Suggestions for the Dwarven Focus

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Suggestions for the Dwarven Focus

Dwarves are really a simple-minded lot. They harp on one thing to the great annoyance of other people. They ignore things that have no bearing on their focus. When they say their life's focus is to bake a cake, they turn themselves and everyone around them inside out in the process of baking a cake JUST like they WANT it. If the cake doesn't look & taste exactly like they want it, that "ideal" product they have in their minds, then it doesn't count and they have to keep working.

When they say they want to paint the best picture ever painted of Allanak's main gate, it only means the "best" as far as that particular dwarf is concerned. This may mean an impressionist splatter of escru viscera, or it may mean something done in 3D with the blood of a wyvern after copulation.

A dwarf's focus should be THE main thing to decide upon and explore when writing the character's background, BEFORE even applying for it. Whatever the case, it's something which defines the dwarf to hirself; for some it will be a matter of pride to show/perform/etc. for others as well.

One thing you can do is be very very very anal. To take two examples: "Paint a self-portrait" and "Build a house". These are two very very simple foci, and would be incredibly easy to fulfil during the lifetime of the dwarf. Sure, the dwarf could finish these, and then move on to the next, even harder focus. It's much more fun to take basic, simple things and go incredibly anal with them.

For example: The dwarf who wants to paint a self portrait might make the stipulation that said self-portrait must be -perfectly- photorealistic, and done in tempera paint mixed from the eggs of a green erdlu. Once they have mixed the paints, they must also build his own brushes, from the hairs of a halfling and the bones of a gith (because somewhere along the line someone said something about those being the best brushes). After that, they must build their own canvas, which must be perfect. Once that's done, they must make the perfect frame for the self-portrait. This could involve learning to carve wood, and perhaps finding the apropriate gilding (maybe even gold leaf!) for the frame. Then, they must find the perfect mirror to paint themself in: one that will reflect the -best-, so that they are able to see themself better. Once that's all completed, they can finally sit down, and try to paint the self portrait.

So, from "painting a portrait, you've moved to:

• Mixing the perfect paint.
• Building the perfect brushes.
• Making the perfect canvas.
• Building the perfect frame.
• Finding the perfect mirror.
• Painting the perfect self-portrait.
• Finding a way to learn to do all of these, and pay for it all, too.

The dwarf who wants to build a house may wish to build the house out of Mek-bones they've personally killed and slain, just so they know the quality of the materials are good. They will have to teach themself how to be an architect, and how to be a bone-carver and carpenter. They'll also have to make enough money to help supply all of these things. Before the construction begins, they will probably personally interview everyone who will be helping out, finding only the best workers on Zalanthas (unless they're focused on buiding the whole thing by himself), as well as inspect every material, every extra supply, and every tool personally to make sure it's in the best of shape. Somewhere in there, they'llll undoubtedly have to deal with the Templarate, and housing, and finding the perfect place to build the House.

Now you have a dwarf who wants to:

• Kill the perfect mek.
• Become the perfect bone-carver.
• Become the perfect architect.
• Become the perfect carpenter.
• Find the Perfect Spot for the House.
• Be the perfect Foreman.
• Build the Perfect House.
• Make lots of money to supply all this.

Dwarves do nothing half-assed...at least, nothing which involves their focus. Much to the chagrin of other races, however, dwarves will often ignore stuff that has nothing to do with their focus. So, should Gidget the Human come by, and ask if Joe the Painting Dwarf if he wants to spar, Joe will have to think about it, and decide if sparring Gidget will help him paint a self-portrait. Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. But Joe should at least think about it, and decide on his own. Maybe sparring Gidget will help him eventually kill the Halfling. Or, maybe Joe is smarter than killing that Perfect Halfling for his brushes himself, and will try to make enough money to hire a bunch of people to do it for him.

Elin Housebuilder, on the other hand, might want to travel a lot, so that she can find the perfect place to put her house. So, she might decide to join to join Kadius to learn the carpentry and bonecarving needed, as well as get opportunities to travel around, and find a good place. Should her bosses 1) decide not to teach her woodcarving, or 2) decide not to travel around a lot, Elin will probably be out of there, looking for another way to fulfill what she feels is the right thing to do.

A list of possible foci:

1. Seek out the perfect woman/man (dwarven or otherwise)
2. Rid the known world of the evil known as spice.
3. Rid the known world of the evil known as magick.
4. Free the slaves! (But I think that one has been done)
5. Learn magick. (but don't tell anyone ;^)
6. Make a million 'sids.
7. Tame a Mekillot. (and call him George)
8. Crush a rival city state and oppress it for generations.
9. Plant a garden.
10. Found one's own religon.
11. Become the most famous bard\performer in the known world.
12. Become the most infamous bandit in the known world.
13. Become a renowned chef, and cook meals for nobility and maybe someday the highlord.
14. Clean up the 'rinth.
15. Start up one's own merchant house.
16. Destroy an established merchant/noble house (or other clan)
17. Learn to sail a silt skimmer and explore the silt sea.
18. Be able to drink more ale than anyone he/she knows.
19. Learn to play the guitar.
20. Learn how to read/write.
21. Scale the shield wall. (with or without the climb skill)
22. Discover the lost treasures of Steinal (or any other lost/destroyed city).
23. Learn to speak Taltum.
24. Learn to speak Sirihish ;)(for all you 1 hour dwarves out there)
25. Pull off the crime of the Kings Age!
26. Shake the Highlord Tektolnes' hand. (and not melt, or something equally bad)
27. Teach a kank to count.
28. Teach a kank to speak.
29. Learn to speak kank.
30. Corner the market on "Spiral-Carved, Green Marble Incense Burners"
31. Invent a flying machine, (or fail horribly trying)
32. Explore the unknown-world.
33. Farm the tablelands.
34. Get to the surface of Lirathu.
35. Get to the surface of Jihae.
36. Make the perfect vase/bracelet/portrait, etc.
37. Become a political bard and rid Allanak of corruption through your stinging wit and incisive satire..
38. Convince everyone that kanks are evil and they should ride inixes.
39. Grow hair
40. Map the known world
41. Figure out if dwarves and halflings/elves/gith are interfertile, and what their offspring looks like
42. Change your sex.
43. Learn the true history of the world
44. Develop the 'ultimate' combat philosophy
45. Become an expert in all poisons, and discover a new one
46. Learn the elven running technique
47. Paint a self-portrait
48. Build a house
49. Exterminate all of the rats of Allanak
50. Breed 'fighting erdlus' and get them introduced into the arena
51. Educate a half-giant
52. Figure out what those damn Drovians do all day
53. Tunnel to the center of the earth
54. Find and eat a piece of metal
55. Become a templar
56. Learn to burrow like an sand-demon
57. Bring back Luir
58. Learn to predict the weather
59. Make a pair of pants
60. Make a pair of shoes
61. Make the perfect Hat
62. Create a magickal artifact
63. Learn to dance
64. Learn to speak gith, allundean, etc
65. Live forever
66. Kill your Mother-in-Law
67. Become a Noble
68. Kill a Templar, or a Noble
69. Explore the Silt Sea
70. Be able to recite, from memory, the entire history of the world.
71. Burn Down Allanak
72. Become a dragon
73. Only ever speak in a whisper
74. Try to become as tall as a half-giant, yet still be as smart as a dwarf.
75. Build the world's most comfortable chair.
76. Try to invent the funniest joke in the world.
77. Exterminate the Gith, wearing only a loincloth and a dagger in your off-hand.
78. Get married.
79. Have X number of kids, where X equals some ungodly number.
80. Protect something.
81. Attack something.
82. Insult Everyone in the Known World, individually. (Thank you, Douglas Adams).
83. Taste Everything.
84. Invent the greatest invention, ever.
85. Convince everyone that they should always wear something pink. (or some other color).
86. Be inducted into a Desert Elven tribe.
87. Somehow marry a kank to a Fale.
88. Avenge the death of your family.
89. Avenge the death of someone else's Family.
90. Make as many enemies as possible, yet still remain alive.
91. Learn to catch flies with your hands.
92. Make a mantis laugh.
93. Make a mantis sleep.
94. Become a crack-shot sniper. With a slingshot.
95. Become the world's greatest Assassin.
96. Start your own City-State, with Templars and everything.
97. Steal from every elf you meet.
98. Make a half-giant smart.
99. Meet a full-giant.
100. Grow the biggest tree ever.
101. Plant a garden.
102. Make the Northlands look like the Southlands. (or vice versa)
103. Carve a statue.
104. Be a pacifist.