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Language & Symbols

THE DWARVES OF THE IRON MOUNTAINS

10.1 Spoken Language

The primary spoken language is Dwarvish (Durin's Tongue), a guttural, consonant-heavy language with a rich set of runic alphabets:

  • Stone-Rune (used for legal documents).
  • Fire-Rune (used in forgecraft).
  • Earth-Rune (used for mining maps).

Writing is traditionally carved into stone, metal, or crystal; ink-based parchment is rare but used for diplomatic correspondence.

10.2 Dialects & Registers

Durin's Tongue has three principal dialects:

  • High Dwarven
    the formal, archaic register used in legal proceedings, religious ceremonies, and the Chronicles of the Deep. Spoken slowly and deliberately, with elongated vowels.
  • Common Dwarven
    the everyday language of hearth and forge. Faster, more clipped, with liberal use of craft-specific jargon.
  • Deep-Cant
    a specialized argot used by miners and Rune-Sentinels in the Deep Zone. Rich in whistle-signals and hand-gestures adapted for noisy, low-visibility environments.

10.3 Symbols & Iconography

The most common symbol is the Anvil-Cross, representing the union of craft and honor. Other motifs include the Three Peaks (the three great Holds), the Runic Spiral (balance of magic), and the Stone-Heart (the mountain's spirit).

Clan heraldry is prominently displayed on shields, banners, and the doors of family dwellings. Each clan's sigil incorporates the Anvil-Cross with a unique modifier
for example, Clan Ironfist adds a clenched gauntlet, while Clan Emberheart adds a stylized flame.