Gold Lust

Dwarfs have a particular fondness for gold, which borders on the pathological. Sometimes called Gold Lust or Gilded Fever, it is most common amongst Dwarf Miners who reap seams of the lustrous metal from the earth itself. Symptoms vary: Insensibility, coveting, desire for physical proximity to gold and even violence are all supported by accounts from the Miners' Guild.

In ancient times, before the time of Sigmar, when Mankind was made up of savage tribes,  it was the hold of Karak Varn that proved to be the most prosperous in its gold reserves. Lucrative seams of the mineral ran long and deep into the mountain and for a time it swelled the coffers of the High King and ensured a position of prominence for Karak Varn. The hold was later destroyed in the earthquakes that wracked the Dwarf Realm, and many of its mines were lost to flood. Scattered accounts suggest that several attempts were made to reclaim them and resettle the hold but all ultimately failed, and to this day Karak Varn remains a ruin inhabited by Orcs, Goblins and fouler creatures.

Dwarfs have many words for gold in their language reflecting their value, weight, lustre, colour and even the gold's history. It would be impossible to document all of them, but the following are a few of the most common.

Bryn - particularly shiny and lustrous. Galaz - of decorative and ornamental value. Gorl - soft and yellow in colour. Gorlm - old gold, passed down through many generations and left undisturbed in guarded treasure vaults. Konk - ruddy, reddish in colour. Ril - Gold ore or new gold, recently minted. Frorl - lucky gold, known to bring good fortune and prosperity. Kurz - unlucky gold, that which has been used in misadventure or in which the recipient has fallen foul of circumstance, such as gold that has been used to pay for inferior goods.

When Dwarfs gather for an evening's drinking, which is most evenings, a popular entertainment is the Gold Song. During the Gold Song, the Dwarfs sing about gold and each drinker sings a verse in turn. Each Dwarf must use a different word for gold when he sings his verse, and any Dwarf that repeats a word already sung or who is unable to think of another word for gold pays a forfeit. As the forfeit is inevitably to buy another round of drinks a Dwarf will often invent a new word for gold rather than admit defeat. If this new word goes unchallenged then he avoid the forfeit and another word for gold is invented.

Source

 * : Grudgelore
 * : pg. 27

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