Pargrunen

“

Meditate on those who came before you

And those who go beyond you.

Remember first your father

And last your younger brother,

But know all Pargrunen as kin.

”

~ Pargrunen teachings, Durgan's Battery

The Pargrunen (adjective, singular: Pargrun) (Lembur for "travelers") are a distinct culture of the Aptapo or mountain dwarves, renowned as great explorers, builders, and miners. They originate from Old Vailia, although their natural wanderlust led them to establish fortresses across Eora, including locations such as Rauatai, the Living Lands, and the White March.

Background[]

The Pargrunen culture is unique to the Aptapo dwarves, originating in the territories of Old Vailia, the oldest of kith empires. Although they are driven by wanderlust to explore and settle new territories, their culture emphasizes the unity of the Pargrunen people through their distinct identity and kinship: All Pargrunen are kin regardless of where they live. To keep their history alive, the dwarves maintain many traditions, such as cantecs (chants and rituals of purpose, used to gain access to Pargrunen holds). Furthermore, centers of Pargrunen colonization would also exchange stone tables reminding them of their common root and tradition and maintaining grand map rooms where masterfully crafted globes would show each center's location on Eora.^[1]

The Pargrunen are known not only as great explorers and builders, but also as experts in the field of mining, smithing, engineering, mechanics, and animancy (the precise field of competence depends greatly on the community). To survive perilous underground environments, they've developed a variety of cloaks, capes, and hoods that protect wearers from poisonous vapors.^[2]

Pargrunen often worship Abydon, the god of industry, crafting, and the forge.

Known communities[]

Old Vailia, the oldest community, "between a pair of winding rivers."^[1]^[3]
The Living Lands (Solace), the second oldest community, "beneath the rippling ridge of a mountain", in a volcanic remote region of the continent.^[1]^[4]
Rauatai, the third oldest community, "along a curving coastline", established among coral lagoons.^[1]^[5]
White March (Durgan's Battery), abandoned shortly after the Battery's fall circa 2623 AI.^[1]

Cracks snake across this stone tablet. The edges have been worn smooth over centuries of handling. It reads:

“

We who stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the oldest of kith empires send you forth. Honor us as we remember you.

”

~ A plaque on the pargrunen of Old Vailia^[6]

The corners of this tablet are chipped, but it's otherwise in good condition. It reads:

“

We plant ourselves in a strange and wild land but remember well our roots. Though we are distant, know us still as kin.

”

~ A plaque on the pargrunen of Living Lands^[6]

The letters on this tablet are crisp and deep, as if chiseled recently. They read:

“

Though our towers of stone are surrounded by gates of coral we are Pargrunen still. Write our names in your halls and your hearts.

”

~ A plaque on the pargrunen of Rauatai^[6]

Characters[]

Pillars of Eternity:

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire:

Vektor

Avowed:

Marius

Notes[]

"Pargrunen" is a plural and adjective form of "Pargrun". For example, "I am a Pargrun, we are the Pargrunen".
The pargrun chant cantec is Romanian for "song", which is inherited from the English and Latin canticum meaning a song or chant.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 During the interaction with the globe of Eora:Three perfect sapphires mark locations in Rauatai, Old Vailia, and the Living Lands.
The bronze band that circles the globe is inscribed with three repeating lines:

'Remember all Pargrunen -
From the oldest before you
To the youngest who follow you.'
↑ Description for Mantle of the Excavator, an item in The White March - Part II.
↑ Globe interaction, when pressing the Old Vailia sapphire first: You depress the sapphire set in Old Vailia. It clicks into place between a pair of winding rivers.
↑ Globe interaction, when pressing the Living Lands sapphire second: You depress the sapphire set in the Living Lands. It clicks into place beneath the rippling ridge of a mountain.
↑ Globe interaction, when pressing the Rauatai sapphire third: You depress the sapphire set in Rauatai. It clicks into place along a curving coastline.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Several plaques found in the map room of The Foundry in Durgan's Battery

[map-room-globe-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 During the interaction with the globe of Eora:Three perfect sapphires mark locations in Rauatai, Old Vailia, and the Living Lands.
The bronze band that circles the globe is inscribed with three repeating lines:

'Remember all Pargrunen -
From the oldest before you
To the youngest who follow you.'

[2] Description for Mantle of the Excavator, an item in The White March - Part II.

[map-room-globe-old-vailia-3] Globe interaction, when pressing the Old Vailia sapphire first: You depress the sapphire set in Old Vailia. It clicks into place between a pair of winding rivers.

[map-room-globe-living-lands-4] Globe interaction, when pressing the Living Lands sapphire second: You depress the sapphire set in the Living Lands. It clicks into place beneath the rippling ridge of a mountain.

[map-room-globe-rauatai-5] Globe interaction, when pressing the Rauatai sapphire third: You depress the sapphire set in Rauatai. It clicks into place along a curving coastline.

[map-room-plaques-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Several plaques found in the map room of The Foundry in Durgan's Battery

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]