The Faceless are just a legend of old. Nowadays the Dwarven blacksmithes use special air-conditioned full body armor, which might have been crafted by some of the last Faceless who remained mobile. Their bodies harden over time, you know, until they finally become completely immobile, resembling nothing more but finely crafted obsidian statues.

Is this from some book or did you make this yourself?

>>5057159
This is not me, to clarify to >>5057166 And I made this up myself based on the image I produced in a mad fit of tablet experimentation.

To be honest, first post sounded pretty interesting... second post not so much. Air conditioned armor? Cuh'monnnn.

>>5057177
>>5057125
Just expanding your idea, man. Awesome start, by the way, just inconsistent with the way dwarves feel for me. Sounds more like some primordial ritual that came to a halt when technology advanced. The obsidian statues are still alive and can communicate with telepaths when found, but their thoughts are quite... mineral by now.

If you prefer to do it your own way, expand away! No hard feelings, I'm gonna steal the interesting bits anyway.

Wow, I kinda stopped thinking about it. I'll be honest in stating that I'd thought it somewhat self contained. I felt it to be more of a fantasy based thing which is why I didn't take your expansion too favorably. I'm sorry, the body armor just doesn't fit to me.

I don't see the faceless as engineers, but the purest of Metalsmiths. Think Dwarfs entering into Moods all the time and producing Platinum Swords Engraved with Images of Dwarves Laughing and Kobolds Screaming.

The faceles could be so much more than that though. I'll put some more consideration into it.

It was in the Dwarven Age of Chloanthite that a great tragedy befell the Dwarven Citadel of Tzyantoa upon the peaks of the mountain Granitegrip. A great and terrible wyrm swooped down from the clear sky, burning the nearby human city to the ground and consuming its inhabitants.

The creature was easily ten boat lengths long, and twice as many in wing span. It was a truly venerable dragon known as Rustgut the Red. Once it had finished with the settlement in the lowlands it climbed to the peaks.

The dragon settled its great scaled body into the Courtyard of Tzyantoa, coiling about the marble pillars. The dwarven guard stationed there rushed the monster in a fit of unheralded bravery, but the beast opened its maw and disgorged a fiery liquid. All the dwarves remaining in the courtyard, and indeed many depths near the entrance, were boiled alive as the fluid flowed into the city burning everything in its wake.

>>5057125
Without a beard, they fill their story is forged in toil. The most powerful and sturdy dwarven items are made by the Faceless, and are never seen by another unless the viewer is about to die. Only elder dwarves can notice the subtle changes a Faceless does to their work that shows a tell-tale emotion. This mug was made in anger. This sword with love. That breastplate after meditation. That gantlet with murder in mind. In the metalsmith circles, one rises in ranks in part of how well they can identify Faceless's work and mood. Because the mood an item is forged with, seems to unnatural properties relating to the story behind it. The mug killed a person in a rowdy bar fight, the sword saved a dwarf's secret crush from a snatcher, the breastplate was given to soothe an old grudge, and the gantlet...the gantlet was used in the Battlefield Slaughter twenty years ago.
Yes...knowing the story of the Faceless is one of the most important jobs of metallurgists.

good work, writefag. keep it coming.

>>5057583
Here, disregard the stupid typos. Had my own ideas on expanding the Faceless; I actually kinda like the concept of these guys.
Way to bloody late...took me to long to write. Multitasking sucks a lot of time up

>>5057554
(Cont)
The upper exits of the citadel completely blocked by yet more of the dragon's magma-like saliva, the dwarves turned to the dwarven priests for their salvation. Bedecked in their leather aprons and gloves, the bellows-minders of the Forgegod prayed in the ringing of hammer upon anvil.

Their prayers went unanswered for a full week. After seven days passed one of the Faceless emerged from his Forge-Womb bearing great scales of armor. This Faceless' skin was pure coal black, and he moved in a stutter step, as if every moment he fought off the transformation into Obsidian. He made a silent vigil past the Forge priests, past the starving families and weary guards. He strode into the flaming saliva of Rustgut and was not harmed.

>>5057583
Friggin awesome dude. I love it.

>>5057624
(cont)
Emerging into the light of sun for the first time in millennia the Faceless shielded his eye from the sun. Its harsh light brushed his hardened skin quite unlike the solemn glow of his coals as he was used to. He set down his heavy burden and looked about the courtyard in which he found himself. Jagged pillars of ruined stone surrounded him, and beyond that the scaled flesh of Rustgut. A massive head loomed above him, fanged maw ready to swallow him whole. The dragon noticed the dwarf's regard and withdrew as a snake raring to strike might.

Amusement writ plain upon serpentine features the dragon spoke. "Creature! Lesser Being! Why have you come before me this day?" it roared. Chunks of dwarven flesh flew from its jagged teeth, splattering against the unfeeling Faceless.

Observing the monstrous form of the dragon before him through pale white eyes of near blindness the Faceless opened his mouth and responded in a whisper like a brush against stone.

"Oh great dragon-king. I have brought you a great gift from the citizens of Tzyantoa." He indicated the great chain he had brought, each link shaped like a beaten leaf twice the size of each of the dragon's scales. "It is a crown of the finest mithril, made for you, our dragon-lord."

>>5057554
Someone knows his There And Back Again by heart, I see...

This thread has some awesome ideas. Ones I intend to steal with gusto.

>>5057723
(cont)
The dragon roared his pleasure, shaking the very foundations of the mountain upon which he rested. Hidden in their tunnels dwarves cowered in fear of the drake's mighty wrath. Rustgut grabbed at the chain, knocking the Faceless down in the process. It pulled the metal links over its head until the ring rested upon its neck. It craned its neck this way and that trying to see the look of the metal upon its scales but roared in frustration when it could not. The great beast launched itself into the air, flying in moments to a nearby mountain lake.

The dragon landed upon the edge of the lake and looked within, gazing upon its own reflection. The scales and metal glimmered in perfect beauty. As the dragon admired its new chain, it felt a tightening around its throat. The chain almost looked like it was writhing, constricting around the neck of the ancient dragon. Concerned, the dragon tried to hook a finger underneath the chain but the unwieldy claws slipped right over it. Soon Rustgut was gasping for air. He tried to throw himself into the air but could barely move for lack of air. In the end the dragon could not even curse the name of his slayer before he died.

The Faceless of Tzyantoa stood watching the skies for the return of Rustgut but he would never terrify anyone again. It was there, standing protectively in the gate of his home that the Faceless died. His body turned to obsidian and he would be forever known to the dwarven folk as the guardian of Tzyantoa.

>>5057777
Kinda based on that. Very loosely. :P

>>5057816
And that's the end guys. I hope you liked it, made that shit up as I went along. Worked out okay I think.

yesssssss

You have a talent here Naile.

Great story.

>>5057898
Wow. Thanks guy. I abandoned writing in favor of learning how to draw (I don't really have time for both) but I simply love creating stories. I read a FUCKTON, I spend probably a minimum of an hour a day reading so I kinda inundate myself with sci fi/fantasy stuff. Sometimes it mixes around inside me and comes back out something cool.

Simply masterful. You sir, have made it worth staying up so late.

>>5057923
I know how you feel; I do spontaneous writings on /tg/ now and then, but I'm trying to come up with something good/epic on my own. I feel like earning a name, and eventually a trip code one day. Because when I try and drawfag, even stick figures are worse than any abstract picture could project.
But for now...I'll post what comes to mind when I see/read things.
(>>5057583)

Also, why is the image #3? are the first two sketches?

>>5057923
You're almost the reverse of me. I'm turning from drawing to writing. I've written a lot but I feel that most of it would be kind of boring to others so I don't share it.

>>5057816
Aye, but a beardless woman he be, for no true dwarf would resort to trickery. To die in battle would have given him a better place to sit in Moradin's hall. I not be sayin' he had no honor for one o' the faceless though. I'd call him a true dwarf any way his tale be told.

>>5057983
Here's the original. No, they're not sketches. I've been experimenting because I don't just want to learn how to sketch. I've kind of got ideas for comics... I have a LOT of ideas I'd like to explore in time but I want to find a nice niche that can make my style noticeable. But continuing to learn to sketch and improve on the side.

>>5057984
I won't say I feel the same way. I always just get frustrated with writing because I feel that it serves no purpose. I'm not going to get motivated to publish my novel should I ever write one. That frustration and the fact that I have a very image-based imagination made me decide to move into drawing. I say share whatever you create. For me having an audience and criticism is the best thing I possibly could ask for. Advice I will always take very seriously.

>>5058003
He did what he did. The Faceless made the chain and sent one of their own to deliver it. Only a Faceless One could have done what he did. He shall forever be remembered, even though his name is lost forever.

Wherever he is now, cooled down to a statue or dissolved in the Great Lava Flow, his legacy will live on.

>>5057357
Inspired by your post. Nontraditional modern dwarves use this

wow, this subject is a lot more interesting than these failed idea that I have acctually seem on /tg/:

>the earless (not bullshit, they were elves hiding among humans, but i forgot the name)
>silent bard (no instruments, just a psionic prestige class that uses some kind of aura to inspire)
>a thread that said humans should have a special ability. (magic power or overarching trait)
>tall dwarves at about human height (not found on /tg/, but i felt it deserved to be here)

looking back, I think I need to spend less time here...

>>5058130
See, that's the thing. They're trying to make something into something that already exists, that is ultimately boring.

What I did was take something badass, dwarves who like to make weapons and shit, and make it MORE BADASS. Dwarves who become SO dedicated to making weapons and shit they give up EVERYTHING ELSE to make the BEST weapons.

>>5058145
>>5058107
But this new simple device renders them useless

>>5058153
It does not, for the Faceless are inspired by their GOD while yours is but the work of mortal hands.

>>5058153
whats that have to do with
>>5058145 ?
device?
the faceless are not useless

>>5058153
Not quite. A face shield doesn't make you immune to lava. The Faceless basically forge their stuff from the very heart of the mountain, where all upper dwarves would perish in the blink of an eye. Over time, they become unable to live near the surface though.

>>5058197
Akin to cave adaptation in Dwarf Fortress. Only this is more hardcore.

>>5058107
It needs to be upgraded. MORE BELLOWS. MORE ARMOR. Also i was wondering couldn't you dip the same mechanism in lava (stronger stuff then copper of course) To allow the faceless to make brief trips above ground?

>>5058218
They turn to stone, thanks to an ancient ritual that creates a strong magical bond to the very heart of the world.

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>>5058237
wait, so what about dwarves that accidently lose their beards?

>>5058333
No dwarf would 'accidentally' lose their beard. It'd be like ripping your face off. Would YOU want to live after that?

>>5058330
I... I think I love you.

>>5058339
cuz its impossible for some evil dude to capture a PC and shave their beard, right? Plus, thats kind of the point of the "faceless", idiot.

>>5058384
That man just posted some outstanding writefaggotry, and you DARE to call him an idiot and to tell him what his story meant in reality? Frankly, you should drown in your own piss.

>>5058384
If you did that, the afflicted dwarf would suicidally attack you until you had no choice but to kill him, or died. If the dwarven community ever found out about it entire dwarven armies would start knocking on your door looking for blood. The shaver would be slain in the most humiliating manner possible, his business run into the ground, his possessions obliterated, and his family and extended family would never trade with another dwarf again. Furthermore anyone who deals on a regular basis with dwarves would be told to not deal with you or lose their dwarf-favor.

Seriously. Dwarves live long and carry grudges. Don't fuck with them.

>>5058414
>>5058430
so no dwarf would pick up the mantle of being facelessif that were to happen. what would they call a dwarf with no beard that isn't faceless? Don't you think some would find it an oppurtunity after revenge is taken?

>>5058466
He may descend to the Faceless as one of them after he had his vengeance. Perhaps not to become one of them, but to serve them in order to restore some of his lost honor.

>>5058480
It's more likely that he'll take his Slayer Oath at the spot, since the only way to restore his honor is to die in glorious battle.

>>5058511
Sure, if we're talkin' Warhammer dwarves here. But we're mostly talking generic fantasy. Sort of an all encompassing archetype from which we are milking this thread.

>>5058414
I know two awesome writers and an awesome artist as close friends, but it doesn't mean they aren't wrong, mislead, or just plain stupid. I am not saying this about Naile, just saying everyone should take a little criticism.

By the way, Naile, I do love the idea, dwarves are my favorite race for everything, I was just trying to clear something up. I had a bad day, and I literally just got out of a fight with my girlfriend (probably ex by now). We cool?

>>5058593
We're cool. Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. It happens, its part of the natural cycle of relationships you know? It's gonna hurt for a while but you'll look back on it in the future as part of the flavor, the texture of your life.

It's a good time to focus on what's important, you know? Imaginary fantasy archetypes and making them cooler. Definately important.

>>5058610
not >>5058593, but not sure if sarcasm...

The fortress had one treasure that was valued above all others, an irreplaceable part of it's history.

478 years ago in the month of granite one of the founders of the fortress, an aged metalsmith and warrior of great renown felt the call of the deep forges. As those before him he cast off the ties and ways of the greater world to seek final communion with the earth. Many were the crafts of his hands, until finaly he became stone. His son and fellow founder was urged to take up the hammer, for it is not unknown for the call to run in families and there is no more noble fate to pursue. He refused, prefering the hammer and chisel to the hammer and anvil.

Age took his fellow founders one by one until finally only the mason remained. In the month of granite 40 years to the day from when his father heard the call so did his son, but with tragic results.

>>5058644
Retreating to the depths of his father's former workshop he began to craft, but he was a mason and stonecrafter and had no skill with metals. Driven by the call but lacking in skills his greif was terrible to behold. His work made dwarves weep to see it, for as clumsily and poorly as it was made the inspiration still shone through. The Mayor ordered the workshop sealed and food and materials were lowwered down by rope, for it was considered a forgone conclusion that maddness and death would be the unfortunate dwarf's only escape.

For 3 months only the sounds of hammering and grief issued forth from the workshop, but on the fourth month they were replaced with the sounds of stonecrafting, and then silence. After several days the sealed entrance was opened to investigate within.

The mason was found lying beside his workbench, dead. Apon the workbench was the project he had been labouring toward in despair those many months, an obsidian sword. No trace of his father's petrified body reamined.

It is said by those who've weilded it that the sword seems to know how to weild itself. To those who can feel the craftsman's feelings it radiates hope born from hopeless despair.

>>5058649
Oh wow. Fukken' saved!

>478 years ago

How oddly specific. Is someone keeping a book some where of exact dates? It seems it would be easier to just ball park the number. Over 400 years ago is just as long as 478 years ago. Unless there was something else that happened specifically 478 years ago that can lead to some foreshadowing or something.

This is probably why I don't read much fantasy.

>>5058707
And to think: I felt guilty for not lacing it with more specific details, lol.

Guess I need not.

>>5058707
Are you implying that dwarves keep sloppy records?

>>5058771
Generalism is better for quick-and-dirty stuff like we do here. You want to get into specifics when you go for the long drudge.

>>5058707
These are fucking dwarves. They are notorious for their record-keeping. Legendary, even.

>>5058780
Damn, now I'm tempted into writefagotry about dwarven record keepers.

Gar