They became investors and speculators in purely surface trade. They started banks, mercenary companies, and overland trade caravans. In recent years, many surface dwarves, particularly ascendants, have branched out. Bringing surface goods to their kin underground and lyrium and metals to the surface was not only the most lucrative means of making a living, but also a sort of sacred duty, as many surface dwarves willingly accepted exile and the loss of their caste to better serve their house or patron. Maintaining some tie to Orzammar was seen for generations as the only lifeline for surface dwarves. Upper-class surface dwarf society is roughly divided into two camps: kalnas, who insist on maintaining caste and rank (typically those from the Noble or Merchant Caste families) and ascendants, who believe in leaving Orzammar’s traditions underground and embracing life in the sunlit world. The poorest “noble” dwarf on the surface looks upon the rich “lower caste” dwarves with contempt. Formerly noble houses are accorded more respect than casteless brands who come up in search of opportunity. Even though surface dwarves are officially stripped of their caste, many maintain a hierarchy among themselves along the old caste lines.
The truth is that thousands of years of tradition are not so easily tossed aside. But all that is discarded when a dwarf abandons the Stone for the surface. In Orzammar, dwarven society is divided into rigid castes with houses that compete for power and prestige. Today we are presenting some lore around the dwarves, elves, and qunari along with a few new images and heraldry to give you some insight into the different races you will meet in Dragon Age 2.
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