World of Warcraft™

So for anyone who's done the quest line in the Twilight Highlands, dwarves seem to do a bit of arranged marrying. Fanny and Keegan certainly didn't court each other, but they did agree to marry without much fuss. I'm wondering how prevalent this is, not only in dwarvish society, but across the races of Azeroth, with the exception of night elves. I do not want any discussion of night elf marriage or courtship or society in this thread. Thank you in advance. Has anyone ever married their character off? Arranged a marriage?

If you arranged a marriage for your character, who was it to? Was the other party willing/agreeable to the prospect? I would think that this almost might be more common among Gilnean society but as there's nothing written on the subject, it's all personal conjecture at this point.

Tempted to make a matchmaker toon.

02/20/2012 02:51 PMPosted by Frigda

it's all personal conjecture at this point.

This for something like 7/12 races. Goblin, Night Elf, Human, Dwarf and Orc all have courting traditions we know of. Every other race/culture is undefined, though various pieces of fluff could let us extrapolate the general courtships of various races.

While Reg here is single, her family and friends are actually a bit worried, because they feel that "time is running out" for her - she should focus more on joining a family at least as affluent as hers and less on doing whatever her head wants. Especially Ciarrah tries again and again to open the subject sometimes, creating fuss and tension between the two.

...If Cia sees this topic I'm sure she can share her own ideas, and her own story involves such concepts - especially trying to marry up.

In general, Dwarf society seems to be patriarchal, with strong independent women who can call their own life choices being somewhat admired and allowed but at the same time kept to a minimum. Moira's story is not just about a prince who ran off; it is also about a woman who went against her father's plans for her. Sure, it's royalty and not the everyday dwarf, but I feel it sets a precedent, especially since the communities both in Ironforge and Shadowforge are reluctant to really accept her and her son. However, there is at least some support to her, else people would just dethrone her and claim that her son is illegitimately borne, blood or no blood. There are also dwarven female heroes (Such as the champion in ToC) that are probably independent of their family's rule.
Dwarves place a lot of importance on family bonds, and they organise themselves in extended clans that span many smaller families. Things such as honor and/or shame of the potential bride and sometimes making a strategical connection with another clan that is decided by the elders of the couple seem reasonable to assume.

It's important that you noted Fanny and Keegan, and especially that they did it without much fuss. They immediately tried to find things that would attract them to each other, especially physically. They knew that it was needed in order to unite their families against the Twilight's Hammer -and- Black Drake-riding Dragonmaw if they wanted a chance to survive, but in the end the marriage surely feels like a happy occasion even for those two personally.

In human society, I'd say arranged marriage is fairly common when it comes to farmers and nobles. Soldiers and tradesmen? Eh, not so much. It really just depends how dependent on family the lucky (or unlucky) lovers are. As for other races? Go nuts. I'm sure the Kalimdor races court. (With the possible exception of a Trade Prince's daughter being married off to a potential investor.) The worgen have most likely given up the practice, or loosened it, undead really don't have a reason to marry, the exception being married couples who've both succumbed to the Plague (Pre-Cata SM GY questline.) Dwarves have been largely covered, gnomes have no lore so go crazy, and blood elves seem -very- likely to have arranged marriages.

There were probably some arranged marriages between houses and nobles among the blood elves (they're all about power and politics), but I can see much of that having been derailed by the sacking of Silvermoon and the complete disarray of most of noble society.

Could see some resurgence as they rebuild and try to consolidate power, though.

There's definitely courtship outside of that. Probably some during, it's good to be on a potential sweetie's good side.

I haven't married a character off, especially not this one. He'd consider marrying off a relative to someone else if both parties found it agreeable.

02/20/2012 03:26 PMPosted by Regnatia

It's important that you noted Fanny and Keegan, and especially that they did it without much fuss. They immediately tried to find things that would attract them to each other, especially physically. They knew that it was needed in order to unite their families against the Twilight's Hammer -and- Black Drake-riding Dragonmaw if they wanted a chance to survive, but in the end the marriage surely feels like a happy occasion even for those two personally.

Fanny also mentions she has her own reasons for doing things. Marriage is a nice little political play for the dwarves. Everyone gets something they want...even if it's a nice bum to look at for the rest of their days. We get little hints and tidbits about dwarf life and we get about one sentence a piece. You have to pick it up, commit it to memory, and run with it. We get a little hint from The Shattering that dwarf women haven't always been so in control of their lives, or at least the Bronzebeard women have been this way. It's not a huge hint but it's in there.

Ciarrah married for love once but I've played her with the knowledge that not all women have that freedom she had. She only had that freedom because the clan patriarch wasn't able to have such control. Now as a widow with small children, she's looking for convenience. Someone to simply love her children before he loves her. If he's nice looking and cares for her, that's fantastic. Well luckily, she's certain she has that and won't have to have an arranged marriage.

I play it as something that Ciarrah doesn't dread, but finds worrisome. It's a mixed bag. "He has to like my kids. I don't care if he doesn't like me, he just better like my kids." It's all very much a scratching back sort of thing. Ciarrah is a priestess and hopefully, she'll be bringing something to a unity while he becomes the father figure her children sorely needs.

...And he's got a nice butt. Because like Fanny notes, dwarves gotta have a nice butt. That's a requirement for dwarven arranged marriages. Scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. You get a bride, I get a nice strong son in law that should hopefully not be a sniveling wimp.

"Pa he has to be able to bench press more than I do."

"Yes Sally."

There were probably some arranged marriages between houses and nobles among the blood elves (they're all about power and politics), but I can see much of that having been derailed by the sacking of Silvermoon and the complete disarray of most of noble society.

Could see some resurgence as they rebuild and try to consolidate power, though.

There's definitely courtship outside of that. Probably some during, it's good to be on a potential sweetie's good side.

I haven't married a character off, especially not this one. He'd consider marrying off a relative to someone else if both parties found it agreeable.

Total temporary thread derail but I have been thinking of helping to organize some arranged elf marriages as part of Cythe's new gig as dowager of a noble house. I think the upper crust of Sin'dorei would now be even more obsessed with maintaining bloodlines and such.

A nice butt and a nice beard, I think those are Frigda's qualifying clauses. Ciarrah what hint are you talking about? I wanna go look it up now.

02/20/2012 03:58 PMPosted by Cythe

Total temporary thread derail but I have been thinking of helping to organize some arranged elf marriages as part of Cythe's new gig as dowager of a noble house. I think the upper crust of Sin'dorei would now be even more obsessed with maintaining bloodlines and such.

Actually I think that's an awesome idea. I wonder if there's anything equivalent that would go over well, Alliance side.

All failing, I suppose there could be a bride/groom auction, like the date auction.....

Total temporary thread derail but I have been thinking of helping to organize some arranged elf marriages as part of Cythe's new gig as dowager of a noble house. I think the upper crust of Sin'dorei would now be even more obsessed with maintaining bloodlines and such.

Ardeth's problem with participating is that most of his estate was destroyed. He decided to try not to let it die, but most of his line got toasted when SMC went kaboom (he has no children of his own, either, he's just the oldest surviving member and so took control), and he's still busy rebuilding everything.

There's nothing a match with one of his family would presently bring to a marriage. XD

Gnomish Weddings... Hmmmm. I actually have not seen very many Gnomish relationships in this game. Only that relationship between a Gnome and Human.

Bryndi is a wise-woman. In her village, she's like the sage lady who helps moms deliver their babies, whether they be dwarven or livestock mothers. She's the one people go to for advice about things concerning hearth and home and health. She keeps a lot of the oral tradition alive and tells lots of stories, and also intercedes for the village in matters of nature--for example, she will ask for the elements' blessing when breaking ground to build a new house, or what-have-you...

Anyway... that was a really long way of saying that even though she isn't the most powerful person in her village, she does have a unique position of respect and whoever marries her will probably be lesser than her, socially. That's just how she wants it, too. She has her own mind and will and doesn't want a husband who would mess with her lifestyle, haha xDD

02/20/2012 03:26 PMPosted by Regnatia

While Reg here is single, her family and friends are actually a bit worried, because they feel that "time is running out" for her - she should focus more on joining a family at least as affluent as hers and less on doing whatever her head wants. Especially Ciarrah tries again and again to open the subject sometimes, creating fuss and tension between the two.

The character I am on right now has attempted to hook Ciarrah and Moorwhelp together before she found out Ciarrah had a husband

I may need to hunt you down. This has the potential of ending amazingly

Ciarrah what hint are you talking about? I wanna go look it up now.

Aerin makes some refs that dwarven women only just got the big OK to be independent and hold positions like guarding. There are not many and they are not in your face. Read carefully. We can only really infer it means times are changing and the stubborn dwarves are just slowly rethinking things.

I don't think this means everything is changing overnight. I think this means opportunities are slowly opening up like guard duty and the idea that one can marry for just love alone without a patriarch's approval. I like to use this as the dwarven world is just changing and the younger dwarves may butt heads with the older dwarves over tradition and new ideas.

Then we get to semi arranged marriages. I love him, but what can he do for me? That's Ciarrah's problem. :) She loves the one who seems to be the good match for her children. Let's hope it lasts.

It's hard with the dwarves. You have the Wildhammer wedding which could be different from Bronzebeards and Dark Irons (totally different culture) and then we have that we have to pick out little details. What little gems I get I have to stretch. I don't want to think about what it's like for the races who have nothing. I'm happy dwarves have SOMETHING.

*adjusts bow tie and readies bouquet of half dead daises*

Did I hear there's some single Dwarf ladies out there that need a-courtin'?

mmm, dem arranged marriages. So, ladies.. who wants te' git married?

Spent the morning doing some research on Wildhammer Dwarves, since I'm pondering rolling one and found a tidbit in regards to them on the issue of marriage:

They are a story-loving culture; the shaman and priests of the Wildhammer dwarves entertain the people on cold nights with tales of past battles, instructions on gryphon handling, and myths of nature and the Earth Mother. They have three community rituals per year: one holiday where all the marriages are performed, one to honor all children born that year, and one to mourn that year’s dead. Seems a bit long to wait if you’re born (or die) at the wrong time of year, but it’s efficient and has a tendency to strengthen the community as a whole. Children born in the same year grow to be strong friends, as they celebrate their births all on the same day. Wildhammer dwarves commonly marry someone from their same birth year.

So I don't know if it applies to Dark Irons and Ironforge Dwarves, but it could be a basis for somethings. As far as arranged marriages, almost every culture has it... so I imagine those associated with bigger houses would in fact do so.

since I'm pondering rolling one

ORLY?

Also, I'd assume standard medieval rules would apply to such a thing. Royalty and the 'higher up' folk, if you will, are more likely to have arranged marriages (for political reasons, maintaining 'purity' of the bloodline, or whatever.). In my opinion, o' course.

If one of you dwarves gets married, can I be the guy with the lute who writes bad lyrics and screeches?


YES.

If one of you dwarves gets married, can I be the guy with the lute who writes bad lyrics and screeches?


YES.

Completely off-topic, but that transmog set is amazing.

ORLY?

Also, I'd assume standard medieval rules would apply to such a thing. Royalty and the 'higher up' folk, if you will, are more likely to have arranged marriages (for political reasons, maintaining 'purity' of the bloodline, or whatever.). In my opinion, o' course.

y yes dear. rolled, and she's level 12 :) I'll come heal you in TB instead of sapping you! <3