Living Ancestors

Those very rare Dwarfs who exceed 400 years of age earn themselves the legendary status of "Karugrombthi", which translates to simply as "Living Ancestors". These are amongst the greatest of the Dwarfen people, for they are venerated as the blessed of the Ancestor Gods and the symbols of their Clan's good fortune. While Humans tend to become more frail with advancing age, the vigour of a Living Ancestor remains undiminished. As such, it is said by this point, the only thing that could threaten a Living Ancestor's life is injury or fatal disease.

It is sometimes said that Living Ancestors are too stubborn to die; among Dwarfs, it is more respectful to say that they have more important things to do then to die. Driven by the thirst for knowledge or the desire to accomplish a certain task, these ancient dwarfs seem never to age. The great runesmith Kragg the Grim, for example, reached his 1620th year in 2512 IC. Vengeance can also contribute to long life. While the perpetrator of a wrong may escape vengeance by dying, in Dwarf eyes he merely passes the guilt to his children and his children's children, until the price of the wrong is paid in full. High King Gotrek Starbreaker of Karaz-a-Karak was already 160 years old when the War of the Beard broke out, but he led the Dwarf host in person throughout nearly five-hundred years of war, finally defeating the Phoenix King of the Elves in single combat and taking his crown in compensation for the insult that had started the war. His honour satisfied, he joined his ancestors peacefully at the age of 655.

Source

 * : Warhammer Fantasy RPG 1st ED -- Stone and Steel
 * : pg. 13

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