알려진 파라곤, 알려지지 않은 파라곤

드워프가 파라곤을 임명하는 기준은 늘 모호하다. 꽤 진귀한 칭호임은 분명하나, 중요한 업적을 달성하기만 하면 어떤 종류의 일이라도 관계없이 칭호를 얻을 수 있는 듯하다. 어떤 파라곤은 위대한 전투의 승자였고, 어떤 이들은 책이나 시를 썼다. 유일한 공통점은 그들이 드워프식 생활 방식을 존속하거나 개선하는 데 두드러진 방식으로 기여했다는 점이다.

아이두칸은 그 유명하고 오래된 파라곤 중 한 명이다. 그의 후손인 엔드린 아이두칸 왕과 혼동해서는 안 된다. 전자는 변변치 않은 전사 계급의 일원이었지만, 제1차 대재앙 당시 용감하게 사람들을 지휘하는 역량을 발휘해 오자마르를 구해내었다. 다른 타이그가 함락되면서 아이두칸은 패배를 선언하였지만, 그런데도 그가 한 공헌으로 그는 영웅이 되었고, 현대 역사는 아이두칸을 파라곤의 정수로 평가하고 있다.

하지만 다른 파라곤은 논란의 여지가 있다. 대장장이 명인 캐리딘은 강력한 골렘을 창조하여 어둠의 피조물에 맞서 싸우는 데에 크게 기여하였으나, 어느 날 흔적도 없이 자취를 감췄고 그의 기술은 영영 밝혀지지 않았다.

회색의 아스티스라는 전사 계급 파라곤도 있다. 맨손 전투로 이름을 날린 아스티스는 무예에 집중하기 위해 본인의 혀를 잘라버렸다. 그녀를 기려 혀를 자른 여성 드워프 전사로 구성된 침묵의 자매들이 아직 현존하고 있다.

그러나 이들은 모두 아주 잘 알려진 드워프 파라곤이다. 다른 이들은 이보다도 훨씬 시답잖은 일로 칭호를 획득하였다. 내가 읽은 바에 따르면 기가 막힌 노랫말을 썼다든가, 아주 독한 에일을 만든 것만으로도 파라곤이 된 자들도 있었다.

또 그런가 하면 바렌이라는 파라곤도 있다. 지하 가도에서 부대와 떨어져 길을 잃어버린 바렌은 아사 직전에야 하는 수 없이 너그를 먹었다고 하는데, 드워프에게 너그라는 식자재는 우리에게 쥐와 같았기 때문이다. 그런데 그렇게 먹은 너그로 바렌은 생명을 유지한 데다가 완전히 새로운 풍미에 눈을 뜨게 되었다. 동료들이 바렌을 발견했을 때 그는 뒤룩뒤룩 살이 찐 상태였고 너그의 감각적이고 미묘한 식감에 대해 입이 마르게 칭찬했다고 한다. 오늘날 너그는 드워프 특산 요리로 취급된다.

—성가회 학자 제니티비 수사의 저서, 드워프의 석재 회랑에서 발췌

 

The criteria the dwarves use to name a Paragon never cease to fascinate me. While a relatively rare distinction, it seems almost any achievement of significance warrants the title. Some Paragons are the victors of great battles. Others write books or songs. The only common thread is an act that betters or sustains the dwarven way of life in some notable fashion.

 

Aeducan is among the oldest and perhaps most famous Paragons. Not to be confused with his descendent, King Endrin Aeducan, this prior Aeducan was a humble member of the Warrior Caste whose brave leadership during the First Blight saved Orzammar. When other thaigs were lost, Aeducan claimed defeat—but his service made him a hero. History now remembers Aeducan as the quintessential Paragon.

 

Other Paragons have been more controversial. Caridin, a master smith, created the powerful golems who helped the dwarves immeasurably in their battles with the darkspawn. Caridin then disappeared amid much speculation, taking the secret of his craft with him.

 

There is also Astyth the Grey, a Paragon of the Warrior Caste. She was famous for her skills in unarmed combat and cut out her own tongue to focus on the art without distraction. An order of female dwarven warriors known as the Silent Sisters persists; they remove their tongues in her honor.

 

But these are the most well known of the dwarven Paragons. Others have earned the rank over the ages for far less noble pursuits. I've found references to Paragons who made their names writing particularly good rhymes or brewing stronger ales.

 

Then there's the Paragon named Varen, who separated from his legion and lost his way in the Deep Roads. Varen nearly starved to death before breaking down and eating a nug, believed at the time as appetizing to dwarves as a rat. Devouring the creature not only saved his life but opened his palate to a new world of flavor. When they finally found him, Varen was fatter than ever and raving about the miraculous subtleties of nug flesh. The creatures are now considered a dwarven delicacy.

 

—From Stone Halls of the Dwarves by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar