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Houses

The heraldries of Houses Aeducan, Harrowmont, Caridin and Astyth

House is the formal term for dwarven families whose members are tied with bonds of kinship. The laws regarding houses are dictated by the caste system as well as their stature and rank within dwarven society.

Background[]

Honor, or the illusion of it, is fundamental to dwarves. It shapes their lives and behavior and all elements of dwarven society. Therefore, every house and family polices itself and the honor and behavior of its members. This is a matter of especial importance to noble houses, as nobles are considered to set the mode for the behavior of all other castes. A house's honor is directly tied to the honor and behavior of its members and their deeds. A loss of honor for any member connotes a loss of honor for all in the house.

Known Houses[]

Below are lists of the known dwarven houses, which are categorized depending on their caste. Houses of the same caste are then listed in an alphabetical order, while those whose status is unknown have their name italicized.

Noble Houses[]

Houses which are part of the Noble caste were initially founded by a Paragon but some were founded by high caste dwarves not originally of noble stock, typically Warrior or Smith caste. The respect accorded to a noble house is proportional to its age and accomplishments. Noble houses or important nobles alone often act as patrons to lesser houses or families as well as function as patrons to great warriors in Provings and artists of merit. The noble house gains honor as the subject of their patronage excels and achieves greater status, so the relationship is mutually beneficial.

Warrior Houses[]

Houses which belong to the Warrior caste often pay the toll for Orzammar's safety and security. In spite of this, the Warrior caste is one of the most populous in Orzammar, perhaps due to the martial nature of dwarven society.

Smith Houses[]

Houses belonging to the Smith caste have produced many Paragons, owing to the importance of smithing inventions to dwarven society. As a result, there have been many noble houses comprised of smiths.

Artisan Houses[]

Little is known of Artisan caste houses. The Artisan caste works in concert with the Smith caste to produce goods and thus their houses are presumably held in a similar esteem.

Mining Houses[]

Houses of the Mining caste can be considered to have a great deal of influence, particularly in Orzammar, which was the ancestral home of the Smith and Mining castes.[33]

Merchant Houses[]

Houses of the Merchant caste are involved in trading and commerce, which is an important task as it keeps Orzammar supplied while dwarven products make their way to the surface.

Houses of unknown caste[]

Notes[]

  • Dwarves who leave for the surface forfeit any claims to their house only if they are from the noble caste.[45] Even so, many houses including noble ones continue to have close ties to their family members on the surface.

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Origins.



References[]

  1. A member of this House is encounter during Exotic Methods quest.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Codex entry: The Key to the City
  3. Codex entry: A Journal on Dwarven Ruins
  4. See Dulin Forender.
  5. See Orseck Garal.
  6. Codex entry: First Legionnaire's Journal, Codex entry: Second Legionnaire's Journal, Codex entry: Third Legionnaire's Journal
  7. See these four images: [1], [2], [3], [4].
  8. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 158-159
  9. Dragon Age: Origins Prima Guide Collector's Edition, Traveler's Guide.
  10. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 24
  11. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 116-117
  12. Lord Rousten who is a member of this house, is mentioned by Beraht to Rica Brosca in the Dwarf Commoner Origin while Varick works in the old Rousten Thaig, likely the ancient home of this house.
  13. See Endrin Stonehammer.
  14. House Tethras ceases to exist by being exiled into the surface.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Codex entry: In Praise of the Humble Nug
  16. 16.0 16.1 Based on the Everd's Sword description as well as on other equipment of Everd's.
  17. House Cadash ceased to exist by being exiled into the surface.
  18. Based on Orson Haver's last name.
  19. Mentioned by the Dwarven Commander in the Redcliffe Castle during the climax that House Klaret has not sent its warriors to the surface because of political motivations.
  20. Mentioned by the Dwarven Commander in the Redcliffe Castle during the climax that House Klaret has a blood feud with House Rumold.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Codex entry: Aurvar's Prize
  22. Codex entry: Hands of the Carta
  23. Based on the Dwarven Noble Armor description.
  24. Based on the Aeducan Mace description.
  25. Based on the Superior Dwarven Guard Armor description.
  26. Based on the Dwarven Noble Armored Boots description.
  27. Based on the description of Dwarven Armor, Dwarven Armored Boots and Dwarven Helmet.
  28. Based on the Trian's Maul and Aeducan Shield descriptions.
  29. Based on the Diamond Maul description.
  30. Based on the Champion's Shield description.
  31. Mentioned by Varric Tethras in Dragon Age II; the artisans of the house craft ceramics using clay from the Aedros Atuna river.
  32. The family name of Gatsi Sturhald.
  33. Codex entry: Orzammar History: Chapter One
  34. Note: Lyrium Manifest
  35. Codex entry: Valdasine
  36. The last name of Bodahn Feddic.
  37. Codex entry: Second Legionnaire's Journal
  38. See Amgarrak Thaig.
  39. Codex entry: First Legionnaire's Journal
  40. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 265
  41. The family name of a new character of dwarven origin for Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.
  42. Nalthur was a member of this House.
  43. The family name of Darion, the scholar in House Dace's expedition to Amgarrak Thaig. Source: Brogan Dace. BioWare wiki.
  44. Codex entry: The Noladar Anthology of Dwarven Poetry
  45. Mentioned by Ronus Dace in conversation during The Nobles' Feast.
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