Paragon is the title bestowed upon dwarves who have performed extraordinary feats and recognized as so important that they are worthy of reverence within their own lifetime. They represent the pinnacle of dwarven excellence. Paragons are the one exception to the rigid caste structure as they can be drawn from any caste, even the casteless. In practice, however, paragons are traditionally drawn from the ranks of the warriors, smiths or artisans.[1]
Background
Paragons are considered the pinnacle of dwarven excellence and function as essential role models to their fellow dwarves. They are considered living Ancestors, their actions and words carrying the wisdom and will of the Ancestors. Even though the title grants no official power, the word of a Paragon carries a great deal of weight in the Assembly,[1] even surpassing that of Orzammar's monarch.
Dwarven cities are decorated by monolithic lifelike statues of Paragons from days past. The most impressive are located within Orzammar's Hall of Heroes beneath the surface gates of the Frostback Mountains, where the giant statues appear to hold up the ceiling. This is meant to impress—and perhaps intimidate—visitors to Orzammar and to convey upon dwarves heading to the surface all that they are leaving behind.
King Endrin Stonehammer is known as the First Paragon of the dwarves.[2]
Election of Paragons
The act by which one becomes a Paragon can vary. Typically, it is bestowed upon a dwarf for a feat of bravery in warfare or an incredible invention, though it can also be given for something as simple as embodying the ideals and tasks of one's caste to an unprecedented perfection.[3][4] Some have earned the rank for less important pursuits such as writing particularly good rhymes or brewing stronger ales. The only constant is that it be an act that betters or sustains the dwarven way of life in some notable fashion.[5] A Paragon is elected by the Assembly, which is no easy feat and often involves long debates weighing the political consequences; a Paragon creates a noble house with a deshyr representative, which may upset the political balance as the Paragon's entire house, who can be of any caste, will be uplifted to the privileged noble caste. This new house bears the name of the Paragon and is recorded in the Memories, the records of the dwarves. Paragons can also be named posthumously, which is usually the case for Paragons of the servant caste.[3][4]
In ancient times, the best warriors of Grand Provings were named Paragons and many statues were constructed in their honor.[6]
Known Paragons
- Aeducan – he lived at the beginning of the First Blight and led the armies of Orzammar against the darkspawn at a time when they had almost completely destroyed the dwarven empire; it is said that his election to Paragon had but one dissenting vote; the one who cast that vote was savagely hacked to death by his fellow deshyrs[9], allowing the election to pass unanimously; founder of House Aeducan
- Astyth the Grey – she is the first female Paragon of the Warrior caste; the Silent Sisters were founded in honor of Astyth, and members of that order cut out their tongue in emulation of her; Astyth posthumously became a Paragon when she sacrificed her life to save Orzammar's king in 1:95 Divine[10][11]
- Beirus – a true living paragon of Orzammar as his prowess at the forge rivaled that of Caridin[12][13]
- Bemot – was born as a commoner and became a Paragon and king in one move during the Fourth Blight; founder of House Bemot; Bemot's statue can be found in the Hall of Heroes
- Branka – an ill-tempered smith who became a Paragon in 9:10 Dragon by inventing a smokeless coal[14] (the only to be elected in four generations); founder and head of House Branka; Branka went into the Deep Roads on a secret mission in 9:28 Dragon, taking her entire household except her husband Oghren; her statue can be found in the Hall of Heroes
- Child Paragon – the deeds and name are unknown, the memorial in Caridin's Cross has been worn away by time or vandalized by darkspawn
- Caridin – created the Anvil of the Void; he originally descended from House Ortan but after his elevation to the Paragon status he created his own house; when Caridin vanished, the secret of how to create golems vanished with him
- Ebryan – wrote the book Songs That Only Nugs Can Hear in 5:84 Exalted;[15][16][17] he is attributed for being the author of How the Deepstalker Came to Be, a popular dwarven tale for children[18]
- Elahen – a Paragon who died in Caridin's Cross[19]
- Fairel – an ancient master smith who is well-known for his runework; Fairel, his two sons, his entire House and several others escaped the war waged underground and built Kal Repartha on the surface in the Hissing Wastes of western Orlais[20][21]
- Orseck Garal – he is an ancient king of the dwarven empire; after his death, he was succeeded by his friend and ally Endrin Stonehammer who named Orseck a Paragon on his deathbed[22]
- Orrick Garen[23][24][25] – he lived in the early Exalted Age and he is the only king who became a Paragon during his reign; Orrick sentenced his son Tethras to be exile into the Deep Roads for the murder of his sister Unaria; Orrick eventually found out that the Carta were responsible for the murder and was so overcome with guilt, that for ten years he continuously sent Legionnaire units into the Deep Roads in an effort to find his son; as a tribute to his son, he changed the name of his house from Garen to Tethras as well as his own name;[26] this though is disputed by Varric Tethras who stated that as a tribute to his son, the heirs of House Garen took the name Tethras and eventually one of them became a Paragon on his own right and then founded House Tethras[27]
The tomb of Paragon Heidrun the Deep
- Gherlen the Blood-Risen[28][29] – was born casteless and ventured to the surface; after gaining enough prestige from his adventures and acts of bravery, he returned to Orzammar and became a Paragon and king by overthrowing the ruler, his tale is still honored by dwarven adventurers
- Heidrun the Deep – a Paragon whose deeds are unknown; however, he can be found buried in a grandiose tomb in the Heidrun Thaig which was named after him[30]
- Hekkat – discovered the means that allowed dwarves to build structures of massive height and breadth[31]
Paragon Hirol's sarcophagus
- Hirol – he considered himself to be outside of the caste system and made several improvements on Caridin's original golem designs; he is the founder of the noble House Hirol, Hirol's tomb can be found in Kal'Hirol's Trade Quarter
- Hrildan – a female Paragon who is featured in the Hall of Heroes; there are several carvings depicted of her
- Ilona – a Paragon whose deeds are unknown; she ordered the sealing of Malvernis in the Vimmark Mountains[32]
- Ivo – a Paragon and founder of House Ivo; he lived during or just prior to the Blessed Age[33][34]
- Lantena – a female Paragon featured in the Hall of Heroes
- Lynchcar – a Paragon who lived during the Steel Age; Lynchcar's deeds are not known but he is mentioned in a book of poetry
- Moroc the Maul[35] – a legendary warrior; Moroc was present at the Grey Wardens founding in -305 Ancient (890 TE); his contributions led to the standardization of not losing one's caste when becoming a Warden[36]
- Ortan – the founder of House Ortan; Ortan composed a grand epic of the Seven Brothers and the Ortanic Symphony; his statue can be found in the Hall of Heroes and a known ancient thaig was named after him[37]
- Seuss – a Paragon that lived in the early Glory Age who apparently had excellent rhyming skills
- Endrin Stonehammer – he succeeded Orseck Garal as the king of the dwarven empire; Stonehammer was named Paragon on his deathbed[2][22]
- Tethras – formerly known as Orrick Garen, he is the Paragon and founder of House Tethras after he changed his house's name as well as his own as a tribute to his son;[26] this however, is disputed by Varric Tethras who states that their founding Paragon was a heir of House Garen and a descendant from Paragon Orrick Garen[27], in any case Paragon Tethras' noble house was banished to the surface in 8:98 Blessed for fixing Proving matches
- Varen – a former Legionnaire who became a Paragon after discovering that nugs are edible,[38][39] there are several carvings depicting him
- Vollney – founder of House Vollney; he is known for becoming a Paragon by the narrowest margin in the history of the dwarves–one single vote[40]
- The Warden – those of dwarven origin will become a Paragon at the end of the Fifth Blight[41]
- Egon Wintersbreath – one of the greatest known dwarven warriors; Egon mounted the defense of the Kingdom of Hormak against the darkspawn until it fell in -35 Ancient; he left for the surface after High King Threestone decreed that the Deep Roads–leading to Orzammar–be sealed, Egon claimed that he would "rather die under an alien sky than be buried in the Stone that betrayed [them]"[42]
- Unnamed – a dwarf who assisted the Imperium in the Siege of Marnas Pell during the Fourth Blight[43]
- Heldane Zadol – also known as "Weaponsfather", is a Paragon who lived in Hormak and pioneered the art of folding steel–whose blades are still coveted til this day[36][44]
Paragon-Elect
Kal-Sharok, which lived in complete isolation from -15 Ancient[45] to the early Dragon Age after being thought lost to the darkspawn horde, view Paragons differently from Orzammar. In Kal-Sharok, Paragon-Elect is the highest elected government office. Furthermore, the practice of nominating Paragons changed from recognition of past deeds into recognition of promised deeds. Kal-Sharok Paragons are not rendered as giant statues like in Orzammar, but as massive posthumous wall carvings that span vast lengths of the Deep Roads.[1] The dwarves of Kal-Sharok do not recognize the Paragons of Orzammar and likewise, Orzammar does not recognize their Paragons.[46]
Known Paragon-Elects
- Sturhald-Sharok[47]
- Terez Saelac - Known as The Guardian, gave her life defending Kal-Sharok, standing against the darkspawn so her people could find safety behind the thaig walls. [48]
- Metez Saelac - Born into the warrior caste. Fought alongside his twin, Terez, during the Desolation of Kal-Sharok. Terez perished. After the Desolation, Metez became a smith. [49]
- Kardek Ironsinger - Kal-Sharok's Paragon of Smithing. A stone replica of their anvil is placed near a forge as a lucky charm. [50]
Codex entries
Notes
- Rica Brosca erroneously calls Paragon Gherlen as Gherlon in the beginning of the Dwarf Commoner Origin. This is either a developer mistake or can be attributed to her lack of proper education.
- The election of a new Paragon may have such major political consequences that can cause even bloodshed between feuding dwarven clans.[4]
References
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![[1]](/wiki/File:Varric_about_House_Tethras_I.png){kind=link}
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