However, there is an increasingly interesting effect that seems to follow the Lamp of Gazul and its association with the Hearthguard. Given the success of the Hearthguard in their endeavors to protect Dwarves, and the use the Hearthguard put to the Lamp of Gazul, it seems to create an almost circularly reinforcing logic loop on the Dwarves being rescued. The lantern provides comfort and security to Dwarves being guided out, making them easier to handle, less prone to hysterics, and increasing the odds that the Hearthguard has in safely extracting them from trouble. This reinforces the belief for the Dwarves that they will be saved by following the light of Gazul's lamps, which makes the Hearthguard's job easier and more likely to succeed. A cunningly self-reinforcing cycle of belief.
In this way, the genius of the Dwarven societal system is made apparent. The reality of the situation doesn't matter to the Dwarves being saved. It could very well be that the Lamp of Gazul is simply a finely made lamp that hasn't ever been touched by an Ancestor. But the Dwarves believe that it has which makes the job of those who use the lamp, and its replicas, easier than it may otherwise have been. This is not unique to the Lamp of Gazul either but has been an observed phenomenon regarding many of the items that have claims to have been crafted by, or used by, the Ancestor Gods.
In the next lesson, we will look at another item from the north, the Ring of Grimnir, and the effects such an artifact and the legends surrounding it may have shaped the kings of Kraka Drakk. After which, we will begin working our way South and discuss many of the other known artifacts that to this day are being used, or sequestered away, by Dwarves and their effects on Dwarven culture. I wish to those reading this that they find themselves in good health and fine spirits. Until next time.
A/N: This little thought experiment came regarding the latest memento that we have acquired from Gazul and what its fate might be in the future. Given the attitude of the ancestors and Snorri, I have a hard time imagining that the item will simply sit in a vault for the rest of its days, and I can see us using it when we are delving or, after we pass away, the Hearthguard, should they remain in operation, using it in their rescue efforts. I hope you all enjoyed the read of this hypothetical future for the Lamp of Gazul!
